The Art of Darling: 2011

12.23.2011

{Oh, Christmas Tree}

Christmas is around the corner. Here is our little darling about the open presents a few days early this year... She won't remember presents were unwrapped early and use this for leverage for years to come. Right?

We want to capture every magical moment, especially when it's baby's first Christmas. But let's face it: lighting can me a nightmare! I found these tips very helpful for snapping pics in front of the tree:

Blue Cricket Design Blog

16 Digital Photography Tips for Christmas

DPS

Merry Christmas! And let the present opening begin...

{love} kacey jane

12.13.2011

{Free Printable Owl Calendar}

If you are NOT like me and you have plenty of ink in your printer, then all those adorable free printables out there are right up your alley!

I stumbled upon the most darling free printable calendar in an owl motif while on Pinterest. Now is the perfect time to get a calendar because the new year is approaching. This would be perfect in a home office or in the kids' room! The link below gives a couple of great display ideas since the calendar is loose-leaf, or you could take it to Staples and have them bind it with a spiral.

Living Locurto

I'm thinking that if the Mr. could get the printer loaded, then this would make a great Christmas present for the little one!

{love} kacey jane

11.28.2011

{5 Colorful DIY Kid Activities}

Boy do I wish I had these ideas two summers ago when a friend's two precious little girls (4 & 6) stayed the weekend with the hubs and I! We did lots of fun activities, but I probably spent more than I should have on crafts, games, and treats. The internet is inundated with fun, easy, and inexpensive ideas for having fun with your kids, it's just a matter of finding a few tried and true tutorials! I've compiled a few here:

{Liquid Sidewalk Chalk}

Domestic Charm

{Jello Playdough Recipe}

Here.

{Fluffy Bathtub Paint}

Housing a Forest

Will be trying this one on our little one soon...

{Sensory Bottles}

Pink Pistachio

{Lawn Bowling}

Here.

Since our Baby A is too little to do anything with the above actives besides try to eat the contents, I will be looking for opportunities to incorporate these ideas into play-time with friends' children when we babysit!

{love} kacey jane

11.02.2011

{Babies and Books}

Reading was my first love, and of course I love babies, so it would naturally follow that I would find the combination of the two to be absolutely adorable! I'm loving several photo trends these days for newborns and babies, and one of them is the baby/book combo. Sometimes a photo can capture the wonder of reading just perfectly!

So much wonder and imagination here...

Three Nails Photography

Reading is hard...

inspire m.e. on Tumblr

Dress up, play, read...

Fotopastele

Lookin' just like daddy...

All That is Right In the World

Extensive reading list...

Beth V Photography

My husband reads to our little darling every night and it steals my heart every time. Can't wait until Baby A is big enough to sit up and hold a book in her lap by herself!

{Children are

made readers

on the laps

of their parents.

- Emily Buchwald}...

Enjoy this blogpost from "How We Montessori"

on five reasons to read to your baby:

How We Montessori

{love} kacey jane

10.30.2011

{Zara Baby}

I'm sure many of you have made this discovery already, but I finally got online to look at Zara.com. Most {darling} baby and kids clothing of life. I'm looking at them wishing they were made in my size at the same price! Here's a smattering of what they offer:

{Baby Boy}

{Baby Girl}

{Boys}

{Girls}

The website even has a wonderful feature that pairs each item with coordinates to complete a look (where I struggle because of indecisiveness). Great ideas and great inspiration for dressing the kiddos! Like this:

Zara.com

These are really helping me coordinate family photo outfits and decide what to dress A in for our Christmas card pictures! Did anyone else just die over those baby girl glitter oxfords?

{love} kacey jane

10.28.2011

{Balloon Photo Fun}

As a lover of those photography blogs, I have noticed several adorable photo trends that I'm just loving. One of those is the use of balloons. Me, oh my! Balloons add the most perfect pop of color and are just darling in kids' photos. Aren't they cute?

Shari Hatfield Photography

Sweet Child of Mine Photography

Max Wanger Photography

From The NieNie Dialogues by Blue Lily Photography

I love this one for a first birthday...

Flickr

We Heart It

This cuteness is reminding me of the movie "Up".

{love} kacey jane

10.27.2011

{Etsy Love: Penn & Livie Finery}

One of my favorite little Etsy shops is hosting a giveaway on their blog. I bought two bow- ties from this shop last month for two of my friends' little boys and posted about them here. They are {darling} and so well made!

Penn & Livie Finery on Etsy

Click on the link above or their button under my "Fave Blogs" to visit their blog and enter into the giveaway for one free Sampson bow tie of your fabric choice and size:)

10.26.2011

{Stella & Dot for Girls}

Did you know Stella & Dot made accessories for girls? I used to be a consultant, and right before I stopped selling, they launched their line for girls. I love Stella & Dot jewelry, their quality, and their customer service.

Shop Stella & Dot for girls.

Although a lot of moms may croak at spending the amount on jewelry for a little girl who will lose or break it, there is nothing wrong with spoiling a granddaughter or niece with one of these darling baubles:)

{love} kacey jane

10.24.2011

{Etsy Love: Eight Baby Legs}

One of my favorite little Etsy shops doesn't sell a ton of items, but has the cutest body suits for babies. Great colors and adorable designs are a refreshing change of pace from the regular old onesie (sp?) that you can get at any store, and a great alternative for a baby shower gift. Thinking of getting one for my little darling.

Eight Baby Legs on Etsy

These are so cute. Wish it was okay for me to wear one of these. Does anyone else feel like they are sometimes vicariously shopping for themselves when they buy something for their kids? ;)

{love} kacey jane

10.23.2011

{A Room for Two}

If you live in a teeny (but wonderful) house like I do, a growing family and limited space can be a bit daunting. Although we aren't planning on having another little one any time soon, the thought of another little body in our two bed, one bath home makes me a little anxious. I went through a stage of being convinced that we would definitely have to move when we decided to have another kid. After seeing these beautiful nursery/toddler room combinations in small spaces, I'm rethinking my initial freak-out.

Beautiful aqua and red...

The Little Green Notebook

Twins...

Just darling...

French Knot on Tumblr

Burch & Lily on Tumblr

Conclusion: It can be done. And it can be done beautifully.

{love} kacey jane

10.22.2011

{We Are Family}

I love looking at photography blogs and the art of capturing a family perfectly. There are so many different styles of photography out there, and so many different families. As a result there are endless ideas and inspirations for family photos.

We get our photo taken by our favorite professional photographer once a year, and now that our little one is here, I've been scouring blogs and Pinterest looking for ideas for the next session. Here are some of my favorite family photo sessions I found:

Amelia Lyon

Blue Lily Photography

Amelia Lyon

Urban Rose Photography

Simplicity Photography

You can tell I like colorful and natural, huh?

{love} kacey jane

10.17.2011

{Etsy Love: Sweet Louise Boutique}

As mother to a four month old infant who is constantly finding fascination in shapes, color, and movement, I am always searching for new things for her to look at and delight in.

Until recently, I was missing a mobile in my nursery. I didn't like any I saw in stores and just couldn't find the time or motivation to make one myself. Then, a good friend of mine started an Etsy business, and what do you know? One of the items for sell in her boutique was a mobile that matched the colors and theme of my nursery perfectly!

It was a no-brainer to support her in her new business venture and at the same time get the perfect mobile for my darling's room. She loves it!

Sweet Louise Boutique

Other wonderful items from Sweet Louise Boutique include a sensory blanket, stroller blankets, baby girl leg warmers, and chenille-lined burp cloths and bibs...

Sweet Louise Boutique

I also ordered a set of the burp cloths for a gift and they are so soft! I just know the mommy-to-be is going to love them. I love Sweet Louise Boutique!

{love} kacey jane

10.15.2011

{The Chevron Stripe}

A big trend in interiors and pretty much anything else right now is the chevron stripe pattern- and I hope it sticks around for a while because I love it! It is popping up in everything cutesy from nursery decor to rompers, and the list goes on!

I often peruse what others have done in their nurseries and kids' rooms, and have noticed the reoccuring theme of the chevron stripe. Here are some of my favorites: