diapers and skinny jeans

Hey there, I'm Ashley and I write over on  The Stork & The Beanstalk . I contacted Kate some time ago about doing a guest post over on my blog as I'm out recovering from some pretty major back surgery. Kate was kind enough to invite me to guest post here as well, so thank you, Kate, for having me on your lovely corner of the worldwide web. Kate wrote a post a while back, prior to the birth of her beautiful Alba, about her fear of loving a second child. It was something that I related to so deeply to on so many levels as I had experienced the same fears. I am the mother of two boys; Hooper will be three in November and Van turned one in July. Ready for a dose of honesty? It took me longer to love Van than it did Hooper. I was a bit surprised by it because everything I read, prior to giving birth, talked about how your love multiplies rather than divides and blah blah blah. It wasn’t like that for me; not right away, at least. When I was hand...

I wanted to share a truly incredible project with you that has inspired a great interest of mine - the Edna Adan University Hospital in Somaliland. As the last few days pass by before I will give birth to my own baby, I couldn't help but feel compelled to share how so many women and babies in Africa won't have a safe place or knowledgeable staff to assist in their own childbirth experiences. My friend Lacy from Living on Love has partnered in this project with her friend Jennifer to design the beautiful print you see above to help fund the continued growth of one of the only hospitals in Somaliland making a true difference in the healthcare for women and their babies. From the hospital: "The health of the people of Somaliland is among the worst in Africa, with one of the highest Maternal and Infant Mortality rates in the world. Every year, one baby in eight dies in infancy while nearly 4000 Somali women die in childbirth. This tragedy can be attributed in larg...

The big day is finally here - in just a few short weeks, Off Switch Magazine has launched their Kickstarter campaign , updated their new website , and taken a huge  plunge... and they need your help! If you've been inspired as I have by the magazine, or if you're anxious to start building your collection, Katie has come up with some fabulous rewards for making a pledge to her project.  I am so, so proud of the hard work that has been put in, especially by Katie, and I know how incredibly important this funding is to the future of her business. Artists everywhere can understand - when you love something so much and give it everything you have, jumping out into the unknown is always terrifying.  I have faith that even if there are a few mistakes along the way, we get a few bruised knees, broken hearts, sleepless nights... it's all worth it in the end. Click here to see the campaign!

Yesterday I gathered with a few friends to bake. Fresh scones were dunked in slow-drip coffee, cheesecake was enjoyed out of golden ramekins and lemon tart bubbled and caramelized on the stove. We shared stories and conversation, careful to remember all of the helpful kitchen tips and tricks I had learned throughout the course of the day.  Lately even my days off have been spent working and seldom do I have the chance for a gathering like this - but, when I do, I appreciate my time that much more.  Not too many things are better than stepping out of the house and (far!) away from the cleaning and almighty to-do list.  Abby, Katherine and Catherine, thank you .  It felt wonderful to, quite literally, get our hands dirty in the best labor of love there is - baking. My day was spent with these bloggers you may already know : Abbyblujay  |   Gathered Heart

The sweetest friend has sent me thoughtful treasures all the way from the coastline of California.  It was such a wonderful mail day to open a package from Carissa , seeing her carefully chosen pieces of her home state for Sofia to discover and enjoy.  Seashells, sand, saltwater taffy and gorgeous hand drawn map to show exactly where it originated - we couldn't be more grateful.  I'm looking forward to the day we can get our little ones together and sit over a cup of tea.

There are so many good things to say about handmade products; whether it be posters and screen prints, magazines, jewelry, organic soaps, or clothing-- supporting local and independent artists is something I've always been passionate about. My family and I, along with a few familiar faces Abby , Katherine  headed out to the Renegade Craft Fair in Chicago this weekend.  A delightful street fair with thousands of vendors, we were able to catch up and get our hands on some really neat treasures.  So many wonderful moments from the day: Glazed and Infused doughnuts, new friends, exciting news, meeting the lovely Katie from OffSwitch Magazine in person, and bringing home our giant 24x24" AdventureTime 8-bit prints!   Yes, Abby... we did it! If you have the opportunity to head to this fair, it runs again tomorrow from 11-7PM down Division St. in Wicker Park. Definitely worth trekking the crowds for.  Happy Saturd...

We ate veggie tempura, pad thai, and waited in the hot sun for the bands to start.  Little did we know that moments later, the gates would be rushed by thousands of kids breaking their way into the event.  It was promptly cancelled due to a safety issue, so unfortunately we didn't spend as much time there as we'd hoped, but the day was interesting to say the least... and we spent it together. Scenes from the Mad Decent Block Party in Chicago, from Erick

I'm quite fond of this Thursday tradition of getting the two babies together.  It is so amazing to me to see how much they love each other already: sharing bottles, never napping, giving kisses, and keeping Nina and I on our toes.  Happy weekend to everyone... I've got more editing on the agenda, with maybe a quick break for brunch. :) PS- do any of you remember this video?  Ah, my heart!

Saturday, A perfectly overcast day with a warm breeze, great music, faraway friends, and a random assortment of picnic food.  Being able to hula hoop with the women I learned with.  Coming together after weeks, months, or even years of being apart.  Laughter.  Nature.  Stories.  Warmth. Friends, I've missed you.