//shop the sale here//
6.18.2013
Swim Time
Swimwear and summer items are making their way into the shop, and it's made better by a 25% off store wide sale!
//shop the sale here//
//shop the sale here//
6.01.2013
5.30.2013
Settling in
We have been in our new (old) house for a little over two weeks now and are getting settled in, slowly but surely. We are all really happy to be in this space. Jacob has done so well with the move, even crying when we were still in the moving process because he wanted to stay at the new house! He's transitioned from a crib to a twin bed in his own room with no problem. I was a little bit nervous about this, because his previous "room" was really just a large closet/small office area off of our bedroom. Now with his own full bedroom he seems like such a real KID!
1. This boy is not interested in this dirt pile going away anytime soon.
2. This mama hen and baby chick planter set, a gift from Red Envelope, couldn't be more fitting for this chicken keeping, plant loving Mama Annie.
3. Moving from a 650(ish) sq ft living area to a 2000 sq ft house leaves us with some empty rooms. We are looking forward to having a fully furnished house, but not rushing out to buy just to fill the space. We don't like owning a ton of stuff for stuff's sake, but I am definitely going to hit up some yard sales soon!
There are still a few small projects to get done, but nothing overwhelming. We still have to build out the chicken area, so for now our girls are at our old house, being cared for by a house-sitting friend.
Oh, and remember when I bought out an entire vintage store and stored it's contents in a 10'x20' shipping container on our property? Yeah...I still need to sort through that and find a new storage solution. Wish me luck!
1. This boy is not interested in this dirt pile going away anytime soon.
2. This mama hen and baby chick planter set, a gift from Red Envelope, couldn't be more fitting for this chicken keeping, plant loving Mama Annie.
3. Moving from a 650(ish) sq ft living area to a 2000 sq ft house leaves us with some empty rooms. We are looking forward to having a fully furnished house, but not rushing out to buy just to fill the space. We don't like owning a ton of stuff for stuff's sake, but I am definitely going to hit up some yard sales soon!
There are still a few small projects to get done, but nothing overwhelming. We still have to build out the chicken area, so for now our girls are at our old house, being cared for by a house-sitting friend.
Oh, and remember when I bought out an entire vintage store and stored it's contents in a 10'x20' shipping container on our property? Yeah...I still need to sort through that and find a new storage solution. Wish me luck!
5.18.2013
Cow Webs and Pig Pockets (on being bilingual)
One of the questions I get asked most by family and friends is if I plan on raising Jacob speaking Spanish. My parents were born in Sonora, Mexico, my sister was born there, and 90% of my very very large family lives there. Though I was born in Los Angeles, my mom moved us back to Mexico when I was still a baby. My first memories take place in Mexico, some days my heart and stomach long for Mexico, and my first language is Spanish. I very clearly remember moving back to the United States and learning English from square one. My parents wrote out the alphabet in Spanish phonetics ("A" = ey, "B"= bi, etc), and I was thrown into a mostly English speaking school. Since I was still very young, I picked up this second language quickly and have outgrown any accent I may have once had. I am still completely fluent in Spanish, mostly thanks to my mom who has always insisted I speak Spanish to her, though she is fluent in English. There are some words and phrases I struggle with in Spanish, especially if I'm put on the spot or too excited to think straight.
Every now and again, I say things in English that are completely wrong and Josh teases me that he should write me a book with common English sayings and jokes. Up until about a year ago, I thought that if you didn't clean your home you would find coW webs, and if you didn't watch your back, you might get piG pocketed! Oh, and most of the movies people my age grew up with? I either watched them dubbed in Spanish or watched and understood absolutely nothing. My nostalgia is El Chavo del Ocho, Muchchitas, and Sabado Gigante. There's comfort in hearing Joan Sebastian or Los Tigres del Norte playing, and some days I want nothing more than a duro with chamoy on top.
When Jacob started speaking, we worked a lot on Spanish words, but that's slowed down a bit. He is delayed in some of his speech, so we are focusing on English first, so he can at least be understood in one language soon. About a third of his words are in Spanish already, my mom speaks mostly Spanish to him, and it's neat to see how he also understands the English word for the same thing.
I will probably always get things mixed up a bit, and may speak in Spanglish most of the time, but I really hope to raise Jacob speaking both English and Spanish, and celebrating his Mexican heritage. I, of course, want him to have every opportunity that being bilingual can open up for him, but I also want him to grow up with a deep connection to his extended family. There were some cultural clashes that my mom and I went through when I was growing up, but I'm glad to have a close tie to my family and their traditions. We have over 100 family members still in Mexico, most of them in the same city. I can't wait for him to experience what it's like to hang out at his grandmas' houses, have a million cousins to joke and run around with, and walk to the toritlleria and roll up a fresh tortilla that just came off the conveyor belt.
5.13.2013
Baby #2
We are welcoming a new baby into our family in November! I am thrilled (and nervous!) to be a mother of two. I am really looking forward to seeing Jacob with the baby, and for him to have a buddy around all the time. If you ask him, though, there's a "Baby Car" in my belly...so, we'll see what he thinks of a baby human.
4.25.2013
Balance, Annie, Balance.
If there is one thing I've struggled with in my two years of being a mom is BALANCE. Not so much balancing my duties as a mom/wife/homemaker/vintage seller, but balance in how I am a mom. You see, I've set up these ridiculous standards for myself, that I'm pretty sure are unattainable yet I keep beating myself up when I don't meet them. Let me explain.
Up until a couple of months ago, I would take Jacob out to super fun toddler destinations about four out of five weekdays. I felt like I had to be out with him everyday for the five hours before his nap, fully and wholly immersed in being a super! fun! mom! I struggled with letting him play by himself at home while I got things done. I felt like a "horrible mom" if I wasn't 200% engaged in an activity with him, 100% of his waking time.
I cringed whenever we would show up at a gathering and there were cookies or chips, because I knew he would want them. I am very choosy about the hippie food we eat at home. While I kept telling myself that because of our healthy homemade meals, it wouldn't bother me when he occasionally ate that stuff, I struggled with feeling like a "horrible mom" if he had one cookie, because chances are that cookie wasn't baked with carob instead of chocolate chips.
When Jacob self weaned at just a few days after his second birthday, I felt like those other moms did a "better" job of breastfeeding their kid till four. When I needed a break from cloth diapers, I felt like a jerk for making it "only" 22 months. Again, I felt like a "horrible mom."
I wish I could say I was exaggerating with that term, but I have used the phrase "I'm such a horrible mom." to Josh over and over again. He, being a rational adult, reassures me that no, probably I'm not even close to that. But still...WHAT KIND OF MOM FORGETS TO SNEAK KALE INTO THE PASTA SAUCE!!?" if not a horrible one?
The twisted and backwards thing about this all is that I have not once thought less of another mom who uses disposable diapers, who lets their toddler eat cookies, who has apps downloaded just for their kids...you know, a mom who mothers her children in the way that she sees fit. I also am not the type to feel like other's lives are so put together based on what I see on social media outlets. But, I feel like I have to follow up a picture of a night out for ice cream with "Oh, you guys, this is a really rare treat. He NEVER eats sugar!" or something dumb and unimportant like that. I don't want people to assume that Jacob eats sugar all day long, as if it made a difference in our lives either way. I do struggle with finding my footing as a mom, and my balance is shaky.
I recently came to the realization that I'm comparing myself to idealized versions of moms I know. In my mind, my mama raised us four kids in the most impeccable way...but the reality is we were probably sent to bed without brushing our teeth a night or two in our lives. My mom sewed us tiny Barbie clothes and played with us, but also sat us down with some desert and a cartoon now and then. I'm sure the moms I have put on a pedestal in my mind have made a meal without perfect nutritional balance once or twice.
I'm trying to gain my confidence as a mom in public. I'm trying to ENJOY the fact that it's pretty fun now for Jacob to enjoy treats like ice cream and a super sugary cupcake and sometimes a donut just because! I'm reminding myself that some days we just barely make it to the park across the street for twenty minutes because I'm busy, and that Jacob playing by himself is GOOD for him. As it turns out that if Jacob watches a couple of shows a week so I can get caught up on getting orders shipped out, it's not a big deal. Who knew!? Basically, I'm trying to learn to be a normal and balanced mom.
Phew.
Up until a couple of months ago, I would take Jacob out to super fun toddler destinations about four out of five weekdays. I felt like I had to be out with him everyday for the five hours before his nap, fully and wholly immersed in being a super! fun! mom! I struggled with letting him play by himself at home while I got things done. I felt like a "horrible mom" if I wasn't 200% engaged in an activity with him, 100% of his waking time.
I cringed whenever we would show up at a gathering and there were cookies or chips, because I knew he would want them. I am very choosy about the hippie food we eat at home. While I kept telling myself that because of our healthy homemade meals, it wouldn't bother me when he occasionally ate that stuff, I struggled with feeling like a "horrible mom" if he had one cookie, because chances are that cookie wasn't baked with carob instead of chocolate chips.
When Jacob self weaned at just a few days after his second birthday, I felt like those other moms did a "better" job of breastfeeding their kid till four. When I needed a break from cloth diapers, I felt like a jerk for making it "only" 22 months. Again, I felt like a "horrible mom."
I wish I could say I was exaggerating with that term, but I have used the phrase "I'm such a horrible mom." to Josh over and over again. He, being a rational adult, reassures me that no, probably I'm not even close to that. But still...WHAT KIND OF MOM FORGETS TO SNEAK KALE INTO THE PASTA SAUCE!!?" if not a horrible one?
The twisted and backwards thing about this all is that I have not once thought less of another mom who uses disposable diapers, who lets their toddler eat cookies, who has apps downloaded just for their kids...you know, a mom who mothers her children in the way that she sees fit. I also am not the type to feel like other's lives are so put together based on what I see on social media outlets. But, I feel like I have to follow up a picture of a night out for ice cream with "Oh, you guys, this is a really rare treat. He NEVER eats sugar!" or something dumb and unimportant like that. I don't want people to assume that Jacob eats sugar all day long, as if it made a difference in our lives either way. I do struggle with finding my footing as a mom, and my balance is shaky.
I recently came to the realization that I'm comparing myself to idealized versions of moms I know. In my mind, my mama raised us four kids in the most impeccable way...but the reality is we were probably sent to bed without brushing our teeth a night or two in our lives. My mom sewed us tiny Barbie clothes and played with us, but also sat us down with some desert and a cartoon now and then. I'm sure the moms I have put on a pedestal in my mind have made a meal without perfect nutritional balance once or twice.
I'm trying to gain my confidence as a mom in public. I'm trying to ENJOY the fact that it's pretty fun now for Jacob to enjoy treats like ice cream and a super sugary cupcake and sometimes a donut just because! I'm reminding myself that some days we just barely make it to the park across the street for twenty minutes because I'm busy, and that Jacob playing by himself is GOOD for him. As it turns out that if Jacob watches a couple of shows a week so I can get caught up on getting orders shipped out, it's not a big deal. Who knew!? Basically, I'm trying to learn to be a normal and balanced mom.
Phew.
4.09.2013
So, we're moving.
After a whole lot of thought and back and forth, we've decided: we are doing a crazy thing and leaving this house that we have worked so hard and long on.
(looking out his new living room window)
A lot of pictures and thoughts after the jump:
A lot of pictures and thoughts after the jump:
2.27.2013
My two year old
(this post is pretty heavy on pictures, you're welcome, family :))
Well, Jacob turned two years old last month, and I can't believe how much of a KID he is now, and not at all a baby. Though I miss having a teeny baby to hold (and smell! that sweet milky breath!), I LOVE having a two year old who is always on the go go GO! Jacob and I try to get out of the house just about every weekday, and it's a cool thing to sit back and watch how he adapts to social situations, how he is learning not to yank toys out of a kid's hand (finally- that one took a lot of work), and how he interacts with new people in new spaces. He is quick to say "thank you" when handed something (and yells it especially loud at the gas station and grocery store), and it makes me proud when he does.
Jacob is a boy of few words, but he can name most any construction truck, shape, and color. About half of his words are in spanish, so when he's left with people who don't speak it (at church nursery, for example), it's a bit of a guessing game to figure out what he wants. I'm eager for him to continue to try out new sounds and words, I can't wait to hear him tell me stories!
He started saying his AC's (abc's) entirely on his own today. That was a moment that stole my breath away. Funny story- a few months ago Jacob went through a phase of being fake "scared" of random things as a little joke. He'd see something, the Netflix loading bar, for instance, and make a fake crying sound then laugh like crazy. One of the scary things ended up being a lower case letter "g." Only the lowercase g. Yup. Somehow that stuck with him, so now his ABCs go a little something like "A, B, C, D, E, F, OH NO NO!!, H..."
He is my little shadow, my little helper, and my great big cuddler. He will stop whatever he's doing at random times to come give me a surprise kiss, all on his own. He's my little stinker and I love him.
Well, Jacob turned two years old last month, and I can't believe how much of a KID he is now, and not at all a baby. Though I miss having a teeny baby to hold (and smell! that sweet milky breath!), I LOVE having a two year old who is always on the go go GO! Jacob and I try to get out of the house just about every weekday, and it's a cool thing to sit back and watch how he adapts to social situations, how he is learning not to yank toys out of a kid's hand (finally- that one took a lot of work), and how he interacts with new people in new spaces. He is quick to say "thank you" when handed something (and yells it especially loud at the gas station and grocery store), and it makes me proud when he does.
Jacob is a boy of few words, but he can name most any construction truck, shape, and color. About half of his words are in spanish, so when he's left with people who don't speak it (at church nursery, for example), it's a bit of a guessing game to figure out what he wants. I'm eager for him to continue to try out new sounds and words, I can't wait to hear him tell me stories!
He started saying his AC's (abc's) entirely on his own today. That was a moment that stole my breath away. Funny story- a few months ago Jacob went through a phase of being fake "scared" of random things as a little joke. He'd see something, the Netflix loading bar, for instance, and make a fake crying sound then laugh like crazy. One of the scary things ended up being a lower case letter "g." Only the lowercase g. Yup. Somehow that stuck with him, so now his ABCs go a little something like "A, B, C, D, E, F, OH NO NO!!, H..."
He is my little shadow, my little helper, and my great big cuddler. He will stop whatever he's doing at random times to come give me a surprise kiss, all on his own. He's my little stinker and I love him.
1.29.2013
Shop Sale!
Well, I am fully to blame for Jacob breaking our computer, and it's time to buy a new one, so it's SALE TIME at the shop! Everything is 20% off, including these pretty new Valentine's appropriate items! Enjoy!
(shop here)
(shop here)
1.07.2013
01/07 Update
Happy New Year! I hope you all had a great December and are enjoying 2013 so far. I have been getting an itch to blog again, and I think I am ready to jump back into it. I have been trying to figure out how to appropriately balance a personal blog and a vintage business blog, but I do really miss sharing life and motherhood posts. We've been working so hard on our crazy house remodel still, and are excited that a lot of it is almost ready to share!
Sadly now that I'm ready to blog again, I left my camera at my in-laws' house and have wiped my computer clean, so I have little ready to share besides shop updates today. Monday's seem like a good day to share what will be in the shop that week, though. This week: tooled leather and Enid Collins purses!
(click to shop)
See you soon!
Sadly now that I'm ready to blog again, I left my camera at my in-laws' house and have wiped my computer clean, so I have little ready to share besides shop updates today. Monday's seem like a good day to share what will be in the shop that week, though. This week: tooled leather and Enid Collins purses!
See you soon!
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