By Gabrielle. You know by now that not much inspires me more than seeing how you’re all living with kids, especially when your own style and aesthetic grows up beautifully alongside them. Sure, there might be growing pains and a few awkward years and one or two horribly stained couches! But style, to me, has a lot in common with family life: it’s all about evolving and being better tomorrow than you may have been today. Iris and her family epitomize that ideal so perfectly. Not only are there five kids (I love seeing how stylishly big families are living!), but there’s also this underlying current of preparing everyone for real someday life while enjoying them so much right this very minute. Friends, I am pleased to introduce you to Iris! You’re going to love her. Q: You’re Australian, married to a Swiss man and have five kids…living in the north of France. Draw us a map how you’ve traveled to this point! A: Hello! My name is Iris but most people call me Cilla. I know, it’s weird. Eric is my Swiss husband and we have five kids, all of whom hold triple nationalities! There’s Zachary, who just turned 18, which I cannot even believe; where did my baby go? Then there’s John (16), Jessy (15), Anna (12), and Eve, who is nine. Eric and I met in Paris while working at the same place. We married about a year later and went to live in Switzerland; first, in the German speaking part where Eric is from, near Basel, and then in Geneva which is French speaking. We studied there, but our hearts pulled us back to France. Our first son Zach was born, and soon after John. At this time an opportunity for work brought us to the north of France where we still live 16 years later! Q: How would you describe your house? What makes it your home? A: Our house is an old farmhouse that we bought and renovated to the best of our tight budget. A lot of sweat on Eric’s part! He’s had enough now but it really has served our family well. It is spacious and full of light which is so important in our region. It is mostly open plan downstairs, so it really promotes family life. We like being together, even though each one can find a little space for himself when necessary. I think it’s the people that live in it that makes it my home! I actually associate my family with home. If they are there, then that’s my home. …

Living With Kids: Iris DettwilerRead More »

By Gabrielle. Alt Summit SLC has arrived. The first panels and keynotes start today. In fact, I really need to get off my computer and get dressed and get going! As I mentioned in an earlier post, I’m an Alt Summit founder and owner, and my ongoing responsibilities include determining, inviting and overseeing all the panels, classes and speakers. It’s an exciting job that requires many hours over many months. I couldn’t sleep well last night, because today’s the day I get to see all that work in action. I know from experience there will be dozens of challenges that pop up, big and small, throughout the conference, and I so badly want to be able to handle them with grace under pressure. Among the many things on my mind, I want to be attentive and undistracted during my conversations, to assist the speakers with their technical setup and bring them calm and encouragement — and to make sure the Keynote Speakers are picked up from the airport on time. : ) The photo at top is one of the outfits I wore to Alt Summit last year. I felt confident and feminine and sassy in it and hope I can channel the same emotions this year. Wish me luck! P.S. — If you’ll allow me a brag, I am over-the-moon about the speaker line-up and schedule! I feel so proud of what our team has put together. This is going to be the best Alt yet!

By Carter. Lewis Carroll’s peculiar tale of nonsense, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, is awfully illogical, but utterly wonderful. When the Mad Hatter declares, “It’s always tea-time!”, it really, truly is. He bickered with Time (over something silly, presumably!) and this party is stuck — forever — on tea-time. Not the worst luck in the world, right? How I would love to be at a long table, enjoying tea into infinity with you! I’m sure we would never run out of things to talk about. Until then, I’ll just stare lovingly at this print by Emily McDowell, which you can purchase in her shop here. P.S. — This series — illustrated quotes from children’s books — is a collaboration between Emily McDowell and myself. You can find the whole series here.

By Gabrielle. Instagram shot by Ben Blair. Oh my goodness you guys. This one is for all the Paris lovers and dreamers out there. I can not wait for you to see this episode! It feels magical to me. I could just watch it forever. I love seeing such a magnificent place through a child’s eyes. When we move back to the U.S., I’m positive we’ll watch this movie every time we get homesick for France. (Try it on vimeo if it’s not playing for you here.) You can find out a little backstory about this episode here, and for those who are curious, Betty’s pom pom hat and over-the-knee socks are from Tea Collection. Please tell me you love the video as much as I do! P.S. — Huge thanks to Tiger in a Jar for the gorgeous footage, to Merrilee Liddiard for the beautiful title illustration, and to our friend Caroline for helping out the entire time!

By Amy Christie When I was first driving, my key chains out-numbered the passengers I was allowed to have in the car. They were big, clunky and heavy but so very cool. : ) Nowadays, I think of my keychain as a piece of jewelry — I crave something with color and design, something that feels good in my hand — and these wooden key chains fit the bill. I think they would make such a pretty “just because” gift for a friend, and they would be perfect to celebrate someone’s new driver’s license as well! This project isn’t as detailed as you might think. Using markers instead of paint, there is less fiddling and dry-time is non-existent. Then with a little patience and strength, an ordinary blade can cut through the wood. Simple materials, simple tools, simple project. Here’s how it’s done. …

The Perfect Gift: Wooden Key ChainRead More »

By Gabrielle. Mind if I do a little show-and-tell? I finally snapped photos of these this morning and they are still making me grin. Eight antique French kitchen towels! These have been on my list as the number one souvenir I want to bring home from France so you can guess how happy I was when I spotted a basket of them at a brocante (sort of an odds and ends antique shop) for 5 euros each. I’ve shopped around and that’s a good price — and really, pretty similar to what a new dish towel might cost. I quickly went through the basket, picked out my favorite eight (4 of them have embroidered initials!), and asked Ben Blair to give them to me for Christmas. : ) They are not a matching set, but they all have a distinctive red stripe in common. And although these would still function very well as regular old useful dish towels, my intention is to use them as a set of dinner napkins. They’re not a typical square napkin shape — in fact, several are quite long, and all are definitely rectangular. But I think they’ll make wonderful napkins all the same. Some are a bit spotty, so the next step will be a good soak in the laundry to see how clean I can get them. What do you think? Do they appeal to you like they do to me? And do you think I need more? What sort of souvenirs would you bring home? P.S. — I first mentioned seeing linens like these here.

Hooray! Here’s the trailer for Olive Us Season 3. We filmed most of the upcoming episodes in early November and we’re excited to share them with you. We tried some new-to-us formats plus new locations, and once again, we had a great time working with the talented Tiger in a Jar. I hope you enjoy the little sneak peek! But here’s the really big news: To celebrate Season 3, we’re hosting our first ever Olive Us Contest — and you could win an iPad Mini!! It’s really easy to enter, find out all the details here.   P.S. — If the video isn’t showing up for you, try watching it here. And be sure to subscribe to the Olive Us newsletter so you don’t miss any behind the scenes fun!

By Gabrielle. Amazing Movie Marquee by my sister at Oh Happy Day. I’ve got another Celebrations video to share with you! I think it’s a cute one. It features the whole family (plus pajamas and a trombone solo), and it’s all about turning an average Friday night into an Epic Family Movie Party. Also, I hope you like the sound of my voice, because I talk and talk and talk throughout the whole video. If you want to create your own special movie night, you’re in luck, I put together a collection of 15 movie-party sources over on Babble just for you. And now it’s your turn: What are your movie party traditions? And more importantly, who gets to decide which movie to watch? How about You’ve Got Mail? : ) P.S. — Fun fact: this was actually the first Celebrations episode we made, but I didn’t want it to get lost in the Halloween-Thanksgiving-Christmas rush, so I’ve been saving it till now.

By Gabrielle. I like Victoria’s style. It doesn’t even matter whether I’m talking about her line of textiles, her easy-going tween parenting philosophy, her practiced yet practical eye for design that makes sure everything in her home is within reach and always touchable (see the Louis Ghost chair incident later in the interview!), or just her general skill for surrounding those she loves with things to love. This is a good home. I can feel the joy inside, and I hope you will, too! Friends, meet Victoria. Q: I can already tell this is going to be a fun family! Will you tell us all about you? A: I live with my 11-year old girls, Madison (Mugsy) and Olivia; my husband, Chris; our rescue Doodle, Griffon; and Velcro the cat. Chris is a professional sailor and he’s gone a good portion of the time, so usually it’s just us girls. I grew up here in Annapolis and now the girls are enjoying the Chesapeake Bay, sailing, swimming, crabbing, and boating. Mugsy is our ice hockey player and dancer, and Olivia is our rider (Western not English – think barrel racing), fencer, and fisherman. For some reason we seem to like hobbies with lots of gear. I’m an artist, gardener, and official dog walker. I adore design, art, and music, and now the girls are following suit and attending a magnet school for the arts. I love DIY projects and I’m not afraid of power tools. I dislike particle board and design shows that make people think that they can transform their home in two hours or less. Design to me is a process and a thoughtful one. I do, however, believe you can change the world with a can of paint. Q: How did this house become your home? A: We actually moved from another house in the same neighborhood. We are lucky to live in an older neighborhood with mature trees, lots of children, and the kindest people you have ever met. …

Living With Kids: Victoria LarsonRead More »

By Gabrielle. The older kids were talking about romantic comedies over the holiday break, and I encouraged them to watch You’ve Got Mail. Maybe they were faking, but they seemed to really enjoy it. At the very least, I got a kick out of watching them watch it. : ) There was a year, about the time Maude was born, when I watched that movie at least a hundred times, but I hadn’t seen it in forever. Have you watched it lately? I can’t believe how much I still like it. That caviar is a GARNISH! This time around, the bookstore storyline really hit me, and the reality of how much things have changed in the last decade. If we were placing bets in 2013 on which store had the better chance of surviving the year — Shop Around the Corner vs. Big Bad Fox Books — my money would be on the little guy. I would suggest some sort of artisanal twist, like beefing up her collection of first editions, or concentrating on out-of-print books. And I would definitely encourage her to offer her in-store collection online. But poor Fox Books, what in the world we would recommend to a 3-story-mega-book-chain? I’m afraid I would sadly tell them the forecast doesn’t look good. Would you agree? Can you imagine what the world will be like in another 10 years? And the most important question: Do you like the movie as much as I? P.S. — I get a huge kick out of listening to the dial-up internet sounds in the opening credits. P.P.S. — I still covet Meg Ryan’s hair in this movie. Also, her apartment.

By Gabrielle. Today we took advantage of the sun and visited 3 islands in the Venice Lagoon. I snapped the photo of the necklaces above on the island of Murano — home of the famed Murano glass. Yes, I bought one. Will you laugh at me if I tell you it was a version in grey? It was hanging to the left of the blue ones and didn’t even make my photo. All that color and I went for the industrial looking one. Hah! What color would you have picked? Tomorrow is our last day in Venice. We’re still undecided on what we’re going to do, but I’m not worried. It’s hard to go wrong.

By Gabrielle. Hello, Friends! Just checking in for a bit from our hotel. Yesterday was sunny (but cold!) and we packed in as much sightseeing as we could, because we knew today’s forecast was rain, rain, rain. Today, we were less ambitious. We pulled on our wellies, bought 3 cheapie umbrellas, and visited the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Then spent the afternoon keeping warm and dry in our hotel — we had a junk food picnic and watched a movie while June napped. : ) Tomorrow, we’re hoping to visit some of the Lagoon islands. Mostly, we keep marveling at how often we gasp when we turn a corner. Venice is spectacular in any kind of weather. How is January treating you so far? P.S. — I’m taking lots of photos on instagram (like the shot above) if you’d like to follow along.

By Carter. This illustrated gift from Emily McDowell swelled up a giant lump in my throat. It’s been a week of sadness in the midst of a season of expectation, and these words ring especially true. Do you remember this moment in A Christmas Carol? A fragile Tiny Tim exclaims this with gusto and thanks for the smallest of things. That seed of love was planted in the heart of a man, where only coldness and sorrow occupied it before. Beautiful, right? It’s a plea and a hope for all of us this year. P.S. — This series — illustrated quotes from children’s books — is a collaboration between Emily McDowell and myself. You can find the whole series here.

By Jordan of Polkadot Press Edited by Amy Christie These balsa wood gift tags are a quick way to jazz up your Christmas gifts. An added bonus is they’re simple enough for little hands to help with. If your children are anything like my 4-year-old, they’ll love stamping and punching holes in the balsa wood! You’ll probably have everything you need on hand except the Balsa wood, which is easy to come by and quite inexpensive. I bought one length from a craft store and I will have enough for all my tags! Grab those wrapped gifts and let’s get started. …

DIY: Balsa Wood Gift TagsRead More »

By Lindsey Johnson. If you’ve ever stood in the cheese section in any grocery store, you’re well aware that cheese board ideas can be super intimidating. There are literally thousands of cheeses from all over the world! And apparently, some of the very best ones smell awful! How do you narrow it down? What cheeses go well together? How in the world does one pronounce Gruyère? I might not be able to help you with your French accent, but I’m here with some great cheese board ideas as well as a guide to creating a cheese plate extraordinaire. I promise it won’t be so intimidating once we cover a few basics. …

Living Well: 7 Secrets for Beautiful Cheese Board IdeasRead More »

Charming images of Dutch architecture always feel Christmas-y to me. They make me want to create a little holiday village with twinkle lights, and a vintage matchbox car riding through town with a tiny tree tied on top. The holiday village won’t be happening this year, but I did make this Dutch House garland and I love how it turned out! If you have access to a Cricut, this is a fun and easy project that you can do while you’re in front of the TV. (I’ll assume your watching Elf or It’s a Wonderful Life.) Grab some cardstock and the Folk Art Festival cartridge — and a bowl of something to snack on — and you’ll put this together in a snap. In plenty of time for your holiday parties this weekend! Do you want to see how it works? …

DIY: Dutch House Christmas GarlandRead More »

By Gabrielle. When I browsed through Andrea‘s home tour for the first time, I was in a bit of a rush. Deadlines were clamoring for my attention, and I was just about to listen. Until time seemed to stop, and I found myself in a little spot where books were as big as afternoon ideas. The view outside the windows seemed to go on forever, which is probably the best thing for daydreams. And whatever this family who lived here wanted to make? I bet they had everything they needed to make it. It was just one of those spaces that spoke to me. And I think it asked me to stay awhile. So let’s do that right now. Please enjoy Andrea’s home, Friends! Q: Tell us all about the cute Canadian family who lives here! A: We are five. Glenn, my wonderful husband, is a natural gas inspector. I’m Andrea. I was in watershed management but became a stay-at-home mom who raises some livestock and dabbles in art. Our first child is Katie, a five year old, old soul who giggles, loves reading Charlotte’s Web, and is best mates with her brother Jack. He’s four years old and loves grand storytelling with elaborate details, twisting plots, and implausible scenarios. Madeleine is an eight month old babbling, standing, into-it-all firecracker who has the loveliest smile. Eyes on that one at all times! Molly, scruffy dog one, and Clyde, scruffy dog two, come in to lie by the fire. In our electric blue chicken coop (by the by, never pick paint colors while pregnant!), we’ve some dear old laying hens. And past the garden is our grass-fed herd of Dexter cows who help to keep Trixie, old pony extraordinaire, company. …

Living With Kids: Andrea GordaRead More »

By Gabrielle. Hello, Friends. How are you holding up? No doubt, you are probably trying to wrap your head around the horrible news of yesterday, and at the same time attempting to enjoy a holiday weekend with your little ones. I find my attempts to do both absolutely brain bending. Word of the shootings came to me yesterday (Friday) as I was writing this exact A Few Things post. Of course, as soon as I heard the news, all work ceased. I couldn’t form another thought, and certainly not a sentence. And I know I’m not alone — my inbox pretty much dried up yesterday, when normally it would be very busy on a December Friday. I don’t know that my brain is any further along at comprehending what happened yesterday, but I woke up today to my kids feeling festive and talking about Christmas and wanting to visit the local creche exhibit and I feel compelled to at least attempt some normalcy, so I’m writing this post and hoping it will bring some needed distraction, and possibly even cheer, to anyone who’s feeling overwhelmed. I’m going to write the list in my typical, cheerful-with-lots-of-exclamation-points tone — please forgive me if it feels out of place. They are typed with a heavy heart. Here are a few things I’ve been wanting to share with you: – Hah! It’s French, but I think you’ll follow along. Thanks, Monique. – The anatomy of a holiday card. – Family project: Recycling a canvas. – I oohed and aahed through every photograph. Thanks, Danni. – Maintain Your Joy. – Benchwarmer has his day in the spotlight. Happy, happy! – For my LDS friends, I just heard about this yesterday (apparently my 12 member branch was the last to know : ). I love my church and I will definitely be wearing pants. – You’ve seen this before but it never fails to bring a smile. And here are my posts on Babble this week: – How do you display your stockings? Click through for tons of fun ideas! – Cookie exchange this weekend? Here you go: 20 ideas and recipes. – More details on my last-minute grocery store gift picks. What would you add? I hope you are having a good weekend. I hope you’re able to find a hopeful or lovely thought and cling to it until the cloud lifts. And if you’re compelled to take action, I hope you’re able to find something fruitful and satisfying to do. I will meet you back here on Monday. I miss you already. kisses, Gabrielle P.S. — The image at top is the holly swag on my front door. See more on my Instagram stream. —— [ Update: Looking for the comments on this post? Click on the title of the post and they’ll show up. ]

By Gabrielle. I made another video for my Celebrations Series! Would you like to see it? It features a collection of 9 cool products you can pick up at any grocery store as last-minute hostess gifts. Stylish items that make great gifts and won’t look last-minute at all. (You can read more about why I picked each item in my Babble slideshow notes.) Let me know what you think. And tell me what you’d add to my list! In the mood for something beyond my 9 suggestions? Here are my tips for Grocery Store Gift Buying: 1) If you really want to be a pro at last-minute gifts, you’ll need to keep 4 specific items in your glovebox: cellophane bags, a spool of ribbon, gift tags and a small pair of scissors. Those 4 things will transform the most ordinary items into Fabulous Gifts. 2) Avoid anything that’s actually intended to be a gift. No cheese and pepperoni sets. No boxed chocolates with a bow printed across the front. 3) Avoid anything holiday-ish. No red and green candy. No christmas tree shaped packages. These tend to feel generic and last-minute. And once January comes around they feel expired. 4) Avoid anything that’s considered a luxury item. No perfumes or lotions or candles. The options at a grocery store never feel very luxurious. Happy Holidays! Here’s to being stylish — even at the last-minute.

By Amy Christie I’m so pleased with this little project! I collaborated with Jordan of Polkadot Prints to design a darling house-shaped gift box that is as easy as pie to put together. You’ll want to make one for neighbors, postal workers, teachers — pretty much everyone you know! Simply print off the free template, cut it out and double-side tape it together. Fill your house gift boxes with a few small treats and your gift-giving list is done in a flash! …

The Perfect Gift: House Gift BoxesRead More »