I don’t get to wear hats much in the desert. So when it gets a little chilly in cactus town, I like to wear a hat.

And let’s face it, now that I have decided to embrace the wave that I was born with, that embrace comes with the realization that some days my hair will not do what I want it to do. And a hat can cover that crazy ‘do up.

Sometimes a girl’s gotta change the hat routine up. So I spotted this gorgeous cloche over at StitchKouture and I thought, “well…a little out of my personal comfort zone…but oh so pretty. Mine!” And I snatched it up while she was having a fantabulous free shipping sale.

What is a cloche, you ask?

Think bell-shaped hat. Early 1900s – fairly popular in the 1920s. And this one was crochet – with greens, blues and browns. A terrific mix of color to go with plenty of outfits.

So the other night it was cold. Cloche-wearing cold.

And I had to take some photos at the school. And anyone who snaps shots AND wears hats knows what a pain it is to try and take photos with your hat bill getting in the way. (I know, I know…an odd problem to have. But not something you really think about ahead of time. Wear a baseball cap and try taking a picture with your camera using the view finder – not the little screen – and you will see exactly what I mean).

So I donned said cloche and headed out. It kept my head warm. And it was ultra fun!

If you’re not ready to rock a cloche, StitchKouture makes plenty of other fun crocheted items. You can find crocheted earrings, beanies, scarves and more. You gotta check it out. I have my eyes on a few things. But for now, especially as the weather permits, I’m rockin’ the cloche!

I have fun painting. But I won’t ever get all artsy-fartsy on you and call myself an artiste.

It’s something I enjoy. I love playing with the colors. And I love having captured a moment in time – what I was feeling at the time I painted the piece.

So months before Miss T was born, I messed around with large canvas and decided I would paint her a field of flowers for her bedroom wall.

I hated it. Well, not outright hated…but I disliked it intensely. Not sure why. But I did.

So it sat in the garage and mocked me every time I walked by. I thought about messing around with it. I thought about completely painting over it and starting anew.

And then I was perusing my beloved Etsy and came across a cool idea of canvas + ribbon = hair goody holder

Loved the idea. Especially since I am accumulating more baby barrettes and headbands for Miss T.

So I took the once hated painting and my scraps of ribbon and mini clothespins…

And then I added Miss T’s budding collection. It’s turned out to be a painting I LOVE since it’s cute AND super useful.

I swear, Etsy has some of the coolest online peeps. The talent is pretty evident in most shops. You just see what people are making and think “wow.” But talent isn’t the only thing you find.

You find people with heart.

I was looking at the Details by Karlita shop and oohing and ahhing over her colorful felt creations. I wanted a felt flower. The colors were calling to me.

But then I saw it. A paw pin.

And I read the listing. It was about animal abuse and saving a doggie.

I’m a sucka for dogs.

So of course I got the pin. And Karlita sent me details on the doggie that was currently in need – Rocky.

I gave the pin to munchkin and we put it on his backpack. He loved it. And then we talked a little about animal abuse and how sad and horrible it is.

Karlita has a section in her shop called Save a Pet and proceeds of your purchase go to help animals in Puerto Rico, where she lives. How cool is that? And right now, she has paw ornaments that are oh-so-cute. Perfect for your Christmas tree or as a gift for the animal lover in your life!

I threw a baby shower for my friend B the other week. And while I didn’t get as crafty as I would have liked, I did make a couple new things.

I made this diaper cake ->

(No, I did not make the cute stuffed owls on top. They are from an etsy store – unpetitelapin)

I was not in love with the diaper cake. But it was first. Perhaps my last? But it was cute and the diapers are useable (more important than cuteness, if you ask me). Especially when the shower guest of honor is having TWINS. Yes, B will need as many diapers as she can get from people.

I also strung up some banners that doubled as a shower gift – buying clothes, bibs and little stroller toys to hang up with clothespins, mixed up with some paper pennants that I made. There were about 3 different banners strung up in the dining and living rooms.

(The clothespins were decorated with scrapbook paper and decoupaged on…the colors were blues and greens. While I know how to do this, I didn’t have the time to make these. So I got them from another etsy shop -gigglesapu).

We played a couple games but I’m not a fan of game after game after game after game at a shower.  No thanks. Two games – quick ones – and we were done.

So instead, if peeps were feeling crafty, I set up the kitchen island with blank bibs and fabric paints. And I wanted to make sure that the twins’ big sister wasn’t left out – so I had a shirt for peeps to design for her as well. Some guests came up with some really cute designs!

There are times in life when you have to keep quiet. When you have to keep your mouth shut.

That is not easy for me. I’m opinionated, for one. But I also like to spew advice, for the two cents (or less) that it’s worth.

I see a train wreck a’comin. And it’s not going to be pretty.

Two people whom I like, whom I care about, are headed down a road…”mostly” paved with good intentions. But they are both so obtuse to the other person – their needs, their wants, their opinions – it’s mind boggling. And I can’t say a damn thing.

Absolutely nothing.

So I don’t hog the hair goodies all to myself. Baby girl has to have some too.

And while I think some of the flower headbands out there are ultra cute, I’m not a huge fan of a fabric (or other substance) flower basically engulfing my child’s noggin.

So I avoid HUGE flowers for Miss T. And instead, after drooling at the cutie-patootie items over at My Sweetie Bean, I bought some little corker bows.

They are tiny.

And I love them.

Babies should have some tiny little pretties for their noggins.

I want to see the babies. Their eyes. Their sweet little cheeks. Their cute little faces. Not some crazy flower hogging up the atmosphere.

Ivy of My Sweetie Bean told me her barrettes would hold the barely-there wisps of Miss T’s hair and she was 110% right.In her item listings she even has pictures of her lovely daughter at various ages (and hair lengths) wearing the barrettes. (Mind you, I get a little jealous because Ivy’s daughter has some serious hair going on…even as a baby. Miss T is not so well endowed in the follicular arena at the moment. And we’re talking 7 months here.)

Ivy also threw in this lil goody which is AWESOME because it’s bright and orange and looks especially fun on Miss T ->

So now I’ve ordered more because I need some more colors. Of course.

I haven’t tried them in my hair yet. But I will. Especially if I decide to cut my bangs again

I live in the HOT HOT desert.

Did I say it’s HOT?

Well, it is. And yet, I still keep my hair long.

Why, you ask? Because about 4 years ago some drug-addled (I swear she musta been on drugs) hair stylist gave me a shullet. That’s my term for a cross between a shag cut and a mullet.

It was bad. And it permanently scarred me. I now go to the hairstylist (a different one) very rarely.

So what’s a long haired girl living in the hot desert supposed to do?

Pull her hair back, of course!

But it’s more fun to do so with cute little buttons in your hair! So I indulged over at Rotifera and bought a few lil goodies. They are ultra cute, ultra affordable. And Rose always puts a few little goodies in your package to make it fun. (Not to mention she is also very eco-friendly, using cereal boxes and whatnot to help package her hair doo-dads.)

It’s a little difficult to get a decent pic of yourself with a dslr, and I was too lazy to set the tripod up. So you will have to just believe me when I say these look oh-so-cute in the hair. I’ve been using the bobby pins a lot. But the pony tail holders went PERFECTLY the other day when I had a light blue top on and needed to get my hair off my shoulders.

Even if you have short hair, Rose makes up headbands and whatnot that will give your hairstyle a little oomph.

I think I’m going to try out one of her awesome Rotifera rick rack roses next…

So is it a child’s right of passage to take some scissors and give himself a haircut?

Because my 7 yr old did just that.

You’d think he would know better at his age. But yet, he did it.

In the living room. With the purple handled scissors.

He left tufts of hair on the floor. And a couple of lovely almost-bald spots on his head.

Student photos are in three weeks.

Yay.

I sell stationery. Yes, with an “e.”

But I have to tag my items with the wrong spelling to make sure they don’t get lost when people search for “stationary.”

I do not sell stationary. Stationary means standing still; not moving.

It’s easy to mix up. And in fact, when I look at my shop stats, I see more people searching for the “wrong” kind than the right. So I tag my stuff with a misspelled word.

I’ve always been a freak about spelling. Which is funny, because I also am a freak about writing like I talk. So I frequently take liberties with grammar and I have been known to make up a word or two.

But perhaps somehow we can spread the word that notecards, letterhead and the like are stationery with an “e” – it would really save me some tagging. And looking like a doofus to those who know how to spell  the word.

Okay, maybe not yet.

D has decided he wants to learn violin. Me, the mom who feels like her munchkin needs to have all these opportunities my family could not afford, feels obligated to oblige.

Well, what makes the decision easy is that munchkin’s school offers a program that is ultra cheapola (we’re talking $20/mth) for group practice a couple times a week. Let’s see – the cost of a couple pizzas AND it’s right after school so I don’t have to drive anywhere??

We’re in!

So we rented a used violin. (Note to self, remember to think of craigslist FIRST before I drive across town to go to a music store). And D has decided he knows how to play. So he picks it up and plays it.

You know, the kind of playing of a musical instrument that a 7 year old who has never picked up an instrument can do.

It’s cute.

For now.

I anticipate that in the near future I may not find it sounding as cute.

Let’s hope the munchkin is some sort of virtuoso who picks it up. Fast.