a small sneak peek at our latest big project.

you have no idea how excited i am about this. it may seem small to some, but it's a big deal to me. i've always wanted to create a collection of postcards. always, always. but never got around to it, never thought i could pull it off, never imagined my photographs worthy. then i got to thinking and decided these cloud & country snapshots of mine needed a medium of their own. so i started in on the creative process. and it dawned on me that this would be a lot more fun with a friend. my postcards needed a partner. and it just so happens, my real life penpal, summer harms takes pictures to dream about. if you follow her blog, you understand what i mean. so we teamed up to make postcards together. my first real creative collaboration. enter the penpal project. am currently packaging them up and stocking the virtual shelves in my shop. more details and pictures to come.

official launch september 13.
exclusively available in the mini mart.

lovely images by summer harms.

birthday party part II: monkeys at play

the birthday boy's favorite playground was the scene of his two year old party. thanks to the awesome equipment, the kids loved it. i love it became of the large shady tree. here party guests are enjoying snacks in the shade on a hot august day.
blankets, bubbles and a crate of balls made the kids feel welcome.



i intentionally put the refreshments on a small table, at kid level. the kids were happy to come and go as they pleased. the simple finger friendly menu included: grapes cut into tiny bunches, individual packets of graham crackers, drinks and cream cheese brownies from our favorite local bakery.


one bucket held cold juices, another for icy bottles of water. the buckets later came in handy to collect garbage at the end of the party. the kids thought hunting for wrappers was actually fun.



the favorite activity of the day were the packages of sidewalk chalk and small pails of water with paintbrushes. the children were delighted to concoct the two supplies to create their own paint for sidewalk art. so creative. they seemed to work together to create a giant colorful mural. thanks to brittany of one charming party and my mom for helping me dream up easy outdoor party ideas.


we brought along a few sturdy trucks and favorite cars to push around.


i've discovered that every little boy loves playing with cars.


the kids entertained themselves while parents relaxed for awhile.


the children (even the older ones) loved the big bunch of balloons. while things were winding down, i grabbed ahold of them and the little ones followed me like a marching parade. i told everyone to sit on the long bench for a photo op. i am pretty excited we got a snapshot of all the little party guests at once! a perfect print to send with thank you notes and a very happy memory for benji. since i'm sure he will need to be reminded about his awesome first and second birthday parties. the event lasted a few hours and with helpers, it was a super quick and easy cleanup. we loaded everything into my car, including one sleepy boy, and drove home at noon. just in time for naps. 


a very happy birthday, indeed.

stay tuned, next week i'll list the contents to help you create your own outdoor party supply kit and celebration birthday box of your own. two very handy kits to have around when a party pops up.

missed part one? see benji's party invitations & favors here.

it was the summer of...

2010 // it was the summer of..

splitting baskets of fresh fruit with friends.
free samples & fresh flowers at the farmer's market.
discovering that rainier cherries are better than bing.

the 'cars' movie and scattered wooden railroad tracks.
going to the zoo and going to zumba class.
hot griddle pancakes, saturday smoothies and reading The Help.

sunshine & thunderclouds, matching my own moods.
drive-by photo shoots, a new camera and favorite flip flops.
loads of good mail, keeping in touch with friends (old and new).

read the full version right here. i'm guest posting for lucinda today!
now go remember & jot down what your summer days were filled with.

birthday party part I: monkey madness

first and foremost, i must mention a few things before getting into my party posts.

there is so much already out there about birthday parties for children. and plenty of pressure to go along. as my little one approached his two year old birthday, i couldn't help but scour the lovely party blogs and dream up ideas. party possibilities are endless. even the outlandish and over-the-top can seem charming when yours is turning a year older. however i kept reminding myself to think of the birthday boy and the budget and what really matters.

i decided to plan an event that was low-key and laid back and age appropriate. i wanted to keep it light and fun. so i went with a simple playdate on the playground. kids can play, moms can chat and no one is crammed into my tiny apartment whining. for the older children, i brought along simple optional activities rather than planning scheduled party games. i hoped benji could play with friends, without typical birthday party pressure, tantrums or prying plastic-sealed presents open. (keep this in mind for your toddlers. they will not only want to unwrap the presents, but open each of them from their encasings immediately. or else. which is why i sidestepped the issue by printing no gifts please on the invitations. so glad i did.)

i spent my time and effort on the details i enjoy doing and let most everything else fall into place. (like last year's party, i copped out of bringing homemade cupcakes. shocking, i know. more on my store-bought snacks in another post.) i tried hard not to worry about the things that were out of my control and focus on making it a happy day for the birthday boy and his guests. thank goodness the weather cooperated.


in typical fashion, i headed to my local craft store for invitation inspiration. i found some darling sock monkey stickers, die cuts and scrapbook paper by creative imaginations. the party theme was born instantly.


i put together little favors for each guest which included colorful sidewalk chalk, small chocolate candies, and monkey pencils with printed flags, thanks a bunch! i tried sticking with yellow, red and blue throughout the party, but promised myself not to go insane about sticking to the so-called theme. kids don't care that much. sad but true.


once the party was over, we filled this bag with party treats for a little friend who was too sick to attend. we tied a balloon to it, delivered it and hoped it made him happy.

more monkey business to come.

how-to make quick & easy homemade breakfasts

HOW-TO MAKE QUICK & EASY HOMEMADE BREAKFASTS
by Melanie of Mel & Boys

I am probably a bit old fashioned in that I love to feed my family homemade breakfasts. It makes me feel happy to provide them with home cooked goodness before I send them off into the world. I hope that starting their day this way helps them feel loved and cherished. That is my goal, but with 5 boys and busy schedules mornings are hectic and finding time for a good breakfast can be tricky.

Over the years, I have found "shortcuts" and "do aheads" so I can still provide a nutritious and delicious meal every morning without too much work or mess on our early and busy week day mornings. Here are some of our favorites:



• Hearty Oatmeal Pancake Mix: Using this homemade mix, I can have warm and healthy pancakes in minutes. You simply mix one cup of mix, with one cup of milk and an egg. By the time the pan or griddle is hot the batter is ready.

• Fabulous Granola
I have two recipes that I love to make and keep on hand for my family. Both granolas are great with milk, sprinkled on yogurt, or even scooped into a baggie for those mornings that you got up late and need to take something on the run. Favorite Granola / Coconut & Cashew Granola

• Freezer Biscuits
I like to keep a gallon size freezer bag full of these frozen biscuits. They go from the freezer straight into the oven. So you can have fresh, warm biscuits in minutes. I like to serve them with butter and jam or make a breakfast sandwich with eggs and bacon. ( FYI you can get the precooked bacon strips that just require a few seconds of heating in the microwave.)

• Wholegrain Muffins
Most muffins freeze beautifully and can be thawed at room temperature overnight or quickly reheated in the morning using your microwave. Here are a couple of our favorites:
Whole Wheat Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins / Sweet Potato (or Pumpkin) Muffins

I have found that the secret to a homemade breakfast on crazy weekday mornings is planning ahead. I hope these ideas work for you as well as they have for us. I want you to know, that although my goal is homemade, my boys get (and enjoy) plenty of bowls filled with plain old cold cereal too! What really matters is the love that it is served with! Here is to a happy new school year with stress free and yummy mornings!

Thanks Marta for having me over on your delightful blog!

the how-to series is here to encourage confidence in the creativity and skills you have to offer. i am excited to showcase your talents and unique ideas. if you have a specialty (and i know you do), please submit your how-to guest post by emailing me: marta at martawrites dot com. i will be delighted to feature your how-to in the future.

"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." - John Wooden

postage parade: comic strip stamps

am very much enamored with these sunday funnies postage stamps. they remind me of my childhood and were the perfect thing to affix to benji's birthday thank you notes.

p.s. speaking of mail, the cutest thing arrived today. a two dollar bill in honor of mr. two year old himself. thanks for being so thoughtful, ellen p. really, it brightened our day. can't wait to pass on such a clever gift idea.

how-to make piano lessons successful with children

HOW-TO MAKE PIANO LESSONS SUCCESSFUL WITH CHILDREN
by Lesa from Journey of the Every Day

The piano has been a part of my life for over 35 years. As a teacher, I am consistent and try to make it fun. When I taught lessons, I learned a lot about kids (and their parents). Here are my best kept piano secrets...



1. The best age to start a child, in my book, is age 7-8. They are learning to read, they still think learning is fun, and they still think piano teachers are cool. They have a capable attention span and they love piano keys.

2. As a parent, be involved.

3. As a parent, be involved.

4. As a parent, be involved.

5. My best advice to a parent is to "house" the piano in the room closest to where the Mom is. Kids want to be by the mom. If she is in the kitchen and the piano is close by, kids will practice more.

6. Learn with them. What a great chance to get a two-for-one. Go to the lesson with your child. Don't let the teacher catch you watching and learning. Then when your child goes home to practice, practice the same things after them. What a great chance for an adult to learn if they have never had piano lessons.

7. Sit with them while they practice. It is hard to do but it will increase the chances of your child loving the piano.

8. Award them. Even if the piano teacher has some kind of of reward system in place, make up your own reward system at home. Then award them and let your other children see the award system in place.

9. Go to as many lessons as you are able to if it works into your schedule.

10. Talk to them about piano things. If you see someone playing the piano in church or at a concert -- talk to your child about the person playing the piano. Dialogue: "Look at that child playing the piano!" "I bet they practice everyday!" Something like that. In other words, point out piano players.

11. Take your child with you to the music store when you buy piano music. Have them see you talk to the employee at the music store. Communicate to the employee what your piano book needs are. Don't just walk into the music store and try to figure out your piano book needs on your own.

12. When you go to the music store, be prepared to spend money. Don't show your concern about the cost of piano books to your child. They will pick up on it, and it will affect their desire to play the piano. (Side note: I have found some of my favorite, best piano books at the Deseret Industries and most of them were only $1.00!)

13. Even if your piano teacher holds a recital, have a home recital. Make it a big deal. Plan in advance, a home recital. Make an invitation and invite Grandpa and Grandma. Have the student dress up. Set up chairs around the piano. Have treats after.

14. Before your home recital or regular piano recital - have your child practice introducing their piano songs. Dialogue: "Hi my name is Stephanie and I'll be playing Come, Come Ye Saints and Mozart 13th symphony. Then when they go to their real piano recital (and if the teacher has them announce) they won't be thrown off by announcing themselves.

15. If you don't have your child take lessons because you don't have a piano, check with music stores. Some of them have great rental plans to rent a piano monthly.

16. If you are playing the tug-a-war game with your child about practicing, tell them that if they will practice then you will do something that you don't like doing. Dialogue: "If you practice the piano, I will clean out the hall closet that I've been meaning to do for 3 months." They won't really get much benefit from the hall closet being cleaned, but they will learn that parents have to do things they don't want to do either. Then when the practicing is done and your hall closet is clean, go out for a DQ ice cream dilly bar.

Do you have any good tips on teaching your children to play a musical instrument?

image via flickr.

the how-to series was created to encourage confidence in the creativity and skills we each have to offer. i am excited to showcase your talents and unique ideas. if you have a specialty (and i know you do), please submit your how-to guest post by emailing me: marta at martawrites dot com. i will be delighted to feature your how-to in the future.

"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." - John Wooden

stream of consciousness + the smoky eye.

this is me and my version of the sunday smoky eye. i know, it doesn't look all that smoldering, but i'm a laid back kind of girl and rarely like my lower lash line lined, even though my mom always says i look ravishing with it. but moms are supposed to say that. anyway, it is a little like red lipstick. good for once in awhile but not really me. anonymous asked me a formspring question about my favorite makeup shades, please head over there for answers or to ask me something new.

so the day is done. i would bottle this moment up if i could. it's sunday evening and september feels like it is sweeping august under the rug with a light breeze through my windows. the house is clean (yay), the light is fading, the lamps are lit and the dishes are done (thank heavens). the boy is bathed and tucked in and chatting to his stuffed animals. i savor the nighttime. i have a bit of time to relax and read and catch up and plan and conquer.

i'm not always so serene or steady. the other day i emailed my penpal, practically in a frenzy, telling her that i was on the edge of feeling overwhelmed. i can deal with a lot on my plate, but when i get feeling bogged down, i blame it entirely on the state of my house. which is why, saturday afternoon when there was a burst of rain and lightening and plans to go to the splashy park were down the drain, i started moving furniture and rearranging my entire front room. which is the bulk of our living space. it became one of those projects that mid-way through you wonder if you'll survive it. but we did and i'm seriously all the happier about it. i credit the new martha stewart living issue for my motivation. i revamped the living space (still need something smashing for the walls) and consolidated my office and craft space (still need to update my bulletin board, i still have 2009 resolutions pinned up). only the art supply necessities are out for show and everything else is tucked into my craft closet. it feels ready for back-to-school. am ready to launch into the new season. hope you are too.

how-to put a little country in your life

HOW-TO PUT A LITTLE COUNTRY IN YOUR LIFE
by Eileen of Engineering Eileen

Hello, Marta & friends! I am very excited to have this opportunity to guest post here in Marta’s blog home, which has long been a favorite of mine. Thank you, Marta, for this chance to put my words into the world. I love many things about Marta’s blog, including the details she shares about the adventures she takes with her family into the lands of Idaho. It is great to live vicariously through her adventures, especially since I am living city life these days. This has inspired my post, where I will share a few ways to infuse the country lifestyle spirit into your own world.

I both grew up in the country, complete with a cornfield behind my backyard. It was quiet around my house; summer nights meant dots of fireflies and a symphony of crickets. My husband also grew up in a small, fairly rural town. Now, though, we both live in a big city. Instead of crickets, nights are punctuated with car horns and sirens. While we love Chicago, city life can be grating when immersed on a daily basis. Here's a list of ways to bring a little bit of country livin' into your daily world, even if your home is a condo amidst the city high rises.



• Slow down. I find it easy to get caught up in the city pace, making my way as quickly as possible through the streets and getting annoyed if a group of slow tourists gets in my way. However, the slow pace of country life is much more peaceful than constant frantic rushing. Allow yourself some extra time and mosey along the streets, taking in the sights.

• Seek the road less traveled. If throngs of tourists are still hampering your mood, try another route. I have found that sometimes taking a street just one block over from a crowded area can mean many fewer people ~ which makes it more enjoyable to mosey along at a country pace.

• Be active. Especially outdoors. Chicago is a great city filled with parks. Running and biking along the lake help me feel balanced; sometimes I even forget that the city is looming behind me.

• Grow things. We have an herb garden that can sit on a windowsill in our condo. Smaller than the cornfield of my childhood, but it is so nice to pick off fresh herbs to cook with ~ saves money and adds some green to our days.

• Go to the library. I love escaping into books, and I always have something to read during my daily commute. Recent reads include The Center of Everything by Laura Moriarty, set in rural Kansas, and The One That I Want by Allison Winn Scotch, set in small town of Washington state. I found myself immersed back into country life while reading these books.

• Find the farmers. Farmers markets are popular these days, and an easy to inject a dose of good ol' country life smack in the middle of the city. There is one weekly market outside the modern art museum near my workplace. Stands of fresh produce, ripe for the picking (well, purchasing), right there on the sidewalk!

• Eat country-style. Out of doors is optimal; my husband and I are known for grilling and eating dinner on our tiny deck, though we never see our neighbors doing this. I say, they are missing out. Nothing like grilling out and enjoying dinner with a fresh breeze to take us back to our roots. If you don't have a balcony or deck to do this, you could find a restaurant with outdoor seating ~ rooftop ones are nice because you are removed from the traffic below. Or, if in a pinch, make some sm'ores by (carefully) roasting marshmallows over the stove top! Delicious nostalgia of simpler times.

• Plan an escape. For the ultimate way to restore country living to your city lifestyle, pack your bags and head out of the city for a weekend. We bought ourselves a tent for our anniversary. After a bit of research, we were surprised to find that quiet campsites exist just a few hours’ drive out of the city. We just took our first weekend adventure, driving through cornfields to a state park where we hiked and camped out, lulled to sleep by the sweet
chirping of crickets.

idaho country image via marta.

the how-to series is here to encourage confidence in the creativity and skills you have to offer. i am excited to showcase your talents and unique ideas. if you have a specialty (and i know you do), please submit your how-to guest post by emailing me: marta at martawrites dot com. i will be delighted to feature your how-to in the future.

"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." - John Wooden

how-to decorate on a budget

HOW-TO DECORATE ON A BUDGET
by Faith Towers from Design Fixation



1. Paint is your best friend. Do you have an outdated piece of furniture with an ugly finish? Paint it! Are boring clear vases cluttering your cupboards? Paint the insides for a look similar to enamel. Need a colorful centerpiece? Buy a package of walnuts in their shells and paint them a bright color… put them in a pretty bowl, and voila – an imaginative centerpiece for your coffee table.

2. Shop in the patio department. Outdoor furniture is often less expensive than regular living room furniture – and also more durable. Coffee tables, end tables and even rugs can be good items to find in the patio section. See the photo of my living room for a couple of examples.

3. Visit discount stores. The key to visiting a discount store is patience. No, you won’t find exactly what you’re looking for immediately, but with a bit of persistence you’re bound to find something that fits the bill eventually. Can’t bear to go discount shopping? Try looking for coupons online before you go shopping. You’d be surprised at how many coupons are available! Check out the image of my kitchen to see a great light fixture I got from a discount store.

4. Use wallpaper, fabric and carpet remnants. Paste the end of a roll of wallpaper to the back of an open cabinet for some added interest. Make a throw pillow from a piece of leftover fabric. Use a small piece of carpeting as a front door mat. And don’t forget about tip #1; you could even try painting a pattern on it if it’s a low pile carpet!

5. Use things for unexpected purposes. Use a couple of wine crates to form a small shelving unit. Use a rock as a doorstop. Re-purpose a coffee can into a utensil holder. Put extra toilet paper rolls into a tall vase. Use a flower frog to display a couple of vintage photos. Pieces of driftwood assembled in a clear vase make an appealing centerpiece.

6. Tap your own creative resources. You don’t have to be an artist for this one; if you can get your hands on a Polaroid camera, create a photo wall using a collection of Polaroid images. Create abstract art using a worn piece of wood – try splattering the wood with a couple of different paint colors, or overlap straight brush strokes of varying shades of one color. Use decoupage to spruce up a dull serving piece or vase. Or try your hand at paper folding; make a wreath out of paper flowers.

7. Add some life to the room. Cut flowers or branches from your yard for an inexpensive decorative element. Find a friend who has houseplants and ask if you can take a cutting; put it in water until if forms roots, then plant it in a pot from the discount store you visited!




images via Faith Towers

the how-to series is here to encourage confidence in the creativity and skills you have to offer. i am excited to showcase your talents and unique ideas. if you have a specialty (and i know you do), please submit your how-to guest post by emailing me: marta at martawrites dot com. i will be delighted to feature your how-to in the future.

"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." - John Wooden

how-to make vintage post earrings

HOW-TO MAKE VINTAGE POST EARRINGS
by kristi of a life through the lens

A friend of mine introduced me to the most adorable pair of vintage earrings that are so very easy and inexpensive to make. I'll show you how...



You'll need:
• Rose or decorative buttons with hooks on the back (about $1 at the craft store)
• Button shank/hook remover (about $5 at the craft store)
• Glue gun
• Earring posts and back (about $1 for a pack of 16 at the craft store)
• Spray paint or acrylic paint if you want to change the color of your buttons

Here is what the buttons look like with the hooks...


Get your button hook remover as close to the base of the hook as possible for a flatter surface.


This is what the buttons will look like with the hooks removed...


Use your glue gun to glue the post to the back of the earrings. 
The buttons with the earring posts glued on...


The final result...beautiful, vintage, simple and classic all in one,


I think these would make fabulous gifts...don't you?

the how-to series was created to encourage confidence in the creativity and skills we each have to offer. i am excited to showcase your talents and unique ideas. if you have a specialty (and i know you do), please submit your how-to guest post by emailing me: marta at martawrites dot com. i will be delighted to feature your how-to in the future.

"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." - John Wooden

how-to be a tourist in your own town

HOW-TO BE A TOURIST IN YOUR OWN TOWN
by elise joy blaha 

I've noticed that when I visit a new city I look at it differently - through my view finder. For some reason while on vacation I have no problem holding my camera unabashedly and wandering aimlessly. I also have no problem stopping to take the same photo with a film camera and my polaroid in addition to the shot I just captured with my digital point and shoot.

As a result, I have a great collection of photos, textures, signs, people and places from around the country and globe.

However, what I think is just as important, if not more, is capturing the here and now. Where I live. What my town and location looks like. Right now the "what you do" and "where you are" seems obvious and unimportant. But someday all those details will be easy to forget.



Celebrate your city. Below are my tips for becoming a tourist in your own town.

01. Pick a day (or an hour) to wander your city, neighborhood or town on foot. The slower you go, the more you'll see.

02. Carry your camera. Not in your purse or backpack, but in your hand. If it's out, you'll use it.

03. Get over the embarrassment that the mailman or someone you know will see you taking photos. They probably will. Just smile and keep going.

04. Look up. Look down. So often in our own cities we are focused on looking straight in front of us. At the road, at the mailbox, at the front door. Take time to see more.

05. Look up your own city (or zip code) online with yelp! or google maps and get suggestions for a new ice cream shop or place to grab a coffee.

06. Think about where you would take out of town guests. Into the downtown area? On a hike? To a park? Consider visiting those places on your own.

07. If you can find them, grab a postcard or two. Mail them to family and friends who live out of state (or next door).

My husband and I recently moved to a new town and have been taking lots of tourist walks in our new location. I'm taking my camera out of the house as often as possible and have been compiling a little photo diary of where we live. We're military so many, many moves are in our future. I'm happy we'll have a "tourist's view" of the places we've lived.

Have fun! Enjoy your adventures.

the how-to series was created to encourage confidence in the creativity and skills we each have to offer. i am excited to showcase your talents and unique ideas. if you have a specialty (and i know you do), please submit your how-to guest post by emailing me: marta at martawrites dot com. i will be delighted to feature your how-to in the future.

"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." - John Wooden

cookies for a good cause & then some.

• first and foremost, my darling friend, kimberly is volunteering for a wonderful cause. if you're an idaho local, be sure to head over to the bake sale this weekend.  it amazes me that 100% of your donation goes straight to pediatric cancer. (plus, you'll have a chance to purchase my mint layer brownies!!)

Cookies For Kids a fundraiser for children with cancer
at the Ammon Farmers Market
Saturday, August 28th
10 until 2 o'clock

not from around here? feel free to donate online or organize a bake sale in your own neighborhood. find more details here, Cookies for Kids.

• thank you for all the happy birthday wishes for benji. we had a wonderful day together. i'll share a few photos from his little party on the playground in a few weeks. you'll never guess what the kids' favorite activity was, besides the mini bubble machine which was on clearance at target. i love a successful and cheap impulse buy! details to come.

• there are a few more very creative, crafty and perfect back-to-school how-to's in the works to wrap up the month of august. you'll love the one about preparing homemade hot breakfasts for your kids (or husbands or selves) before school every morning.

• i only have a handful of mini diaries left in the shop. snatch one up if you've been procrastinating. thank you for supporting the handmade movement, i continue to enjoy packaging them up and sending them off. i love seeing where in the world you are. most recent orders: oklahoma, massachusetts, ireland, georgia, united kingdom, california, estonia, montana and utah. woohoo.

• another fun thing. i was happy to lend a favorite piece of mama advice to dee dee. check out her one question interviews right here.

happy thursday + happy project runway night.

today you are two.

hello birthday boy,
today you turn two and we are celebrating.

the days have tumbled together and suddenly you are two years old. i saw it coming, but i can barely believe it. i am gladder than glad i've been jotting details down as we have gotten to know each other. for it was two years ago today that the love affair officially began. love at first sight.

twenty-four months does not seem like enough time for a tiny newborn bundle to learn to know his mother's voice, to stretch his toes and fists while yawning and learn to sleep and eat and walk and talk. oh the places you'll go. to go from snoozing on my chest to riding on papa's back like a cowboy. the same blanket that swaddled you like a burrito is now a cape or a hiding spot for a wild game of peekaboo. you know actions to itsy bitsy spider and how to all fall down and how to jump and somersault and open closet doors to get out your own shoes and socks. (i hope i never tire of matching socks with tiny helicopters on them.) as a mama, i marvel at the little lessons a baby learns, stacking knowledge like blocks. until one day your baby has outgrown being a baby. just typing that last sentence, a lump is swelling in my throat.

i want to remember the way you are as this little person in my life. the way you hug real tight. how you blow kisses from your crib. the way you lie down on your stomach to see the wheels go round and round while pushing your cars on the carpet. how you jump on my bed and take the batteries out of my alarm clock. and then you hand the parts to me because you know i don't want them to get lost or go in your mouth. and then i rhyme. can you say clock? and you attempt the word. can you knock knock on the clock? which you do. and where is your sock? and you point to your toes. i want to remember how you help me with daily chores. how fast your hair grows. how you like to go two-fisted, grasping a car in each hand and then trying to turn pages or do other daily functions with these cars attached to the palms of your hands. i want to remember how you love sitting on the bathroom counter while i get ready for the day. the way you pop a cookie into your mouth. the way you pick out all the marshmallows of your lucky charms. i love when you woosh down the slide at the park and then brush your hands together to clean them off. how you turn away, suddenly bashful when strangers smile, and coyly stare back at them from the corner of your eye. i love that you sleep with an entourage each night.

you are getting so big. however i refuse to be sad about letting you grow up. you were meant to grow and more importantly, i am grateful you are growing. i do not want to take for granted your good health and happiness and general sunshiney-ness. we are blessed by your presence day in and day out. i have plans to cherish each day of you so i never have to wistfully wish for you to be a baby again. i love you. grow, my little one, big and tall and strong.

happy birthday, benji.

thank you, a winner & a favorite recipe

• thank you for the wonderful feedback and good advice about my blog. you are such cheerleaders, i love it. you make me feel like my writing is worth reading, which is exactly the motivation i need to head back to the books. merci. i will be putting the pen to the page (or more likely, fingers on the keyboard) more often for the stream of consciousness form of expression i love most. so glad you guys like it too. i'm saving your ideas for days of writer's block, so keep them coming.

• the random winners have been selected. congratulations to krissa, katie and caitlin. please email me your shipping address for a goodie package from my craft closet.

• today i am excited to share one of my favorite newlywed recipes over on giverslog.com. amber was sweet enough to inquire about a dish i made when i was fresh out of the nest. this beloved recipe came to mind because it tastes good, it is simple and inexpensive to make, my husband still loves it and it can be easily dolled up with lemony asparagus, homemade biscuits and garlic mashed potatoes for a supper party.

photograph spring of 2001.
me and dan hiking in park city, utah.