wild child

"The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature."- Anne Frank

As a parent, I want my son to experience all kinds of different things in his life. I want him to eat sushi and chew on tree sap until it turns to gum. I want him to feel snowflakes on his face and salt water up his nose. I want him to know how a GPS and a handheld compass work. In short, I want him to experience his life fully, to be able to look beyond the bleakness of modern life and embrace the inherent beauty that surrounds us.

I bought this book for Sugar Daddy for Christmas.

I found it on my friend's reading list, and being the Survivor Man that he is, I knew my husband would love it.

He does.

The boy went skiing for the first time yesterday.

He fell down A LOT. And I'm glad that he did. It teaches him perseverance.

At times I am sad that I live so far away from my family. It would be so nice to see them more often. But then I am reminded just how lucky I am. My son will grow up knowing about the ocean and the beach, and when we make our pilgrimages to my parents house he learns about snow and mountain life. Hopefully we can give him the experiences he will need to be a well rounded, happy adult.

Survivor Man Dad has specific plans to start the wilderness indoctrination as soon as possible.

the greatest snow on earth

The boys hit the slopes, and hit the slopes, and hit the slopes. . .





Even Finn played all day in the snow.





Personally, I preferred a little warmer location.

I am now the proud owner of this little number in not one, but two colors.

winter song

The snow came down softly all day long. We stayed indoors and prepared a Sunday feast not soon to be forgotten. The whole family was here, crowded and noisy and happy to be together. The children played games at our feet and we told stories of our travels and adventures over the last few months.

Tomorrow we venture out into the cold to play.

Here's a little something I'd like to share with you.

M.I.A.

Sorry for the absence. I have been so very very busy. Having fun, working hard. I hope you all are enjoying the happiest of holidays with family and friends.

That's what it is all about. Family and friends. Oh yeah, and food. Lots and lots of fattening food. Hummmmm. . .

Speaking of niblies, I roasted up some chestnuts. They are beautiful, but extremely overrated if you ask me. Anyone out there know how to spice them up a bit?



I'll be back tomorrow with pics of our current, snowy adventure. Until then, take care good friend. Take care.

in lieu of tea

I had really good intentions. It's the thought that counts right? Or is that just drivel to make people feel better? I meant to get invitations out. Really I did. I thought of each and everyone of the friends that make my life a happier place to be. I thought about us sitting around the table with frou frou sandwiches and charming tableware, laughing and enjoying the season together. I even thought about the sweet little gifts that I would place on each plate. It was a great party. In my mind.

December, and all of its events plotted against me and now it is too late. Time and money have a way of raining on the grandiose plans my little brain concocts. The Christmas Tea Party Extravaganza must wait until next year.

And so, in lieu of fancy tea cups and smoked salmon finger sandwiches, I am sending out an extra special Christmas message to all my surrogate sisters.

Old Friends

photo by tara whitney

New Friends

Kindred Spirits

Merry Christmas Darlings! I hope that your holiday is merry and bright. I hope for you all the things you wish in your heart and most of all, I hope to laugh with you many times in the new year.

Consider this a quick kiss on each cheek, a hug and a check to make sure you look fabulous with no mascara smudges.

Much love, April

photo by

tara whitney

* Dear friends, if perchance your lovely face doesn't appear here on his post, it is only because I don't have a photo of you at my fingertips, and you know how lazy I can be. Please enable my indolent ways by sending me a photo to add.

a chirstmas wish

Sugar Daddy has been asking me what I would like this Christmas. I haven't been able to give him any concrete ideas. It just happens to be one of those years. I really just want to have a nice day watching my son enjoy the magic of Christmas. Really.

However, there is one little thing that I have been pining for. Unfortunately, it isn't something that my dear husband can pick up on his way home from work.

In a way, I feel like a greedy child at Christmas. I know I am already so blessed to have the Boy. Many people out there will never be able to parent at all. So call me greedy. I'll own it. I want another one. I want another so badly at times my heart and arms feel like Jell-O. I want diapers and formula and onesies. I want fat cheeks and early morning feedings and Gerber carrot puree' stains on my white shirts.

This order may be a little tall, even for Santa. But, I'm putting it out there. I'm sending out this request to the village of friends I have here on the web. If you know of anyone who is looking to place their baby for adoption, would you please consider referring her to our little family?

And in the meantime, I'll continue to thank the good Lord everyday for the son that I have and think of ways to makes the happiest of Christmas memories with him.

mysophobia

Today is officially Christmas cookie baking day. I know that Thom would LOVE to stay home from school and help bake. He loves making anything in the kitchen. But, there are too many fun things going on at his school to let him miss. That, and the grubby hand factor. There is a lot of finger licking and touching of everything that goes on when I cook with Thom.

That's the way it is with kids. They get into the nitty gritty of every project. This is why, I'm sorry to report, if you give my family a plate of homemade goodies, and declare that the children helped make them, I will thank you profusely and then promptly deposit them in the round file as soon as I shut the door. I know this is a terribly cruel thing to do, not to mention wasteful, but it is a hurdle (mysophobia) I am yet to overcome. Further more, I will probably lie and tell you your cookies were delicious when you ask. These are my deep black secrets I like to publicly air on the internet.

I am currently in the process of picking out a charity to donate to. Hopefully this will balance out the equilibrium of my bad deeds.

Undergoing MyBlogLog Verification

it's beginning to look a lot. . .

like Christmas around our house. I'm feeling very festive.



We have a slight hanukkah slant to some of our decorations. Jesus was Jewish after all.


This week will be full of shopping and baking and hopefully spending time with friends.

i got half

Do you see this incredibly handsome and suave guy? Take note of his kind eyes and strong Native American nose. This is my guy. As of today, he has been mine for half of his life.

Happy birthday Stinky Bear. I love you.

these hands

I don't have pretty hands. It's a fact. I've come to accept it. They have always been wrinkly, like I just got out of the bath, and my nails are often chipped and black from working with silver. I usually hide them in my pockets when I am feeling self conscience.

I tried getting fake nails to glam them up a bit, but they just looked like wrinkly hands with thick plastic ends. I spent the first day of my honeymoon ripping them off.

I inherited my ugly hands from my father, who, in turn, inherited them from my grandmother. My grandmother's name was Vola. Vola Wyatt. She was the pinnacle of our family. She made Christmas happen.

Her hands, her wrinkly hands, kneaded and draped and clipped and cleaned and stirred and smoothed until Christmas, Campbell style, materialized. Then she dialed and served and presented and hugged and made each of her grandkids feel like her favorite. I miss her so much this time of year my chest constricts each time I make one of her recipes or catch myself humming the way she used to hum. And, oh how I miss her hands. If only I could feel her stroke my hair or grasp my arm. If only I could plant one more kiss on her downy cheek.

And now it is up to me. I have to put my hands to work and recreate the type of Christmas I had as a child, the type of Christmas I want Thom to have. They are large gloves to fill.

and my favorite things go to. . .

Okay all- here are the results! I used this random number picker to select the winners of all the drawings. Please contact me asap at secondsisterjewelry@yahoo.com with your shipping info.

#10 Space Monkey baby gift set winner- Paper Girl Productions

#9 J. AUSTINRyan "Red Red Fox" winner- ChelMo

#8 Lewa's Designs Dandelion wall decal winner- Melissa

#7 Bellasera Baby Mod mini winner- S and E Frazier

#6 Papered Together Calendar winner- Lona

#5 House of Telsa Hair flower winner- Phil and Shanna

#4 Sophia Marsi earrings winner- Maggie Sue

#3 Sugar Loop Art Print winner- Crazy Lifferths

#2 Art Goodies Tea towel winner- Beeb

#1 Whitney Smith Dogwood plate winner- Bella Valentina Photography

Phew! There they are. Congratulations! The sooner you send over your shipping info, the sooner your item will be in the mail to you!

I'm sending out a HUGH thank you to all who entered. I will continue to do giveaways here and there so don't be a stranger!

Also, if you want to swap addresses and Christmas cards, let me know. I've sent a few out to internet friends from all over the world. I'd love to get to know you.

See you back here tomorrow morning!

space monkey- "favorite thing" #10

Can someone tell me why it is that I can never get enough skin care products? Is anyone else out there like this? I mean, I have a menagerie of lotions, balm and cleansers and yet, when I see products that smell and feel great I buy more. And the packaging! I'm a huge sucker for packaging. That's how Angie got me.

Simply put, I love the space monkey. That, and the sound of her fragrances. Warm ginger peach, strawberry limeade, dulce de leche. Hummmmmm.

Space Monkey was established in 1975 by Denver based mom of three, Angie Golden. Well , maybe 1975 is a stretch, but Angie has been dreaming up and concocting potions since she could hold a spoon. Officially open for business in 2007, Space Monkey offers up natural body care products with a modern aesthetic.

The lovable monkey, drawn by Angie's mom, that adorns almost all of the line has taken up an extra special status this year. Angie's mom passed away May 25, 2008 after a 2 1/2 year battle with lung cancer.

"Now whenever I am working my business, it is a tangible way for me to connect with her and I will always cherish that little monkey." - Angie

Okay guys, this is it. This is numero diez. The last of ten amazing giveaways. Angie is going to send the winner of tomorrow's drawing a gift set of her baby products. It contains powder, lotion and diaper balm. It is worth $25. Click on over to her shop for some really great stocking stuffers for your family.

Okay, we have been through this before. . . just leave a comment yada yada. Tomorrow is the big day. I will be listing all the winners in the evening. Check back in to see if your name is on the list. I will allow a week for winners to contact me with their shipping info and then I will re-pick a winner. Soooo, you snooze you loose. Make sure to come back and check.

j. austinryan- "favorite thing" #9

If I could start over, and decorate Thom's room again, I would use J. AUSTINRyan paintings as my inspiration.

I love anything that looks like classic childhood toys, and these paintings are right up my alley.

Marnie Vollenhals is the mother of three sons and the artist behind J. AUSTINRyan. Before becoming a mother, she worked as the art director of a children's furniture company and developed a keen eye for stylish children's art. She sells her paintings to stores across the country.

Her pieces chronicle the life of her own little dog "Hawk", and his adventures with other animals. Marnie is also open to commission work, which really tempts me to have a portrait of Finnigan done, even though the beast ate my last two protein bars and tore apart a really great bow from Anthropologie while I was away today.

You can find more of J. AUSTINRyan art on her Etsy shop. I am amazed at how reasonable her prices are for original work. If you have a little someone in your life who might love a picture of "Hawk" on their wall, click on over and check out the shop. You can also check out Marnie's blog and see what she is working on.

Besides being a great artist, Marnie is just a really nice person. I love to read her blog entries because she has such a happy fun outlook on life.

Marnie is giving away one of her originals here on Suaviloquy! This piece is entitled "Red Red Fox". It retails for $30. Please leave a comment to be in the drawing. All "Favorite Things" drawings will take place on Dec. 15th. Check back in to see if you are listed as one of the winners.

lewa's designs- "favorite things" #8

You know, I need a room like this. A girl room. A pink, fanciful, good dream making room. And it must have some dandelion wall decals as well, that's the fanciful part.

I found Brittany, the creator of Lewa's Designs, on Etsy some months ago. I have been thinking of where I might put one of her large decals.

This is what Brittany had to say about her work:

My art is inspired by the world around me with influences from nature, children and modern design. I love to create fresh and new ideas to make a room unique and personalized.

To read more about Brittany and her work, check out her blog.

Lewa's Designs can be found on Etsy or at the brand new store here. In honor of the grand opening, Brittany is offering a $10 discount on any order of $40 or more. Use promo code GRANDOPENING. You will also receive a free swirly bird decal with your purchase. Click on over and find something for your little abode.

Leave a comment and you will have a chance to win this 40" Dandelion in the Wind decal. It retails for $35. The drawing for all ten of my "Favorite Things" will be on Dec. 15th.