MamAnomolie

Sophie just had her first modeling gig! Before you worry that I'm on my way to appearing on the next episode of Dance Moms, let me explain.

My friend Carla is starting a sewing business, Flying Fox Studio, making kid clothes, hats, pet accessories, bags and pillows from organic, upcylced, and locally sourced materials. She needed to get some photos for the organic kids line she's working on, called Fox Tots Organic. Carla wanted pictures of her handiwork on someone, and that someone was Sophie.

I know Carla back from my working days. She is a writer/editor who I got to know during several different projects. Her attention to detail and desire to get things just right were apparent (and appreciated!) in her work as an editor. These qualities are also evident in her new endeavor. She isn't using a little bit of organic fabric here and there as a marketing gimmick. She is thinking about the entire textile production process, researching different options (like kapok instead of fiber fill, who knew?), and aiming for complete transparency in her marketing.

We were discussing some of the difficulties of finding organic textiles, especially from the U.S., at prices artists and consumers can afford when Carla said, "I'm starting to think I want to change the old phrase to 'think locally, think globally, act locally, act globally.' That's certainly not daunting, is it?" No, not at all, Carla. Hey, at least I have a cute model to lend to the cause!

Of course I had to post some adorable photos of Sophie on here, but I also wanted to showcase Carla's other work. How great are these purses?! And that wrist wallet? A ridiculous amount of cuteness going on there! Well, I'm off...now that Sophie is a model she has become quite demanding of attention!

I just wanted to say what a big fan I am of the Fresh Baby food trays that I bought to make baby food! They are BPA- and phthalate-free and made in the USA. Not only that, but they are relatively inexpensive and easy to use. The lids actually do stay on (which seems to be an issue with some of the baby food freezing dishes), and they stack easily in the freezer.


I bought two of them to begin with (they come two to a pack) and have since gotten four more. I will be honest, I was worried about making Sophie's food. I don't like to cook. I want to like to cook. I like the idea of cooking. I even like the idea of finding fresh and local produce to cook my meals, but the sad truth is that right now (I'm not giving up on the dream) I don't like to cook. So, I was worried that making Sophie's food would be something that I wanted to do and liked the idea of doing but wouldn't actually happen.

I am proud to say that I have been making most of Sophie's food, and it has been going really well. I'm finally getting some good use out of the food processor we were given for our wedding, and the Fresh Baby food cube trays make it easy to make a lot of food at once and have it ready for later. So far I've made sweet potatoes, bananas, butternut squash, prunes, carrots, mangoes, avocado, pear and peaches - all organic. I've also used the trays to freeze yogurt and tofu that would have otherwise spoiled. It's been great, and all but the avocado has proved palatable.

It can be tough being Jewish during the holiday season. Especially in North Carolina. ESPECIALLY when looking for wrapping paper. Last year I was close to making a scene at my local Target. It went something like this...

Me: "Do you have any Chanukah wrapping paper?"
Employee: "What?"
Me" (In my head) "The Festival of Lights, put on your yalmulke, c'mon, surely I'm not the only Jew who's come in the store."
(What I really say) "Wrapping paper for Chanukah?"
Employee: Doug, do we have any...um..."
Me: "Chanukah wrapping paper?"
Doug: "There's a display on an endcap at the front of the store."
Me: (In my head) "Yeah, I saw where you put your crappy plain white paper and crappy plain blue paper together in a display and called it the Chanukah section. Do you think people who aren't Christian don't care what their presents look like? We don't even have a tree to dress them up! Give us a break!"
(What I really say) "Thanks, I'll take a look."

So, with Chanukah just around the corner this year, I had to share the great paper I found through Pristine Planet. Pristine Planet features lots of eco-friendly gift wrap. They won even more points with me by featuring 'Hanukkah Chickens Gift Wrap.' It comes from the Zola Shop and is made with vegetable-based ink on 100% post-consumer, chlorine-free paper and is made in the U.S. using renewable energy. And it's Chanukah paper with chickens on it!!!

Even with lots of Chanukah wrapping to choose from, how many variations of Stars of David and menorahs can you have? This was a welcome break from the norm!