ONE PIECE GROWS: CRIB TO BLANKET LADDER!

(Cloud mobile by The Butter Flying, Cloud blanket by Humbleweave)

Last month, I went through all of our kids' clothes and toys from the past five years and got rid of everything that I didn't think we'd need anymore. To say that this was an emotional experience is a severe understatement...I had no idea I would be so sad to part with those tiny pieces that all of a sudden signified SO MUCH!

Well, thankfully, I am still holding onto our Kalon Studios Caravan Crib. I just can't part with this crib...I'm not sure if it's the significance of it being for our third baby or whether it's just the beautiful design but I don't have the heart to sell it. 

Soooo, I figured I should put it to good use and show you what I'm using it for now as you may be in the same position as me with having a crib side laying around that could be put to good use as a blanket ladder!

Let's take a look at how beautiful it was when Xavier was a baby and the crib was being used in all of it's glory and also how sweet it was as a toddler bed after that. Perfection, right?

Well, this next idea happened long after Xavier's gorgeous Kalon Studios Caravan crib was dismantled and the toddler bed was being used in our playroom as a daybed for the kids, as below. 

I had this novel idea that the rest of the crib could be used too...and so, in order to make the most of this beautiful piece in its' entirety, the sides have been turned into a blanket ladder, with Humbleweave's gorgeous cloud blanket showcased and ready to use.

What do you think? Would you use your crib side as a blanket ladder too? 

*This post was created in collaboration with The Butter Flying and Humbleweave.

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ONE PIECE GROWS - OTTOMANS

WORLD GEOGRAPHY WITH LITTLE PASSPORTS

FRIDAY FAVES...LABOUR DAY!

ONE PIECE GROWS - OTTOMANS

For a simple seat anywhere in the house, I love poufs or ottomans! This versatile seat works across spaces and I love to show you how to transition one single piece across spaces in your home.

As I work with more and more clients, I find that people are really looking for items that can not only be used in their baby nursery, but also as key design pieces in other parts of their homes too and it made me think a lot about ensuring the pieces we choose are not only beautiful but functional for years to come too. 

This beautiful metallic ottoman is one of those pieces. Perfect in a nursery but also incredibly practical in the living room too. 

As with any leather item, this ottoman only gets better with age. Looking to nab an ottoman for yourself? See a whole bunch (including a vegan option!!) below.

01.// Gold leather pouf; 02.// Brown leather pouf; 03.// Mini white pouf (vegan!!); 04.// Cotton blue pouf; 05.// Taupe upholstered ottoman; 06.// Fuzzy white pouf; 07.// Cozy knit pouf; 08.// Moroccan leather pouf.

MAMA & ME OUTDOOR SUMMER PHOTOSHOOT

After seven years abroad, my sister is home! This is cause for celebration on SOOO many levels (hello real life visits and wine chats on the couch!), and I am very very lucky to have her back here to beautifully photograph my growing family! She mainly photographs newborns over at Amanda Haddow Photography in Victoria but on this occasion she agreed that I needed some mama and babe shots, so we headed to the park with the kids, took a picnic and the kids ran around, picked flowers, made daisy chains and played. 

It is unbelievable how few photos moms take WITH their children and our family is really just the same. I would love to change this but since I am typically the one behind the lens, it may take some time to get used to being in the frame with the kiddies. I had the cutest shirt picked out for Xavier but he absolutely refused to wear it (or any shirt for that matter!) so we just went with it and thankfully that bare belly turned out to be the most adorable thing. Capturing his personality at this stage is really so much more important anyway, right?! Although we rarely get a 'perfect' picture, I look back at all of our photos together with so much love. Seeing how little the kids look in past photos is the best incentive to get out there and take more!

Just look at my gorgeous little ones! Nothing makes me happier than seeing their beautiful faces and delicious giggles captured to keep for years to come. 

We haven't been particularly great at taking photos all together (even these ones are missing my number one sidekick, my husband) but I have taken lots and lots of the kids over the years and have learned a few tips along the way. Here are my top tips for getting the best success when shooting with kids.

At the end of the day, it's the unexpected moments of pure joy or love or surprise that shine. Or in this case, pure goofiness. The outtakes are always so funny. C'est la vie when you have a three year old along for the ride!

All photos taken by my uber-talented sister Amanda (thank you! thank you! thank you!) from Amanda Haddow Photography. Visit her in Victoria for newborn photography or to book a mama and me session of your own!

Kaia's dress: Zara kids
Noelle's dress: vintage fabric, made by Nana
My dress: Lucky Brand
Blanket: Amazing find from Salvation Army
Basket: Majorel Design
Girls' shoes: Saltwater Sandals
Hat: Hat Attack, similar

KAIA & NOELLE'S 5TH BIRTHDAY PARTY!

My twins turned five a few weeks ago. Five years old. For some reason, this hit me hard! My tiny preemie girls are ALREADY FIVE. Gasp. Deep breaths. How does the time go so fast?! 

Kaia and Noelle are two of the most social, crowd loving kids I know. They love people and being around them. They wanted a big party, with lots of their friends, music and lots of decorations. They also LOVE exploring, walking and playing in the forest (thanks to having this at our doorstep in Vancouver). We decided on a forest party, at Stanley Park’s Ecology Society, where a space with beautiful natural light and lots of room to run around was available. For an hour, they take the kids (and parents if they want) into Stanley Park for a forest discovery walk, where the kids were fully in awe and happiness discovering all the creatures the forest has to offer. If you are looking for an amazing party venue in Vancouver, this one is perfect for so many ages! 

These simple DIY fairy and elf crowns added a little fun for the kids and got them into the mood for the outdoor part. 

After some simple instructions, our girls and thirteen of their friends headed into the forest for a little exploration and learning (did you know a woodpecker wraps its' tongue around its' brain to protect it when pecking?!...I had no idea!).

The kids loved the forest; where they learned to identify a few birds by sound, use magnifying glasses to see what lives in trees, went on a bug hunt, explored different smells in logs and trees and played a couple of games. After lots of fresh air and outdoor exploration, they came back for lunch and the most beautiful and delicious cake (thanks Butter Bakery!) surrounded by these lovely Gypsy Petal flowers (so excited to be able to reuse these over and over again!).

After lunch, we kept it simple – music, lots of balloons and a balloon tent, which ended up being the least expensive and most fun thing ever for a party. The kids ran in and out, danced and threw balloons. Overall, I'd say it was a success.

Happy Birthday beautiful girls! You have added so much magic to our lives over the past five years. We love you!

Styling by WINTER DAISY
Photography by Jo + Bo Photography and Melissa Barling

If you were wondering how to achieve the same look, here are the sources!

01.// Party tent; 02.// Fig leaf plant; 03.//Mylar number 5 balloon;  04.// Giant blush balloon; 05.// Fairy crowns DIY; 06.// Helium balloons; 07.// Hydrangeas; 08.// Paper straws; 09.// Kid size table and chairs; 10.// Dot napkins (similar); 11.// Paper plates (similar).

5 KID-FRIENDLY PRODUCTS WITH SAJE WELLNESS {GIVEAWAY}

Congratulations to Stacey Koch who won this giveaway!!! The giveaway is now closed.

As a Mom to three kids under the age of five, I am constantly looking for natural products to use in our home. When Saje Wellness contacted me to work with their nebulizers and other home products as part of their new Saje at Home store opening, happening on March 31st at their Robson Street location in Vancouver, I welcomed the chance! As part of this, I’ve had the opportunity to try out the nebulizers and learn more about the all-natural, therapeutic essential oils as well as some other products that I have fallen in love with (some new, some long ago!).

Today I’m sharing my top 5 Saje Wellness products to use in a kid-friendly home. 

1.     Nebulizers:

These work both as an air purifier and as a cool mist humidifier and are perfect for everyday or if your little one has a cold. If you don’t feel comfortable using essential oils with your child, these still work perfectly without the oil!

2.     Diffuser Blends:

These essential oils can be used in various ways and help to make your home smell fresh and lovely in the most natural way! Our little ones love watching me add the suggested 10-12 drops to the water in the nebulizer and trying out the different scents. I love ‘Refresh’ for playtime during the day and ‘Spa Spirit’ for the start to the bedtime routine. 

3.    Owee Magic:

Affectionately known as Boo Boo Magic in our house, this aromatherapy balm is a hit with the kids! With a combination of Olive Oil, Beeswax, Calendula and St. John’s Wort as well as a mixture of essential oils, this is the first thing our kids ask for when they have a little cut.  

4.    Safe Hands Wash:

With little kids, I wash my hands A LOT! I have struggled with dry hands before having kids and it continues to be a daily disturbance now more than ever, especially through the winter months. To help combat this, I always look for hand soap that is free from Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and this wash is perfect! With a base of coconut oil, olive oil and sunflower oil, this hand wash not only cleanses, but does so without drying out the hands; perfect for little ones and parents alike. It smells delicious too!

5.    Fairy Mist:

This spray is safe for little ones with a combination of calming oils such as lavender and chamomile to help soothe babes to sleep. I started using this with my girls a few years ago at bedtime when they needed a little extra love to settle down. I tell them to close their eyes and pretend the nighttime fairies are sprinkling them with love for sweet dreams!

If you are looking to add natural products to your home environment, Saje Wellness has you covered. To help you get started, we are *GIVING AWAY an AromaOm Nebulizer in white as well as a Diffuser Blend Kit of your choice.

To enter, please visit Saje Wellness, follow both @sajewellness and @winterdaisykids on IG, then leave me a comment here telling me which Diffuser Blend Kit you’d choose (Brainstorm, Peaceful, Good Health, Relaxation or Happiness) if you won. Entries close the day of the Saje at Home store launch, on March 31st at 9am PST and the winner will be chosen at random.

 * This giveaway is open to Canadian readers only. I will announce the winner here on the blog as well as on my social media channels. Prize is approximately  $135 CAD total value. This post is in partnership with Saje Wellness. All words are my own.