Peanut Blossom

Doing something different for Leap Day

Today is Leap Day and I just can't let it pass us by without posting. I don't know why, but I feel the need to mark today as special somehow! In honor of a day I feel we should be doing something different and unique, I wanted to share this photo I took over the weekend of the Peanut. 

There's a big story behind this photo that I want to share soon but I have to collect my thoughts to do it justice. The big point behind it though, is a decision to be more intentional with our choices and with our lives. In fact, "Intentional" is the word of the month for March over on Develop's Monthly Inspiration Challenges. 

This crazy dino is a big favorite of my girls. We've seen him 4 times in the last month on our trips back and forth to visit Handyman Tim at his project site. They beg me to stop for gas at this one particular stop along the way and the Peanut was Beyond Thrilled that she got to have her picture taken with him.

This kind of crazy kid joy needs to be documented and I love her big smiley face, even if it is small in relation to the photo. I see this image and I can instantly remember how she skipped back to the car after we were done and how both girls waved and called out "'Bye Bye, Saur!" followed by a chorus of "Roar!!" from the backseat.

So happy Leap Year Day to you. Are you doing something different today?

Three ways to turn your kids into book lovers

As an avid reader myself, I worry sometimes about how to instill that love of reading in my girls. I've been told that they will just naturally pick up on it since I model that behavior but I'm skeptical that that is all it takes. I know too many people who profess that they can't stand reading and with the number of available distractions in today's electronic world, how can a quiet paper bound book compete? 

I stumbled on Jim Trelease's "The Read Aloud Handbook" in a display at a bookstore during one of my browsing dates with Handyman Tim ages ago. That title stuck with me and I finally decided to get a copy from the library last summer. There were some eye-popping statistics in there about just how important reading is for building skills for school and life in general. If ever I was convinced about the importance of this task, it was after reading the first few chapters of that book.

But more importantly, "The Read Aloud Handbook" was invaluable for giving actual advice on getting kids to love reading in a very natural non-pressured way. I've implemented several of the tips and 6 months later, I can definitely say they seem to be working. Here are just three of my favorites:

1. Have books available!: Store baskets of books in every single room of the house, including the bathroom and dining room. Ok, truthfully the bathroom idea skeeved me out, but I did follow this tip and put them in the dining area as well. We are virtually swimming in books of all kinds. There is always something to read an arm's reach away. It isn't something that is contained to a bookshelf in the office or on a shelf in the living room, they are scattered in (neat) little piles on every table. I catch the girls browsing through pages all the time.

2. No television during meal times: This is a rule we have always strictly followed in our home. But with the amount of time that Tim is gone traveling, dinner table discussions can definitely fade when it is just me and a 4 year old. By following rule number 1 above, I can just reach over and grab a book and read to the girls while they eat! Captive audience, wholesome entertainment. This has been by far my favorite tip from the handbook.

3. Don't shy away from reading more advanced materials: Maybe it makes me a horrible mother to admit this, but there are just so many rounds of Curious George I can handle. The Peanut may be only 4 years old but we have started to read chapter books rather than picture books during our reading sessions together. Not all the time, and Curious George still appears plenty, but the Peanut has definitely been capable of reading Winnie the Pooh (the classic version) and a couple Roald Dahl selections (my Favorites!!)

Some of the language may be over her head, she may not grasp the entire plot, but I was pleasantly surprised at just how much she was hanging on to even when it took us a couple weeks to finish the story. We chat after each chapter and I ask her questions about what just happened and what she thinks might come next. We refresh our memories before starting again. It has been an amazing experience being able to share a little more advanced story with her and holds my attention far better. If the reading session is fun for mommy too, you're much more likely to have more sessions!

I highly recommend getting a hold of a copy of Jim Trelease's book. The second half is a lengthy digest of reading suggestions for different ages and different interests. I came away very inspired with reading ideas I may have held off on longer than necessary. 

How about you? Do you have little book worms in your home? How did you help that process along? Any tips or book suggestions you'd like to share?

An unconventional reading list for a new year

With all the new year's resolution lists popping up all over the web, I took a look back at what I wrote about at the beginning of last year. I had completely forgotten about that post and rereading it made me laugh a bit at myself. It was so refreshing to see that I set out into 2011 with a fairly relaxed attitude towards life. I'm amazed at what I was able to accomplish last year all without having actually set out a specific list of goals and deadlines. 

It is completely possible to make very large changes outside of formal resolutions. If you're feeling pressure right now because you want to try something new in 2012 but you don't even know where to start, please don't stress. Give yourself permission to experiment this year instead. It was truly the best thing I ever did. 

I'd love to share with you my recommended reading list for soul searching in this new year. I read all of these in 2011 and what an amazing difference they made for me:

1. The Art of Non-Conformity by Chris Guillebeau: This book truly gets you thinking about how you want to spend your life and how to prioritize what is most important to you.

2. Linchpin by Seth Godin. Please read my review of it here before starting it, there is a small disclaimer. An eye-opening book for sure.

3. Trust Agents by Chris Brogan and Julien Smith: Yes, this is a business book. Yes, it focuses on developing relationships online. But, the lessons apply towards being a decent person as well. How I represent myself online is just as important as how I live my life offline. They are one in the same. If you are interested in absolutely any kind of writing online, I highly recommend reading this book.

Is there something you'd add to this list? If you read any of theses, I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments. 

I'm excited about the adventures I have planned for this new year. I hope you have something thrilling on your list too. Resolutions and change do not have to always be about improving on a negative, it's a great idea to focus on the positive too.

Pulling back the curtain: A very big announcement

I mentioned here that I'd be scaling back my posting a bit because I have big plans for 2012 and needed time to pull it together. Today I'm thrilled to share the first look at what I've been cooking up behind the scenes!

It's no surprise to you that photography has become a bit of an obsession for me in the last 18 months. I love sharing my projects with you and I've loved having you participate in Project 2011 and the Day in the Life project. And yet I feel like I haven't been able to give these fantastic creative goals enough space here. I fear that I'm boring half of you to tears by prattling on about my photo endeavors. I know most of you stop by for recipes and foodie stuff which is also a great interest of mine. 

With that conflict in mind, I've decided to branch off with a second blog! I am so proud to introduce you to Develop:

I'm sure you can still smell the sawdust. The site is live but pretty empty right now. Very very soon I'll be sharing more details on what it will be featuring. You can count on lots of photo sharing, some deeper photo tutorials and lessons, and plenty of creative inspiration. 

I will continue to write and share here on Peanut Blossom. This is my online home for sharing my favorite food and personal stories about raising my girls. My posting schedule will likely be reduced so I can manage the time for both blogs but I'm hoping that will only make all my posts that much stronger.

Project 2012 is going to be even bigger and better than Project 2011 was this year. I'll share some of the announcements and details about that here but then it is all getting moved over to Develop at the start of January. I really hope you'll join me over there or just pop in to say hi once in a while. 

You can be first to know what's going on over there by liking my new Facebook page:

 www.facebook.com/developandinspire

But most of all, whether you remain just a Peanut Blossom fan or whether you join me at Develop, I want to thank you for being awesome and supportive readers. I'm hoping this move makes your experience even better. 

Stock Your Stash: Gift guide for kids

Have you started your holiday shopping yet? I have several friends who are already done but I haven't been quite that on the ball this year. Since I know I'm not alone, I've partnered up with some blogging friends to bring you a fantastic gift buying guide starting today and running right up until the end of December.

We'll be featuring guides by recipient, today's theme is what to get for your peanuts! Or, should I say for the peanuts on your list.

For years, I've taken the route of quality over quantity with my girls. They have more than their fair share of toys, but I try to limit the clutter and find more memorable items even if it means spending a little more and buying a little less. My list of suggestions will not necessarily be found on Amazon or Toys R Us but if you're looking for something memorable or unqiue, I hope you'll be pleased with what you find here.

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Pint-sized Paparazzi:

My 1st Camera: Think your child is ready for their own camera? I wrote an entire post about our experience here. Christmas is a wonderful time for this very special gift. 

Custom Camera Strap: With that first camera, this is nearly essential. If you can sew in a straight line, you can do this project in an hour. See my DIY camera strap tutorial here.

Just Like Mommy Camera Bag: Is mommy toting a fancy camera bag purse? Why not let the little one join the fun? Vera Bradley carries tiny padded purses (the Little Betsy style is featured in the photo to the left) that are just the right size for her to tote her camera and other small items. Be sure to check out the colors on sale for the best deals. This turquois one is available for $29. 

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Kitchen Helpers:

The Right Tools: Every kitchen helper needs the right tools for the job. I'm a big fan of these adorable aprons from Chasing Fireflies. The Peanut loves her kitchen apron and at some point I'll be buying a set of personalized ones for the girls to match. I also love this tiny tool set from Paula Deen. They are the right size for little hands but are actual kitchen utensils, dishwasher safe. You can buy similar small and colorful items from World Market if you're want to customize exactly which tools come in the set.

Cutie Cupcake Kit: Assemble a cupcake kit for your tiny baker and fill it with cute paper liners, candy sprinkles, a small frosting spreader, and a sweet little plate to put her masterpiece on before it is devoured. I always wanted an Easy Bake Oven but a brightly colored kit like this along with the promise of baking together would definitely suffice.

Kiddie Cookbook: There are tons on the market but I have my eye on You Can Cook by Annabel Karmel. I love Annabel's books and used them when feeding the girls their first foods. Most recipes were big hits and the photo/illustration stylings are so sweet and appropriate.

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Art vs. Craft:

My 1st Sewing Machine: Ever since reading Fanny to the Peanut I've been waiting to give her a very first sewing machine just like Fanny receives for her birthday. We're not quite there yet, but I've bookmarked this tiny sewing machine for when the day comes. Include her own copy of Fanny and some fabric and thread and this would be an amazing holiday gift.

Coloring Outside the Lines: Another book on my wishlist for the Peanut this year is The Coloring Book by Herve Tullet. The reviews on Amazon are fantastic and I love the concept of teaching her color theory. She is such the little artist and spends hours with her art box. I bought an old-fashioned metal lunchbox with Hello Kitty on the front and filled it with crayons, colored pencils, and markers in every color. She has a safe "Little Pea-proof" place to store her tools and totes it all around the house. Make your own art box and include it with this book for a fabulous kit.

Paint Your Own Fairy House Kit: Collect an unpainted birdhouse from a craft store, some paints and some glitter and label it Tinkerbell's new abode. Perfect winter craft that can be saved and put outside in your garden come spring time.  

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Simple Stocking Stuffers:

Stripey Straws from Shop Sweet Lulu: The Peanut went NUTS for these when I got a care package of them from my mother-in-law for my birthday. Santa will be bringing a package all her very own in her favorite color. 

Doodle Roll: Perfect for tossing in your diaper bag or purse, this Doodle Roll is the perfect solution for your artist on the go. 30 feet of paper rolled up into the dispenser with a spot to stash some crayons. 

Flower headbands by Banner Boutique: I stocked up on a few of these last winter and the girls look darling in them. Unfortunately, ours are all pink and clash with their Christmas red outfits. I'm scoping out the sweet white and sparkly versions they have available, we just love them.

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Looking for more inspiration?

You're in luck. Go check out:

Zina at Let's Lasso the Moon who's sharing her educational take on children's gifts today.

Carrie at Diet & Ridicule is sharing her fitness themed gift ideas for your kids. I love the creative ideas for keeping the whole family healthy!

And be sure to come back again in the coming weeks as we cover the rest of the recipients on your list! 

Fitness apps wishlist from Carrie at Diet & Ridicule

Day 2 of the iPhone party brings my friend Carrie from Diet & Ridicule to share her wishlist of fitness apps. Carrie, is a wannabe Apple lover. Sheesh, friends--you think you know them. Shaking my head, Carrie. Shaking my head. What on earth are you doing with a {gasp} Motorola?!

Anyway, I knew Carrie would have some great fitness ideas to share and I'm so glad she agreed to stop by for the day. If you missed yesterday's announcement, be sure to stop over to this post here and get the details on winning your very own iPhone case:

Many thanks to my pal Tiffany for inviting me to be a guest host on her super fantastic blog. I was a little leery about the idea when she first asked me to cover my favorite fitness apps. I get the fitness part of it, since that’s the focus of my Diet and Ridicule blog. The problem is I’m kind of…er, kicking it old school when it comes to technology—that’s the cool way of saying I have an old Motorola Razr (not the current Android kind) that a friend swapped me for a knitted hat and scarf after I accidentally washed my US Cellular “free phone” (as in comes with the plan) in the laundry.

Nice.

So with all of that embarrassingness out there I can’t in good faith cast the following list as my “favorite apps” given that I haven’t actually used any of these apps. Even just saying apps makes me feel a little bit like a poser, but I’m going to forge ahead like a good trooper should.

In lieu of my “favorite fitness apps,” I give you my “these-apps-look-like-they’d-make fitness-bearable-and-possibly-even-fun” wish list. Enough with the build-up, let’s get this party started:

Om at the Office

If cube life has the choke hold on you as it does me, a little yoga can go a long way. But what if you can’t escape the daily grind to get in a downward dog? Well, there’s an app for that (that catchy phrase demonstrates just I how old school I am). Office Yoga promises 75 stress-relieving yoga poses that require no mat or spandex, and are appropriate enough for the office (i.e., won’t creep out your office mate or get you in hot water with the boss).

 

Shake It Like a Polaroid Picture

For many of us, getting in shape sucks. So if you can find an exercise that puts a smile on your face, then my advice is you stick with it. And if you can’t find that, then settle for finding an exercise that makes everyone else look like a complete jackass. The end result will be the same—a smile on your face, that is. Enter Shake Weight. If you’re not familiar with the oddly erotic dumbbell (no, not Matthew McConaughey), I encourage you to Google it. (Then immediately Google the SNL parody. All kinds of awesome!)

The iShakeitFit app seems to have gotten its inspiration from the Shake Weight. The point is to see how many times you can shake your phone in a minute so that you can get top score. It’s like Shake Weight meets my brother playing the Pole Position arcade game at the roller rink in the 80s. My only concern with this app is shaking the phone seems as though it could be recipe for dropping and breaking. Like with all exercise, be careful and consult your doctor (well, the first part anyway for this app).

Shuffle Up and Sweat

I recently started doing CrossFit, and it’s kicking my butt! But for the first time ever, I find the “did-I-just-get-hit-by-a-bus” workouts oddly motivating. Since I’m still new, I’ve yet to try all the exercises, but I’ve been warned about the “Deck of Death.” Exercises are assigned by suit, and reps are assigned by the number on the card. It’s as “simple” as pulling out a deck of cards and working through all 52. But who wants to carry around a deck of cards when working out? That’s where Deck of Cards Workout app comes in. This app is supposed to make it simple, help you keep track of your workouts, and keep you from playing 52 pick-up when you should be doing push-ups and squats.

Long Live Recess!

Nike has turned the childhood game of Tag technical. Without ever touching another person (after all, you don’t want cooties!), you can play tag via your iPhone. With the Nike + GPS app, runners can virtually compete in a game of Tag. The goal is to not be “It,” which you achieve by not running the slowest, not running the shortest distance, and not running the latest in the day. So with the exception of running late in the day, I for sure would be the perpetual “It.” (Wasn’t that a creepy Stephen King movie? If so, I’m Carrie and It. Great.)

Brains! Brains!!!!

Zombies are after you…run for your life! Stop by my blog to see what I mean.

There you have it kids, my wish list. I’m going to get a pen and paper, write this up in a nice letter, and send it off to Santa asap—but with one addition. An iPhone! Let’s hope I’m not on the naughty list.

Good luck with the giveaway! Don’t be a stranger!

A sentimental reshoot of a classic image

I've been taking my babies to the Chicago Botanic Gardens since the Peanut was truly just a little peanut. It is my absolute favorite place to take the girls for photographs but more importantly, it is my happy place. I could stroll the gardens every single day and be a much happier person for it.

I have a classic photo of the Peanut walking in that same spot shown above when she was just Little Pea's age. It is printed and large in our home for display every fall:

This year, I felt Little Pea's absence in the photo and wanted to take a "Round 2" photo. It's much crazier trying to capture both of them together, but I do love how it turned out. It doesn't replace the original, but I love the pair of images together. 

It just reminds me how timing is everything though. The most recent image was taken later in the afternoon with harsher lighting and earlier in the season with greener leaves. I was worried I'd wait too long and all the leaves would drop and I'd miss my chance. I probably should have waited another week or so. If we get a sunny day, I may try again if schedule allows. But if not, I have my try safe and sound. I love how the Peanut is leading Little Pea on a run. 

I'm sharing this pair of images today to remind everyone that your point and shoot can take fantastic shots. The original, which is a far stronger image in my opinion, was taken on my old point and shoot. It has a wider angle lens than what I had on my DSLR and I managed to find fantastic lighting and a perfect scene. 

It really doesn't require crazy equipment to capture an image you'll cherish.

A month of learning: the results!

Where have I been these last 4 weeks?! With my nose glued to the back of my camera!

I finally finished up my Natural Light 101 workshop through ClickinMoms and I'm so sad that it is over. The CM workshops are really an incredible experience, I highly recommend them. So to catch you up on my absence, I wanted to share the results of this class. Be forewarned, this is very photo heavy!

Quick note before we begin. These shots are not SOOC (straight out of camera), but they are also not heavily processed. I adjusted white balance, slightly nudged exposure, and might have added a smidge of vibrancy to some of them. Those small changes do make a big difference but I haven't done anything wild and crazy. The backgrounds and lighting are all very very real.

Week 1, we worked on natural light indoors. I'll spare you these shots since you see indoor work from me all the time!

Week 2, we finally headed outside and worked on open shade:

Week 3, backlighting, was the one I was most excited about. I love love love those hazy sunset type photos I see in portrait photographer's albums. Words can't even begin to describe how I would fail time and again trying to capture that effect. I can only imagine what passersby thought when they heard me squealing when I saw these on the back of my camera:

But perhaps the most challenging part of that week was finding a spot to do indoor backlighting with window light. I love this photo and it will truly be a classic in our family:

We finished Week 4 with silhouettes which are not really my thing. We had horrible weather that week and because of the timing of sunset, it was super challenging to do with the nap schedules/dinner time. I almost didn't even do my homework that week but Handyman Tim pushed me to at least give it a try. I'm so glad he did:

I loved taking this workshop during the fall with all the gorgeous colors but the hardest part is going to be waiting till next spring to get outside and really play. I'm so excited to take the family out on photo adventures now that I know how to use the light properly. Yippee for natural backdrops and scenery! And double yippee for having photos that are so much better than my "before" shots! 

Breaking out of my box

Over the weekend, I participated in the Milwaukee ClickinWalk hosted by ClickinMoms. In cities all around the world (yes, seriously the world) forum members and their friends gathered for group photo tours of their hometowns. A bunch of awesome ladies met up in downtown Milwaukee for a tour of the Third Ward. I've been looking forward to this event for months but was completely overwhelmed when the actual day came!

Thank goodness for Zina from Let's Lasso the Moon and Colleen from Flee Fly Flown who agreed to join me. Having familiar faces at the event made me far less nervous. Little did I know how much I'd need them until we started walking! 

Our first stop on the walk was a bridge near a set of abandoned railroad tracks. All the other photographers pounced on the scene and started snapping photos left and right. I nearly had a heart attack. It wasn't until that moment that I realized what a solid box I've put myself in when it comes to photography. I shoot food, my kids, flowers, and inside my house crafty stuff. Period. Out there in the open with no mini models to pose and cluster in front of a pretty background I felt totally lost. I love landscape photography but a few peeks through my viewfinder and I couldn't figure out where to start or what to shoot! I was so out of my element.

Zina saw me struggling. She laughed at me for being overwhelmed and then told me to think smaller, think story. She started pointing out the tiniest details in this huge open field. First up, these berries:

I can't even take credit for this photo! I may have snapped the buttons, but she literally directed the image for me. It was that one photo that put me more at ease and I set off to explore the rest of the field. After taking a few small detail shots I started to feel much more comfortable.

Our group moved on to several other great spots but I definitely found it is the smaller details vs. the large grand scenes where I find it easier to compose an image. I am still in the middle of my natural light class and I found dozens of spots that would have made for awesome portrait locations but that was not the goal of the walk. It was so hard to switch gears! 

 We ended our morning at the Milwaukee Public Market. The moment I stepped through the doors I felt a pressure lifted from my chest: steady indoor lighting! food! Ahhhh, it was like coming home. I took over half my images at this one location alone and was definitely in my happy place.

Does anyone else read The Bloggess? Knock knock:

When we wrapped up our photo walk, I felt totally and completely mentally exhausted. I haven't thought that hard in a long time. I know it seems silly but what multitasking was involved!:

1. Be hyper aware of your surroundings and look for tiny details you might not otherwise take the time to notice.
2. Analyze the light those details are sitting in. (Much trickier than it sounds!)
3. Think about which of my 3 lenses would best capture the image.
4. Set my camera settings in manual mode.
5. Don't get hit by a car. Ha.

You can see my full project in my Flickr Set here. I'm pretty proud of my little collection of images from the day. It stretched me creatively in a way nothing else could. It really highlighted my narrow focus and forced me out of my comfort zone. It was fantastic practice for working in natural light and I think I'll feel far more confidant the next time I'm out.

Thank you for thinking different

When I heard of Steve's passing late last night, I was not terribly surprised at the news. I was, however, very surprised by how sad I felt about it. When a friend shared this photo capture from the Apple web site, I clicked through to their homepage and tears sprang to my eyes. 

What an amazing impact this man has had on my life. While most people are going to be talking today about how he changed the world, I'm wondering how many out there can be honest enough with themselves to understand how he has changed them personally. Steve Jobs and his Apple history may be somewhat controversial, but the beauty, simplicity, and amazing usefulness of his products cannot be argued. 

I'm typing this up on my iMac. The same iMac that Handyman Tim gave to me as a present when I had the Peanut. The gift that meant a million times more to me than any piece of jewelry every could. It is on this computer that I have learned how to improve my photography to the point of being able to sell stock, challenged my writinging skills to go from simple emails to a full blog, discovered the instructions for making countless recipes and crafts, and most importantly store and edit and share the images and memories from my family's lives.

Could I have done all of that on a PC? Honestly, no. Not like I have, not even close. Working on a Mac for so many years (I've owned them exclusively since college) gave me the courage to try new things. Their software is so brilliantly simple. Picking up a new skill took one session of poking the buttons. Edit a photo, turn it into a slideshow, edit some video, add some music, create a postcard or an invitation, lay out a scrapbook page, a little project here, a little project there and my confidence was built. "Well that was easy, what's next?!" Without that growth of confidence, I honestly do not think I'd be as courageously trying new things as I am today.

From little projects to much bigger ones, I've done it all on my Macs. But that's Apple. What about Steve the man himself? That is the part that stings too much to think about. My whole family adored him. We've watched his keynote addresses online and followed all his announcements and introductions. His excitement and passion was absolutely contagious. I still remember vividly the day my dad sent me a copy of Steve's famous commencement speech. If you haven't read it (or watched the video) you won't regret the time spent reading it here. 

Every Apple success felt like watching the underdog win. We cheered Steve on and celebrated every victory. We are smug and cocky Apple fanatics. Our products are cooler than yours and it is all because of Steve. And I promise that at least this family will not soon forget it.

Thank you for thinking different, Steve. It truly has made a world of difference.

Cranky peanuts, part 2

Oh sad Little Pea, what's wrong? Crocodile tears, runny nose, why has mommy abandoned you to grab her camera and document your woe?

Because this is priceless. THIS is what my little girl looks like at least once a day. Don't most toddlers?

But now that the Peanut is 4.5 years old, I can say with certainty, this phase will not last forever. Little Pea is sad because she bumped her head on a cushion. She's bumped her head on that same spot countless other times, but this time it was personal. And 30 seconds from this shot? She's smiling again. I swear it.

But those big fat wet tears on her cheek and the look of sheer indignation was just too much for me to let go without photographing. 

And as I loaded this onto my computer, I was reminded of the Peanut's cranky portrait I posted last year. Both of these photos are so real to me in a way that many of the smiley happy posed pictures are not. This is what life is like in the down and dirty day to day living. I know I'm going to want to remember that.

Building confidence

One of the things I am complimented on most frequently are my photos. It makes me super happy to hear the compliments and I hope I accept them graciously. I try hard not to do that stereotypical girl thing by writing off all my positives by qualifying them with negatives. (C'mon, you know you've done it and know exactly what I'm talking about.)

I do like my photos too. Otherwise, I likely wouldn't be sharing them here. But. Yes, but.

1. A lot of time and effort goes into my images. I work really hard to be constantly improving. Unfortunately, the learning process means I am extremely critical of my work. I feel like I have to be. If I'm not looking for ways to make it better, how will I learn and grow?

2. It is not an accident that most of the photos I've shared are taken indoors. Go ahead, look through my archives. The outdoor photos are very few and far between. I know and understand my indoor lighting at almost every moment of the day and evening. But goodness help me, when outside I am completely baffled and frustrated with my camera.

So what's a self-critical, wanting to grow, confused outside girl to do? Take a class!

This image was taken outside this morning. The Peanut is taking Little Pea for a very short-lived walk. They're holding hands and my heart is melting. I see a million things right about this image: my 2 girls being sweet, the Peanut wearing her shoes on the wrong feet, Little Pea thrilled to be out on her own walking.

But I also see all the lighting issues. Time of day was awful, the series of photos I took had them going in and out of the shade and messed with exposure. This picture took a lot of editing before I felt ok sharing it.

Monday morning I'm starting Natural Light 101, a Clickin'Moms workshop. I've been looking foward to this class since my birthday last month. I want to capture these cuties outside with pumpkins and fall leaves and winter hats and snow boots. I'm tired of being frustrated and I'm off to fix it.

I'm going to be busy for the next 4 weeks learning. Posting might be a little bit more sporadic but I will do my best to keep things moving here.

If you're feeling like you're not getting enough of a Peanut Blossom fix:

1. Friend me over on Facebook

2. Follow me on Pinterest

You can be assured I'll be active over there no matter what! I'd love to have you join the discussions happening on both those sites.

It's my party and I'll bake if I want to

Wow. So I didn't quite expect the awesome recipes and suggestions I've been getting from yesterday's baking challenge. Looks like I hit a nerve. Y'all like to bake, do you??

So it turns out the ladies from my playgroup want to turn my birthday into an excuse to have a Bacchanalian sugar feast. I got one offer to bring a second dessert for me to sample and it just ballooned from there. I'm apparently hosting said feast next Monday where all the guests have been charged with bringing their most wonderful concoction.

There will be butter. There will be sugar. There will be wine. What more can a birthday girl ask for?

Which gave me an idea. If my local friends are this excited to have an excuse to bake, why can't I spread the joy to my farther flung friends, too?? 

I've decided to be "that" girl. I'm going to throw myself a party and YOU are invited. All you have to do is choose an incredible dessert that will make you giddy with joy to sample. You have my absolute permission to then actually go ahead and bake that dessert this weekend. 

Send me the link to your recipe of choice. I will feature a gallery of desserts here on the blog early next week so everyone can enjoy my virtual birthday party together. If you made the dessert, send me a picture! If you just made the dessert in your imagination, I'll try to snag a photo from the recipe link. 

If you want to join the party, just email me at: peanutblossom AT yahoo DOT com  (turn that into a real workable email address, sorry I am posting it that way--just outsmarting the spammer autobots.) Or leave a comment on this post.

Send me:

1. Your name (and your blog name if you want to share)

2. The recipe you chose and the link to the source. See that? ONE recipe. We're not being wishy washy here.

3. A photo if you made it yourself

4. A review, it better be glowing!

You have until Monday to participate. I'm so excited to see what you come up with! 

Calling all dessert aficionados

A friend of mine wrote on Facebook that she was making her own birthday dessert. At first I was taken aback--poor girl, forced to bake for herself. Then I paused and reconsidered, "Lucky girl! She gets to bake for herself!" 

I'm so inspired by that idea. My birthday comes up next week and I've decided I'm grabbing this opportunity to pick the dessert no one else in my family would ever care to try. I'm experimenting with something new because if it fails, the only one disappointed is myself. I can't think of anything more fun and guilt-free to do for my special meal. 

The trouble? There are a gazillion amazing recipes out there! I honestly don't even know where to start. I don't usually bookmark dessert recipes because I don't need the temptation. I can't decide if I want fruity, chocolatey, caramely, cake-y, pie-y, all I know is I don't want banana-y. 

Have you had your eye on a special dessert recipe that you've been too scared to try? Have you seen something gorgeous and amazing and delectable? I'd love if you'd share the idea and recipe. You can post here in the comments, or leave a comment over on Facebook, whatever floats your boat.

In any case, I'm tossing down the baking mitts in challenge. Bring it on!

Building a children's home library

Real paper books have been on my mind this last week. With the news that Borders is finally and officially going out of business, I've lost two of the nearest book stores in my area. The next closest is a Barnes and Noble tucked inside the mall. I really worry that the days of being able to lounge around inside a bookstore are quickly coming to an end. 

Maybe that sounds like an odd worry to you but Handyman Tim and I fondly recall many dates from early on in our relationship spent inside bookstores. Digital readers are fancy and convenient but nothing can mimic the ability to browse shelf after shelf of paper copies of books. 

When Gabrielle at Design Mom posted her top 50 favorite picture books for children in honor of her 5th anniversary the other day, I became even more concerned about books. It's one thing to lose paper copies of the NYT Bestseller lists, but what grandmother wants to pull their dear grandchild onto their lap and snuggle up with a Kindle?

Tim thinks it is unlikely that children's books will go officially digital. I'm not so very sure. 

I've taken a closer look at Design Mom's list. I've been hunting around online for even more ideas. I'm trying to compile a short list of children's books that I think would be crucial to have in paper version for my girls. I'd love to start building this little library over the course of coming holidays and birthdays and just because days. 

Because I love children's books, I already have just a handful to start. I've collected these over the last 10 years and received some as gifts. Each one is a beautiful hardcover edition with as classic a cover art and illustrations as possible:

- A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
- Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
- The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
- The first four books from Beatrix Potter's collection including The Tales of Peter Rabbit 
- Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne 
- And of course, all 7 Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling 

I'm also super lucky to have such wonderful book club friends. Last year they gave me a perfect library starter basket with their own favorite childhood picks in honor of Little Pea's arrival. You can see the full list here.

As I compile my list, what would you add to yours? In my opinion, there are some books that are perfect coming from the public library. They don't all need to be part of our home collection. Which ones would make your final cut? If you could only have 3 paper children's books, which ones would they be?