target temptations

who knew i'd come out of target with a party of pastels? i always run into that place with one or two things on my list and i always come out with three or four sacks on my arm. but who can resist the darling sugar sprinkle pack in the dollar aisle? and i love method cleansers. they really do work, smell nice, and look pretty. i spray this on my tub, walk away and let it sit until i remember about it. then i scrub the tub and let the water splash it all away. oh and these target basic tees are soft and comfy and come in a rainbow of colors. and are exactly what i need for layering. i like the sleeves, the crew neck and the fact that they have a long torso. a terrific tee in my eyes.

happy weekend. we'll be celebrating and i'll be baking up a cake, all thanks to you. i'll have to bake two birthday cakes a month for a year to try all these fabulous recipes. i can't wait to add them to my collection.

Winner!

Marta surprised me with this tie and it made its debut at the office yesterday.



I don't really like surprises or letting other people pick out my ties. Despite those general rules of thumb, this tie is a winner. This is something I would have picked for myself. It's a great plaid tie. I've been a fan of plaid ever since my late uncle Earl, a very short and very rotund man, rocked the plaid polyester suit / plaid polyester tie combo at every family party. Like many people, Earl started wearing plaid-on-plaid in the mid-seventies. Unlike many people, Earl never gave it up. (If it ain't broke . . . .)



This is not my uncle Earl. This is, however, beautiful plaid.

It's now my duty to announce the recipient of the tie giveaway. I don't want to say "winner" of the tie giveaway, because you are all winners in my eyes. Really, you are. After all, isn't blogging all about self-esteem?

The recipient, as determined by the ultra-super-random-number-generator, is: thelyttlesinpa. Congratulations.

If you are not the recipient, please don't feel bad. That's the last thing we'd want. Remember you can always visit Anabela's website and buy a tie for yourself. If, after that, you're still feeling bad, go watch some Barney Miller reruns. Not only will you enjoy some top-notch late-70's comedy, you'll also encounter a lot of plaid!

Come back on Monday. Apparently we're giving away more free plaid. (Just kidding, there will be no more plaid. However, there will be another giveaway.)

oh joy! a sale.

lovely miss joy is hosting a huge warehouse sale. today only.
if you're like me, you can never have enough stationery.

do tell: birthday cakes

the man of my dreams is having a birthday this weekend and i have high hopes to bake him a delicious cake. in all truth, i'd love to buy one from a dainty bakery, if i knew of one in this town, but he loves it when i bake from scratch. he loves when ordinary things come together; flour, eggs, sugar to make something tasty. it reminds him of the pioneer days. and anything from the pioneer days makes him happy. he also loves it when i make do rather than spend his hard earned cash. therefore, i'll be using my pioneer ingredients in my pioneer kitchen-aid.

does the perfect birthday cake exist? i'd love to bake a cake that is not too complicated, won't collapse, will look pretty and taste delisch. is that too much to ask? (christie, if all else fails, will you come to idaho and bake dan an army tank cake? it's really warm and tropical here and i have a giggling li'l boy who wants to meet you.)


know of a tried and true cake recipe? please, do tell. comment with a link or email me the recipe. i promise i'll make it worth your while and blog all about my birthday caking creation. thanks.

on the spot • no. 09

friends, meet ginnie. she has been my friend for a long long time. ginnie has always been the kind of gal who is outgoing, adventurous, hilarious and fun. all qualities which create the perfect combination for a photographer + mother extraordinaire. on a side note, she is a wild storyteller and has some killer dance moves. ginnie is not only a ray of sunshine, but she has the best personality. she seems to have so much fun being a mother of three. i enjoy seeing her photo shoots and the angles she creates inside her images. i knew she would be the perfect candidate to put on the spot. her talent in capturing candid family life delights me.

Name: Ginnie Johnson

Location: Salt Lake City, Utah

Line of work: Wife / Mother / Photographer

Favorite location to take photographs? I consider myself an equal opportunity location photographer. I like to mix it up a bit. Each time I shoot at a different location I get inspired and that drives me to get shots I've never done before.

Favorite activity on a lazy Saturday? Confession: Most of my Saturdays are lazy… (gasp)… Did I just willingly divulge that information about myself? I guess I did. My theory is that I have Monday- Friday to fill my time with lengthy to-do lists. So Saturday is the day I get to spend time with my hubby and the kids and just be a family, doing family things that don't include cleaning or doing laundry.

Best store to spend your dough? I can't help it. I'm a simple girl. Target is my favorite place to shop. I may have, single handedly, kept them in business.

A must in your handbag? 3 things: Hand sanitizer, Burts Bee's lip balm, and a pack of Orbit winter fresh gum.

An every day ritual? I don't eat lunch until I can sit down and really enjoy it. That is my one break in the day where I can sit back, relax, and regroup… and of course I do it with my best two friends Diet Coke, and Good Energy Chocolates.

A must-see in your town? One of my must-sees is something you can't help but see when you visit Salt Lake… the mountains. Just stand and stare for a good while and when you think you're almost done, just stand and stare some more. You need to allow yourself ample amount of time to soak up their awesomeness. Seriously. Another must see is Temple Square down-town. It is truly an awe-inspiring site.

You are great at taking true to life family portraits, what is your advice... Get to know the families you shoot. When I meet a family my goal is to make sure that the next hour and a half that they spend with me is a fun and stress-free one. I want to make sure that they feel 100% comfortable with me, because if they're feeling awkward and uncomfortable it's going to show.

Advice on colors to wear for a family shot?

We've all done it, the matching denim on denim family pictures and if it wasn't that, then it's the denim, with white, and a little khaki thrown into the mix. Yes, matchy-match did have its place in time, but not now, unless you feel like kicking it old-skool. Go ahead, color coordinate. Just try to mix it up a bit.

• Don't be afraid to wear a color other than black or white. You can do it!
• Find a shirt you really love and then play off of those colors.
• If you choose to go with a pattern find some color coordinating solids to go with it
• Pick colors and clothing styles that match the location. If you are going to a downtown urban location you don't want to have on your formal Sunday dress...
• Mix in some fun color accents like the killer pair of red heels you've been dying to wear or that perfect yellow scarf that's been sitting in your closet.
• Wear fun bright colors.
• Think layers.
• Dress comfortable.
• Dress true to your style.
• Make sure you don't overdo it.

What about family poses versus candid shots? My favorites, hands down, are the candid shots. I love catching the interaction between the families; the Mom and Dad lovingly cooing at their newborn babe, the family jokester that is embarrassing his poor Mom to pieces, the energetic kids that can't hold still and like to use Dad and Mom as a jungle gym. These are the moments that are real. These are the moments that make up life. These are the moments I strive to capture.

How do you make kids behave during the photo shoot? When shooting kids I just plan on making a fool out of myself. It's not required, but it helps. I also want the parents to have realistic expectations of their child that are age appropriate. It's okay if they want to run around and not sit still. I just plan on running around with them. Remember to expect the unexpected. You never know what you're going to get. You just have to learn to roll with the punches sometimes. Never lose your cool and always practice patience, like my Mom always says, "Patience is a virtue."

What kind of camera do you use? For the longest time I used my trusty old Canon Rebel XT. I loved that little camera. People always ask me, "Is it possible to get good shots without the best of the best cameras?" The answer is, YES! All it takes is a little know-how, a lot of patience, and practice, practice, practice and you can do it. It's true. I have since retired my little friend, the Rebel, and upgraded to the Canon 50D.

What is the best time of day to do a shoot?

For me, whenever I feel inspired. For lighting purposes, the best time to shoot is early in the morning (if you're a morning person), 2 hours before dusk or on overcast days. I never thought I would pray for cloudy days, but I do. If it happens to be a bright sunny day and my prayers aren't working, then I will shoot in a shaded area. The goal is to avoid harsh shadows; unless that is the look you're going for.

What are your tips for capturing the moment in your children's lives?

• Always keep your camera handy.
• Get down on their level.
• Not all shots need to be posed.
• Instead of having them say, "CHEESE" try to get the natural smile by making them laugh or giggle.
• Bribery goes a long way.

What is the best thing about being a mom?

Being a Mom of 3 small kids, things can be wild and crazy, like, who can paint the cat the prettiest shade of green wild or wipe your bum with your sister's favorite blanket crazy. But at the end of the day, when the chaos has passed, I tuck my 3 little kiddos into bed one by one. They reach up, give me a big squeeze and say, "I love you MOM!" melting my heart in the process. So what's the best thing about being a Mom? I receive my payment in the form of messy-face, sticky-fingered hugs and kisses and endless amounts of "I LOVE YOU's!"

Do you have a favorite photographer?

Oh, that's a hard question. You should check out my google list; it's filled with loads and loads of amazing, inspiring photographers. But, if I narrowed it down I would have to say Wendy Whitacre of Blue Lily Photography. She is a super-sweet and witty person who is also extremely talented to boot.

Inspiring words for aspiring photographers...

• Be proactive. If you want something bad enough you can't just sit around and wait for it to happen. YOU need to make it happen.
• Find people that inspire you.
• Learn how to work your camera.
• READ YOUR MANUAL!!
• Switch your camera from Automatic to manual. I shoot in manual 99% of the time. Shooting in automatic limits your control and creative ability. Just ask my husband and he'll tell you, I like to be in control. Shooting in manual gives you the ability to decide how much you want in focus (aperture), how fast you want the shutter to close (shutter speed) and your camera's sensitivity to light (ISO).
• Make google your best friend. If you have a question and you don't know the answer to it, just google it. Seriously. Google and I have become pretty tight in the past few years.
• Become a member of a photo forum
• Keep in mind that having the best equipment out there doesn't necessarily mean you're going to take better pictures. Unless you know how the features of your camera work and the basics of photography, it's just going to mean you've spent more money.
• Practice, practice, practice. Shoot often and learn from your mistakes. Ultimately there is only one way to become better at photography and that is to get out there and actually do it.
• Try to not let yourself get discouraged. Remember you are your worst critic.
• Have fun and be fabulous!

Makes you happy...

Buying a $40 shirt on a $15 sale. All you can eat breakfast buffet. Falling asleep next to my hubby with our feet intertwined. Watching my kids play together. Freshly shaved legs. High thread-count sheets. The smell of fresh baked bread. Making my hubby smile. Having a full pantry. Dark Chocolate & Diet Coke… the two belong together. High heels. Getting real mail from a friend, the kind of mail the postman has to deliver. The sun shining through my window.

thank you, ginnie. you are so good at what you do. your advice is going to be so helpful next time i have to be in a color-coordinating group shot. no matching denims, please. your children photos are beautiful, i can hardly wait to get my little benji in front of your lens! be sure to check out ginnie's gorgeous photography website and her hilarious blog recording her real life with her adorable darlings...

all images on this post: copyright ginnie johnson.

i love google.

am delighted to see google give a big shout out to jackson pollock in celebration of his birthday. (now dan has yet another reason to take me to cody, wyoming.) i had a major pollock phase in college. he and rauschenberg hold a dear place in my heart. if you have not been to the moma in new york city, i beg of you, put it on your life's to-do list. note to self; make a favorite museum list.

was feeling a bit blue today, but after a li'l pity party, a good workout, a long hot shower, a chat with a friend, a big hug from dan, a baby hug from benj, i'm feeling much better. and thanks to google i'm reminded of pollock and my days in college, long hours of dipping myself into artistic creativity, brooding over what to create next. i feel a little more sunshine from people who love life and aren't afraid to imagine big.


"My painting does not come from the easel. I prefer to tack the unstretched canvas to the hard wall or the floor. I need the resistance of a hard surface. On the floor I am more at ease. I feel nearer, more part of the painting, since this way I can walk around it, work from the four sides and literally be in the painting." - Pollock

shop update

i've stocked the mini mart with a few limited edition valentine's day items. practice your penmanship on behalf of your own leading man. whether you leave a valentine on his pillow, sneak it into his backpack, mail it to his office, email it to his inbox, leave it on the dashboard, cut his sandwich into a heart, write it on a foggy mirror, paint it on a rock, or tape it to the jug of milk in the fridge, spell it out.

love it up. love out loud.

giveaway: sweetheart tie

these made to order neckties are among my favorite etsy finds. fieldguided is a lovely shop with handmade ties for the man in your life. what i love most is the secret embroidery on the backside of each one of a kind tie. anabela will stitch the name (or pet name) of your sweetie into the winning tie. {and for those of you without a love interest, i'm sure every dad would delight in a valentine from his favorite daughter.}

if you'd like to enter to win a red plaid sweetheart necktie, leave me a comment on this post by thursday, january 29th. i'll announce the winner on friday, january 30th. thank you, anabela!

five months

my small bundle of love
is growing like a li'l sprout.

i can hardly believe baby benji has been in our family for five months now. yet i rarely remember the joys i had before he arrived. he has been in my life for a year now, carrying him on the inside was wondrous. nowadays i delight in carrying him on the outside. and so does his dad. dan is making up for the 9 months i got to carry him. yes, we are still battling over benji. in the best way possible, of course. we've been getting to know him as his personality blooms. i cannot begin to describe how in love we are with this babe.

he is such a good boy. so cheerful, so patient with his parents, so loving, so awesome. he loves being swaddled in his cowboy blanket, going on walks, playing with rattles, grasping whatever is in his reach, being tickled by dad, splashing in the bathtub, and sucking on his fingers. benji has recently discovered his toes. he loves to reach up, holding onto his feet for the entire duration of baby einstein.

his smiles are endless. benji will toss us a smile whenever we walk into the room, make a big fuss over him, hold him up to the mirror, read him a story or pick him up from a nap. his little laughs are like precious rare jewels. i call him my tough critic. he reserves his shrieks of happiness for the only really funny (and really random). he has us in the palm of his hand. we will try everything and anything to get him to give us a giggle. and once we do, we'll do whatever it is again and again and again to make benji laugh. it's my favorite thing of the day when dan comes home from work and i tell him, you have to see this and benji and i do our show and reveal all his new tricks.

brownies with benji

dan's brothers came into town this weekend to ski jackson hole. prayers were answered with a steady snowfall in time for them to hit the slopes. surely they are happy as clams snow bunnies. today me and my babbling boy are staying in. it's the kind of day you're glad the fridge is stocked and you want to be housebound, with a quilt on your lap watching Dead Poet's Society. since i have yet to fish that dvd out of wal-mart's discount bin, i will be substituting When Harry Met Sally. i've yet to find a better substitute than sally.

doing laundry and baking brownies with benji make a pretty perfect day. but boys, for my sake, you better come home soon. these babies are irresistible.



d.i.y.

dig 98 cents out of your sofa cushions. buy a family size box of pillsbury chocolate fudge brownie mix at your local grocery store. though i doubt whole foods is selling it. you'll have to go somewhere trans fat is sold. if your family is small, use an 8x8 pan for thick cakey brownies. saying that phrase out loud make me need a glass of milk. for ease in clean up, line the pan with tinfoil. it's a cinch to clean up, as if you didn't bake any brownies at all.

winning friday

thanks for participating in this week's giveaway. the winner of one beautiful photography print is mary. congrats to you!! please email your 411 to marta@martacards.com. happy choosing, her prints are amazing.



ready for another?
a fabulous and unique giveaway will be posted on monday.
happy weekend everyone.

favorite things

the rings came from my dan.
the watch came from my dad.

i feel incomplete without them.

invigorating.

seeing the big picture amazes me all over again.
i am still waiting for the right words to write down.
thank you, ashley for emailing me the best presidential link yet.

truffles in boxes

i've always wanted to make
chocolate truffles,
box them up
and deliver them to
my sweethearts.

we can do it.

to keep all my upcoming deadlines straight, i customized a calendar to hang right next to my computer to remind me of what i should be working on. i'm a visual, hands on type of person, so a calendar that i can scribble on, mark up and tear down once it's all said and done is just what i need. i think i'll be creating one for monthly meals too. maybe a calendar devoted to housework. i can see this might be my new addiction.

if you want a to-do calendar just like mine, email me at marta@martacards.com and i'll send you a 3 month pdf. file. please put calendar in the subject line so it doesn't get lost in the gobs of emails i need to sort through. click here if you want to customize a calendar for your own busy self. have fun.

roll up your sleeves america.

i am off to scour the tub. we've got guests coming tomorrow.

simply stunning

happy inauguration day. truly a day to remember.

{i simply love the illustration amy posted.}

love is here to stay

my heartsrings valentine kit is now available in the shop!

got out the scissors, a stash of pretty paper, tape and fishing line to make a project. which was started and finished before the boy even woke up from his morning nap. short and simple projects are pertinent to life now. every day i have to make little choices like: email or blog, empty the dishwasher or fold laundry, shower or surf the net, work or play, read or sleep, etc. luxuries like round-brushing and applying eyeshadow are rare accomplishments. thankfully my boys don't mind. days are chopped up into do or die increments. of course these increments always include happy things like: cuddling and rocking, chatting and laughing, smiling and eating, all my children and ellen. benji loves to eat while catching up with our favorite cooky characters.

so my early valentining has begun. i know, i know. this is me over-compensating for being so late on taking my tree down and putting it up, for that matter. oh well. c'est la vie. my happy hearts hang right above the sink. floating above me while i scrub the pots and pans.

a little love decor just in time for obama to give his speech, michelle to wear her dress and every news anchor to get a little choked up. not to mention our mini inauguration party. we'll be having fettuccine alfredo, spinach salad and dan's new pick, thomas kemper cream soda (freeze for ten minutes for optimum chill). benji will be in his favorite snug jammies and maybe i'll be wearing eyeshadow, my new favorite duo, starstruck and golden lynx.

happy inauguration day. (oh yes, my friends, i look fear in the face. i realize that blogging the O word may in fact bring about another go-around. see my most controversial post of 08 for reference.)

p.s. fishing line is my new favorite craft go-to. all thanks to dan. when i mentioned i might like some fishing line lying around my studio, he was more than delighted to run out to sportsman's warehouse to make the purchase. (hmm now why doesn't that happen when i mention needing a new pair of shoes?) dan even called to inquire what weight i needed. um, i don't know, strong enough to hold up a paper heart. he made an excellent choice, getting a lightweight line that would make knots neatly. what would i do without my man.

side note: for lack of a better solution to hang my hearts from the ceiling, i simply tied the fishing line heart strings to one long piece of ribbon so the hearts are dangling at different heights. i then used three push pins to tack the ribbon onto the ceiling.

giveaway: i heart photography

the moment i spied irene suchocki's whimsical work, i was in love. her photography speaks for itself. she creates images with imagination. i've never seen anything like it. just browsing her collection of simple and serene scenes makes me want to collect a few belongings, head to the Cape with a scarf on my head and a book in my hand to watch the soft waves roll over my toes. her prints would be an amazing addition to any studio, bedroom or nursery wall. though her new series, city of love (photographs of paris shown below), may be my favorite.

irene is sweetly offering one m.writes reader their choice of any 8x10 or 8x8 print in her etsy shop. start browsing, start swooning. simply leave me a comment on this post by thursday, january 22nd and tell me where you met your sweetheart or your favorite vacation spot. i'll announce the winner on friday, january 23rd. thank you, irene!





ooh la la. love is in the air.
and just in time for valentine's.
{images by irene.}

p.s. today is a national day of service. don't forget to spread the love.

real beautiful

a sublime saturday

yoga mat at my feet
cereal in my bowl
two boys in my car
five boxes in storage
checkers on the table
chinese on my plate
letters to write
projects to do
my sister on the phone
a magazine in my hands and
a sweetheart in my lap

this image was scanned from the february issue of real simple (thanks mom! a magazine subscription is my favorite type of gift because it keeps giving all year long). this month is lovely as usual. it includes recipes for warm comfort foods, a feature on pink makeup and a beautiful article showcasing famous photographers. they show and tell about the women in their lives. it's the essence of love. a valentine's issue done simple. see more playful happy photography here, under richard foulser.

and the winner is

i wish i could send each of you a customized jig tee, this was a great giveaway. but there can only be one winner. the random picker chose Leslie! congrats to you and please email your information to marta@martacards.com.


if you can't stand to lose and want to order an irresistible tee from jig, let them know you saw their tees on m.writes. happy friday everyone. more giveaways to come.

denim does it again.

gap, thank you for bringing it back! years ago i bought a dark denim gap skirt without a slit. i loved it to pieces and wore it once a week to work. everyone asked me where i got it because it's nearly impossible to find a denim skirt without a slit in the front nor the back. believe me, i've looked.

it's back. this time around the skirt is light denim, perfect for sunny afternoons. hip hooray for a day to day go-to. easy to wear, easy to love. girls, go and get it at gap, asap. your modest self will thank me.

and while you're at the mall, be sure to hit all the other stores booming with bargains. old navy slashed another 50% off everything that was already half off. i bought a sweater for $5, a tee for $1, and blue ballet flats for $4.

back 2 business

i loved reading all your comments about the jig onesie giveaway. merci for your nice words about my benji babe. you've made me glad. i've realized over the past few months, if you want to make a mama extremely happy simply send a compliment to her children. so many of you have great expectations for 2009! what exciting days. and i love that those of you without little ones are so willing to give it to a wee one you love dearly. i'll be announcing the winner on friday. there are more handmade goodies to come, giveaways galore. comment on mondays and cross your fingers on fridays. hope you'll tune in, they are all lovely items for the giving and receiving. just in time for my favorite holiday, the lovey dovey day of valentines.



among other things, i'm in the process of catching up. thus, the major to do list. i've listed everything into categories: design / web / home. because i'm fanatic like that. i am designing two sets of wedding invitations along with a book layout and hoping to find time to take down my christmas decorations and go to yoga class. blogging may be scarce for the next little while. dive into my archives or feel free to watch the view instead. we'll reconvene and discuss elisabeth's wardrobe, joy's sarcasm and sherri's hair.

xo.

what's what.

right now

i just put my baby down for a nap after snoozing on my chest for a bit. the best feeling in the world. but i have to get to work and he'll sleep more soundly in his crib. at least that's what i'm telling myself. i am wearing dan's cozy american apparel hoodie that i think i love more than he does. and am more than happy to be spending this grey day inside cooking supper in a crockpot and planning my life out. i have loads to think about and couldn't sleep last night because i had too much energy thinking up designs. now that is a good thing to lose sleep over. both my boys were sleeping and i kept telling myself, just fall asleep. but i couldn't. so i finally got up and started my work and showered and shaved and made dan's lunch and ate breakfast all before seven am. i wish there was a more proper way to write 'am' because it looks like am as in rhymes with ham. but i mean a.m. as in the morning. as in way too early. it was peaceful and good and i thought i should really do this more often. a big head start on the day. so i got a lot done and i'm none the sleepier. if dan were here, i'd ask him, is that what i mean? because he speaks my deluded language. or moreover, he has learned to dumb it down to be able to understand my sometimes backward words. i don't excuse them though. whenever i say something completely wrong, he still knows what i meant to say. my current phrase is c'est la vie and i say it whenever it's appropriate or not appropriate. and dan laughs and says you mean (enter normal phrase here).. and he's always right and i say back to him, well it doesn't really matter what i say because you always know what i really mean. so therefore you're perfect. my language isn't. but it doesn't really matter. because it's all in context. so therefore it's all in the pudding.

the proof, that is.

cheap & true

who knew a shampoo & conditioner under five bucks each could actually deliver? i had my doubts when i read about this sunsilk duo in a magazine. but when i spied it on the shelf in the grocery store, i decided there wasn't much to lose.

the outcome: i am happily surprised with silky smooth and bouncy strands. my hair actually looks decent the second day and it smells lovely too. here's to adding two more bottles into the tub. dan will be overjoyed. am putting this on my favorite not too cheap to be true list.

giveaway: jig tees

jig is one of my new favorite etsy shops, simply because they create tees unlike any i've seen in the hundreds of baby boutiques online. jig is a children's clothing company founded on the belief that handmade is just more fabulous. amen to that, i love the idea of making something special for a special someone. (i am especially drawn to these darling tees, being one who never had my name printed on anything as a child. no souvenir keychains for me. martika and martha - yes. marta - no. i'm still not over it.) jig has dozens of modern tot designs to customize for your li'l boy or girl. these tees make a perfectly unique baby gift. i like to say it's cute couture.

jig has kindly offered to give an m.writes reader one customized short sleeve onesie or tee (your choice of size and design) inside a lovely wooden gift box. please comment on this post by thursday, january 15th. the onesie winner will be announced on friday, january 16th. thank you, jig!





as a thank you for featuring jig in my Black Friday Giveathon post, they sweetly sent my little bear cub a customized tiny tee of his own. i think we can see, he loves it and was doing a happy jig when i snapped this shot!

a sweet sista snack

this weekend i am headed home for some serious sista time, sans a few sistas. (we'll miss you, but truly you are the safe ones.) beware, i am bringing a handsome boy you will want to kiss all over and a bowlful of calories. your resolutions may be at risk.

happy weekend every buddy.
{tune in monday for a little giveaway.}

my little explorer

the way my babe looks around with such wonder makes my heart melt. he is discovering his little land bit by bit, even managing to hold his head up with high hopes not to miss one detail. it is so amazing that we as his parents are introducing him to the world. it is a big responsibility to grasp, that we are his first teachers. the things i say and do and show him affect him and his outlook. i hope and pray that i can open up a bright big world, inviting and welcoming. how i hope he will see the world with optimism and happiness and thankfulness. but more importantly, i hope to teach him to understand who he really is. such an important soul, not only in our home, this small sphere where a happy trio resides, but also in the big picture. and day by day, my baby teaches me. i can barely get it all down in writing, a lesson is in every moment. the way he raises his quizzical brow and gives me a giggle, showing me that life is good. life is to be enjoyed. i imagine him as a beautiful unfolding book, each day a new page opens up. he grows and learns and shows us who he is. he is my own version of a curious tale of benjamin, with those wide eyes full of excitement and curiosity. i have a feeling he will love going on Exploration Hunts, almost as much as his companion, his happy go lucky papa.

today my little one taught me to open up my eyes, my heart, my mind and discover something, understand something, and explore the unknown.


“Learning is the discovery that something is possible.”
Fritz Perls

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes
but in having new eyes."
Marcel Proust

“The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery.”
Mark van Doren

“The beginning of knowledge is the discovery
of something we do not understand.”
Frank Herbert

“There is no such thing as the pursuit of happiness,
but there is the discovery of joy.”
Joyce Grenfell

“Discovery consists in seeing what everyone else has seen
and thinking what no one else has thought.”
Albert Szent-Gyorgyi