Red Tricycle awards & GIVEAWAY!!!

This is really EXCITING News 

My boutique "DROOL" has been nominated for the "BEST BABY BOUTIQUE" in the Los Angeles area.

I am really honored to be running up against some BIG, LONG established boutiques! 

 I am hosting a little giveaway open to anyone who votes.

Win a PETUNIA PICKLEBOTTOM Fold-away tote bag!

 3 ways to enter:

-Vote HERE, and comment HERE saying you voted

- Tweet about this GIVEWAY: I entered @Droolinc Petunia Picklebottom giveaway!

-Like DROOL on Facebook! 

**Please include EMAIL address in your comments**

Voting goes until October 31st, feel free to VOTE/and comment daily.

Giveaway winner will be chosen by random # generator  on October 31st!

I really appreciate the LOVE 

The hardest part

How was your morning? MINE, was HEINOUS!!!

My normally sweet happy, cheerful, hilarious child was taken over by a demon!

I swear for ONE solid hour I had this demon in between my legs screaming, whining, and more less throwing her first REAL tantrum. 

I kneel down looking into those red, puffy eyes, asking Pella "What?" "What do you want?"

"snack?" "Juice?" "Shoes?" "Justin Bieber?" <-- always cheers her up 

Pella's reply "EHHHHHHHH! WAHHHHHH!" pushing me away only to throw herself down to her knees, smash her face into wood floor and cry. 

Folks, this went on for ONE hour!!!!!! I finally was beside myself, OBVIOUSLY I could be no help to this demon. I put her in her crib with some juice, her paci, a book, closed the door behind me and didnt look back!! I continued to get dressed for work! 

The HARDEST part about what happened to me this morning was that helpless feeling!

I now have this toddler who doesnt want to be cuddled anymore, and doesnt want my assistance with out her asking for it first! Its really HARD staying calm when the tantrum is in full force! Its really HARD to watch my kid gagging herself bc shes SO MAD, over NOTHING. Its really HARD to run out of options to offer her to TRY and tame the TANTCH!(short for tantrum). Its really HARD to NOT yell back at her! 

This is just a minor example of how HARD parenting, single parenting in my case really can be.

The DEMON!

Gluten Free Pumpkin Honey bread

Nothing says autumn like pumpkin bread and even better that this recipe is gluten free! As the saying goes: It's delicious and nutritious. With the addition of flax seed your family will get a boost of fiber and Omega 3 essential fatty acids to go along with the homemade-ness of moist pumpkin goodness. This recipe makes two loafs so enjoy one immediately and then freeze individual slices for a quick breakfast (or snack!) on the go.

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups gluten free flour mix*
1/2 cup ground flax seed or flax seed meal
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2  teaspoon xantham gum
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups + 2 tablespoons honey
1 (15-ounce) canned pumpkin
1/3 cup applesauce
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 cup coconut oil liquified
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

* You can use a store-bought gluten free flour mix our use the following recommended mixture: 1 1/4 cups coconut flour, 1/2 cup tapioca flour, 1/2 cup millet flour or brown rice flour, 1/4 cup gluten free oat flour

Method
1. Preheat oven to 350° (Note: temperature will be reduced to 325° after the first 10 minutes of baking).
2. Prepare 2 (9 x 5-inch) loaf pans with cooking spray and set aside.
3. Lightly spoon flours into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Sift flours and next 7 ingredients (through salt) together into a large bowl. Combine all dry ingredients thoroughly using a whisk.
4. Combine honey, pumpkin, applesauce, and eggs in a separate large bowl; beat with a whisk until smooth. Whisk in the coconut oil.
5. Add the flour mixture to the honey mixture and stir until thoroughly combined (avoid over mixing). Fold in the walnuts.
6. Equally divide and spoon batter into 2 (9 x 5-inch) loaf pans coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes.
7. Reduce the oven temperature to 325° and bake for an additional 50-55 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
8. Cool loaves in pans 10 minutes on a wire rack; remove from pans. Cool loaves completely before slicing.

compliments of: Red Tricycle blog

It Takes Two to Talk

Today was the first class I attended out of 8 for Pella's early intervention for Speech therapy.
It is a parent ONLY class which runs every week from 6:30-9pm.... It is quite the commitment!
I have been told many good things about this class, and the teaching technique is known to be highly successful... So for those of you wondering what exactly it is, its called "IT TAKES TWO TO TALK" which is taught my the Hanen Centre.

"Founded more than 35 years ago, The Hanen Centre is a Canadian charitable organization with a global reach."

"Our mission is to provide parents, caregivers, early childhood educators and speech-language pathologists with the knowledge and training they need to help all preschool children develop the best possible language, social and literacy skills, including those children with or at risk of language delays and those with developmental challenges such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, including Asperger Syndrome."

We fulfill our mission by:

• creating programs that teach parents, caregivers and educators how to promote children's language and literacy development during everyday activities
• training speech-language pathologists/therapists to lead Hanen Programs and to use Hanen's child-centred approach in their day-to-day work with families and teachers
• being a trusted source of helpful information for professionals who support the efforts of parents and teachers in giving children the best start in life
• developing outstanding, practical, user-friendly learning materials that are based on current research in the field
• conducting leading-edge research on our programs

Today I learned about OWL:

So we considering this was my first class I will update the blog weekly with my "It takes two to talk" update. Plus its a good way to keep track of our progress I suppose! 

If you are looking into speech therapy, or just have an interest in knowing more about this here the website!

IT TAKES TWO TO TALK 

"Oh, darlin' dont you ever grow up"

Dear Pella,

LOOK at you growing up! You are not a little sweet baby anymore, still sweet....but not a baby!

You have a mouth full of TEEF,  a full head of hair, painted nails, demanding to dress yourself, shaking your head NO at me when you dont want anything to do with me, bringing me the remote control so I can put on your favorite song to dance too Justin Bieber "Somebody to Love",  and pretty much not letting me help you DO MUCH OF ANYTHING these days! You are independent. You are hilarious. You are beautiful. You are smart. You are truly one of a kind. I am proud of you!  At times I couldnt WAIT for you to not be a baby anymore, but now I miss the baby Peej! But here you are pacing around our house talking your gibberish on my iphone, while I sit here and watch you and cant help but think of that Taylor Swift song "Dont ever grow up".

YES PLEASE!

Vintage little red shoes for Peej! here

Vintage silver spoon turned to ring. here

Vintage little dress for Peej. here

Antique Hutch/deask. here

Yarn Wreath. here

Vintage spring green Pyrex bowl set. here

i die!

Fall Fashion volume 1.

Not like its exactly feeling like fall with 80 degree weather, but I always look forward to Fall Mama baby fashion posts.

Dress: BDG urban Outfitters
Belt: Target
Boots: Steve Madden


and ... HELLO! I started an Etsy shop
Pella James Vintage & Orginals
CHECK IT!

Jonathan Alder for SKIP*HOP

Skip* Hop announced at the ABC kids expo that they have collaborated with Jonathan Alder!!!

I think the product is super cute,there will be 10 pieces total in the collection. Will be hitting stores, including DROOL in late November early December.

heres a sneak peak!