An Awesome Book, by Dallas Clayton, has a simple message – don’t give up on your dreams.  It is one of those books that creeps in to your heart and stays there for a good long time.  With delightfully imperfect illustrations (also done by Clayton) and great rhythmic prose, An Awesome Book became an instant favorite with my three year old son.

But don’t let the fact that it’s a children’s book fool you – An Awesome Book is full of messages that any grown-up would be remiss to forget.  This book is full of life lessons and gentle reminders that life is about more than “matching silverware” and “telephones.”

The very best thing about An Awesome Book is it’s author, Dallas Clayton.  Inspired to write this book for his son, Dallas published the book independently and toured the country to promote it.  He even offers the entire book online for free, for folks who don’t have the resources to buy the book.  This book, and the story behind it, is truly a dream.

Erin Vey is an extremely accomplished photographer and an awesome mama to a little babe named Maggie, who I happen to think is the cutest child on the planet.  I recently learned of Erin’s Saturdays with Maggie project; basically, Erin photographed Maggie every Saturday for a year and then made a book of her images.  I LOVE this idea for so many reasons, but mostly because Erin made a commitment to actively document Maggie’s life and followed through.

Erin writes,

“If you’re reading this – there’s a good chance you are a parent and enjoy taking pictures of your kids.  -  and -  If you’re reading this – there’s a good chance life is busy enough that the thought of printing and organizing all your digital photos is totally overwhelming. 

For me, becoming a parent was a crash course in prioritizing and setting realistic goals. Was I going to be able to commit to taking a photo a day for an entire year?  The answer was a resounding no.

For many families the weekday’s don’t offer a lot of variety as we tend to maintain routine’s of work, school, or managing the home.  But the weekend is a time to enjoy friends and family, go on adventures, try new things, or just relax.   So I decided to do one photo every Saturday (and maybe a Sunday here and there).  I put the date and a time-stamp on each photo with a description of what we were doing that day.  It was important that I keep things as low stress as possible, so I gave myself permission to miss a Saturday here and there.

At the end of the year, I realized that if I didn’t have this project/goal – there would easily have been weeks and maybe months where I did not take a single photo of Maggie – it’s terribly easy for life to get in the way.  I’m also a sucker for my iPhone – the camera is fantastic and it’s always with me.  Creating this project forced me to bring the “fancy camera” out and about with me on the weekends.   

Last month I reached the one year mark of my project and decided to get the images off the computer and create something we could enjoy as a family – for me the easiest option was a book.

I looked around briefly at my options and settled on making my book with Blurb.  Rather than downloading a large piece of software onto my computer, I chose the Bookify tool.  You launch it directly from the website, upload the photos, and use their clean and simple templates.  If you need to step away to clean up a mess, entertain a toddler, or answer the door – you can easily save your book to work on later. 

For ease, I saved every Saturdays With Maggie image into one folder which made it a breeze to upload my images into the tool.  I created a simple white cover with text on the front and spine.  On the inside, I chose a single horizontal or vertical image for each page.  From start to finish I was able to complete my book in 45 minutes. 

I got the book in the mail last week and was thrilled with the results.  The construction is sturdy, the color is spot on, and the pages are nice and thick. Maggie and I have already read the book together a number of times and, like most kids, she loves looking at herself.  The project was so much fun I plan on continuing it another year!”

Above: Erin chose a 12×12 Blurb album with 50 pages.  She opted for the Premium Paper Upgrade, as well as the Hardcover Image Wrap cover.  Total cost was $85 with a coupon.  (To receive 15% off enter 15OFFBOOK. Expires 5/31)

Last night was rough.  I fell right in to the eye of what can only be described as the most perfect storm of disappointment, failure, stress and (I admit it) PMS. It was one of those nights where I just sort of cried and cried at my husband while he sat there wide-eyed and half-out-the-door.

You see, lately I’ve been feeling a little like a failure.  I know what you’re going to say.  You’re going to say that I seem like I have it all put together.  Like I am a great mom, and a savvy business person and a gourmet cook and a gorgeous supermodel (ok, I made that last part up.)  I am here to say that I am none of those things. Honestly, I can’t do anything right lately.

I am not perfect.  In fact, I am sort of a mess lately.  A failed house-hunt, a slow business, some unwanted extra pounds and a total lack of motivation has left me feeling like a total loser.  I can’t focus on my work, my business has plateaued, my house is unorganized and my tummy jiggles.  I just can’t do anything right lately.

So I settled in last night to wallow in my lameness and, yes, to drown my sorrows in some Don Draper and a glass of Syrah.  And then came the all too familiar cry over the baby monitor.  Maxfield, my three year old, was crying.  Sobbing, really.  I dried my tears, paused Mr. Draper and took one last swig, heading upstairs to tuck Max back in.

When I got to his room, I climbed in to bed with Max.  I kissed his forehead, stroked his hair, sang him a song.  And then I realized something.  I realized that this is something I can do right.  I am a good mom, even with a growing ass and a messy kitchen. I can be Max’s mom right.

Last night, I cried with Max.  I held his sweet face while tears streamed down my own.  I told myself that if I had to pick only one thing in this world to do right, this is it.  I told myself that I don’t have to have the most successful business, or the hottest abs or the most organized house.  I just have to be a good mom to two sweet, smart and insane kids.  This I can do right.

Happy Mothers Day.  May we all (especially me) remember to be grateful for our most important job and may we always try to do it right.

xoxo,

Chenin

Stacey Worthington, on a quest to make her two boys feel special before the impending birth of her daughter, designed them each a custom book that tells the story of the day they were born.  After reading about Stacey’s project, I fell in love with this idea and am so excited to share it with my readers.  Want to make one of these sweet books for your child or a well-loved little person? See below for how to win a FREE template from Stacey.  Simply use Photoshop or Photoshop Elements and print your own 7×7 Blurb Book, like the one below -

To enter:

Each person may enter up to 3 times. Leave a separate comment for each entry.

First Entry: Like Fudge Banana Swirl on Facebook (and leave a comment below)

Second Entry: Follow Fudge Banana Swirl on Twitter (and leave a comment below)

Third Entry: Pin any post from Fudge Banana Swirl on Pinterest (and leave a comment below)

Entries close at 6pm PST on Friday, May 11, 2012.  The winning comment will be chosen at random and posted on Fudge Banana Swirl by May 14.

//Edited to add: The winner of our giveaway is Jennifer Hamilton. Please contact me to claim your templates! Congrats!//

Stacey Worthington, a mom of three, knows a thing or two about getting ready for baby.  With the birth of her third child, Stacey brainstormed about how to get her two sons used to the idea of a new baby sister.  Stacey used books to help ease the transition.  Below, Stacey shares with me her favorite 4 books to help introduce a new baby to the family.  Be sure to tune in tomorrow and read about an awesome DIY photo album that Stacey created for her two boys, plus a giveaway so you can make a book of your own!

Stacey writes,

“let me preface this post with a simple statement : i. love. children’s books. and when i say love, i’m talking love, love…if i think about it, adore or addicted might be a better descriptor. either way you get the picture! it’s a love that pre-dated having kids, and being married…there’s just something about a child’s book that gets me. grabs me. reminds me of how youthful and fun and imaginative life can be {and who doesn’t want to be reminded of that?!}

you can only imagine then, with the birth of each child, how our library has grown. it’s virtually impossible for me to go into B&N and leave without a children’s book. we have scads of them, and despite the ever present conversation going on in my head. *you the kids don’t NEED anymore books. that’s what libraries are for. put the book down. your hands up. and sloooooowly, walk away…*, and my hubby’s insistent, *what will we DO with all these when the kids are older?* {keep them. der.} i can’t help myself. there are so many great new one’s out there {don’t even get me started on the classics} just waiting for me to get my hands on them.

regardless of my addiction, i’ve found children’s books great not only for the fun and imaginative, but for the *life* stuff as well. the lessons that are hard to explain. hard to teach. situations that are more fluently explained {and with colorful pictures to boot} than my mumblings and times where all i can come up with is, *well, hmmm…maybe we should ask daddy.*

the power of children’s books has held true each time we’ve welcomed a new baby into our family {we have three. the most recent, last august} and to be honest, I haven’t found a better way to prepare our older children for a new baby in the house than with books.

here’s why : beyond the conversations you may have with them about how exciting it’s going to be and how their little world’s are going to be rocked {hardcore}, a book is going to give them something you can’t. it’s going to give them words AND a visual. and it’s going to give YOU a platform for discussing things with your child you may or may not have thought about…like yeah, the baby WON’T be able to eat apples and NO the baby won’t take your toys {at least not right this minute!} and somewhere between the pages of these wonderful stories, a conversation revs it’s engine, and allows your child to grab the wheel and take control of the topic, to ask YOU the questions {instead of always listening} and suddenly, the book becomes an experience and a catalyst into the *real life* trip they are about to take. and now, NOW when your baby is born, your kids have something to relate to, a *personal experience* if you will {all be it, through their imaginations}, but they feel more prepared…more like experienced professionals than someone who’s just been given the wheel for the first time. and what a gift! because aren’t we all more comfortable in situations where we feel knowledgeable? where we know a little bit about what to expect? i think so. heck, I KNOW so.

i’ve selected a few of our go-to *get-ready-for-baby* books to share with you, so that you too can give your child{ren} the gift of understanding, of knowledge, of taking charge and stepping up to their new role of big brother or sister with confidence and love!”

Above: 1. I’m a Big Brother, by Joanna Cole (sister version available here); 2. Waiting for Baby, by Harriet Ziefert; 3. The New Baby, by Mercer Mayer; 4. The Berenstain Bears’ New Baby, by Stan and Jan Berenstain.

Special thanks to Stacey for sharing her insights! Any books that she missed? I’d love for you to post them in the comments below.

I spied these pint-sized designs on Room and Board the other day.  Although way out of the average family’s budget, I do have to admit that they are fabulous.  American-made and 100% recycled, the Loki Playhouse Set is a modern kid’s (and mom’s) dream -

Above: Loki Playhouse Set ($1600)

For this month’s Lazy Susan blog post, we challenged ourselves to create a yummy breakfast recipe.  Since I am always looking for a good, healthy breakfast for my two toddlers, ages 18 months and 3 years, I sought out to make a great breakfast recipe that they are sure to love.

There are two things that I’ve discovered about feeding a toddler.  First, they love anything that even remotely resembles ice cream.  Second, they love to drink from a straw.  Since I am always looking for ways to sneak in a little extra nutrition, I created this Super Sneaky Oatmeal Strawberry Smoothie, which is packed full of fiber, antioxidants, potassium and vitamin c.  If you’re feeling extra sneaky, you can add a little spinach (beware, it won’t quite look like ice cream anymore) or some flax seed.  I encourage you to be creative with this recipe, throwing in any old fruit or veggie you have lying around.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup uncooked quick oats
• 1 banana, sliced
• 10 strawberries, hulled (frozen is fine, but reduce the amount of ice)
• 1/3 cup blueberries (frozen is fine, but reduce the amount of ice)
• 1 cup low-fat milk, soy milk, coconut milk or almond milk
• 2 cups ice
• 1 tb honey (it is recommended that you do not feed honey to children under one year)

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
2. Enjoy.

And just to prove that the little people did actually partake of this deliciously nutritious creation, here are a couple photos of Max and Scout enjoying their smoothies -

Now head on over to Sara Tegman’s blog for Cinnamon Waffles with Creme Fraiche and Fresh Berries (sounds like a perfect Mother’s Day brunch idea to me!)

As a child of the 80′s, I admit that neon makes me feel a bit nostalgic.  I’m tickled (hot pink) to see this season’s rainbow of neon goodness, available in great styles for the whole family -

Above: 1. Tiered Smocked Sundress ($20); 2. Tiered-Tie Hot Pink Gladiators ($15); 3. Neon Yellow Shift dress ($79); 4. Brompton Straw Clutch ($128); 5. Audra Patent Leather sandals ($98); 6. Boys’ Twill Skinny Trousers ($29); 7. Boys’ Neon Green Game Face Sweatshirt ($35); 8. Stonewashed Men’s Oxford Shirt in Key Lime Stripe ($68); 9. Men’s Orange Pants ($49)

With a feisty little girl in the house, I am always on the lookout for great books featuring memorable heroines.  It seems that so many of the “books for girls” include some princess sitting around to be rescued.  So when I found Plant a Kiss, by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, I knew I had to pick it up for my little Scout.

This sweet book tells the story of a little girl who plants a kiss and patiently waits for it to grow.  Despite her own doubts and her incredulous friends, the kiss begins to grow and “Little Miss” decides to share her good fortune with all around her.  The book has a great message about patience, sharing and spreading good cheer.  And all without a Princess to be found (::wink, wink::)

If you have a little girl at home, or even if you have a son that could benefit from a good, strong heroine or two, I also recommend you visit this wonderful website – A Mighty Girl.  A Mighty Girl is a veritable treasure-trove of great books and movies, featuring “smart, confident and courageous girls.”  The curators of A Mighty Girl have gone to great lengths to finds books and movies about different cultures and about all different kinds of girls and women.  It is the perfect site to visit when you’re looking for a great gift for the girl in your life.

My kids love music.  They would much rather listen to the stereo than watch the television, and impromptu dance parties are a major source of entertainment ’round these parts.  I wanted to encourage their love of music and also help them to be creative and keep active when the stereo is on, so I created this simple DIY Band in a Box.

To make your own: gather some simple instruments, like maracas, small drums and bells, along with some of your noisiest household items (think pans, spoons, whisks) and designate a box, bucket or basket just for music-making.  I made a cute label for my kids, but yours can be less official.  Now your impromptu dance parties come complete with it’s own orchestra!