Happy Holidays

Four days till Christmas! We're off to Minnesota tomorrow, burdened with brightly colored packages, snow pants, and Christmas cookies. I can't wait for the familiar traditions to begin. The Christmas Eve service, the stockings, the winter walks (or waddles in my case). We'll be up north for New Years as well, so I will be wishing you all a very happy holiday now and catch up with you next year!

All my love,
Jewels and Baby Otter

Images from Claire Richardson

Paisley PJs

For you, my blogging sisters, pictures of the baby bump! And another picture of what I would love part of my nursery to look like.

PS don't mind the paisley pj's!

Friday Favorites

1. Custom silhouette pendant by luckymebeads
2. Truffle Cake Snowballs from trufflecakecompany
3. Vanilla ice cream bedding by SewnNatural
4. Chalkboard gift tags from heartoflight

I think Rachel's gift tags are incredibly clever! Yah? I'm off to take "baby bump" pictures for my sisters. I hope you guys have a wonderful weekend, full of special, seasonal delights. Eat a few Christmas cookies for me, will you?

Two little things

Two little things for me to remember:
1. Hold things loosely--especially when everything is telling you to grasp and cling
2. Peanut butter blossoms help remedy almost anything

Images found here and here

Momentous Day

Today marks a momentous day! I am finally done with finals, well, I have my last one at 1:30. I've officially "popped"--there is a baby in there! And I've decided, after much contemplation, to close up my Red Otter shop. After three years and nearly 500 books, it's time. I'm ready to give myself the much needed energy, time and space to dream about my next adventure in creativity. I can't tell you how relieving it feels. I'm sure you've been there, too, when something you love needs a long rest. In any case, I'm going to celebrate tonight--dinner out with Andrew and a movie!

XOXO,
Jewels

Images from here and here

Quiet Post

Quiet post ~

Image from here

Icing

I feel like I'm in a fantastic gingerbread world with the candy houses smothered in royal icing. We have blizzard conditions here, all the schools and colleges have closed, the buses are not running and I'm happily still in my pj's!

I rarely mention my Etsy shop here, but today is a special day, it's the start of my Christmas sale. A very large Christmas sale, especially for you, dear bloggers. My shop is 30% off (EVERYTHING) and for you, I'm taking an additional 10% off. Plus free shipping on orders of two or more books. It seems a bit extreme, but, I promise, there's a plan, a scheme behind it all! Just mention "blogger friends" in the notes and I'll send you a revised invoice. Please share the news!

Image from here

Pale

For the last five weeks little sounded appealing beyond cold milk, applesauce, crackers and clementines. No tea, no spices, no cooking vegetables. Early pregnancy really is a very pale time--pale food, pale skin (for, um, less than "fun" reasons). But, today, I had my first steaming cup of Lady Gray tea and loved it. When you find something that not only sounds good, but tastes good too, you latch onto it. Bliss!

PS. bought our Nutcracker tickets this weekend! I'm so excited!

Images from here

Friday Favorites

one: soft silk sleep eye mask from Naomilingerie
two: canola fields by unbecominglily
three: raspberry sables by FortuneCookieCafe
four: ruby red bouquet from AnneHolman

Thank you so much for all the joy you shared with us--we are quite excited about our special delivery. I'm starting to show, so it feels a bit more real, less like a month and a half of flu-like symptoms. Today is a good day, first in weeks, so I'm going to finish mailing out my Christmas cards, do some homework, and enjoy the small dab of snow we received yesterday evening!

Sending you heaps of love,
Jewels and Baby Otter