Craftspiration

I've recently taken an interest in Pinterest and Craft Gawker. I had heard of both of them and had even signed up for a Pinterest account months ago. But it's only in the past week or so that I've increased my time browsing {while drooling} on the sites.

There's just so much inspiration, especially on Pinterest. Inspiring me to make. Make food, bake goods, sew stuffed animals and create Yule Tide gifts.

I think this year for the Yule Tide season, I'll be creating Winter Cold Care kit {also known as "Cold Care in a Jar"}, something I originally discovered at The Gunny Sack. Each kit shall include a mixture of:

1. Handmade tissues & tissue case
2. "" lotion bar
3. "" sanitizer
4. "" lip balm
5. "" vapor discs
6. Herbs
7. Teas: Throat Coat & Gypsy Cold Care teas are staples in our household
8. Emergen-C packets

And of course I have the highest ambitions to make most of these items myself. {Some days I pretend I am a SuperMom.} I'm really excited to start on collecting and creating this kit!

What else should be added to the kit? Anything that could make it better? Any suggestions would be helpful. :)

<3

Oh, did you think you'd get away without viewing a picture of the cutest almost-14-month old in the world? {Or 3}

 

No, I didn't think so.

When your phone just doesn't cut it

I really do enjoy writing. I like the flow of words that pours out from my mind after a long day of mundane stresses.

I like the weight of the pencil in my hand pushing against the notepad. I like sound of the scribbles. That scratching sound that is somehow soothing, not irritating.

I even like the clickity-click sound of the keys as I furiously type away my musings. It sounds like progress. It sounds like something really important is happening.

But the thing just ruins the stream of conciousness writing that I'm so apt to use is the frustrating, easily-made errors that come from documenting these same thoughts on a smartphone or tablet.

But as a mother who seems to be multitasking constantly, even in my sleep, I use the medium that is nearest to my fingertips (or thumbs). And that's why what's in my head can some times be turned into something completely different when I churn out a blog post on my phone while Elise is nursing.

But that's just how it goes, I suppose...

(And sorry for the hiatus in writing. I am mom, you know : ) ).
<3

Fake it until you make it

That's the theme of the thoughts that have been running through my head as of late.

Baby Cognition

It's amazing just how much a baby develops in such a short period of time.

Looking back at pictures of Elise, I see many changes. But the one I'm noticing today is the jump in her understanding.

Pictures of her show her looking at her hands in pure puzzlement and bewilderment. It's as if she's thinking,

"What are these objects that keep on waving wildly in front of me? Why do they move so?"

I remember watching one documentary on babies while I was pregnant. The topic was their cognition.

The narrator explained that babies' brains are working overtime in the beginning. Their brains are actually connecting more synapses than they need to and that's why many of their movements are wild and shaky and all over the place. They are testing out all of the possibilities and then narrowing down the ones the ones that work best.

Elise has certainly figured out which movements are the right ones, at least as far as her hands go. Now, she's on to figuring out how to keep her balance while standing.

What are your thoughts on baby cognition? Have you heard of any other explanations as to how babies' develop in their understandings?

On another note, sweet Elise just turned 9 months today! And in no time, this pro explorer will become a pro walker!

<3

Super-Ness

I'm not quite sure how other parents do it.

You know what I'm talking about. Those "super moms" and "super dads".

They seem to have it all together. They have endless amounts of energy. And they are able to do more things in one hour than people do in one day.

And they don't complain about it. In fact, they seem to enjoy, nay, revel in it, bask in their "super-ness."

Other parents, on the other hand, are the complete opposite. They are constantly in a frenzied, stressed state. They never seem to have it together. They always seeming to be running on their last ounce of energy.

I think most parent,s in general, remain somewhere in between these two states.

This morning though, I feel a bit in the latter state.

Where is the energy? Where is the "ohhpa"? Where is the gusto?

What kind of parent are you? High energy, low energy or does it just depend on the day?

<3

Considering Starting Another Blog

I have just been musing over starting another blog.

This one being about motherhood, and the reflections of the day to day mummy adventures.

"The Traveling Mummy" perhaps? With the idea that being a mom is an adventure, or at least a travel in and of itself.

Or maybe "The Perfect Motherhood", with a playing off of the fact that nothing can/will be perfect?

What do you think? I'm trying to find my voice in this giant blogiverse, and maybe this should be the angle I speak from.

<3

Pick something & stick with it!

I'm one of those people who is always thinking they could do "this" or do "that".

Here's the thing, I get antsy after 6 months at a job. (How many jobs have I had since graduating college? Nearly in the double digits!)

Maybe it's because I still haven't found that perfect Job. Or is that even a real thing? Or maybe I have a bad case of job ADD. Or maybe it's because I have such a mutable personality that I crave to "be", or mutate, into something new.

Not sure which one it is, but lately I've been "craving" to start my own handmade home goods shop where I'd feature hand printed items created by no other than myself. I have even created an Etsy shop for it & hope to one day use this blog as a tool for promotion & networking of it.

Or maybe I should start freelance writing again?

Or...I've always loved working with herbs, so wonder what I could do with that?

Oh, and I'm also quite fond of & good at organizing, so maybe I could be a organizational consultant?

Well, you get the point..

An Unseasonably Warm Winter Means...

That I'm already thinking about what this year's garden should be like.

Shall we grow some lettuces in pots?

Shall we have a yard full of red juicy tomatoes? Radishes? How about our herbs?

It's so exciting to think about what will make up our menus and what will fill our tummies this spring & summer.

A Friend Told Me...

That I am creative.

A couple of weeks ago my two besties came over to my place to hang out, chat & visit my new baby daughter.

Our conversation strayed to my friend's dream of opening her own bakery.  As our chatter grew in excitement, we talked about how each of us could play a part, listing off our strengths that would come in handy. When it came to my turn, there was a brief silence.

"And Amber is..."

"Adaptable? A quick learner?" I suggested.

"Amber is creative," one said.

And that was my moment of joy.

My friends' moment of struggle to find a strength of mine, turned into one the best compliments and ego boosters that I've in a good, long while.

This is a test

I do believe I have blog ADD. From one blog to another I frolick.
This time I'm serious. This time I commit.
My baby is beautiful, and she is the force behind my drive.