Thankfulness

Living thankfulness.  I am so grateful for my life, everyone in it and for all that we have.  We are so lucky.  Feeling very thankful this holiday season - holidays are so much more fun with kids, especially now that Lemon is a bit older.

Thanksgiving is one of our favorite holidays because we spend it with my dad, away from the hussle and bussle of cooking and cleaning for a large group of people.  It is always so relaxing and this year we went out to eat, which was even better!

We spent the morning in our pjs - playing play-doh, watching a movie, taking baths (showers) and just bumming around - it was so lovely.  At around 4 we started getting ready and around 5 my dad came over to ride with us to Hotel Valley Ho where we ate a super yummy Thanksgiving dinner (and they have gluten free options!).  Lemon and I had turkey, mashed potatoes (she gagged), gf stuffing (with chorizo!) and cranberry sauce, Ian had a hamburger and fries (he hates turkey dinner) and my dad had turkey as well.  My Aunt Susie joined us again and got Lemon a Minnie Mouse toy, which she loved.  Lemon was a super good baby at dinner and afterwards we came home to eat Katz's gf pumpkin and apple pies - if you haven't had these mini frozen pies, get them!  So good!

My bestie hosted Thanksgiving at her house for her, and her boyfriend's families, so I headed over there around 9 to check out her new table, decor and catch up.  I ended up staying until 12:30am and had a blast, a perfect end to a beautiful day.  It was hot, once again (in the 80's) and it was just so gorgeous out - I love fall in Arizona!

 

 

This morning we headed to Ian's parent's house to eat breakfast and take family photos.  Getting these little cousins together is always my fav!

 

 
 
  

 

Moms on Mondays - Stephanie from The Dandelion Lane

 

This week I have the pleasure of featuring Stephanie from The Dandelion Lane!  Her pieces are just so colorful and her family is seriously cute.  Go shop and support this mama's small business!

My name is Stephanie Scurlock and I have an Etsy shop called The Dandelion Lane!  I also have an Instagram and Facebook. I decided to take up sewing when I found out I was pregnant with my, now one year old, daughter, Ryan Cathleen.  I was super excited to make her some clothes as well as other pieces for her nursery.  After receiving a number of compliments on my items, I decided to open The Dandelion Lane.  At the time of opening my shop, a few months ago, my husband was still in Medical School and so money was, and still is (even though he is a Surgical Resident), tight. I thought this would be a great way to work from home, as well as allow me to use my creative abilities.  

My shop name came from a lifetime love of dandelion’s.  When you blow them, they fly and you never know where they will land and plant themselves, and that’s kind of how my life is too!  My husband and I have been married just over four years and due to his schooling and now residency, we have lived in England, Grenada, California, and now Massachusetts so the name just fit.  The Dandelion Lane offers baby-toddler dresses and rompers as well as crib quilts, and I am hoping to expand my inventory list to even more here in the coming months.  

 

My husband and I are both from California and grew up together.  We began dating in college and married in 2010.  I have a degree in Kinesiology-Exercise Science and planned to go into graduate school for Physical Therapy, but decided to follow my husband on his medical school journey instead.  Because we lived out of the country for two years, I was unable to work, but I ran an after-school program for extremely underprivileged children in Grenada called Limes.  Meeting with those children three times a week and playing games, helping with homework, and giving them a snack was perhaps the most rewarding experience of my life and definitely the most eye-opening.  I never thought after we came back to the US that I’d be opening an Etsy business, but I have always loved crafting, scrapbooking, and creating; and so many of my family and friends are not at all surprised by my endeavor.

At the moment, I am a one-woman show at The Dandelion Lane.  I hand pick all of my materials and sew every last piece that is purchased.  It can be difficult to find time to do much sewing with a 12 month old running around 24/7, but I am usually able to get some done during nap time as well as once Ryan goes down for the night.  Ryan comes with me to the fabric store and serves as my biggest inspiration for my fabric choices.  I buy materials that I could see myself putting her in.

I really love Etsy because it makes it so completely easy for a Mom like me to open a business.  It’s extremely user-friendly and pretty inexpensive to list items.  Running The Dandelion Lane allows me to feel like I am contributing to our families financial situation, as well as allows me to be at home with my daughter all day.  Honestly, the hardest part is just finding the time to create and sew and having lots of ideas for future pieces but not enough time in my day!  I’m sure most moms, whether they run a business from home or not, can relate!  

In the future, I hope that The Dandelion Lane can continue to grow, slowly and steadily.  I’ve already had a couple of offers to sell my pieces in boutique children stores, but have yet to find the avenue that feels “right.”  I would love to offer my children’s clothing in baby boutiques in the future!  I love custom creating dresses, rompers, and quilts to fit the ideas of my customers.  I also enjoy the challenge of finding the right materials and patterns to fit someone else's idea.  It can be hard at times, but it is so fun when the customer's idea and my eye for material meet.

My advice for fellow mom-entrepreneurs, or moms that are thinking about opening a business, is to just go for it.  You’ll never know whether you can find success until you try, and things like Etsy make it super easy to start.  I figured the worst thing that could happen was I’d list a few items and they’d sit there for a few months and no one would purchase them.  Luckily, that wasn’t the case with The Dandelion Lane, but even if it was, I would have regretted not putting myself out there.

Some of my other favorite shops include Ryleigh and Rue and Snuggle Bugs Bowtique.  Both offer the most adorable headbands for your littles.  I also just recently stumbled upon Maven Dolls.  Lee can custom make a Maven for you, I ordered a Maven Ryan for my daughter’s first birthday.  Her talent and eye for beauty is simply unbelievable!

Thanks Stephanie, I wish you all the best!

Milestones

These may be boring for you, but they aren't for me.  I used to put these on her monthly posts but since I stopped doing those, they have just been stored in my phone.  I thought I'd transfer them over today, here, so that I have them for safe-keeping.  I love this girl and I love looking back at these - it is so cool to watch them grow and learn.

So, here's what has been happening since Lemon's 2nd birthday to now, when she's almost 29 months old (December 2nd):

11.21.14          You came up, hugged me and said "I love you mommy" all by yourself, unprompted at Music Together.  I melted.

11.16.14          You want me to kiss your booboos.  You say "hurt hand" and come up to me with your hand and I have to kiss it.

11.15.14          You took off both of your shoes (flip flops, your favorite) by yourself tonight.  You wear panties at home and when you go out now, and you pee in big potties when we are out.  You don't ask to go pee yet but if we take you frequently you go and never have accidents.  You only wear diapers to sleep.

Asked you to come and snuggle with me and you said, "no."  Asked you again and you said, "you're crazy."

11.11.14          You peed in a potty for the first time out today, at the movies when we saw Big Hero 6, your 1st 3D movie. 

11.4.14           I yawned and from the backseat of the car you asked, "You sleepy mommy?"  It was so cool!

We read a book the other night and there was a character climbing into bed and you said "he's getting into bed."  Full on sentences and you tell us what you did earlier in the day and what you want now.

10.27.14         Two days ago you asked us to "take a picture" of your dolls in your shopping cart.  So funny that you asked!

10.28.14          I got  a recording of you singing the made up song (that I made up) "I Kiss Your Eyes" to me and kissing mine.  Soooooo cute.

10.25.14          We sing "I Kiss Your Eyes" at night and after I sing it to you you say to me, "do mommy's, do mommy's" and you sing it to me and kiss my eyes.  I love it and almost cry every time.

10.24.14          You say "no way" and "that was close!"

10.18.14          We started panties at home today and they look so cute on your little butt.  We've only had one accident in 3 days!  You even wore them out for a walk today too!  (10.20)

10.13.14          Everything is "mommy please, mommy please, mommy?"  or "giraffe please, giraffe please, giraffe?"

You said "see elephants, see the elephants mommy?"  and then I say "I see the elephants" and then you say "do you?" (because that's what I used to say back to you!)  You are so funny, cute and smart - so clever!

10.8.14           Today you told Brittany about our trip to Oregon, when she picked us up from the airport.  You told her actual details about our trip, so crazy.  You say full sentences like "want water mommy."

10.10.14         You pulled your shirt up while daddy was changing you and said, "see boobies daddy?"

9.27.14           Imaginative play yesterday - you wiped and pretended to change a toy piggy bank.

9.15.14           Today I want to remember cuddling in bed for 20 minutes after you woke up, just you nursing, us humming her favorite songs and her little body wrapped around me under the covers.  We wouldn't have moved but Brittany came over.  When I left for work I even got two kisses, the kind where you grabbed my face and kissed me and then acted like it wasn't enough and did it again.  Today after school we all laid in bed for half an hour - playing, cuddling and pretending we were sleeping, going under the covers and kissing.  It was one of my most favorite days.

9.6.14            You said "kiss me" at breakfast in your high chair so I leaned over and you kissed me.  You gave me a million kisses on the couch tonight when daddy would tell you to kiss him, you'd kiss me instead.

9.4.14            Today you nursed, then put Woody (the doll) on my boob and said "want some?"  Too funny!

While you were eating dinner you said "go swimming" and then pointed your finger at your food and said in a funny voice (mocking us) "you gotta eat first!"  It cracked us up!

Tucking you in at night is my most favorite thing lately.  I love seeing your half smile under those covers, I love laying in your teepee with you and just kissing and tickling you.  In the mornings I've been climbing into your crib to nurse and cuddle - so fun.

9.1.14            Tonight we laid in your teepee together - singing and cuddling and then I tucked you in and you blinked fast at me and then I do it to you and you have the cutest smile on your face.  Best couple of days with you.

8.28.14           You now get off of the couch forward instead of having to turn around and do it backwards.  You haven't nursed since Friday (and it's Tuesday).  You are really sick (Hand, Foot, Mouth they say but I think it's something else) and you can't nurse - cold sores in your mouth.  You like for me to have my shirt off so you can just lay next to my boob and cuddle it.  You have been the sickest you've ever been (aside from throwing up) and it is the worst - you didn't eat really for 5 days.

You like when I tell you what you are going to do the next day, the night before, as I tuck you in.  You ask when you're going to bed (and it's always "go see animals?").

8.18.14           You figured out how to put your two hands together with your fingers together too, like you're praying, and it is so cute and you thought it was so cool.

8.17.14            You say "hold you" when you want us to hold you.  You say "hold hang" and when you want me to sit by you, you say "mommy sit."

You quote movies sooooooo good and even the actions/sounds in them.  You only want to watch The Croods lately, not Toy Story anymore.

8.13.14          You grabbed my face the other day and kissed me, lips puckered and all.  All on your own.  THE BEST.

8.12.14          Today you pulled some sunglasses of yours, out of the basket, and put them on and came to find me.  Then you said, "mommy look a me!"  So cute and your biggest sentence yet!

8.2.14           You asked for Nora when we went back to a restaurant that we went to with Nora 1.5 weeks ago.  You said it in the parking lot before we even went in!

You sang the song "almost there" from Princess and the Frog when we held you up by just your butt in the pool and lifted you up.  I had no idea why you did that until we watched the move again and there is a part where some guys are carrying her over their heads like that - too funny!

You ask for watermelon after going swimming because we did that last summer - you remembered.  You did the same at Big Surf this year - asked for watermelon because we ate it last year there.

7.30.14          You kissed me 20 times in a row, over and over again, unprompted while I held you in the pool.  You love your mommy.

7.25.14          You asked for the potty when I took off your diaper yesterday and then you peed in it for the first time!!  It was so cool!

Then this morning you peed on the floor, slipped in it and was laying face down in it when we found you.  You peed outside 3x while swimming, including once in a chair and then you pooped in your swim diaper.  1 step forward, 2 steps back.  Ha.

7.24.14          I picked up a lemon today and asked you what it was you and said "a lemon."  You know your name is lemon and that it is also a fruit.  Big moment.

You wore a cowboy hat at Gymboree today the whole time and when we had to go, you wouldn't take it off.  (You also wouldn't let me not wear mine.)  You carried around a horse all day too and even picked up another one and gave it to a little girl and when she walked away you said, "be nice."  You saw a kid in a cowboy hat that looked like mine (because I took mine off) and you said "mommy hat" until I found another one and put it on.  Your hat had a string on it and you kept wiggling it around and calling it a lasso like you were roping something.  When we had to leave and take off the hat (and horse) you cried and cried and everyone laughed, it was so cute.  You also love making scarves into flowers, you did it yesterday at Gymboree and then today too.

7.22.14          You said "what's in there" when you wanted to see a box of flash cards.  I hummed songs and you sang them while I hummed, so cool.  I also finally got a good "see you later" (seeuater) on video.  My fav word still along with "watermelon" and "strawberry."

Yesterday at Big Surf when we got there you kept asking for watermelon.  You asked over and over and then I remembered that last year, when we went, you got a big thing of watermelon.  How did you remember that from a year ago - when you were only a year old?!

7.21.14          You told Nani to "brush her hair" on FaceTime today.  You ask for "milk" and "juice" and you woke up today talking more than ever.  You say "look at me."

You are making friends with daddy more and more - you gave him a kiss today and you don't freak when he changes you and you wanted to be with him in the water at Big Surf.

Molluscum Contagiosum sucks but ACV kills it, and bandaids.  Don't try Desitin - it spreads it.
Says "what are you doing" and "put a shirt on" and "eat one more" and "you get bubbles."

7.15.14          You got mad when I wanted to put my hair up, you kept saying "hair please" until I put it down again.

You wanted to pop your balloons, from your party, but then you did and then you cried because they were all gone and popped.

When we are on our phones you come up to us and ask to look at "pictures of elephants."  I have no idea why but you must think that when we are on our phones that's all we are looking at all the time.  Ha!

7.7.14          You put your hand on my face today and then leaned in for a kiss.

7.6.14          We spent all day at the beach on the 3rd, Lemon loved the water.  Asher and Courtney met us and we were at hotel on the 3rd.  On the 4th we watched the parade, swam and Lemond didn't sleep at all then we went to the beach a little, then so tired but still watched fireworks.

Says "ow that hurts."

7.3.14           We spent all day at the beach today and you loved the water.  You weren't afraid of it at all and would barrel right out into it, whether anyone else was coming or not.

You say "ow, that hurts."

Moms on Mondays - Kristy from Babies in the Hood

    

This week I have the pleasure of featuring Kristy from Babies in the Hood.  She makes the cutest, softest, hooded bath towels and Lemon immediately had to put hers on and prance around the house.  You must get one for your babe, they are GREAT for toddlers because they are full size towels, check out her shop and go buy something!  Kristy has also set up a coupon code for all of you, it will expire two weeks from today so use LEMON15 for 15% off your order - but hurry!

You can find me at my Etsy shop, on Facebook or on Instagram.

I make awesome hooded baby and toddler towels. (One size fits all!)  Babies in the Hood's 100% luxury cotton hooded towels are the perfect fit for your child! My unique design makes the towel fall snugly around your child’s shoulders keeping them warm and cozy. You can use it for the pool, beach, or just at home. I have pre made towels and a "customize your towel" section with 11 towel colors and an awesome selection of ribbons to choose from.

 

My mom taught me how to make the hooded towels when my friends started having babies over 12 years ago! I loved making my friends something that was really useful and unique. They always would tell me that they loved the towel and still use it. I have some friends who are using it on their 2nd and 3rd kid! (Obviously you are going to want one for each of your kids! ;) ) Over the years I've adapted my mom's design a little to make it my own. I checked out lots of other hooded towels and none of them had the same design as mine, and almost all of them had a name embroidered on them. (But, I'm the kind of mom who doesn't want my little girl's name embroidered on things she's wearing in public places.) I decided to open up my Etsy shop just this year, July 2014, because I knew that these towels were different from the other ones already out there. I always try to find really fun and unique ribbon to go with the towels. And, I'm sure there are other moms out there who don't want names embroidered on them ,like me, but still want a customized and cute baby item.

I have a bachelor of Music Education and I taught junior high choir for 4 years. The pubescent voice and I are the best of friends. ;) I absolutely loved teaching choir, and junior high kids are some of the most fun and entertaining people on this Earth! I loved being able to connect with my students on a creative level, and give them the tools to learn some really tough music! Sadly, my job got cut to part time and I lost my benefits. Realizing it would cost more for me to work than stay home, I made the best, yet hardest decision to quit teaching and be a stay at home mom. It has been an awesome year being home with my little one, but I sure do miss those kids!

My husband, Dan, and I went to the same junior high, high school, had a class together in college but never talked until we meet at a church activity several years after we had both finished our Bachelor degrees! We knew of each other . . . or at least he claims to know who I was, although I am still a little doubtful.  We've been married for 2 years and have a sassy and fun little girl, Nora, who is 1. (We move pretty quick!) We both love to travel and can't wait until he takes the Bar and *hopefully* passes so we can start saving up to go somewhere fun! We are a part-time "crunchy" family - I was able to have an amazing natural birth with my daughter and we have been cloth diapering 95% of the time for about 6 months now. Surprisingly, my husband was the one who wanted to CD, but I am totally on board now and will talk to anyone who wants to know more about it. But . . . we also love our SUVs and several of our non "green" life conveniences! :) We like mixing the two worlds to find the best lifestyle for us!

I NEVER thought I'd be trying to sell something I sewed! My mom is an amazing quilter, and seamstress, and tried to teach me when I was younger, but it never took! She even bought be a sewing machine when I graduated from college, in hopes that I would get the creative itch (I think). (I asked for an electric piano, ya know, because I'm a choir teacher, but that was not an acceptable request!) I am so glad I have it now and I use my machine 95% of the time to make hooded towels. The other 5% is for a random project for my baby! 

The most challenging part of running my shop is actually getting the word out about my product. I've only been open for a little while so I'm not sure what the best avenue is as far as promoting. I don't want to be that annoying friend who posts all her shop info on her personal accounts, but I do have to start somewhere.  I just started out, so here's hoping that the shop can grow and I can process several orders a week! I only can work on my towels during nap time or after Nora goes to bed for the night, but I am figuring out how to streamline the process so I can cut down my production time a little! 

My favorite item in my shop is the "customize your towel" section. I have 13 different towel colors and 31 ribbon options, so I love seeing what combinations people like to put together. Often they choose something I never would have thought of and it looks SOOO cute! I like seeing other people's creativity come out in my product. 

My advice for other mom-entrepreneurs would be to - take that leap! I never thought I would have an Etsy shop, but I finally decided to just try it out. I have had so much support from my husband, friends and family, you'll need that too.  Just keep putting the info out there and you'll succeed! 

One of my absolute favorite shops is Quail Lane Company.  They make the cutest moccs! They are perfect for my baby's tiny feet.

Thanks Kristy, wishing you TONS of success!  :)