Tiny Dancer

Clover took her first ballet class recently and she loved it.

The session ended the week before Christmas and on the final day of class, the parents were allowed in to observe (and in some cases take a ton of pictures ;)

The whole thing was incredibly adorable.

Getting to see this little girl shine in brand new ways is one of the great joys of being her mama :)

A little back story on the ballet class: Clover has a tendency to stick to her mama like glue. For example, even though she goes on to be fine and have wonderfully independent days shortly after I leave, every morning that I drop her off at pre-school involves a whole song and dance with me often having to literally pry her from whatever body part of mine she has attached herself to in hopes of me not leaving.

Usually all it takes is an "uppie" from one of her wonderful teachers as they skillfully direct her focus elsewhere allowing me to quietly slip away. Though every once in awhile there are tears involved.

She had been wanting to take ballet for awhile and I had hesitated, knowing that it was going to be a drop your kid off at the door kind of thing. I was pretty nervous about how it would all go down. We had discussed it and she had assured me that she could do it. I was still nervous.

It was such a relief when we showed up that first day and she just darted off, never looking back, lining up outside the door with a group of little girls she'd never met, to follow a brand new teacher into class. Watching her sheer excitement over the class propel her little body forward, effortlessly away from me, made me feel just as proud as watching her do those sweet little dance moves for the first time in front of all the parents.

Little did we know that following the performance, there would be even more excitement awaiting us at home...

A lovely surprise package from Nicole!

Which included a special little bundle of goodness for Clover and some wearable treasures for Mama, as well as an awesome little book from the 70's that will be perfect for helping me with my goal of creating a more homespun Christmas next year. Thank you for being so thoughtful Nicole!

A couple of days later, we took Clover to see a local production of The Nutcracker put on by our friend Lily's mom's ballet studio in Sebastopol. The sets and costumes were so beautiful and fantastical and the music and dancing inspired even more of this around the house than we were already seeing:

I took these videos on Christmas morning as Clover danced around our living room in her new ballet gear. She looks so sweet and innocent in that first one, doesn't she?

Do not be fooled...

It starts off innocent enough, until her mischievous side takes hold. Our poor kitty, he is not a willing dance partner. If you listen closely, you can hear his little cries. I had to rescue him. It's amazing what the little guy puts up with from her, no biting, no scratching.

Yesterday we watched this 80's film version of The Nutcracker (costumes and sets by Maurice Sendak!) and when it was over, she immediately wanted to dress up as one of the dancers in the waltz of the flowers, her favorite part. So we pulled out the insane tutu that my friend Abby got her for her birthday.

As you can see, she was completely in the zone.

We just got her a pair of wee tap shoes too. Next week she starts a new class. This time it's ballet/tap. She's excited. Should be fun :)

Moonrise Sunset

Well, here I am again… back with another outfit post. Already?? I know. I’m not sure what’s come over me. I can barely keep up with myself! I suppose we should just go with it though ;)

I received this wonderful little bundle awhile back from my longtime reader and lovely bloggy friend, Alexa of Pop Elegantarium. As you can see, it was a bundle too pretty to open without taking a picture first.

Tucked inside, among an assortment of thoughtful goodies for both Clover and myself, I found this little quilted vest! I must say Alexa, I quite adore it.

I’ve been really drawn to this shade of blue lately too. It’s hard to see in the pictures, but the skirt, a gift from Heather last spring, has tiny blue and white vertical stripes and buttons up the front.

I think the skirt has found a friend in this sweet little vest :)

I’d heard about an art opening that sounded interesting, and on Friday evening, convinced my little family to join me on a wee adventure to go check it out. The adventure took us up toward the hills not far from where we live. The rising moon looked pretty spectacular.

The opening was held in a little gallery at Sonoma Academy, the fancy new prep school that we see up on the hill when we take the back route to Trader Joe’s. It was kind of fun to go up there and explore for the first time. Clover got a kick out of the odd art installations scattered about the campus. This giant asparagus for example.

The artist was Laine Justice and her paintings “worldscapes in oil” did not disappoint. Each canvas containing a magical realm, otherworldly and fantastical, strange and beautiful. I was really taken with her work when I checked out her website, so it was a treat to view it up close in all its intricate detail.

That’s the artist herself in the cute little dress and boots ensemble, discussing images from her story book collaboration with Rusty Klassen. The images along with this beautifully lyrical excerpt off her website leave me very intrigued:

"Bunny feels it. Warmth and stillness, quiet and clutter, objects avalanche upon one another. It would be litter, the room where she stands, if it weren't for the order Pine somehow commands. This space inhales wonder, exhales the fantastic. Stardust fills jars, mache mobiles meander galactic roulette. Miniature shoes, pigs and ponies, shelved with dolls, books and stones. Elephant whiskers, mendicant oils, portraits on pinheads, rare earths and soils. Pine floats across a lake of fine carpets plumping quill down atop a plush settle. Beside him lie templates of galaxies yet to be formed, sere tintypes, and lithographs, an occasional horn. Bunny's at home here. She knows this room, grew up in this space; where all things have purpose, a reason, their place."

Sounds like someplace I'd like to visit!

Speaking of inhaling wonder and exhaling the fantastic, as we headed back to the car to go home, just beyond the giant asparagus was a dazzling sunset beneath pink clouds. I’m thinking if it's clear tonight this could be the perfect spot to view the full moon rising up over the hills to the east with the sun setting over Santa Rosa to the west.

I'm hoping there might even be some mooncakes involved :)

May Day! May Day!

This sweet little beauty of a dress was one of several vintage gems that came to me by way of a lovingly assembled, thoughtfully themed care package presented to me in person on this magical night by the lovely and wondrous spirit that is Heather :)

Her theme was Beachy Village, so lovely: “I was imagining music on an old wooden pier, blues & whites & lavender. Sand underfoot and a warm cresent moon smiling overhead.” *sigh*


I wore the dress to the May Day celebration at Clover’s preschool. It felt perfect for the occasion, and even reminded me of something I might have worn at her age.

The delicate details: sheer puff sleeves, tiny pearl buttons, lace collar and trim, along with my girl picking flowers necklace (better view here), an old pre-blogging days thrift find.


Last years maypole involved a rainbow of paper streamers. This year, they stepped it up a notch with beautiful ribbons of fabric in sweet, springy patterns and colors.

If you’re wondering where Clover is in most of these pictures, the answer is right here, attached to the hem of my dress. She was having one of those days.

There is nothing orderly about dancing around the maypole with a bunch of 2-4 year olds, it all inevitably ends in complete and utter maypole madness. Could this be where the term mayhem comes from, or perhaps the distress call "mayday! mayday!" ;)


Yeah, it seems I am not above a little mini-muffin bribery to get my girl to pose for me with one of her besties. Clover’s pal Lillia, who you’ve seen before, most recently dying eggs with Clover in her backyard, is the daughter of friends of ours. These two were born only two weeks apart.

As I was in the middle of taking a picture of the maypole, this little sweetheart came up and tugged on my dress. When I stopped and looked down at her, she looked up at me with sparkles in her eyes and a big smile on her face and said “You’re beautiful.” Oh my goodness, talk about heart-melting! Of course I informed her of her own beauty, and then snapped this shot : )

Wee cupcakes and lemonade in the play yard to celebrate the birthday of yet another of Clover’s besties, Maiya, our little girl next door.



Then it was off into the neighborhood with a red wagon full of colorful little handmade paper baskets. Each filled by the kids with fresh picked flowers to brighten some lucky neighbors day.

The kids had so much fun marching up to set baskets down on each doorstep and then running off to hide before the door was answered so they could all jump out and scream Happy May Day!


Of course the neighbors get such a kick out of these smiling little faces showing up at their doorstep with flowers every year. This guy’s reaction was especially sweet and touching. It seems this old fashioned May Day tradition brings joy to all involved.

I hope your May Day involved flowers, smiles, and joy this year as well!

Swap Magic and a Trip to the Christmas Tree Farm

There seems to be a continuing theme going on with my outfit posts. That being: Check out this awesome vintage dress given to me by *insert name of lovely and amazing lady here* and see how I styled it. It's a fun theme for me, that's for sure. Though, I can only take limited credit for the styling on this one.

You see, when this soft purple calico dress showed up in my swap package from this lovely and amazing lady, it was already wearing the beaded-granny-cardigan-of-my-dreams and flower necklace… a lovingly wrapped, pre-assembled outfit from a gal whose impeccable bohemian vintage style I absolutely adore. Pretty cool!

So true, so true... haha.

Swap treasures galore! I’m telling you, Nicole puts together a kick-ass package…

Even the boxes themselves are lovely, and if you’d like to get in on the action, hurry yourself on over to Nicole’s blog, Flaming Hag Folkwear, and sign up to win her giveaway! Yes, you too could have a box of amazingness show up at your very own door. Her blog is a favorite, definitely one to follow :)


While wearing this lovely outfit, I followed Lucas and Clover around the Victorian Christmas Tree Ranch in Sebastopol. Unfortunately, due to dumping rain, the outfit ended up mostly hidden under my big yellow raincoat :(

Luckily, I took photos earlier in the day, before all the storming began, when it was still possible to kid myself into thinking my outfit might be weather appropriate.

The purple bird-print tote recently migrated all the way from Finland via an awesome little birdie-themed surprise package from Milla! It was the perfect addition to my purple ensemble :)



We met some Christmas Tree Farm critters. Clover was totally creeped out by the turkeys. "Mama, I don't like their heads."

The beautiful beadwork on the cardigan continues all the way across the back! Nicole knew that one of these was on my wishlist, and this one is in PERFECT condition and sooo pretty. I love that it's pretty much the exact gray/green shade of spanish moss :)

Oh yes, the cheesy holiday family antics continue!

As does little Clover's Gretel obsession. Fueled, no doubt, by the adorable green corduroy folk skirt and wee embroidered peasant blouse that Nicole sent for Gretel in the swap package, SO CUTE. Seriously people, go enter that giveaway, before it's too late!