Farewell to Portland- and Laura D'Art Photographie

Our family is very blessed to have wonderful friends, who love us much more than we deserve.  This was reiterated to us just a few weeks ago, when I received a call from my good friend, Melissa.  Melissa lives in Washington D.C., and upon hearing that we were leaving Oregon, the place where we bought our first home, had our first child, and generally built our life together, she gifted us with the most wonderful, the most thoughtful, gift.

Melissa called us about 2 weeks ago on a Friday night and informed us that she had secretly scheduled a "farewell Portland" photo shoot with photographer Laura D'Art for the following Saturday morning.  Of course, I immediately thought about our styling.  What would we wear?  How could we "go together" without matching?  With a last-minute shopping trip to Banana Republic, a scouring of our own closets, and a quick trip to pick up Tate's mustard yellow shirt from Macy's, we were good to go.

I am so happy with the photos.  You can see them all here, but here's a peek at just a few of my faves:

P.S.  Don't you want a pair of those fancy tights for yourself?

On Moving

Has it really been over a month since I've posted here?  It feels like both days and years, since in this month, so much has happened.
The biggest change?  We are moving.  Hard to believe, I know.  But I got an amazing job opportunity, so the Holmboe's are packing up and moving, 3032 miles away, to Massachusetts.  Could it get any further, friends?  Not only are we leaving our beloved Oregon, but we are also going to be living in snow.  Snow!

I like to think that amongst these changes, I will find time for O Chickadee.  And I intend to try!  But if not- I'll see you in November... from Massachusetts!

Sun Hats

I was flattered when I received Dawn's email asking me for advice on how to find a stylish sun hat to protect her fair skin when working outdoors.  This is an important question to me, since my dad is a survivor of malignant melanoma (and I am pretty fair skinned myself).  It's been in the back of my mind over the last few weeks, so when I stumbled across Terry Graziano, I couldn't wait to share her with you.

Her women's hats are genius.  She addresses an issue that Dawn identified in her original email- namely, that the perfect sun hat for gardening is typically not, for example, the perfect sun hat for strolling along the streets in Paris.  Or the hat for an outdoor sporting event is not the hat for going to the farmer's market.  Terry Graziano's ingenious designs provide a number of unique alternatives so that you can change the style of the hat to match your activity.

This is my favorite one:

So many options stylish within one hat!  She also makes a visor that can double as a headband:

 

This one has a menswear-inspired feel...

I think these are such a great option for the style conscious hat wearer.  Definitely on my summer-to-buy list!

Going to Pre-School

Tate had his first day at pre-school today!  Despite a bawling mama (yours truly) and a slightly traumatized daddy (Zach made me call to check on him), he had a great day.

I thought he was so cute getting ready to go to "school"!

Isn't his lunchbag adorable?  It is from Beatrix New York, and I love it.  It is such a sweet and boyish robot!

What To Send My New Niece

I have a niece!  Her name is Margot.  Isn't that sweet and spunky at the same time?  It is the absolutely perfect name for her, I think.  She has black hair.  And rosebud lips that turn down the tiniest little bit at the edges.  And I already love her to pieces.

I have been trying to think about what I should send her.  I am feeling partial to these cakes in a box by Maileg.  Wouldn't they be the perfect gift from an aunty who loves to bake?

P.S.  I have a feeling that someone creative could make these really easily... 

Terrafirma Ceramics (and a disclaimer)

So.  I was super excited to share Terrafirma Ceramics with you.  I stumbled upon one of their pieces in person, and instantly fell in love.  You can imagine my disappointment, then, when I went to their website and found their photos... well, disappointingly bad (is it wrong to say that?).  It's just that the photographs so don't do justice to these pieces, which are heavy and somehow both smooth and rough and really quite stunning. 

I also think its too bad that almost all the photos show collections, as opposed to singular pieces.  As a collection, sometimes I think this style of ceramic can be a little much.  But individually... oh wow!  They are beautiful, especially the modern, geometric prints.

So there it is.  My disclaimer.  That the following pictures in no way do justice to the actual pieces.  They are weighty, and full of texture and so clean.  I love them.  But here's hoping you at least catch a glimmer of what makes them so beautiful- I have tried to pull the pictures that most convey what I love about them in person.

 

P.S.  What these pictures don't show is the underside of the pieces, which are unglazed and rough and really rustic, in direct contrast to the shiny, modern ceramic top.

I'm Back!

Summer is both here and over.  Zach goes back to work on Monday, which means its officially over.  But we've been running in fountains and eating sweet corn as if it just arrived.  Sigh. 

The daily grind has been... well, a bit of a grind around here lately.  We are laying in wait for my little niece (we have the special bottle of wine ready to uncork when she arrives).  We are laying in wait for some other big news.  And at the end of the day, I think to myself "when, when, did I get so many responsbilities?"  They just keep piling up.

Perhaps that is why I have been reluctant to post.  I haven't felt inspired.  Until two things happened.  First, I went to coffee this morning with Andrea, who always centers me and makes me feel unconditionally loved the way best friends do.  And second, she bought Tate the most adorable platypus ever from i golfinni della nonna. 

I mean, who could not want to post this little guy? 

We've named him "Hoyt" in honor of the Hoyt Arboretum where Andrea and I meet up to go walking so often.

These hand-knit stuffed animals and toys are made from alpaca and so ridiculously soft and cute.  They are absolutely worth checking out- I would have loved receiving one for Tate at my baby shower.

So I think that I am officially back.  I have stored up all kinds of beautiful and inspirational things to share with you.  And in the meantime, I will leave you with "Tate: Summer 2011" (I couldn't help myself.  I mean, really.  Look at this face...)

Ok, this big guy is pretty cute too, huh ladies?

Little Brown Pen

"Regarde le ciel".  Look at the sky.  Good advice, no?



I have been feeling a tad gloomy lately, and these Paris color collections from Little Brown Pen have been brightening my spirits:

Aren't they cheerful-making?  I think they would be bright additions to a baby room. 

Ode

My little niece is going to be born in less than a month!!!!  I am ecstatic! I get to be an aunty!

The idea of having a new little niece to spoil has had me thinking about little girls clothing.  My sister and brother-in-law have a very modern aesthetic that is really clean and fresh.  So it can sometimes be hard to find clothing I can imagine their daughter wearing among the piles of pink princess, glittery sweatshirts, light-up sneakers, and other terribly gross little girl clothing.

Which is why I like Ode Kids so much.  A line of dresses for girls, they look just like what a modern but still feminine little girl would wear.  I can't wait until little baby Tsu is old enough to wear them!

olive spoon studio

I think that these hand-stamped vintage spoons and forks from olive spoon studio are wonderful.  Wouldn't this be a fun spoon to eat your cereal out of every morning?

 Or a great gift for a new mom?

 Or a sweet way to say you're sorry?

Pitter Patter

Now that Tate is running, there is nothing more fun than listening to his feet pitter-patter up the hallway.

It has had me thinking lately about how, if I were an artist, I would create a piece called "Pitter Patter".  It would consist of the sounds of bare baby feet running on different surfaces.

Fifteen month old on wet marble.

Twelve month old on french oak.

Two year old on concrete.

Thirteen month old in mud.

photo from weheartit