Fresh From the Cow's Teat...Or Not

Our cottage cheese is from Utah, heavy cream is from Portland, and the buttermilk hails from Washington. Thank goodness I am out of dairy products because this website is strangely addicting...

Pretty Pretty Please!

I like bags. Strike that I LOVE bags. I think it has to do with the fact that when all my friends were shopping for clothes, I always went for the accessory department to peruse. I mean really, when you are 17 years old with a size 15 foot and a 37" inseam, there are not a lot of options for you in the teen department.

So you can imagine my delight when I ran across Bayan Hippo handbags on etsy.com. Check out some of my favorites...

Modular Messenger, $35


Everyday Purse, $36

Everyday Purse, $35

Scary Stuff

Photo courtesy of grannybutton.com

No not the line of cows peering eerily at you from the river bank...but the latest in recalls. Just in case you have not heard, there is another HUGE ground beef recall. I say another in reference to the previous meat recall during June 2009.

We are lucky because we get out beef from the family ranch out in Sumpter so these recalls never pertain to us. Want to be carefree and full of yummy disease free beef as well? Check out this site for the closest grass-fed/organic ranch near you. There are also listings for eggs, honey, chicken, turkey and a whole bunch more!

Shopping Vicariously Through My Blog: Gig Art

I love, love, love gig art. It is pretty, bright and always a little out there. Here are some of my favorites...

The animals looking a the UFO are very amusing to me...$9.99

Magnolia Electric Co. at Cricket Press, $20

Poor Of Montreal...if only they hadn't sold their number #1 hit to Outback Steakhouse...$25


StrawBerryLuna had this Decemberists poster for sale. It’s a limited edition of 140 and is now sold out. Whaaa!

Cool, cool Kings of Leon poster at The Decoder Ring, $25

Maggie's Choice cover, priceless...

Then You Get Pregnant...

I hate shopping for clothes. Then I got pregnant and my loathing was taken to a whole new level. Where do you go to find a 37" inseam in maternity wear that doesn't set you back $200? Sad to report, nowhere. Some way, some how, I managed to make it through 9 months (the first 7 required nice work clothes) and here is how.

maternity wear - by mowe34 on Polyvore.com

Two necessities for the larger prego girl are Belly-Ups and the Bella Band. The first allows you to wear your regular pants much longer into your pregnancy. They are a small suspender that snaps onto the waistline of your pants and the bottom of your bra. Then you can wear your normal pants unbuttoned or your maternity pants without them sliding off every two seconds. Trust me, once your tummy gets a little rounder, NOTHING stays on!

The Bella Band is great in the fact that it helps to hold your roll-top panel pants up. It also keeps you safe from any trailer-trash-beer-gut-bottom-of-the-belly-poking-out-of-the-shirt baring. Fun I know.

The best place to find maternity clothes is online. My two top stores are Old Navy and Gap and with their free shipping over $100, I just order all I can, try everything on at home, and then send the items back that I don't like. Long Legs also offers a maternity line but their price point is quite a bit higher. I liked keeping it cheap because you won't be in these clothes long.

Dresses are another great option. They can grow with you and you don't have to worry about the inseams. Yeah! Plus, you can always slip a pair of leggings underneath to keep warm.

I hope these links help my two good friends who are both incubating fetuses. Yay for babies and clothes that fit!

Etsy Eight: Shopping Vicariously Through My Blog

Here is what I would buy today...if I had the money and absolutely no conscience or self-control.

Though suede would be prettier, I wouldn't be able to wash it when the Tupperware dish full of applesauce leaks onto the interior. Taupe McCloud Handbag, $49

Pretty. Pod Vase, $80

Brilliant idea! Reusable Sandwich Bags, $8

Because I feel like a hypocrite putting plastic-bagged veggies into my cloth totes at the supermarket. Reusable produce bags, $10.50

Robosaurus, $22

And if Jack were a little girl, this ladybug tee. Inkpony LB tee, $17

What we feel most has no name (deep thought for the day), $35

I love plates. This are so cute and would make a great Valentine's Day setting. She also has a white series that is really nice! Pomegranate Milano cupcake dessert plates, $75

I Am A Sucker For Flowers

I know, I know. The big 6'5" girl likes super girlie things and although I have managed to put everything Sanrio behind me, flower prints still get me every time. On a recent Ikea shopping trip, I spotted this lamp and was immediately awestruck by the flower print cascading down the side. Ahhh pretty.

I fought the temptation and ending up putting this little guy back. Just a little too modern for the look I am going for in our house.

Thank god I came to my senses because I found something even better! Design*Sponge just put up a post on British designer Hannah Nunn and her these beautiful cut-paper lamps. Take a gander at these bad boys...


So pretty and delicate looking! The perfect mix...these are definitely going on my birthday wish list.

I'm a Baby-Wearing Mama

Here is all the info so you can be one too:
Slinglings.com: Great slings plus custom sizing and fabric selection. They also have an excellent "how-to" tab. Priced at $44.99, I highly recommend these slings over any others.
I have longed for a customized BabyHawk carrier since before Jack was born...but at $80 a pop, they are a little out of our budget. Hmm one can dream!
This is the first carrier we had. It is great for longer walks and when you have to shop...the downside is that it takes a bit to get your baby in to it, especially when they are newborns.


(Action shot of newborn Jack in his little front pack.)

Taking the Week Off..

My husband just informed me that no one checks blogs during Thanksgiving. Instead, I will leave you with this cute table/napkin sets from the purl bee that I will one day sew together...when I get the time...hopefully before next Thanksgiving...and after I teach myself how to sew. So much to do. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

Cool Cool Website: VivaTerra

Prettiness plus eco friendly? What more could a girl ask for?