Before I say goodbye to Winter this year, I was craving one last project that celebrates the season, so I asked Candice to come up with something cheery and warming. I think her idea is fantastic! — Gabrielle —– I must admit that I love winter. I love layers, mittens, and hot apple cider. I love the bite of cold that hits you when you open the door to head out into the day. I love the way we get to wear cute hats and no one ever thinks it’s just because you didn’t want to do your hair that day. I love the way the clouds hang heavy over mounds of sweeping white snow and how, in the cool light of dawn, you can almost believe in magic. What I don’t love is that somehow that magic runs out by the end of February. It seems like glittery snow turns into tarnished muck. The winds no longer just nibble at your nose; they chase you to your car. Everything is brown and murky; it feels like the world is just waiting for spring and color. I find I’m not very good at waiting and the drag of a long winter brings me down from my happy self. So, this year, my boys and I decided to embrace the last few weeks of winter by spreading good cheer to all our friends who were waiting for spring and warmer days as well. We called them boxes of “Winter Wishes.” …

Double DIY: Chalkboard Twist Ties + Lime MeltawaysRead More »

Last week I formally introduced a travel column, but if you’ve been reading awhile, you know I’m equally interested in adventures closer to home. Every where we’ve lived, there have been beloved landmarks, beautiful views and hip shops — and I’m sure that’s true for you as well! I get a kick out of exploring whatever community I’m living in, so a couple of years ago I asked your opinion about a column called Love the Place You Live. The idea is that we’ll all seek out something cool in our own towns. It could be anything — a great library or museum, a new café, a terrific hike or concert, a favorite building, a local vegetable stand. Whatever you like! Then, we’ll write up our discoveries. I’ll add a linking tool to my post, so that if you’d like to share your adventures, all the links will be in one place, ready to explore. Two years later and I still really love the idea. So let’s do it! Make plans to explore some bit of the place you live. On Monday, I’ll write up a post about what I found and I’ll include a link widget — you can add your post’s link and we can all read about some of the things people love about their towns. Good? I think it will be fun. I can’t wait to see what you guys love about where you live!! What do you think? Is Love The Place You Live appealing to you? Do you like the idea of participating and adding your link? Or maybe just the friendly reminder to do some local exploring? P.S. — I think it’s so important to embrace the place where you are living. Even if you’ll only be there for a short time! Learn to love it. Discover its treasures! Speaking of which, these photos are of an old-chapel-turned-exhibit-space. It’s where we saw the cow exhibit and it’s off by itself on a country road. We’re so glad we know about it!

This is a really good one! It’s called Extra Yarn, and it’s written by Mac Barnett, with beautiful illustrations by Jon Klassen. It’s about little Annabelle who finds out her actions can have a happy effect on her community. The story has kindness, generosity, and a no-good Duke. Your kids will love it. And it will also make a sweet gift for any knitters in your life.

  I know. I know. Discussions about French children, and their behavior, are everywhere right now (including on this very blog). Obviously, it’s a topic I’m curious about while we’re living here in France, so I hope you’ll indulge me. The other day, I heard about a book called French Kids Eat Everything. It’s written by Karen Le Billon, and it comes out in April, so I haven’t read it yet, but the title reminded me of something my children reported — that during school lunches the French kids eat everything on their plate. At every meal. In several cultural guidebooks, I read the same thing is true for adults — that it’s considered rude not to finish everything on your plate at a restaurant or a neighbor’s home. At our home, we don’t have the finish-everything-on-your-plate-official-rule, but since we’ve moved here, I notice that my kids do clean their plates. It seems to be a habit they’ve picked up. And I confess: I like it. I feel like they’re more considerate about how much food they serve themselves, knowing they will finish every bite. They seem to be more aware of their portions. What about you? Do you have any official or unofficial food rules at your house? Do you ever leave unfinished food on your plates? Were you a picky eater as a kid? Are you still one as an adult? P.S. — Drawings by the lovely Sarah Jane — she illustrated the whole book.

You might recognize Natalie Wright from television; she’s more than a little famous! Her stylishly-salvaged home was recently featured on the Nate Berkus show in a House Proud segment to no one’s surprise. She has good ideas, Friends, and she isn’t afraid to make them happen, from hooks hung low to keys hung high, to accessible antiques and collections galore. One of Nate’s favorite things about Natalie’s home is exactly the same as mine: her $4 mail sorter in which she displays her vintage camera collection. Just add that to the list of one-of-a-kind creations Natalie has amassed to make her house a home. Enjoy the tour! Q: Tell us about the lucky ones living in this well-loved home? A: I have lived in my home for seven years with my husband and our four children, ages 13, 11, six, and three. We moved here from Maine, and even though it was quite a change for our family, we love living in Utah. My husband and I both have degrees in photography. He works in fine art publishing, and I have always been drawn towards portraiture and commercial work. My favorite hobby is trying new hobbies! I love to learn new things and am always trying something I have never done before. …

Living With Kids: Natalie WrightRead More »

You may have noticed that earlier this week, I updated my sidebar with links to some of our travel adventures. We’ve done so much exploring this past year that it’s become a recurring topic. So I thought it would be fun to make Travel an official Design Mom column that features daydream destinations, useful tips or products, and reports on our own trips. Which reminds me, I’ve been wanting to share photos from our trip to Florence for ages. You may remember, Ben Blair was speaking at a conference there, so we turned it into a romantic getaway sans kids. Here’s a little writeup of our 10 favorite things in Florence + lots of photos, in case you’d like to see. (And please let me know if you have any ideas about the travel column. I love your feedback!) …

Florence, ItalyRead More »

Rebecca of The Daily Muse has great skin, and she swears by her homemade, super simple skin toner. She says it’s environmentally friendly, all natural with no harsh chemicals, and it’s much less expensive than store-bought toner. Best of all, apparently it actually works — it’s known to clear up blemishes and smooth skin tone. The secret: it’s made from Apple Cider Vinegar! You can find Rebecca’s vinegar-as-toner instructions below. But while we’re on the topic, I’m curious: have you ever tried vinegar on your skin? Do you have other homemade beauty recipes you’re addicted to? Please share! …

DIY: Easy Skin TonerRead More »

Alexis Garrett has an Art Barn and a Surf Shack in her backyard, a laundry truck in her mudroom, vintage French linens on her master bath windows, a gasp-worthy collection of Milk Glass, and a variety of breakable treasures everywhere else. She and her husband also have two young boys. These facts might seem completely incongruous at first glance, but they somehow fit together in perfect harmony in the Garrett home. How does Alexis live with kids? Beautifully. Q: Tell us about the family who lives here. A: Myself and my three guys: my husband Ross, our three-and-a-half year old son Henry, and our seven month old Conrad. Oh, and our 11 year old black lab! I am a “retired” interior designer and my husband works in surf media. As of late, if we aren’t playing at the beach we are looking for the perfect Westfalia Van. …

Living With Kids: Alexis GarrettRead More »

Our big news today: we have hot water again!! In the kitchen. In the bathroom. Even the laundry room! It feels like the best news ever. Our area (and the entire continent of Europe) is just coming out of a record-breaking cold spell. We have been waking up to a new set of frozen pipes every day for the last week or so. Even the gas that’s connected to the stove froze! On Saturday, we were down to cold water in the kitchen, cold water in one bathroom sink, and two toilets. (Hooray for those toilets!) Thankfully, a plumber was checking in all week, thawing what he could, and checking for potentially burst pipes. This morning, he worked on the pipes for a few more hours and told us we’d have hot water sometime today. And he was right! The last few days, it’s felt a bit like camping in our own house. We’ve warmed water with the electric teakettle for hand washing, dishes and sponge baths, and adjusted recipes for the oven instead of the stove. Mostly, it’s felt like an adventure, but when it started to feel discouraging, we decided to treat ourselves to some pastries to make up for it. I chose the pretty apple tartlette above. There is very little that a French bakery won’t solve. : ) Tell me, Friends. Have you ever had a crazy frozen spell like that?

When I was growing up, my father would always give flowers to his four daughters on Valentine’s Day (flowers for Mom too, of course!). Nothing fancy. Often just a single rose or carnation. But I loved it! It made me feel loved and acknowledged — especially during those years when I was longing for, but not receiving, a love note from a particular boy at school. I really like the idea of small, simple tokens of affection and I thought this series of 24 pretty projects would be perfect for anyone who wants to give a sweet nothing to her daughter this year. How about you? Did your parents ever give you Valentine gifts? P.S. — In case you’re curious, the brothers weren’t left out. My Mom would have a little box of chocolates or other tiny treat for each of them. : )

A few weeks ago, we discussed an article that made French mothers sound a bit monstrous. Well apparently, French parenting is a hot topic. On Saturday, The Wall Street Journal printed this article about how French parenting is better, and it’s so positive that it’s practically glowing. Here’s an excerpt: “When I asked French parents how they disciplined their children, it took them a few beats just to understand what I meant. “Ah, you mean how do we educate them?” they asked. “Discipline,” I soon realized, is a narrow, seldom-used notion that deals with punishment. Whereas “educating” (which has nothing to do with school) is something they imagined themselves to be doing all the time. One of the keys to this education is the simple act of learning how to wait. It is why the French babies I meet mostly sleep through the night from two or three months old. Their parents don’t pick them up the second they start crying, allowing the babies to learn how to fall back asleep. It is also why French toddlers will sit happily at a restaurant. Rather than snacking all day like American children, they mostly have to wait until mealtime to eat.” What do you think? Do you purposely and pointedly teach the ability-to-wait-nicely to your children? I can’t say I’ve been particularly good at it. But it does seem like such a valuable real-life skill! The article isn’t too long, but it definitely has me examining my parenting methods. I hope you have a few minutes to give it a read — I’d love to hear what you think of it. Do you agree French parents are better?

Nicole seems like she has endless amounts of patience. Rooms full, actually! Nearly every corner of her home is adorned with art she has created with her four young daughters, yet none of it looks messy or hastily made. Rather, it looks intentional, harmonious, and made with care. There is a difference, isn’t there? Anyone who has attempted a handmade décor knows it’s definitely a trick to execute, and Nicole does it very well. You’ll see. I hope you enjoy the interview and the inspiration! Q: Please tell us about the artists who live in this handmade home. A: I am Nicole Shiffler, mother of four lovely little ladies: Caroline (6), Johanna (4), Ainsleigh (2), and Annabelle (2). My husband, Bobby, is one outnumbered man in a home where dolls and tutus can be found strewn across every room. I am a stay-at-home, blogging, homeschooling, want-to-be artist who knows very well the privilege of me-time. I absolutely love creating with my children and for my home. It is a stress-relieving, gratifying, incredible process to create. It is even more so when I can share it with my children. …

Living With Kids: Nicole ShifflerRead More »

Image from my instagram stream. I’m @designmomblog if you want to join me. Wow. We had a real snow storm! We hear it’s very uncommon for this part of the country, but we think it’s a treat. You may remember, we live in a very rural area, so you can imagine the country roads piled with snow. We didn’t even attempt to drive the kids to school today — I’m 100% sure we would have slid into a ditch! Instead, we have a roaring fire going, and the kids are building snowforts in the garden, while I type away at my laptop. Not bad for a Monday. I hope your week is off to a great start as well!

I’ve been living with the assumption that Swedish homes are born crisp and gorgeous, but the effortlessly stylish Johanna might disagree just a little. She and her husband are midway through a home renovation with two busy daughters, yet she somehow makes it seem far less stressful and much more of a joyful, organic process not to be rushed. So many of us have probably found ourselves in the middle of something messy and wishing for a fast-forward option, haven’t we? But as Johanna sweetly reminds us, some of the happiest moments exist in the right now. Regardless of the mess or little girls standing on desks! Please enjoy the tour. Q: Who are the lucky ones who live in this bright home? A: I’d love to introduce my family! I’m Johanna, and I’m a designer at Tretorn. My husband, Andreas, is a 3-D artist. Our daughters are Lillo, age five, and Elsa, who is one-and-a-half years old. We love hanging around in this house and our garden, spending time with friends and family. …

Living With Kids: Johanna GartmyrRead More »

Guess what. Remember the little car from our holiday photoshoot? Well, Ben Blair bought it! Apparently the seller lowered the price (it was already a bargain!), and he couldn’t resist. Even without the wreath, it’s so charming I can hardly stand it. I hope we can figure out how to get it back to the States — I’d love to see Ralph drive it when he’s old enough — and if not, at least we’ll get to enjoy it while we’re here! I always love perfectly imperfect vintage cars. They have small price tags, big personality and don’t feel precious — so you don’t have to overly protect them or keep the kids away. So fun! P.S. — These images were shot by Wendy of Blue Lily.

  This is one of those tours where the homeowner didn’t contact me; her super-talented photographer friend did, describing Joanna Gaines’ home in Waco, Texas as kid-friendly and fabulous even with four little ones running around it all day and all night! The black, white, and sandy shades are softly stunning together, aren’t they? And I love how she has incorporated lots of open, clutter-free spaces for chasing games, and more than enough soft corners upon which to land. That’s really all a kid needs to have fun, don’t you think? Well, that…and a few chalkboards! Please enjoy the Gaines’ home tour. Q: Who’s lucky enough to live in this home? A: Me, my husband Chip, and my four sweet children: Drake (6), Ella Rose (5), Duke (3), and Emmie Kay (2). …

Living With Kids: Joanna GainesRead More »

Friends. I can hardly believe it. I signed a book deal! Hooray!! I’m crazy happy about it. I’ve signed with Artisan Books. They’re the publishing house responsible for the super successful Design*Sponge at Home. As soon as Alt Summit is over, I’ll be busy researching and writing and working toward a deadline. Makes me feel author-y just saying that. : ) I’m so excited, so flattered, and mostly, so intimidated. Internet high-fives all around! Image by Sadie Harris.

This article about French mothers has me thinking about the ways different cultures parent. Things like, they say French parents are strict, but I know they are wonderful about teaching table manners. My sister told us she was in awe when she visited a Paris pre-school and saw 2 year olds eating bananas — they peeled them without assistance, carefully sliced them with knives and forks, then ate each slice, also with their forks. At age 2! Or how about Sweden, where there’s a focus on children spending time outside. I was blown away when I learned there are preschools held entirely out-of-doors! Then of course, there are my English friends, who talk about how commonplace the idea of boarding school is. But I don’t personally know a single American family that sends their kids to boarding school. My brain can hardly wrap itself around the concept. Another example has been on my mind all week. Our daughter Olive, age 10, attends a French public school and is on a school field trip. She left on Saturday morning, and won’t be back until Friday night. A one-week school trip! They are at a ski resort 9 hours away. Can you imagine? Our other kids have never done anything like this at her age, but here, no one seems to think it’s extraordinary at all. Please share. What parenting styles and techniques from other cultures would you like to copy? Have you ever changed your parenting style when you moved to a new state, or to another country? P.S. — The article also has me irritated because it makes French mothers sound so mean. I’ve spent time around lots of French mothers this past year and have seen nothing but the typical, compassionate, in-love-with-my-kids mothering that you can find the world over.  

I loved reading your drugstore beauty picks last week and as promised, today I thought I’d share some of my favorites from French drugstores. (I think I mentioned earlier that I’ve slowly been working my way through Gwyneth Paltrow’s list of recommendations.) First up: Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse I love this product! I think it will become a staple on my bathroom shelf. It’s made for hair, skin, face and hands, and I use it on all of those. How I Use It: I mix in a few sprays with my other hair products to keep my curls soft. I have to keep it away from my roots or my scalp gets too oily, but it’s amazing on the rest of my hair. It’s a little heavier than what I prefer on my face, but if I’m having a really dry day, I like it. Plus, if I’ve applied my blush with a heavy hand, it’s perfect for smoothing it out so I don’t look like a clown. When I use it as body moisturizer (best: right out of the shower), Ben Blair always comments because the scent is light and really pretty and the oil makes my skin glow. …

French Pharmacy PicksRead More »

Before the week flies by, I wanted to give you a little report about our past weekend. We were so happy to be invited by our neighbor, Madame Lucienne, for a King Cake gathering. I’m not totally sure about all the traditions surrounding this cake (if you know, please do fill us in), but this is what I understand. Each January, as part of the Epiphany/Three Kings Day/New Years celebrations, friends and neighbors are invited for cake. Baked in the cake is a “bean”, but really the bean is a tiny toy or figure. The cake is sliced and served. Someone at the table discovers the bean, and that person is crowned. Tradition says the bean finder will also have good luck all year. (My kind of tradition!) Maude was the lucky bean finder at Saturday’s gathering. She found the tiny ceramic King above. Betty was broken-hearted when the crown appeared and she realized it wasn’t for her, so Maude kindly shared. She’s a good sister. If you visit any bakery in France right now, you’ll see King Cakes for sale with paper crowns on top. So fun! P.S. — Less fun: my panic-ed moment at the party, when I was chatting with the hostess and realized I was about to throw up. And throw up I did. So embarrassing. I’m still cringing at the memory.