Pottery Barn Kids Holiday Stuff

Pottery Barn Kids sent out an email with some of their holiday stuff on it. I pretty much already have everything from them including stockings, tree quilt, advent calendar, ornaments, Santa bag and I'm sure more. These four items were my fav's from the new stuff! I usually only buy one or two things a year so I think the large Santa below will be my 2008 purchase!

Large Santa

Santa Hat

Turkey Headband

Thanksgiving Plates

It's been 30 days

Check out my "No Shopping for 30 Days" to see my last post!

A quick fav from Whitney

My sister has great taste! Whitney found these cute tin birds that would be so cute in a child's room or even out on the porch. Check out the website she found them at here, she says they have lots of cute stuff!

My Brody Fav

I am a perfectionist, even if things don't come out perfect when I do them, I still have to do them myself. It's just who I am. So while making cupcakes on Friday for my girlfriends, Brody proceeded to ask me if he could decorate them. Well I wanted to say, "are you crazy" but his sweet little face stopped me. So I was in a pickle, I wanted the cupcakes to look perfect but Brody wanted to decorate them, what to do? Well I gave in and told him he could put the sprinkles on thinking that I would be able to fix them after he was done. So I put the frosting on and set up his own little sprinkle shop and gave him very specific directions (I am way too controlling). Well to my delight he did the best job and he taught me a thing or two. First, does it really matter how they look when my friends will love them no matter what? Second, the happiness on his face will always be more important than my own issues. Watching Brody decorate those cupcakes is a favorite moment of mine and learning to let go of my perfectionist habits is really great. And you know what, those cupcakes ended up being more perfect and special than I ever could have made them. Next time I'll let him do the frosting and the sprinkles!

A Piper Fav

About 4 weeks ago when Piper started getting sick and before we figured out it was the dairy I was eating that was making her miserable, I was holding her full time. She was crying and fussing and I did whatever I could to comfort her. I was nursing her to sleep, rocking her to sleep, holding her all the time and doing whatever she needed (all those mommy no-no's). Luckily her doctor said I did the right thing (thank you Dr Ball). But now after being coddled for 4 weeks, she still only wants those things. Exersaucer? No thank you. Going night night by herself? No thank you. As you can imagine it's frustrating, especially at 10pm like tonight. I was ready to start pulling out my hair. But, as I was rubbing her back in the crib and she was lying on her side, I watched her close her eyes and then turn over to make sure I was still there, then lie back on her side, then turn over to see if I was still there. And I realized she loves me, she wants me, she needs me and she's no longer the newborn who just sees me as a milk machine. After that realization, she then proceeded to cry for what seemed like forever (she's relentless too). So I picked her up and held her close so she would stop (we are using the baby steps method). Suddenly I was overwhelmed with love and I whispered "I love you too." Because after all, the neediness is because I make her feel safe and happy. Then after I put her down and after a few little cries she fell asleep.

That is my fav for tonight, the sweetness of your baby and not only your love for them, but feeling how much they love you back at the perfect age of 6 months, even after an hour of crying, even after feeling frustrated, even after my back hurt from bending over the crib. Night night my sweet Piper, I hope you have sweet baby dreams. Mommy loves you.

my other blog

If you haven't been to my No Shopping for 30 Days Blog recently, give it a good read! I only have 6 days left.

Baby Bear's Books

I adore this book, I think it's the sweet words and rhymes that gets me. My favorite paragraph in the book:

"Or read something gentle

and happy and sweet.

We'll snuggle real close

on the old garden seat."

It is written by Jane Yolen and illustrated by Melissa Sweet. Pick up a copy if you can, you will never get sick of reading it to your little one. Happy reading!

Strawberry Licorice

We get the BEST strawberry licorice from Trader Joe's. I don't have a picture because we ate it all. It comes in a small square container and I swear we eat it right away when we get it. We love to buy it for trips and everyone always swoons over it. I'm thinking about it now and wishing we would have saved just one small piece for when we got home. Next time you go to Trader Joe's get yourself some. Even if you don't like regular licorice you will love it!

The Biggest Loser- New Season

I'm sure by now you all know how much I love The Biggest Loser. It's extremely inspirational and it is what jump started my determination to lose the extra weight I had packed on between babies. In fact, today marks my 20 pound weight loss from what I was before I got pregnant with Piper! Watching the show will inspire you, educate you and entertain you (because it is still a competition). I picked up so many little tricks that have made a huge difference in our lives. And I think it is a show everyone should watch. Last Tuesday was the first episode of the season but you can catch up by watching online here. So watch it, DVR it, or catch it online. It's on NBC, Tuesdays at 8/7 c

The Martha Blog

It's no secret I LOVE Martha Stewart. So I was really excited to see her blog contest here! Check it out.

Guest Post- Laurin & Kelly

What's better than one fun and stylish blogger.....two! I love reading Laurin & Kelly Talk and it's awesome because the two friends blog to each other about all kinds of things. I didn't hesitate to ask them to do a guest blog here! So please enjoy!

Hi. This is Laurin of Laurin and Kelly Talk. This is our first guest post for another blogger and we are happy it's Amanda. We love her site.

Don't be mad that Amanda isn't here today. Just follow her over to our place at www.laurinandkellytalk.com because we are swapping blogs today.

Apparently Kelly and I love shopping as much as Amanda and we wanted to share with her readers a couple of our favorite things and some places we stalk on the internet.

Right now I am obsessed with the Dell Mini 9 computer. I have been madly entering giveaways in the hope of winning one, but am totally willing to shell out the bucks to get it if I don't. The mac daddy model is only $499. Do you know how much blogging I could do in the car line of my kids' school?

I love the internet. Love it. I find the greatest things in the shopping que of StumbleUpon. It's my rabbit hole. But, one site I could never live without is www.ShopStyle.com. I use it for shopping and to find great fashion for our readers. Just enter whatever is on your wish list at the moment, like "flat boots" and, voila, a catalog just for you.

Hi. It's Kelly. Right now I'm all about channelling Kate Moss with the black leggings and black ballet slippers. I am a total fashion junkie and I'm coveting the Mighty Fine "I Only Kiss Superheroes" tee. I think my husband will love it.

You can get it at Boutique to You, a great site where you can find current shots of what the celebs are wearing, like in US Weekly. You can "Shop by Celebrity" or "Shop by Designer".

Sick today

I'm under the weather today. But come back tomorrow for our guest bloggers from Laurin & Kelly Talk. I will be guest blogging on their site tomorrow as well!

White House Black Market

Just saw these in the White House Black Market catalog and I think they would be so fun with a cute little back dress! $98.

Vegan Eating

On Saturday I spent a good amount of time at Henry's looking at more package labels than I ever thought possible. As I said in a previous post, Piper is not tolerating the dairy I am eating (I nurse her), so I need to lay off all dairy. This is coming from a woman who ate a string cheese and yogurt every day (and that was just before lunch). So I bought all kinds of non-dairy items from Henry's and came home for some taste testing. Keep in mind I am a very picky eater to begin with. So I tried non-dairy chocolate ice cream, different brands of chocolate chip cookies, Tofutti ice cream sandwiches, and a bunch of other stuff ($45 worth). Ummm yes, there was only ONE thing I liked and it was this lonely little chocolate chip cookie. It is made by Nana's Cookie Company. Thank you Nana! Just had to share.

Oh my gosh!

I just came across these adorable crowns here and I am in love! You better bet that Piper will be wearing one of these on her first birthday! Too cute for words.

Soy what?

Ok so I need help. Looks like I will be going Vegan for the next 6 months (well okay I'll be eating meat still, so not really). Piper is not tolerating any of the dairy that I am eating and I still want to nurse her, so no dairy for me! I need any recommendations you might have for good vegan products and where you got them from. The doctor said I should go to Whole Foods, any other suggestions? Wish me luck because pretty much my entire diet centers around cheese and yogurt. I miss cheese already; string cheese, cheddar cheese, provolone.....oh and I love sour cream....oh and I love milk chocolate. Damn!

Cell Phone Speaker

I heart my Contour Surface Sound Compact Car Kit. It's a flat-panel speaker with microphone that is bluetooth compatible and wireless. I bought this instead of a hands free headset and I love it. It just sits on my visor and all I have to do is talk. It may not be pretty but I use it every day!

Haute Stuff Tutu Bodysuits

I just posted about one of these tutu outfits on my other blog. They are ADORABLE! I found them on Nordstroms.com and I love them. Just wanted to share.

Lou and Lee's headbands

These headbands are sooo cute! And I wish I could buy them for Piper but I can't (see my other blog for details). Check them out at Lou and Lee's Etsy shop here. Maybe you can buy one for your daughter and I can "borrow" it for a week or two....or forever!