Monthly Archives: January 2012

Let them paint! (Wordless Wednesday)

We make a LOT of art around this joint. LJ’s been taking art classes since she was about 18 months, and with an art teacher mama, forget it: it’s never-ending. It’s so, SO crucial to your kid’s cognitive development that you let them create art. Did you know that? It is! So what if it’s messy? Clean it up! Please stop buying those stupid markers that only show up on certain paper, or color by number books. Those make me grind my teeth, and that’s not an art activity: it’s a waste of money. You can let your kid make art with absolutely ANYTHING. Look in your cabinets! Look in your junk drawers! Give them some glue, let’em loose and watch them beam with pride at their creations!

Here are some of the things Lotte (age 3) has made in the past year that I particularly love:

*inspired by a millipede (wire and clay)

*inspired by potato bugs (styrofoam and toothpicks)

*inspired by crabs (clothespins and glue)

*inspired by the belly of a newt! (paint, cotton balls, qtips)

*inspired by “snail slime” (google a “slime recipe”)

*fish printmaking

*fabric printmaking (plastic cups, paint, felt)

*printmaking (cardstock shapes, brayer, paint, cardboard)

*food prints (paint, apples, potatoes, mushrooms, bell pepper)

See? You don’t need to buy fancy art supplies! Just some paint and some veggies from the fridge. Some plastic cups from the back of the pantry and glue. Yay art!

“”Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.”- Pablo Picasso

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Linking up with the fabulous bloggers over at 5 Minutes for Mom and The Paper Mama.

Just call me hoarder of the morning, angel.

I have a few resolutions for the the year 2k12 that I’m not going to delve into too much here, since they’re pretty bane and not at all thrilling. They include:

  1. Take yoga. (…for the love of christ. WHY IS THIS SO HARD FOR ME?)
  2. Get acupuncture.
  3. Use more glitter. (Why not?)
  4. Start drinking cocktails. (Wine and beer are so over. I’d like to become a full-fledged lush.)
  5. Eat more farro. (Vegetarian power obligation)

Perhaps the most important resolution, though? The one I’ve been DYING to have my entire life and have never really had the space or means to do so, but will now that we’re moving to a bigger space in Boston? The one that has been lying dormant for my entire 36 years and is now itching to break free and reach fruition?

Collections, bitch.

I am going to start collecting things. So many things. I’m going to collect things SO HARD, and SO FAST, Pete and LJ will be calling the A&E network by year’s end, pleading for my intervention and public shaming. (Not really. Although, maybe. You never know.) So what have I been dying to hoard? (SQUEALING INSIDE WITH EXCITEMENT!)

1. Jadeite Kitchenware (OMFG LOOK AT THAT!)

This image is from Martha Stewart’s personal collection, and you guys, there’s an ENTIRE SLIDESHOW of it. I can just picture my new kitchen loaded with these green gems, and it makes my knees weak. I have no idea why.

2.  Vintage Silhouettes (*fainting at the chicness*)

 This image is from the blog Sight and Sound, and features other amazing silhouette collections, also. My parents had two oval silhouettes in their bedroom when I was growing up- I think that could be why they appeal to me- they’re so aesthetically striking and comforting at the same time. I’m obsessed.

3. Vintage Fiesta Ware 

Do me a favor. Before you say, “What the eff? Is she insane? They’re brightly colored bowls.”, click on THIS LINK and look at all of that goodness. Do it now. I’ll wait.

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You get it now, don’t you? You want to start collecting Fiesta Ware also, you know you do.

4. Map Textiles (Cuteness ALL UP IN MY FACE)

 I love maps. I love hoarding vintage-looking fabrics that sit untouched in a sewing box in my closet because I’m a tool. I didn’t even KNOW that there was such a thing as vintage MAP TEXTILES. Did you know that was a “thing”? There are tablecloths, handkerchiefs, napkins, you name it. All CRAZY CUTE. Here’s where I got that image, and a slideshow of a zillion more. I love. I want.

5. Vintage Lilly Pulitzer dresses

Look at this dress.

You see “uptight Stepford Wife vacationing in Palm Beach in the 60s”, and I see “Abso-fucking-lutely”.

Here’s the thing very few people know about me: I already have quite a little collection of about 10 Lilly Pulitzer dresses. I might wear black and dark gray like Daria all winter, but I have NO QUALMS about wearing a fuschia dress with mermaids, seahorses and bric brac come summertime. Bring it. I don’t have any of the vintage prints and styles, though, which are pretty fantastic. Wearing Lilly Pulitzer dresses are like wearing sunshine and gin and tonics. Yes, please.

6. Pyrex, ya’ll. 

This image is from one of the many Pyrex Collectives. There are many, MANY blogs devoted to old pyrex. They’re all amazing. My kitchen is going to be very, very crowded, but also SO BADASS and adorable. Finally,

7. Vintage Children’s Books

This image is from the blog Vintage Kids’ Books my Kid Loves, a blog dedicated to, well, vintage kids’ books that are awesome. What I adore about these books, though, are the illustrations. They’re just the best. So charming and precious and unlike anything going on in children’s book illustrating today. I want to frame a million of them and hang them in the playroom we don’t even have (yet). Look what happens when you google “vintage children’s book illustrations”, and try not to die a thousand deaths from the sweetness.

So, there you have it. My dreamy collections that are about to begin. Poor, poor Pete.

By the way, if I tickled your fancy (and I KNOW I did for at least one of you like-minded lunatics), and you’re looking to start a collection of something rad: try here for some inspiration. You can also troll etsy, ebay and flea markets for ideas. WOOHOO! Wish me luck. :)

MAD LIBS!

Remember how awesome it was to play Mad Libs as a kid? Well, I just played with the hilarious and charming Christine over at Quasi Agigato, and it was ridiculous. Pee in your pants funny.

Here’s how it worked: Christine picked out one of my blog posts, unbeknownst to me, and sent me a list of words that were needed to play. I had no idea which post she had chosen: I was just presented with a list of words to complete. It took everything in my power to not shout, “SEX! SEXY! BOOB! SEXYTIME! PENIS!”, like I did when I played Mad Libs as an 11-year-old.

So please head over to check it out! The results can be found HERE. (The original post is here.) HA!

Quasi Agitato