It looked like summer, but it was not

I have recently made every sincere commitment to blog regularly, but wrapping up business, overcoming a case of strep, and packing for a family of 4 overcame me this week.

We are actually on a little family vacation, complete with beach, sun, sand and 80 degrees. This is our first time on a big travel trip with two children, and with me working. The work doesn't stop, like it would in a traditional job. Neither does being a mom and wife. It's been interesting juggling it all, and I'm planning my Part Two of this post to fill you in a bit on how that all went from the mom/entrepreneur perspective. It wasn't without it's ups and downs. But, I will say for now, lessons learned and so far... pretty awesome.

Yesterday afternoon, while Jonah took a much (muuuuch, much, much, did I say much?) needed nap, Ava worked on a nature journal for her own little quiet time. She collected little bits and pieces from around our bungalow, and drew them into her book, then wrote a little story. The artist heart in me was just singing with delight watching her.

Me: Ava, I think a part of you is an artist like mommy!
Ava (very serious): Mom. My WHOLE BODY is!

PROLOGUE: The artist's method

Me peeking out at Ava while she's talking, singing and sounding out her words

more working, singing, sounding, imagining

CHAPTER 1: The Journey Begins

Our airplane. The houses in the back, left to right, are: home, Nantucket, Florida and China

Page 1: "Winter,…"

A dramatic beginning, makes you want more, right? :)
The root vegetable looking objects under the grass are hearts, bc "I love winter"

PAGE 2: "I went to the Florida House, and I..."

Smart girl already understands how to hook the reader with a cliff hanger

Page 3: "…loved it. It was winter, but it looked…"

The main character starts to question what she sees as real

Page 4: "…like summer, but it was not summer, but it looked like summer…"

The plot thickens, as we reach the height of conflict and understanding

 Page 5: "…every day it was hot."

All issues were resolved, and characters resolved to enjoy every day that it was hot,
even though it was winter but looked like summer. 

The end.

Epilogue: Behind the scenes

Missing in picture: VINB (very important napping boy). This is what was going on behind the scenes while I tried to complete this blog. NO small feat. I totally get guest blogging now.

The mood of the moment

I was inspired recently by art work from Surgarboo as seen on Sweet Peach.
Thank you Sweet Peach for bringing inspiration to me every day!

It's long been a plan of mine to create artwork for the line that is meaningful. When our babies are born, we want THE WORLD for them, don't we? We want to show it to them,
watch them experience, share in their joy, wipe away their tears,
and spoon feed all the love their hearts can hold. Right?

When saw this art, I believe it really got the to essence of a feeling, of a moment.
I was inspired to create a mood board around it. Check it out!

All images can be found on my pinterest boards

Happy Monday!

What can you discover?

It's 5 days into the season of love, and we are not done yet!

Don't loose steam, go big with love this weekend!!

Maybe your circumstances aren't ideal right now or this weekend, I myself am cuddling
my sick baby, and our weekend adventure with our family to Vermont is off.
But, don't let that be an excuse. Instead, let it be your motivation to
embrace your moments where & when you can, and enjoy them fully!

Below is a page from my daughter's art journal. This was the first art project she started
on her own. She's been drawing pictures ranging from exotic animals, to fantasy narratives,
to her ever day - her home and family, and writing descriptions to them.
Every page in a while, there is a little note, like this one below.

Out of the mouths of babes, adventure is in the eyes of the beholder!!

What can you discover??

Have a beautiful weekend!!

Love, me

Love Buttons

Busy, busy, busy today! My tech designer and I are meeting to go over final changes to my tech packs. So, that means I'm busy designing into them. Also, my recycled buttons arrived!! Why recycled, you might ask? In this woman's humble opinion, recycled is THE way to go to be environmentally responsible. I will be selecting one style for my little bear jackets. You are going to L-O-V-E them! (that was a hint, but you didn't know it!)

recycled Bamboo

recycled Wood

recycled plastic

My personal fav is the recycled wood. I love the textural feel and the marbled color mixing. 

What do you think??

After all important button decisions are made :) and tech packs are done,

I'm moving on to getting samples in the mail (yaaay), and working on the artwork.
Looking forward to those "big reveal" posts!

Ok, Rebecca out. Must go draw. But, don't think I've forgotten about the season of love!!

z Gallerie

Have a great day!

lots of love

We like to call our favorite events "seasons" in my family. We all enjoy a good birthday season lasting approximately a full month. No kidding! I know Valentine's Day is over commercialized. But, conceptually, I love a day devoted to love. Because I don't think we should be limited to one day, ~ although it serves as a good reminder when we realize, once again, how good it feels to give and get waves of love ~ I'm calling it…this week it's the season of love. 

What do you love??

this man.

Where would I be without this man? My partner in making dreams come true.

these babies.

They teach me more about the person I am, and want to be, than anyone or anything.

this spoon.

Purchased 15 years ago!! Little friend has lost prongs, and is covered in heat scars. I've searched for replacements and come up empty. Just might be the last spoon of it's kind. On earth. I'll probably be unable to part with it at this point, anyhow. We've come through too much together. On diets, off diets, dinners alone, dinner dates, family dinners. I. Love. You. Pasta Spoon!

this necklace.

Bought by myself, for myself, after Ava was born. I read an article @ the designer,
HollyMariejewelry, and fell in love. When Jonah was born, I sent it back to her to add him.
This is my favorite piece of jewelry I own. People always stop me and ask where I got it, &
when Ava has tough day, she asks me to wear it, so she is close to my heart. Can't beat that. 

this coffee.

Their Kona Blend might be the best coffee I've ever had.

this picture.

This pic is on  my personal vision board on  pinterest. I just don't get tired of looking at it. 

this place.

 Sunset @ Madaket beach, Nantucket, ma. we fell in love here. we were engaged here. our family grew here.
It has one of the best sunsets you will find anywhere. All you have to do is walk on over and enjoy.
photo: wonderground

this nail polish.

my glitter girl got it from somewhere :) this is from butter london. color is all hail the queen.

this bear

I've always had a thing for bears.  I love this big guy. artist sarah maycock.  

this quote

very inspired by this quote right now as a mother and an entrepreneur.
author unknown

To you. With love, from me.

"For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart.
It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul."

~Judy Garland, actress

…11:58pm 2/13/12…

red feathers, enough said

…12:01am 2/14/12…

from one heart to another

…nourishing our family…

surprise chocolate chip heart pancakes for my family

…I love you + you love me = we love chocolate…

win-win, really. Ava picked this out for her dad

…Love, our family…

first EVER family breakfast before school and work

…Love, Ava…

her vday cards for school. I forgot to take a pic. PS recreation is lacking.
They were SO cute!

…Love, Jonah…

I had other plans. He saw these, and it was all over. 

…Love, me

Wishing you love, this day and every day!

My first fashion show NYC FW 2012

Last week, I attended the WHIT FW Fall 2012 show. It was FUN! In full disclosure, it tweaked my confidence bone. I'm a mom of two, I work out of my home office, we moved out of the city…could I possibly fit in with this crowd? As a wise friend told me, "no one fits in with this crowd!" HA!

After I chewed on my nails for a minute or two, I dove right it…aaannnd decided I had to go shopping. So, 'round all my favorite places I went. And, came up ZERO. It's true, I panicked. Then, as another wise friend answered simply to my flurry of texts, "you're over thinking this. Put on something that makes you feel great, and just go and be you." 

wow, I've got some great friends, don't I?

With my head and heart together, I made one more stop, because I always find something I love that is SO totally me in this store. GenaLisa. It's a lingerie store, but she's got all sorts of goodies and she's an outfit guru. After Gena poked a little fun at me, "Rebecca, I know you've got some clothes in your closet!" She pulled together an outfit idea that was just right. for me. It wasn't over thought, it wasn't over done. I was comfortable, AND I felt cute and sexy. And, best part? I wasn't thinking about the outfit anymore. I was back to having fun. I felt just like me.

I know I've spent a long time on this whole outfit thing. But, your clothes are wearable art, really. Well, it is for some of us anyhow :) As an adult, you pick your clothes as a reflection and/or an expression of who you are inside, or who you want to seen as. When I put on the outfit, I felt fully that me on the inside was meeting the outside, even if in just a small way. Granted, I knew I had to open my mouth and chat as well!

It's true for baby clothes too. When you pick-up your first little outfit for your baby, what are you thinking of…dreaming of? Your sweet little baby's chunky little arms and legs? How it would feel to hold your baby in these clothes? Your sense of humor? Your aesthetic taste and style? It's more than that, you're not only picking baby clothes as a reflection of your style, it's also about you as the parent you are and want to be. You select organic, or socially responsible, or environmentally credible, or a brand that supports a cause you believe in…The kind of person you dream your baby will become, your hopes and dreams, and what that looks like to you. 

Make no mistake. Buying clothes is a very emotional purchase, and never so much as buying for your child. But, that is only half of it. Much like my FW week outfit, the clothes are just the outside. Beyond that, you actually have to open your mouth and BE you. And with baby clothes, beyond the clothes, you actually have to BE the parent.

I am so proud, and beyond thrilled, knowing our line stands for more than just cute clothes (which they are), deliciously soft high quality fabrics (which they are), beautiful artwork (which they have). This line is a point of connection with your child. An opportunity for you to embrace the moment and be YOU, as a parent with your child. 

So, wow, I thought I was just going to post some pictures this morning! But, here it goes, my night at the fashion show! If you have it, play: The third of the storms. - Mike Simonetti, Capricorn Rising. Just a little mood music!

the outfit.

tank top, leggings and necklace all from GenaLisa.
shirt from my closet!

the boots.

harley davidson boots from GenaLisa. I ADORE them!

the city.

sun was going down as I turned off the west side highway 

the place.

it just looks like you're going to have fun here

the floor.

next stop: THE MOON!

 the stage

funny little story here. I didn't know what the "s" meant.  

the ceiling

i loved the pattern this made

the runway.

show hadn't started yet, everyone beginning to gather

the people.

WHIT clothes were awesome! also fun to see the outfits finding their seats :)

the room

I was lucky to be able to join the WHIT room.
did I mention this is my brother and his partner's brand? 

the view.

my brother checking things out

 the press.

flashes going off everywhere!

 the woman.

me

the show is over.

one of my brother's partner's, lots of talking and celebrating

 the end.

the full moon shining over my driveway as I arrived back home