Like a Boss

A friend of mine at work ordered a few of these for her office walls - so awesome!  They are called "emergency compliments," and I think they would be great anywhere and would make cool gifts.  Check them all out here.

 

No, really.

Pop

Just popping in (I just accidentally typed "pooping in" but caught myself...then decided I had to tell you anyway) to say a quick hi and rave about the latest book I read:

On Amazon

Where'd You Go, Bernadette?  It's a fun, funny, interesting and engrossing novel about an eccentric and smart family who live in Seattle and really love each other.  The book is told through a series of emails, letters, faxes, and reports, and when all pieced together help to solve the mystery of where Bernadette went.  I loved it!

Hope 2013 is treating you well...we've been having a ball with this little goose:

(Maybe) be back soon - didn't mean to take a month away from the blog, but it happened, and it happened fast.  The new year is really on a roll!

Gifts that are Madewell

Madewell is running 25% off and free shipping on $150+ orders this week (through 12/10). Good timing to make a gift idea list of my fave stuff. Madewell goods are always at the top of my list (for myself and others). See last year's Madewell gift post. Biggest difference this year is that we DO have a store in KC. They probably saw my post last year and got right on it. But, they still haven't asked me to do a "Jayne's List" for them. If they did...

1. Frankie Pump in Glitter $218  2. Faux Fur Bag Clip $32  3. Printed Sleep Shorts $39.50  4. Yellow Owl Workshop Necklace $44  5. Scallop Lace Top $118  6. Heart Card Kit $20  7. Colorwheel Ring Set $28  8. Herschel Supply Co Backpack $55  9. Dotted Chambray Shirt $72  10. Speckled Stone Ring $22  11. Suede Sidewalk Skimmer $78.99 (sale)  12. Lovelock Clutch in Calf Hair $118

And a partridge in a pear tree!

P.S. Happy St. Nick's Day! Anyone else put out shoes on St. Nick's Eve when they were younger, like Katie and I did? One of my favorite traditions. Actually, our mom still sends us packages for St. Nick's. I know, she's the best.

The Monday List

• If you have a kid (or several kids, actually) to buy a small Christmas gift for, may I suggest this Mr. Men and Little Miss Christmas set?  You get 5 cute books (I haven't read them yet, but I think all of the Mr. Men/Little Miss books have a pretty good message), a holiday card, some cute cardboard ornaments, and some stickers in an awesome little box.  Right now it's about $9!  (It was actually only $7 when I got it last week, they must've realized what a treat this was):

To buy on Amazon

• I strained a muscle in my neck last Thursday night, to the point where I couldn't turn it to the left all weekend.  This injury occurred during an agressive game of peekaboo.
• It was 70 degrees here in DC yesterday, but last week it was pretty chilly, which resulted in this:

Hat from Boden.

• It's been exactly one year today since we found out we were having a baby...what a crazy year it's been!  I feel like a very lucky duck.
• I'm pretty excited to start listening to Christmas music in a week and a half!
• We had some friends over for dinner Saturday night and I made this awesome pear crisp from the Pioneer Woman.  I made it in four individual little dishes (so I baked them a little less than the recipe calls for) and with no pecans.  They were DELICIOUS and made a nice fall dessert:

• Do you watch Top Chef?  Henry and I love to watch it, and Top Chef Seattle started last week (one of my favorite cities!).  I didn't like the format of the first episode to decide who will be in the competition, but I guess it usually takes me a few episodes to be invested and care about the contestants.
• And last, but not least, Nora and her gang:

All of her friends are Jellycat animals - we love them!

Have a fun week!

IHWSH - Cards

Last weekend Katie spotted this gem, which was clearly meant for our blog (M2B!):

We've done snail mail for IHWSH before, but we're doing it again (it's our blog and we do what we want!)...

Katie's Picks:
1. Yo-yo - Etsy
2. T.Hanks - Blue Barn House
3. Unicorny - Etsy
4. John Jacob - Etsy

Jayne's Picks:
5. Monogram Confetti - Sugar paper
6. Arrowhead stationery - Minted
7. Holiday photo card - Hallmark
8. Soulmatey - Hammerpress Studio - KC

The Best Baptism Gifts

Not only did Nora have a great ceremony and party for her baptism, she also got some special gifts.  She got some super cute new clothes and her first Bible.  She was also gifted with these lovely items:

On the left from Grhonda and Grandbob (Uncle Sam got a "Godfather" tee to match) and on the right from Aunt Jayne and Uncle Dac.

An ADORABLE quilt made from this fabric by a new friend of mine, from Tia Mia.

A tiny little cross necklace from Grhonda and Grandbob.

The first charm for her charm bracelet from Uncle Sam (the other side shows a Baptism).

...And this GORGEOUS print from Jayne and Dac and pillow that I love so much, embroidered by my awesome Aunt Carolyn!

 

We are lucky ducks.  And here are a few recent pics of my little duck:

She started rolling over (constantly) last week and this was taken one morning when I went in to get her out of bed -she was SO PROUD of herself for rolling over in her crib.

This is her special, handknit sweater from a great friend of mine (thank you Chris!)  It is so sweet and cozy on her.

Typical NJ.

Sunbeams

To buy on Etsy.

Good thoughts were clearly shining out of Nora yesterday:

Three months old!  This onesie was a gift from Grhonda (our mom, Nora's Grandma) - she got it on our big trip to Asheville last spring at Malaprops.  Isn't it cute?!  And the Babylegs legwarmers are awesome - no need to remove them for a diaper change :).

May good thoughts shine out of your face all day.

True Swagger

Maybe you have to have a kid to fully appreciate this, but I thought it was pretty funny:

Speaking of kids, this one is 12 weeks old today!:

And I finally framed this sweet card for her room.  She got it from Aunt Jayne when she was born:

Hope y'all had a great Monday!

You're the One That I Want

You are the one I want...ooh ooh ooh HONEY.  Below are a few of the things I'm loving on Etsy lately - I love that blueberry pie costume SO MUCH.  And I think that horseshoe necklace is so pretty (charming, even!)

Toddler Blueberry Pie Costume

Mustard Yellow Felt Flower Pillow 

Plush Woodland Fox

Custom State Embroidery Hoop

Horseshoe Charm Necklace

What are your latest Etsy favorites?

Guess Who's Back?

Do you know anyone who likes food, but also hates doing any physical activity to get said food into their mouth?  Then check out this thing: 

From Popcorn Indiana

The Popinator shoots a single kernel of popcorn at your mouth when you say the word "pop".  Watch the video below, it explains and shows it in action.  Also the company is named Popcorn Indiana (so Jayne will like it), but they're based out of New Jersey (so Snooki will like it).

Now make one of these that shoots roast beef sandwiches and we can talk.  Hi-ooooo.

-dac

The Best of Intentions

Thought I would share an idea I had...but never made happen.  I decided that thank you cards for baby gifts would be so much more fun if they had a little photo of Nora in them - saying thank you herself!  This is what I had in mind:

I made the onesie using Crayola Fabric Markers.  I just didn't get around to taking a picture of her in the onesie til I had already sealed a lot of the thank you card envelopes, and I still hand't even printed them!  The straw that broke this camel's back was the fact that the envelopes for the thank you notes I sent weren't big enough to hold a 4" x 6" picture.  Game over.  (I also don't love the photo, she wasn't feeling it that day).  But I still think it's a great idea that maybe someone else can put to use.  If you do, let me know, I'd love to see your sweet little baby saying thanks!

Here's a couple of Nora Jayne from over the weekend - this girl has got personality for miles, and we can't get enough.

Printstagram

I am really into Instagram these days (if you want to follow me, my username is @katiewendel.  Be prepared for 99% of my pics to be Nora, duh.)  In case you don't know, a little about Instagram (from their site):

"It’s a fast, beautiful and fun way to share your photos with friends and family.

Snap a picture, choose a filter to transform its look and feel, then post to Instagram. Share to Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr too – it's as easy as pie. It's photo sharing, reinvented.

Oh yeah, did we mention it’s free?"

Here are some of my recently shared photos:

I love looking through my friends' Instagram pictures so much more than my Facebook feed these days - and it's an easy way for me to keep my favorite pictures all in one place.  My only problem is that I want prints of all these fun pictures...I think Printstagram is the solution.  The products look cute and the prices are great - I think I want to get a couple mini books (2 for $12) and maybe a poster ($25-$35) at some point?  These could be great gifts for family too!

Printstagram Mini book

Printstagram poster

Anyone else have a recommendation for printing my Instagram photos?  Or order yet from Printstagram?  Let me know!