steady as she grows {seventeen months}

this weekend, we went to a playdate for a waldorf charter school that is scheduled to open in 2013.  the idea of getting an waldorf education through the public school system is really appealing.  i love the idea of a waldorf education, but a private education is so expensive...there are even two different waldorf schools in our area, but i'm really looking forward to the progress of this charter.  this was our first playdate with this group and we are really excited to participate more!

this was beatrice's first time with painting...we bought her crayons the weekend before, but i was really inspired to get her painting...the set up was great, there were lots of cardboard boxes laid out on the ground and around in a circle.  at first, bea just watched all the other kids...but by the end, she was literally laying inside a cardboard box painting it!

at seventeen months, she's got more control over her body and really loves exploration...so the painting was an amazing experience.  i've been researching non toxic and homemade paints and now i have a use for all those cardboard boxes i've been inexplicably hoarding...

she is still signing and she knows more signs than words she can say, but she's really using her voice a lot more lately.  she also knows that i'm "mama" and patty is "mom."  we went through a million different names to call patty, but just sort of landed on mom.  it's still confusing, but mostly for us...she seems to know the difference!  yesterday, she saw a picture of patty and said "mom!"

i'm loving this age and the amazing growth spurts...she's also definitely demonstrating her toddler determination.  we are working really hard on not taking things from her (unless it's dangerous!), which is tough.  i want to respect her and not grab things from her, plus i ask her not to grab things from other kids, so "do as i say, not as i do?"...not so much.  but this morning i accidentally left my phone within her reach, and usually if i ask for it back she'll give it to me.  but this time, she pulled it away and said "nah!" so i've been trying to offer her alternatives and give her choices, so she is empowered...something like: "i'm not offering you the phone, but you can have this book or this toy..."

she's developing her own personality and it's such an exciting journey!

{photo credit: bug from mostly granola}

screens are everywhere...

i've been trying to keep beatrice from seeing screens, any screens. so that means no tv, computer or iphone. and that means since i'm with beatrice most of my day, no tv, computer or iphone for me. not so easy. giving up tv was pretty easy, the only tv i've watched since beatrice was born was "mildred pierce." {omg so good...} but the computer and iphone have been much more difficult.

there are several reasons i'm trying to shield beatrice from media. the american academy of pediatrics recommends no tv before the age of 2, and no more than 2 hours of daily media exposure for ages 2 and older. exposure to television in children has been linked to sleep, attention and aggressive behavior problems, and externalizing of problem behaviors. the problem seems to be with interaction. when a child is in front of a television, they are not interacting with their parents. additionally, tv can impair the speech development of young children. under age 2, talking, singing, reading, listening to music or playing are far more important to a child's development.

so i've been really trying to avoid screens and stay engaged and interactive with beatrice. it's tough sometimes. honestly, there are days i just want to check out and read twitter all day. but if i'm going to make huge life changes in order to stay home longer with beatrice, i'd like to stay present and involved.

it's amazing how many screens are in our daily lives. at home, easy enough, we have 1 tv and 1 computer--i just switch them off. but out in the world, screens are everywhere. tv's on the bus, people looking at their laptops in the airport, etc. it's wild if you really stop to think about it, our world is dominated by screens!

the other concern for me is the cell phones and radiation. the environmental working group published a report about cell phone radiation, citing recent studies find significantly higher risks of brain and salivary gland cancers. it's tempting to use the iphone as a baby tool, there are so many applications that could be helpful....i've also tried to avoid using the phone when i'm carrying beatrice. it's not worth the risk as far as i'm concerned.

although it's early, i really love the idea of a school with no media, such as a waldorf school. i already have a lot of waldorf toys for beatrice, as i love how simple and imaginative they are. most are handmade with natural materials, such as felt and wood. so i spend my days playing with beautiful, simple toys with beatrice, going for walks in the park, attending mama & me yoga, meeting up with other mamas for playdates and wearing her while i do things around the house.

which all means i've been in a bit of a media black hole myself. after beatrice goes to sleep, i try to go online, catch up with emails, blog {ha!}, and see what's going on in the world. but honestly, 9 times out of 10, i fall asleep with beatrice and never get on the computer! so a blogging mama, not so much...

i want to spend these formative years with beatrice and encourage in her...a wild imagination, a love of nature, a spirit of gratitude, a healthy curiosity, a zest for learning and a love of life. so if limiting her exposure to media and therefore my own, will help me achieve that, then so be it...

{photo credit: waldorf rotating pictures (waldorf tv?!) from waldorf toys}

wedding anniversary memento...

i'm so excited! i've never won anything in a contest, but i just found out we won a custom canvas from geezees custom canvas! i entered a contest over at one of my favorite sites, so you're engayged and we won! i'm thinking about what we should do...looking for photos and thinking about what wording...vows, ceremony...

what a wonderful first wedding anniversary memento! thanks so much to so you're engayged and geezees custom canvas!

{photo credit here via so you're engayged}

she takes the {cup}cake

this is especially for esb, but i had to share with everyone...we got to meet clare crespo this past week. she is the cupcake maven. not only has she written books about cupcakes {hey there cupcake!} but she is a food fun wizard! she has a cooking show for kids called yummy fun...it's martha meets pee wee herman! most of her cupcake designs are geared towards kids or the whimsical...but i totally fell for her fun and fancy way with food...{patty says i'm stalking her...but i'm stalking her for her cupcakes!}...yeah, it's an obsession.

check out how to make hostess cake sushi here.

make panda cubcakes here.

{photo credit: photo 1; photo 2; photo 3.}

amazing women on wednesday {belles of the black diamond field}

my dear friend, sarah sophie flicker and her directing partner, maximilla lukacs, together form the belles of the black diamond field.  they base their filmmaking on the vulnerability manifesto, championing femininity and softness, while deriving power from those qualities. sarah and i used to live in san francisco together and she's indirectly responsible for introducing me to patty years and years ago.  she now lives in new york and since moving there has launched some fabulous projects.  i love to follow her work and see what's next...i thought i'd put her on your radar too.  sarah is also a founding member of the citizens band {remember the knee-highs?}

"lay down lean" is based on an edna st. vincent millay poem and "god ain't gonna put it in your lap" is a look at revolutionary women 1900 to the present.  i love their film philosophy...and the cinematography and vintage stylings are gorgeous.  have a look at some of their work and be inspired...

{photo by alia penner}

sometimes i feel really old...

i laughed out loud when i saw this poster.  sometimes i feel really old when i talk about a band i've seen {since they have re-united and are playing shows again.  hooray!} to someone only to find out they weren't even born yet {in  my case, it's PA's not interns.}...damn...

{poster from publicis mojo via oh so beautiful paper}

happy birthday, danica

today is one of my dear friend's birthdays and i thought what a great opportunity to introduce you to her sweet blog and her work.  aries born on this day are described this way: these individuals draw strength from a rich and creative inner life.

that sums up my friend, danica perfectly.  she is one of the most creative and deep people i know.  her photography is gorgeous, her writing is sweet and insightful and her creatures are amazing.  i often look to danica for inspiration and a smile.  for a glimpse into danica's rich and creative inner life, go see her flickr, her blog and her etsy shop.  

happy birthday, danica...much love.

{photo credit:  danica on etsy}

farewell show pony

i was working all weekend, so i missed the farewell party for kime buzzelli's fabulous store, show pony. show pony was an amazing store in my neighborhood...i often ran into kime whil hiking our dogs.  she's shuttering in order to focus on her art, and her first project is with vans.  although i'm sad about the store, i love her art and i can't wait to see what's next for kime buzzelli...

{top photo credit here; kime buzzelli artwork via definatalie.com}

feed your soul at indie fixx

over at indie fixx, there is a new feature called feed your soul.  you can click on the site and download free art to feed your soul!  learn about the artist and get some free art.  what a cool project.

i love the growing watering can from michele maule.

etsy love {peony}

the sweet and talented peony has opened her etsy shop--stop by for some beauty for your walls.

happy friday

happy friday.  have a great weekend.

studio mela on etsy.