Design Mom

Polarn O. Pyret Giveaway

2009-11-05T14:52:00.005-05:00

Another amazing Giveaway today. And it's perfectly timed for the season. It's a pretty good bet that sometime in the last couple of weeks, you've considered your children's (or your own) winter wear. Will you be skiing this year? Will there be snow? Do his snow boots still fit? Has she outgrown her coat? Are there mittens missing?

Well, today, the Swedish company Polarn O. Pyret (that's a mouthful, I know) will be setting you up. The winner will get to pick out any outerwear top and any outerwear bottom from their site. Or. Any outerwear “all-in-one” — like a snowsuit or bunting. The top and bottom can be any combo that the winner chooses. A fleece and ski pants for instance, or a winter jacket and snowboarder pants. You'll basically be getting about $200 in outerwear. Pretty rad, right?

People. The Swedes are serious about dressing their kids appropriately for the weather and this earnestness is represented by Polarn O. Pyret's outerwear. Where all kinds of attention has been paid to the little details, ensuring that kids stay warm and dry. Also, their winter outerwear is so function and performance driven that it is not only great for the playground but also for the ski slopes.

Take at look at the site and daydream about what you'll pick out if you win. If Polarn O. Pyret is new-to-you, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at how design-driven the company is. Just leave a comment and you're entered to win. I'll post a winner on Monday, November 9th.

UPDATE BONUS: Polarn O. Pyret has offered a generous 30% off, plus free shipping on orders of $100 or more. Exclusively for Design Mom Readers. Sweet! Just use the promo code: DMPOP

Yay for winter prep!

Ask Design Mom Week — Family Christmas Gift

2009-11-05T14:51:00.001-05:00

Question:
My husband's family always draws names for gift giving. This year we are gifting to his sister's family; they have six kids and a total of eight people. (Which made me think of you ;)). I'm wondering if you know of any good gift ideas that the whole family could enjoy, or perhaps a something we could get for each family member that wouldn't break the bank. The kids range in age from 3-14. Thanks! — Lynnette

Answer:
Another great question. My family picks names as well. One of the favorite gifts we've ever received was a collection of Nativity Dress-ups my sister put together from thrift store finds. It's awesome. And really good for a wide range of ages. You can see my post about it here.

Dear Readers, I'm sure you have tons of good suggestions for Lynnette. What do you like to give for "family" gifts?

Ask Design Mom Week — Blogging Advice

2009-11-05T14:50:00.003-05:00

Question:
I just started my own blog this month! It looks boring, I have no followers, and I feel left out of the "Blogging Circle." Can you give me some tips on how to make my blog better? — Tanya

Answer:
Thanks for the question, Tanya. I'll start by saying, you're not alone. I think I get questions along these lines more than any others. How do I grow my blog? How do I get sponsors? How do I change my header? How do I decide on a blog topic?

But I confess, I don't answer as often as I'd like. For a few reasons. One, the answers are long. Long enough that people teach multiple classes and hold multi-day conferences to try to cover the answers adequately. Two, because I try (I can't say I always succeed) to limit this blog to topics at the intersection of design and motherhood. Three, because bummer for me, in a given week, I'm only able to respond to about 20% of my email. If that.

But since it is Ask-Design-Mom-Week, I thought I'd at least take a minute to say: it's not too late. You can still get into the blogging and social media scene. You can still start a site. You can still participate. You can still build something new. You can still grow what you've created.

If you feel like you've missed the boat, you haven't. If you feel like you're not in the club, it's a false perception. Period. This whole scene is still new enough that people are reinventing it everyday. Starting from scratch. Coming up with new and brilliant interpretations of how this whole thing could work. Just yesterday, I received an email from two friends who have started a new blog. It's called the Sweeterie and it's different than anything I've seen before. A super smart, simple concept. And it's beautiful. And I have no doubt it will grow. What will it grow into? Who knows. We'll find out in a couple of years.

Can I promise that your audience will grow super fast? Nope. Most audiences don't. There are a few instant successes, but most people that are doing this for a living, built their audiences slowly over several years. Just like any small business. Are there techniques to help you jumpstart growing your community? For sure. And that's why people attend conferences (like Alt and Mom2Summit — two conferences that Kirtsy plans the programming and panels for). To find out the best ideas and most effective ways to work in this space.

But the advice you'll hear most often, every time the topic of growing your audience comes up, is: comment and participate. Get out there. Comment on the blogs you like, big and small. If there's a blog party or Mr. Linky, try it out. If you see people mentioning NaBloPoMo, click the link and find out what it is. If you see buttons for a conference, ask about it. The more you explore, the more likely you'll find the perfect social media fit for you.

Dear Readers, what advice would you add to this topic?

Ask Design Mom Week — Christmas Tree Decor

2009-11-05T14:39:00.002-05:00

Question:
I'm in a new house, new life and looking ahead to the holidays, I realized that our decade plus years of marriage/college/med school/residency tree decor might be in need of a slight makeover this year. I'm just looking for ideas — new, old, swanky, homestyle, yadda, yadda. Any advice or pictures to find, etc.? Thanks! — Stacey

Answer:
Love this question, Stacey. People have strong opinions about Christmas Trees: They should have the same decorations each year — it's tradition! They should be filled with ornaments made by children! They should be flocked! Flocked trees should be outlawed! They should change themes every year! Only fresh trees count! If it's not pre-lit, I won't use it!

Feel free to have whatever opinions you prefer for your own tree. It seems to be such a personal, emotional thing. Depending on some mix of childhood memories, current marketing schemes and adult expectations. And there's no right answer. Just know this, when you put lots of twinkling lights and pretty baubles on a tree. In your living room. And turn the house lights low. It's bound to be beautiful.

But if you're really wanting a change this year, Stacey, this is what I'd recommend. Hit the holiday aisle at your favorite store (let's say Target) and find an ornament you love the best. Your very favorite one. And then build a tree around it.

If it's a white feathered bird, then you could do the whole tree in birds and nests and white accents. If your favorite ornament is a gold glittery ball. Why not go gold all the way. Gold ornaments. Gold snowflakes. Gold ribbon. If you're starting from scratch, focusing on one color will definitely give you the biggest impact for the least amount of money. (I love the ornament pictured from Crate & Barrel.)

Looking for more inspiration? Martha has dozens of Christmas Tree ideas here.

What about you, Dear Readers? Any opinions on Christmas Tree decor?

Ask Design Mom Week — Christmas Card Sources

2009-11-05T14:34:00.003-05:00

Question:
-Do you know where I can find Christmas cards that have a religious message but that are also arty and contemporary looking? I love the tasteful designs at Tiny Prints, Paper Source, etc. but haven’t been able to find any that are religious. Any suggestions? — Renee

-Do you have any good resources for great looking, unique holiday photo cards? The options at Walmart/Snapfish/etc just aren't cutting it. Thanks! — Megan

Answer:
The two questions above are just a sample of the dozens of emails I've been receiving along these lines. Apparently, everyone is looking for pretty holiday cards. And happily there are tons of great sources out there.

1) Have you visited Paper Culture yet? They offer a great contemporary selection. And get this, they will stuff, address and send your cards for the cost of postage. Nice.

2) How about Hello Lucky? Really fun designs and a really easy service to use.

3) Personally, I prefer sending a great looking folding card, and then slipping a loose photo inside. Yesterday, I received an unexpected care package from Cambria Cove (how did they know I was feeling so crummy?) and it included a box of these and these. Aren't they great?

4) Here's another one. If you are looking for a less-known, but still great source, try Legacy Digital Design. They offer designs available in Photoshop/PSE format for all those DIY types for a super low price of 1.99 per design. Just add your own text and photo(s) and you're done.

5) Cardstore also has an extensive collection. I really like this one. And as with most of these online card stores, you can personalize the offerings with whatever message you prefer (here's your chance to add that religious message, Renee).

And really, there are dozens more great options — I mean, I haven't even delved into etsy yet, for goodness sake. : )

Dear Readers, where are you finding/printing your Holiday Cards this year?

We Interrupt Ask-Design-Mom-Week...

2009-11-04T21:28:00.007-05:00

Hello Friends! Sorry to interrupt all of your awesome questions (I just published 4 more right below this post) but I have a few little announcements I wanted to pass along.

1) Have you signed up for Hands On Small Business yet? There are (free!) classes happening in 20 cities around the country. Taught by social media experts. If you're an entrepreneur, a small business person, or someone trying to make a little cash online — I highly recommend you get yourself to one of these sessions. They're sponsored by Office Live and hosted by Kirtsy and they are really, really good. You can find more info here.

I'll be attending tomorrow night's class here in Denver. (If you come to tomorrow's class, I hope you'll say hello!)

2) The Altitude Design Summit is getting bigger and better by the minute. In fact, the first Alt Design Summit newsletter went out today. You should totally subscribe to keep up with the latest news and announcements. Bonus: after receiving a truckload of emails that the early bird cut-off was too soon, Alt has extended the deadline. Woot! Anyone who registers before November 20th can still get $100 off their registration.

3) Speaking of design, I saw the gorgeous book pictured above on new-to-me blog Azul Azul. Isn't it the greatest thing ever?

4) Because of all the fantastic Ask-Design-Mom-Questions, I've decided to push back on today's weekly pregnancy posts. But watch for more next Wednesday. Same bat time. Same bat channel.

5) I (finally) posted a winner for the super generous Trifle Shoppe Giveaway. You can find it at the bottom of the post here. And watch for another great giveaway tomorrow.

6) I know it's totally not cool that I've been posting so late in the day this week. Just a crazy week. No good excuses. Thanks for reading despite the craziness. : )

Ask Design Mom Week — Book Binding Service

2009-11-04T14:44:00.001-05:00

Question:
I am looking for an inexpensive way to print and bind books. Is there a website you have used and would recommend? Or an easy do it yourself technique? All the best to you and your family. — Becca

Answer:
For sure, Becca. This is actually a great time for people like you and I, who might want to get one or two books bound — but not necessarily a thousand. There are several online sources that provide such a service. Most are designed for uploading and showcasing photographs. But there's no reason you can't use them for showcasing writing or drawings as well. And in my opinion, they're all surprisingly economical — not that long ago it was very expensive to get a single book bound.

The service I'm most familiar with is Blurb. (You can see their samples in the photos above.) And I know my sister-in-law, had good luck printing a book with Shutterfly. If you prefer the handmade route, I recommend looking up a local class. It is very satisfying (but not necessarily easy) to bind your own book.

Dear Readers, do you have a favorite book-printing service?

Ask Design Mom Week — Thanksgiving Invitations

2009-11-04T10:00:00.003-05:00

Question:
I was hoping you might have some ideas on cute handmade Thanksgiving invitations. If you can point me in the right direction, I'd appreciate it! Thanks for all the great ideas. — Christine B

Answer:
Oooh. Now that you mention it, I don't think I've ever sent out Thanksgiving invitations. But now I'm loving the idea. How much fun to receive an actual invitation — instead of text message confirming your attendance. : )

Having never sent Thanksgiving Invitations, I can't say that I have a ton of good sources at my finger tips. But I do remember seeing the cute invitations above, designed by Good On Paper, on Anh Mihn's blog last year. They're not handmade, but they are fantastic.

Dear Readers, how about you? What are the prettiest handmade Thanksgiving Invitations you've spotted?

Ask Design Mom Week — Journals

2009-11-04T09:30:00.004-05:00

Question:
I'm looking for a journal that's appropriate for kids. Any good ideas? Thanks. — Kathryn

Answer:
Great question. The favorite kids journal at our house is called This Is Me. It's full of great prompter questions. Lots of space for drawings or pasting in ticket stubs. And it has a handy little pocket at the back for tucking away keepsakes.

Also, I haven't tried these myself, but I think the Between You & Me journals look good too. Inside each are fun, non-sappy, sometimes humorous questions. Give them to the people you love and they are returned with handwritten responses.

Want more ideas? One of my recent guest moms wrote a terrific round-up of all sorts of journals.

Dear Readers, do your kids have a favorite journal?

Ask Design Mom Week — Legwarmers

2009-11-04T09:00:00.002-05:00

Question:
My daughter Rosie has just started kindergarten, and her school requires uniforms (white tops + navy or khaki bottoms or dresses). Of course she prefers skirts and dresses or jumpers, but all the ones we have are above the knee, and she complains her legs get chilly. In my school uniform days, cable-knit knee socks were the norm, but I've got my heart set on finding her some sweet scrunchy legwarmers, preferably in cream or navy — not sure wild colors would be uniform-approved. Have you seen any darling school-day legwarmers recently? Thanks!! — Amanda T.

Answer:
Legwarmers! Love the question, but I don't have a ready answer. For baby-size, there are several options (like the leggies pictured from Oeuf). And I remember my last 3 pairs of grown-up-size legwarmers were purchased at a dance supply store, H&M and Target. But I don't remember seeing kid-size legwarmers lately. So I'll turn this question over to my Dear Readers.

Dear Readers, have you seen any great sources for school-kid legwarmers?

Ask Design Mom Week — Family Pictures

2009-11-03T10:00:00.004-05:00

Question:
What is your advice for taking a great family picture? (Note: I do not wish to have a statuesque portrait of my toddler and newborn in khaki and white on the beach — this is a real family picture. So lets keep it real.) Thanks. — Leslie

Answer:
Loving all these questions! And this is no exception, Leslie. We should probably turn to a photographer to answer this one, but I'll do my best.

1) Take the time to find a great photographer. Look through portfolios. Keep your eye open for someone who's style you like. I love my family photos by Candace Stringham. I love Jared & Liz's family photos by Jonathon Canlas. I love my portrait by Justin Hackworth. And I love Nie's family photos by Blue Lily. But all have very different styles.

2) Once you've scheduled a date with a photographer, take some time to think about what you want. Talk over your ideas and plans with the photographer. Or look to them for guidance. You may want to discuss whether or not you need a photo stylist. Here's a post I wrote about getting ready for our Central Park photo shoot.

3) As far as family photo trends go, this is what I've observed: 10 or 15 years ago it was all about matching denim shirts. (Awesome!) Then. DSLR cameras became more afforable and thus widespread. Suddenly, everyone was a photographer. And family photos trended to candid, up close shots — photographed by your best friend or neighbor. What's happening now? A more editorial style — as if the family photo is being shot for your favorite magazine.

My main advice for right this minute: feel free to pick a color scheme, but you don't need to wear matching shirts. Unless you're going for this look. Which is admittedly rad (I'm #7).

What about you, Dear Readers? What do you do to ensure great family photos?

Ask Design Mom Week — Online Fabric Sources

2009-11-03T09:45:00.003-05:00

Question:
I'm looking for a fun print fabric to use to bolster some window boxes, but am disappointed in the choices at the chain fabric stores. Any suggestions for online fabric stores that are affordable? Thanks — Lauren

Answer:
Great question, Lauren. This is another popular topic that comes up frequently. From what I can tell, the online fabric sources that seem to have the most fans and best collections are:

1) Purl Fabrics. You can browse fabric by company, style or designer. Their collection of reproduction 1800's fabrics is excellent. The japanese fabrics are so tempting, you'll buy now and come up with the appropriate project later. They also stock knitting supplies, books, and notions. Plus, a really lovely goods and a smart crafting blog: The Purl Bee.

2) Repro Depot. It's my sister Jordan's favorite online fabric source. She's mentioned them multiple times. You can read her Repro Depot posts here.

3) Spoonflower. If you really can't find any fabric you love, Spoonflower will print your very own designs for very reasonable prices.

What about you, Dear Readers? Any other online fabric sources you know and love?

PS — Some of this answer was taken from one of my previous posts.

Ask Design Mom Week — Holiday Card Display

2009-11-03T09:30:00.000-05:00

Question:
I have been looking online everywhere. Do you know the metal alligator clip stands with multiple clips that form a tree like shape when cards are hung on it? I remember seeing them in a catalog from last season but was too late to purchase and am hoping to get a jump on it this year. Thanks for any shopping help! — Amy

Answer:
Dear Readers, do you know exactly what Amy is looking for? Do you know a source? Please share. In the meantime, Amy, take a look at this aluminum multi-clip hanger from Muji. They offer 3 different versions and they're made to hang accessories in your closet. But wouldn't they work well for holiday cards?

Ask Design Mom Week — Salt & Pepper Shakers

2009-11-02T19:15:00.000-05:00

Question:
I am in the market for salt and pepper shakers. I'm looking for something small and preferably not in the shape of a little person or animal (wink). I figured you would have a great recommendation for something stylish and chic. If they make "chic" for the salt and pepper crowd. Thanks. — Cari

Answer:
Ooooh. Salt & Pepper shakers. I haven't shopped for these in at least a decade. Fun to think about new ones! If you're looking for small and not-kitchy, my first instinct is to stop in at a place like DWR or the Conran Shop.

I like a classic diner shape, like the one pictured. But I just stopped by DWR and found these little silver ones. Chic, no?

What about you Dear Readers? Seen any great salt & pepper sets lately? Please leave a link in the comments.

Ask Design Mom Week — Stroller Advice

2009-11-02T19:05:00.001-05:00

Question:
I am pregnant with my first and am doing a lot of stroller research. There are so many to choose from. Cost is an issue with me but I don't want a cheap one that will fall apart. I like the idea of having one for newborn to toddler that can be converted into a double stroller. Any advice? Many thanks! — Meghan

Answer:
So smart to be doing your research, Meghan. The first thought that comes to mind, is that it makes a big difference if you're a city dweller or living in suburbia. You'll use your stroller differently, and want different features, depending on your location. (My current stroller is the Micralite Toro, pictured. We love it, but it wouldn't have worked for us at all about a few years back — I had completely different needs.)

The second thought that comes to mind, is that you're not alone. I actually get a lot of stroller questions. And I see the topic discussed around the interwebs pretty regularly. In fact, a week or so ago I heard about a new site called Stroller Source. They don't actually sell strollers — so that they can remain non-biased. But they have tons of research and comparison information. They're like the Good Samaritans of the stroller world. Stroller Source would be a really good place to start.

What about you Dear Readers? What kind of stroller advice would you like to offer?

Ask Design Mom Week — Thanksgiving Prep

2009-11-02T19:00:00.001-05:00

Question:
I'm hosting Thanksgiving this year. Any tips to make it less stressful? — Rebecca

Answer:
Great question! There are a few things I like to do in late October or early November to help my Thanksgiving prep.

1) Get my kitchen knives sharpened. Your guests will likely be helping you in the kitchen. You won't want them using crummy tools.

2) Take inventory of your dinnerware/china and utensils. Do you have enough place settings for all your guests? Have you lost a few random spoons over the last year? (Spoons are notorious for getting thrown out with yogurt cups or lost in the sandbox.) If you have any gaps to fill in, this is the time to place your orders. I'll be adding more silverware this year — my preferred pattern is Old Denmark by Yamazaki.

3) Ask guests if there are any particular foods or recipes that will make or break Thanksgiving for them and add those recipes to your menu. For example, personally, I have a particular veggie dip that I'm totally homesick for if I don't get a bite at Thanksgiving.

What about you Dear Readers? What are your best tips for preparing for Thanksgiving?

Ask Design Mom Week

2009-11-02T17:22:00.001-05:00

Friends! My inbox is overflowing with brilliant questions. Time for another installment of Ask-Design-Mom-Week.

How does it work? I'll post several questions each day of this week in separate posts. I'll answer some and leave others for your clever responses. And hopefully, we'll all learn a little something new. Lovely.

Yay! Ask-Design-Mom-Week is always so much fun.

Happy Halloween 2009!

2009-10-31T11:29:00.007-04:00

Our 2009 Costume Report:

Medusa.
Found a thick knit ski cap at the thrift store. Found different-sized snakes at toy stores in the area and wove them through the cap. Love how the headpiece turned out, but didn't love the rest of the costume — I want a redo on this one. Oscar went back and forth on this costume for weeks. He was pretty sure he was actually going to be able to turn people to stone once he had the costume on — and that was stressing him out. Also. He had no issues that Medusa is a girl. In fact, for awhile he was trying to talk Ralph and Maude into being the Gorgon Sisters with him. (His current favorite book is Greece! Rome! Monsters!)

Raggedy Anne.
Found the dress at a thrift store and added the apron. Made the wig by attaching red yard to a red knit snow cap. This was my first attempt at making a wig. Not bad. Tights from the costume store. Ordered bloomers from Amazon, but when they arrived they were too silky and looked like lingerie. So we skipped them. I love classic costumes like this.

Oompa Loompa.
Found brown turtleneck at the thrift store. Gathered some white karate pants from our dressup box at the knee for the knickers. Ordered the wig, suspenders and socks from Amazon. The wig had to be trimmed and styled a bit, but it works. Ralph has performed the Thriller dance twice in this costume (at the school dance and at the church party) — I'm glad he can move easily in it.

Mary Poppins.
Made adjustments to a skirt and blazer found at a thrift shop. Attached bird to shoulder with a safety pin. The more I stared at the details in photos of Mary Poppins, the more I felt like we were missing the mark here. But. Olive loved this costume. And. She won best costume at the Trunk-or-Treat parade — so who knows?

Witch.
Bought a leotard at Target and recycled witch and tutu accessories from past years. It was very important to Betty that everyone was informed she was a nice witch. Also. Sometimes she'd call herself a princess witch. She loves this costume, but I bet she'd love it even more if it was pink.

Mom, you can find a million more photos of this year's (and last year's) costumes here. Oh! And don't miss my sister's spooky ghost photos here.

Happy Halloween-y Weekend!

2009-10-30T13:20:00.006-04:00

Images from Martha's Pumpkin Gallery. Definitely worth a peek. So inspiring!

Friends. I have good news! I am officially in my second trimester. This is how I know:

1) I did throw-up today, but I didn't feel nauseous. (It's not perfect, but I'll take it!)

2) Food has been my enemy for weeks and weeks, but the last few days I've had a growing appetite. I think of it as a tender mercy that will help me make sure my kids' Halloween candy doesn't go to waste.

3) I checked the calendar.

But honestly, it's hard to focus on this exciting news because we've got a jam-packed schedule of Halloween for the next two days. On my to-do list:

1) Take $5 and some refreshments to the middle school so Ralph can get into the Halloween Dance. (It's his first dance. I am dying to get a report.) I wish I had time to make these rice-krispie mummy heads for the refreshments. They are fabulous.

2) Buy candy for Trunk-or-Treat tonight (will they really still do Trunk-or-Treat when there is two feet of snow on the ground? We'll find out tonight how truly hard-core Coloradoans are.)

3) Decorate the trunk of the car. The kids are thinking a "mad science lab" with dry ice smoke and Martha's specimen jars. But I confess, I'm trying to talk them out of it altogether because the snow is a total Halloween buzzkill.

Specimen jar images from Martha Stewart.

4) Make chili for tonight's cook-off.

5) Finish Oscar's Medusa costume. The headpiece is done, but the shirt still needs some work. I'll try to post pics of all my kids-in-costume this weekend. Halloween is the best.

6) Tomorrow, we'll carve the jack-o-lanterns and buy more candy for the trick-or-treaters.

Have a fantastic, spooky weekend. And please send spider-webby thoughts my way, because with so much snow outside it is taking every bit of self-restraint I've got not to pull out the Christmas cds.

P.S. — Don't miss the huge Trifle Shoppe Giveaway! Over $1000 worth of gorgeous goodies. Scroll down or click here to find it.

P.P.S. — Have you registered for Alt Design Summit yet? Early bird registration ends October 31st. $100 off!

All About a Character — By Guest Mom Kristy Glass

2009-10-30T12:57:00.004-04:00

The younger me as Little Orphan Annie.

If you feel a little self-conscious about becoming someone else for the night, here are a few tips to help you shed the jitters, and have a good time.

Karaoke.
My husband was Billy Ray Cyrus last year, and he became Billy as soon as Achy Breaky Heart came over the speakers.

Phrases!
If you are playing someone from a book or movie, skim-read it for dialogue or re-watch the movie. IMDB is also a good source of quotes from movies. Or call that one friend that knows quotes from everything. This year my Judy Jetson has been practicing: “Outer-galactic!” and “Far-Out!” For the cowboys, check out cowboy sayings. For the pirates out there, pre-plan your phrases on this site.

Theme-dress.
If you and a buddy or your family all dress as a theme, you can take that to an extreme. You can speak in like dialect/accent/language!, act out a scene, improvise a scene, the sky's the limit.

Dance!
If your costume comes from an era like the 20’s, 50’s or 70’s....brush up on your moves and dance in character when the music starts at your Halloween party.

Hide.
If you are too shy, get a mask so that nobody knows it’s you.

Dressing up and getting into character for the night is fun for someone like me who enjoys playing a role, but I know it’s not for everyone. Maybe a few of these tips will help you loosen up and get into Halloween this year.

Thanks for having me! ~Kristy

Find more from Kristy at her blog Glass Posse.

Trifle Shoppe Giveaway

2009-10-29T15:36:00.007-04:00

I've got a crazy huge giveaway for you today from one of the most stylish baby stores around: New Zealand's very own Trifle Shoppe. I'm not kidding when I say it's a big giveaway. It's so big I have to describe it in list form so that I don't forget anything. Take a look at what the winner will receive (just imagine the giant box waiting on her doorstep):

-Organic Merino Set by Natural Star — booties, beanie and mittens.
-Feeding Pillow and Skincare Pack by Babybaby.
-Merino Newborn Set by Three Bags Full — top, pants and hat.
-Nudey!Rudey! Trial Pack — including a pocket cloth nappy, a triple layer microfiber insert, one reuseable liner and six biodegradable liners.
-A Treasure Hand-stamped Customized Necklace by Lovestamp.
-Whimsical Giraffes Fabric Wall Decals by Sticky Tiki.
-Baby Hair clips with Matching Display Box and Kimono Frame by Mini Lala.
-A Babywedge.
-Millicent Mouse Toy by ATLDL.
-Unido Baby Sling.
-Blanket with Cocolatte Trim by Babyjo Bamboo.
-Baby Pack by Ramalama — bamboo bodysuit, baby wrap and bib.
-Nesting Kit by Westcoast Baby — Infant Kimono Wrap, Infant Beanie Hat and Cocoon Swaddling Blankets.
-Newborn gift pack by Green Bean Kids Ltd — baby gown and baby swaddle wrap.

Friends. That's one very big Giveaway. With a prize totaling over $1000 in goodies. ($1000!!)

You'd be crazy not to enter. If you're having a baby you'll be totally set up. If you're not having a baby, your gift closet will be totally set up. Just leave a comment and you're entered to win. I'll post a winner on Monday, November 2nd.

By the way, while you're browsing the Trifle website, which features over 60 designers hand-picked from around the globe, you should take a minute to sign up for their newsletter — then you'll be the first to know when the diligent buyers from Trifle have spotted a fantastic new line.

How's that for a Halloween treat?

________________

Update: Congratulations to Kaela! You are the lucky winner. I hope this package is as fun to receive as it was to write about.

All about Halloween Eve — by Guest Mom Kristy Glass

2009-10-29T10:00:00.006-04:00

It crept up on you right? Your kids look at you disappointedly when they realize you have not planned a Halloween costume for yourself (or maybe even for them! whoops!). A few last-minute winners that I have seen over the years:

Be a color:
Dress solo or as a group — green-earth theme, orange/white/yellow=candycorns, a rainbow, a flag, school colors! If I were pink, I’d wear this beard. Grab every piece of clothing you have in one color, this is educational for young ones too! While you're at it, sort your closet by color...it looks pretty!

Crayons:
Kristie made these crayon costumes (seen above) for her family with paper. Gotta love paper crafts that you can do the night before!

Subway Train Sign:
Natasha did not make this last minute (also see above), but if you have a piece of felt, a magic marker and a glue gun, you could make a less-than-perfect version of this costume. For a full list of the subway lines, click here.

Get Literal:
Plastic spiders are plentiful this time of year. I witnessed a couple glue a ton of them to t-shirts and proclaim themselves Spider Man and Spider Woman. Another fun use for plastic spiders is to stick them in your hair or ears or other creative places.

My friend Helen velcroed a babydoll to her butt to become a Babysitter. Brilliant!

Blacked-eyed P's — You guessed it, a letter P on a t-shirt and a black eye, you have to do this as a pair to be peaZ.

Find more from Kristy at her blog Glass Posse.

A Pregnancy Trial from Brenna

2009-10-28T22:12:00.006-04:00

I was 25 when my husband and I got pregnant with our first child. Several of my friends were pregnant too, and I was delighted that I would get to share this experience with them. I was so lucky at the beginning, because I didn't get sick at all. It was easy!

That was good because I was an incredibly busy kindergarten teacher and felt like I had something to prove since I was young. The first trimester passed with relatively few troubles. The only thing out of the ordinary was a small bump we had found near my collarbone. Probably lymph tissue, but no one seemed to concerned so I tried not to be. After 3 weeks on antibiotics, it was still there and starting to cause more worry. But I was busy, so it just got pushed to the back burner.

A few months later I was visiting a doctor for my eyes. His brother happened to be an ENT and when he saw my lump, he told me that I should go and get it checked out by a specialist, so I did. The specialist did a fine needle biopsy which had inconclusive results; we followed up with a full biopsy and the results were devastating. At 24 weeks along, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Cancer! I was too young for that!

Those first few weeks of diagnosis were incredibly difficult. Lots and lots of testing; some of it was quite painful. Each day we hoped for the best and we kept pushing through, but the fear consumed us in our quiet moments. No mother-to-be should ever have to wonder if she's going to be around to watch her baby grow up. As days passed we learned that the cancer had already advanced to "Stage 3." It was everywhere but my bone marrow. We had to make a choice. Start chemo right away or deliver early and start as soon as possible. We listened, we prayed, we cried some more. We decided that we would wait until I was 34 weeks to deliver and then start chemo.

The hardest part was watching all my friends — the same friends I had been delighted to share pregnancy with. It seemed things were perfect for them. I remember visiting my best friend the day she had her baby. I was so happy for her, but I was incredibly jealous of how easy things seemed. I cried myself to sleep that night, and I can still feel that hurt in my heart to this day.

But blessings came to me too, although I was still working through the trials. At 34 weeks I delivered a healthy baby boy, who we named Caleb Roy. In fact, though he was 6 weeks early he weighed 6 lbs at birth! He spent 2 weeks in the NICU, but came home as normal as can be. I started chemo the same week I had Caleb. Caleb was the most mellow, easy baby I could imagine. Though I was sick quite a bit, we managed.

Six months later I finished chemo with a perfectly clean bill of health. I've been cancer free over a year now and I am grateful for each moment I have with my husband and son. Life is a beautiful blessing.

From Brenna.

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Note from Design Mom: for the duration of my pregnancy, I'll be posting stories about pregnancy, childbirth and growing a family on Wednesdays. You can find them all by clicking here.

A Dramatic Delivery Story from Danika Gunn

2009-10-28T21:51:00.007-04:00

Note: Fair warning — it's a long story. Also. Times are estimated because I wasn't really looking at the clock. I just know I woke up around 2:30 AM and Lia was born at 3:15 AM.

September 15th, 2004, 2:30 AM- I woke up with really bad cramps. I thought they were just diarrhea cramps from the castor oil I'd taken to try and get labor started.

2:45 AM- I realize they are not diarrhea cramps. They are contractions. And they have now turned into super, incredible amazingly hard contractions. I had my first child without any medication and remembered that the contractions hurt pretty bad at 5 cm, so I think I am about 5 cm and go get in bed to do my hypnobirthing (a deep relaxation technique to help reduce the pain of labor). I told Matt (my husband) I was in labor and for him to start timing the contractions for me. I would tap his arm once when they started and once when it ended. Every time I tapped him it would wake him up and he would say "Oh it wasn't even a minute long" and fall asleep again. (Later he told me that he was just trying to count to 60 in his head.)

Finally the contractions are so hard I can actually feel and see my belly jerking or crunching as the muscles contract. I tell Matt, "I am in so much pain. Call the hospital and tell them to have that epidural at the door. I don't know how I can even get to the car it hurts so bad." He says "You're okay," and kinda rubs my arm a little and falls asleep again. In his defense I have to say that when I was talking it was in a very calm quiet voice, because in hypnobirthing you try not to tense up at all. Not even your eyebrows. I knew that if I lost concentration I would be in way more pain. I looked and sounded very calm, almost sleepy. So he thought I was just fine.

2:50 AM- I am ticked at Matt for not listening to me. Plus I am super scared because of this intense pain and I think I still have 6 more hours of it. I ask Matt to help me get ready to go. He doesn't move (I had false labor a couple times the week before and he just thought this was another one of those).

3:00 AM- I get so ticked off and can't control myself any longer and I say, "Fine I don't need any help! I'm only in labor and dying and I can do it myself!" and I rip the covers off and start moving as fast as I can for the bathroom. That got his attention! Again I told him to, "Call the hospital and tell them we're coming," and "I don't know how I can get to the car in this pain." I get to the bathroom and think I should go to the bathroom before I go to the hospital. I sit down and start another contraction and it is so intense that my legs shot straight out in front of me. I still think I have a couple more hours of this.

3:01 AM- I hear Matt talking on the phone saying our address and how old I am. I'm wondering, “Why he is even telling the hospital those things?” (Later I find out he was talking to a 911 operator, not someone at the hospital) “All he needs to do is to tell them to tell the doctor we are coming in.” But before I can yell at him to just get to the point, my body is overcome with this super intense pressure and I can't talk or breathe. I grabbed the side of the sink terrified. My body had never done that with Abe (my first baby). I didn't know what was going on. But then I felt "the burn." Most of the ladies should know what I'm talking about here. I realized that I did not have any hours left. The baby was coming now!

3:05 AM- I tried to tell Matt but I couldn't get my breath. He is still talking on the phone. I finally get a little voice back and tell Matt, "She's coming. She's coming out." The phone is not cordless so I hear him trying to make it over to me and telling the operator, "She says the baby is coming, but I don't think she is." Then he turns on the bathroom light and sees Lia's head starting to come through. He tells the operator that she is indeed coming and the operator says, "stay on the phone."

He can't reach me and stay on the phone at the same time. He chucks the phone and gets to me just as Lia's full head comes out. At this point I remember everything calming down a bit. I wasn't in pain anymore. So we were just sitting there trying to gather our thoughts. I asked Matt if the cord was around her neck. He said no, but then he checked a little harder and found that it was wrapped around her neck. Later he told me that due to all the pressure the cord was so, so hard to get off from around her neck that he was just pulling on that thing! He got the cord off her neck.

3:15 AM- Lia is born! And she is breathing! Hurray!

3:16 AM- I am sitting on the toilet looking at this beautiful baby in my arms, wondering what just happened. Matt gets back on the phone and tells the operator the baby is okay. We wrap her in a towel and try to figure out what the heck is going on. And just oohing and aahing over her. She was so sweet. We found out later that she was 8 lbs 10 oz. So beautiful!

3:19 AM- I am buck naked so Matt tries to put some grey sweat pants on me but the placenta hasn't come through yet so we decide no pants.

3:20 AM- The paramedics arrive. There are ambulance dudes and fireman there. Three of them cram into our tiny little apartment bathroom and stare at me. Naked and holding a baby on the toilet. They ask me if I'm bleeding. Duh. They just stare. I am still holding Lia and I am shaking. I feel like I should say something to them so I tell them, "I was just sitting here and I had a baby. Will you please take her? I'm afraid I might drop her from all this shaking." So they let Matt cut the cord and take her away.

Matt called the only friends we had, The Sanchez family, to see if Sarilu could come over and pick up Abe so we could go to the hospital. Sarilu had been an ER nurse for a long time so when she saw the baby was still not dried off and wrapped up warm she told them, "Get that baby wrapped in a space blanket," and then she had to leave. They didn't wrap her in a space blanket. I remember one of them saying "She looks kinda blue," and the next one answering, "Don't worry she'll pink up at the hospital when they dry her off and rub her a bit." I wish I could have been thinking clearly, because I would have just taken the baby from them and done it myself.

(No more time line because I have no concept of time or much else at this point).

I still have not delivered the placenta but one dude says "Well, let's get you to the hospital." I'm still buck naked and I am trying to stand up. Finally one of them notices I need a little help and grabs my arm to help me up. Then he waits for me to start walking out the bathroom door. (Sorry this gets a little gross). Problem. My umbilical cord is just dangling there dripping blood on the tile and I don't want to get blood on my carpet. So I tell the paramedics this. One of them glances around and then pulls one of my towels off the rack and says "Straddle this". I do. "Let's go," he says again.

Problem. I'm still naked. There are all kinds of lights flashing outside. "I don't want my neighbors to see me naked." One of them leaves to go find me something to wear. He returns with this dark green, really short, satin robe that I have not even seen for a long time. I put it on just happy not to be naked. And then out the door we go. No help. Just me waddling out into the cold, September Colorado night with no shoes or socks, a nighty, and a towel between my legs trying to make it down the flight of stairs to the ambulance.

If I had been able to think clearly I would have done things a lot differently. I think my husband and I were in a bit of shock and we were just doing what the guys in uniform told us to do. I had to stop 2 times on the stairs to have 2 more contractions. I was just shaking and gripping the rail. Matt was busy with the baby or else he would have been taking really good care of me. These paramedics had no idea what they were doing.

When I get to the bottom of the stairs I start to cross the sidewalk to get in the ambulance which is 10 feet away. However, the paramedics then decide it is too dangerous for me to walk that 10 feet, put me on a stretcher and then put me in the ambulance to go one block away. Ladies, you know how after you have a baby the nurse rubs your belly. Well these paramedics do that to me and they each take a turn learning how to do it. I kept telling them that it really hurt and that I needed a break. They just told me to take another breath. I wanted to hit them. I arrived at the hospital in my sexy little green robe and immediately the nurses ask why the baby is not in a space blanket and whisk her away.

I was taken to a super small room past the broom closet and was left alone there for a long time. I was covered in blood and really, really, really thirsty. Finally someone came in, and I asked for water, but couldn't have any because they were putting me on pitocin to try and get me to deliver the placenta. My doctor came in with crazy hair and I thought I woke him up so I say, "Sorry I woke you up," and he says in a dazed voice, "You didn't. This is like the 15th baby I delivered tonight." After his work is done, placenta and all, he leaves. The nurse says she'll get me some water but then leaves.

I was alone, and had patches of blood on me for a long time. Wondering how my baby is doing and what the heck just happened. Matt was with Lia and she was having a hard time. She was only around 95 degrees when she got to the hospital and was low on oxygen. She had to go to the NICU and Matt stayed with her until she was settled. I am so grateful that he would stay with her when I couldn't.

In hindsight we wish we had never called the paramedics. Matt could have done a better job, and drove us one block for free. But happily (so happily!) at the end of the story we had a healthy baby and a healthy me. Plus a really great story to tell. : )

(For those who are curious, I had my next two daughters at home with a midwife attending. With Hazel, labor started when my water suddenly broke and thirty five minutes later I held her in my arms. Olive's birth was very similar. It started with my water breaking and thirty minutes later I held her in my arms. I am so glad I was at home and not out in public!)

From Danika Gunn of LoGunns.

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Note from Design Mom: for the duration of my pregnancy, I'll be posting stories about pregnancy, childbirth and growing a family on Wednesdays. You can find them all by clicking here.

All in the Alternatives — By Guest Mom Kristy Glass

2009-10-28T21:34:00.004-04:00

Haunted house image here.

My Dad is a dentist, so when we gathered our treats for Halloween to give away to the neighborhood kids, not only did we have the sweets, we also gave out toothbrushes with my Dad’s business address and phone number. A tiny part of me thought it was lame that my Dad did this, but most of me thought it was a pretty great idea. I had never gotten a toothbrush on Halloween before, I thought it was original.

When we got home, we would sort through our findings, trade with our siblings, your favorite for mine....until everyone was super satisfied. My faves: Kit Kats, Peanut M & Ms, Snickers and Reeses Peanut Butter Cups. Those are still my faves, but I developed a peanut allergy after I finished my pregnancy with my second child, so now I am just mad when I see all of my faves in my kids pumpkins.

This year my daughter’s school is sponsoring Healthy Halloween. Without knowing all the details, I have been thinking about alternatives to sugar treats, and junky plasticky stuff. Ideas....GO!:

-MEMORY game-using classmates photos or halloween images on back of cards
-Slap bracelets (they’re back!) I’ve spotted them at Oriental Trading Co. and Claire’s Accessories
-Homemade Halloween Bookmarks
-Homemade Necklaces
-Instruments...we have a beloved maraca made out of a witches head.
-My favorite idea (probably for a small group of children as opposed to handing it out to the neighborhood): Halloween Music CD

My fave halloween tracks:

Justin Roberts:
Maybe the Monster (Meltdown!)
Thought it was a Monster (Yellowbus)

Harry Connick, Jr. Songs I Heard Album:
Spoonful of Sugar, Jitterbug, Land of Oz, Candy Man

Oingo Boingo:
Who do you want to be?
Weird Science
When the Lights Go Out

Barbra Streisand:
Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf
Ding-Dong, the witch is dead

Laurie Berkner:
Chock-o-lot in my Pock-o-lot

What are your favorite candy alternatives?

Find more from Kristy at her blog Glass Posse.