Into knitting or crocheting? Get on Ravelry! You have to register, and then it takes about two days to receive your log-in account information, but it is so worth the wait… (And if you’re not into knitting or crocheting? This site will make you want to learn…)

Want to be inspired by real people who make beautiful things? Sugar City is my newest obsession (thanks, Dancer!). I’m working on the Village Frock for Pea and just ordered the pattern for the Servant Frock. (Don’t you just love the names? Talk about evoking another era.) The patterns are easy to work with, come with very detailed instruction booklets and many variations on the same pattern that makes these fantastically chic little girl’s dresses a must.

This dress for a little girl. It’s made from a refashioned men’s dress shirt. The tutorial says it’s easy. And I’m dying to try it. And also? Kicking myself for that huge bag of my husband’s discarded button-downs that I recently dropped off at Goodwill. So this project? It’ll have to wait. But it’s on… the list.

Finally! Something to do with that huge Ziploc bag of fabric scraps… Love these fabric remnant necklaces. So cute on a little girl. Such a perfect project for a mama to make with her little girl. Here’s a tutorial. But it’s those necklaces with the flowers on them that really have my imagination on overdrive. How gorgeous are they?

This little book arrived from Japan yesterday. Apparently, the “Nina” doll that it’s all about is quite popular over there. Little did I know that you could make your own Nina doll, and this book? Gives you the pattern and the instructions. Needless to say, it’s in Japanese, but I’ve used Japanese sewing patterns before, and if you have a basic understanding of sewing, you can work with them just fine. And if you are confident in logic? It’ll be a cinch. Anyway, the book also (and more importantly!) includes patterns (and gorgeous color photographs) for Nina’s very own chic little wardrobe. It’s a project that the girls and I will tackle this summer. And it will be an ongoing one, but one that will bring much delight (and satisfaction!) to theirs (and my) faces!

And courtesy of Unruly Things, I have been inspired to make more of an effort. I’ve been slacking lately. Running out the door every morning in the same sweatpants that I’ve been wearing for the past three days. And my favorite sneakers that have been chewed up by sweet little Lola on the left side of the right shoe. And the same tee-shirt that I slept in the night before. My grey roots are showing and really? Would it kill me to put on a little blush? Wake up my tired-looking visage? Anyway, I am human and have fallen into one of those… what do you call them? Slumps. Or ruts. But Unruly Things is going to pull me out of it. I just know it will. And this is the perfect time to try – summer (well, almost). As in summer + dresses = effortless grace. Throw one on, and then even with yesterday’s hair and flip-flops, you look great. And speaking of dresses, this is the one (in ‘Johnnie’s Favorite Print’), found while perusing the past posts on the Unruly site, that caught my eye and imagination. I want this dress! The cut, the print, the fabric… It’s too perfect for words.

This French woman’s blog. I am obsessed. No one can put together such a stunningly simple and chic outfit as a French woman can. I love to scan through the photos of her ensembles. Most of them with hand-made items. Just impeccable. And again, inspiring. In my next life? Please, please, please let me come back as a fantastically modern French woman with style to spare. Please.

Love You Baby. My favorite new children’s store. I haven’t bought anything from them yet, but I cannot stop looking at the clothes! Just so simple, sumptuous and timeless. But with an edge. And you know me, I love that ‘edge.’ How incredible is this little skirt? With a pair of Havaiana flip-flops and a plain white tank-top? Pea would be in heaven.

Superga sneakers. I used to hoard these on trips to Italy. I’d hit every store in town, looking for my size, specific colors, and then lug them back to the States. I adored them. But somewhere along the path of my life, I let them go. And now? They are making them in tiny kid sizes, and my passion has been reignited. So cute, so practical, so many choices.

This Zodiac watch. I love a good and sporty watch. This one is chunky, but not so oversized that I’d look as if I borrowed my husband’s watch. Just perfect for an active lifestyle.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend! And Happy Mother’s Day…

But in the footsteps of Small magazine – an online-only read that I enjoy from time to time – walks another parenting ‘mag’ – online only, of course – that I am enjoying. LMNOP.

You have to register to download any issues, but it amounts to little more than inputting your name and email. LMNOP is on it’s 6th ‘issue,’ so if you’ve been looking for something to read, you can park yourself at your laptop tonight, when the kids are (finally!) in bed and check it out. Or better yet, you can print out an issue or two on paper and take it with you into the bathtub.

P.S. I just looked at their site again, and there are other items marked down to prices that are just too good to be true. But they are true. I think today is turning out to be a perfect Monday.

“Small” has art, recipes, home style, clothing style. For kids. And it’s all packaged in a very easy-to-read on-line format. You even turn the pages. Just like a real magazine. Minus the trip to the recycling bin.

The content is chic, the pictures are gorgeous. The ideas are spot-on. It’s just a great little read. Check it out.

A few of my favorite cold weather items, to keep me (and my kids) toasty warm in our home…

Flor tiles at our back doors. It’s the entrance for our dogs from the wet backyard, and I can’t figure out how to keep it clean. Since I’m not one for mopping on a daily basis, I really wanted something that would look good and be easy to clean. I’d always turned up my nose at Flor tiles, but you know what? These things are awesome. They are indestructible. They catch the muddy footprints. And when a square or two get trashed, I just toss them away and replace with new ones. No more ‘disposable’ rugs for us.

Sheepskin rugs for the girls. I bought one of them, custom, from a little shop on Etsy, but then a flabbergasted reader left a comment that they have them at Ikea! For 20 bucks! And while 1) I am fairly new to the joy that is Ikea, and 2) the Ikea sheepskins are smaller than the one that I bought, and 3) while there is a $20 sheepskin, there is also a larger one (go for the white) for just under $50, which is about what I paid for the one I bought from Etsy, so really, it’s a wash. I did go ahead and buy another one the last time I was there. I was so tired of listening to my girls fighting over the sole sheepskin. Now, they both snuggle up on their respective rugs, which brings me to my next favorite…

Classic family movies. Think “The Sound of Music,” and “Mary Poppins.” I couldn’t wait to have kids old enough to watch these, and now that I do, bring them on! With a big bowl of movie-butter flavored popcorn. Individually portioned out, of course.

Ikea’s Unni Virka throw blankets, stacked up on the end of a sofa. Eventually, the snowy weather outside that is so delightful now is going to turn grey and dreary and endless. These colorful blankets will add life to those days.

I am loving Steven’s Gourmet Hot Cocoa in Belgian Dark Chocolate. Delicious. I’m not much for milk chocolate, but I hoard dark chocolate. Chances are, you can find this at your local grocery.

And to keep us warm on the inside, too, Bear Creek Chili mix. I have a wonderfully delicious homemade chili recipe from Canyon Ranch Spa that is incredible. But sometimes, in a pinch, I want something hearty and tasty that doesn’t involve chopping vegetables. All you need for the Bear Creek mix is a can of tomato paste to make this chili mix work. I always throw in one pound of ground turkey meat (already cooked) for extra flavor. You’d never know this wasn’t homemade, and the best thing is? It cooks up in 20 minutes. I find mine at the grocery, I’m sure you can, too.

And lastly, nothing says warm and cozy days inside while it’s blowing blustery winds outside then library books! My newest discovery! I don’t know what took me so long. Well, yes, I do. As a kid, I was tormented with trips to the library, and would always refuse to take a book out. Because sometimes? There were gross things stuck to the pages, and my little mind imagined the worst. Boogers. But now that I’m a mom, I’m not afraid of a little booger.

These are my favorite kid things this year. Things that my daughter’s are wearing, using, snuggling up in… you get the picture.

The first thing would have to be Aveeno Baby Soothing Bath Treatment. With both girls suffering in the winter from eczema, I love to use this in their bathtub. I think it’s helping with the itchies.

After their bath, I massage them with fragrance-free Curel lotion. Not very luxurious, unless you factor in the skin softening properties of this utilitarian lotion. It’s truly amazing. Rough patches on the elbows? Gone. And in the morning, their skin still feels soft and smooth to the touch. Curel is a God-send. I can’t recommend another lotion more than this one. And if you’re looking for it in your store, and they appear to be out-of-stock, you’ll know I’ve been there first. I hoard this stuff. Bottles of it. The giant bottles.

For their chapped cheeks, I love Balm Balm’s Baby Balm. Fragrance-free. No petrolatum or mineral oil to clog the tiny pores on their faces. It’s basic. It’s no frills. It works.

Smart Wool socks. Ahh. No more scratching the ankles with a hairbrush because of wool socks. Yes, I realize these are wool. But not the old-school wool. The kind that tortured me as a child. The kind that brought about a bad case of hives should I even look at a pair of wool socks. These socks are on the pricy side, but if you live somewhere that’s winter for the majority of the year, these become a basic necessity.

For Pea, we loaded up on Old Navy tights. She still insists on dresses. Every day. So we needed a lot of tights. Old Navy’s are nice and thick, a little bit of a cableknit pattern to them. Just right for the cold winter months.

Mukluks. Ours are brown. And they make any outfit look amazing. An investment, yes. But these are the cutest boots that I’ve ever seen. Everywhere we go in them, the girls are stopped and the boots admired. But even more so than being just the most adorable boot around is the warmth factor. They are toasty. And since you get to wear them with socks (it’s recommended), the stink factor is canceled out. Yes, Mukluks have replaced last year’s Uggs.

And still, it’s The Anecdotes hand-made sweaters. Layered over long-sleeve tee-shirts, they are toasty warm. And infinitely chic on a little kid. I’ve mentioned these sweaters before. They are truly heirloom-quality. Long after my girls have outgrown these sweaters, I intend to pack them up and place them somewhere special, for Pea and Coco to pass on to their own children. Check out her shop. She’s having a sale!

And lastly, these fantastic hats, from another of my favorite Etsy shops, called Tonsyn Handknits. The perfect hat for kids. No pink bunny ears here.

When we moved here in mid-February, we were coming from a climate that was already quite warm. Like in the 80s kind of warm. And it only gets hotter from there. Summers in Fort Worth are brutal. The only time to take your kid to the park, between the months of June and September, was very early in the morning. Because if the heat and humidity didn’t get you, the bugs surely would. So it was basically air-conditioned house to air-conditioned car to air-conditioned… wherever. Not a lot of fun.

Fast-forward to Utah, and here we are, it’s summer. August. And the days are in the low 80s. And the nights? Well, come dinner time, and there’s a distinct chill in the air. Sleep with your windows open, and wake up in the morning chilled to the bone. It’s ideal.

But we moved here with no cold weather clothing. Well, sure, we had some odds and ends, but no winter wardrobes, with the exception of ski gear, which come on, do you really expect me to run around in racing stripes? When not on skis? Unh-unh. So for the remainder of last winter, we layered. And layered. And then layered some more. And honestly, it doesn’t really get bone-chilling cold here, regardless of what I said. Even in the winter when it’s snowing. But a girl needs some sweaters, you know? And the girl’s daughters? They definitely need some sweaters.

And therein lies my predicament. I want fabulous sweaters for them. Just as fabulous as I would wear. Because they’re going to be wearing them. A lot. I mean, a lot, a lot. And yet, nothing out there was doing it for me, nothing was hitting the nail on the head of what I had in mind for them. And so it had gotten to the point where I was googling knitting tutorials in the evenings. Because if I couldn’t find what I was looking for? I would make it! So, I added “learn how to knit and crochet” to my ever-growing list of Things to Learn Before It’s Too Late. Only problem? There were a lot of other things already on that overwhelming list, and so I was pretty sure that 1) the girls would have to make do in Baby Gap sweaters (not that there’s anything wrong with Baby Gap, it’s just that I get so bored with seeing every other kid on the playground, in the pick-up line at school, at the local Mexican restaurant, in the same exact sweater; and 2) my allergies would get the best of me, because I am allergic to wool. And cashmere. And angora. And just about every other material out there that provides warmth and comfort.

And then, the clouds of frustration parted, a ray of light shone down, and I found them. The perfect sweaters. Seriously, there are just some people out there who get it. Who get that there are moms just like me who prefer muted shades of brown and green and simple adornment, that makes one say to themselves (or to the artist, in my case), upon seeing the sweater for the first time, “can you make this in my size?”

The Anecdotes. The answer to my prayers. And of course, you know where I found this shop, right? Take a wild guess. That’s right. Etsy.

I have purchased three already. One for Pea, and one for Coco to wear now. This coming winter season. And then I went ahead and bought a third sweater, for Coco, to wear next winter season. And I justify this by knowing that Pea’s sweaters? When she’s outgrown them? Will be passed on to her little sister. And then, when Coco outgrows these sweaters? They will be wrapped – preserved – in a special box, for my daughters to pass along to their own daughters, someday. These sweaters? They will never be out of style, never, ever, ever. They are classics, because really, what are classics but simple and elegant designs that can (and will) stand the test of time?

So the three sweaters arrived yesterday. I couldn’t get the package open fast enough. And honestly, I nearly cried when I unfolded them. They are so stunningly gorgeous. And soft. My God, you never knew that wool, even merino wool, could be as soft and cozy as that which is used to create these sweaters. And the sweater that started it all? It’s nearly identical to this one, the “Phillip,” although the original one that I ordered is in a pale shade of purple with green buttons. And while purple? And green? Not my usual colors? The sweater was absolutely to-die-for. So much so that I went on to request a custom sweater, the same style, but in a grey, for Pea. And, whoa. Another to-die-for sweater. She tried it on last night, wouldn’t take it off, took the dogs outside in it, and then came back into the house and announced, in no uncertain terms, that she would like another sweater, from the same place, in purple.

Done. There will be one more sweater coming her way, in what I am sure is to be a lovely and sophisticated shade of purple. It will be in the style of the “Roger,” which is basically the same style of sweater as the second one that I ordered for Coco, to be worn this winter, although Coco’s is in a shade of grey with olive buttons. A neutral, if you will.

I have ordered many things from Etsy since discovering the beauty and rarity of handmade things. But these sweaters? The best of the bunch. Now, if only the woman behind the line would make these sweaters for grown-ups. What I wouldn’t give for an “Oliver…“

It’s from “The Flight of the Conchords.” It’s in reruns on HBO. All 12 episodes from the first season. It is, hand’s down, the best show on television. The only program, in my opinion, worth watching. And wicked crush on both Bret and Jemaine (isn’t he the guy from the “Outback Steakhouse” commercials?) aside, the rest of the cast is just brilliant, including Mel, who steals absolutely every scene that she is in. I’ve been watching my DVD of the first season and cannot stop. Same episodes. Over and over. And I never tire of a single moment.

I honestly wish I could remember just who’s blog I was reading when I found the video clip of the “boom boom” song. Until I saw that embedded clip, I had no interest whatsoever in the show. Had no clue what it was about, didn’t care. But now? I’m counting the days until the next – and new – season airs, supposedly in January of 2009. Why? Why so long? Why? Why do you do this to me, HBO? First “The Sopranos” and now this? It’s not right.

Anyway, to the owner of the blog that I stumbled on with the “boom boom” clip, thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart…