nuggets: bits of the season, in photos and words
The last few months have flown by around here. My busy season of making and shipping, two little girls’ birthday parties, a few road trips and then 12 family members in town for Christmas. It was full in all the best ways and in all the typical (meh, unproductive) ways where I wish I’d finished making that gift, found time to make that apple pie on Christmas, been more on top of a few things I had planned for the kids. Even though, I know. I know I was 100% me and 100% there and, as I near 40, I am getting better and being 100% groovy with choosing to be present over choosing to hustle to get shit done.
nuggets.
:: Thank you so much for the holiday shopping you did at DIG + CO. I hope you love everything we made for you as much as we loved making it! I started DIG + CO. last year in the spirit of collaboration and community, to work with other makers to create beautiful, lasting things.
In 2017 we are expanding to offer original art! So many feel like they can’t afford art or don’t know how to find what they like and it feels easier to buy a poster. I want to make buying art just as easy and more satisfying. I think we can all agree that supporting a human who poured their heart into creating is really important. Andy and I have an awesome collection that we’ve pieced together over the last few decades and I’d love to help folks grow their own collection! If you are an artist or know an artist, don’t hesitate to reach out to me.
:: The Big Love Hoodie fundraiser closed in December and we were able to donate nearly $1000 to The Representation Project, Boys & Girls Club and Environmental Defense Fund. Thank you for your participation in this initiative, sown and sewn with love.
:: My girl is 9.
:: Take a moment to read this hopeful, beautiful blog post by my dear friend Paige Green.
photo by Paige Green
:: Our house is small but mighty. Snuggling together around tables wedged in our living room makes me happy.
photo by Virginia Eader
And grateful for our extended living room.
:: I made this year’s Solstice Nightgowns from Camp Blanket scraps. I really loved the pattern: Pintuck Blouse and Dress from Heidi and Finn. I made Ruby an 8 and Margot a 9. Ruby’s fits perfectly but I should have made the 10 for Margot. My kids both usually wear a 7 or 8 usually so if you make this pattern I suggest sizing up.
:: Our crazy cold weather has made our neighborhood ice rink is so good this year. My kids are officially lapping me while twirling but I am improving since I bought my skates last year. I don’t even fall over when they bump into me! It’s fun to learn new things.
:: A post I shared on instagram, that generated lovely conversation and solidarity so I thought I’d share here too. xo
Yesterday was a super hard parenting day for me. I felt so defeated and bummed out last night. Right now, my daughters asleep, I’m drinking coffee in the early morning quiet feeling so grateful for the fresh perspective a new day offers. We talk a lot about mamas being imperfect and trying their best but it’s important to remember our little humans are also imperfect and trying their best. Sometimes there’s a wild collision of moms and kids at their worst and it feels like a giant shitty shitstorm. I’m challenging myself to reframe that sentence though: we weren’t at our “worst.” We were honest and unfiltered and felt safe enough to fall apart together. And, now that we got *that* out of the way, I’m hoping for a smoother day today.
:: Nate is Andy’s cousin. Virginia is his wife. They are the best — super talented and kind people who know how to dress for Christmas dinner. Nate Watters is a wonderful photographer (see his work here). Virginia has a fantastic vintage shop and blog: Vee Vintage if you want to check it out (you do).
:: I made a little winter scene as a surprise for the kids one afternoon. I really had so much fun dreaming it up. I bought that little house, bridge and spray snow (for the spruce clippings) and at Joann’s. Everything else was found around the house — mirror for the ice rink, fabric scrap for picnic blanket, dollhouse stuff, snowman ornament, tiny sled ornament etc.
:: Skiing and sledding, of course.
photo by Nate Watters
photo by Nate Watters
photo by Nate Watters
:: My very favorite co-host.
photo by Nate Watters
:: Quinzee hut yo.
The days are now growing longer.
Our winter break is over. A new year is here.
It’s time to get back to work. At the computer and sewing machine, in the laundry room and bathroom, around our neighborhood and community. As we begin 2017 I am thinking about how I can best be a part of positive, proactive and loving endeavors. Do you make resolutions? Or have a word of the year to guide your efforts? If you’d like to share, I’d love to hear.
10 Comments
LOVE…THIS!
My resolution…Be kind to everyone you meet, for everyone is fighting some kind of battle.
To you, my beautiful daughter…May 2017 be full of love and happiness for you and yours
xo
Nici, you’re the bestest. My word of the year, as it has been for several years now, is balance. My efforts this year will be to find balance between my work life and my personal life, making time to pursue things outside of work that really matter to me. In that endeavor, I will be growing food to donate to my local foodbank. I’m super excited about this. Might ask you for a tip or two. 🙂
Thank you for this post, and for your beautiful blog. My word of the year is faith, not in the religious sense but in the having faith in myself sense. Having faith that I can work hard, finish my book draft, and be a good mama at the same time. Faith that I am good enough if I am trying, forgiving, and laughing. I wish you a wonderful new year!
A mama from my tribe shared her New Year’s Resolution: For every thing in bring into my home, I must take one out.
We spend too much time and money on things. The clutter in my home makes me feel anxious. I’m going to be more thoughtful about the things I bring into my life and the cost. The monitary cost and the time it costs to keep all of the things clean and organized!
Oh man, I miss that weekend already – so much fun! Thanks so much for taking us all in and hosting and cooking and entertaining…I mean…we’re all pretty entertaining, but… We sure know how to have a damn good time, at least. What a blast. Until next time!
Love the term “giant shitty shitstorm”. We’ve all been there at one time or another.
Happy New Year!
How am I ever going to survive a winter in a place where it barely snows after reading this and pouring over your photos?? How will I find contentment on these gray, 40 degree Asheville streets when there is no skiing, no snow forts and no snowy bonfires? If I do not receive a 3 page essay addressing these questions within 24 hours, I’m booking a one way ticket to Missoula. Expect me shortly. I’ll bring the hygge.
This was an encouragement to me today. I came to your site knowing I would find that encouragement, so thank you. I’ve been thinking that it is time (past due, in fact) to set a collection of intentions for our family. Have you done something like that? I remember your post on “We’re all in this together” as an example. Now that we have children, it seems appropriate to make explicit some of the values and hopes that my husband and I have been living by implicitly for years, as a sort of reference and touchstone for us as we make family decisions, both small and large. As far as resolutions go, that may be ours for the near future. Peace to you and yours.
My word for 2017 is “slow.” 2016 was a blur. I want to find moments in 2017 to savor. I want to slow down and make time for the things I enjoy.
Thanks for writing! You are always an inspiration.
My word of the year is “wander.” Or maybe, “adventure.” Or like, “YAAASSSSS.”
Something along those lines. I want to say “yes” more to my kids. And “no” more to things/people who bring me/us/the world down.
2016 was such a weird year for our family. The first half was a total shitshow, but after July through now life has been pretty incredible. Minus that whole stupid Trump fiasco. Ahem.
ANYWAY, as always super inspiring words. Super inspiring people. Super.