There are some days, when it seems like the answer to that question is just a lot of errands, picking up toys, laundry, reading a few books, making and eating a few meals and hopefully getting outside for a bit. I often feel like my answer should be more robust, at least from our girls' perspective. Did they explore any new interests? Did they learn something new? Did they laugh? It's easy to say that there doesn't seem like there's enough time. Instead, lately, I've been making a more concerted effort to slow down, listen and make time.

So today, together, we made a wooden play birthday cake. Because both girls love a birthday like nobody's business. Once our drilling, cutting, gluing and coloring was complete, we got to the best part - playing with it! We talked about fractions and counted to six and back down again. We sang and celebrated life, dedicating each round of cake to someone we love. Most importantly, we ate lots and lots and lots of delicious, cake.

Upon reflection, these are the days that feel most whole.
May you and yours always find a few too.

A tisket, a tasket, good things come in baskets, including... We & The Bean prints! My newest wholesale partnership is with Shannon Krecic, the brilliant mind behind The Gifted Basket (www.thegiftedbasketcleveland.com). She designs these incredible gift baskets, each filled with custom-selected items, artfully hand-wrapped, and personally delivered (limited areas) or shipped to the lucky recipient.

These baskets are perfect for so many occasions:

Thank a client for their business, congratulate a coworker on their promotion or retirement, or give a special welcome to that new employee.

Send a unique arrangement for a wedding, anniversary, or shower, welcome someone new to the neighborhood, wish someone a happy birthday or get well soon, celebrate the birth of a new baby, or give someone a really special Easter, Mother's Day or Father's day surprise.

Here's the warm and fuzzy part of this kind of local business support. Each time someone orders one of Shannon's baskets, her family benefits (she's a stay-at-home mom too!), as does my family, as do a number of other local, small business owners around the Cleveland area. In addition, her arrangements are far from generic, consist of most if not all reusable materials, and really send a genuine message of care, gratitude, welcoming or celebration. Can you say that about those other cookie-cutter gift basket companies? No sir.

Check out her website and facebook page (www.facebook.com/thegiftedbasket) for more information.

Hooray for small business! Hooray for handmade!

As Black Friday approaches and folks start thinking about the upcoming holidays, I've been reflecting more and more on the benefits of buying handmade and wanted to share some thoughts. No you can't get an Xbox on etsy.com, but here's the upside of buying handmade:

• When purchasing something from a store, basically most of money paid for the item goes into a distributor's pocket and a few pennies fall into the hands of the person who actually made it. 
• When you buy handmade, often times the materials used are more environmentally responsible and the handiwork is derived from love and a specialized craft rather than solely the necessity of getting paid.
  
• Buying handmade often allows you to see the face and/or read a little about the person/family/lifestyle that you're supporting with your purchase. Many handmade items offered on Etsy.com are made by stay-at-home parents, for example, who depend upon the income they generate on Etsy to maintain that lifesyle option. 
• The cost of a store-bought item is not necessarily cheaper than its handmade cousin, and the latter will oftentimes last longer and be a more treasured gift due to its uniqueness. Case-in-point: Lala, a much-loved Waldorf doll purchased on Etsy for our first daughter is again a favorite friend to her younger sister. The cost of the doll was equal or less than that of a plastic, store-bought alternative and its soft, wool-filled body has soothed, snuggled and washed up like new for over three years now. Every time I look at that doll, I think of the fellow artist/mother I purchased her from and I feel good about where our money was spent.

So, I guess I just want to say, before you head into all that Walmarty madness this weekend maybe check out Etsy and see what bigger bang you might get for your buck going handmade. Happy Holidays!