friday link love

Can you BELIEVE that it's already November?  It feels like yesterday Claire was born in June, and then all of a sudden I blinked, and voila.  The holidays are so near.  We bought Christmas presents for our nearest & dearest last weekend.  My little girl will be 5 months old next week, a number that I just want erase and re-write as 1.  I know the passing of time is inevitable, but that doesn't mean I have to like it, and it's around this time every year that things just seem to jump into hyperspeed.  Nothing like having a baby to make you really understand how quickly life goes by.   

This weekend I'll be running another race, my second since Claire was born, a 10K.  I'm lucky enough to have lots of amazing friends (and a pretty rad husband) who agreed to run it with me to keep me motivated.  Can't believe I'll be tackling 6 miles before Claire is 6 months old.  Other than that, I'll be saying goodbye to some friends who are leaving St. Louis for now - I'll be so sad to see them go but excited to watch them succeed in new endeavours.  Never a bad thing to have people to visit!  

I hope you all soak up the last of autumn this weekend!  

My favorite links from the past few weeks: 

I can't stop thinking about this gorgeous diaper bag.  Would make a great Christmas gift, right?!  (hint, hint)

This made me laugh so hard.  Really, I cannot remember.  

This is a beautiful piece of parenting advice.  

Are you one of those people who "ghosts" at parties?  I have to admit, I totally am.  

Instagram vs. Real Life - this is so insanely accurate.  

Common grammer mistakes even the smartest of us make - I have to admit, I had no idea of the differences in #6.  

Of course, another beautiful essay from Coffee & Crumbs.  And please, stop asking parents how their babies are sleeping.  It isn't a nice question.  

Apparently, "time out" is now a big no no.  

operation post baby body/adult recess

This week, I officially hit my pre-baby weight.  Do I look the same as I did at this weight before having Claire?  Nope, I absolutely don't.  But I can still do this: 

and I can still run for miles

3 miles, on this night, to be exact but I'm running 6 this weekend and plan to be up to 9 in December.   

It feels good to be back in fighting shape but if I'm being totally honest, I'm not quite done.  It's going to take more than just weight loss, because things just aren't the same as they once were.  Still, hitting my pre baby weight and fitting into my 6s again is worth celebrating, so I decided to do just that.  With a little yoga thrown in for good measure.  

Yoga Buzz STL is an awesome organization started by Elle Potter, a local teacher whose praises I have sung here before when I reviewed a collection of St. Louis studios.  Yoga Buzz has a pretty simple mission - bring yoga to the masses, whether it's through beer, wine, or even a trip to Italy.  

A non-profit organization, their classes at local breweries & wineries raise funds to send experienced instructors to areas that are underserved in physical education and especially access to yoga.  Knowing what a difference it has made in my life, that's a mission I can get behind.  

Elle likes to describe yoga as adult recess, and I wholeheartedly agree.  One of my favorite aspects of yoga is having the chance to try to fly, and maybe fall, but TRY because my mat is a safe place to experiment.  I can't count how many times I fell on my butt attempting crow pose before I got it, but when I did it was like the joy any kid feels when they complete the entire row of monkey bars for the first time.  Adult recess, for sure - especially with a pint of Budweiser beer when class is dismissed : )   

You can check out upcoming Yoga Buzz events here.  Stay tuned for further post-baby body updates - I may have hit my previous weight, but I'm not done just yet, there are so many more miles to run.  

vienna sling share/volume 1: laura & i

NOW you've got a smile on your face, if you didn't already, am I right?  I mean, how can you NOT after taking one look at that incredibly adorable, chubby cheeked chipmunk of a baby that is obviously SO beyond happy to be hanging with her mama.  And her mama, she rocks.  I'm so excited to start the first installment of the Vienna Springs Sling share today.  In case you missed my post a couple of weeks ago, here is the jist of it: Laura, pictured above, is a master maker of baby slings.  She makes every babywearing mama's dream come true by making affordable, beautiful silk slings for women & babies of all tastes, sizes, budgets.  I met her on Facebook of all places but I have to tell you, I feel like she's a real life friend I've known forever.  

Laura lives in San Diego with her little Leah Vienna & her husband: 

Babywearing dads?  Excuse me while I go melt...

And since she made the pretty sling we'll be wearing & sharing (sisterhood of the traveling pants style) she kept it for a bit first, and she & I will be the first to tell you guys why we love babywearing.  

From Laura: 

Babywearing for us, has been an ideal alternative to carrying or strolling your baby.  I was thrilled to participate in the sling share, because I wanted moms to be able to try a sling that I made & fill it with love, before we sent it on to a mother in need.  It is my pleasure to share Huckleberry with all of the participants and readers.  During my time with Huckleberry, I visited my first Octoberfest fair in San Diego - we saw live music, ate yummy food, played games, and were part of the large crowd with no trouble at all.  We had such a great time, and baby wearing allowed me to be highly mobile & comfortable.  Not only that, through all of our outing I was sharing a special, cozy bond with my baby.  My daughter got to experience the fair from the same point of view that I did.  I can't wait to see where this sling travels to & hear all the great stories.  Thank you so much for sharing this sling with me & filling it with love.  

xoxo Laura - Vienna Springs

From Me: 

One of the days we had Huckleberry, Claire had shots.  This kid, she handles the shots themselves like a champ - yes, there are tears, but after a little milk & some cuddles, she's calmed down enough that we can strap into the carseat and head home as though nothing's been done.  But LATER.  A couple of hours later, I'm forced to brace myself for the meltdown of meltdowns that is inevitably coming my way.  The inconsolable screams of a baby that might as well mean "WHYYYYYY did you do this to me??? You're awful!  I hate you!  Etc, etc, etc!"  Having trouble picturing it?  

It pretty much looks like that.  

The only thing that has worked for us on shot days, is to have Claire fairly well live in the sling, and since Laura insists that she pops Leah into every sling she sends out first to fill it with "happy dust" I figured I had nothing to lose.  Five minutes later she had stopped crying (her little body bouncing with those tiny aftershock sobs, but slowly returning to normal.)  

Ten minutes later, she was passed out.  

Twenty minutes later, I was able to lay her down for a solid nap, with the sling as a blanket.  

I never would have learned about babywearing if not for Facebook & blogs, so I feel a real duty to pass it on to all the mothers who read this.  Although Darrell will forever make fun of me for spending so much time chatting with people I've never met, I'll always be grateful for the women I've connected with through babywearing.  I can't wait to share the next stories from Jessica & Crystal, coming up in a couple of weeks!  

You can check out Laura's Etsy store here - I warn you, it will look empty!  She stocks on specific days each week, and to find out when you can follow her Instagram here.  

art 314 at the contemporary art museum/hunter creel

One of my favorite things about blogging is being able to promote local culture & events - St. Louis has so much to offer, and the internet is an awesome place to show all that awesome to the world.  I was thrilled when the Contemporary Art Museum + Alive Magazine asked me to collaborate on promoting their upcoming event Art: 314, ESPECIALLY because one of the featured artists is someone I've known for a long time!  Hunter Creel, from Mt. Vernon, IL (my hometown) will be showing at Art 314, and he was kind enough to answer some questions about his work for my readers.  We went to high school together, and he's always been exceptionally talented & kind.  

Coming from a small town, a lot people probably weren't encouraged to head straight for the career path of "artist."  What inspired you to take this path in life?  

There was a point in time during college where I started to focus on myself, my art and work in a way I hadn't seen before. I committed in school and I told myself when I got out that I had to keep making. That was relativity easy for me because I was focused on making art, building a studio space, and collecting tools. I did put quite a few things on the back burner that I'm constantly catching up with. So I guess what I am getting at is that making is one of the few things I can truly commit to. I don't think I chose the career path of an artist but I decided that that I had something to make and say that people needed to see and hear.

 Where do you find support for your creativity and work?  Anyone in particular locally?  

Support from the hometown comes by way of my family, and I don't think I would be in my position if it wasn't without them. In saying that I am lucky because most people don’t ever get that. One of the comments that has always stuck with me is something I always heard my dad say at basketball camp. It went something like this, “You might not be the most talented or naturally gifted person, but you can try to work harder than everyone else. If you want to be great you have to practice everyday, because hard work pays off.” I don't know if that is the exact quote, but I always considered that comment daily. I do believe that hard work pays off and at that same time you have to be patient as well, because success isn't instant, it is something you have to work towards.

What's your creative process like?

My creative process; that is a good one. I don't think I could possibly describe this a linear fashion, but lets see how I do: I tend to always be thinking about quite a bit, for example. What I could make, I make in the studio, what colors I enjoy, the most popular event of the day, how I could improve my studio, which episode of Futurama I enjoy the most, or what kind of sandwich I should pick up. I focus my work on speaking about what is going on around me and I interrupt it, and what effect it has on me. By considering these things daily I formulate what I could make that will have this same effect on others. I use references to pop culture and daily events as a tool for communication.

What has been the best feedback you've ever received, and the worst?

Feedback comes in a couple of shapes and colors, and as a maker you always enjoy when people like your work. I think everyone wants that, but at the same time I most enjoy when someone challenges the work in a critical sense.  It can be difficult at the time of the interaction but I feel that I get more from that type of feedback than any other.  

What are you most excited about as part of your collaboration with CAM and Art 314?

As a part of CAM and ART:314, I am most excited about being in this presentation and this grouping of artists. CAM has set up a way to support and promote Saint Louis Artists and Open Studios STL within the same night, which extends to the promotion of makers in Saint Louis. Not least of this,  selling work is what allows me to keep producing, so having the potential to sell work is also very beneficial of course.  

Thanks so much Hunter, for sharing with my readers a little bit about your work!  

I also encourage you to check out Hunter's website, along with more of his work here, and you can keep up with what he's working on through his Instagram here!

Now for the most fun part - I know you want to come to an awesome party, right?  

Readers of Light Sleeper, Heavy Dreamer can get a discount on tickets using code LSHD2374 and they can be purchased here!  I hope to see you there!  

capsule outfits/2

I know, it's kinda of a picture overload, but how could I pick when my friend Riann did such a beautiful job on these shots?!  I think that last one is a framer, those little eyes, and the always furrowed brow!  This has sort of been my fall uniform lately, it's such an easy combo and perfect for hanging out with Claire and running errands.  This sling has been a favorite lately, it was the perfect anniversary gift from Darrell (year 2 is cotton!)  

wearing: 

sweater from gap

leggings from zella

boots from frye

sling from sakura bloom, maple ginger hana