Today’s Homemaker

We just got back from the Handmade Parade, and I’ve got to tell you, I was not disappointed! We didn’t get to buy a whole lot of stuff (our Christmas budget this year is teeny weeny), so we kept ourselves very focused–we only bought stuff that we just absolutely knew would be…

1. the Perfect Gift
2. something that we couldn’t make ourselves

While I can’t reveal too much about what we bought (because it’s supposed to be a surprise!), I can give some tips about where we bought things from…

• Reverie - Designers of some seriously cool screen-printed tees and such.
• Lokahi Spa - Mmmm…delicious hand-milled soaps and other hand-created spa products. Honoree is so talented.
• Twist Style - Incredibly strong, gorgeous handmade jewelry. Isn’t this cute??? (I’ll sneak it in, since the giftee can’t read yet…hehe!)
• Pimento Designs - Hand-painted ornaments (sorry, no web site to speak of).

Now, if I was…umm…less financially challenged, here’s some stuff I would absolutely have gotten:

• Untitled by Boodzoo Studio - I am so in love with this mixed media collage
• Stuffed owls and birdies by Twittering Bird - They were all sold out by the time I got there.
• Key and Keyhole Pillows by George Ryan - I loved their funky pillows…I don’t know if I remember seeing these at the show, but when I stopped by their etsy shop, they became my new favorite.
• Crimson Branch II by Bee’s Knees Studio - This isn’t exactly the piece that I saw at the show, but it is similar. Would go perfectly in our red living room! (Oh yeah…I’m looking for gifts for other people…)
• Stoneware Pottery by Tasha McKelvey - My absolute favorite (if a really awful person made me choose) of the day. There were so many great things, but I especially loved the piece at the very bottom right of this page.
• Crocheted scarves by A Well-Mannered Young Lady - The photos (although good) do not do these justice. I have never seen such professionally done knitting and crocheting in my life…beautiful. I also love the hand-knit toques–so cool.
• Vintage tie cuff bracelets by Manatea Party - These were so cool in person. They had a whole bunch at the show and dang it…I should have bought one for Nolan. He always wants to wear his sister’s “watch,” which is really a bracelet rattle. I just couldn’t tell if they had them in itty bitty sizes for little boys. I should’ve definitely asked!

There was a lot of cool stuff there, as you can see. And I apologize in advance if there are any broken links. It’s bound to happen as products get sold and such. But now I’m off to get all prettied up for my night on the town — John’s taking me to The Swan Terrace for our anniversary dinner.¹ How fun! I hope it’s busy, because I love it that way. We went once before and the food was good, but we felt like we were the only people there.

John and I will have been married seven years tomorrow. I can’t believe it either (and neither can most people…we always get the “How old ARE you anyway?” question).

Happy weekend everyone!

1. We have a $100 gift certificate that my boss gave us after I orchestrated Salute to Teachers…yeah, we definitely could not otherwise afford it. [↩]

Have you ever had one of those weeks where you never get around to grocery shopping? This week has been one of those weeks for me–instead of my weekly Wal-Mart run (yes, I hate them, but they are a financial necessity in our house), I have been running to the more expensive grocery store around the corner and buying things as I needed them. I don’t know why I can’t get around to it.

Maybe it’s because Wal-Mart is so completely annoying and far away and crowded. And it’s cold outside now. And gas is expensive. When I have two kids in the cart, I can’t really stockpile for a week anyway. And…okay, I’ll admit it. I do like shopping on hardwood floors and buying perfect produce and bread fresh from the oven. So maybe I’m a little spoiled.

I read an interesting article over at Wise Bread that gives some different ideas about grocery shopping. Like having your goods delivered or playing The Grocery Game. All very interesting stuff.

I still go back and forth between saving tons of money (but hating the experience and not getting “the best” food) and spending more with a more pleasant experience and better food. But when I look at my wallet, I always end up going back to Wal-Mart. They have a hold on me, I tell you. Like the mafia, only much nicer. At least most of the time.

I imagine your desktop could use a bit of nurturing, as well…Jessica Jones over at How About Orange offered up some cute designs the other day. I’m personally going with the black with vines at the moment. Fun stuff!

I’m sick today. It’s 11:00 and I’m finally getting around to sitting up. Doesn’t seem too serious…just enough to make me extremely tired and stuck to the couch. My son keeps giving me kisses to make it better. Being sick’s not so bad…

I have always said it sort of apologetically — “I’m a homebody.” And maybe I have been apologetic about it in the past. But when I read this post, I realized that it’s a good thing, and it’s a trait I want to instill in my children.

I work with kids on a weekly basis, and one thing that surprises me week after week is that they’re VERY difficult to entertain. They sit and stare with blank eyes while you’re dancing across the stage, encouraging them to get up and play and have fun. It’s like they’re saying “Fun? How can I have fun here? There are no movies, no video games. There’s no mall. Where are my favorite t.v. characters? This is not fun.”

So maybe I’m generalizing, making up reasons for the blank stares. I’ve never actually asked them. Well, I have, but they never actually answered–just more stares. Maybe they just don’t get enough sleep and are tired. But the fact remains…they would rather watch me turn cartwheels (figuratively speaking) than get up and use their own imaginations.

Now these are 6-12 year olds I’m talking about. The 3-5 year olds go in a separate class, and thankfully (at least I’m thankful on most days!), they have not yet developed the art of acting bored. So what can I do to keep my kids satisfied with simple things, like puttering around the house?

Here are some things I’m going to add to the afore-mentioned list:

• Construct t.v. time — Okay, let me go ahead and say it–I am not anti-t.v. My husband is an animator, for goodness sakes. Television, movies, and video games can truly enrich your life (and your child’s) if used in the right way. The best way to use them is to watch them/interact with them “on purpose”. This is one of the great uses for TiVo. It allows us to record shows we actually want to watch and skip through the commercials, as if it were a movie. We pop popcorn and drink lemonade. We talk about what we liked and didn’t like. It’s the passive “background noise” that the t.v. can provide that can limit your imagination. When it’s on all the time…when you’re “channel surfing” just to watch something…when you feel glued to the couch–those are indicators that it’s become a passive habit that can hinder creativity and the enjoyment of life.
• Encourage the art of story-telling — My husband (the animator, remember) used to ask me what the real difference was in a novel and a good movie or t.v. show. That was back in the day when I wished we didn’t have a t.v. and was constantly campaigning against it. I tried to explain that when you read a book, you have to use your imagination to develop the characters in your own mind. That’s what stories do…they stretch your creativity and imagination. Here’s a conversation my two year old son and I had the other day:
  

  Him: What’s that? (Pointing to an armoire-shaped jewelry box)
  Me: What do you think it is?
  Him: Ummm…a house.
  Me: Oh, neat. Who do you think lives there?
  Him: Birds
  Me: Are they pretty birds?
  Him: Yep
  Me: Do they like their house?
  Him: Yep
  Me: Cool…I like those birds.
  Him: Me too, mama! I like those pretty birds.

• Go for frequent walks (and not for the exercise) — Being outside helps me to remember the larger picture–the world outside of my little piece of earth. Nature is anti-materialism. It belongs to no one, yet it is for everyone. It’s ironic, but getting out of my home and onto the beaten path (or off it) makes me appreciate that I have everything I need right here.

Now my kids are little yet, so I can’t vouch that my methods are working, but time will tell. If nothing else, we’re making some really great memories.