through the lense of a 4 year old with a pink camera

For her 4th birthday, my parents got PK her very own fancy pink digital camera. The gift has been a success in my book as she gets it out daily. I can't count how many times I've been asked to pose with our cats or sing her a song so she can video tape it (yes this toy even has a video camera). She endlessly wanders around the house taking random shots of our mundane life.

I don't pay much attention to what she's taking until I'm asked to put them on the computer for her. It's fantastic to look through these pictures; it's like getting a "my eyes view" on what a 4 year old's life is like.

I did this today and got a good laugh...

I believe this is a shot of me making my bed. Sure glad she stuck a Viking helmet on my head so you didn't have to see my early morning loveliness.

Ah yes, the toilet. What a nice still life shot.

I believe this was what she was doing when she should have been napping. Staging up all the pups for a family picture.

Her attempt at a self-portrait (or at least half of one).

And then there was another shot that she took that will not make it on the blog. She apparently took a picture of me right before I jumped in the shower. That's all I'm gonna say about that.

Hitting delete and starting a diet...

12.4" of fluffy fun

So yes, it snowed here yesterday. And if you are one of my faithful readers from Michigan, you're like "big deal, we get that much snow during nap time, yo".

If you live in Indiana...it's the 6th biggest deal since 1910, assuming you were around in 1910, in that case I give you props for reading a blog. Grandma you got it going on.

Anywho...the snow IS a big deal here and as I type this the schools are already closing for Thursday. They are limiting the amount of bread and toilet paper consumption throughout the city.

Now this is a girl that knows how to layer. Take that Stacy and Clinton.

Snow for dinner? Awesome. So sad that her mom didn't buy her a "real" winter coat. Poor thing with her layered sweater coat from Value World...

Nothin' says lovin' like a shovel full of snow to the midsection. It was all fun and games until someone gave another smaller someone a face wash. The fun froze over at that point.

The Sunggie "in the flesh"

So a week or two ago I professed my love and infatuation with the "made for tv" Snuggie.

A few days later my mom emails me this picture. At first I thought it was a joke, but the I realized that it was real. My dad was wearing (with a huge grin) a Snuggie. People, they do exist, they are real, it's not just an illusion.

This is my Dad.

I love him.

Word on the street is that he got this fine peace of stylish comfort as a "gift". (that's what he says, although I think he was watching daytime tv and ordered it himself, I don't blame him, I've almost done the same thing myself numerous times).

Now how can you dispute the happiness on his face?

Remote control in one hand, beer in the other. Backwards robe (I mean maroon Snuggie) allovertheplace.

My only question is if he got the retractable book light with his purchase.

I still want one (husband if your listening, Valentines day is coming up and I would love this. Skip the roses, get me a gigantic Snuggie, I'm just sayin').

Dad I love you, you look happy and h.o.t.

Kiddie yoga kicked my can

This past Saturday is was National Yoga Day. Didn't know that? hmmmm.....me neither really.

I was at our neighborhood winters farmers market (yep, I live a block away from a farmers market, how cool is that) when I ran into a very yoga-ish friend of mine that invited us to "free yoga day" over at our neighborhood yoga studio (yep - cool neighborhood again. The studio is 2 blocks away, in the opposite direction of the market).

National Yoga day means free yoga classes all day long at the BreathIN studio around the corner from my house. When I ran into my bendy friend, her and her 2 girls were en route to a free "kids yoga" class.

Of course PK wanted to go, and being the uuber cool laid back totally hip and up for anything mom that I am, we ran to the studio to participate. Everything was going swimmingly until I was asked to do one thing.....to be an active participant. ugh.

When I envisioned this adventure, I say myself comfy with a cup of coffee in the back of the studio, zoning out for an hour while PK had a little fun. Oh how very wrong could I have been?

My outfit was a very big oh-yoga-you-did-not-wear-that-to-class. When requested to preform the "downward dog", you could totally see down my shirt due to the baggy, low slung t scoop neck thermal tee I was sporting. And oh, if you were in the class and were staring down my shirt, yes that was a nursing bra I was wearing. And no, I haven't nurse in over 9 months, I just need to go underwear shopping really bad.

Then when asked to transition from the "dog" into the "cow" position, I was all butt crack, all the time (I got saggy ill fitted Gap jeans ok? Give me a break, it was Saturday morning).

Did I mention that I was wearing a stocking cap and had to take it off and sport fresh bed head? Darn you floor-to-ceiling studio mirrors...

Anyway, when I wasn't busy adjusting my attire and flashing the teacher, I was uncomfortable and sweating my can off. And don't even get me started on what a fat marshmallow my midsection has turned into. the core is not well.

Kiddie yoga was hard and I'm sore today (seriously). I feel so ashamed. Now go, namaste, my friend.

Did I mention I'm totally signing up for an "adult class"? The can kicking kinda felt good.

In a literary funk, in desperate need of suggestions

Hello Bloggy Giveaway Carnival party people! It's that time of year again where we all ignore the world around us and enter massive amounts of online giveaways and contest.

This time around, in order to get something from me, you have to give me something first (it's a win-win I assure you).

You see, I'm in a reading list funk. I'm finishing up a mediocre (at best) novel right now and have a few other less than exciting books on the back burner just waiting for me to be annoyed with them.

First Entry: Help me get out of this bad book mood. In order to be eligible to win my $20 gift certificate to Amazon, (Woo Hoo! I luv Amazon, it's my online shopping addiction. Next to the smell of chlorine in a dank natatorium, the smell of a new book drives me wild) you must tell me the best book you have ever read. I'm looking for the book that if you were going to be force to read it one million times over, it's the one you would pick.

I need honestly here. If your most favorite book ever was your 8th grade science text book, let me know. If you were a sucker for The Baby Sitters Club (um, total awesomeness if you were a pre-teen in the 80's) I wanna hear it.

2nd entry: subscribe to me, I'm the DesignHER Momma. (leave me a second comment letting me know you did, ok?)

Now back to the giveaways, carry on!

Winner will be choosen at random January 31st, 2008.
*International folks welcome to join in!

name in the *sand*

10 year ago if you would have told me that I would meet some awesome girlfriends on the internet, I would have been worried for me. I would have imagined myself totally looser-ish for finding relationships in such an unconventional (and nerdy) way.

Blogging to me has been a way to get out and socialize without leaving the house (ok, that did sound dorky).

Every morning I grab some hot coffee, get on the computer and say to myself hmmm... "let's see what Jennifer's up to today" or "I wonder what the Moosh is doing", or "I'm sure Heather will make me laugh, let's see".... I've even reconnected with friends from high school that I had totally lost touch with (see, who needs facebook anyways).

You see, it's one big mommy play date every time I log on (except our kids don't fight over toys, we never pass germs around, and nobody has to leave when the baby gets tired...it's the perfect mommy play date really).

One of my good bloggy friends Sarah wrote my name in the sand while she was relaxing on the beach as a present for me. She could have just bought me a shot glass or even sent me one of those "wish you were here" postcards (equip with an overly tan dude posing in a thong, or better yet, tight jorts; you know the ones I'm talking about) but she had to take the classy way out.

I've met Ms. Ordinary Days before in real life. We've shopped together, made remote control cars, bowled ghetto-style and downed mounds of pasta together. We're even rooming together at Blissdom (pending she doesn't snore that is, still need confirmation on that).

Isn't the internet wonderful?

A different type of Tuesday

Today was a Tuesday not unlike most Tuesdays at our house. We had a Cheerios for breakfast, orange juice to drink. I cleaned up the kitchen, drank my coffee out of a yellow mug like I always do.

But something was different.

Mom got control of the TV today and cartoons were far from site. We traded in our Backyardingans for a little CNN talking heads.

We talked about why today was special. I reminded her about that day in November and what that meant for our future. We sang along with Aretha and danced to Yo-Yo Ma. We listened to Rick Warren pray. We prayed.

Around noon PK said to me "Mom, I think you've watched enough TV for today".

And I'm left to wonder if how I felt today about watching the Inauguration is how she feels about her cartoons....

DesignHER Momma - meet Thom Filicia

When it comes to Interior Designers, there are 2 categories. The first category is the largest, it's called normal everyday designers that have a fun career and make a decent living doing it (hello - this category is where I fall). The second category is the "celebrity interior designer". These designers have their own TV show, make TV show appearances, and write their own fabulous style books.

Last week Monday, I was all hot and bothered because I got to "meet" one of these so called celebrity designers, (and one my design hero) Thom Filicia.

Ok, so it wasn't exactly an one-on-one Thom and I sit down over coffee type meeting....but I was on the phone with him. And I could see him (thank God he could not see me). Here's the deal, Myself and about 20 other bloggers were privileged enough to steal over an hour with Thom (via conference call and WebEx presentation) to get to know him and pick his brain on his favorite style tips. Can you say a dream come true for me?

Not familiar with Thom? Let me give you a quick run-down of his celebrity credentials. Thom got his first big celebrity break on Bravo's Queer Eye for the Straight Guy as the resident interior designer. He current gig is his own Style Network show Dress My Nest. If you've never seen this show, I highly suggest tuning in. It's a show that offers complete room makeovers inspired by a homeowner's personal style (with the helpful guidance of Thom of course).

Right now when Thom isn't on location shooting Dress My Nest, he's promoting his new book "Thom Filicia Style" (which I'm totally getting a copy of) and making guest appearances on shows like ABC's The View.

When I caught up with Thom, he was fresh off the set of The View; promoting his joint venture with Kimberley-Clark, the Room-A-Day Sweepstakes Giveaway. To kick off the sweepstakes, Thom (with the help of View's co-host Joy Behar) revamped with high style the ladies dressing rooms and rehearsal space. Let's take a look at the before and after of the rehearsal area shall we?

Here we have the "before shot" (photo source - ABC/Donna Svennevik) . If we've seen it once, we've seen it 100 times. Pretty boring and standard really. Uninviting black mini blinds, ugly furniture and cold, sterile walls. This space is a place you would want to get in, and get out of as soon as possible.

Here is the lovely after shot(photo source - ABC/Steve Fenn). In this room, I'm totally digging the array of beautiful soft seating, warm window treatments, and cool new hard surface flooring. Thom did a great job taking a boring old space and making it into something really fantastic. Would you not kill to have that over sized mirror in your home?

Since it's that time of year when the weather is caging us up inside, (especially if you live in Indiana like myself), Thom has provided some helpful tips to sprucing up your home.

1. Make Your Home Inviting. I love this tip because it means go out and get yourself a comfy sofa that you can nap on. Ditch the fine china and select furnishing for their usability.

2. Design on a Dime. When I was talking with him on the phone, he said that some of his favorite finds came from yard sales, flea markets and consignment shops. I'm totally all over this tip, remember my love for craigslist?

3. Personalize your space. When you walk into a home, you should have a good feel for the people that live there. Don't be afraid to incorporate family photo and your children's art work into the decor of the space.

Need a little help in the finance department? Enter the Kimberly-Clark Room a Day Giveaway for a chance to win one of sixteen $25,000 room makeovers. I'm going to enter a room, shamelessly it's my office.

If we could all just stop licking each other...

This is been the longest 10 days ever! The girls have been all different shades of sick. Let me recap for sake of posterity.

- it starts with PK going to the doctor for her 4 year old well checkup last Thursday. Mind you, we walked into this appointment "healthy".

- Friday afternoon PK was vomiting with a fever. (side note here: Dr. says PK suffered a mild reaction to a vaccine. I have mixed emotions on this one but figure a case of the pukes is better that coming down with polio). anywho....

- Saturday I'm down for the count with mystery something. Not sure if it had anything to do with the fact that Friday night I stayed out way too late (celebrating Misty's birthday) and ate a Frisco melt at Steak n' Shake around 2am. I'm pretty sure anything that comes off the grill at 2am is deadly. I'm way too old for that kind of shenanigans and was cruelly reminded of this all day Saturday.

- Monday Birdie is showing signs of not feeling well. I check on her Sunday night and find she has a fever over 104 degrees. She also starts to vomit.

- Tuesday the Bird is diagnosed with double ear infection and "mystery virus".

- On Thursday I'm pretty sure PK licks Birdie and gets sick. This time it's BAD.

- Friday it's confirmed that PK has strep throat.

So there you have it. We all have our respective bottles of the best pink wonder drug on the market. I've quarantined everyone to the house so we can breath in our own germs and not share them with anyone.

We do in fact have a bad case of the "cabin fever" that I'm sure is incurable. At least I have seasons 4 of entourage to keep we warm. So, if you have been wondering where I've been....I'm just hanging out with the snotty and the mucus crew....

Celebrate First with Earth's Best

PK's first favorite food had to be warm plums and applesauce. Nola's favorite first food had to be mango puree. But honestly, eating is a struggle around here, not gonna lie about it. I like to think that 3 time a day we go on a little "meal adventure".

Probably the funniest moment ever was feeding her avocado for the first time. I've been told that all kids love avocado as one of their "first foods", but that was so not true over here. Picture Gordon Ramsey meets one of those judges from Top Chef after somebody tries to serve them an undercooked scallop and you got yourself one insulted foodie on your hands (that's my daughter).

Earth's Best is helping us "celebrate first achievements" with their newest promotion, Celebrate the First. Celebrate the First is a fun and easy way to turn your grocery receipts into Earth's Best coupons (and other fun baby gear), while taking time to commemorate baby's first milestones.

Thanks to Earth's Best and the new MomGenerations.com giveaway site, The Giveaway Connection, I have a HUGE First Food Gift pack ($30) for one lucky DesignHER Momma reader. Winner will receive:

• 4 jars each of 2.5 oz First Foods Apples, Pears, Peas, Bananas, Sweet Potatoes and Carrots (a total of 24 jars)
• 4 jars each of 4 oz Apple Juice & Pear Juice (a total of 8 jars)
• 1 box each of 8 oz infant Rice Cereal, Multi-Grain Cereal & Oatmeal Cereal (a total of 3 boxes)
• A delightful Earth's Best Cereal Bowl and Bib
• As an added bonus, the much loved children's book, "Guess How Much I Love You" written by Sam McBratney and illustrated by Anita Jeram.

Enter to win by leaving me a comment letting me know what your favorite "first" memory was with your baby (or niece, nephew, grandchild, ect.)

Want a "bonus" entry?
1. Subscribe to DesignHER Momma! (leave me an additional comment letting me know)
2. Follow me on Twitter, I'm @designhermomma (leave me another comment)
3. Visit The Giveaway Connection and enter 5 other sites hosting this same giveaway!

Giveaway will run through January 23rd and winner will be randomly selected.

UPDATE: This contest is closed. The winner randomly selected was Crystal.

The Snuggie - fantastic or down right freaky?

Every time I turn on the TV, I seem to see that commercial for the Snuggie. You know, the blanket with sleeves. Honestly, I love it! I think it's brilliant and I want one. A blanket with sleeves...why didn't I think of that?

We even gave a review and giveaway on it's top competitor (the Slanket) on Simple a few weeks ago. The giveaway got almost 600 entries, so obviously I'm not to only one that wants one of these babies.

On the flip side, as much as I want one, I feel a bit creeped out by the whole concept too, mainly because of the Snuggie marketing campaigns. Have you seen the commercial where there's a whole family at a sporting event, wearing their maroon snugglie? Tell me that doesn't look a bit cult like and weird you out (just add hood and your good to go, my KKK friends). In the same commercial, there's a whole family roasting marshmellows at the campfire, all in their matching blankets....bizarre looking.

Additionally, Michael has even gone as far to say that "if" I was to get a Snuggie (actually I want a Slanket, looks like a superior product), I would never leave the comfort of the couch and would eventually grow into my blanket. True, I would never take it off, I probably would morph into a big maroon blob after my skin adhered to the fleece.

So my friends, I ask of you, (especially those of you that live in cold places with a husband that insist on keeping the thermostat just above the pipe-bursting level) do you want one of these things or not? Or are you just weirded out?

Sound off, I need to know!

Santa baby? I don't think so.

Today I took PK for her 4 year old well child checkup at the doctors. All is "well" in that department, she is tall and skinny if you're wondering (polar opposite of her mother might I add). Our pediatricians office building is located on the campus of the hospital where her and her sister were born.

Funny story...

When we pull up and drive onto campus this morning she says to me "this is the place were Birdie was born". I correct her and say to her that SHE TOO was born at that hospital over 4 years ago.

She corrects me and is insistent that she was not born at this hospital (or any other hospital, for that matter). Where does she think she was born? The girl is 100% positive that she was born on the North Pole.

To set the record straight, I tell her that God created her(something we talk about all the time). I explain how special she is and that she was born to mommy and daddy at the hospital, not the North Pole.
She does agree with me that God did in fact create her (phew) but she was first given to Santa, who gave her to Daddy and I.

Apparently my daughter is very visual and has a good memory. All this was spurred by this picture I got out at Christmas time. PK in a stocking, rooting on the Michigan State Spartans, as a 4 weeks old (talk about influencing them early on in life). Because of this picture, she thought that she came to us as a stocking stuffer.

I'm not sure if I should think this is funny, or feel concerned that I have a real problem on my hands. We are too young to talk about the bird and the bees (amen), but I can feel a good sit down discussion coming on....

I can see clearly now...

If she takes after me, the coke bottles are in the not so distant future for her.
More wordless here and here.

The Money Tree Prophecy

Last year my husband and I celebrated our 7th year wedding anniversary. We celebrated by doing pretty much doing the typical, dinner out and a small gift).

One thing we do try to do is give the traditional gifts. This year, the gift was to consist of either wood or copper. In efforts to be creative; my caring, loving, amazing husband bought me a money tree because he knew how much I love houseplants (ahem).

The tree flourished throughout the year. It actually at one point got so big that I had to transfer it from it's original pot to a new one. I had high hopes for it; that it would send me much luck (ahem).

The money tree had a nice sunny home atop my office desk; where it got ample light and love. As of recently I moved it into the entry way. I felt it needed a change of scenery for the winter months. As Cheryl Crow has said in the past, a change will do ya good (I think she said this pre-lance armstrong).

Anywho, this new place in the entry way is lovely and bright and full of potential. It's only drawback is that is within arms length of some very active and curious little girls. I was prepared to protect it...

Today PK saw the plant for the first time. As any good explorer would do, she investigated by pulling it up by it's tree trunk. Funny thing happened, this darn tree had no roots!

It was a money tree with no substantial underground root system....and I'm left to wonder, was this a 2009 prophecy?

Please tell me it's not....because this designher momma that hasn't worked in a month is feeling a bit worried.

My new antique pretty

Being an Interior Designer you would think that my favorite thing to do would be to shop for furniture. Well, this is right and totally ridiculously wrong all at the same time. I love to shop for other peoples things.

I will gladly spend your money on fabulous furniture and decor for your home. I've gotten a degree and found a professional job that has allowed me (pays me) to spend tons of dollars in a moments time for other people.

Shopping for myself is fun..... notsomuch. I really detest making decisions and big purchase for my own place. Don't tell anyone (like my clients) , but I get all indecisive, uneasy and insecure and start perspiring when it comes to stuff I'm going to have to pay for and live with long term.

I don't have a lavish lifestyle where decor can change with the comings and goings of the season (or my ever fluctuating style choices as my husband probably would add). Additionally, I have a pretty compact home where space is not of the essence. So if it's coming in the house, it better have a place to go. I have no room for extras; no room for mistakes.

This past week the hubs and I were feeling adventurous and took a day to shop for furniture. In particular, we were searching for a dining room table. Dude, dining room tables are EXPENSIVE! I found one I liked, but it was like $7,000 and made by men that still ride around in horse and buggy. For the money they were asking, I would have sworn the horse was included...

Needless to say, this designher momma in me couldn't find anything in her price range. I went home defeated and depressed. Thinking that there had to be another way, I got on this thing called the internet. Not sure if you've heard about it, but the interweb is awesome. While I was surfing, I came across this place called craigslist. Craigslist is awesome...

Within 24 hours I scored myself 1 antique walnut dining room table (that extends to seat 12), 6 queen ann style dining room chairs (that I have come to find out that I can probably re-sell and make a pretty penny on, I'm totally doing this) and a gorgeous black buffet table! I got all these items for less than 1 dining room chair made by the Amish.

Score!

Without further ado.... here is my new antique buffet table (oh, and if you are wondering about that top drawer, yes in fact it is lined with purple velvet).

I'll post a pic of my dining room table in time. I can't show it to you now as I've got a big project in store for it. Must complete project first....

oh! 9

I have to admit, I have pretty high expectations for this coming year. I have resolutions that I'm *hoping*, *praying* I keep. Some of my goals are cliche, and some are more obscure. Last year I had about 4 resolutions, only 1 of which actually came into fruition (I learned how to sew).

I'm not gonna tell you what my new (or repeated from last year, darn you '08 goals) because I don't want to be held accountable. How's that for determination?

I know 2009 is going to be a good year, it HAS to be better than this past year. 2008 overall was ok (I mean, come on, I did get to work at the State Fair making elephant ears), but honestly it had some really craptastic moments.

With that said, I'm beyond ready to get it on with 2009 and leave 2008 as a distant memory. I'm hoping me and oh nine can be good friends. I've been told that friends don't let friends gain weight (or at least if they do, they tell them straightaway before it gets grossly out of hand).

So, I'm writing this morning to wish you a less-stinky, 2009. I'm cheering you on that all your self-inflicted goals are met with zeal. If your new years resolution is to make your bed every day, I hope you achieve it. Go ahead and bounce a quarter off that crisp sheet with a smile...

If your brave enough, tell me what your working on this year. I promise when I see you I won't ask about it and make you feel like a failure when it's not working out for ya.

Cheers!