Sunday, October 31, 2010

Happy Halloween!

 Thanks to everyone who sent in photos of their little ones. Have a happy and safe Halloween!


















Friday, October 29, 2010

{this moment}

a friday ritual (inspired by soulemama). a single photo capturing a moment from the week. a simple, special, extraordinary moment. a moment to pause, savor and remember. if you're inspired to do the same, share a link to your 'moment' in the comments!

wishing you a lovely weekend.


Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Meditation: Noble Stock

My Cracked Wooden Bowl
This treasure was discovered in a bamboo thicket --
I washed the bowl in a spring and then mended it.
After morning meditation, I take my gruel in it;
At night, it serves me soup or rice.
Cracked, worn, weather-beaten, and misshapen
But still of noble stock!
~Ryokan



Autumn is paradoxically a time of both harvest and decay.  The bounty of summer comes to a close, things start to turn brown and die... and somehow it is so beautiful.  This little zen poem by Ryokan reminds me to find the beauty in everything, even (especially?) those things others may discard or scoff at.  And not just in material things, but in people, in actions, in moments... with a little care and mending aren't we all of noble stock?

Monday, October 25, 2010

Little People


A dreary place would be this earth
Were there no little people in it;
The Song of life would lose its mirth,
Were there no children to begin it.

No little forms, like buds to grow,
And make the admiring heart surrender
No little hands on breast and brow,
To Keep the thrilling love-chords tender.

The sterner souls would grow more stern,
Unfeeling nature more inhuman,
And man to stoic coldness turn,
And Woman would be less than woman.

Life's song, indeed, would lose its charm,
Were there no babies to begin it;
A doleful place this world would be,
Were there no little people in it.

~John Greenleaf Whittier

Saturday, October 23, 2010

What's your kid gonna be?

For Halloween, that is. Send a photo of your little boys and ghouls to wabisabimama.com@gmail.com and we'll post them on Wabisabi Mama on Oct. 31.

I'll give you a preview of my little one. Even though Olive's at the top of the weight charts, the costume was really just a coincidence...

Friday, October 22, 2010

{this moment}

a friday ritual (inspired by soulemama). a single photo capturing a moment from the week. a simple, special, extraordinary moment. a moment to pause, savor and remember. if you're inspired to do the same, share a link to your 'moment' in the comments!

wishing you a lovely weekend

Thursday, October 21, 2010

On Your Birthday


Dear Mayumi-

Today we celebrate your third birthday!  The Terrific Twos are officially over and we embark on a new period in your life.  I can't believe that three years ago you were born in a humble little birth center after years and years of struggling to get you here.  Sometimes I get sad that you are growing up so quickly, but life with you keeps getting better and better, so I shouldn't complain.  I love you just the way you are and I love seeing you grow and learn new things.  Thank you for bringing so much joy and wonder into my life - I love, love, LOVE you, my little pumpkinhead.

Always and Forever,
Your Mama

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Meditation: Service

The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.
~Mohandas K. Gandhi

And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.
~Mosiah 2: 17
My own dear Wabisabi Mother is in town.  You know how there are some people who inspire you to be a better person?  When you're in their presence you feel like you want to be the best you can be?  My mother is such a person.  And she doesn't do it be lecturing or making you feel guilty, but through her own actions and example.  She is the type of woman who is constantly busy working to serve other people.  Since she has been here she has spent two entire days working in my garden, helping me to sew new grass, transplant bushes and flowers, plant trees, etc. (I learn so much working side-by-side with her).  The dishes are magically done after every meal, sewing projects are being completed, my daughter has complete undivided attention... I don't know how she does it.  And she is always there to stop and listen to me ramble on and on (I have a lot to catch her up on!). 
 
But what I learn most from her is how to be a selfless person.  Her happiness and fulfillment come from serving others.  Her faith is strengthened by her acts of kindness, and in turn, everyone around her is strengthened as well. 
 
So if at times it seems that we almost have a cult-of-mother mentality, it is because we indeed revere her!  Thanks for being here mom - I'm glad I get you for a few weeks, and I know M and D are eagerly awaiting their turn!

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Oops...

This is what was on my kitchen floor today. I won't tell you how many days of build-up this represents or what yummy things that build-up is composed of. I promise  my kitchen's not always this gross; it's just amazing how these things sometimes get away from me...


Friday, October 15, 2010

{this moment}

a friday ritual (inspired by soulemama). a single photo capturing a moment from the week. a simple, special, extraordinary moment. a moment to pause, savor and remember. if you're inspired to do the same, share a link to your 'moment' in the comments!

wishing you a lovely weekend!

 

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Fall in love

Oh, how I love fall! Windy, overcast days, changing leaves, pumpkin pie and apple cider. Cozy sweaters, crisp air and bundled babies!




Saturday, October 9, 2010

Giveaway Winner


And the winner of the finger puppet bag from i sew 4 kids is:
 
Blogger Julie said...
http://www.etsy.com/listing/55406480/girls-twirly-skirt absolutely darling products thanks for the giveaway
October 7, 2010 11:25 AM
 
Thank you to everyone who entered.  Stay tuned for our next Wabisabi giveaway on November 1st!

Friday, October 8, 2010

{this moment}

a friday ritual (inspired by soulemama). a single photo capturing a moment from the week. a simple, special, extraordinary moment. a moment to pause, savor and remember. if you're inspired to do the same, share a link to your 'moment' in the comments!

wishing you a lovely weekend!



Thursday, October 7, 2010

3 Things: Favorite toys for an 8-month old

The other day, my pregnant friend asked me what the must-have baby items were for a newborn. I could barely remember! I loved the fleece swaddler with velcro, bouncy seat, playmat and white noise. But as Olive's gotten older, she's moved onto toys, gravitating to a few over and over again. For those of you with infants, her list of favorites might be helpful.

1) Photo book
It's so sad to have most of our family live far away and to think that Olive may not get to spend much time with them. But I still want her to recognize them and know that they love her, so I compiled all their photos into a little photo book. She LOVES this book. I'm not sure it has so much to do with the photos, but more the pliability of the pages. It's easy for Olive to turn the pages and lay the book flat, and it's easy for me to throw this in a diaper bag without taking up too much room. She will seriously play with this book for 15 minutes at a time.


2) Sassy foot
This is sort of like three toys in one. The top part has several different pieces of fabric (satin, fleece, terry cloth), some that make a crinkling sound. Then there's the "heel" that rattles and the stretchy velour "toes." She loves to feel all the different textures, hear the noises the parts make and bite on the wood.


3) Sophie the Giraffe
Olive received Sophie as a gift from her aunt right around the time she was starting to put everything in her mouth. This giraffe was perfect for that because of all its interesting limbs and facial features. This is her favorite teething toy. It's made from natural rubber and food paint, without phthalates and BPA, so it's perfectly safe for babies to suck on all day.

Vulli Sophie the Giraffe Teether

Reminder: Last Day to Enter Giveaway!


All you mamas out there, don't forget - today is the last day to enter to win a darling finger puppet bag in our giveaway sponsored by i sew for kids.  You have until 8pm EST tonight to enter, so leave a comment on the original post, tell your friends, and we'll announce the winner tomorrow!

Thank you for your support!

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Meditation: Treasure

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
~Matthew 6:21-21
As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.
~Proverbs 23: 7
  I've been thinking a lot about materialism and consumerism recently.  I wonder why I love to have so many things, and why I spend so much time wanting things and buying things and worrying about things.  It's almost like an illness, like an addiction.  Because I know that these things don't really make me happy and that tomorrow it could all disappear in a fire or flood or tornado.  I know that my real treasures are the people in my life, the experiences that I've had, the things that I've learned, the service I've rendered.  But I still find this attachment to things and I don't like it.  I really don't.  I don't want to be defined by my things

This is going to be a difficult habit to break.  I need to train my mind to focus on how I can spend more meaningful time with the people in my life, rather than what I need to pick up at the store, what clothes look cute now, what home improvement to tackle next, etc.  I want a pure heart, one that is full of love, not covetousnous.  I know this is a simple thing, but it is proving more challenging than I had anticipated.  How do you do it?

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Oishii: Peach cobbler

Mmm, peach season in Utah. We look forward to the local peaches every year.


We attempted this peach cobbler twice (okay, my husband attempted this twice--but I helped peel the peaches!) and found that with a few adjustments, you can have one yummy, down-home treat.


The first time he made it, it was stuffed into a little 2-quart dish and overflowed into our oven because the peaches were so juicy (luckily he had placed a baking sheet under the dish).


There also wasn't a lot of topping, so my overzealous husband tripled the crust the second time around. I would recommend doubling the topping for best results. He also used a 3-quart baking dish and dumped some of the peach juice before baking.

Friday, October 1, 2010

October Giveaway: i sew 4 kids

You know those sweet grandmas who can sew all sorts of adorable, unique clothes and gifts for their grandkids?  I found one with an Etsy site.  These cute creations are bound to inspire plenty of oohs and aahs when opened at birthday parties and Christmas (coming up around the corner, friends!).  Twirly skirts, crayon bags, finger puppet bags, purses, aprons, and the occasional quilt stock her attractive shop.



Janice Palmer, the hip grandma behind i sew 4 kids has been sewing since she was a little girl and quilting for the past 10 years. Working from her home in Idaho, she uses 100% high quality quilter's cotton and finishes everything to perfection.  Her collection of dozens of ribbons won at the Idaho state fair attests to the quality and workmanship of her creations.


For our giveaway today, Janice is offering this whimsical finger puppet bag to tote along your tots favorite little companions.  This fun fabric drawstring bag has six internal pockets to safely stow away those easy-to-lose finger puppets. Made of 100% quilt shop quality cotton fabric, the outside is white with zebras, giraffes, and other zoo animals and inside you'll find a coordinating gray fabric. The six puppets are plush fur zoo/jungle animals. This little tote is ideal for travel and use at church, in waiting rooms, and wherever you need to keep the kiddos entertained.  And did I mention that it would make a wonderful Christmas gift?

To enter to win this wild finger puppet bag, simply visit i sew 4 kids and leave a comment on this post letting us know which item is your favorite.  We'll close comments by 8pm EST on October 7th.  One lucky winner will be chosen to receive this finger puppet bag!  Good luck!