mustardseed

{handmade} sandpaper alphabet and number set

2012-02-06T15:26:00.002-05:00

a friend asked if i would make a sandpaper alphabet and number set for her daughter as she wanted to use it to teach her daughter how to write letters and numbers. she got the idea from the montessori school. since i love doing {most} things art related, i said of course!

the process of sketching, cutting and taping ended up being rather tedious but i enjoyed the process and love the final product. i used an exact-o blade to do the cutting, double sided tape to stick the sandpaper to the front sheet and a colorful patterned cardstock for the back sheet panel. {wish i got a photo of the back too!}

nelno. alla. and tata.

2012-01-31T22:56:00.000-05:00

today was an unseasonably warm winter day and we enjoyed it by going to the central park zoo and nearby playground. since we had only abt 10 minutes at the zoo before closing, sophia ate her snack while watching the sea lions jumping, diving and eating their own meal. then we walked over to the playground, met up with sophia's good friend and played some more. it was a good day.

sophia is nearly 21 months. she is communicating a lot more - still less verbal and more gestural/sign language. each morning she wakes up, calls for mama or baba (sometimes maba, and sometimes tata, who is jungles, her bestest monkey friend or nelno, aka elmo), nurses, goes on the potty (whether she pees or not is her choice and always a surprise to us), reads a few books (usually an alla, aka dora, book), brushes her teeth, eats breakfast and then is ready for the day. each day has an activity or two which helps provide some structure for her and sanity for me.

recently i've been working on the alphabet with her. she knows "O" and will find it and tell me where she sees it. i started playing a game with her that goes, "A" is for audrey, your very good friend. "B" is for baba, who loves you very much. "C" is for cyrus, you saw him today. "D" is for dora, she goes on fun adventures, "E" is for elmo, oh, how you love him, etc... (all the while singing the alphabet tune). it's amazing how she remembers things when she's 'connected' to them. now she will point out E for elmo, J for jungles, S for sophia, O, M for mama, B for baba, D for doo-chi (belly button) or dora.

during naptime and nighttime sleep, sophia always asks for nelno or tata. even though she knows she can't ever take nelno with her (cuz she plays with him too much by banging his plastic eyeballs against the crib) she will still ask each time. thankfully she quickly gives him a kiss and doesn't put up a fight when i say she can't take him. then she asks for tata. she loves tata so much. it's really adorable. her eyes light up and she makes me play this game she's been enjoying where tata's long arms cover his eyes, only to slowly come undone and jiggle towards her. she gets such a laugh from it.

ten things i love about you, my sweet SP.
{1} the way your eyes light up when you find something funny
{2} you doughy legs and chubby feet
{3} watching you sleep
{4} hearing you call 'mama' (over and over and over and over and over again)
{5} your big smile and loud chortle laugh
{6} the way your little legs (and arms) move so fast when you're running
{7} your love for YI
{8} your baobao (hugs) and ching ching (kisses)
{9} nursing time
{10} seeing you become gentler and kinder with your friends

and a proper blog entry isn't complete without some recent photos....

remembering...

2011-09-11T08:36:00.001-04:00

the hurricane

2011-08-27T21:46:00.001-04:00

a hurricane is coming our way. it feels surreal to me. as i watched our bathtub fill with water, i thought of the many natural disasters that happen around the world and the people that are affected.

i thought about hurricane katrina, about the aftermath and the many flooded homes. i remembered the oily soot on the floor of the home we demolished, the photo albums that were destroyed from the water, the mice and roaches that jumped out of the wall we broke down, the piles and piles of belongings that once meant something to someone, now unusable...

we're praying for mercy and for the hurricane to lose speed and head east into the water. pray with us knowing that our God is a powerful and merciful God.

you are one.

2011-05-05T21:43:00.000-04:00

dear sophia,
you turned 1 yesterday! :) time has really flown by just as everyone said it would.

we were so happy to finally meet you!

i look at you and marvel at who you have become. sounds silly since you've only turned 1 but you've changed so much. in the beginning, you were so little (2 days past term and at a teeny 5lbs 11oz) and completely dependent on us. you looked like daddy, slept super well, nursed ok (though i thought 'never enough'), enjoyed observing everyone and were super mellow. in the early months, you made 'dinosaur' squeaks, slept with your hands in mid-air, spit up A LOT (sad), and often smiled in your sleep. your chubbiest ever was at 2 months when you were a whoppin' 18%! :) hehe. your cheeks were so full then and your legs had a few extra folds!

you always had so many different cute expressions within seconds of each other. mommy would snap away on the camera and would have 10 totally different photos within seconds. daddy always had so much fun looking at them too.

every day we read together. it's one of my favorite things to do with you. you used to stare at the photos, now you always turn the pages for us. mommy loves when you chuckle because you think something is funny.

you learned how to roll over, sit, crawl, pull up and walk while holding onto something. you started eating solids at 6 months and found much enjoyment in gaining ability of the pincer grasp. each day you seem to learn something new. it's exciting for mommy to see you develop each day.

there's so much more to say but mommy doesn't have time right now since your birthday party is on saturday and mommy has a few things to take care of! :)

we'll end with a few photos of some fun times you've recently had. we love you dear sophia.

at the playground. you are crawling and pulling up everywhere!

our first time at the conservatory garden in central park. :)

momma discovered something that you love to do!

we also realized that you LOVE doggies. this is shyla, the sharpae

oh, how you laughed so happily, esp when she licked your forehead!

at the brooklyn botanic gardens. to see the cherry blossoms. :)

back at the playground. you so enjoy this tic-tac-toe game.

2011-04-18T12:32:00.000-04:00

i'm so confused. what happened to my daughter who loves to sleep? after a week of sleeping terribly, i thought sophia wanted to transition to 1 nap. we started fresh today by going out for a nice walk to the playground and i brought her back around 11 ready to implement this new plan. she seemed plenty tired but when i placed her into her crib at 11.40am (that's nearly 5 hrs of wake time which is not her norm), she did not go to sleep.

first she talked to herself and cried a little, then she sat up and scaled the crib bars. suddenly, she fell backwards and i heard the *thunk* of her head hitting the mattress and then some more cries. she proceeded to get up and is now half mumbling and half crying while up on her knees.

WHAT IS GOING ON? it's so frustrating to watch an extremely tired baby girl not go to sleep. it's also so frustrating to not know how to help her.

:(

transitioning from 2-1 naps

2011-04-15T15:21:00.000-04:00

i never thought sophia would transition from 2 to 1 naps so early. she is 11.5 months and this past week she's been fighting her naps (and subsequently, bedtime) like mad. it drove me UP THE WALL since she normally sleeps so so so so well. it seemed she made a conscious decision on Tuesday to stop napping. WHAT???

looking online provided other accounts of similar experiences and made me realize that sophia, at 11.5 months may not be too young to transition over. it also gave me some hope that this is indeed what was happening to our previous sleep champ and not that she was just going to fight us for the hell of it.

on Tuesday, i put her down for her usual 1st nap at 915am and she cried til 1115, then slept til 12, when i woke her because the book i like says it's ok to wake them if you're trying to maintain their schedule. she refused her second nap which was at 250.

on Wednesday, i put her down for her usual 1st nap at 930am and she cried til 1130, then slept til 1250 when she woke on her own. friends had suggested i let her sleep as long as she wanted. instinctually, i knew this would be bad news for her 'schedule' but really, our schedule was not much of a schedule since she was rebelling all naps. i didn't put her down for her second nap since she wouldn't have slept and then it would have cut too close to bedtime.

on Thursday, i started really losing it. i put her down for her usual 1st nap at 930am (3 hrs after she woke on that day) and she cried for 2 hrs and then i finally picked her up since it became apparent that either she wasn't going to nap at all or she would nap but would miss her lunch and any play time for the day. i was so upset. we went out for lunch since i thought the fresh air would do us both good, got her back and put her down for her '2nd' nap at 145. she fell asleep so quickly - i thought it was magic and was so thankful for the peace and a sleeping baby. she slept for 2 hrs and then woke but when i went to get her, she started crying. in past times, this means that she's not ready to be picked up. still, i was already in her room so i picked her up. she continued to fuss and cry so i just put her back in her crib and within a few minutes, she was back asleep. she slept til 440pm, when i decided it was time to make some noise and wake her up since i had to preserve her bedtime.

this is when i really started to think that maybe our sophia was asking for just 1 longer nap. it didn't really make sense since she still seemed tired and ready for a nap in the morning hr (aka 1st nap) but she wasn't taking it. still, i had to try one more time.

so, on Friday (today), i put her down at 1015am (my logic being that maybe she just needed a little more wake time in the a.m.) and she just sat in her crib and talked and cried until i picked her up at 1140am. again, i was seething and not understanding why she didn't just nap when it seemed she wanted to nap. we ate lunch and i put her down at 110pm. she fell asleep shortly after. and she's waking now, at 320pm.

hopefully this entry will bring light to another mommy struggling to figure out why the sudden change in her child's sleep routine. when did your child transition from 2-1 naps and how did you know this was what was happening?

our trek to bay ridge, brooklyn ::

2011-04-09T23:03:00.004-04:00

today, sophia and i went to her buddy's 1st birthday party. it was a beautiful day in new york and after her first nap, we ate lunch and then were on our way. the party was in bay ridge which is abut 1.5 hrs away from our home.

i am amazed by our little sophia. God has given us a baby girl with such a mellow and sweet temperament.

on the subway, she smiled and giggled with people and imitated their hand motions and head bobbles. when we crossed the bridge from nyc to brooklyn, she gazed out the window, her eyes filled with curiosity. when we arrived at my friend's apartment, she played on the ground by herself and had numerous 'conversations' with the other guests. my heart is filled with love for my baby girl.

wordless wednesday.

2011-03-30T23:17:00.002-04:00

give . every . day

2011-03-25T11:13:00.000-04:00

there's a blog i ran into called give every day. a mama, whom i found via the internet world, and her family have pledged to: spend intimate, quantity (yes, they intentionally wrote "quantity"- read to find out what they mean) time with each other, to actively help the poor, the sick, the lonely and the helpless, to value protect and advocate for children, to de-emphasize the importance of "stuff" in their lives, to bring publicity to good causes and good people, to live with intentionality, as if this year were their very last, to observe the needs in their community/our country - and then do something about them, and to give - every day. when i first heard of this, they were in the midst of selling their home and nearly all their belonging in prep for this journey.

now, they are on day #48. it's amazing to read of their life and see that they are truly living fully with real purpose for Him. i love their answer to the question "what compels you to do this?" their answer is the hope that we have in Jesus. can i get an AMEN!

calvin and i were just saying last night how easy it is to fall into the cultural norm of wanting more. more of everything. we are extremely blessed to have a comfortable home with plenty of food, clothes and luxuries and yet, it's so easy to look around and see what we don't have. or what we want more of. it's a dangerous mindset to have for so many reasons of which i won't go into now. more importantly, it's a mindset that i don't want to own because i know that these things do not matter because this world is only temporary.

i am inspired by the scheaffers, by their pledge and by the fact that they are actually living out true lives of sacrifice and purpose all for His glory. i don't think calvin, sophia and i would ever have the balls to do something like this but you never know.... in Him, lots of things are done that were once believed impossible. in the meanwhile, spending more time with the Lord and in His Word and reading what the scheaffers are up to will hopefully begin the heart transformation i desire within.

{HELP JAPAN} every little bit helps

2011-03-17T22:55:00.002-04:00

100% of all proceeds from your purchase via my etsy shop will go to relief efforts in Japan via Samaritan's Purse - Japan Relief Project.

every little bit helps.

sick sophia

2011-03-12T22:32:00.000-05:00

sophia woke up this evening crying. our philosophy is to leave her because she knows how to soothe herself. after a little while, she was still crying somewhat hard which is unusual for her. i decided to go in and our poor sweet pea had snot running down her nose and had spit up on her arm and the crib sheet. i felt so bad having waited so long. note to self: trust my instincts. if i had, i would've gone in much earlier and she wouldn't have had to smell her own nastiness with snot running out of her nose. my poor baby.

in better thoughts: sophia is blossoming. in just one week, she went from only knowing how to push herself backwards to dragging her body forwards with mostly the use of her arms and some legs. she has also become much better at standing while holding onto something. all very adorable for parents to witness. she is also getting her 7th tooth which is likely the reason for the running nose.

sophia at 10 months

much to our delight, sophia is finally standing with her feet securely on the ground.
previously, she only stepped on her tippy tippy toes. :) cute but not practical.

pray for kate

2011-02-22T20:06:00.003-05:00

please continue to pray for kate. for those who are new here, the short of it is that kate is a 7 year old girl who has a brain tumor. she seemed to be on the recovery and then on february 1st 2011, an MRI showed 2 new lesions. a PET scan was done and unfortunately, the lesions were found to be cancerous.

her mom has a blog which is updated regularly. prayer is all i can think to do.

please join me and pray for her and her family.

new york city with a {baby}

2011-02-18T14:23:00.003-05:00

my eyes carry a different perspective now that i have a little sophia in tow. when i walk the streets, i see other moms (and nannies) with carriers or strollers and give them a smile. when i am in restaurants, i am astonished at the lack of high chairs (or broken high chairs) and/or booster seats. i frequent the zoo and playgrounds in central park that in my 9+ years of new york living have not been to. i've learned of fun things for sophia (and me) to participate in - the recreation center has open play time, fao schwarz and the new york public library have story time, etc. it's a whole different city!

in central park on a beautiful february day.

photo taken by a fellow mommy friend.

making baby food

2010-12-06T18:22:00.002-05:00

when i was pregnant, i totally thought i would make baby's food. after a few months of life with baby, i began to think there was no way i'd have the time or energy to make her food so i got a few jars of earth's best. it's organic and not overly pricey. this seemed easiest.

then we got our last CSA (community supported agriculture) share and a beautiful butternut squash was in that share. earth's best doesn't make butternut squash in the starter veggie pack and i LOVE butternut squash so i figured i'd try my hand at making it for her. it was so easy and if i do say so myself, so very tasty. :D best of all and most rewarding, sophia loved it. this motivates me to make her more food.

live a life worth living

2010-11-28T22:57:00.004-05:00

my first ever FB note was a call for my friends to step up and make a difference. the note talked of a special burden God placed in my heart for those suffering from cancer. i spoke of a young lady named michelle who needed a bone marrow transplant and encouraged each of you to register at the national marrow donor program. my heart breaks in remembering that michelle passed away on july 25th 2009. her family and friends are still continuing michelle's legacy. you can read about it here. http://projectmichelle.com/blog/

today i write on behalf of a little girl, kate who has been battling a very malignant and aggressive brain cancer since june 29th 2009. my sister and BIL used to go to the same church as kate's family in california and this is how i found out about their story.

read the 'summary' story here:http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/mcraekate/mystory

read the updated journal here:http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/mcraekate/journal

kate's mom's most recent journal entry shares of their desire to help other families in similar situations as they have felt so blessed by the help and outpourings of others. last year, they did 'kate's crazy cool christmas' and requested that toys be donated to the children's hospital so other cancer patients could receive gifts. this year they are once again doing 'kate's crazy cool christmas', in a slightly different way.

they are choosing 10 families to give gift bags to. these gift bags will hold different things that they felt were helpful during the difficult times. things like starbucks, target, restaurant, visa gift cards, etc... along with a separate gift bag with some items such as jesus storybook bible, esv journaling bible, and/or charles spurgeon's "beside still waters".

calvin and i are donating 4 jesus storybook bibles to kate's crazy cool christmas. sophia has one of these and we find it wonderful for her and us. it gives us so much pleasure to know that another family can read stories of Jesus to their child.

i hope you'll join us in sharing Jesus' love with the 10 families that aaron, holly and kate choose to bless this christmas. if you're interested in giving something, send me an email and i'll give you the address where you can send or have the items sent directly to.

in these small little ways, Jesus can shine.

oh my darling .

2010-11-28T10:58:00.000-05:00

sophia at birth

sophia at 6.5 months

the hat from the hospital still fits! :)

my non-cuddler

2010-11-26T21:22:00.000-05:00

i always thought my baby would love to cuddle. when i worked in the day care center, every baby loved to be hugged and snuggled. when i hold my friend's babies, they all love to be hugged and snuggled. sadly, sophia does not like to be hugged or snuggled. she makes noises stating her dissatisfaction. one would think she was flying vertically. her body is curved outwards against the curve of my body. and even then, i try to curve my body towards her.

recently it made me feel sad and i would kind of force her to me so we could be closer and bond. but that didn't feel worth it nor did she appreciate it. understandably so. so i stopped and try not to take it personally. there are moments however when i feel like, "sheesh. i only grew you inside my belly for 10 months and then pushed you out without pain meds so your system wouldn't have to experience drugs (as well as other reasons) and now lactate so you can eat and grow... oh, that's all." but it's too early to start the guilt tripping. don't cha think? :P

alas, God made my daughter as she is for very specific reasons. it's my job to love her and grow her as she is.

my jacked up dislocated pinky :: part II

2010-10-26T22:42:00.000-04:00

turns out the pinky isn't only dislocated.... the hand doctor said i ruptured a tendon and fractured some bone. :( boo. the remedy is a custom splint worn 24/7 for 6 weeks.

last saturday our football team played in the WFFI new jersey flag football tournament. i only played a handful of times. i really wanted to play more but was rather fearful of getting more injured since i have to take care of sophia. we made it to the tournament of champions though (YAY!) which means we're playing again on nov 20th. maybe, just maybe, the tendon will heal by then and i'll be able to play with my team. :) that would be so awesome.

the team did so well. go vision! this mama was/is so proud of each and every one of you! :)

my jacked up dislocated pinky

2010-10-18T22:40:00.000-04:00

football is so fun. less fun is dislocating my finger while playing football. it happened yesterday while i was rushing the QB. i was trying to grab his flag and my poor little pinky got stuck in his pocket. and then there was some twisting and some pain. i remember looking at my hand wondering why it was hurting so much. and then i saw my finger stuck in an abnormal position. fortunately for me there's a doctor on our team. she's a dermatologist but managed to make me believe she knew what she was about to do to my dislocated finger. i braced myself for the pain that is putting a dislocated joint back into its socket but was pleasantly surprised. i felt the clicking but that's about it. i think it was semi-numb because of the initial pain as well as the adrenaline rushing through me.

i always heard people say that if something is dislocated, it'll feel much better (and like normal) after it's popped back into place. is that true? because my finger certainly does not feel normal. it's swollen, bruised, and ugly. i didn't know i was so vain when it came to my fingers. :P i'll find out on friday if anything is torn or fractured as i'm going to see my hand doc then. our tournament is saturday... oh, how i hope i can play.

aside from disliking not being 100%, it's actually really hard to take care of sophia without having full finger capabilities. even in a splint, i notice myself wincing when i pick her up and tend to her needs. ah. the joys of getting older. when i tore my ligament in my ring finger a couple of years ago, i asked the hand doc why it tore this time when on numerous occasions while playing football, my fingers have jammed. he answered that once you hit 30, nothing is the same. man... that was the year i turned 30. i guess at 32, a dislocated finger is to be expected.

BabyBond nursing {giveaway}

2010-10-14T10:35:00.011-04:00

UPDATE: and the winner is #30, AmyLynn. congrat's!

::
nursing. sometimes it brings me great joy. other times it brings me to my knees with tears in my eyes. i am thankful for creative folks who try to come up with ways to help a nursing mother.

{{introducing}}
BabyBond. an innovative idea, this sash covers only mom making for less fight and struggle as my baby isn't draped over by a piece of cloth. BabyBond generously gave me a BabyBond Flex in charcoal to test out. {thank you!} the first thing i noticed was how extremely soft the fabric is. a positive since the fabric touches sophia's face. i like that the babybond flex is easy to use and quickly maneuverable. another great feature is the burp cloth strap. my sophia just loves to spit up which means i find this particular feature rather functional. overall, i found this great to nurse in and with a 5 month old who gets easily distracted, the fabric gave her just enough to play with while still remaining focused.

{{win it}}
how generous of BabyBond to offer a BabyBond Original in turquoise (size 2) for one lucky reader!

mandatory entry: leave a comment
•'like' BabyBond on FB and say that {MustardSeed by.carollai} sent you!

additional entries: leave a separate comment for each
•'follow' my blog
•swing by my etsy shop and tell me your favorite item
•'like' my FB page
•link this giveaway to your blog
•share with us your favorite nursing memory

open to readers worldwide. the winner will be chosen via random.org on 10.24.10 at 11.59pm EST and has 48 hrs to respond.

as if that wasn't marvelous enough, the people at BabyBond are offering 2 BabyBonds for less than $46. that's a 75% discount! this way you can buy one for yourself and another for a friend.

all you need to do is purchase one BabyBond via babiesrus.com and email a copy of your receipt from babiesrus.com to missy@babybondnursing.com. you will receive a discount code to purchase another BabyBond via their website for 75% off! make sure to place the first order on babiesrus.com within 4 days of this post (by monday 10.18.10) and on the babybond website within 24 hours of receiving the discount code.

enjoy!

oozing with love . my sophia

2010-09-28T23:24:00.002-04:00

in the beginning, i thought my sophia was goofy cute. then we bonded and i began to grow in my 'like' of her. after some more time i started to love her. just recently though do i look at her and love her SO MUCH and find her to be the most adorable little baby ever. i've become that mommy. :)

let me explain.

her thighs are chubby. they are soft and they like to kick and fling about ever so carefree-ly. they don't have much control yet which just makes it all that much cuter. it makes me smile.

her cheeks {the ones on her face} are similarly chubby and so kissable. i often squish my lips into them. sometimes she'll squish back against my face. i like that.

even her little teeny tiny feet are so irresistible. they're adorably pudgy and rounded-ly rectangular. she finds it funny when i play games with them.

her head is so round and smells a little sweaty most the time. it's not disgusting, it's rather endearing. :)

her chubby arms are just long enough to reach the side of her head to tug on her hair, which she will do when we read together or when she gets tired. those often go hand-in-hand. i like peering down at her when we're reading together. all i see is the top of her head and her cheeks.

when she wakes from a nap, she lets me know by 'calling' me. when i go to her and her eyes focus on me, she breaks out in a cheeky sweet smile. i love lifting her up from her crib and hugging her close to me.

see what i mean? don't you love her now too? {{smiles}}

my sophia at 4.5 months.

review and discount code! {the fresh stitch}

2010-08-06T20:41:00.001-04:00

i first found corinne at the fresh stitch by search for baby related products on etsy. how delighted i was when i clicked into her etsy shop! i was greeted with quite the visual... adorable (and some eco-friendly and organic) fabrics that made up a variety of great looking bibs, burp cloths, minky blankets, embellished onesies and more. i was addicted and looked at nearly everything in her shop. :)

after starting up a conversation, corinne generously mailed me this beautiful bib and burp cloth set since i had mentioned to her that my sweet baby girl is quite the spitter upper. the green leaf fabric is 60% cotton and 40% bamboo poplin and the reverse side is 100% certified organic french terry. isn't it pretty?

i was delighted when i received it. the package was so thoughtfully put together (i could easily have given this as a gift!), the product looked amazing (sewn so perfectly. believe me, i examined it!) and felt so so soft to the touch, but i still wondered how it would hold up under sophia's, at times, messy dribble and massive spit up. the answer? BEAUTIFULLY!

first the hubby tested out the bib when he did his once a night bottle feed. many other bibs that we have get totally sopped and instead of keeping the milk dribble off sophia, the end result is a wet disaster. {note how she's now naked when feeding from the bottle!} not so with this bib! i loved it. baby remained dry and the bib was somewhat damp but not even completely sopping wet. i didn't know how corinne did it until she mentioned the layer of cotton batting inside the bib. she's a genius! :)

sophia looks kind of serious here but she's really thanking corinne for making a bib that has kept her dry! {"thank you!"}

now to the burp cloth. corinne is accurate in saying that this burp cloth has a variety of uses. she writes, "this burp cloth wipes up any mess resulting from spit up, vomit, baby food, milk, diaper changes and can also function as an over-sized wash cloth!" it's true. i've used it while burping baby (works well so long as she doesn't completely spit up her entire meal -- for those instances, i'd use the fresh stitches cloth diaper variety which is 6-ply. talk about absorbent!) and while baby is on her activity mat (another great use since sophia tends to drool when on tummy time.)

look at that neck strength! :) yay for sophia!

all in all, i just love this etsy shop and owner. aside from the many different adorable/cute/fun choices and products, corinne was so kind and easy to converse with. i always love 'meeting' the face behind a product i love. it's particularly refreshing when that person is so open and friendly!

what's in it for you?
corinne at the fresh stitch is generously offering 10% off to my readers for the month of august. simply write MUSTARDSEED10 in a conversation to corinne prior to the sale for a reserved listing or write it in the 'note from buyer' section at checkout and corinne will refund your paypal.

thank you corinne for sending us the bib and burp cloth. you really do make such wonderful things and we'll be back for more!

diaper bag {genius}

2010-07-27T19:12:00.006-04:00

it's hard to find a good diaper bag. as i searched for the 'perfect' one and wasn't able to find it, i gave up. thankfully when baby came, the hospital gave us a similac diaper bag on our discharge. it was great! it came in an urban and simple across your chest backpack form with just enough space for the changing pad, numerous diapers/wipes/buttpaste, change of clothes, a couple of burp clothes and a swaddle blanket. we were even able to stuff a few other things in there when needed. that took care of the functional aspect, but what about fashion? i was still searching.

one day i stumbled upon babyeverafter {aka. hot mama handbags}. this etsy shop sells handbags that can also be used as diaper bags. or maybe it's better described as diaper bags that can also be used as handbags. in any case, i was so excited because the prints and patterns of the fabrics are so very cute. after hemming and hawing and saving up some money, i purchased one.

today i received it and i just love it! first, the owner, maranda lee has great customer service. she had so many conversations with me as i considered and re-considered and requested some changes, etc. i was very thankful for her willingness to talk with me through some thoughts and to answer questions i had.

now to the bag. it is very well made, the fabric is beautiful and it's an easy bag to pair with many different things. the pockets come very much so in handy whether i want to put diapers or a bottle or anything else. the little compartments help me easily find things. there's even a key hook so i won't need to be rummaging around to find my keys. i highly recommend this bag for diaper bag/baby needs and/or for just plain pretty handbag needs. :D p.s. isn't my bag pretty?

{the mommy cover by joia} review and giveaway!

2010-07-16T15:29:00.007-04:00

{{edit: and the winner via random.org is #21 - melanie! you will receive an email from me shortly! thanks to all for participating!}}

being a new mommy has many challenges. one of them is figuring out the art of breastfeeding in public. enter the mommy cover by joia.

joia products was founded in 2007 by mommy of 2, charlie. she sought to combine the two sides of being a momma - "The Mommy - who simply wants something that works well, is easy to use, and is equally easy to maintain; and The Fashionista - who still craves some sense of individuality, confidence, and style."

i was introduced to the mommy cover by my sister who received the cover as a gift when she was pregnant. i loved its chic look. the satin strap up top, the bold pattern print and its reversibility. it looked too good to be true! when i became pregnant, i received a mommy cover of my own and i was so excited to have the baby so i could use it!

MY REVIEW ::

now that baby sophia is 2.5 months old, i've had many chances to use the mommy cover. the mommy cover is beautifully made. there are many wonderful fabric combinations to choose from! i love all the attempts at making this cover functional and easy to use - their innovative reel feature which keeps the cover closed helping to avoid any accidental flashing and the semi-rigid band across the top so i can see baby while she's nursing. their website is extremely helpful, with FAQ's, their story, and even a how-to on using the reel. a gallery shows the mommy cover in use.

i had some challenges with the reel as it pulls the fabric tight across the back and therefore affects the ability to see baby while nursing. i've found it easier to use the cover without closing the reel. additionally, the semi-rigid band at times will break its hold so i have to readjust to maintain eye contact with baby. i like how the cover is wide horizontally. this helps keep me covered when baby is struggling or flailing her arms during a challenging nursing session. i'm still getting the hang of using a cover in public so i think as time passes, it will all go more smoothly. my suggestion would be to have a more rigid band up top as that aids in keeping the cover off baby and would allow for easier use.

this company's customer service is unmatched. when the reel on my mommy cover broke, charlie kindly sent me a new cover. i greatly appreciated the individual attention and care!

THE GIVEAWAY ::
charlie at joia products is generously offering a gift certificate to be used towards one of her lovely mommy covers. thanks charlie! :)

TO ENTER :: {one entry for each. leave a separate comment per entry. make sure to leave your email address so i can reach you if you're the winner!}
1. head over to their website and comment on which mommy cover you want.
2. head over to my etsy shop and tell me what you'd like to see more of.
3. 'like' their FB page.
4. 'like' my FB page.
5. become a follower of my blog.
6. blog about this giveaway on your blog! leave the link in your comment.

the lucky winner will be chosen via random.org on 7/23/10 at 12.00pm.
ready? set? GO!

initiation

2010-07-14T16:06:00.002-04:00

i am now a true momma.

life with sophia

2010-07-14T13:36:00.001-04:00

sophia is almost 2 and a half months old now! can you believe it? thankfully, we've started to find some sort of rhythm. in the coming weeks and months, sophia should get on a more organized schedule which will be very helpful to me in terms of going outdoors more.

baby is super mellow and that has been such a blessing for me as a new mommy. she's learned the art of breastfeeding rather well, though each week she challenges mommy in one way or another related with the feedings. i've been learning the importance of letting things go, going with the flow of each challenge, and adapting. this is only the beginning and likely, the easiest part! :)

these days baby is cooing, intentionally smiling, grabbing, pulling, holding her head and neck stronger, pushing off her legs, and doing lots of finger sucking. :) baby is also starting to chuckle! she makes the cutest noises at the most random moments. what a true joy and blessing from God. we're so thankful.

precious moments captured .

2010-06-16T14:45:00.000-04:00

{our birth story}

2010-05-22T00:14:00.002-04:00

this is the story of how baby sophia paige lai entered the world.

two entries below explains that i was given cervidil (a cervix ripener) on may 3, 2010 in hopes of bringing on labor. i walked the L&D hallway nearly all night, taking about 1.5 hrs to rest and sleep. unfortunately, when they checked me 12 hrs later at 6:00am, the cervidil didn't do the trick. it did, however, dilate me to 1 "good" cm... i was very thankful as that was 1cm further than the previous day when i was still completely closed!

on may 4, 2010 at 7:10am, i was hooked up to an IV of pitocin, some saline and two fetal monitors. i was definitely bummed about receiving pitocin and being hooked to monitors but considering the circumstances (baby's lack of weight gain since the last measurement), we had no other options. my doctor was on 'partial' call at the hospital and she suggested a cook balloon which was inserted and filled with saline. {that did NOT feel good and the process was rather painful, but heck, i was hoping to push out a baby by the end of the day so i wasn't going to complain!} the idea of the cook balloon is that the added pressure of the ball inside would push down on the cervix, hopefully aiding the process of dilation. the doctor filled up the balloon with a lot of saline, saying that when the balloon came out, i would be about 3cm dilated.

7 hrs later (around 2:10pm), the ball was still inside. this was definitely a low point for me emotionally as contractions were becoming more and more painful (i was gauging the pain level at around 4, maybe 5 out of 10) and i was starting to feel really discouraged. i was experiencing a lot of pain in my lower back region as well. my head kept circling around the fact that the ball hadn't fallen out yet which meant that i was still less than 3cm dilated. "with all this pain, how could that be?", i wondered. typically, 1-3cm is still early labor and shouldn't be so painful. then i remembered that pitocin was doing its work and that my labor was drug induced, not natural.

as my doctor was leaving the hospital and another doctor in her practice was taking over, i received a great pep talk. my doctor told me that i was doing great and that she could always tell in someone's eyes if they were losing it. she said that i was not there yet and that i could do it. she reminded me of my hopes for a completely natural {aka. no pain meds} labor and delivery and encouraged me to focus on one contraction at a time. i inquired about an epidural as i kept thinking if i'm not even at 3cm, how the heck will i handle, 4cm, 5cm, 6cm... 9cm, and 10cm? my doctor said that if i wanted one i could definitely get one but she again told me how wonderfully i was doing and that she believed i could do it naturally.

then she left.

shortly after, i was doing some squats in hopes that the ball would come out and it did! it was the weirdest sensation. i think the back labor i was getting was from the pressure of the ball because the second it came out, the contractions changed and away went the back labor. thankfully!

i was checked for the first time since the introduction of pitocin and i was 6cm dilated! i felt so thankful and encouraged feeling that all the pain wasn't for nothing because it had brought me past the halfway point. the hubby and my doula rejoiced but i quickly refocused knowing there was still a lot of work to be done. this was around 2:45pm.

the labor increased in pain as the pitocin increased in amount. i was sitting on my fitness/yoga ball a lot as i was tied down to too many monitors/IV pole to walk around or use the shower/tub. my doula was wonderful and continually encouraged me as well as gave me massages/counter pressure to help deal with the pain. the hubby provided quiet support which was exactly what i needed from him.

labor continued to progress. at 4:45pm when the doctor came to check how far along i had progressed, i was at 7/8cm. i was somewhat bummed that after 2 hrs, i had only progressed 1-2cm. the doctor decided that it was time to rupture my membranes (i.e. break my water) and when she did, baby's head immediately came down and i was 8cm dilated.

woohoo! i was getting closer.

the doctor said that she would come back to check me in one hour. one hour!!! that was so exciting to hear. except that this next hour was so intense! i found myself looking at the wall clock at every contraction which made the time tick even slower. minute by minute... finally i made myself stop looking each time i wanted to. these 'transition phase' contractions were beyond anything i've ever experienced. i was sitting in a rocking chair with my feet pressed and pushed and pulled against the bed legs. although, truthfully i can't really remember the pain right now, i remember at the time feeling like i was going to die. and feeling like i just couldn't handle another one. the hubby held my hand and let me squeeze it to pieces while saying that i could do it. that i WAS doing it. ice chips were also very helpful at this point as my lips were so dry from trying to breath steadily. my doula was also wonderfully reminding me that this was all for a purpose and that each contraction was bringing me closer and closer.

by the 35 minute mark, i really really wanted the doctor to come and check me again as i felt like i wanted to push. i kept pathetically looking at the hubby asking/requesting him to pray for me. he said he was. i remember praying as well, asking God to please make me 10cm dilated when the doc came back. i felt in my heart that if i wasn't fully dilated at that point, i really didn't know how i would continue on. yep. it felt THAT intense. the doctor came back around 6pm, checked me and said the words i wanted to hear. "are you ready to push?" adrenaline and excitement entered my body and i was ready! so ready.

the pushing was such a relief after the intense 'transition phase' contractions. the doctor taught me how to push {get air, hold your breath and truly push like you're going to have a bowel movement.} i started getting the hang of it and the doctor was slowly applying jelly and stretching the perineum to minimize tearing. dang that burned and did not feel good but again, i knew my baby's head was going to come out through that space so the momentary burning faded to the background. the doctor was so good - between pushes, she had me touch baby's head. to be honest, i didn't know what i was feeling but apparently it was baby's head and apparently there was a lot of hair. :) the hubby and the doula were both so excited and i was starting to think there really was an end in sight.

but when was still in question.

my team was so great. my doula held one leg, my nurse held the other leg, the hubby took photos/videos, and the doctor encouraged and let me lead on the pushing front. i am so thankful for the team that we had working with us. 25 minutes after starting to push, baby's head came out. on all the baby story television shows that i've seen, they tell the mom to stop pushing as they maneuver the baby's shoulders, etc but apparently baby sophia flew out in one {nearly} fell swoop. :) our baby was born!

in the end, no epidural or pain meds were given. the doctor asked me at 8cm if i wanted an epidural. i recall grunting, "no". she asked again and i ignored her. in the end, i'm really thankful that i didn't get an epi or pain meds as i really didn't want baby to feel sluggish or experience any drugs (except for pitocin but there was no option there). i also didn't want to feel sluggish or drugged so that i could fully experience it all. and boy, i did.

now that the labor and delivery is over, i kind of laugh at how much emphasis i had placed on learning how to have the labor and delivery that i wanted. i should really have focused my preggo-cy days reading up on how to be a new mom. my butt has been kicked over and over again since baby's birth and it's only been 2.5 weeks. i've felt completely overwhelmed and anxious at the thought of being responsible for such a little being and breast feeding has put me at such high highs and such low lows. each day brings new challenges filled with changes and the need for me to adjust and adapt.

thankfully, the past 2 days have been much much better emotionally and mentally. perhaps the preggo-cy hormones are exiting my body. or perhaps i'm slowly learning to take each change as it comes and to adjust. i'm trying to let go of the way i thought things would or should be and am trying to just go with the flow. it's been quite the adventure...

time to feed the little one again. i am a human cow. that is my job description.

{introducing Sophia Paige}

2010-05-16T13:00:00.003-04:00

hello all!

it's been awhile since the last post. baby, aka Sophia Paige made her entrance into the world on May 4, 2010 at 6.28pm. she weighed 5lbs 11oz and measured 18.5". we are happily exhausted these days which is why this post is so delayed. sorry! but i did want you all to know that baby is out and about and thankfully, healthy! thank you so much for your prayers.

free time is so rare these days and i'm in need of a nap right now so i will be back (hopefully in a few days) to share the birth story! :)

blessings...

{week 40 and 2 days - induction)

2010-05-03T19:21:00.001-04:00

did i ever mention how much i hate roller coasters? i've never liked the up and down, the stomach jumping to throat feeling, the risk related to being thrown every which way but belted in at the chest and waist.

well, this morning was quite the roller coaster ride. first came the doctor's appt at 9.30am. baby, who has been head down since week 32 was suddenly slightly off center. it was rather concerning because after all this time of monitoring baby's small size and all, i hadn't thought abt the possibility of her head not being down and centered. thousands of thoughts ran through my mind and i had a good cry.

at 1.30pm, i had the hospital appt. this appt was to measure the baby's weight as well as have the non-stress test (NST). the sonographer did the ultrasound and the news wasn't positive. baby measured 5lbs 13oz. that's the exact same weight as 2 weeks ago. we were informed that baby could gain up to 1 lb every 2 weeks. my already completely overwhelmed emotional state began to deteriorate. one humongously good thing was that baby's head was back centered and down. the head obstetrician came to speak to me and he decided on immediate induction.

i went upstairs to the 12th floor where i signed in and waited for a labor room. during that time, i called all the necessary people and shed a few more tears. all the while praying, asking for His peace and trying to stabilize myself for the road ahead.

a room was provided by 3pm. i ate my last meal for quite some time at 3.30pm. what was it, you're wondering? boston market! i love that place and we, fortunately have one very close to the hospital. :) cervidil, the induction medication was given at 5.50pm. now we're just waiting and praying for labor to begin. cervidil will stay in for 12 hrs and if labor progresses, i can labor and have baby. if cervidil doesn't do anything after 12 hrs, pitocin will be administered. we really really don't want to go there if possible, so please pray with us that the cervidil will do the trick and that labor will begin on its own.

according to the monitors, i am contracting but it doesn't really hurt so i'm guessing they're still braxton hicks contractions. they are rather consistent though so we can think positive thoughts that it is the start of real labor.

please pray with us.
1. baby is safe and healthy. we're not sure why she didn't gain weight. the sonographers measurements are likely off so we just pray for God's hand to be over baby and for baby to be well developed and without any problems.
2. for the cervidil to work and for labor to begin as we hope to avoid the crazy induction drug called pitocin.
3. peace in our hearts and spirits. God's plan is perfect - but it's still hard at times to let go of everything we've hoped for and desired. for our faith to be strengthened through all of this.
4. that baby's head would remain down and centered as we'll need that if any pushing is to occur.
5. for the doctor's and nurses we encounter. that they would see our love for Jesus and that we could show them this love. also that they would genuinely care about us and try to give us their highest level of care. that they would know what they're doing and not jump to do anything rash.

thank you all for your prayers! as always, we know how powerful your prayers are and appreciate them.

oh btw... i'm feeling much better emotionally. i think throughout the day God really granted me some peace and stability of mind. thank goodness. now i'm not tearing at every second!

{week 39-40}

2010-05-02T00:05:00.001-04:00

my parents arrived last Sunday. days have been filled with spending quality time with them, eating wonderful home cooked meals from my mommy and taking strolls in Central Park. the weather has gotten so lovely! :)

as the due date has come and gone i went through a day of feeling extreme internal pressure and anxiety. "how come baby didn't want to come out?", i thought... thankfully, after praying about it, God gave me much peace and now i'm just enjoying the last bits of free time before baby arrives. we're ready for you sweet little one but we will be patient until you are ready. or until God says you're ready. :D

{ playing while anticipating }

2010-04-22T23:32:00.001-04:00

baby oh baby, when will you make your appearance? mommy and daddy are excited to meet you! we shall be patient and wait until you are ready. here is your room -- all ready for you. :)

since we weren't sure if we were going to be induced on Monday, last weekend i had a sudden urge to take some 'final' photos of my belly. as you can tell, i'm very nostalgic. here is belly at week 38. she certainly looks bigger to me! :)

our doula brought us some lovely smelling and pretty lilacs. they sure brighten up our space! :) thanks mk.

lastly, tonight we enjoyed attending a spring benefit for the private school i used to work at. this year it was held at the diane von furstenberg studio in the meatpacking district. lovely space. great food. free drinks. nice time chatting with friends. good times.

{blessings}

2010-04-20T15:13:00.000-04:00

update:
baby gained 1 lb since 12 days ago! that meant we didn't need to get induced yesterday and we can continue on with growing baby inside and just wait for natural labor to begin. at 38+ weeks, baby is estimated at 5lbs 13oz and that is a good place for us! i told my doctor that i had upped my protein intake in hopes of helping baby girl grow and she said that i shouldn't do that because it only adds onto my weight and not baby's weight since my normal nutrition is def adequate enough to feed the placenta that feeds baby. phew. :) what a relief. now i can stop trying to overeat on the protein front!

over the weekend, when we were contemplating the idea of induction and of meeting our baby girl super soon, we went from slight apprehension to eager anticipation. yesterday when we were informed of no induction (yay! definitely a good thing), a small part of my heart was disappointed that i wouldn't yet get to meet baby gal. but i know that day isn't far so i quickly bounced back and got to spend some quality time with a few friends. :D

baby is hiccuping and kicking right now so my guess is she's saying hi to you all and thanking you for praying for her, mommy-to-be, and daddy-to-be. we thank you as well. the past two weeks reminded us of the importance of being surrounded by a supportive and praying community. we love you all. :)

{baby update}

2010-04-16T20:31:00.006-04:00

we've felt so blessed by all the support and prayers for us and baby. thank you!

here is an update:
i spoke with my doctor today. she said that on monday when i get the ultrasound estimating baby's weight, if baby hasn't gained at least one pound (the last weight estimated was 4lbs 14oz 12 days ago), she is going to send me directly back to the hospital for induction (meaning they will use drugs to make my labor begin). initially i felt alarmed at the immediacy of that idea but i completely agree that if they feel that baby is at risk for some reason, for example, "why is baby not gaining weight appropriately, esp in these last weeks when babies typically gain lots of weight", then i also want baby out. i am 38 weeks tomorrow so there is no reason to really wait if they feel something isn't right.

the harder part to reconcile for myself is that i really wanted a natural birth and with induction (pitocin drugs) and being continuously monitored (because of baby's small size), it will be SO MUCH harder to do that since the contractions will be so much stronger/intense and i won't be able to walk at all or move around as much due to the continuous monitoring... i had also really hoped for no drugs (whether epidural or pitocin because all these things reach baby and i didn't want baby drugged) so that's a bit unexpected and makes me remember that i really need to let go and be flexible with how things will go because it's all in God's plan.

all this to say that we'd love your prayers - i believe that God can fatten baby up if He wants to so that is what we'll ask for.

please pray:
1. that baby fattens up so much more than we can hope and that it's a miracle how much growth she's had thus allowing labor to start as it will on its own (but of course not too much growth since we don't want her humongous).
2. that the sonographer on monday would be accurate in her estimate of baby's weight since her measurement will decide a lot.
3. that we would fully trust our doc's recommendations and feel at peace with whatever decisions are made on monday.
4. that even if there is pitocin and continuous monitoring - for a smooth and uncomplicated labor, even "easy", in relative terms of course.
5. that calvin and i are emotionally prepped and that we will fully rest in His plan for us and baby.

there's probably so much more i would love prayer for but please pray as you feel led since i can't think of it all and can't possibly state it as clearly as i would want to. lots of different things are running through my head right now.

overall, i feel okay. i randomly feel panicky as it's all so unpredictable and come monday morning, so much will be revealed. so, pray with us please! :) thank you.

{ emotions }

2010-04-12T13:25:00.000-04:00

today i am feeling sad. i went to my doctor's appt in the early am and met with the last doctor in the practice. she's got the least "warm" bedside manner of the 4 doctor's in the practice and she said, "your baby is VERY small", which really didn't make me feel better since she didn't offer me help in how to make baby bigger. she also commented that i am high risk... now that certainly didn't feel good.

next i headed over to my hospital visit where i was to get the biophysical profile and the non-stress test. my spirit was a bit dampened already since the doctor wasn't encouraging regarding baby's size and then baby apparently didn't really feel like being monitored so i had to stay for quite some time with the nurse (who is nice) every so often roughly shaking my belly to make baby wake up. even though there was nothing wrong with what she was doing and normally i don't think i would've been too bothered, today it made me very sad. i was saddened that baby needed to be monitored so much when just 1.5 weeks ago all was well and things seemed perfectly normal and fine. the biophysical profile was fine. everything seems to be okay there according to the sonographer and reading doctor. i am thankful for the good news. i thought we'd get another reading on baby's size but i was informed that they do weight readings every 2 weeks so baby has time to grow.

i prayed a lot to God to lift my spirits because i would start tearing just thinking about all the tests baby has to go through. so many ultrasounds and being monitored by the fetal monitor in the coming weeks. and being pushed and jostled so she would "pass" these tests. i also wanted my spirits lifted because if i'm sad, then baby may feel my sadness and i didn't want that. last week i felt fine - maybe the emotional burden of all of this has just started to hit me more.

please pray that baby continues to gain weight and that in a week or so when we check her weight, that she has put on enough poundage to make us no longer high risk and higher than the 10th percentile in weight. we really appreciate your prayers and know that God hears them.

{prayers answered}

2010-04-07T20:20:00.001-04:00

thanks for all the support and prayers. we felt so blessed and supported by the community around us.

an update:

we went to the hospital this morning to get the biophysical profile (i.e. an in depth ultrasound) and a non-stress test. baby passed both with flying colors. baby is estimated at 4lbs 14oz which is abt 1 lb smaller than the average at this point. that felt okay to me since i'm pretty small as well. also, it's just an estimate, which honestly i hear is often very incorrect. we checked the amt of nutrients and oxygen going through the umbilical cord and that looked good. and baby's heartbeat and movements were very strong which made me very happy.

all this is good news, however, because of baby's small size, the doctor at the hospital wanted me to come back 2x a week til baby is born. they'll be monitoring baby and making sure baby gains weight and continues to look strong. that along with our weekly doctor's office means a lot of visits but i guess it works out okay since friday is my last day of work before maternity leave! and all this is for baby so i will do it willingly.

the photo above is from the non-stress test. the squigly line up top is baby's heartbeat. very steady which is great! the little music note like dots underneath is baby's movement which is very frequent, another good sign. the line at the bottom is my uterus contracting... i didn't even realize my uterus was contracting at all, so that was a bit interesting!

::
in other wonderful news, my friend gave birth to a healthy baby boy at 7lbs and 7oz. i had the awesome privilege of being with her as she labored for numerous hrs in our apt. it really is perfect how my appt this morning took so long that it wasn't worth it to go to work and then she needed a place to labor so she could be at the hospital for as short a time as possible... for me, it was wonderful to be a part of her laboring process even as i did nothing and tried to be as quiet and out of the way as possible. it was great to experience labor with her and see how she handled it. it gave me great hopes for my own laboring process and made me believe i could do it too. i am so proud of you becky!!! you and daddy did such a great job.

{prayers requested}

2010-04-05T21:43:00.008-04:00

today we went to the doctor for our weekly visit. we're at 36.5 weeks. the doctor was concerned about baby's size saying that baby is smaller than the size expected for the EDD. she is a very laid back doctor (almost like a midwife with medical training) so when she exhibits concern, i definitely start feeling some anxiety. she based her concern on 2 factors.

1. the measurement of my {pubic bone to fundus} is smaller than it was at last weeks visit. it measured at 32 this week (last week was 34 or 35) and typically this measurement corresponds to the gestational week you are at. i have always measured somewhat smaller so i believe her concern is because the number went down instead of staying the same or going up.

2. my weight gain recently hasn't been as much as she thinks it should be. she said she doesn't care if i gain weight or not but if baby's not gaining weight then there is a problem. darn! and i eat so much these days too.

we were instructed to make an appt with the hospital for an ultrasound to measure baby's EFW (estimated fetal weight). i don't really get why we couldn't just do that at her office - all i can guess is that the technology at the hospital is more accurate.

when i start thinking too much about all of this, it's a bit scary . but we're really trying to remember our wonderful God in all this. He made baby and loves baby greatly. all we can do is focus on that and keep praying for baby's safety, health and growth! grow, little one, grow!

we'd love your prayers.

pediatricians

2010-03-31T17:50:00.001-04:00

wow. who knew it would be so hard to find a pediatrician? i thought i was so ahead of the game (i'm due in a month), yet nearly all the pediatrician offices i called are either fully booked and not accepting new patients or they're booked til after my due date. all i wanted was a prenatal visit to see if the doctor and practice melded with our needs and philosophy. poop.

baby love

2010-03-28T11:51:00.003-04:00

the top sonogram was at 9+wks when we first saw baby dancing and the tiny grey pulsing heartbeat.

the bottom sonogram was at the 20wk anatomy scan where we saw all of baby's essential parts and were informed that baby is a girl. {we'll see for real on birth day!} her thumb is near her mouth and her legs look like skinny chicken legs. :)

tomorrow we will be heading to the first of our weekly doc appt's, get tested for group b strep, and find out baby's positioning. {oh baby, please be (and stay in) head down!}

and....

happy birthday to the sweetest and cutest nephew ever! :) he is ONE today. time really does fly (maybe less so for my sis and BIL). but i can't believe he's already one. he's so sweet and laughs all the time... also, whines when he doesn't get what he wants or maybe when he can't express to others what he wants - but oh, how i wish we were closer so i could squeeze his cuteness and hug the chubs. everywhere he's got chubs! :) so happy birthday to you, my dear. i hope you give mommy and daddy a break today! :)

getting there.... week 35

2010-03-26T21:12:00.002-04:00

we've hit week 35. it's really fun as baby is getting bigger by the day. as you can see by the photo above, the belly is stretching and expanding. she no longer gives those swift kicks that signified her presence. now she squirms and slides under my belly because space is a rare commodity. kind of like prime real estate in nyc. :) i wish i knew how to upload a video. i've got a great one of baby gliding across my belly. it's a bit alien-esque and some find it weird/creepy but i love it!

the second photo is of a yummy panini meal at a cute little place called fig + olive. we went there when my sister came into town to surprise me for my baby shower. and what a surprise it was... seeing her brought quite the delight and it made a fun day even more special. i always say this but sisters should always live within at least 1 mile of each other. not this nonsense of opposite coasts.

my etsy boutique has been placed quite on the back burner - not so much because of the preggo-cy but more so because of the job i started back in august 09. i guess the new job in addition to the 1st trimester comatose exhaustion didn't bring about inspiration and creativity. we'll see what happens when baby arrives. i am still creating custom requested pieces so if you are interested, please don't be deterred! :) just contact me by going to the "my shop" link to the right. :)

week 31.5 ::

2010-03-02T20:48:00.008-05:00

baby is about 3.25 lbs and 16 inches long. :) she's heading into a growth spurt and i should be gaining 1 lb per week - half of that going to baby's overall weight. wow!

in other news, my friend is in labor RIGHT NOW! if you're reading this, please say a prayer for her contractions to move along productively and for labor to progress as naturally as possible. it must be because i am heading down this path myself, but i am jumping up and down inside with excitement and some apprehension! when it's my turn, i better keep the adrenaline at bay so the oxytocin can come forth and do its very important work.

{all things baby} almost there!

2010-03-01T16:01:00.010-05:00

we are at week 31.5 and baby belly is growing by the day. it's been exciting to experience the changes, feel baby's growing jabs and kicks, see the hubby talk & sing to baby, etc. it's a bit surreal that soon we'll be at full term, which means baby can come at any point around or after that. wowee!

our babymoon was wonderful. we went to barcelona, spain and walked so much that despite eating nearly everything in sight, i actually lost 2 lbs! of course, one week back in new york with our typical work routine and i gained it all back. :) some photos for those of you who are visual.

once we returned, we made sure to get moving with setting up baby's alcove space. we received tons of hand me down clothing from fellow sisters at church {who recently had baby gals}. God has completely provided and we feel utterly blessed. :) again, some photos since those are so so fun. :)

so, we've been pretty busy while also trying to make the most of our time before we become mommy and daddy. i shall update again soon! :) ciao for now! blessings...

{ barcelona, here we come! }

2010-02-05T18:08:00.003-05:00

we're heading off to barcelona tomorrow for our babymoon! i've never been so it'll be a time of living within a different culture, tasting amazing delights and experiencing architecture and the arts. i'm so excited!

hopefully baby will cooperate and not give momma-to-be too many aches and pains since we're now at 28 weeks and continuously growing and stretching. i wonder if baby has settled into her longer term position - earlier on, she was doing acrobatics inside my tummy because she was small. but now she is much larger and i'm thinking, unable to flip and turn like before. when i see the doc next, i'm going to ask her what she thinks. baby gal is still quite the kicker and puncher which pleases momma-to-be very much since it lets me know that baby is doing a-ok inside.

my sister mailed me her compression tights for the plane ride. these suckers are so tight, i don't even know how i'll get my legs into them. but it's important to keep the circulation going, especially on this long 9 hr flight since we do not want clotting of any form. hopefully it won't be too uncomfy since the flight is so long.

alritey, time for hubby to take some artistic shots of the growing belly! it's so round and cute - a nurse at work was reminding me to capture these moments since it'll be something i have fun looking back on. this nurse also gave birth to a 10lb baby back a year or so ago. goodness! :) baby gal will probably not be that big. momma-to-be can hope!

adios mis amigos! see you in a week!

beet slaw and {week 26}

2010-01-25T18:08:00.006-05:00

the hubby made a wonderful beet slaw. about 2 weeks ago, we had our first CSA pick up. CSA stands for community shared agriculture. it allows us to support a local farm while providing us some fresh produce and healthier eats. in our first pick up (it was a double pickup because December's pickup was canceled), we received 4 dozen eggs (that's a lot o'eggs. good thing protein is great for baby!), and a humongous batch of parsnips, turnips, carrots, beets, onions, and cabbage. :) we also got 2 pints of milk. everything is so fresh - it's been fun to try different recipes.

which brings me back to the slaw. he looked up a recipe and whipped up an amazingly tasty slaw. tonight i'm broiling salmon with some brown rice and shall gobble down some slaw too! :) thank you honey!

as for the preggo-ness, i am indeed pregnant! you know you're officially pregnant when people on the subway jump up and offer their seat - 3 people within 2 stops! it's a bit scary how quickly the belly has grown in the past 3 weeks. i know that it will continue to do so but i don't think i was quite ready for the speed at which it would grow. i'll have to take a photo so you can all see baby! :) i love watching my belly move around in quick twitches as baby kicks and punches. i love touching my belly and feeling certain hard round spots which i figure must be her head or her bum. :) it makes me feel so close to her! as if, i can almost touch her. :)

i wouldn't say i've begun nesting yet but we did have to purchase certain items - i.e. the crib and her baby dresser... soon, we'll be assembling it all and making room for baby. it's been weird to have so many changes but i guess that's when i'm thankful for a 10 month time frame to work within. if being preggo was only a 2-3 month affair, i don't think i'd be able to adjust! :) God knows what He's doing. :)

{week 24}

2010-01-09T18:33:00.007-05:00

today marks baby week 24! at this point, baby is just over 1 pound and is almost 12 inches long! she's pretty lean but will apparently be plumping up soon. :) her brain is growing quickly now and her lungs are growing the respiratory branches. yay! my uterus is now the size of a soccer ball. wow. :) as you can see from the photo, the belly has grown!

baby girl is kicking up a storm. it brings such relief to me as when she kicks, i know she's doing well inside. this past week, we also booked our babymoon. where are we going you wonder? BARCELONA!!! :) i'm so excited to head out to europe again. my first and last time to europe was our honeymoon to greece. and it was absolutely amazing. this time around, we'll see beautiful architecture, lovely museums, and eat wonderfully tasty eats. mmm!

on monday, we see the doctor again and i take the glucose screening test. hopefully, all test results will come back negative and i will continue positively down this journey of pregnancy!

blessings and happy new year! what a year 2010 will be. :)

photo-riffic

2009-12-23T19:41:00.002-05:00

i am so excited. earlier this week, i purchased my very first dslr. i have been eyeing these beauties for about 3 years now and always waited. when i found out i was pregnant, i realized that i really did want one of these to capture every moment with my baby gal. we started saving a camera budget and after researching and asking around, i settled on this little 'not so little' guy. it's very exciting!

my BIL has the nikon starter lens which he's agreed to give me so i'm very much looking forward to tomorrow evening when i not only get to see my sis and fam but also get to start taking photos with this new toy. :D oooh. i hope it's a good one!

it's a girl!

2009-12-15T03:30:00.003-05:00

we learned today that baby is a girl. : ) for some reason, we thought baby would be a girl; to get confirmation is quite exciting. aside from finding out the gender, we were also informed that the development of the anatomy thus far looks good. yay for good news! :D what a true blessing.

another fun thing i just discovered. i can feel baby on the outside! for about 4 weeks now i've felt baby kicking on the inside but hubby could never feel anything. well, it's 3.30am right now so hubby will experience his first feelings of movement in the morn!

time for this one and baby girl to try sleeping again... either way, come morning it's time to go to work! toodles... :)

pregnancy has been...

2009-12-07T19:38:00.005-05:00

an interesting adventure thus far.

the good:

seeing baby on the ultrasound. hearing the heartbeat. feeling the baby kicking. watching hubby sing to my belly. eating more. anticipation of each little change that is to come.

the not-so-good:

feeling exhausted most of the time. lowered immune system leading me to be more sick than i have been in the last 2 years. inability to sleep through the night.

of course the good outweighs (far outweights) the not-so-good. what a miracle conception and development is. to see the small embryo become a fetus and eventually become our baby is something almost unbelievable. i am reminded of God. He created all of this. how conception works, the perfection of a developing fetus, the amazing ability of a woman's body to give birth.... it is all 'unbelievably' amazing.

foliage filled boston

2009-11-04T17:23:00.005-05:00

a lovely weekend with my sister, BIL and nephew. : )

my belly at the end of 14 weeks. my sis' belly post baby 7 months. crazy awesome!

jump for joy! it's been years since i've jumped around in a pile of leaves.

my adorable nephew in his bear outfit. : ) he's so cute...

i love you little one!!! if you only knew.

the hubby with baby. :) look at his adorable smile!

i could hug him forever. :) he has sausage links everywhere! i think one day he might just be a linebacker. hehe.

hello little pumpkin

2009-10-24T17:35:00.004-04:00

i have some exciting news to share. i'm preggo! :) i'm at 13+ weeks which means i'm done with the 1st trimester. yay! it was filled with awe and excitement as well as much (MUCH) fatigue and uncomfortable nausea. the hubby says he sees more energy in me which is def a good thing.

we weren't trying, per say, but we were open to start trying in dec/jan so only off by 6 months. i feel so thankful that baby was created and has developed almost everything he/she will need for the future already... now for 6 months of maturing and continual developing.

we found out at 5 wks and saw a tiny little dot on the sonogram. then 7 wks came and went with the sonogram showing a bigger dot and a yolk sac which is a dot resembling a small ring. at 9 wks, baby had a beating heart. :) and at 12 wks, we saw baby's big head and turkey-like torso. we heard the heartbeat and were told that things appear 'good' with baby. that is music to the ears of to-be parents.

being preggo has def brought lots of unexpectedness. in experiencing my own adventure, i realize that each mom to-be and dad to-be has their own special story. at 5 wks, the doctor felt we should be at 7 wks and didn't appear too confident in baby's viability because of how small baby was. also, my progesterone levels were too low so i was put on prometrium supplements. 2x a day for the next 7 wks. i was surprised how i could remember to take these pills every 9am and 9pm. i guess when it matters, it's easy to remember.

each doctor's appointment brought hopes that baby had grown appropriately. you can imagine the excitement in seeing the heartbeat. it was a gray fuzzy beating little thing on the sonogram screen. :) i also didn't anticipate the extreme fatigue. the lazy lay on your butt all day long kind of fatigue. i thought i would never come out of it; though friends advised me that the fatigue does pass...

now, we're past the 1st trimester, we saw and heard the heartbeat, and the belly is beginning to protrude a little.

the less spoken part of being pregnant includes the nerves and anxiety related to the perception of how baby is doing. i realized early on the need to let go and really trust that God has it all under control.

like this issue. to get or not to get vaccinated. at first i was mandated to get both the flu vaccine and the h1n1 vaccine as i am a hospital worker. but that ruling just got overturned in the NYS courts, so now it's really up to me. i've never gotten the flu vaccine which brings me concern. what if i have some majorly horrible reaction? and the h1n1 vaccine. that is a whole different story. it's such a new vaccine and no one really knows the long term effects. but then again, if i get the h1n1 flu, that can bring very serious consequences to not only me, but definitely baby. sigh... decision making for more than just me. that is very scary. what would you do if you were pregnant?

as wedding planning sheds light into marriage; it appears that being pregnant is appropriately the start of becoming a parent. baby is in good hands and i need to remember that.

that's the story thus far. :)

{new} for your pleasure

2009-09-26T10:06:00.002-04:00

morning leaves III . earrings $34

taste of heaven . earrings $34

tuscan vineyard . necklace $26

secret garden . bracelet $36

knick knack . necklace $32

dancing queen . earrings $28

i'm being featured and providing a {GIVEAWAY!}

2009-09-20T11:05:00.011-04:00

sweet soul . necklace $40

that's right. :) i usually host features and giveaways but this time, someone has mentioned that they love my jewelry and wanted to feature me. i sure am thrilled! :)

check out her blog to enter!

to wet your taste buds, i'm offering a free $20 Gift Certificate to anything in my shop. that combined with a current sale of 20% off all items equals one massively great deal! :)

fall foliage . earrings $34

madison avenue . earrings $32

work. life. time.

2009-09-09T22:11:00.004-04:00

work has been zapping all my energy so i have little left to do anything post work. my work isn't all that stressful or energy consuming - i guess it's just the natural 'getting back into the swing of things' feeling i'm experiencing.

working in a hospital has been interesting. i find myself washing my hands SO OFTEN which i know is good and important but i also find myself getting a bit anal. worried about catching germs. i certainly don't want to bring anything viral back home so i guess being anal about this is okay.

aside from work, the hubby and i went to governor's island last sat. it was fun to trek out to a new land - via a free ferry and explore the grounds. i was too tired so i rested on a chair while the hubby ran around looking at barricks and the such. boys will always be boys. :)

on monday night, the hubby and i went out to flushing for our annual trip to the US Open. i don't go to many sporting events (whose got the money to these days?) but i do so love the US Open. it's filled with energy and life and the night session matches are exciting. this year was the first time we left a bit early because i am now a working gal and needed to get my rest.

starting next monday, i start my other PT job at the private school. i'm teaching 2 classes - one with crochet, sewing and jewelry making and the other with sock monkeys. fun right? :) i'm a bit worried at how i'll manage everything but i'm hoping that i can do it once i get myself organized.

i've been praying a lot more which has been really nice. i have a 1 hr commute to work and instead of sleeping the whole way, i've been reading the Bible and then writing in my prayer journal. it's been so nice to have a moment to spend with God and try to hear Him more. it's been a long while since i've been consistent in my time with Him and i'm really glad that i have the 'excuse' of a long commute. i hope to experience and hear God more as i try to dedicate each morning with Him.

hopefully more jewelry to come - but seriously, i'm so pooped these days. it's been really hard to get myself motivated to do more 'work' post work.

good night everyone! time for this one to sleep...

{new items!}

2009-08-24T16:37:00.005-04:00

this week starts my tues-sat schedule. it's sad that i need to work on sat's but i did so enjoy this first monday off. being productive on a free day makes me feel so great! today i did laundry in the a.m. and then went to work making jewelry. making jewelry absolutely frees my mind and spirit but it does take quite some time. i was only able to make 2 pieces but 2 is still more than none! so i'm happy. take a look here and if you want to see more -- head to my shop! feel free to use link to the right. :D

autumn petals . necklace $46

rain drops on roses . earrings $28

{a walk in the park}

2009-08-23T22:03:00.003-04:00

i haven't been feeling very creative these days since i've been somewhat overwhelmed and exhausted with a new job. this afternoon, the hubby and i took a walk in central park. such beautiful things before us.

{time is precious}

2009-08-06T20:50:00.010-04:00

so sorry i've neglected you. my friends. time is indeed so precious and suddenly i find myself with so much less of it. can you believe i haven't touched my jewelry creating in almost 3 weeks??? craziness!

it has been a very busy time. i got a job. then the husband and i went to cabo for a last minute trip before i started work. cabo was beautiful. :) it was lovely and relaxing. my very first time at an all inclusive resort. ah. :) such a simple and easy life. wake up. have a buffet breakfast. put sunblock on. go to the pool. read. sleep. sit. sweat. go in the pool. swim around. play. put more sunblock on. :) ah... quite the life.

i started my job this past monday. it's been filled with learning and new things and challenges... a little scary but important for me to just throw myself into it. and so i've tried to do just that. my coworkers are nice so that's quite the blessing.

btw... the winner of the rebeccabeersmiller handknit bracelet was selected at random. congrat's cindy! rebecca has been notified and if she hasn't already, will contact you shortly.

more to come, hopefully sooner than later. drop me a line so i know you're still here with me. :) blessings!

{worthy wednesday} giveaway!

2009-07-22T00:09:00.027-04:00

in this etsy community of known screen names and unknown faces, it's extra special for me to feature my "real life" dear friend, Rebecca. rebecca and i went to graduate school together to study the fine inklings and skills of art therapy. she was always one of those super friendly easy to talk to gals and we hit it off rather quickly. it wasn't until Christmas break of our final year though did we make an even deeper connection. whilst sitting in the barnes and nobles by NYU, she shared with me that she had chosen to re-dedicate her life to Christ. to this day, i still remember bursting with joy from within.

not only is rebecca awesomely sweet, kind and energetic - but she is truly an artist. in every sense of the word. she exudes 'art'. if you knew her, you'd know what i mean!

after opening up my etsy shop in jan '09 and loving & sharing "all things etsy", i'm so happy that my talented friend has opened up her etsy shop, rebeccabeersmiller, as well. she is very new to Etsy, so please show her some wonderful love and take a look around. if you love what you see, spread the word. or better yet, buy something! :D

a little bit about...
"I am a 32 year old artist, art therapist, art educator and clinician, as well as wife to a wonderful man and poet, David and cat mom to Nala. I have many, many interests and passions in life. High up there is my love for art, which has always been a defining part of my life and which I truly believe is a gift from God not to be underestimated. And because I believe that God is just, I believe strongly in working for justice, and that art, with its incredible power to move, inspire and heal, can be a great part of that."

"Currently, I work as an art therapist with teens with emotional and psychiatric disturbances, but really that's just a label. These are kids who have had bad- even horrific- things happen to them and now, rightly so, they're extremely angry and are acting out against the system and worldly authorities that failed to protect them. Jesus spoke passionately about the importance of society caring for and protecting its most vulnerable members, and so, in this way, I like to think about what I do as radical Kingdom work. As an artist and therapist, I hope that my passion and companioning will translate to them and help provide an outlet for self-expression and healing."

"I have to credit New York City, a place I love dearly and have called home for the last 10 years, for my latest venture into jewelry design. If it were not for my long commutes in this vast metropolis, I probably would not have the time to dream up and create my jewelry pieces!"

"My current jewelry work is rooted in my experiences as a knitter. Over time, I have challenged myself with different materials, which led to my current obsession with wire. The interesting thing about wire as media is that, though it can be bent, it essentially maintains a fixed tubular shape. However, in conjunction with more of itself it becomes a pliable form. It also has properties that make it hard to control and, in this way, working with this media is like an exercise in learning to let go."

"I started my Etsy site just a few months ago after friends and strangers on the train began commenting on my pieces and requesting to see more. I consider each of my jewelry creations as mini art pieces."

"Because another one of my passions is working towards justice and freedom for victims of sex abuse and trafficking, I donate a portion of my proceeds to Restore, a New York City non-profit that helps women escape enslavement from the sex trade. You can learn more about Restore's crucial work at Restore NYC.

{giveaway} Lady Chloe Bracelet

this beautiful bracelet is made with a thick gauge of brass, making it very sturdy, and tiny tortoise shell glass beads with celadon/black and itsy bitsy purple metallic seed beads. it attaches with a fancy gold plated triple barrel slide clasp. measures approximately 7" in circumference (which, how perfect!, is the average wrist size of a woman).

to enter:
for one entry, take a look in rebeccabeersmiller's shop and my shop. leave a comment telling us your favorite item from each shop. leave your contact info as you'll definitely want to be contacted if you're the winner!

for additional entries, follow my blog, become a fan of my FaceBook page (where you will be the first to learn of special discounts and updates), post about this giveaway on your blog, twitter about this giveaway or buy something from either of our shops. :) the last gains you 5 extra entries! make sure to leave a separate comment for each. there is no limit so enter as often as you wish!

since i will be away from 7/24-7/31 {in los cabos!!!!}, this giveaway will run til friday july 31st at 11.59pm (EST). that means more time for all of you! :) wonderful news, indeed.

{the winner} of the amazing Paco+Lupe bag chosen at random by random.org is k.ro! :) congrat's! i've informed the featured artist and she should be contacting you shortly. you are one lucky gal!

{production}

2009-07-19T21:55:00.006-04:00

bohemian summer . earrings $36.oo
pacific dusk . earrings $30.oo
sea flora . bracelet $28.oo
heavenly bliss . earrings $28.oo
joie de vivre . earrings $28.oo
summer breeze . necklace $30.oo

{giveaway} paco+lupe

2009-07-15T00:57:00.018-04:00

i am so excited to share this week's giveaway with all my readers that i've decided to begin it a few days earlier. :P {on a general whole, i was thinking it'd be nice to provide a longer giveaway duration - so these hump day giveaways may be here to stay!}

one day whilst etsy stalking, i came upon paco+lupe. i thought their handbags were the sweetest most wonderful things so i asked if she would let me feature her and provide a giveaway on her behalf. lucky for me {and you!}, she agreed. below is a look at some products and "the face" behind paco+lupe.

A little bit about…

Hi, my name is Celia. I live in the suburbs just west of Montreal with my very supportive husband, Csaba, and my darling cat, Joya. I started Paco+Lupe back in June 2007 so it’s been just a little over two years since its start. I specialize in home décor (pillows, quilts) and handbags. I design and make my own bag patterns. Putting pieces together, that’s the best part of designing. Picking out which fabric to use, that’s the self-indulgent part of my job. I confess, I am a fabric-freak. But before all this began, I worked for a big IT company as a senior consultant for almost 13 years where I was doing management and “techie”, “geekie” stuff. Yes, I am a geek as well. Why the big change? Even though I enjoyed that career, it eventually reached a dead-end. I was no longer growing from it. After thinking very hard, I changed my life drastically…as well as my husband’s. I could not do this without him AND the support of my friends, who are my biggest fans. So, why not go towards something that will make you happy? Yes, it is a lot of hard work owning my own business but it is rewarding.

Q: What is the passion on your heart or your burden for this world?

Oh my, this is a really tough question. I can not choose just one passion. Living to love my family and friends.

However, there is one thing for me that is both a passion and a burden. How to have more compassion in this world? My paternal grandmother used to say to me: Do to others what you would have them do to you. I think this is called the “Golden Rule”. If we just remember this rule and learn to apply it everyday…can you imagine?

{giveaway} Fields of Joy (Java) bag.

to enter:
take a look in Paco+Lupe's shop and in my shop. comment on what your favorite item from each shop is. that's one entry! :)

for additional entries, follow my blog, become a fan of my Facebook page (where you will be the first to learn of special discounts and updates), post about this giveaway on your blog, twitter about this giveaway or buy something from either of our shops. :) the last gains you 5 extra entries! make sure to leave a comment with what you've done. there is no limit so leave as many comments as you wish! also, leave your contact info as you'll definitely want to be contacted if you're the winner!

giveaway runs til tuesday july 21st at 11.59pm (EST).

{winner} of last week's giveaway by random.org is beth. congrat's!!! :) the featured artist and giveaway provider has been informed and will contact you shortly.

the art of {faith as small as a mustardseed}

2009-07-11T20:38:00.011-04:00

i got a job! :)

after searching for an art therapy related job for about 1yr & 8months, i finally received a call from HR at maimonides medical center on tuesday offering me a child life position! :) i am thrilled not only because i have finally secured a job but because for many other reasons as well!

while i was job searching, i was also soul searching. i often asked the question, 'where is God leading me? what does He want me to do? who has He given me a heart for?' obviously that answer did not come quickly or easily but i made a list of the things i have a passion for, believing that many of these are from Him. here they are: fitness, health/nutrition, therapy, being creative, working with medically ill vs. mentally ill, a more 'normal' daily work schedule.

this new position {and i KNOW it won't in any way be perfect} really fits the bill. i will be working at a hospital with medically ill children. the schedule is awesome! no late nights which was always one of the most hated things abt my old job. i will also re-begin accruing my hrs for licensure - a humongous blessing of this job.

i truly feel thankful to be able to sit back and see God do His work in my life and in the way things panned out. of course i didn't just sit and do nothing! i don't believe in that. i job searched, applied to probably a thousand jobs, learned to wait, heard nothing, interviewed a handful of times, was rejected numerous times, to finally land {here}. happy {here}. :)

i will begin this position in a couple of weeks! eeek. i'm excited but definitely nervous too. a new job is a challenge - learning how to do the job well, mtg new people, an unknown environment, etc...

soon after i was offered this position, the hubby and i decided that we must take a final trip to relax and play before i start. last night we booked a flight to los cabos! :) i've never been there but have heard wonderfully beautiful things about it. for the first time in my life, i'm going to mexico and will be staying at an all inclusive resort/hotel place where food and drinks are included! there's a fitness center, many pools, some tennis courts... even table tennis! :) we're pretty psyched. the hubby hasn't been able to fall asleep for a couple of nights in a row because he's so excited. :) hehe... i, on the other hand, have had to wake up earlier than usual this past week which has led me to sleep rather soundly each night since i'm so zonked!

we also plan on bringing a few good books on this vacay. a sweet friend recently lent me a thousand splendid suns which i am hooked to. the story is definitely sad but it is written very well. grabbing at me and making me not want to put the book down. the hubby is reading the color of water which i passed along to him after reading it and just absolutely loving the story and the writing style.

this past year and 8months has definitely been a time of waiting. of believing that God has something great for me. i never doubted it though there were times when i felt discouraged. i am thankful that God has given me a lot of faith in Him - mostly grown through past difficult experiences and struggles. it is good to be at this place with Him. hopefully this is encouraging to you. He will not leave you either. He is faithful. if life has thrown you sour lemons for some reason, believe that He has all authority and power to teach you how to make some awesome lemonade.

{tgif feature and giveaway} Dongedyframe

2009-07-10T16:06:00.003-04:00

this friday, we have the pleasure of featuring a very very new Etsy artist, Dongedyframe.

"I'm a french photographer. I like to mix pictures and photos with digital effects to breathe new life into my artwork. Part of my work is to create mini-universes..."

"It took a long time for me to find a place where the imaginary could meet the reality. But I found it : this is a new universe where miniature objects add something surreal to everyday items. I'm fond of those cutesy characters and I'm proud that people have fun with those pictures. While sadness and troubles are surrounding us, I try to ignite this little candle of joy and make people smile...this is both my present to you and when successful, my reward..."

Dongedyframe is offering a fun little giveaway!
to enter:
take a look in Dongedyframe and in my shop. comment on what your favorite item from each shop is. that's one entry! :)

for additional entries, follow my blog, become a fan of my Facebook page (where you will be the first to learn of special discounts and updates), post about this giveaway on your blog, twitter about this giveaway or buy something from either of our shops. :) the last gains you 5 extra entries! make sure to leave a comment with what you've done. there is no limit so leave as many comments as you wish! also, leave your contact info as you'll definitely want to be contacted if you're the winner!

giveaway runs til tuesday july 14th at 11.59pm.

{winner} of last week's giveaway is oceanside creations. congrat's!!! :) the featured artist and giveaway provider has been informed and will contact you shortly. blessings!

the power of {prayer}

2009-07-03T13:07:00.007-04:00

i've spoken to you about michelle in the past. michelle is 27 and has been battling Acute Myeloid Leukemia for the past 2+ yrs. she did go into remission once but unfortunately, it did not last. her story has truly touched my heart. please continue to {pray} on her behalf. she has not been doing well. after an initially promising stem cell transplant in seattle a couple months back, her condition declined. currently, they are trying last efforts by seeing an eastern herbal medicine man. please {pray} for her. here is her story, updated by herself, her husband and sometimes friends.

::
this morning i also learned of a little girl named kate mcrae, 5 yrs old, who was diagnosed this past monday with a brain tumor. aaron (her father) was the assistant pastor at the chicago church that my sister and BIL attended while they were there for 2 years. she is undergoing brain surgery RIGHT NOW. please watch this youtube video and {pray} for her and her family.

prayer is extremely powerful and i believe in His supernatural miraculous healing. please make a choice right now to {pray}.

TGIF feature and GIVEAWAY :: CourtneyLeigh405

2009-07-03T12:47:00.008-04:00

{courtney leigh} says, "I can't remember a time when I didn't own a camera. My first was a plastic 110 film camera that my Grandma gave me when I was little. I'd take pictures of my family, pets, even the empty field next to our house. That childhooh interest has turned into a passion for photography that I can't shake. I stumbled upon Etsy recently and realized that it would be such a great opportunity to share my photography with others. So far, it has been a really positive experience."

"My strongest passion is, of course, photography. It is my way to translate how I see the world. My passion for the world is to encourage others to see how beautiful even the littlest things can be. Perhaps we would all appreciate each other and our world just a little bit more if everyone saw more beauty in their lives."

she is offering a lovely giveaway. {2} 5x5 photograph prints!

to enter:
take a look in courtneyleigh and in my shop. comment on what your favorite item from each shop is. that's one entry! :)

for additional entries, follow my blog, become a fan of my Facebook page (where you will be the first to learn of special discounts and updates), post about this giveaway on your blog, twitter about this giveaway or buy something from either of our shops. :) the last gains you 5 extra entries! make sure to leave a comment with what you've done. the sky is the limit! also, leave your contact info as you'll definitely want to be contacted if you're the winner!

giveaway runs til tuesday july 7th at 11.59pm.

{my shop} welcome the newbies

2009-07-02T09:56:00.008-04:00

morning leaves . earrings . $34
summer sangria . necklace . $30

{skype} baby banter

2009-07-01T23:57:00.003-04:00

{winner} wednesday

2009-07-01T11:53:00.003-04:00

congratulations! the winner of the giveaway is #3 citycreations! :) she provided a giveaway 2 weeks ago and is now the blessed winner chosen by random.org. enjoy the vintage-esque ring!

tune in! this Friday we'll be featuring another artist and providing another giveaway! :)

{toothless} tuesday

2009-06-30T12:33:00.002-04:00

{busy as a bee} i have been

2009-06-29T18:13:00.015-04:00

hi all! i have been somewhat MIA due to many fun filled activities. sorry to have neglected you! here is my update filled with photos and chatter from moi. :)

my sister, BIL and baby (my adorable nephew!!!) visited NYC for a week. they had a wedding to attend and that meant me and the hubby reaped the benefits of housing them and seeing them 24/7. i was so happy! holding my nephew, rocking him to sleep, feeding him, seeing his cute chubbiness all day -- i just loved it all. God really did create babies so cute so that people naturally want to take care of them. they're completely helpless, especially at the young age of 2.5 months. seeing my sister all the time also really blessed my heart and gave me such the lift! after one week here, i flew back with them because the hubby and i had a wedding out in Calif that following weekend! it was so wonderful to have the freedom to spend 2 full weeks with them all.

we went to central park a few times... oh, how i love my sis. :)

at the wedding we attended...

this past weekend, we went hiking at breakneck ridge. this trail is accessible by the metro-north rail, which is awesome for all of us who don't have cars. :) 76 minutes after leaving Grand Central, we were in upstate New York not far from where we began our hike. i love hiking, particularly when it's filled with climbing up boulders. lots of fun indeed!

::
since school has ended, i've been trying to add more items to my shop! come by and take a look. here are some teasers to draw you in! :) come in! come in!

TGIF feature and GIVEAWAY :: Lisaslittleluxuries

2009-06-26T11:14:00.013-04:00

today we have the pleasure of featuring a lovely etsy shop called Lisaslittleluxuries. she's inviting us to enter her magical world, where "jewelry is inspired by sparkle and shine. Where colors are bright, glamour is never lacking and magic can conquer the day! A world where butterflies hang gently around necks. Where jewels gleam and glitter."

"I'm Lisa, I'm 26 (6/6) I am a young married artisan. I do almost everything in the creative field. Currently, I am focusing on jewelry, but not forever. I also decorate wreaths, picture frames, baskets, bonnets, wall decorations, center pieces and more. I am an author (not published yet, but lots and lots written), I sing, and I've been told that I'm a wonderful actress. My shop is always expanding; our aim at Triple L is to grow and learn new techniques and keep up with changing trends as WELL as give people a variety to chose from. I don't have a style, and it's on purpose, I have a wide variety of customers.

i asked her to share with us the passion on her heart or burden for this world?

"God has given me a desire to help animals. I have three cats and I give a small portion of my earnings to PACT (a no kill animal shelter) and to the dog group as well to help feed, spay/neuter and give medicines to animals in need. I also have a heart for hungry people in the world, and people who were born with disabilities. :)"

giveaway: this lovely lace brass ring

to enter:
take a look in Lisaslittleluxuries and in my shop. comment on what your favorite item from each shop is. that's one entry! :)

for additional entries, follow my blog, become a fan of my Facebook page (where you will be the first to learn of special discounts and updates), post about this giveaway on your blog, twitter about this giveaway or buy something from either of our shops. :) the last gains you 5 extra entries! make sure to leave a comment with what you've done. the skies the limit! also, leave your contact info as you'll definitely want to be contacted if you're the winner!

lastly (pssst... a special deal!), i'm providing a 10% discount in my shop for the duration of this feature and giveaway. just write "triple L giveaway - 10% off" in the note from buyer at checkout. your paypal will be refunded post purchase. giveaway runs til tuesday june 30th at 11.59pm.

have fun!

:: last week's giveaway winner has been notified. :) congratulations to blessed #3 ann marie!

tGif Feature and Giveaway :: citycreations

2009-06-19T13:07:00.029-04:00

CityCreations absolutely loves creating.

"I enjoy looking at the world around me to find and appreciate beauty around every corner. I started taking pictures a few years ago while on a trip to the UK with my husband. It was so amazing to see such architecture and gardens that had lasted through so many years. This inspired me to start to capture this beauty in my travels and in my city. I take my camera nearly everywhere I go and continue to learn more about it whenever possible."

"I am very excited to have started selling my photos in my CityCreations Etsy Shop. Here you will find some of my favorite photos made into photo cards. A portion of the proceeds from each card sold goes to a great social enterprise called JustPotters." (To find out more please visit justwork on etsy.)

"You will also find adorable puppets in my shop. Having been a preschool teacher and special education assistant the last 12 years I have first hand experience at knowing how a puppet can be an exciting way to learn. My friend Lynn taught me how to make these puppets and now I am so happy to be able to provide puppets for others to use in teaching children." (Ask me about a 10% children’s pastor discount on my puppets. Just let me know that you read about me on MustardSeed by.carollai's blog. ☺)

I asked CityCreations to share with us the passion in her life or the burden on her heart.

"To narrow this down to one is very difficult. However, if I were to choose one it would be seeing ALL PEOPLE treated as equals. My natural inclination is to stand up for the less fortunate in our world. If people cannot advocate for themselves I try to step in when possible. After all, if I could not stand up for myself I would very much hope that someone would step up and help me. I believe I have been given this gift of life to create and share in community with others. I want to do these things to the best of my ability to honor my Creator."

GIVEAWAY! :)
CityCreations has generously offered any 4 single cards in her shop!

to enter:

take a look in CityCreation's shop and in my shop. let us know your favorite item from each shop. that's one entry. :)

for additional entries, follow my blog, become a fan of my Facebook page, post about this giveaway on your blog, twitter about this giveaway or buy something from either shop. the last gains you 5 extra entries! make sure to post a comment informing me of which you've done. also leave your contact info as you'll want to be contacted if you're the winner!

i'm providing a 10% discount in my shop for the duration of this feature and giveaway. just write "citycreations giveaway - 10% off" in the note from buyer at checkout. giveaway runs until tuesday june 23, 11:59pm.

enjoy!

congrat's to you! ::

2009-06-18T14:53:00.003-04:00

congrat's oceanside creations! you're the winner of the lovely gift tags from whiteserenade. :) she will be in contact with you shortly!

another wonderful feature and giveaway to come tomorrow! stay tuned. :)

pictures are worth a thousand words ::

2009-06-13T22:57:00.008-04:00

the hubby and i celebrated our 2 yr anniversary a week ago at the north fork. that's super east long island where there is wine tasting, strawberry picking, and an outlet mall. :) we did all 3. it was great to spend a whole day together and be in the lovely outdoors. beautiful scenery and weather = a happy couple. :)

on tuesday evening, my sis, BIL and baby boy came to visit. :) last time i saw my nephew, he was 3 weeks old. now he is 11 weeks old and so much chubbier. i can't get enough of him. sniffing him. kissing him. hugging him. i just want to be around him all the time. :) now some pictures for your viewing pleasure.

tgif feature and GIVEAWAY :: whiteserenade

2009-06-12T01:34:00.006-04:00

whiteserenade has graciously offered to provide this week's tGif feature and giveaway! here is what whiteserenade has provided in a question - answer format. :) thank you!

1. Introduce yourself.
D.Elizabeth
Southern California
2. Tell us about your art. What do you make? How did you come to your craft?
I enjoy photography, graphic design, stained glass, mixed media paintings and paper mache.
3.What inspires your work?
I really can't sit still. I'd rather be junking or in my workshop. I've always been driven to create, and I have a passion for graphic design and reclaiming and repurposing materials. I love transforming something that might otherwise end up in a landfill into something beautiful, functional, and one-of-a-kind. I also love the art of the 20's and 30's and I've recently started painting vintage girl faces. My favorite material is recycling vintage French paper.
4.What are your goals for your shop?
Just do what I love to do. Create share and give. I support bloodwatermission.com. They provide clean blood and clean water for those in Africa.
5.What do you do when you are not creating?
I'm a wife, mommy and house keeper. I am very blessed to work at home and be available for my kids.
6.What brought you to Etsy? Do you sell anywhere else?
I sell in two shops in my area.
7. What is the most valuable thing you have learned from your art and being an Etsy seller? Don't give up on your art. It's easy to get discouraged as you see other sellers. I do what I do because I enjoy it.
8. What is your passion for the world or the burden on your heart?
I've been a part of bloodwatermission.com for a few years. They provide clean water and clean blood to those in Africa. I guess my passion for the world is love. Love for others and caring for those that are in need. Surrender, Serve, Sacrifice and Give. Kind of a saying I've always had rolling around in my head for years. Caring and loving those that need it most.

whiteserenade is giving away a gift tag of the eiffel tower. the photograph is 8x10 and sepia toned.

entry is simple. take a look at her shop. take a look at my shop. comment on what your favorite item from each shop is. :) that's one entry.

for additional entries, follow my blog and facebook page, post about this giveaway on your blog, or buy something from her shop. leave a comment telling what you've chosen to do and i'll make sure to add one extra entry for each.

this giveaway runs until tuesday, june 16th at 11:59pm. random.org will generate the winner at that time. don't miss out! :) and thanks in advance for participating. hope you've enjoyed this week's feature of yet another wonderful etsy creator.

and the winner is... ::

2009-06-10T09:30:00.003-04:00

congrat's to loupita who has won the fun giveaway by SouthernGirlFlorals. SGF will contact you shortly!

thanks to all who participated! tune in this friday for the next fun feature and giveaway! til then, go to my shop... the YART SALE is currently on and thus all items are 10% off and i'm offering FREE SHIPPING on orders over $50. :D birthdays, weddings, or just cuz you love your friend. all jewelry is prettily packed. ready to give.

YART SALE! :D june 10-14th

2009-06-09T20:41:00.006-04:00

i'm participating in the 2nd annual YART sale sponsored by Team ESST running june 10-june 14. all merchandise is 10% off!!! also, FREE SHIPPING on orders over $50. :) your paypal will be refunded post purchase and payment.

TGIF feature and GIVEAWAY :: SouthernGirlFlorals

2009-06-05T00:06:00.002-04:00

the tGif features and giveaways are back! :) i'm trying to be more consistent in these - trying to schedule in advance. yep. fancy stuff. :D

this lovely friday (tGif indeed!) i'd like to share with you a wonderfully unique etsy shop. SouthernGirlFlorals has a beautiful collection of hair accessories, wreaths and floral arrangements. her designs are amazingly unique. my favorites are the hair accessories because they can make for something quite special and unexpected! every girl could use some extra fancy flounce in her step! :)

from the lips of lindsay, owner of SouthernGirlFlorals:
"I come from a very crafty and creative family. I have been designing wreaths and arrangements for about six years now for family and friends, and I have just started selling my designs at the beginning of this year. I have also just started creating my hair accessories which are so much fun! I am excited about this new venture and I look forward to what the future holds for me and my designs!"

What is the passion on your heart or your burden for this world?
"I really had to think about this question. If I chose just one passion in my heart, I would not be representing myself accurately. First and foremost, God and all He creates. My creativity and inspiration comes from nature and flowers all over the world. The gorgeous colors and different types of flowers that paint the earth inspire me to create the wreaths, arrangements and hair accessories. There is passion in my heart for my husband - my soul mate who supports everything that I dream! And finally crafting is such a passion for me. If I am having a bad day, I can pick up a handful of silk flowers and become lost in my creativity!"

SouthernGirlFlorals is providing a gift certificate valued at $15 as her giveaway! :) woohoo! thank you lindsay.

entry is simple. take a look at her shop. take a look at my shop. comment on what your favorite item from each shop is. :) that's one entry.

for additional entries, follow my blog and facebook page, post about this giveaway on your blog, or buy something from her shop. leave a comment telling what you've chosen to do and i'll make sure to add one extra entry for each.

this giveaway runs until tuesday, june 9th at 11:59pm. random.org will generate the winner at that time. don't miss out! :) and thanks in advance for participating. hope you've enjoyed this week's feature of yet another wonderful etsy creator.

goodiesx3 ::

2009-06-02T10:16:00.010-04:00

1. lemondropstudio has kindly featured me on her blog. thank you for your sweet words. it feels wonderful to get to know more and more of the amazing artists on etsy. go check it out! :)
2. i also have an ongoing sale at my etsy shop. definitely worth a lookin' through!
3. stay tuned - tgif feature and giveaway hopeful to resume this friday!

lots of goodies indeed. :D

what's in the long? ::

2009-05-29T17:52:00.015-04:00

it seems boys like girls with longer hair. although it doesn't make much sense to me, i don't really mind that most guys seem to conform to this mindset. what does bother me is when a guy insinuates that as girls, we ought to follow this 'rule' if we'd like to be considered attractive to the opposite sex. this bugs the heck outta me. these thoughts stem from a recent conversation that my coworkers and i had, spurred by another coworker's 8-11 inch hair chop. she looks awesome by the way! :D

on another note, the Hubby and i went to fleet week on monday. initially we were hoping to see the free tours at pier 88 (3 boats - the navy, marines and coast guard) but we were too late to wait on line so instead we went onto the Intrepid pier and got to see other really cool things! we saw a submarine (who knew they weren't yellow and that they're SO big!) with a humongous missile on it, and we toured an LSV (logistic support vessel). it was so nice to talk to the crew peeps and see that they're really nice and seemingly stable people. i don't know if most people stop and chat with these folks, but i was so curious about their lives, about what they do, where they're from, etc... they even had some games. below you'll see me playing the football game. no, i did not get it into the hole. i kept throwing it to the man standing next to the inflatable prop-up. it was still very fun! :) after a couple of hrs there, we headed to our dinner date. even though we're trying to save money, we worked very hard last weekend (with operation : revamped) and wanted to treat ourselves. we headed to a greek taverna called dafni on 42nd street. yum! kali oreste indeed.

today i uploaded some more jewelry. i love the new pieces! :D

operation : revamped ::

2009-05-23T02:28:00.007-04:00

the husband and i just shifted everything around in our little studio. :) it sounds like a somewhat easy task but even a small studio can be a bit cluttered. we're so happy with the result; it was def worth the 4-6hr task. :) now we're all showered and cleaned. happily just filled our tummies with blue chips. mmm. and just about ready for bed! i'll hopefully get some pics up of our new set-up soon...

sorry to be neglecting my blog and readers this past week and a half. i've been meaning to write- really! it just hasn't happened. :P

i had 2 interviews in the last week. one at safe horizon as a social worker/counselor and the other at maimonides medical center as a child life specialist. i feel a better fit and more passion for the maimonides position. that would explain my not deflated feeling when i received a letter from safe horizon stating that i would not be offered the position. i'm still pretty hopeful about the maimonides one. please pray for me!

i've also been making some more jewelry. i've got a pre-summer sale right now. 10% off all items! i can't have a sale without adding more items, right? :) i plan on making some more tomorrow and bringing them over into my shop! here are some eye-teasers for ya... :) come on by to purchase your own unique pretties. don't be shy now! :D

and the winner is... ::

2009-05-15T00:38:00.005-04:00

holistically heather!!! congrat's on this wonderfully beautiful win. lemondropstudio has been contacted. she will email you to obtain your address and send you your fabulous giveaway! :)

thanks to all who participated! we will have another giveaway very soon! blessings to all and to a beautiful weekend. :)

lifes challenges ::

2009-05-12T01:40:00.001-04:00

i wrote this a few months ago. i'd like to resurrect it so people are reminded that Michelle and many like her are out there needing your help. since i've written this, Michelle has had a procedure done and though things were looking up for awhile, her blood counts have once again dipped to a bad place. her family and friends surround her with their love and support but she still needs YOU to go out there and register to be a marrow donor. YOU could be the one that can save her life. read below...
::
recently i've been trying to figure out my passion. who/what/where God has given me an extra burden for. it's been hard for me to figure out though because i have a lot of different interests in lots of different areas.

in 2004, i ran a marathon and trained with Team In Training (TNT), an organization related to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. each runner raised funds for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma research and patient services. it was one of the greatest experiences of my life not only because i did something i've always wanted to do (i.e. run a marathon) but more so, because i was inspired by the strength of those who have blood cancers. it was amazing to see their ability to push and persevere through lifes challenges.

there has been a recurring theme in what my heart hurts for. it seems God has given me an extra burden for those who have cancer.

in may 2008, i was made aware of a young woman named michelle. in feb 2007, she was diagnosed with leukemia. she went through chemo and went into a state of remission. in may 2008, she relapsed. she has a team of people trying to find her a match by setting up drives around the U.S.

i was unsuccessful in setting up a drive but my heart deeply believes that each individual person willing to become registered as a marrow donor increases michelle's (and many others) chances for finding a match. if you have not registered at the national marrow donor program, please take a look at their website and consider if you would 1. register and 2. be a committed donor should you be a match for someone.
http://www.marrow.org/

and if you need some added motivation, here's her story:
http://projectmichelle.com/blog/

i find that it's often very easy to hear about these things and continue to mosey on with your own life. don't let that be an excuse. it's too easy and it's just such a waste. registering with the NMDP is a simple cotton swab to the four quadrants of your cheeks. there is no blood drawn. i'm sure if you are a match, it will not be as simple or as easy but the knowledge that you are able to help someone else far outweighs it all.

there are so many people who need your help. step up and see how you can make a difference for someone.

mom . i love you

2009-05-09T15:21:00.001-04:00

say you love your mom with a purchase (or 2) from MustardSeed by.carollai. mom's sure to love the handmade and unique jewelry. promo ends tomorrow! 10% off with a purchase of 2 or more. :D go to my shop for more info!

TGIF feature and GIVEAWAY :: lemondropstudio

2009-05-08T08:28:00.013-04:00

it has been awhile since i've had one of my tgif feature and giveaways. i've been so busy with going out west for a month, welcoming the birth of my nephew, learning with my sis how challenging and rewarding motherhood can be and spending quality time with my mom and dad, who flew to calif from taiwan to be there for the momentous occasion as well.

for this feature and giveaway, i'm so excited to bring to you a fellow etsian whose work i just adore! :) being a graphic designer in my past life, i love the clean lines and colorful design on each notecard set and custom silhouette. i also fancy the prints that shauna creates! don't miss out... read her thoughts below and enter her awesome giveaway! ready... set... go! :)

Q. Who are you?

A. I am Shauna, owner of lemondropstudio, wife and best friend to my husband and Super Mom to my son Taylor who is almost three. We live in the suburbs of Portland, Oregon and love it here. Besides being with my family, I love to eat, entertain, blog, craft, shop, spend time outside and much more. Oh, and I occasionally snort when I laugh, usually laugh at all the wrong times and far too often take jokes a step further than appropriate.

Q. When did you open up shop and how did you come up with your shop name?

A. My etsy shop opened up May 21, 2008, I can't believe it's been almost a year. lemon drop studio got it's name from my husband, who seems to be a genius at naming things. We wanted something that fit my personality and style, and lemon drop studio just seemed to fit. And yes, he came up with that and my logo about 5 minutes after I asked for his help. Smart guy.

Q. What do you create and sell?

A. I create and sell a handful of fun, fresh-squeezed gifts. I create custom silhouettes, prints from my digital artwork in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, digital invitations and announcements, handmade greeting cards, note card sets, fun magnets and more. Phew... that feels like a lot.

Q. What is your favorite item in your shop?

A. My all time favorite are my silhouettes. Each one is custom for my customers, made using one of their digital images, which makes it unique and completely theirs! I love seeing a silhouette look just like the child, and I cherish the ones I make of my son, Taylor. It's lovely to create such meaningful gifts.

Q. What is your advice for newbie Etsy sellers?

A. My advice would be to just keep asking questions. Talk to other Etsians, try your hand at blogging, promote whenever you can, even in grocery store lines, but don't be pushy. I also think writing out your goals and making lists is a great idea. As well as participating in some small, local artisan fairs so you can get your name out!

Q. What is the passion on your heart or your burden for this world?

A. Simply this: do good. It's such a simple idea but can be so broad. I insist this upon myself and my family. We do good by treating our environment with respect, we do good by being kind to others, we volunteer and we strive to make the right choice, not the easy choice, every day. Whether it's recycling, holding open a door, letting someone cross the street or complimenting a stranger or smiling, we're always out to do good. It can be very powerful, and makes us happier people in the process. This quote sums it up: "Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible" - Dalai Lama

Q. Lastly, what is your giveaway this fine TGIF!

(one giveaway winner will be selected at random the following Wednesday at 11.59pm EST. to enter, please comment below with your favorite item from 1. lemondropstudio and 2. MustardSeed by.carollai. 'follow' my blog and you'll receive an automatic second entry. :) blog about this giveaway and receive a third entry! remember to leave an email address because if you are the winner, you will want to be contacted!)

A. I'd love to give away a Grace. 10 note card flat set in Peacock. These are a favorite and are sure to please!!

for your eyes ::

2009-05-06T00:13:00.008-04:00

it's so exciting when i make numerous pretty jewelry and finish the process of taking the pics, coming up with cleverly fitting names, and uploading everything to my etsy shop. for your eyes... here are some new items. go to my shop to see more.

::
do you watch biggest loser? i'm a loyal fan. it's such a great show with purpose and meaning. helping those that are immensely overweight get into shape and learn how to eat more nutritiously and exercise properly. i just love it. today was their last challenge. what did they have to do? run the MARATHON!!! how crazy/exciting/intimidating... they all did it. 2 ran and 2 walked. truly, 17 weeks ago, none of them would've dreamed of even running or walking 1 mile. and after todays show, they did 26.2. i am so inspired. :)

so inspired that i applied for the NYC marathon. not that i'll get into it via the lottery but if i do, i'm doing it. :) i ran the san diego marathon in 2004. it had been hard and that was after and with lots of training. filled with discipline. we'll see how this time goes... if i do get in, i'd like to train with TNT (the leukemia and lymphoma society) again but we'll see. i love doing things for a cause so simply running it may not be as enjoyable.

this potential new venture is quite exciting!

overdue ::

2009-05-04T09:41:00.016-04:00

love mom! last week to buy 2 or more and save 10% off entire purchase! :) details at my etsy shop.

::
some days i have so much to say (but no time to update) and then other days i feel so blocked. mind blocked, i guess. today is one of those days but i've been gone too long and want everyone to know that i'm still here!

saturday was date day for the hubby and i since these days it seems we spend QT with other friends more than we do with each other. we headed to the brooklyn botanic garden to catch the last glimpse of the cherry blossoms. even a smidge post peak, they are scrumptious fluffy pink fellas. :) after maneuvering through flower filled paths, as is tradition, we headed to my favorite oxtail stew joint 3 blocks away. i used to intern in the crown heights area and found this great hole-in-the-wall serving oxtail stew and other jamaican delights. mmm.

in the evening, we saw the movie Adventureland. have you heard of it? i never had til i read the rotten tomatoes *high* review. :) rotten tomatoes is usually accurate and kips bay was playing it so our amc silver pass came into use. $6.50 or so for the amc pass sure beats the $12+ it is to see a movie these days.

::
i'm donating 5 pieces of jewelry to the spring benefit for the private school i work at. they want to raise money and i want to gain exposure. :) hopefully people will like what they see and will check out my etsy shop. it's been interesting finding little ways to get my name out there. marketing is so important as i am just one little fishy in this great big sea of handmade arts. everybody has such unique things - i really wish there was a way for all of us to be readily found and seen.

::
my nephew continues to grow and is as cute as ever. since i've been back i haven't *seen* him but these photos definitely warmed my heart. :D

and the winner... ::

2009-04-25T00:28:00.003-04:00

by random is #4 sheepi83. congrat's!!! thanks to all who participated and for sharing why you love etsy. :) it sure is a great little place.

happy etsy day . celebration giveaway!!! ::

2009-04-24T10:48:00.010-04:00

today is ETSY day! our lovely place for all things handmade. in celebration, i'm providing a giveaway via, that's right, my etsy shop. woohoo!!! yeep! just tell me what your favorite feature on etsy is and why and make sure to leave your contact info. the winner will be picked at random! giveaway ends tonight at 11.59pm EST.

oh yes... but what is the great prize, you ask? i shall be giving away a $25 gift certificate to anything in my fanciful little shop. you say that's amazing! i concur. :) ready, set.... go!

giveaway! ::

2009-04-23T10:53:00.003-04:00

lemondropstudio is providing a giveaway of her newest notecard flats. they're so cute! i've entered... you should too!

encouragement ::

2009-04-22T23:14:00.004-04:00

i received an encouraging email from my hubby. this morning, he read Amos (a book in the Bible), and in chapter 2 God speaks through the prophet Amos to remind Israel of all the times He protected them and showed His faithfulness. God reminded my hubby, who then reminded me that we don't need to worry about our future with money, jobs, location and kids because He has shown His faithfulness in providing for us already in so many ways and will continue to do so. thank God for my wise hubby who waits on Him.

love mom ::

2009-04-22T12:12:00.016-04:00

ladies love jewelry. that's why this mom's day you can surprise the mum in your life with some high quality one-of-a-kind or limited edition jewelry by MustardSeed by.carollai.

special PROMO for this special someone: buy 2 or more jewelry pieces and get 10% off your entire purchase! mother's day is just around the corner. don't miss out on this wonderful offer. :) wait for my revised invoice BEFORE paying at paypal.com. promotion ends Mother's Day Sunday, May 10th 2009.

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i'm currently being featured by a fellow etsian on her blog and a bracelet of mine is used in this look at all things 'dusty rose'! i feel so honored. thanks! :)

our earth ::

2009-04-21T21:32:00.007-04:00

tomorrow is earth day and in celebration i'd like to share a great etsy shop with you all. mamamade creates wonderful sandwich and snack pouches (among other fun things) that are 100% cotton lined with waterproof PUL (polyurethane laminate) innards. i'm always inspired by those who take action when they see something they don't like. mamamade didn't like how she was using so many plastic zip-lock bags. it's a wonderful idea (as she said, with many trials and errors) that is perfect for any person that enjoys snacks or sandwiches. i'm considering getting myself and the hubby two or more since then we can do our part to help save the environment, as well as save money and support the whole handmade nation. :) these sandwich/snack pouches also work great for parents and their little kiddies since little kiddies are constantly snacking. they're even machine washable! go take a look... do something good for our earth today.

lean and trying times . sitting at His feet ::

2009-04-20T03:32:00.005-04:00

Lord, where do you want me to be? this has been my constant prayer in many areas of my life. every decision is related to the next step and when the steps aren't laid out, the state of limbo is where i stand.

it's been hard to find an art psychotherapy position since quitting my previously brain draining job in oct 2007. i can't believe it's 2009 now and i haven't worked as an art therapist for ~1.5 years. the first 6 months were important resting and renewing time for my heart, mind and soul. the next 6 months were filled with more serious job searching. the last 6 months have been filled with wondering where and if God has indeed called me to this field (as i haven't found an adequate job yet) and studying for, taking and passing the art therapy boards in addition to job searching. as most of you know, i've also decided to pursue a passion of mine and open up a small business shop of one-of-a-kind and/or limited edition handcrafted jewelry. that has been a lot of work and fun but unless i find someone famous to flaunt my work, i know this is only a side business. question is - what does God want me to do? what is my 'real' business? sigh.

where shall we live? spending one month with my sister and new nephew has been such a blessing. it makes me miss them all that much more and really makes me wonder what is priority to me? is it choosing to sacrifice and move to be near family? or is it deciding that the harder edgy-er life of new york is where we are called to serve? there is a great lack of peace regarding the thought of moving out west right now. the hubby and i don't know why but we both seem to feel it. it's very sad though to know that each day that passes, my little adorable nephew is growing up without me present and not hearing the humming sounds of his auntie or feeling her hugs and kisses around his chubby cheeks and hands. this decision of where to live affects the job situation as well.

kids and money. this is another issue that the hubby and i are thinking about. we want both but that's besides the point. the timing of when to try for kids is related to the money we don't have (since we hear that kids are quite expensive) and thus related to me finding a job. which comes first? the job? the kids? the choice to move or not move? in addition to these tough mind numbing and often anxiety provoking thoughts is the fact that since passing the art therapy board exam, i have 3 years to accrue my hours, thus allowing me to become BC (board certified). in my mind, this means i should get an art therapy job, God-willing, and work til i get my hrs and then decide abt the kids and potential moving.

who knows really what will happen, along with the when's and if's. the hubby and i are fully aware that it is all in God's timing and His perfect plan but we are also believers that we can't just sit by and do nothing with the mindset that 'God will do everything'. He did give us minds afterall.

it's way past my bedtime. thanks for listening. good night.

feature and giveaweay ::

2009-04-10T12:59:00.006-04:00

i am being featured and providing a giveaway on a blog this week! :) skip over to check it out and enter! thank you jennifer for your wonderful feature and funfilled blog!

butterfly transformation ::

2009-04-09T13:12:00.009-04:00

my etsy shop has now been open for 2.5 months. :) when i look back to my first few earring designs, i'm floored at how my own style of creating has changed. i still love my old designs but it's good to grow a variety of designs. i'm so thankful that i am inspired daily by the environment around me. being out in LA for the past three weeks (one more to go), i see lots of bright sunshine, blooming flowers, slight breezes, ocean water -- all wrapping around my mind and pushing my creative senses in a different way than the 'slightly' more congested NYC, brisker weather, skyscraper filled skies and energy filled air.

some wonderful new items added to my shop. here are some pics to moisten your tastebuds. :) more to come in the next few days, so stay tuned!

zero to three days ::

2009-04-01T13:46:00.011-04:00

my sis is a momma and i'm an auntie! ::

2009-03-29T18:13:00.011-04:00

the short story:

he is an adorable 8lb 8ounce 22inch not-so-little little guy named jaden samuel h. :D he has little dimples, chunky thighs and potentially flat feet (taking after his poppa). the labor was crazy long though not overly painful thanks to an epidural which my sis says i must get when it's my turn. back when i was young and oh-so-silly (i.e. before i saw this labor and delivery), i thought i'd like to try it completely au natural but after seeing the beginnings of extreme uncomfortable-ness and the super duper length of time and process it takes for the cervix to dilate, i think not.

baby j with momma's glasses. :) heehee. how funny is that?

the long story:

we came to cedars on fri 3/27 at 3.00am in the morning. my sister spotted spotting and the doc said if that happened that we ought to head to the ER. after a few hrs of monitoring, we were told to go home. my sis was officially in the early stages of the labor. home we went and last minute preps began. i thought we'd be back at the hospital after just a few hrs. boy, was i wrong! my sister had cramp-like contractions all day and then they got stronger around 6.00pm. we headed to the mall to get some walking in and also to gather some lounge wear for her post baby. as her contractions got more consistent, we decided it was time to go back to cedars. we arrived around 10pm and waited. and waited. and waited. then smiled and thanked the anesthesiologists for their good work. then waited and waited. hour after hour passed and i wondered how it could really take this long. my sis got a fever and the baby's heart beat raised so the nurse put humongo ice packs under her armpits, behind her back and above her belly. she dropped in temperature and was shivering for the next hour or two. it's so sad to see your sis in pain and not be able to help her. one thing i realized during the whole labor was that the feeling of helplessness can't be changed but as long as the pained person knows you're there, then that's all you can do. when she finally dilated to 9cm and +2 station, the doc wanted her to push for a try. when she pushed, the baby's heart rate decreased greatly which was not good and it took quite awhile for the heart rate to go back to normal. the doc and nurse said that with the looks of it, the baby would not make it through a v-birth. it was somewhat shocking for me and i was so bummed after all the labor and pains that my sister went through for so many hours. my sis and BIL got all covered and ready for the c-section and i was really sad because when i asked the nurse if i could be present, she said no. out we went to the waiting area. a few minutes later a nurse came out to say that i could go in too! i was soooo unbelievably happy and i ran inside, got all my sterile stuff on and waited with my BIL while they prepped my sis. i got to sit on a stool behind my sis' head and i held her shoulder. i hated that she was shaking so much and kept saying how freezing cold she was. it made me really sad. when they took the baby out, they told my BIL and i that we could see and we stood up and i saw my nephew for the first time! i was even allowed to take pics. :) my BIL headed over to cut the cord and see the baby take the APGAR and pass with flying colors! i held my sis' hand and hummed to her. i was so happy when they finally finished up and closed her up. freaky thing though was when they were counting up the gauze clothes they used during the surgery, they were missing one. i was thinking they couldn't have left something in her uterus!!! anyways, they finally found it and we headed to the recovery room.

a day later, we're all so happy and thankful he's here with us and he's doing great! my sis is doing great as well. i thought she'd be experiencing more pain and inability to move about but she's up and walking and seems to be doing very well. i'm so relieved. when she was in labor and then at the operating table, i just wanted it all to be over so she wouldn't have to be uncomfy anymore.

and that's how my sis became a momma and how i became an auntie! if you read through it all, then you're prob a momma and have your own crazy story of how your little one came into the world. :)

unrelated things:

1. i got a free $200 haircut at serge normant by john frieda in west hollywood because a stylist craigslisted a request for someone who would be willing to get a graduated bob for an audition video he's submitting. he's trying to get onto shear genius! i responded and got my hair chopped off. i was excited for a free haircut but he didn't do a great job. i was surprised since he's been cutting hair for 15+ years. maybe people in weho don't get bobs. anyways, when things settle down here, i'll be heading to the k-town salon that my sis went to to get a fix up. in the meanwhile, the hair is up in 2 stubby low pigtails. :)

2. for the moment, i've halted the jewelry making and shop promoting because things have been uber busy here. but give me a week or so... i think that'll be enough time to settle down.

mother . earth ::

2009-03-27T00:46:00.017-04:00

baby is still too comfy inside my sis' belly. she's at 39 weeks and 4 days. according to the doc's calculations, he is currently measuring at 8lbs 5ounces. wow! he's going to be a hefty little fella. :) we've been walking a bunch hoping gravity will do its job.

we headed to huntington library last weekend and saw a humongous selection of beautiful flowers and greenery. it reminded me of the brooklyn botanic garden and i was quite happy to be with mother earth.

i've added a new product to my etsy shop. bracelets! i realized that though i love earrings, i'm not really marketing out to those who may not have pierced ears... so, after getting some suggestions, i've decided to bring in the bracelets. i also intend to make more necklaces so that the earrings to necklaces and bracelets ratio is more balanced. check out my etsy shop to see these and other new items.

2009-03-25T18:44:00.009-04:00

congratulations to the 6 o'clock stitch! you've won the dozi giveaway! dozi will be contacting you shortly to obtain your physical address so she can mail you your winning item. :)

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being out in calif has been enjoyable because i get to see my sister and BIL each evening. my mom is also in town and my dad is coming on friday. we're all anticipating the coming of my nephew and the first next generation baby of our family. :) i got to see an ultrasound today for the first time and it's pretty interesting to see the head, belly and even skeletal frame of the little fella. he's at a hefty 8lbs 5ounces with a few more days to go before even hitting the EDD. i think my sis has made for him quite the happy home so he's not feeling the need to enter the real world. smart fella already!

creativity-wise, it has been a bit rough. perhaps it's because i'm not in my own environment and/or because i am in need of some new semi-precious stones, swarovski crystals and gemstones but i'm feeling a smidge stuck. each day i sit before my supplies, begin making different items and then rarely upload them because i'm not fully satisfied. i'm working on getting more supplies and getting my butt into gear, so definitely check back soon.

on a higher note, the vintage rose earrings were made one week ago on my first night in calif. they're one of my current favorites because of the different technique required to make the hoop. i had to work at it for quite some time but was so happy with the outcome!

:: a wonderful giveaway at etsy it up!

TGIF feature and giveaway :: dozi

2009-03-20T02:28:00.017-04:00

i first 'met' dozi via a mutual friend's blog link. i instantly loved her stuff because of its intriguing graphic elements. when i opened up shop on etsy, another mutual friend told me of dozi because she knew her from college. :) hence, we 'reconnected', or shall i say, connected for the first time. :) since i just think her stuff is great, this friday's feature and giveaway will showcase her shop. my fave item in her shop is the pocket jotter. so cute and wonderful for all the journaling and sketching i do. :) thanks dozi for answering these questions and providing a wonderful giveaway!

Q. Who are you?
A. I'm Wendy Chung and I have a little etsy biz,Dozi. I live with my husband and 9-month-old Boston terrier in Northern California. I don't do this full-time, but hope to one day!

Q. When did you open up your shop and how did you come up with your shop name?
A. I opened Dozi in May of 2008. I wanted a simple-sounding name that conveyed my style. And since I'm Chinese, I thought it'd be neat to use a Chinese word. Dozi is Chinese for "bean" - small, simple, and almost understated.

Q. What do you create and sell?
A. Right now I make mostly cards and notebooks. I hope to focus more on designing patterns and using them to expand my notebook collections, and one day I'd love to be able to design and sell my own line of fabrics.

Q. What is your favorite item in your shop?
A. Probably my pocket workbooks. I really enjoy designing patterns, especially in sets that are coordinated but aren't too matchy-matchy. I love that these workbooks are a bit easier to make than my pocket jotters, and love that I can fill them with graph paper.

Q. Do you have any advice for newbie Etsy sellers?
A. Having good photos is really important since this is the first thing people see. Keep your shop fresh by updating it with new items regularly and make sure your latest listing is not more than a week or two old - relist! Look at successful shops and learn from them. Don't give up and be patient: keep on working to make your shop better, learn from your mistakes and just keep moving forward and trying new things. All good things take time to build.

Q. What is the passion on your heart or your burden for this world?
A. Hm, tough question! I think there is a lot of ugliness in this world -- things that are depressing, heart-wrenching, things that make people cry and hurt and sigh. I hope that in the little corner of the world that I'm in, I can bring a bit of beauty in both tangible and intangible ways -- helping, giving, forgiving, listening. I'm not always good about these things, but I can keep on trying.

Q. Lastly, what is your giveaway this fine TGIF!

(one giveaway winner will be selected at random the following Tuesday at 11.59pm EST. to enter, please comment below with your favorite item from 1. dozi and 2. MustardSeed by.carollai. 'follow' my blog and you'll receive an automatic second entry. :) remember to leave an email address because if you are the winner, you will want to be contacted!)

A. I'll be giving away one pocket workbook - any one of the six cover designs filled with either blank, lined, or gridded pages.

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check out another great giveaway at chocolateandsteel.