Olliegraphic kids cards

Speaking of kids and cards...I am loving these. They are from olliegraphic and there is a range of options available for whatever your card or invitation need may be.  All of the customizable options are adorable.  I love the clean and fresh look of their illustrations with maybe a bit of a stylized fifties feel. 

As soon as we get our referral photo for our new little one (say a prayer it's in December!) I am definitely going to make a card with my three little one on it.  These will make for great thank-you notes coming from any one of them or all of them at once.  I'm wavering between the thank-you notes and individual prints of each kid.  Decisions!

For a little bit more, you can fully customize the look of each child.  Oh, and one of my favorite buying options is that they sell just the graphic so you can print up as many cards as you want from home.   I also think that these would make a great personal gift for friends or family.

These are just the standard customizeing options.  Cute, no?

And the Christmas cards!  If I happened to be organized enough to send out Chrsitmas cards, these would be them!

Spotted here.

thankful. notes

I love holidays.  Love.  And for me it isn't just about the trimmings, gifts and fancy food.  One of the things that I love the most about a holiday is the meaning behind it, within it.  Let's take Thanksgiving for example.  I love turkey and stuffing much as the next person but I can prepare these things any day of the year.  Why is Thanksgiving turkey so much better than any other turkey of the year?  The saddest Thanksgiving holidays that I have ever spent are the days when gratitude never came up.  When at no part during the day did we take a minute to share what we are thankful for. 

Last Thanksgiving I shared the story of Squanto.  (This is one of those stories that I hear and instantly think - for all the crappy films out there, how has this not be made into a movie?  Well, apparently it has and I will definitely be renting it this year.)  Squanto's story is the true story of Thanksgiving and I heard it, not once, in all my years.  How is that possible?

We give one specific day of the year to thankfulness.  The funny thing about thankfulness is that it is not a natural response.  I mean sure, if we win something, or something really spectacular happens, we feel thankful.  But in the day to day of the world we live in, we far more often dwell on our lack rather than our abundance.  I hate my job.  Or my mom really bugs me.  Or I can't get pregnant.  Or my kids killing me.  Or even, I really want that dress,  those arms, that life. On any given day, even our very worst days, we have perhaps a million things to be grateful for.  Yet sometimes it feels impossible to see beyond our lack.  Gratitude will never be our natural response in the mundane or difficult times until we begin to cultivate it.

Because I'm not so great at gratitude, I'm trying to cultivate it young in my kids.  We worked on a little project a couple of days ago to get our hearts ready for the upcoming holiday.  We made a list if who would be at our Thanksgiving table (minus those my kids have never met) and we made them a card.  Eva got a chance to  write each persons name in their card (she is especially loving any project where she gets to practice her writing...I'm thankful I have a calligrapher in the making!)  Then I asked both kids to be quiet for a minute and think about that specific person.  After they had thought about them for a moment I asked what it is about that person that they are thankful.  I jotted down their responses, they stuck stickers and punched out leaves and that was it.  We'll stick the cards in the mail today. 

Not only was I blessed to have a little project over which to discuss the idea of gratitude (delving into the finer nuainces with a three year old is quite an experience!) but they seemed blessed to get to think about each person individually and what that person means to them, something that most probably they have never done before.  And maybe even the recipient will get blessed.  Sometimes the only thing it takes to nudge us towards gratitude, is someone being grateful for us. 

Click here, to see another one of our kid card projects.

Malm Fireplaces

Tawny and I were discussing what she should get her husband for Christmas and without missing a beat I exclaimed  - "A fireplace!"  They have a really lovely home in an adorable neighborhood, but no fireplace...can you imagine?  Really, the horror. 

I live in Texas, and around October I start cranking the AC up so I can begin my day fireside.  Not the most environmental option, I realize. 

Tawny - these are the fireplaces that I was telling you about!  They are from a company called Malm, and Sean and I are both obsessed with them.  Talk about a surefire way to take a room from ho-hum to off the charts.  In saying this, I understand that these are a pretty strong and specific look but I can imagine them in a large range of interior styles.  And oustide?  Forgetaboutit!  Just fantastic.

Do what do you think?  Love 'em or hate 'em?

{images: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7}

More Best Recipes: a giveaway!

I have begun to hit the cookbooks, looking for fun and interesting variations to our family Thanksgiving favorites.  First stop?  Always and forever - something from my collection of Cooks Illustrated paraphernalia.  I have magazines, I have cookbooks.  I even try to catch their show whenever I can.  I love me some Cooks Illustrated. 

Why?  You may ask.  They spell it out.  Nothing is worse then being told to blanch something and all that comes to mind is Streetcar Named Desire.  I need the play by play.  Definitions, descriptions, lots of drawings showing me exactly what I need to know, exactly when I need to know it.

For the past several years The New Best Recipe has been my most beloved cookbook.  I highly recommend getting it into the hands of any graduate or newlywed you might happen upon.  Definitely my best basic cookbook.  And just out is the new More Best Recipes.  This cookbook takes things a little further.  It houses many beloved recipes but these ones are a bit more interesting then everybody's favorites in it's predecessor.

Do you know how these particular recipes end up in these particular cookbooks?  Let me tell you.  They pick a common favorite recipes.  Then choose about 50 of the most popular variations of that recipe.  And then all of the Test Kitchen Chefs go to town...they cook up every one of these recipes, several times, making subtle variations: ingredient choices, temperature, tool.  After extensive testing the chefs decide upon the ultimate recipe keeping in mind ease, cost and number of ingredients.  I have yet to have one of their recipes fail me.  No lie.

So, I have a couple of extra copies of More Best Recipes.  Want one?  Just share your favorite Thanksgiving dish and you are entered to win.  I'll announce two winners next Tuesday.

Holiday Chic Maternity Wear: reader question

Today I am excited to get to answer a question from a sweet reader of mine, also named Emily:

First of all, love your name (hehe) and love your blog!  I have it bookmarked and visit everyday.  I stumbled upon in when you were featured on Design Mom, another blog I visit daily.  I enjoyed so much reading and seeing all of your wedding details, and then I found out that you were adopting a child, and I knew this was the blog for me.  My husband and I have hopes of adopting from Korea one day when the money is saved and God has given his blessing.  This leads me into my question of the day... I'm preggers with my first (we're waiting and it will be a surprise!), and I'll be very pregnant for Christmas and all of it's social events, and I'm having such a hard time finding a dress that will be dressy enough for the holidays and chic enough for all of my showers.  I'd like something neutral that maybe I can make a few sashes or a few ribbon belts with flowers to change it up (I'm thinking a camel or chocolate color would look good on my skin and be flattering). Budget is also a concern (I'm a graphic designer and my husband is a youth minister, so, while we are blessed, we remain humble, if you know what I mean).  You seem to have similar taste (classic, chic, anything French) to me, and I was hoping that you could point me in the right direction of somewhere fabulous that maybe you found while you were pregnant.  Any advice you could offer would be wonderful!

~Emily

Hi Emily -

thanks for your great question.  I'm sure there are plenty of woman out there with the same predicament.  Here's how I would tackle it.  I also like to go to my favorite shops first, even if they are out of my price range.  You never know, they may just have the perfect thing on sale.  You may have to be a bit more flexible with color, etc. but could very well fall in love with something affordable that will be quality enough to see you through future pregnancies.  Another idea, depending on your size and how you are carrying - is to find a non-maternity dress in a maternity friendly style or in a larger size.  I can't tell you the number of times that I have asked people about their adorable maternity clothes and they have told me that it's some no-maternity find that they bought large.  I also love your idea of picking a neutral dress and then having fun with accessories to change it up for different events.  I do this in normal life even when I'm not pregnant. 

My favorite "little black maternity dresses" came from the sale rack at Nordstrom.  Though not in the brown family, black looks great with all coloring and is the most versatile color to wear in an assortment of ways.

I think this dress is adorable.  It's available for $48.90.

This cute pleated dress with pockets is on sale for $31.90

This dress has the perfect amount of holiday glamour but is still simple and understated for $57.90.

This may be my favorite.  Not quite as versatile as the others but very sophisticated and flattering.  It's from Destination Maternity for $34.98.

 This fun, beaded cocktail dress from Due is ready to go, even without jewelry.  It's $58.00

This camel, chiffon cocktail dress is perfection.  Other than the price, at $106 it may be more than you are looking to spend but then again, this one may be worth the splurge.  It's from Due, as well.

So far as accessories, I'd hit Forever 21.  You could spend $20 in there and walk out with loads of fun options. I went to grab some photos of fun stuff and had to stop with hair accessories...there are just so many!  You may want to go with something fancy for your head rather than your belly as a sash will emphasize your 3rd trimester belly and break up the silouette of the dress.  A fancy headband adds the same flair but may offer a more flattering look.  Whatever you decide, look here first, you will only be spending pennies and are bound to find whatever suits your fancy.  (This is also a great place to check out for non-maternity maternity options.)

Hope this helped, Emily.  I hope you have a fantastic holiday season, and look and feel smashing the whole way through.  And mostly, congratulations on that sweet gift that you are bringing into the world.

Do you have a reader question?  Send me an email...

handmade Christmas

My extended family draws names at Christmas for gift giving.  Last year we began the tradition of not just purchasing a gift for "our person" but giving a handmade gift as well.  Well, I am knee-deep in my handmade project with no time to breath.  No time to blog, no time to eat or sleep.  No time to parent.  You get the idea.

Are you giving anything handmade this year?  I would love to hear what you're doing.  Oh, and if your project is stressing you out.

{image by Sofia Katariina}

Mrs. Meyer's Basil Scent: a winner!

And the winner is #60 - Jeanette Mc!

here's what she wrote:

Jeanette - can't wait to hear how you think it compares with Geranium (my second favorite scent, by the way!)

this week I'm loving...

African skies via just be splendid

this day via bippity boppity boo

lights as a many shaded thing via Alcova Moderna

morning light via we love it

starting the day right via Dessert Girl

optimism via ffffound

the brights of Paris via ffffound

Amateur Photogs via Little Bits & Blogs

for the love of fashion via imgfave

Low-carb cones {aka porcelain} via simplesong

a good nest egg via we heart it

the view via M-Altruism

the small things via just be splendid

time alone to think via Caliv Vintage

answers via ffffound

old school via K.I.D. Collective

a mud room glorified via The Little Big House

recycling via look at me

winter trees julia.

making 'making-do' look glamorous via ffffound

winter night lights via alive by habit

reminders of love via Garance Dore

the dangling participle: a tragedy in 3 parts

Part I.

Many moons ago, both my husband and I attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas.  Early on in my time there, I chose English as my degree of choice.  This choice was based less on my love of the written word and more on the knowledge that this was to be my simplest path in actually departing from the University with a degree.  Let's just say that my head was not in the game.

I spent four years engulfed in a myriad of classes covering all things Literature And Writing.  But one class, I ignored - Grammer.  I told people that I was a Creative Writing major though this major was not officially offered by the University.  And besides, my definition was bound to be off a bit from theirs.  What I meant was - my spelling is horrific and I don't give a rat's anything about capitalization, punctuation and the like.

At long last I am a senior, my course catalog has been ravished and yet there sits Grammar waiting patiently.  It is time.

I take the class.  Not so bad, really.  Boring, confusing but bearable.  I fail.

Part II.

I take the class again.  Second second semester, senior year.  I take a different teacher with a fresh approach. I get a kind little memo in my mailbox that I will not be graduating on time.  I've failed the class again. 

I go to see the Dean of the English Department.  As one of heaven's little jokes, she happens to be a former Grammar teacher.  She pities the fool and goes so far as to ask if I have considered the possibility that I might have a learning disability.  So I said - "Listen Sweetheart.  That may well be the case.  But I'm just not willing to explore that possibility one credit shy of graduation.  It's a little late in the game to go there." 

Okay, so I may not have actually said that out loud but I have said it a lot of times in my head since then.

Part III.

I muscle through the class a third time, summer school.  I study and pass with a C. 

Years later I start a blog and digress grammatically to the point that I must self-diagnose.  I most assuredly suffer from some type of disorder, perhaps onomatopoeia.

All this to say - thank you, dear Readers, for being willing to wade through all my vernacular vomit to get to the heart of the matter.  I apologize here and now for every misspelling, every word misuse and each and every one of their cousins.  One day, when this job pays a little better (or at all) I shall get an editor.  Should I then decide to pen my memoirs you can find them under this title -  My Life in Typos.

The End.

{endnote: Upon spell checking this essay upon it's completion I find that I have misspelled, wait for it, Grammar, each and everytime.  That's bad, folks.}

{image: sentence diagram of the Preamble of the Constitution}

the perfect messy bun

I am ever trying to accomplish the too-chic-to-spend-time-on-my-hair-look.  Mostly because I wish I were chic but have no time to spend on my hair.  So I am so excited to have just spotted this play by play tutorial on the perfectly mussed, effortlessly French bun.  

Find it here.  Via A Cup of Jo.

6pm

Have you been to the internet shopping site 6pm?  I hadn't even heard about it until my mother told me about it several months back.  My mother adores it.  Each day and week they have a new series of sale brands all heavily discounted (like 60 -80%).  My mother recieves daily updates on what's on sale.  While this move would be a fatal blow to my marriage, my mother and father seem to have weathered it just fine.  My mom likes to let me know when a brand pops up that she thinks I might like and lets me "pick something out".  I know, I'm ridiculously lucky. 

Today she sent me over to scout out a Patagonia jacket and anything else I might spot.  Here's what I left with:

The grand total? 

$200.

The jacket and pants are Patagonia and the shoes are all Steve Madden.

Thanks Mom!  Oh, and thanks 6pm.

It's my {blog} birthday!

Today Wide Open Spaces is celebrating its first birthday.  Yep, a year ago today I stepped into these mysterious waters, utterly ignorant to what I was getting into.  I still fell pretty clueless but am awed and amazed at just how much this little side project has grown.  Initially, this blog was a way to get my mind off of the long wait with our adoption and also to have a creative outlet to add some beauty to my life when it felt lacking just that.  It has turned into so much more.  How can I thank you enough for making this far more fun then I could have hoped?

So here we are. 1 year, 537 posts later, well over 1,000 subscribers and many more who stop by to visit each day.  Thank you! 

Should you want to offer a birthday gift here are some ideas...

Subscribe - add Wide Open Spaces to your reader

Share - email WOS' link to your your friends, tweet or post about us, or add WOS to your sidebar.  If you like what you see here, please help it grow by sharing!

Check Out The Archives - there is so much great content that you have probably never seen before.  Check out the months from before we found each other in my sidebar - see what you missed!

Leave Comments - You guys are a pretty quiet bunch.  I have blessed to have so many visitors but typically only hear from a few of you.  I would love to hear your thoughts, whether you agree or disagree with my own.  Comments truly are the fuel of a blog.  It is my only way to get to know my readers and my only way to gauge what material resonates and what does not.  I love to hear your thoughts!  Today I would particularly love to hear what you would like to see more of in the coming year.  Is there a particular genre that keeps you coming back for more?

Thank you so much, Dear Readers.  I'm hoping this coming year far exceeds your expectations!

xo - Emily

{image by Fraley Tera}

Serge Lutens

Oops!  I almost forgot my favorites.  How insanely gorgeous are these bottles from Serge Lutens?

I know, right?

judging a fragrance by it's bottle

Last night I'm paging through a magazine and I had to pause several times to make sure (again) that the magazine was current.  Perfume ad after perfume ad featured, what I am going to go ahead and call ridiculous looking, bottles.  Bottles that may have been considered cool or cutting edge or lovely in say, 1983, but are still adhering to design concepts that surely should have been shelved long ago.  Now I realize that these notions are completely subjective - hence why I am throwing it out there.  Most of these bottles pictured above have come out within the past five years.  Angel is definitely an exception but when I was researching this topic I saw it listed on several "best bottle" lists with the word "iconic" in it's vicinity.  Really?  Iconic? 

And you could knock me over with a feather if Paris Hilton wouldn't be embarrassed to have her latest fragrance, Siren, actually adorn her dressing table.  You see, for me finding a scent that I love is only half the battle.  I also want a bottle that I adore.  Perfume bottles to me are like little pieces of art.  If I love a fragrance but want to hide the bottle, it's out.

To the other extreme, sometimes I want to buy a perfume, untried, simply because the bottle is so lovely.  My aesthetic clearly lies with the simple and classic.  I'll take a black san serif font on a white label adorning a clear rectangular bottle any day.  And even when I go a little crazy - the bottles still tend to bend in this general direction.  Here are some of my favorites:

Burberry The Beat

Burberry London

Burberry Brit

Chanel No. 5

Covet by Sarah Jessica Parker

     

 David Yurman

Miss Dior Cherie

Fracas de Robert Piguet

Flora by Gucci

Gucci by Gucci

Couture Couture by Juicy Couture

Daisy by Marc Jacobs

Very Hollywood Perfume Ring by Michael Kors

Nanette by Nanette Lapore

Essence by Narciso Rodriguez

Prada Infusion de Fleur d'Oranger

Van Cleef & Arpels Lys Carmin

Elle Charm Bracelet By YSL

Do you have a favorite perfume?  Is it your favorite based strictly on the scent?  What is your favorite bottle?  Did I just insult that favorite bottle?  Fight me on this one - I'd love to hear your thoughts.

coupling up

As the weather turns colder, there is no notion I like more than Sean and I each grabbing a kid to embark on some cozy adventures for two.  These mittens and slippers are offering some seriously great inspiration.

{I spotted the mittens on M Stetson Design and the slippers on Handmade Charlotte.}

Mrs. Meyer's Basil Scent: a giveaway!

Our dear friend Jeremy was in town for the weekend and when he came downstairs this morning before his departure he asked what he was smelling.  I thought that he was referring to the coffee that I had just made, but no, it turns out it was clean counters that were drawing him downstairs.  He claims my counter cleaner is "the best thing that he has ever smelled".  I have to agree.  I have been meaning to post on this for sometime, and his glowing praise this morning was just the reminder that I needed.  So here goes.

I don't like to clean.  It's not my thing.  Yet I must.  When I clean I like to use natural cleaners both because I think that they are healthier in general but also because my kids are still at the age that they think cleaning is really fun and love to help out.  I can't imagine letting them spritz chemicals all about themselves.  I have been using Method for the past couple years and also liked Mrs. Meyers products when I tried them but for some reason only the Lemon Verbena and Lavender scents were readily available in my area.  A couple of months ago I got my hands on her Basil Scent and I fell fast and fell hard.  Have you tried it before?  Are you as in love as I am?  It makes cleaning...dare I say it?  Pleasurable. The scent is sweet and intoxicating and I am hooked. 

If you haven't tried it yet, and definitely if you have, leave a comment below.  I'm giving away a Basil dish soap, hand soap and counter top spray just so you can get the full feel for how fantastic this scent is.  Let me know your favorite cleaning tip or product in your comment and I'll choose a winner next Monday.

Allright, I'm off to clean my stove.

this week I'm loving...

apparently, a lot.

slope side via ffffound

this coffee table & rug combo via swissmiss

a delicate gift via Bird & Banner

a warm cup of coffee via decorology

a cold beer via behance

casual Friday via Auburn & Ivory

outdoor living via please sir

fishermen via Design Crush

winners via the Little Big House

smart brunettes via Haute Design

effective packaging via Little Bits & Blogs

jars and more jars via ffffound

soaking room via delight by design

the hat via ffffound

eerie cell phone illumination via Head Over Heels

poison apples via Design Crush

reflections via the Little Big House

runners via Head Over Heels

a fresh perspective on Afghanistan via Boston

ever the falling rain via this isn't happiness

this week I'm loving...kitchen organization

{images: copper pots - the Little Big House, peg board - Made by Girl, dream pantry and dish room - two ellie,  rustic kitchen - style files, chile con queso recipe in paper - seesaw designs}

this week I'm loving...cute animals

This post is so totally unlike me but I cannot help it.  I book marked animal after animal for no good reason but their sweet faces. 

{baby porcupine, puppy and ostrich - Unruly Things, Puss in Boots - ffffound, squirrel - Lalipourie, pumpkin diorama - Miss Jane, snow deer - ffffound}

Pictorial Webster's A Visual Dictionary of Curiosities: a winner!

And the winner is... Melissa! 

here was her comment:  

Oh my .... could there be a more perfect book for moi? Love this!

Hmmm....Halloween? For some reason, I have never liked it and maybe it is because just the thought of a ghost or ghoul jumping out to scare me leaves me with nightmares for weeks! And yes, I am a grown adult!