Aloha Laurent!

And Mahalo! This little lovely arrived on Thursday, straight from Lambert in Brooklyn, but had to wait until today for it's debut. I'm certain it would have ably assisted me on Friday's amusement park frolic with 15 5-year-olds but I couldn't bear the thought of someone pouring chocolate milk into it on it's maiden voyage.

And so, and so and so.... it skipped along with me to the farmer's market this morning and promptly stuffed itself full of sweet peas, proving only that the bag is as smitten with me as I am with it. The sun is out. The world smells of strawberries. My hair and my children are behaving. And I'm pretty sure it's all because I have a new bag. xo!

Friday, I'm in love....

I know it seems like this post is late, but actually - it's early. Because I wrote it from the Future. Saw the Conchords last night in Berkeley and I think, if I hurry, I might be able to catch them in Vegas tonight. That's how very much in love I am.

If you don't know Flight of the Conchords, you should. And if you don't think they're Awesome, I'm not sure we can be friends anymore. There, I said it.

10 things I want to do with my kids this summer.

1. Grow food

2. Ride horses

3. Go to a drive-in movie

4. Visit tide pools

5. Play miniature golf

6. Paint a mural (leftover from last year)

7. Ride cable cars

8. Eat breakfast outside as often as possible

9. Visit the Cartoon Art Museum

10. Go to the Rodeo

Some of my goals are a little more soft-serve, like "say YES more often" and "sing in the morning and dance while making dinner" and "when wearing a bikini, do not spend entire time thinking to self: I'm wearing a bikini."

Viva la Summer Mom!

I need a hero.

Someone has placed this heroic figure beside my bed. Whoever it was has my number because: I need a hero. I'm holding on for a hero til the morning light. He's gotta be sure and it's gotta be soon and he's gotta be larger than life. And I've gotta Bonnie Tyler song stuck in my head. And, now - if you're over 30 - so do you. You're welcome.

What next?

For the last three days, I've had a migraine and the flu. Fingers crossed, today I'm looking forward to a shop update, answering email, and locating two library books. But who knows what will happen next? Reflux? Hip dysplasia? Leprosy? Only time will tell.

Let me tell you....

1. Having a migraine for two days: sucks.

2. Waking up without a migraine this morning: Rules!

Thank you to Julie - I'm pretty sure it was the lifesavers that cured me. I feel energetic today and the picture of health and like I've lost 2 pounds, which I actually did because of having no appetite for two days. I'm not sure it was worth it.

Update (12:47PM): I may have spoken too soon. Uf.

Here comes the Summer Mom.

It's not the first day of summer (June 21). It's not even the first day of summer vacation (June 11). But I can hear her ambling this way in flip-flops. I can smell her sunscreen in the breeze. Summer Mom.

Sweet sweet Summer Mom. I'm working on my list.... Any suggestions?

Etsy Finds!

I almost missed it, by my Power Flower made Etsy Finds today! SO nice to get a little Etsy-love!

Okay, that's awesome.

Wow! delightful Tunnel House by Dan Havel and Dean Ruck, via ReadyMade. I'm so enchanted by this right now....

My to-do list has been far too laundryish and chorey for my taste, so today I'm sewing and making as much as one can with a companion who wants a snack every five minutes.

But first, the News.

I promised you News and here it is:

1. BananaSaurus Rex will be at the San Francisco International Gift Fair at Moscone Center, July 31-August 3. BananaSaurus Rex is not at all sure how she feels about this development. Excited? Yes. Apprehensive? Kinda. Should be in full-panic. Full. Panic. BananaSaurus Rex is sort of in a sanguine semi-panic at the moment. And talking about herself in the third person, which is odd. Even for her. Anyway.

2. Last night, Fin said to me, "Dude, I totally love you."

3. Seamus's favorite state of matter is Solid. He has a favorite state of matter. Dude, I totally love him.

Friday, I'm in love....

Today is going to be one of those days when Mama starts running at 8 AM and doesn't sit down until 10 PM. All in the name of elementary education. I just hope I have enough snacks in my bag.

Yes, I remember the time when I worked that hard every day. When 80-hour workweeks were commonplace and sustainable for months at a time. But I was like 25 then. And, more importantly, I was getting paid.

Anyway, I love this poster by hueconcept. I am going to take the content to heart and apply it to my daily life.

Next week: big (to me) news, finishing April items for the shop (fingers crossed), and starting May items for the shop (fingers on the other hand crossed).(!)

New in the shop....

There's a super-cute (if a do say so myself) new Hostess Apron in the shop. And that's rather a sassafrass little pose I'm affecting, isn't it? Because that's how I roll.

Look at Me!

Nevermind - Look at Fin! He's a total rock star over at the rikrak studio. Learn how to make recycled newspaper flowers and WIN some REusable Snack Baggies! Rah!

Roses are pretty.

Roses are pretty. I'm taking full credit for the above because they grew in my yard and I had the good sense to collect them before it started raining and stick them in a jar. Though, now that I've said it, I realize I deserve very little credit as "they grew" was the better part of the labor. Still.

Artichokes are pretty.

Artichokes are pretty. So are Eggplants. Aubergines. Makes me wish I liked eating them.

My girlies - two of my college roommates - came this weekend. Love! I took those two pedicure-virgins to get their toes done and we ate greek food and tried to find a couch Laine could live with, got lost in the gadget aisle in Crate & Barrel, drank too much, talked too much, Kamber and I stayed up too late.....

My little boys woke me this morning with the chicken dance - and nothing says "thanks for being our mama" like the chicken dance.

Friday, I'm in love....

Salted caramels from Have it Sweet, Calabasas Candy Co., and SugarMouth Candy. You can send me some, but not too many because I have almost no will power and it's almost time for the dreaded bathing-suit-trying-on. Loathsome.

When I absent-mindedly pop one of the kids' cookies in my mouth, it's like, Ugh-totally-unsatisfying. But a salted caramel? I would run an extra mile for that. Totally worth it.

So long, April. Hey, May!

Didn't April just fly? I completely forgot to tell you about all the sweet, pink, cherry blossom, cabbage rose deliciousness in the shop. Some of which is yet to come because I'm still working on it due to the aforementioned flight of April. Still, there are some new things: a Mama Go To Market Bag, a bistro-style Hostess Apron, and I'm especially proud of my new Bolsa.

May things coming soon too - yellow and white, vintage ticking and linen, hopefully including a kimono-inspired garment that has gone back to the drawing board several times already....

Haul.

Jealous? Look at all this crap I got at the Depot. So glorious. Plus, the beautiful and amazing Khris Brown was there with me and I could hear her joyful chortling one row over.

This copy of Ferdinand? Not great on the outside, but perfect on the inside. Overall, fantastic for a library book. That was printed in 1946. Yeah. Fifty cents, I paid for it. Now you're jealous. I love this story because it's all about knowing who you are and believing in yourself. You know, like The Matrix.

My breakfast with Khris and Fin....

pretty sky.

pretty girl.

pancake heaven.

do you like see-food?

pancake nap.