Reversible Bird Seed Skirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

In case you hadn't noticed, I am a sucker for giveaways. I like them. They're quick. They're easy. They're free. In fact, I even win things. Recently, a set of baby caps and an autographed CD. It's like slot machines. You win a little, randomly, and that increases your desire to lose even more money. Amazing, and scientifically proven. But there's nothing to lose here. So, go ahead and take a look at Grosgrain fabulous' sweet handmade and originally designed clothing:

Reversible Bird Seed Skirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

You might even want to enter. :)

Babywearing: The New... Oh, Wait. It's Old.

I think the recent trend toward "babywearing" and "attachment parenting" has mostly blown over my head, or flitted by me, or something, undoubtedly while I was changing diapers, nursing, or working on my Master's. However, I had a sling that I used all the time when Ethan was little. I still use it from time to time. I like slings. I liked being able to stick Ethan in one, and nurse, and make dinner at the same time. Slowly, of course, but surely. All this multitasking (in my case) and attachment parenting (in other cases) is seen as some new thing. I've seen authors of websites attack the idea of wearing your baby as if it's some new American fad. As if it's better to let little Johnny go off and be independent by himself just because he's growing up in American suburbia and his mommy doesn't work in a cane field. They seem to forget that women in other cultures have been wearing their babies for years... for millennia, really, that it works well, and that is a normal and natural thing for a mother to do who wants to take care of her baby and take care of other business as well. Does it really matter whether that business is in a Central American jungle or an air-conditioned North American house?

In that spirit, I'm posting a link to this contest: Win the Essential Babywearing Stash from Along for the Ride (one Beco Butterfly, one Hotsling baby pouch, one BabyHawk Mei Tai, one Zolowear Ring Sling, and one Gypsy Mama Wrap). If I win, several of my lovely pregnant friends should rejoice at the gifting potential, and I will, too, because I have wanted to try some of these slings myself, before passing them on (possibly).

Ethan Gardens (Read: Plays in the Rocks)

I made this playsuit yesterday (yes, in one day!) from a great oliver+s pattern. I had seen their patterns a while back (maybe Matt's mom sent me a link? Maybe we both saw it in Mary Engelbreit?), so when they offered a free shipping deal, I pounced. Kind of. I thought about it for a day or so, because I haven't spent more than $7 on a pattern in a long time, if ever. It was worth it. Besides, they come with sweet card stock paper dolls, so it's really not that much for the pattern, if you consider how much you'd spend for a paper doll.

Now we know what he does while Mommy's at work...

Pillowcase Dresses

I haven't made any yet, but my mother-in-law has these lovely pillowcases dresses for sale in her shop The Silvery Moon:

Bookmooching

I've started bookmooching, giving books away in return for points, that I then use to request books. Here's a sampling of my current inventory:


I've recently read and relisted:
Everything Conceivable by Liza Mundy
and have on my shelf to read:
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt
When Character Was King by Peggy Noonan

The Problem with Internet-Based Classes

Internet-based classes are great. I can do the work, listen to the lectures, and write researched discussion posts all from my desk in the dining room, and all while Ethan is sleeping. I'm prone to fall into the trap of rabbit trails, though. I start out trying to find out what the average turn-around time on a GC culture is (2-4 days), and an hour later I'm reading about fatal familial insomnia and trying desperately not to click on over to etsy.

Seems some other people have the same problem: Completely off-topic post about health, fish and clothesline.