momstory

Mom Story: Inés from LaCasita de Wendy

My name is Inés Aguilar, I'm a fashion designer and entrepreneur with my own brand la casita de wendy. I live in Madrid with my husband and 1 year daughter, Valentina. My house is also my studio and we have a little fashion school here called El Estudio where we show how to develop fashion collections and how to run a small fashion company. In la casita de wendy we are focused in ethic design and we have this manifesto to explain our philosophy.

What kind of house do you live in - are you and the kids happy here or is there anything you find lacking or would like to change?

We live in a detached house, and we have two floors for living and two floors for working. We are really happy living here because we have enough space and a little backyard.

What do you like best about living there?

I love having a small garden, in my city this is not very usual. We also have a swimming pool which is great for the hot summers in Madrid. I love everything about living here.

Do you like to spend time decorating your home and your child’s room?

I would love to have more free time to decorate, but I'm always quite busy with my company. In Valentina's room I spent more time painting and decorating while I was pregnant.

Do you keep your child’s play area separate or do you believe they should have a space in every part of the house?

Valentina has a room with toys but she is always around us, so she ends up playing in every room, mostly in the living room which is often a mess.

Where do you look for interior inspiration, favorite magazines, websites, or blogs?

I love decoration blogs like decor8, or design sponge's sneak peaks.

What are your child’s favorite items in your house?

Valentina has many toys she loves like her wooden horse or her tiny tent, but at the end she wants to play with my markers or with her dad's computer.

What places in your neighborhood do you like to shop at? 

There are not many shops in our neighborhood but we don't shop much, my husband is very much in to conscious consumption and we buy our veggies in a local cooperative. We also make our soap and yogurt and we grow sprouts and have our own little vegetables garden. For Valentina we try to buy handmade stuff online from crafter's and artists.

What is it like to raise a child in your town?

Raising a child in Madrid depends on the area you live in, if you are in the city centre there are a lot of events and beautiful shops for kids, but there is also lot of noise and pollution, we live far from the centre in a quiet and very green area so we enjoy walking and playing outdoors.

Who do you consider a good example for your child?

It's difficult to answer, I guess her family, her grandparent's, we would love her to learn all from them.

What is a normal day with your child?  What do you do on the weekends?

In a normal day she stays at home with us (she doesn’t go to nursery yet). She use to playing around us while we try to work, which is very difficult!! Her dad takes care of her all morning long so I can do all the calls and answer all my mails. In the afternoon we spend some time playing in the park with her and when she goes to sleep we can work a lot in our jobs (we both work at home). In the weekends we have to work very often, so the routine is quite similar.

Tell us a funny story, quote or remark your child recently made.

One night Valentina managed (we still do not how) to get out of her crib and later we found her smiling while sleeping under the bed.

Any books you can recommend for parents on how to raise children?

In Spain there is this popular book Besame mucho (Kiss me a lot) by Carlos Gonzalez that is interesting, but we are not very much in to reading books to raise a child, we believe in our common sense and instincts.

What is your ‘how-to-raise-children’ advice?

Believe in your instincts, we are all prepared to raise a child. Don't believe in strict rules cause kids are not machines…and one important thing: trust your kid.

What kind of DIY projects do you like to do with your child?

We love painting with her, but she is too small to help me in DIY projects. I use to make her some toys or clothes, I hope she will help me soon!

Are you a crafter or DIY person?

Both! I love crafting and I enjoy making stuff for Valentina or to decorate the house so much.

Books, websites, local shops you would recommend for tips and ideas about kids crafting?

I love many blogs like Fine Little Day or Bloesem…also Kireei, a great  Spanish blog very inspiring, but I love using my own ideas and imagination to create.

How do you like to celebrate birthday's and other special days in your house?

In spring or summer we love making picnics in the garden. In winter time we make parties in the attic where we have la casita de wendy's studio. We have a friend who does very nice catering called PINCHÍN who makes very funny cakes and sweets for Valentina.

Does your child have friends over often? If yes, what activities do they do?

When other babies come around they love playing with Valentina's wooden blocks or playing with our ribbons and fabrics. If they pop in here in springtime they enjoy the swing in the garden. In the summer they like the swimming pool.

Are there musical instruments in your house?

Yes, we have many instruments at home, like a xylophone, an ukulele and drums …my husband loves playing and teaching Valentina.

What are your all time favorite books for children?

I love sharing my childhood books with Valentina.

How do you buy your books? Bookstores?  Online? 

I love buying old books in flea markets and sometimes in bookstores from the city centre. I also find nice stuff at Amazon.

Are you a ‘cook’ or ‘food lover’ or both?

I love food and my husband is good at cooking but I´m not so he is always in charge of the kitchen. Having him cooking for me and Valentina is liberating and in a way is like eating in a restaurant, because he is always asking me what I feel like eating.

Where would you like to go on vacation - with or without your child? 

We always go on vacation to the north of Spain, Asturias, it's an amazing place very green and with amazing beaches.

What kind of souvenirs do you bring back home?

We take all kind of leafs, seashells and little stones.

How do you prepare for a trip, any useful tips?

We travel with a lot of stuff, the crib and all accessories for Valentina and of course we always forget something! A useful tip is to write a list.

What are your tips for traveling in a plane or on a long road trip with your child?

For long trips we try to entertain her singing, she has three or four favorite songs we have composed for her, the songs we sing when she cries…it's the only way to stop her, but it's exhausting!! We are thinking about buying her a dvd for the car with some of her favorite tunes.

What a gorgeous Mom Story, thank you Inés for sharing it with us!

..LaCasita de Wendy..

..LaCasita de Wendy Blog..

*If you are interested in being considered for a Mom Story, please contact Tiffany - tiffany.bloesem(at)gmail.com

Mom Story: Amy from Little Alouette

{Photo Credit :: Karen Walrond}

I am Amy Turn Sharp and I am a wild creative from Columbus, Ohio. I own Little Alouette and am trying to be a real writer. Joe and I have three little boys and are busy navigating the world of handmade together as a family.

What kind of house do you live in - are you and the kids happy here or is there anything you find lacking or would like to change?

I am married to a British master carpenter. This sounds dreamy but mostly it means we move around a lot fixing up old houses that would have fallen into ruin if not for Joe. BUT. We live in them while we do this. Eeek. So, Yes, I love our current home as it is a charming 100-year-old home in Worthington, Ohio {village living} but I am also in constant state of remodel. It’s like the cobbler’s children have no shoes. We have lived here for 4 years + we are now finally remodeling the world’s ugliest kitchen. We have lovely rooms and then you turn the corner and it is a very sad room. We hope this year is the year that we can love our home- all of it!

What do you like best about living there?

I do love the fireplace though. And the coffered ceilings that Joe created. And the dark wood floors he put down. And the plans for the secret bookcase and the joining tunneled closets between nursery and the boys room. I like this house. It will be a wondrous house someday.

Do you like to spend time decorating your home and the children’s room?

We just keep it changing. We might move things around and change it up as boys change interests. We have bunk beds now because the boys begged for them and they love it. We keep it pretty eclectic. I like walking into a children’s room or a nursery and not thinking it looks juvenile, but cool. A place I may want to sit for a spell.

Do you keep your children’s play areas separate or do you believe they should have a space in every part of the house?

Our kids have free play rule. We have toys + books in all rooms. It is not a massive house so we have to share. We do have a playroom but they tend to wander into our living space to play.

Where do you look for interior inspiration, favorite magazines, websites, and blogs? 

I devour design bogs. It’s like I need a hit once a week or so. I like looking. Voyeur.

What are your children’s favorite items in your house?

We have a swing in our house and it is the best thing ever. Quiet times just a swinging!

Some tidying tips? Do your children tidy up after themselves?

Yes. I make them clean up toys in the living space every night, but I allow them to slob around in their rooms for days on end because if you saw the state of me + Joe’s bedroom =you would die!

What places in your new neighborhood do you like to shop at? 

We have a local hardware shop + a Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams down the road + Igloo Letterpress is a pal + The Candle Lab + House Wine and Northstar + the best farmer’s market in Midwest! Oh my- my little town rocks! I did not have a car the first year we lived here and it was fine. Walking town. Love.

What is a normal day with your children? What do you do on the weekends?

My kids are wild boys. We are a pretty high-octane family. It is loud and crazy always. The oldest is in school and the middle is in preschool 3x a week. The baby stays with me as I work. I have twin homeschooler babysitters that come 2-3x a week to help. It works but it is a challenge working form home with Little Alouette + my writing. I am already a taxicab service for shuttling to and fro to sports + school activities. I can’t imagine how the future will be with 3 boys.On the weekends we tend to be more child led. Joe works every Saturday but Sundays are sacred days off for us! Sometimes we won’t leave the house if they want to just relax and play. Yesterday we sat for three hours in front of a fire reading our library books and playing around. 

Any tips for keeping the house clean when crafting?

Don’t worry too much. Kids need to see us being relaxed and involved in the process. Preciousness is not cool.

Are you a crafter or DIY person?

Bit of both. We make a lot of art + learning projects. Like the God/goddess wall from last year. They LOVED it. Easy and educational. Read home schooling blogs to get ideas. They are the fountain of amazing!

What do you do with all the projects your children make at home or in school?

Buy a plastic tub for each school year. Stick stuff in it. Done.

What kind of sports do your children like to do and are you involved?

I am a total soccer mom.

Do your children read books online? Do they go to the library?

My kids don’t have a computer. Gasp. We go to the library at least 3x a week. We are obsessed with the library. I just wrote a poem yesterday about it.

Where would you like to go on vacation - with or without your children? 

Joe and I love Greece. I lived there back in the day and we have been together for our very belated honeymoon a few years back. I would love to take the kids someday when we can afford it. We secretly plan a year off someday and want to do a round the world trip. It’s a desire. It’s a life goal I suppose.We just went to Lake Erie this past summer for a quick trip. Large bodies of water make for amazing kiddo trips. It’s all you need. They just stare. Boats. It’s amazing. Kids and water. Mouths hang open. Love it.

What a lovely Mom Story, thank you Amy for sharing it with us!

..Little Alouette..

*If you are interested in being considered for a Mom Story, please contact Tiffany - tiffany.bloesem(at)gmail.com

Mom Story: Janine from Uppercase Magazine

Hello! My name is Janine Vangool and I’m the publisher/editor/designer of UPPERCASE magazine and books. My husband, Glen Dresser, is a writer working on his second novel and we live in Calgary, Alberta, Canada with our 22 month old son Finley and our dog Percy.

What kind of house do you live in—are you and your child happy here or is there anything you find lacking or would like to change?

 We live in a small house in the Sunnyside neighbourhood in Calgary. It is a great location—just a block from the river and a twenty minute walk to downtown and my studio, UPPERCASE. The house is celebrating its 100th birthday this year, so for Calgary standards that’s actually quite old. Alas, the house doesn’t have any really great period features other than slanted floors and wobbly walls! Apparently, people didn’t need much closet space or large bathrooms in 1912, so those amenities are lacking.

What do you like best about living there?

The neighbourhood is excellent. Though I purchased the house when I was single, the location still suits me and my family perfectly. There is a nice elementary school a couple blocks away, a nice park, great places to go for a walk and central to everything we need and do.

Do you like to spend time decorating your home and the children’s room?

When I was expecting, we suddenly kicked our home care into high gear! I have to thank the birth of our child for a lot of upgrades to our living conditions. The most significant was redoing the kitchen entirely. And then once Finley was showing the ability to crawl we recovered our old splintered hardwood floors with gloss white snap-in-place floorboards. We painted the walls white and installed white floor-to-ceiling bookcases in the living room. It is pretty much all IKEA, but it was affordable, relatively easy and we’re very pleased with the results. I was a bit worried about whether we could live in an all-white interior, but other than having to occasionally wipe up Percy’s muddy paw prints, I love having white floors. It certainly makes the house feel brighter and more spacious. I wish I had time to do more decorating and sewing for my home, but I have far too many other things to do first.

Do you keep your child’s play area separate or do you believe they should have a space in every part of the house?

Finley is welcome to play throughout the main floor of the house. He likes to run back and forth between the living room and his bedroom. Since his room is quite small, he has some books and his toy train in there and the rest is out in the living room. He has his own section of the bookcase and I quite like looking at his toys strewn about—it’s the sign of a happy day!

Where do you look for interior inspiration, favorite magazines, websites, blogs?

I publish a book series called “The Suitcase Series." Each book is a complete immersion in the life, culture and craft of a particular artist. The first book was all about Swedish illustrator Camilla Engman —Glen and I were fortunate to go visit her home in 2009 when I was working on the book. Her lovely apartment (white floors!) and the Scandinavian aesthetic were a huge inspiration for our home’s interior. More recently, Finley, Glen and I stayed with Tif Fussell (for The Suitcase Series Volume 2: dottie angel). I love Tif’s interior decorating style—a mix of thrifted finds and handmade items really give a home soul.

What is your child’s favorite item in your house?

We have a Fisher Price little village set that was mine from the mid seventies. Seeing how much he enjoys it and combined with his love of airplanes, his grandparents just gave him a Fisher Price airport from 1980 for Christmas. It’s complete with a plane, helicopter, baggage cars, luggage, people…the works!

What a lovely Mom Story, thank you Janine for sharing it with us!

..UPPERCASE magazine..

*If you are interested in being considered for a Mom Story, please contact Tiffany - tiffany.bloesem(at)gmail.com

Mom Story: Véronique from Pichouline

My name is Véronique Senorans Osorio, and I am 31 years old. I am Belgian and Spanish and a former architect. I have a webshop called Pichouline. We have 2 kids Pauline and Olivia and a cat called Blanche who lives with my mother in law. We moved in September 2011 to Harare, Zimbabwe for my husbands work. Before we lived in Paris for 3 years, so moving here has been a big change!

What kind of house do you live in - are you and the kids happy here or is there anything you find lacking or would like to change?

We live in a villa, I would change almost everything, especially the form and the “look” of the house and garden.

What is it you like best about living there?

A lot of space, swimming pool, garden and nice weather almost all the time.

Do you like to spend time decorating your home and your children’s room?

If I’m not busy with creating stuff or decorating I start to get impatient, I find peace in doing creative things, it’s my form of therapy.

Do you keep your children’s play areas separate or do you believe they should have a space in every part of the house?

They have their own space but it’s not separate from the other rooms, we can keep an eye on them from almost every room when they are playing in their play area.

Where do you look for interior inspiration, favorite magazines, websites, blogs?

Unfortunately not magazines anymore they are ridiculously expensive here. Since we moved to Zimbabwe I spend a lot of time reading blogs.

What are your children’s favorite items in your house?

Swimming pool, their own desk/sofa and pouf.

Some tidying tips?  Do your children tidy up after themselves?

At the end of the day we do it all together.

What places in your new neighborhood do you like to shop at? 

None, you can’t “shop” here….;-). Well there is one shop where I spent a lot of time (and money) Folio a very modern bookshop!

If you are living in a foreign country, how do you feel about it?  How do you meet new people, make new friends? What is it that you miss most about 'home'?

It’s a big difference with Europe, you really can’t compare it. First time I visited Zimbabwe 6 months ago, I was shocked…but when we moved everyone was and is very helpful, kind.

Each time we move it’s very difficult to meet new people, but if you compare it with Paris it’s a little bit easier. We thought that it would be easier in Africa to meet new people but unfortunately that’s not true.

What I most miss about Belgium is friends. I’m an only child and friends are very important to me. They are the sisters and brother I never had…I share everything with them.

How have your children adapted to the language, food and cultural differences?

Very good, children are almost “made” to adapt to new situations.

What is your idea of a perfect day with your children?

Bringing them to school in the morning, baking cookies, and resting together on the sofa.

What is a normal day with your children?  What do you do on the weekends?

From 8am to 3pm they go to school, afterwords we spend the rest of the day together at home. On the weekends we try to visit some parks to see some game and swimming.

Can you mention some of your ‘how-to-raise-your-kid’ advice?

That’s so hard to tell in general, each parent and each kid is different…so kids should be kids. I never ever compare my kids with other kids, they have their own character, they are unique - why compare them to another kid?

What kind of DIY projects do you like to do with your children?

Actually I don’t like to create projects with our kids they are very destructive with things…but they love to see what mum is making and I try to interact with them while I’m making something and that works very well.

Any tips for keeping the house clean when crafting?

I always clean up during the crafting, I hate it when everything is mixed up and dirty.

Books, websites, local shops you would recommend for tips and ideas about kids crafting?

I could not believe when I saw a shop named Folio who sells all the products of The small object I bought everything they had! I would also recommend - fryd+design, zeza en flor, max wanger, shimtokk and Ringo.

What do you do with all the projects your children make at home or in school?

I keep them in a big box.

Any decoration ideas on how to hang, keep or use them as presents?

Projects of the children and “masking tape” are the perfect couple!

How do you like to celebrate birthday's and other special days in your house?

For me birthday’s are always a big event...invitation, decoration, cake, it’s all about a theme…

What are some favorite games in your home?

Shapemaker, telephone, puzzles and plasticine

What are your all time favorite books for children?

We have almost all of the “golden books."

Do your children read books online?  Do they go to the library?

Each week they go to the dutch school where they have a library. Pauline loves it.

Are you a ‘cook’ or ‘food lover’ or both?

A food lover.

Do you cook together with your children? Does Dad cook?

Pastries I always make them together with the kids.

Where would you like to go on vacation - with or without your children? 

We prefer to go on short vacations with just the two of us, we had and still have a very hectic and difficult life so, it’s important that we make time for each other and not only for the kids, because they take the most of your time and attention. We went to New York, Stockholm and now to Cape Town, just the two of us.

How do you prepare for a trip, any useful tips?

Searching on blog’s, designers who live there, not only the travel guides

What are your tips for traveling in a plane or on a long road trip with your children?

Just relax, before you know it you're at your destination. If they are fussy try to ignore it, don’t feel ashamed that other people don’t understand that a kid can be noisy/upset. That’s their problem…I know it’s easier said than done.

What gorgeous little faces you live with Véronique and what a lovely Mom Story, thanks so much for sharing it with us!

..Pichouline..