isn't it lovely...

Simplification and Resolutions

2012-01-10T11:59:00.001-08:00

the new year has brought lots of changes. we have started to simplify, and to enjoy more of what really matters.

a list that I expect will get longer:

1. As a family we now own only 1 car
(this will be better for the environment and ultimately will force us to ride our bikes EVEN MORE. This takes some pre-planning and thinking in advance, but I think it will be worth it!)

2. We got rid of our cable and Internet at home.
(less connected into the web, more connected as a family. I see lots of books, board games, outdoor activities and play in our future)

3. De-cluttering our home
(Duston laughs at me, but I swear it is really freeing and feels so great to get rid of all the crap we don't really need.)

4. Building the chickens a larger run
(Yes, it's true...our 4 chickens were taking over our backyard. Rather their poop was taking over our backyard...and they were eating all of our garden. They now have a nice fenced in run...woo!)

5. I have been taking better care of my skin!
(It feels and looks amazing. What a big difference a little self-love can make!)

6. I found an awesome way to fit yoga into my weekly schedule!
(There are yoga classes offered at lunchtime up on the hill at OHSU. And they are only $4 a piece. This is sooooo exciting!!)

7. I have been taking advantage of free stuff in Portland.
(Chinese Garden, Hikes in forest park, Public Library, Free concerts at the Kennedy school, free OMSI, free children's museum and an upcoming free family afternoon at the Portland art museum. So much free stuff, I should start keeping a log of how much money I am saving! It takes a little bit of investigating...but is totally worth it!)

I am sure there will be more....I'll keep adding to the list as we continue to be healthier and change how we live for the better :)

2012-01-02T21:26:00.000-08:00

we have decided that the theme for this year is, the year of "doing."

doing what we talk about, doing what needs to be done,

yep, just generally doing shit.

(basically this means the year of no procrastinating)

so, for twenty-twelve i intend to (in no particular order):

1. be brave

2. be mindful

3. do lots more yoga (even if this means just doing it in my living room)

4. take much better care of my skin (shit i am turning 30 this year!)

5. see Washington DC, I have never been and will be going in early August!

6. de-clutter, mostly my house.

7. roam more thrift stores. i love them so.

8. find more free stuff to do in Portland. there is so much to take advantage of...and who doesn't like free shit? (there is a free banjo concert this Thursday (I.Am.There.)

9. better manage stress

10. drink more water, try to drink less coffee (this will be a tough one)

11. ride my bike more often, i always feel better after a substantial bike commute

12. convert to a one car family (which might just force me to ride my bike more often)

13. Figure out a way to get my mother's sewing machine to Portland,

man that thing weighs like 75lbs but it is so beautiful.

14. Figure out what the hell to do on my 30th birthday.

15. Internet less and read more books.

16. eat some delicious eggs, laid by our very own chickens!

17. plant an even BIGGER garden

18. I am sure there is more...

How I Rang in Twenty Twelve...

2012-01-01T09:27:00.000-08:00

ate a delicious five course, prefix, chef's choice meal

drank some amazing drinks

came home, made a fire, listened to records

there was some living room dancing.

.& more red wine.

best.new.years.to.date.

MERRY MERRY

2011-12-23T13:14:00.000-08:00

Ok, this is TOTALLY cheesy and I don't even care because it is so deeply ingrained in my childhood memories of Christmas. My dad had THIS record on vinyl...

Conway Twitty meets Tweety bird equals AWESOME!! It's so ridiculous and wonderful for children.

(see below for a blog that has a link to download the entire thing, YES!)

*Warning, you might find this record to be entirely obnoxious if you didn't grow up with it.

http://thedustydollar.blogspot.com/2009/12/conway-twitty-his-little-friends-merry.html

2011-12-07T09:01:00.001-08:00

home finds.

2011-11-21T21:25:00.000-08:00

I love this bed!
and these other fun finds....

turkish rugs and pillows off of ebay. choices, choices...

personalized paper.

2011-11-21T21:14:00.000-08:00

customized paper dolls....here.
how cute would these be as a cake topper at a wedding?!

2011-11-15T15:08:00.000-08:00

newly framed and ready to hang in our house.

remember.

2011-10-27T00:19:00.000-07:00

venture new paths;

throw rocks into deep water;

value truthfulness;

discard what they say;

calmly take fear along;

be present... and equally kind.

relish in quiet moments

and melodies that urge movement;

simplicity of affection.

the acceptance of what is

and

refusal of what need not be.

boot love.

2011-10-26T00:02:00.000-07:00

two.

2011-10-25T00:07:00.000-07:00

2011-08-29T22:10:00.000-07:00

2011-08-19T00:28:00.001-07:00

2011-08-19T00:22:00.000-07:00

from bottom to top:

this jacket is awesome. so i bought it, let's just call it my birthday gift to myself.

kilim pillow

if i was to have an outdoor fireplace, THIS is the one I want.

the unicycle makes it.

you can never have too many stripes.

some things I like.

2011-08-09T13:42:00.000-07:00

some things I like from top to bottom:

Tartine Bread cookbook

Pantone Mugs in every color

you are my sunshine tee

hanging felt planter

photo.

2011-07-27T10:04:00.000-07:00

vélo love

2011-07-14T08:18:00.000-07:00

I am enamoured with my new road bike and I finally think I "get" the bike fanatics in Portland. It makes you feel so alive to be gliding down the road through the fresh summertime air.

camping on the clackamas.

2011-06-29T23:20:00.000-07:00

summer.

2011-06-27T11:12:00.000-07:00

Warm sun on your skin; the kiddie pool in the middle of the backyard;bare feet on green grass; the smell of sunscreen; hot dogs and cold beer. Thank goodness... it is finally starting to feel like summer.

WE ARE FINALLY BUILDING A CHICKEN COOP!

2011-06-11T12:00:00.000-07:00

After months and months of talking about it....we are finally building a chicken coop in our backyard. We bought the plans for this lovely coop above and I am currently reading the book A Chicken in Every Yard to prepare for our new chicken adventure. YAY Chickens!

a new favorite: HALF PINT

2011-06-08T12:09:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been walking down a Portland street and you see the girl with the perfect vintage boots?....the boots that you have been dreaming of forever and can't seem to find Anywhere! For a moment you consider knocking her down, prying them off her adorable feet and quickly running in the other direction.... hoping she won't notice..(and hoping they're the right size!). Well, I have just found the exact place where those magical boots can be found and purchased with less random thievery...and it is located a mere block away from my house...yes, very dangerous! Half Pint is awesome and affordable too....I just scored an amazing pair of caramel colored boots with the perfect heel for 38$. Yes, it is true. I would recommend that you go there...um, now....run!

twins.

2011-06-01T10:15:00.001-07:00

9, a photo by greatjob on Flickr.

this just makes me laugh.

2011-05-30T11:12:00.000-07:00

(stay-cation at the ace hotel)

instead of going out of town for memorial day weekend:

we stayed in Portland,

watched the Timbers game, lost my voice from cheering too loud,

ate @ The Original

(still trying to decide if I could eat five pounds of poutine to win the free t-shirt.)

morning stumptown coffee and city wandering.

so lovely portland.

2011-05-27T15:16:00.000-07:00

2011-05-27T13:00:00.000-07:00

Sometimes when driving around with Sophie, she falls asleep in the car...it is always at this moment that I find myself starving and/or needing a coffee....and I don't have the heart to wake her by getting out of the car. I have often wished for a healthy "drive thru" option....

enter: King Harvest DRIVE-THRU in SE.

Their food is fresh and healthy and dirt cheap. You can get a coffee and a bagel with hummus for around 2$. I am thrilled to find a spot to grab a healthy snack without waking a sleeping toddler. score!

2011-05-07T08:22:00.000-07:00

Anxiously awaiting summertime.

Some Stupid Photos I Took

2011-03-06T17:18:00.000-08:00

THINGS ORGANIZED NEATLY

2011-03-06T17:04:00.000-08:00

THIS site is awesome. eat your heart out OCD.

STOP BEING SO SEXY TOM

2011-02-25T10:10:00.000-08:00

Lotus Flower from True romance on Vimeo.

2011-02-17T14:33:00.001-08:00

a little late for valentines day.

my valentine and I walked

a block up the road to DOC for a romantic dinner.

i threw out my silly vegan preferences for the evening...

olives, bread w. butter

brussels spouts w. pumpkin oil

rabbit, farro w. orange

trumpet mushroom, kale, truffle lasagna topped w. farm egg

cheese board

red wine

no.room.for.dessert.

(it was delicious.)

a film, the couch & a cup of tea.

2011-01-29T23:16:00.000-08:00

Our house has been taken over by yet another nasty cold. lots of coughing, sore throats, snot noses and time spent on the couch with a cup of hot tea&honey. Looking on the bright side, I have managed to catch up on some lovely/entertaining/unconventional french films from the 1950s/60s by Jean-Luc Godard that have been on my netflix cue forever.
Oui!

Seattle.Museum

2011-01-20T23:35:00.000-08:00

Buzzards Bay, Helen Frankenthaler. 1959.

Went to the Seattle Museum of Art. This painting always manages to grab my attention while I am there. The colors are wonderful. And the way the image seems a little abrupt and beautiful all at once. There is almost a sense of urgency in the painting...
like it is trying to let you in on some sort of painful secret.

MIRANDA: LOVE YOU AND YOUR UNUSUAL WIT.

2010-12-30T10:12:00.000-08:00

Something new and amazing from Ms. July.
Book Cover made for Opening Ceremony.

2010-12-29T10:09:00.000-08:00

what i wish for in the new year.
a list (in no particular order)

hike to a hot spring
learn to sew
give time to a good cause
enjoy playing and listening to music
plant a garden in the spring, give it love, watch it grow
dinner parties with friends
the opportunity to bury my toes in warm beach sand
read more books
notice the simple joys in life
make my daughter laugh (as often as possible)
visit my mothers resting place
photograph often
simplify

reading.

2010-12-29T10:03:00.000-08:00

Phil Elverum (Dawn: book, cd + photographs)
The New Yorker's Writer Picks (20 Under 40)
Steve Martin (An Object of Beauty)

...currently reading.
all quite different.
they are keeping my mind occupied.

2010-12-26T16:11:00.000-08:00

LAURA LETINSKY

UNRELATED.

2010-12-22T16:12:00.000-08:00

some things to look at.

KNIT

2010-12-21T15:14:00.000-08:00

The weather has been rainy and it just feels nice to remember the things that make you feel
cozy.

Amira Fritz

2010-12-15T15:27:00.000-08:00

great photography by Amira Fritz

an x.mas present

2010-12-01T16:01:00.000-08:00

Bought myself a christmas present. some paper dolls from this wonderful

Etsy shop. What is it about paper dolls that just brings me back to lovely childhood memories?

These are just beautiful.

Thinking about a "Green" Christmas

2010-11-15T13:38:00.000-08:00

Trying to get some inspiration for a "green" alternative for a Christmas tree this year. I just don't think I can bring myself to chop down a tree...or to buy a tree that has been chopped down. I think that I would like to start some new tradition for Sophie's sake. So, I am starting to think about the possibility of Making our own tree out of recycled materials maybe...That way each year we would have a fun art project on our hands. Here are some images to be inspired by:

i.want.this.book.shelf!

2010-11-13T15:34:00.000-08:00

my.new.favorite

2010-10-08T14:05:00.001-07:00

I really enjoy things with beautiful form and function,

enter
Chris Brigham's beautiful wood work...

The Knife and Saw

http://knifeandsaw.wordpress.com/

AHHHHH....SUMMERTIME!!!

2010-07-28T16:32:00.000-07:00

"Welcome to paradise....be prepared to be mildly depressed"....

This was something I recently read in the Willamette Week's yearly published Finder. And to some extent, it's true. Most of the time in Portland the weather is so gray and dreary that you have to force yourself out of your house to brave the rain and enjoy a hot coffee with a friend.

But with that said...

Summer time in Portland is absolutely wonderful!

Everything is greener than green from the months of rain fall. There are warm days filled with bike rides and BBQs, camping trips and days spent on the river, concerts, farmers markets, hiking to waterfalls and endless other outdoor activities! These months in Portland are undoubtedly sublime....and we are so lucky to enjoy this fun time with friends!

Here are a few photos of our trip to the Washougal River.

(the water was freezing but the sun was blazing hot....what better time to lay around in the river?!)

where is my mind....

2010-07-09T14:27:00.000-07:00

At this point, I am unsure as to what the direction of this blog is. It feels a little discombobulated as of recently. I suppose it has been a place for me to keep things I find and things I love. At times, I wish I was a more dedicated "blogger"....like some of the wonderful blogs I try to follow. But as it is, I blog sporadically at best and more often than not about random things. I guess I do it more for myself than for anyone else, although I guess people look at my blog every now and then. I feel like the true road block to a more coherent blog is time. To be honest, Motherhood doesn't leave me a lot of extra time. (I'm lucky if I get photos of the baby posted online for my relatives that live far away.) Don't get me wrong, this lack of time (for blogging) is not, by any means, a bad thing. It just means that my "down" time is filled with playing with my daughter; making her laugh and watching her grow; walking through our lovely neighborhood to the park; making baby food from scratch and feeding Sophie (watching the reaction on her face to each new taste); trips to find books at the library for Sophie, dancing and singing; playing musical instruments; gardening and exploring the backyard; enjoying time with friends/family; cooking or baking; outings to the zoo or the art museum; sing alongs at Milagros with Mr. Ben, afternoon sunbathing and splashing in the kiddie pool; story time and cuddling at night; and half heartedly trying to keep the house from looking like a "baby" tornado hit it. So, I suppose my free time is spent on the simple things....the fun things. And I have to admit that it is really quite nice. It feels great to avoid being online and the time suckage that can occur therein. It feels wonderful to spend time with my child and even more wonderful that she is my number one priority....that she knows she is loved and she can be secure in herself. These are the important things and I believe that happiness can be found in the small things....that these simple things are extremely important.

Duston and I have also been on a mission to alter our "way of life" so to speak....to move toward a life that inspires Sophie to be mindful of the planet and its limited resources. To respect what we have and attempt to create less waste. This has been really fun! We have always recycled items but now we are making changes little by little: growing a vegetable garden in the back yard; using a re-usable bag when shopping; eating locally and buying from farmer's markets; composting our table scraps; walking or biking as often as possible; cutting out a huge amount of television; supporting local businesses; hanging laundry to dry on the clothesline; reducing our water usage; buying an energy efficient furnace and getting rid of the oil furnace; shopping at thrift stores; holding yard sales; donating our junk to the Goodwill; reusing containers; and hopefully we will be getting our own chickens soon. Basically reducing, reusing and recycling. A few weeks after we held a yard sale we were walking in our neighborhood, I saw a girl that looked familiar and I realized she was wearing my old sweater! I got so excited I shrieked and pointed her out to Duston and said, "look my clothing has been recycled!! in our very own neighborhood!" ...and she looked better in the sweater than I ever did. It just felt wonderful to see the impact first hand. It made me feel good. And I want to continue to feel that way...to feel that in small ways we are teaching Sophie a way of life that is different from what we grew up with and that will be the norm for her.

I also feel compelled to mention how amazing our friends are. I honestly can't say what I would do without them. They are so supportive and wonderful. They have helped us when we needed a hand with the baby. They have been like extended family for her and for us. They have supported us unconditionally and have shown Sophie endless kindness and love. They have continued to make us laugh and have been there to listen when I needed a shoulder or an ear. being a new parent has it's challenges and through it all, our friends have been there. I only wish I could fully express my gratitude to them. I hope they know. But I can't say thank you enough. Sophie is growing up with a community of genuine family and friends, people whose characteristics I would be overjoyed to have her embody.

So you'll have to excuse the fact that I am a less-than-dedicated blogger.

Trying to focus on the important things

and enjoying every minute of it.

NO IMPACT

2010-06-23T10:56:00.000-07:00

Let's be honest here...I am a documentary junkie...yep!....anything I can get my hands on...loooooove me a good documentary. And this is exactly that, a good documentary! Its intention is for the Beaven family to live for a year will no negative impact on the planet...no cars, no television, no new clothing, no trash, eating local/sustainable foods, no electricity, no harmful chemicals, in addition to creating a positive impact through volunteer work with environmental causes. It's a tall order to fill when you think about it....leave behind all the conveniences and really think about how your way of life affects your health, the health of others and the planet as a whole. This film is thought provoking to say the least, it challenges our social structure and the resources we take for granted. I thought the wife was pretty comical and a perfect representation of the "American Perspective"....I think she drinks like 3 coffee drinks in a row at Starbucks before FINALLY giving up coffee! (Ahhh Starbucks...don't even get me started on Starbucks and their unfair trade practices!!Grrrrr.)

The film touched on a lot of things I was already aware of...but it made me think even further on the topic of conscious living and creating no impact on the planet.

So, anyway....you should see this film because it might just inspire you to live your life a little differently, a little more sustainably :)

Practically Free!

2010-06-09T16:33:00.000-07:00

2$ Tuesday at the Portland, Oregon Zoo

The second Tuesday of each month, the Portland zoo charges only 2$ for admission

(Only 1.50$ if you ride public transit!)

That is practically free!

*I would recommend taking public transit as it is cheaper and parking on this day is INSANE!*

2010-06-08T17:00:00.000-07:00

perfect for portland. i miss you, too
tee by local artist Jolby

the lovely DONNA WILSON

2010-06-07T11:26:00.000-07:00

http://donnawilsonsblog.blogspot.com/

Donna Wilson is a British designer....love her stuff and her blog!!

thank you Anthropolgie sale!

2010-06-02T08:11:00.000-07:00

I am always excited to hear that anthropolgie is having a sale, so a few weeks ago I popped in to check out what fun things they had. I found a few shirts and a cute fabric "S" for sophie's nursery:

While there, I also discovered this fantastic book. I'm typically drawn to the way people live and the character that can be found within people's homes and private space...so, upon picking up this book, I was immediately in love. I wanted to jump into the pages (like Mary Poppins into the sidewalk chalk drawings!) and wander around these wonderfully unique and eclectic homes. Not to mention that Todd Selby is just so talented,

yay for Selby!

"The Selby Is in Your Place was conceived when fashion and interiors photographer Todd Selby began taking portraits of dynamic and creative people—authors, musicians, artists, and designers—in their home environments and posting them on his web site. Nosy by nature, he wanted to see how personal style was reflected in private spaces. "

love it.

definitely a book to add to your collection

if you are a fan of good photography, interior design or just a general voyeurism into homes of interesting people.

FREE/PRACTICALLY FREE!

2010-06-01T12:54:00.000-07:00

I want to start posting all the wonderful free (and really cheap/practically free) things to do in Portland. I feel like there is a lot out there...it just takes a little leg work in finding those wonderfully free and practically free things.

Here's a list of a few things (past and present) for this week

1. Portland Rose Gardens: whether it's the garden in the SW hills up by the Zoo or the rose garden in Pennisula Park...they both are beautiful and wonderfully fun to visit. Kristen and I went to both on Monday...although the SW hills was so busy we couldn't find any parking...so we made the trip back to NE for a sunny stroll at Pennisula

* You can make a donation for the SW hills garden if you're feeling generous ;)

2. Book Babies: Free play group at the public libraries in Portland (weekly schedules posted online.) It's a baby free for all...books, toys...lots of fun for the kiddos. So, I do realize this only pertains to people with children....but hey, maybe you have a friend who has a baby and you want to tag along or just spread the love of books.

3. First Thursdays Art Walk: in the pearl, NW Portland...wonderful way to get out and enjoy some lovely art in the city. Free and a great way to get out for some fresh air and a walk!

4. Free First Fridays at the Children's Museum: free for kiddos and up to 5 adults per child from 4pm to 8pm...hooray.

Thrift LOVE

2010-05-30T21:06:00.000-07:00

I LOVE Rerun on NE Fremont St. and I also love when you happen to come across something

amazing in a thrift store!**

It feels like treasure hunting sometimes....sifting through all the "junk" in hopes of finding a gem.
...like this book I found for Sophie priced at $1.50! called Erni Cabat's magical ABC (animals around the farm)
What a wonderful abc book! the illustrations are so beautiful I almost think it's a shame they are hiding inside the pages of this book and it makes me want to frame them!
thank goodness I stumbled upon the small shelf of children's books in the back of the store.

**I also found this AWESOME! (and by awesome, I mean cheesy/awesome!) 8x10 Jesus hologram/picture for Duston...which he was pretty excited about!

2010-05-12T14:01:00.001-07:00

TREES!

Who doesn't love trees?? Fantastic tree inspired jewelry stands...

Here

and

Here

(yay!)

2010-05-11T13:48:00.000-07:00

Just got this wonderful book in the mail.

(yay! for mother's day gifts!!)

2010-05-10T11:08:00.001-07:00

Wishing for Bright Hues

with the super nice weather this last weekend...I am desperately wanting to go shopping and I am dreaming of girly bright, colorful hues to compliment the upcoming warmer weather. Found some pretty things with splashes of color...here.

2010-05-09T07:36:00.000-07:00

What's a girl to do??

To begin, this is not a photograph of my bed (although, i wish it was!)....but doesn't it look like the type of bed you could just climb right into, snuggle up to that kitty cat and sleep all day in? I think I could. Sorta looks like it would feel like snoozing on a cloud...not to mention the design of this bed is awesome, minimalistic and calm....and those deer heads....are.just.plain.RAD!

All this "bed" talk brings me to my real intention in this post....which is SLEEP (and more specifically, the lack there of.)

So, this brings me to the dilema....to sleep or not to sleep...this is the question. Seems pretty cut and dry, but it's not. It appears I have two options:

1. Go to sleep when the baby does (around 730pm) and have a full nights rest...but (here's the catch) miss out on having any type of life and participating in things I enjoy, fun activities with friends...etc.

2. Have a social life (in addition to motherhood)...i.e. plan to meet up with friends, go to concerts, have dinners out, attend interesting classes offered in the community, go to evening yoga, read a book or watch the newest netflicks dvd that just came in the mail, cook, garden, show up for girls nights out....etc. etc. etc.....but suffer from sleep deprivation in the process.

what's a girl to do??? Have a life and not sleep or sleep and not have a life?? They say to sleep when your baby does but then I'm missing out on all of my interests and adult life. Last weekend Kristen and I went to see a show at the Doug Fir and we both bailed early before the show was even over...because we were both exhausted from our full time jobs (mine as a mother and hers as a pseudo mom to children in need).

I'd like to know...where's the middle ground?? where do I find the balance? ...

so I don't have to leave the concert early and can still feel rested the next morning.

maybe I'm asking too much :)

Short Order Cook Mom

2010-04-28T12:08:00.000-07:00

We just ordered a new kitchen gadget

a.) because Duston loves kitchen gadgets

and

2.) because anything to make life easier and healthier for me and Sophie

is pretty much 100% necessary in my book!

When Sophie got to the 6month mark recently, there was absolutely no question about the fact that we were going to make our own baby food. The big dilemma was how to make it efficiently with as little mess as possible so that we didn't end up absolutely hating the process. (Some nights it's hard enough to remember to get dinner prepared for ourselves, nonetheless our newest little food critic in the house, aka Sophie. Anyway, this little gadget steams and purees all in the same container, thus avoiding the use of pots with steam baskets and our large food processor. So, it does all the hard work for you!! HOORAY!

This make serving up healthy, fresh and organic baby food that much more amazing!

2010-04-21T12:05:00.000-07:00

TRYING TO BALANCE IT ALL

(and somehow managing to maintain a notion sanity)

((yep, I said "notion"...I'm not pretending actual sanity...just attempting to embody the idea of it))

Lately I've been feeling a little discombobulated in my attempt to try to do it all. And I guess I don't really feel at liberty to ask for a break and I surely don't have time to stop and rest... seriously, who has time to stop and rest?! I'll tell you who doesn't have the time: mothers of six month old babies who are crawling here there and EVERYWHERE...that's who. And to be clear, I'm not complaining, just stating the obvious :)

There are days where I find myself wondering, "honestly, how am I still functioning?!" and there are times (I'm kind of embarrassed to admit) that I will be walking down the street feeling slightly inebriated from the stress in combination with the lack of sleep.

((This would probably be a good time to mention that I NEED at least 7 hours of sleep to feel well-adjusted and like a normal, functioning human being. I sometimes wish I could be the type of person that gets 4 hours of sleep and no one is the wiser, as if these people are immune to that "look" of exhaustion))

But given the circumstances, I am surviving and managing to try to do it "All"...

~~Getting up at 3am~~ Dragging myself out of bed at 3am when Sophie wakes up screaming her head off, managing to navigate through the dark to the kitchen without tripping over things or stubbing a toe in order to make a bottle, staying up for a few hours until she can finally be willed back to sleep, trying to catch a little snooze before she wakes up again and sometimes...again, working 10 hour days to have a few days off with the kiddo, trying to keep the kitchen clean (why is this so impossible?! somehow, no matter how I try to stay on top of it...there is always a mountain of dishes in the sink??? WTF!), trying to remember to brush my teeth in the morning and on rare occasion, feed myself breakfast...also trying to muster the energy to brew the coffee in the morning instead of just reheating day old coffee (yuck, right!) ((or worse... drinking the day old coffee cold...hey, caffeine in caffeine...right??!, right? eeww.)) sometimes remembering to put on make-up...but more often than not, going au natural and looking as tired as I feel (sheesh!), navigating through mountains of laundry and using lots of stain remover on all the cute little baby things which Sophie has pooped all over, trying to pretend like I know what I'm doing, playing on the floor with Soph and diverting the constant crawling towards ALL outlets and heat vents (what makes these things so appealing...really I'd like to know??), the never ending war with the dust that accumulates in older Portland homes, like ours (oh, and dust bunnies...just as appealing as outlets and heat vents! just in case you were wondering. they're like fun little, free furry toys so conveniently located in the nooks and corners of rooms! awesome!!), trying to find time to pump some breast milk (ummm, what a pain in the ass pumping is, it takes forever and leaves you immobile for that "forever" length of time) because Soph has decided she's waaay to cool for ~~school~~ breast feeding, attempting to leave the safe comfort of home to venture out into the real world and hoping that I have enough diapers, wipes, milk, chew toys, spit up rags and what-have-you to avoid an infant freak out session in public....

really, I think this rant could go on forever and ever.

*The point is...to be honest...the amount of respect I have for my parents and ALL parents for that matter, has grown ten fold...no a hundred fold!!(or something like that)*

((end of rant))

I've also included the lovely image above from illustrator Andrew Bannecker, as it almost seems to illustrate my current feelings of trying to balance atop all these wonderfully beautiful, chaotic waves of life and somehow managing to stay afloat, while at the same time knowing good and well that the slightest jerk or jostle will throw me clear into the storm itself. And lets not forget to notice that the anchor is not actually anchoring to anything, it's merely a false sense of security, if even that. After typing that I realized that maybe that sounded a tad depressing, but really I like to view it as "challenging" and I imagine myself rising to the occasion, taking it all on... full speed ahead.)

Fantastic Image credit: Andrew Banneecker

F*CK SODA!

2010-04-07T11:39:00.000-07:00

I normally don't go on rants or preach about things I feel strongly about. But...

This is one thing that seems to be making me pretty upset lately...mostly because I wish that the majority of Americans would have more of a vested interest in their health and what we put into our bodies food-wise. I want people to be healthy! And with the out of control obesity rate in our country, I think soda is definitely one component of the overall issue. Let's face it, soda is BAD for you! (Everyone knows this and if you don't, you're in denial)....so why as a country are we still guzzling down gallons and gallons of this crap!? On average each American drinks 597 cans of soda yearly! That adds up to 32 pounds of sugar a year considering each can has about 10-12 teaspoons of sugar!! That would be like me eating over 25% of my entire body weight in sugar in a year! WTF? Seriously?! Would you sit down at the dinner table and eat 10-12 teaspoons of sugar by itself daily?...because that's basically what people are doing. These sugary drinks contain no nutritional value. And I don't buy the fact that people drink soda because they are thirsty. There is a reason why our bodies are composed of approximately 61.8 percent water by weight, because they need water to survive and thrive. So serioulsy people.... when you are thirsty, drink some water!... and care more about your health for God's sakes!

Oh, and don't even get me started on Diet drinks....they are quite possibly worse...

Cnn Published this article on the topic:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/diet.fitness/09/18/kd.liquid.calories/index.html

CHICKENS???

2010-04-02T15:27:00.000-07:00

So...I jokingly mentioned to Duston that I thought we should get chickens and to my suprise...he is actually considering it! He's been doing tons of research on building a chicken coop ever since.
I think it would be fun to have chickens and not to mention, fresh eggs!!
(we'll see if it actually happens)

Motel Shmotel

2010-03-31T16:33:00.000-07:00

MOTEL 6 is undergoing a modern makeover after hiring a London design firm to remodel their motels!
"How does $40 a night sound for the updated Motel 6 Houston Reliant Park, which a recent Web search turned up for late March? Motel 6 conveniently flags revamped hotels on its booking site as “re-modeled/remarkable” in any given search result list. But you can also call the reservation line and simply ask if there are any renovated hotels in the vicinity of where you want to stay. While you’re at it, be sure to ask about any special discounts including AAA rates if you have a membership, which often yield even more savings!"

That's pretty cool!
Sort of reminds me of the MOD look of the Jupiter hotel here in Portland:

BY NOW...

2010-03-26T21:23:00.000-07:00

...if you live in Portland, you most likely know of Trish Grantham's artwork. It can pretty much be found in any hip boutique or New Seasons greeting card isle.
She is typically known for her anime style toast images.

And I've been loving this whale painted on an old dictionary page for quite some time and I keep wondering which wall in my house desperately needs it.

In addition to her fun, playful art...she also has an incredible house in North Portland that was recently featured on Apartment Therapy:
Ummm, is it mean that I want to STEAL her house, with everything in it??! if this was possible. seriously.

I think this is important

2010-03-22T14:44:00.000-07:00

HOP ON THE SLOW FOOD BANDWAGON

and...

http://slowfoodportland.com/
With food costs rising...Grow your own food!
"Slow Food seeks to reconnect people with the food they eat and the cultures, community, and production behind it. "

found photography

2010-03-17T14:52:00.000-07:00

2010-03-16T13:12:00.000-07:00

i've said it before

and i'll say it again...

i love Uta Barth! Her photography is.the.shit

(so painfully beautiful)

Book LUV

2010-03-15T10:05:00.000-07:00

This book is amazing!

Papercraft

by R. Klanten

ALSO...

did you grow up in the 80's????... or maybe you just have a deep appreciation for

the toys...etc that came out of the decade!...then this book is

your

alley!

JUST CAN'T GET ENOUGH

TIME FLYS ....

2010-03-09T07:55:00.000-08:00

Sophie is approaching 5 months old and I was reflecting on her growth yesterday. I feel like every day is something entirely new with her. She is so alert and active, smiling and giggling at every chance she gets. She is already so effective at communicating and we are starting to teach her baby sign language.... right now we are working on the signs for "milk", "hungry", and "all done". She is too young still to sign back, but she intently stares at our hands as we show her the motions...so something must be recording into her amazing sponge of a brain. She is flipping over from back to belly with ease and recognizing faces of our friends and family. She is increasingly more interested in toys and will actively grab for them. She has learned to "scoot" around on her belly and has attempted to prop herself up on her hands a knees a few times...so I am sure the crawling stage isn't too far away!! crazy!

Here are two photos, one of the day be brought her home from the hospital snoozing in her mint green sleep sack and one from last week, wide eyed and curious in the morning as I dangled a toy over her in the same bassinet (which she is almost too big to lay in anymore)

Wish Listing

2010-03-08T15:07:00.001-08:00

with the new house...I am slowly compiling a wishlist of furniture and decorating items

BEFORE...

2010-03-05T12:08:00.000-08:00

We've been working on the house, here's some before pictures from when the previous owners put the house up for sale. Improvement photos soon to follow!

We are attacking the kitchen remodel this weekend, putting in new flooring, counter tops, appliances and tiling! Yippie!!!

I HAVE AN OWL PROBLEM!

2010-03-04T20:00:00.000-08:00

Why oh Why must I be so enamoured by owls?? Seriously, it sends my impulse shopping/buying into over+drive.

Therefore, I obviously needed this poster...

OBVIOUSLY.

camera camera CAMERA, JOY.

2010-03-04T11:36:00.000-08:00

2010-03-03T16:27:00.001-08:00

PRINTS!

love these prints!

BY JOSH BRILL

2010-03-03T16:00:00.000-08:00

Did you know, I'm obsessed with typography?

well .yes. I am.

Check out that record "O"!
HERE!

2010-02-24T13:03:00.000-08:00

HOW GANGSTA IS YOUR SHIRT?

Today at work, there was a mom who was wearing...

are you ready for this?!....

A "Gangsta Saurus" T-shirt!!!!!

Yes, believe it!!!!... it was a shirt with a cartoon dino wearing a do-rag and a bling necklace with a large "D" hanging from the chain.

Off to the side of the graphic in big black letters read, GANGSTA SAURUS. It was as if the shirt stepped straight out of Tim and Eric Awesome show, Great Job!

So let's recap:

A. I kinda wanted to steal her shirt

B. I was bummed I wasn't able to take a photograph of it!!

3. After searching the Internet high and low, I can't seem to find a replica of said shirt!!?

(and I can't stop giggling about it.)

2010-02-22T16:48:00.001-08:00

weird science

Claire L. Evans is an artist and unqualified science writer whose work addresses the synchronies between culture, technology, and modern science. Evans has presented her earnestly cosmic Power Point performances at MoMA PS1, The Kitchen in NYC, the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art's TBA Festival, and the Portland Art Center. Her blog UNIVERSE is intruiging and somewhat comical at times...but I'd say it's worth a read.

2010-02-22T16:19:00.001-08:00

more.music.as.always.

Joanna Newsom's Triple LP, "Have One On Me" comes out tomorrow.

Ummm, Triple Yay!

I recently read a rave review on the song, "Good Intentions Paving Company"

Rest of track list as follows:

Easy 6:04
Have One On Me 11:02
’81 3:52
Good Intentions Paving Company 7:02
No Provenance 6:25
Baby Birch 9:30
On A Good Day 1:49
You and Me, Bess 7:13
In California 8:42
Jackrabbits 4:23
Go Long 8:03
Occident 5:31
Soft As Chalk 6:29
Esme 7:56
Autumn 8:02
Ribbon Bows 6:11
Kingfisher 9:11
Does Not Suffice 6:45

Pre-Order the LP HERE!

For the Love of Clip Art!

2010-02-22T08:34:00.000-08:00

CRAP HOUND

Just found this amazing zine through Reading Frenzy (Portland's astounding zine store). Created by Sean Tejaratchi, Crap Hound issues each featured a grand, disjointed theme -- issue six's is Death, Telephone and Scissors. Each page is a kind of collage of stark, black-and-white imagery of these things, laid out with a lot of wit and yet with a solemn appreciation for the subject.

Live Music, YES PLEASE!

2010-02-17T13:13:00.000-08:00

Duston bought us tickets to see Jonsi, front man for Sigur Ros in April.

It is his solo project which starts touring April 6th.

To say I am excited for this show would be a severe understatement. It looks like the show will be an incredible mixture of beautiful music combined with onstage performance art.

Also, the video for go do is AMAZING!! I get chills when I watch it.

You should watch it too:

http://vimeo.com/9289064

http://jonsi.com/

pretty things

2010-02-16T07:34:00.000-08:00

I'm in love with this jewelry designer, Lauren Haupt, on etsy. Very simplistic, pretty pieces using metal and wood to create the appareance of organic shapes and materials. I love when wood is used in such a delicate way.

Check it out: Local Library

2010-02-08T15:27:00.000-08:00

Mostly Fruits and Veggies...

Today was the first day of my new "eating adventure" post delivery of the baby.

(I refuse to use the word "diet"!)

I have to admit that during my pregnancy and the four months since then, I have not been eating the way I'd like to. So, I'm going back to a more natural way of eating with an overall daily diet composed of mostly fruits and veggies (with lean meats and fish incorporated in a balanced fashion). Which means cutting out all the things that make my body feel weighed down and sluggish overall...including: refined sugars, processed foods, wheat, and dairy. I've managed to master this way of eating in the past and during that time, I never felt so healthy and full of energy! The one exception that I'm decided on is coffee, I've cut it down to an 8oz cup in the morning and at 4:30AM when I start my day...it seems necessary and somewhat comforting.

I recently read THIS article in the New York Times and it confirmed my choice to go back to the basics of eating a natural diet. Michael Pollan has been a favorite of mine for a while as he has written books like, The Omnivore's Dilema and contributed to films like Food Inc. It all sounds pretty logical and straight forward to eat natural foods and cut out all the processed junk, but in our society, it's a little more challenging than one might think. I like the way Pollan approaches the subject noting that while buying and cooking natural foods may cost you a little more time and money, you will save that time and money on the back end....avoiding excessive medical bills and numerous Dr's office visits. It's a change I'm definitely willing to employ.

p.s. can't wait for the return of ALL the wonderful farmers markets in Portland come Spring!

2010-02-07T16:20:00.000-08:00

a week of activities with the kiddos

this blog entry from Rookie Moms is a little out dated, but it is a great list of fun activities for moms with kiddos. :)

2010-02-05T10:10:00.000-08:00

The yoga studio a block from our house is seriously amazing!! I would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys Yoga!

Keeping a regular yoga schedule gives me that much needed time to myself.... to relax, to strengthen and to empty my mind of anything plaguing me. It's a great workout too, I'm getting the sense that it is helping me to fit back into my "pre-pregnancy" jeans!! To be honest, I feel like it is also somewhat essential to maintaining my sanity during the week. I look forward to practicing yoga and it's nothing like when I used to dread going to the gym! And I really couldn't be happier to have such a friendly, cozy, local yoga spot to take classes. I have been going On Tuesdays and Thursdays for their 5:30 class. Rene, one of the instructors, is truly calming and knows her shit when it comes to yoga. Just another reason to LOVEloveLOVE Portland, Yoga within walking distance from our house!

Check out there website and schedule HERE!

HELLO CUPCAKE!!

2010-02-04T13:59:00.000-08:00

My Friend Brooks gave me the book Hello Cupcake with amazing cupcake creations that are easy to make yourself!

So fun!!

I can't wait to bake and decorate up a storm, these owls were one of my favorite designs in the book. All you need is:

Oreo Cookies for the Eyes

Junior mints or M&M's for the inner eye portion

Banana Runts for the beak

Chocolate frosting for the face feathers

They also have a BLOG associated with the book where people can post their creations!

A Change of Mindset

2010-01-29T07:53:00.000-08:00

An article that inspired me, that I thought I would share :)

How Not to Hurry

“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” ~ Lao TzuPost

Consider the above quote from Lao Tzu, (perhaps mythical) father of Taoism:
how can it be true?Is it possible to never hurry, but to get everything done?It seems contradictory to our modern world, where everything is a rush, where we try to cram as much into every minute of the day as possible, where if we are not busy, we feel unproductive and lazy.In fact, often we compete by trying to show how busy we are. I have a thousand projects to do! Oh yeah? I have 10,000! The winner is the person who has the most insane schedule, who rushes from one thing to the next with the energy of a hummingbird, because obviously that means he’s the most successful and important.Right?Maybe not. Maybe we’re playing the wrong game — we’ve been conditioned to believe that busier is better, but actually the speed of doing is not as important as what we focus on doing.Maybe we’re going at the wrong speed. Maybe if we are constantly rushing, we will miss out on life itself. Let’s let go of the obsession with speed, and instead slow down, stop rushing, and enjoy life.And still get everything done.

A Change of Mindset
The most important step is a realization that life is better when you move at a slower, more relaxed pace, instead of hurrying and rushing and trying to cram too much into every day. Instead, get the most out of every moment.Is a book better if you speed read it, or if you take your time and get lost in it?Is a song better if you skim through it, or if you take the time to really listen?Is food better if you cram it down your throat, or if you savor every bite and really appreciate the flavor?Is your work better if you’re trying to do 10 things at once, or if you really pour yourself into one important task?Is your time spent with a friend or loved one better if you have a rushed meeting interrupted by your emails and text messages, or if you can relax and really focus on the person?Life as a whole is better if you go slowly, and take the time to savor it, appreciate every moment. That’s the simplest reason to slow down.And so, you’ll need to change your mindset (if you’ve been stuck in a rushed mindset until now). To do this, make the simple admission that life is better when savored, that work is better with focus. Then make the commitment to give that a try, to take some of the steps below.

But I Can’t Change!
There will be some among you who will admit that it would be nice to slow down, but you just can’t do it … your job won’t allow it, or you’ll lose income if you don’t do as many projects, or living in the city makes it too difficult to go slowly. It’s a nice ideal if you’re living on a tropical island, or out in the country, or if you have a job that allows control of your schedule … but it’s not realistic for your life.I say bullshit.Take responsibility for your life. If your job forces you to rush, take control of it. Make changes in what you do, in how you work. Work with your boss to make changes if necessary. And if really necessary, you can eventually change jobs. You are responsible for your life.If you live in a city where everyone rushes, realize that you don’t have to be like everyone else. You can be different. You can walk instead of driving in rush hour traffic. You can have fewer meetings. You can work on fewer but more important things. You can be on your iPhone or Blackberry less, and be disconnected sometimes. Your environment doesn’t control your life — you do.I’m not going to tell you how to take responsibility for your life, but once you make the decision, the how will become apparent over time.

Tips for a Slower-Paced Life:
I can’t give you a step-by-step guide to moving slower, but here are some things to consider and perhaps adopt, if they work for your life. Some things might require you to change some major things, but they can be done over time.

1. Do less. Cut back on your projects, on your task list, on how much you try to do each day. Focus not on quantity but quality. Pick 2-3 important things — or even just one important thing — and work on those first. Save smaller, routine tasks for later in the day, but give yourself time to focus.

2.Have fewer meetings. Meetings are usually a big waste of time. And they eat into your day, forcing you to squeeze the things you really need to do into small windows, and making you rush. Try to have blocks of time with no interruptions, so you don’t have to rush from one meeting to another.

3.Practice disconnecting. Have times when you turn off your devices and your email notifications and whatnot. Time with no phone calls, when you’re just creating, or when you’re just spending time with someone, or just reading a book, or just taking a walk, or just eating mindfully. You can even disconnect for (gasp!) an entire day, and you won’t be hurt. I promise.

4.Give yourself time to get ready and get there. If you’re constantly rushing to appointments or other places you have to be, it’s because you don’t allot enough time in your schedule for preparing and for traveling. Pad your schedule to allow time for this stuff. If you think it only takes you 10 minutes to get ready for work or a date, perhaps give yourself 30-45 minutes so you don’t have to shave in a rush or put on makeup in the car. If you think you can get there in 10 minutes, perhaps give yourself 2-3 times that amount so you can go at a leisurely pace and maybe even get there early.

5.Practice being comfortable with sitting, doing nothing. One thing I’ve noticed is that when people have to wait, they become impatient or uncomfortable. They want their mobile device or at least a magazine, because standing and waiting is either a waste of time or something they’re not used to doing without feeling self-conscious. Instead, try just sitting there, looking around, soaking in your surroundings. Try standing in line and just watching and listening to people around you. It takes practice, but after awhile, you’ll do it with a smile.

6.Realize that if it doesn’t get done, that’s OK. There’s always tomorrow. And yes, I know that’s a frustrating attitude for some of you who don’t like laziness or procrastination or living without firm deadlines, but it’s also reality. The world likely won’t end if you don’t get that task done today. Your boss might get mad, but the company won’t collapse and the life will inevitably go on. And the things that need to get done will.

7. Start to eliminate the unnecessary. When you do the important things with focus, without rush, there will be things that get pushed back, that don’t get done. And you need to ask yourself: how necessary are these things? What would happen if I stopped doing them? How can I eliminate them, delegate them, automate them?

8.Practice mindfulness. Simply learn to live in the present, rather than thinking so much about the future or the past. When you eat, fully appreciate your food. When you’re with someone, be with them fully. When you’re walking, appreciate your surroundings, no matter where you are.

9.Slowly eliminate commitments. We’re overcommitted, which is why we’re rushing around so much. I don’t just mean with work — projects and meetings and the like. Parents have tons of things to do with and for their kids, and we overcommit our kids as well. Many of us have busy social lives, or civic commitments, or are coaching or playing on sports teams. We have classes and groups and hobbies. But in trying to cram so much into our lives, we’re actually deteriorating the quality of those lives. Slowly eliminate commitments — pick 4-5 essential ones, and realize that the rest, while nice or important, just don’t fit right now. Politely inform people, over time, that you don’t have time to stick to those commitments.

Try these things out. Life is better when unrushed. And given the fleeting nature of this life, why waste even a moment by rushing through it?Remember the quote above: if nature can get everything done without rushing, so can you.

carpet tiles are fun!

2010-01-22T12:56:00.000-08:00

http://www.flor.com/service/flor/index.html

A Space for Sophie

2010-01-12T19:47:00.000-08:00

the nursery is almost done!

day by day

2010-01-11T16:45:00.000-08:00

she's still growing faster than i can keep up with...i want time to stop,

i want to enjoy every moment.

a new year, a new project.

(in lieu of the 7:15 project)

i'm beginning

a photo journal of daily photographs

to document sophie in 2010

day by day.

http://715photo.blogspot.com/

Trying to distract Myself with images of beauty

2010-01-11T14:00:00.000-08:00

Today was my first day back at work and as silly as it sounds, it was ALL I could do not to constantly think of being away from Sophie the whole day through. Thank you Phil Elverum for your beeeeautiful images and giving me something serene and colorful to consume my thoughts!

I miss you little miss Sophie!

Making Faces...

2009-10-27T21:20:00.001-07:00

this little girl cracks me up! i literally find myself laughing aloud at all her silly faces!

(her left eye is still a little bruised from the trip down the birth canal)

My Oh My What a Week!

2009-10-22T03:44:00.000-07:00

Sophie Nichelle Hammond was born Monday, 10.19.09 at 11:58AM. Contractions started at 3AM. We arrived at the hospital around 9AM to find that I was already dilated to 7cm. It was a "quick" labor at about 8 hours total. No meds were given, so the birth was completed naturally. It was the most challenging event I have ever had to face in my life and also undoubtedly the most rewarding event I've ever experienced! She is perfect and I am literally overflowing with unconditional love for her.

On another happy note, we put an offer in on a house and it was accepted today!! We are soon to be homeowners by Christmas time if all goes well!

House Hunting and Vintage Pencil Sharpeners!? oh my!

2009-10-08T09:14:00.000-07:00

Yippieeeee! We had our first official day of house hunting with our realtor. There are some really fantastic as well as bizarre old houses to be found in Portland! We checked out some options on the Southeast side. One house seemed almost truly perfect, but just a little too far South to be within a reasonable biking distance into the city :(
But i was excited to see some options with good sized basements and backyards with perfect gardening spots/raised beds. One thing that we found in common while looking at several different houses was the presence of a vintage pencil sharpener bolted down somewhere in the house. We first noticed this phenomenon when Duston lived in the Holland house, they had a vintage pencil sharpener bolted into the wall of a closet off of the dinning room. We kept seeing them in the basements, hanging from random walls. I really have to question what this is all about. Did they have an surplus of pencils that needed sharpening back in the day here in Portland?? Was a pencil sharpener a required piece of equipment to be included when building a home?? Was it really a practical item often used in old homes? Did Portland families typically lock their children in the basement until they had completed all of their homework (in pencil)??! I feel like there needs to be an explanation to this oddity. And I'm going to get to the bottom of it....
Until then, the house search continues....
and hopefully we can find something to live in and love.

more nesting...

2009-10-01T13:33:00.000-07:00

in preparation for baby to be here...i've definitely been nesting.
the above shot is of the changing table with some stuffed friends that were gifts.
the picture below are some illustrated animal cards that i found while thrifting...the illustrations are circa 1974 and they remind me of Eric Carle illustrations (Hungry Little Caterpillar). Speaking of Eric Carle, I recently picked up my most favorite book by the author...called "Little Cloud". I hope to share my love of clouds with her from an early age.

mobile

2009-09-30T21:29:00.000-07:00

a new bird mobile came in the mail as a gift from heather and todd.

so very fun and colorful!

thanks friends.

Eclectic Decor

2009-09-21T12:35:00.001-07:00

I've been trying to get inspiration. thinking about various decorating options.

I stumbled upon this funky nursery. love it.

Found at Ohdeedoh

sundays are perfect for thrifting...

2009-09-20T10:28:00.000-07:00

my friend Regan is like a human encyclopedia for mom resources...including reasonably priced consignment and thrift shops for children here in portland. since sunday is the perfect day for thrifting and it was such a lovely day out...she was my tour guide of sorts to the world of gently used and fantastic vintage clothing. I managed to walk out of one store with an arm full of great finds for only $12! After perusing tons of cute little things, we spent the afternoon grabbing lunch on the sunny, dog friendly patio of the Lucky Lab Brew Pub in Multnomah Village...which, by the way, has delicious beer

...ahhhhh Beer, I miss beer!

Here's a little list of places worth checking out:

Sweet Pea's ( 8235 SE 13th Ave)

Children's Clothing Exchange (3325 SE Division St)

Village Merchants (3360 SE Division St)

Stella Bella (2751 NE Broadway Street)

Piccolina (2700 SE 26th Ave)

Mama's and Papa's (2410 E. Burnside Street)

Hoot-N-Annie (7850 SW Barbur Blvd)

Katelyn's Closet (7429 SW Capitol Hwy)

Queen's Mab (1920 N Killingsworth St)

NW Children's Threads (1408 East Burnside Street)

Unity Clothing (7979 SE Foster Road)

The Kid's Edge (2200 NE Broadway)

Wood Inspirations

2009-09-18T14:55:00.000-07:00

Vaux Swifts

2009-09-17T08:31:00.000-07:00

Each year when the month of September rolls around, the largest known swift roost in the world occurs. 30,000 Vaux Swifts can be seen during this roosting ritual in Northwest Portland, over a large chimney at the Chapman elementary school. The swifts roost here in route during their migration from Canada down towards Venezuela and other areas of Central America. Last night we had a picnic dinner on the bluff overlooking Chapman to watch the swifts. It is quite the popular event on early fall evenings here in Portland! Nearly every inch of the bluff was covered with parents, children, senior citizens, hipsters and artsy fartsy Portland types....all who come together with their picnic blankets and snacks to watch this amazing event occur nightly over the school. The large mass of birds circle the chimney for about an hour, maybe longer....making fluid loops and turns overhead. It's absolutely beautiful to watch. A member from the Audubon Society is walking around chatting with various people in the crowd, she stops to talk with us and informs us that swifts are very social birds who spend most of their lives in flight...they even manage to sleep while they are flying! So, this is in fact, their "social hour".... a happy hour of sorts where they can playfully fly together in this massive grouping before settling into the school chimney for the night to rest. The evening includes a little taste of nature and survival of the fittest when a few hawks arrive overhead. The hawks are anxious for a tasty swift snack and they perch on the chimney until they find the right time to swoop through the swifts, snatching up an unlucky victim and then flying off into the distance. You can hear gasps coming from the crowd on the bluff as the hunt occurs. After the hour long show, the last bit of the sun's glow ohas disappeared from the sky and the swifts enter the chimney together in a long strand of flapping wings. It almost appears as if they are getting sucked into the top of the chimney the way that the swifts file in one after the other. By the time the last few birds drop down into the chimney, it is 8PM, nearly dark and the crowd on the bluff claps and cheers like at the end of an entertaining show.

ooooooh so soft and cozy!

2009-09-16T10:33:00.000-07:00

yay!

we just got our travel bassinet in the mail! it's so soft i sorta wish that they made them in adult sizes for dozing off. and evidently, my kitty Azya was thinking the exact same thing...because the moment she discovered it, she jumped right in and curled up inside in an attempt to claim it as her own new and improved cat bed. i had to shoo her away, but i guess i can't really blame her for trying....

festive flag banners

2009-09-15T10:36:00.001-07:00

something to celebrate??

...bright, colorful banners for any party

or happy occasion....yes please!

Textile Fun

2009-09-14T15:29:00.000-07:00

Fantastic Prints Here:

http://store.txtlart.com/index.html