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A few months ago, my husband introduced me to the world of blogs. Alright, it was actually a year or so ago, but I am a bit stubborn. I think he knew that I would be inspired, would learn and would connect with some really talented people. He was right. I found myself drawn to a few different bloggers, with the same excitement that I used to have flipping through magazines. In the morning, or late at night, I was able to read and research and discover so many wonderful people and ideas. That takes us to this weekend. Back from opening our sixth store in San Diego and having some meetings in Los Angeles, I was a bit exhausted on Sunday evening. In front of the computer, I found myself catching up on blog posts from earlier in the week. I was saddened to read that Stephanie Nielson and her husband had been in a serious private plane crash on Saturday evening. Stephanie has been an amazing source of inspiration to many, on every level. At the center of who she is, is a woman who loves with no limits…her husband, four children, family and friends. What is in her heart and mind is how she lives her life. Her posts and photographs ( she is an amazing photographer ) are a view into her daily life which is full of adventure, creativity, love and kindness…No hesitation in sharing her feelings, dreams and hopes and most of all indirectly what she is grateful for. In the days since the crash, her family has gathered round comforting her, her family and those who have become her friends and community. For some reason, I can’t stop thinking about how she and her family have lived their lives and aspire to do the same. To live from love, with courage and conviction, to celebrate and experience life to its fullest, to laugh often and to just be. She and her husband are no longer trauma patients, but they say the recovery will be long…To her, I send my thoughts and love. To her children and family strength and prayers. I carry her love of family, of life and living in my heart and give thanks to her for sharing with all of us. A few months ago, I finally started

Earlier this week, the new school directory came in the mail. I coveted it the way I used to wait for the August issue of Seventeen Magazine, or more recently a copy of Domino Magazine or September Vogue. The excitement of finding out who the kids teachers were, who was in their class and sharing stories from oldest to youngest about a teacher, a friend or a memory from grades and years gone by. Tucking it away until we would all be together that night, I was beginning to get excited about the school year and the conversations we would have over the next few days. And then a pause…excited as I am about a new school year, and all that it brings ( Chaos quite often! ) I sit with the realization that the summer has gone by at lightening speed. That there are weeks to enjoy and days at the beach, berry picking and afternoons at the park and pool…that the late nights of summer are going by way to quickly. So now, it is about being in the moment..these last weeks of summer, and some last minute days off.Late nights watching the Olympics, early mornings watering the container garden and the sound of the birds waking us all up. Time to stop, and enjoy what is now.

Reading one of my favorite blogs this morning, Poppytalk and was so excited to see that she is doing a great Back to School event called School Days…Partnering up with Old School they are going to have some amazing retro treasures…Hope to pick them up for the store..Check it out!

We just wanted to say a huge thank you to Gabrielle over at Design Mom. We read her blog regularly and then today…She featured us!! Check it out, and post some comments-we would love to know what you think.

We are off to New York this weekend for the Children’s Club Show. This will be our one  year anniversary of the launch of our wholesale business and we are really thankful for the support and partnerships that we have with all of our accounts!In our first year, we opened more then 70 accounts and have been lucky enough to sell our products at some of our favorite stores..Barney’s, Mudpie, Poppy Store, Love, Amy Coe, LMNOP, Honeys and Heroes and Harper Lane.   We are so looking forward to the show, seeing and working with some of our customers AND checking out some great new lines and products to get for the store…Can’t wait to share our findings!  

We were just catching up on some shows on Tivo, and were incredibly moved by the 60 minutes segment on El Sistema.

The program was developed for at risk children in Venezuela, and now with an $ 80 million annual budget, the musicians travel more then any other orchestra in the world.

As we watched, there was so much that went through my mind. The courage that Jose Antonio Abreu had to vision and actualize the program and his hope that through the music and the passion of music, that children could have hope and see a different future. The belief that the children had, and the hopes that they held onto as they struggled against what was known. The commitment of everyone involved to believe that they could make a difference and the beauty of music and the power it has to move us all. It is as much about hope as it is thinking about what to invite your own children to experience and participate in. Over 250, 000 children have participated, and one has been chosen to lead the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra beginning in 2009. 27 year old Gustave Dudamel made his debut conducting the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela and is now known as “Gustavo the Great”

Pretty amazing stuff.

Take a look.

“It’s not hard to find the truth. What is hard is not to run away from it once you have found it”

I saw this post and photo this morning, on one of my favorite flickr contacts, Erica Bartel

No need to add, just sitting with the thought.

I have fallen in love with the farmers market…Again.

The kids are falling in love as well. Slowly at first ( our market has a snow cone guy ) and then as they explored, deeper.

On Saturday mornings in the summer, we have gotten back in the habit of starting the weekend off with a trip to the market.

Easier this time of the year, with no Saturday morning Baseball, Soccer or other school year activities. The weekends have such an amazing seasonal flow to them..and I love connecting with the natural flow of the year.

The adventure begins with a few dollars for each. The excitement of picking out some breakfast, veggies and fruits for the week ( and an easy way for us to make sure they eat them! ) and taking everything in…Picking out their stuff, they talk with the farmers and folks who have transported their wares to the market. Giving them their money and figuring out the change the whole experience is a joy to watch. Our almost eleven year old son is a slightly less enthusiastic visitor, but once he arrives that changes..

The farmers, the folks that are showing and selling their wares, the foods from different cultures, the community that has come out to celebrate and enjoy all the offerings. It is such a fantastic experience and a way to really connect with and truly enjoy what we are shopping for, preparing and eating..

Hard for me to understand how we fall out of the routine of coming here..but I think that coming back helps us appreciate it all that much more..In the fall, when the sport season begins again, we can go the market in another nearby town…. on Sundays.

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Wanting to go on a few summer road trips, and found another great California spot. I had always wanted to go camping as a kid, but on the East Coast ( at least in our house ) the more likely summer plans included my brother and I at sleep away camp for 8 weeks and the Parents venturing off to more exotic locales. ( we did, by the way have a great time at camp! ) Nonetheless, at the age of 40, with exactly one real camping trip under my belt..( does it count if someone else cooks the meals ? ) I love the idea of “camping lite” Fortunately, so do a lot of other folks. Researching vacation spots is a hobby, and the idea of quintessential summer road trips with the kids is always in my mind. Hiking and creek walks, days at the beach, horseback riding and songs by the campfire.

The next location presents itself…El Capitan in Santa Barbara. Days exploring and night time activities for all…A slip into town for some dinner one night and a stop by the Beach on the way out of town. The picture says it all…

Inspired by a clip in Real Simple  ( I think it may have been the June issue )

The question posed to readers was as follows? 

How do you like to celebrate that it is summer..

One reader wrote in, sharing this

“We all gather round and list all of the things we want to do this summer..Catch a grasshopper, Fly a kite, go fishing, make ice cream, have a lemonade stand , go to the beach, ride our bikes  and then at some point each day, we look at the list, and pick one thing for the day”

As I feel summer slipping by this morning, I think of this.

Tonight the list, tomorrow-celebrating the season.

Enjoy !