Living With Kids: Emily Coulter
Emily owns a flower shop. On Martha’s Vineyard. So of course I asked her about the Kennedy compound and other celebrity sightings, but she told me so much more about the island than I ever knew! Like it’s the poorest county in its state, but visited by the wealthiest people in the world. Amazing. And they have a way for local families to purchase property that they otherwise might not be able to afford. Genius.
Interested in hearing more from Emily? Oh, me too. Let’s do it.
… Living With Kids: Andrea Levoff
If you’re struggling to find parenting advice that fits your unique family, perhaps Andrea Levoff’s levity will help. In her own words, she’s “passionate about easing the suffering of the Mom World by helping her clients find more joy and freedom in motherhood through deep transformation and comedy.”
Truly, you must read how she got her start in stand-up; even if you aren’t interested in becoming a comedian, there’s an excellent push by Andrea to start doing things that scare you. So let’s all do that, okay? Okay.
Welcome, Andrea!
… DIY: Shrinky Dink Valentines
Cute! Cute! Look at these adorable Shrinky Dink Valentines that Amy Christie created. Have you ever used shrink film? It’s so much fun! You buy it in 8.5 x 11 sheets and it basically looks like a paper-thin piece of plastic — you can find it in opaque white, clear, or tons of other solid colors.
Then you draw or print on it, and put it in the oven briefly, where it thickens up and shrinks dramatically. Kids go nuts watching it happen! We went through a fairly long shrink film phase when we lived in France and the main thing I remember is that all six kids, toddler to teen, couldn’t get enough.
We would use it to make charms for bracelets, key chains, or little tokens to keep in your pocket or add to a letter. And of course, you can make pins like these too! These are especially easy because you can use the free printable.
… Living With Kids: Zoie Kingsbery Coe
You’ve probably heard of Kid & Coe – holiday properties that put kids first – but now it’s time to meet its enthusiastic founder, Zoie. She created the company so that she and all the rest of us traveling with kids in tow had another option apart from the standard hotel room and resulting “Shhhhhhh” from check-in on. She’s now got a solid collection of kid-friendly rentals around the world, plus insight from local parents about how to get the best out of your stay.
And today, she’s taking us around one of her favorite properties of all: her own! Welcome, Zoie! So glad you’re here.
… How To Say No
We’ve all been told a million times not to put too much on our plates, to be protective of our time, to prevent getting stressed out, to say no more often. But based on a whole lot of emails from overwhelmed readers this month, it seems like we’re not very good at saying no. : )
At least, I know I’m not.
It would be one thing if our to-do list was full of items that felt frivolous (though that’s certainly a relative term); it would be easy to say no to something like shop for ski pants, because I have no plans for skiing this year. But it’s really quite difficult to figure out what to eliminate when the things in our life, the things on our plate, are good, worthy things — like exercising, calling a friend who needs to talk something out, bringing a meal to a neighbor who just had a baby, volunteering in our 1st grader’s classroom, taking on some of the work load of a co-worker who has a sick parent, picking out a birthday present for our husband.
Which thing should we say no to? Which ball should I drop, guilt free?
… Random Thoughts
Tada! I’m back with another installation of my Random Thoughts. I try to post one of these once a month, and it’s basically a compilation of whatever is on my mind at the moment. Feel free to share your own random thoughts in the comments.
– Today was the day we sent Maude off to Paris once again. For some reason, I thought it would feel less emotional, but nope, there we were at the airport, bawling once again. As I waved her off with tears streaming down my face, a sobering thought popped into my head: so the next 10 or 15 years is just going to be a series of emotional goodbyes? Oh dear. No real conclusion here. Just thinking about this.
The last time, Maude was gone for 3 months. But this time, she doesn’t have a return flight yet, and the current plan is that she won’t come home until school ends in France, which is the first week of July. So we’re talking six months without seeing her!
… Living With Kids: Alice Ashe
Alice and her husband live in a 101-year old home in the 16th Street Heights neighborhood of DC, along with their two-year old son, Emmett. I always love peeking in on families with one young kid, as they seem to be at the very beginning stages of learning about this whole living with kids thing! It’s all so fresh and inspiring, even to those of us living with much older kids and transitioning out of the toys-in-every-room stage.
Welcome, Alice. We can’t wait to walk around your home!
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Living With Kids: Elizabeth Brantley
For all those out there wondering if it’s still acceptable to keep up the holiday decorations through the first full weekend of January, Elizabeth is here for you. You’re not late, you’re not procrastinating – you’re just observing Twelfth Night, maybe! Now, don’t you feel better?
I’m excited to share her with you, and then we’re moving on to how you’re all living with kids post holiday. No more trees. No more ornaments. No more twinkly lights. I promise. (There will probably be twinkly lights. Who am I kidding?)
Welcome, Elizabeth!
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Living With Kids: Amy Clark
I don’t think this was even supposed to be a holiday home tour, but when I saw Amy’s cheery bursts of Christmas on some older photos, I knew I wanted to share her with you this time of year. It worked out so well, since her message is one I’d like to take along in the New Year. She’s honest about her home, honest about her illness, honest about her worries of not doing it all, and honest in her ultimate reaction to take life as it comes. Even when it doesn’t look like the pictures you’ve pinned in your inspiration files. Especially then.
I’m so excited to end December with this one.
… Too Many Christmas Gifts? How Many Gifts Do Your Kids Get for Christmas?
Back in 2010, when my kids were much younger I was asked about Christmas gifts for kids, from a reader who felt like she always overbought too many Christmas gifts. How many is too many gifts? Six years later, I think it’s time to revisit the topic.
Gift shopping definitely changes as kids become young adults. The presents get smaller and smaller, with bigger and bigger price tags. (Think cell phones and jewelry.) This is something I’m super aware of because as I plan for Christmas morning, I have a picture in my head of what I want it to look like (big! magical! high impact!), and tiny gifts can make it harder to achieve.
…Too Many Christmas Gifts? How Many Gifts Do Your Kids Get for Christmas?Read More »
Living With Kids: Ashley Muir Bruhn
You’ve probably read Ashley’s blog. It’s been around a while, and it’s always been a lovely place to spend some time. If you check out her FAQ, in fact, you’ll easily lose an afternoon. (See: Can you help me plan a trip to New York and Can you tell me more about shipping furniture from Bali?)
I’m thrilled she offered to show us around her home today. There’s a lot of inspiration here, friends! Welcome, Ashley!
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Random Thoughts
Well how did that happen? I just realized that I accidentally skipped my November Random Thoughts post. I’m betting I was too distracted with the new site launch. Oh well. It happens. But today, I’m back with another installation! Feel free to share your own random thoughts in the comments.
… Gorgeous DIY Leather Tassels – A Gift Kids Can Make (and Grownups Will Want to Make)
This post is brought to you by Cricut Explore Air™ 2. Check out their amazing 12 Days of Christmas sales happening right now, with Cricut machines as low as $139.99 — these prices won’t last long!
Here’s a gift idea I know you’ll love. These DIY leather tassels are so easy to put together, and they look gorgeous! Hang a few from your handbag or tote, use them as keychains, or top off a gift with one — wherever you put them, they’ll for sure add a big dose style and sophistication.
Amy Christie and I were thinking of gift ideas that kids can really make — useable projects that look legit — and realized that with the Cricut Explore Air 2, making tassels is suddenly easy as pie, even for kids. Because all the cutting is done for you! And with Cricut, the cuts are totally precise, so the tassels really look fabulous — your kids will want to make them for their piano teacher, their coach, their favorite aunt. Your teens will want to make them for everybody they know. But fair warning, they’re so pretty you may want to keep them all to yourself!
…Gorgeous DIY Leather Tassels – A Gift Kids Can Make (and Grownups Will Want to Make)Read More »
Living With Kids: Ashana Sophia
Ashana Sophia and her family live in a 150-year old farmhouse they rescued and renovated with intention. They filled it with heirlooms, like 60-year old couches and chairs, and turned the front yard into an overflowing jungle of vegetables, herbs, tropical fruit, and flowers.
And speaking of flowers and herbs, they’re also owners of Agua de Flora Botanical Perfumery, creating their old-world scents in a Little Perfume House.
It’s all pretty magical. Come see. Welcome, Ashana!
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DIY: Paper Bottle Brush Trees (Yes! Made from Paper!)
This post is brought to you by Cricut Explore Air™ 2.
I’m a huge fan of the snowy, wintery setups I see this time of year. A little village on the entry table, or a happy tiny forest on a cake platter. Of course, they always feature bottle brush trees, and I got to thinking: could I make a bottle-brush style tree out of paper? So that I can choose the size, the color, and the shape? And I can make as many as I need? Well after some experimenting, the answer is: yes! We can all totally make Paper Bottle Brush Trees! And they are adorable!!
I’m so excited about this project! I’ve been working with Amy Christie on this for a few weeks. We tried circle shapes and square shapes. We messed with proportions and materials. We tried different colors and color palettes. And we LOVE where we landed. This project is perfect for your Cricut Explore Air™ 2 machine. Each tree uses approximately 100 pieces of stacked paper in descending sizes — and your Cricut can cut those pieces so quickly and easily, you’ll whip these trees up in a snap!
Ready to make your own wintery centerpiece?
…DIY: Paper Bottle Brush Trees (Yes! Made from Paper!)Read More »
Easy DIY Advent Calendar with Free Printable!
December starts tomorrow! Will you be counting down this year? If you’d like to whip up something quick, this easy DIY advent calendar is as simple as can be — just print the free pattern, then trim, roll and staple.
And there are all sorts of fun things you can put inside! Small ornaments or candies are a natural fit, but maybe more fun is putting a slip of paper in each one with a suggested holiday activity for the day. Like, go on an evening drive to look at Christmas lights, or sing Christmas Carols, or take a trip to see Santa, or go ice-skating. It’s such a good way to make sure you’re fitting in all those activities that make the holiday season feel magical.
… Living With Kids: Heidi Corbin
November is National Adoption Month, and so I’m especially happy to share Heidi with you before the month ends! Her family recently adopted a newborn domestically, and she has lots to tell us about that process as well as being a conspicuous family. (I don’t think I’d ever heard that term, have you?) And never waiting for a clear day to head outside. You see, she lives in the Pacific Northwest, so she and her babes are accustomed to getting a little wet out there.
Her positivity and can-do attitude will recharge your week. I felt it myself and I hope you do, too. Welcome, Heidi!
… No Homework Policy
No Homework – A New Policy at our Elementary School
Something new happened at our elementary school this year. The principal implemented a school-wide rule: no homework. No worksheets, no book reports, no times table drills. No homework for the kindergarteners, no homework for the 5th graders, no homework for all the grades in between. Nothing. Well not nothing. Families are still asked to read with their kids on a daily basis. But that’s it. And that doesn’t really feel like homework. It feels like our normal bedtime routine. Our school is not alone. You may have read this article in Time, which discusses the idea that our societal reactions to homework are cyclical. We swing from demanding more homework, to refusing to do any at all. And right now, the societal trend is toward less homework. Especially for elementary school kids, because research hasn’t been able to show a correlation between homework and better learning at young ages. …DIY: Alphabet Magnets
Here’s a project that is super easy, that looks great, and that you and your kids will use daily: DIY Alphabet Magnets! With a couple of simple tools, you’ll be making these this afternoon, and your fridge will be a literary masterpiece by this evening.
Since you’re making these yourself, you can decide how many of each letter you would like — extra Ts for everyone! And a set makes a charming gift for a teacher, or anyone who frequents the metal filing cabinet in their office. Did you have an alphabet set on your fridge as a kid? Remember anything special you spelled out?
Let’s get to W-O-R-K!
… Living With Kids: Molly McLean
By Gabrielle.
Molly is a kindred spirit; we both consider crumbs our nemesis! She’s also a big believer in baskets, slipcovered furniture, prints to hide the daily kid stains, and she absolutely loves where she lives. As she says, “I have never been anywhere I like more than Asheboro.” You know I love people who love where they live!
I know you’ll enjoy Molly as much as I did! Welcome, sweet Molly!
My husband David, eight-year old daughter Ella, and two-year old Adeline live here with me as well as a Schnauzer-Lab mix, a fish, and a hermit crab. Three days a week, Della, the most wonderful nanny on the planet and her little girl Chloe hang out with Adeline and Ella after school while I work at the office. We consider Della family since we couldn’t survive without her for sure. She is like the salt of the earth!
I would say I’m a little quirky. I love to laugh and it might actually drive some people crazy. They are always nice enough not to tell me if it does. My husband and I been married 16 years and dated five before that. I would say I am quite friendly and rarely meet a stranger. Definitely creative. My entire side of the family is creative on my mom’s side, and my husband is an engineer so we are quite opposite. I am pretty sure the oldest will be following in my footsteps. She bought her first Better Homes and Gardens magazine at five and wanted to redo the living room as well as plan a party within a few minutes.
It has taken me awhile to hone my style. In the first years of our marriage and making a home, I used whatever I could get my hands on and shopped primarily in the family barns. Family, heirlooms, those are all important to me. I like to be surrounded by what makes me feel happy and all warm and fuzzy inside.
The worst designing I did was most likely during the wallpaper border phase. I’m sure we had a border in every room of our first house with builder grade flat white paint. Hideous would be a good word to describe it! Then my neighbor introduced me to the Oops paint counter at the hardware store, so from there color came into our lives! It was cheap and I could do it myself. I got some sample Martha Stewart paint swatches at Kmart and it told how to paint so I went from there. I had the design degree, but doing the elbow grease, that had not been taught. With time, my taste got much better — thank goodness. I always say I was a late bloomer!
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