forgive us....

for our lives look (and feel) a little like this these days!  we will fall back into blogging routine ASAP!!
cheers!
M&L

LGBT Safe Space

A dear friend of mine from seminary posted a great blog calling communities that claim inclusivity and compassion to put actions to their words.  This epidemic of anti-gay bullying and the lives it is taking is unacceptable, and we should be striving to be more vocal in advocating and providing safe-spaces.  I encourage you to wander over and give it a read - a wonderful post by a wonderful woman.
http://www.theroaminrev.com/
cheers!
Liz

Covets & Cravings

• the goodbyn bento box makes me excited for kindergarten when Bean will need me to pack a lunch for her! heck, it makes me want to pack lunches for when she eats at home after preschool!
• these way cool puzzle sandwich cutters
• just about every single new fall pattern from oliver + s (i've been sewing up a storm this weekend & am antsy to get ahold of one of these!)

Anthropologie's new arrivals have me drooling:

• this dress
• this dress, too
• oh, and this blouse
• and this chemise makes me want to stay in bed all day with a great book & a mug of tea

what is it you're craving as we head into fall?!

cheers!
liz



Hand Dancers

i must admit, i love to watch dancing. i love those hip hop dance troups especially, and am sorry i never danced myself. when i watch it, i get all giddy inside and want to sign Bean up for every class imaginable - don't you love it, too? but alas, i can't dance AT.ALL - though highly musically inclined, movement is just not my thing, but these hand dancers are so rad they make me think there's possibility!

enjoy friends!

liz

weekend aspirations

it's been a mixed bag of emotions here at our house these last few days.  the Bean had her first day of preschool and didn't even care that mom & dad were leaving her and crying as they left.  She had the BEST time.  my younger sister graduated from beauty school.  my husband is getting ready to go on a week-long trip to DC to finish his BA.  and sadly, my mother-in-law died semi-unexpectedly.  this weekend will be the last one my husband will be home until october now, and i'm stressed about single-parenting it.  here's what i hope for the weekend:

• to go to costco and stock up!
• to finish reading "the girl with the dragon tattoo"
• to do at least one prep. chapter of my fall quarter reading
• to get babysitters lined up for the few scheduling complications now arising
• to send husband & bean out for an ice cream date while i tidy/organize the home for a long month

cheers, and here's to keeping you all posted!
Liz

school is just around the corner!

the Bean has her preschool student orientation this morning.  she had a blast, and in half the time preschool will typically last she made an art project, played in a bean-bin, counted coins into a cup, used playdough, sang a ton of songs, played with a doll house, heard a story, and made 13 new friends. 

thursday is her official first day of school - the day i'll make a fancy breakfast and she'll get her picture taken for the first of 14 or so 1st days to come.  thursday is the day she'll run from me to be with her friends and leave me along and crying in the car.  thursday is the day my wee little Bean becomes a real big girl.  has it really been that long since she was like this?

*sigh* i need me some more baby around here.....

*emera

Friends, as you know, I've been searching for a new "momma bag."  What you don't know is that I'm also in the market for a new DSLR.  And to be honest, I've been holding on making a decision because it's one more thing to lug around.  But, the ladies over at My Favorite Things may have an answer for both things.  They're giving away a gorgeous *emera camera bag.

Hurry on over and sign up to win it yourself!  I'm crossing my fingers for ya.

weekend aspirations

[will rogers at the typewriter]

Our plan for a Labor Day weekend of camping took a back seat to the first paper of my husband's MBA.  Apparently his professor has impeccable timing.  So this weekend I'll be doing whatever I can to keep our preschooler out of the student's hair.  Here is a list of things I hope this weekend will be for our little family of three.

• eggs + turkey bacon in the morning
• pajamas until noon
• a picnic by the river
• chocolate chip cookies with a gluten-free + dairy-free mix I just discovered
• transplanting our our daylilies that line the front walk before they take over the path
• reviewing materials to prepare for my upcoming labor support training
• learn every word on this album

etsy love

These are the things the currently have my attention at Etsy.

1.  Hippie in a Jar sounds like pure fun.
2.  Pure Beeswax Farm Fresh Egg Candles are the most fun + eco-conscious hostess gift I've ever heard of.
3.  This Felted Wool Squirrel Tea Cozy would be a cute addition to any kitchen counter this Fall.
4.  Does your iPhone need a face lift?  Why not cozy up to this lovely Owl Case?
5.  I adore this Sterling Silver Acorn Necklace.  It's a real Acorn!
6.  This Metal Vase is...so me!

Say "Yes", to cucumbers.

Say "Yes" to Cucumbers!

With a three year old in the house, I'm always looking for ways to treat myself to a little break + find a zen moment in the day, whether it's a nice cup of herbal tea or a mid-day facial with these fabulous little Yes to Cucumbers Natural Glow Facial Towelettes I recently spotted in the organics section of my grocery store.  They're soft, soothing, and refreshing.  But best of all, they're 98.7% natural!  And now they're on my must-have list.  I'm considering about adding them to all of my baby shower gifts.

distracted, an apology

Friends, I'm here to apologize.  To you + to my lovely blogging partner, Liz.  I've been a little distracted from this blog lately.  I'm preparing for birth support training with my birth idol, Penny Simkin in less than a month.  The reading is meaty. 

My head is full of thoughts about the mechanics of chilbirth and the politics of the way women are treated about their births in America.  Do you want to hear about that?!  The pressure I am putting on myself is heavy.  I feel like I'm behind the curve, as I haven't been a student in years.  I'm learning how to learn again. 

But I'm in a thriving time of life, and loving it.  I even got away for a sweet + silly date with my husband this weekend.  I promise to visit you all more often.  I love you.  And I love this blog.

current projects

i had a friend in college who used to mock me constantly about being like a grandmother. 

this is a picture of all the things i plan on using to make myself things.  a halfway knit hat, yarn for a cowl, and fabric for 2 dresses and a blouse. 

yup.

i think he may have been right :)

cheers to you, ioan.

liz

weekend aspirations

* get our study all tidy, up and ready for fall quarter (which is just around the corner!) * figure out if a party is indeed necessary for my 29th and get it rolling
* cheer on a friends first date with a new super hot interest
* go on a bike ride with the family
* get Bean's hair cut
* go to the farmers market

not a long list - it leaves room for fun and flexibility in one of these last weekends of summer. what are your weekend aspirations, friends?!

cheers!
liz

loving my love

Sometimes I forget to love on my Love. 

He's the type of man whose constant, predictable.  Someone close to us once referred to him as "the Rock of Gibraltar."  And they are right.  But the Rock of Gibraltar comes more with more hard surfaces than plush, pillow-y comfort.  So it's up to me to bring that out of him.  And I often forget, too.  So today, I am remembering to love my Love.

And having a card like these from blue pool road helps.  A lot.

Covets & Cravings

1. Yes, I am a major pattern/texture addict, I'm not afraid to say it.  And Anthropologie is my drug dealer.  Check out this way fun look.
2. Melissa introduced me to the evils of Fossil recently, and this watch may sneak its way into my dresser drawer sooner than later.
3. I have seriously been coveting this awesome multi-tasker tote pattern by Anna Maria Horner for a long time.  Now that I'm sewing a bit, maybe I should buy it....
4. Dana of MADE created this free tutorial for quilted notecards using scraps of fabric.  too fun!
5. eventually, ya'll may realize that I (liz) am completely obsessed with Shaun White (and it's not why you think!).  He has a new clothing line being offered here at Target.
6. these stacker rings from lemonadehandmade on etsy are equally bold, delicate and lovely.

what are some of the things you've been drooling over as of late?  anything you will actually indulge in, or just browser-window-shop, like me?
(see Husband, I'm being good! ;-)  )
cheers!
liz

weekend aspirations

I am going to the Oregon Coast this weekend, with new super cool grad-school friends.  Here are my weekend wishes....

• 
  
  to not totally dork out and make these rad new unmarried friends regret inviting a "mom"
• 
  
  to actually enjoy the relaxation away from Bean and Husband
• 
  
  to keep my wallet in my purse and enjoy window shopping
• 
  
  to sleep past 7:30am

happy weekends all!

liz

As Rachel Zoe would say....

"shut the front door!"

seriously, when my blogger friend Katy posted this Etsy link, I (obviously!) went to browse, and DIED!  I need a Visa Gift Card for my birthday, people - Etsy calls my name!! Check these cuties out!

link to etsy shop!

cheers!

liz

Twilight Saga

I avoided these books for a good while, but just before the first movie came out, I was convinced to pick them up.  I ate all 4 books up in about 2 days.  Now, I know they're some of the most poorly written books I've read, but in my opinion, the story is wonderful - and I read a lot!!

Recently I've come upon a new blogger to follow the housewifeblogger, and her latest post is about the appeal these books have on even us married ladies.  check her out here.  Personally, I think she's the bees knees :)

low-tech kitchen gadgets

This morning Prudent Baby put up a post about her favorite low tech kitchen gadgets and I loved it!  I immediately picked up my camera and (after some quick organizing) took a picture of my personal favorites!

My Top 4 Low-Tech Kitchen Gadgets!

technically, there are 7 low-tech's here, but since 3 of them are the same, I will say we have 4 faves here!

1) utensil canister - I keep these just to the right of my stove.  They hold my heat-proof spatulas, wooden spoons, and other things I regularly use like my ladle, and tongs.

2) my butter dish - we had a nice white ceramic butter dish since we were married, but recently it cracked.  I took the opportunity to get this lovely new yellow one from anthropologie.  Why do I love a butter dish? It lets me keep a small amount of butter covered, but out on the counter at all times, soft & ready to spread.

3) olive oil jar - we use olive oil for all of our cooking, and keeping it accessible and with a pour spout is really handy for the everyday.

4) salt pinch pot - my sister made this pot for me in her High School pottery class.  I love it for the certianty it gives in adding salt to a dish.  it's easy to use a measuring spoon for a recipe, and I believe I use a lot less in my cooking because I can see what I'm pouring in. 

Just looking at this picture makes me happy.  Low tech or not, these are my favorite kitchen aids.  What are yours, dear friends??

the mom purse

Now that we've grown past the "diaper bag" stage in our family, I've been on a quest for the right purse.  We all know that just because I'm not hauling around diapers and baby bottles doesn't mean I'm sans other peoples' stuff!  I'm the mom - that's my job.

My requirements:

• 
  
  large enough to carry "stuff" but not so big that it allows for so much that I get a shoulder ache
• 
  
  asthetically pleasing - I no longer need a bag that Daddy has to feel OK about carrying
• 
  
  handmade and/or environmentally sensitive.

Not so bad, right?  Well, I have yet to find anything since my quest started two years ago.  Can you help?  I'm taking suggestions!

This one may have to suffice:

weekend aspirations

* determine what I want to make with these fabrics I picked up at Ikea

* keep working on my first sashiko pillowcase

* to make an Anda dress in a material that doesn't resemble a hospital gown as much as this does (guess I have a new homemade nightgown!)

* to braid my hair like this

image-credit

and, oh yeah - pack my family up for a week long vacation at the beach that starts sunday!

intentions

hello to you who have stopped by! we (melissa & liz) hope you enjoy your visit, and that naptimesomewhere can be a source of joy, insight, laughter, and growth for you as much as we hope it can be for us. we intend to use this space to open our lives to you; inviting you into our homes and families, our respective discernment processes, and our general "life-of-a-mom" dispositions - both sunny and stormy ;-) basically, the scope of acceptable post topics here is wide! we will post on things like:

• trials and joys of parenthood ( poop on the floor & poop in the potty!)
• religion & theology
• marriage, relationships, community (our partners are awesome & our partners are jackholes)
• getting our craft on (sewing, crafting, knitting, decorating...)
• homemaking & keeping
• cooking
• and more!

who we are:

melissa and liz are both mothers of 3yo's, on opposite sides of WA state. they met in college and became close after parenthood.

melissa is a wanna-be hippie married to a mechanical engineer and forever-stuck in a town full of staunch scientists. her soul lies in seattle or san francisco, but her heart rests in her home. she is currently pursuing certification as a birth doula - a professional birth coach. melissa enjoys keeping a wine diary, reading, crafting, watching Nick Jr. with her son, and planning the next dinner party.

liz is a graduate student, paving her own career as a sex therapist for the Lutheran church, and is a burgoning member of the ELCA's Deaconess Community. she is a deeply rooted pacific northwesterner, and the older she gets, the better the suburbs look. she loves knitting, cooking, modern architecture, spending money, laughing, colorful stripes, and trying new alcoholic drinks.

we welcome you to join us on this journey...through our labyrinth.

here are the rules:

keep it fun - the more you comment, the more we know our audience.
we'll be honest.
be nice.