Cool + Classic Kids Gifts

i've been taking care of sick kids lately so my only option has been to start my holiday shopping online.  i've collected some of my favorite gifts from three great kids shops on the web.  i really love the classic heirloom quality that many of these toys have...

from land of nod - this old truck, baby buff rattle, eenie meenie cooking set,
play with your food, large plush animals, and aloha ukulele

we have the cooking set and play food and my kids play with it on almost a daily basis.
it is also the first toy their friends dig out when we have parties.
i highly recommend it!  perfect for kids in the age 1-6 range

from romp - real tool set and optrixx kaleidoscope cameras

restoration hardware baby & child - wool felt crowns, luxe faux fur russian hats,
mountain boy pull sled and the montlhery pedal car

Woodland Animal Ornaments

i've yet to start any holiday decorating, but i have planned a tree that is fun and extra kid friendly now that i have two little sets of curious hands.  i decided to try to make some ornaments and decorate my tree in woodland creatures.  here's a set of ornaments i made that can also be found in my etsy shop...

note - if you are viewing this within email, click MadMother at the top and be re-directed to the blog where you can access the etsy link

White & Woven

i fell in love with this dress as soon as i saw it a couple weeks ago on project runway.  it also happens to be by my favorite designer from the whole series uli herzner.  it reminded me of some equally beautiful pillows and poufs from abc carpet & home.  since how neither is in the budget, i've been on the hunt for a cheaper version.  i thought i had found one similar at homemint, but when i went for another look, they were already gone.  and so my search continues...

you can see more of uli on project runway allstars - i really hope she wins this time.berber pillows and poufs from abc carpet & home - they are organic, fair trade and hand woven by women in morocco.

michelle adams of lonny mag with her curated collection for homemint.
i'm also now on a mission to make the tie dye pillow on the left. 

i'm in awe of these woven vines structures and already dreaming about one in my backyard for the boys to play in.
there was little information on them, just that the photo was taken in new harmony, indiana.
if i knew they were still there, then a road trip would definitely be in order.  

Little Heart Breaker

dean is a flirt everywhere we go and i swear he's already been wooing my friend's daughter josephine for months now.  i took this picture of them a while back (you may have seen it in the beauty of boys post).  we were cracking up at how adorable it was and joking that we could sell it to a greeting card company because the sayings that could go with it are endless...

well he saw her recently and was at it again, but i'm afraid

their love affair may have taken a turn for the worse...

i love these "quick, grab your camera!" moments.

i couldn't get a series of pictures like this again if i tried.

Target Style

my friend jenny swears that i find things at target that she never even sees.  the key - it's the closest store to me so i'm there all the time.  it's easy and efficient to buy bananas and a jacket in the same trip when you have kids in tow.  my life right now almost requires that i shop this way, and when i can't find a size, i just order it online and in the process find even more great items.  and just when i wonder if target may loose their edge, they strike back again and again with amazing items.  in case you've missed them, here's some of the extra great items i've picked up in the past couple months...

kaelyn ankle boots and fur collar faux leather jacket
long sleeve geo sweater in asphalt gray, circo robot bank and long sleeve gray pirate sweater

harper hightops - i cannot say enough good things about these shoes!
i'm going to pick up another pair or two in fact. they go with everything, clean up easily
and they are velcro and elastic so they are perfect for the "i can do it myself" toddler.
someone literally complements them and asks where we got them everywhere we go.
even my friend eric wants a pair for himself (sorry only kid sizes) and his daughter "harper" of course.

small and mini gold bowls, oak washed box, square slate frame and faux leather frame -
all from the new nate berkus collection 

Tissue & Paper

i love diy and and the ideas out there right now on what you can make with tissue and paper alone are incredible.  i hope to try all of these projects below, but seeing how it could be awhile before i get to them, i didn't want to wait to share.  starting with the simple to the more complex...

versions of this tissue paper tassel garland are popping up everywhere
and i'm determined to get some onto my tree this year.

i absolutely love the new line of confetti system decorations at west elm right now.
i think they are so much more than just holiday decorations.  they would be beautiful clustered
like this or hung on a line in a child's bedroom or play room year round.

i posted a picture of a paper mache moon a couple months ago that i wanted to try making,
but this one seems easier and much less of a mess to make.  check out oh happy day -
they have some of the most beautiful and original diy projects i've ever seen
with full step by step instructions for this project and many more.

 and i really love this mini marquee sign - also courtesy of oh happy day.

I'm a Sucker For...

marquis letters, classy nautical, wes anderson films, fresh flowers, cars like this - especially in places like this, party decorations, marshmallows over the fire, vintage sports equipment, and the elvis lip.

this is a snapshot from my tumblr page - to see more of what i love and get an extra dose of MadMother inspiration follow me there (and/or on pinterest)

     

Watch Me Grow

this was the best and hardest project i have ever done.  starting when cole was just one week old i took his picture in his crib next to this well-loved bear that was my husband's from his childhood.  when i took that first picture over three years ago i had no idea how important the process would become to me.  i continued the tradition every friday, the day of the week they were both born, and ended up taking 104 of these pictures combined.  i complied all the pictures into books and i just received dean's in the mail a few days ago.  i recently heard the saying "you have a child forever, but a baby for just one year".  i am so happy i captured that short year for both of them in this way.  the ability to now see how they grew side by side to each other is priceless...

dean and cole at one month old

Good Quote

they have the ability to inspire and make you see things from a different perspective.  i have found an abundance of great ones lately, here's some of my favorites...

Handmade Halloween

halloween has become more fun now that cole has a better understanding of what's going on.  i'll admit for the past few years i've dressed him up more for my entertainment than his own.  for the last two iv'e had to hand make dean's costume to pull off the idea because it didn't exist in stores.  finding a balance between making it look good and not spending too much time on it has been the challenge.  cole especially had fun decorating this year and really got into character...

we decided to paint instead of carve and he took it very seriously.

our entry table with a couple of my favorite recent finds - brass flea market owls
and a black and white reversible scarf from target.

cole covered our mirrors with bat and bird decals

last year they were horton and the mayor of whoville
and here's the costume i made for dean this year

they were puss in boots and humpty dumpty

i went out to meet friends the other night and when i said goodbye to cole he said
"you're going bye bye now?  ...in the dark?  ...are you going trick-o-treating?  ...can i come!?!"
needless to say i don't leave the house much after dark and he had an unforgettable time trick-o-treating.