Above, the owner of a little shop called Dispatcher Mommy (love it) offers a set of 50 wall butterflies made from — get this — soda cans.  Now that’s upcycling at its finest.

Next, there’s this gorgeous ink print from Vladimir Smokov – one of many in his breathtaking (and breathtakingly affordable!) hand-drawn series:

For those who want a personalized touch on their walls, Ashlee Alaine Designs puts together baby announcements and hometown pride prints with cute, customized typography exercises like this one:

And last but certainly not least, we stop in at Aldari Art to marvel at its limited-run prints of dahlias, cherry blossoms, bicycles, anchors and other beautiful things like this turquoise line art masterpiece:

In sum, whoever said art isn’t affordable must have been at least marginally crazy, uninformed or simply living without access to a computer. Luckily, we’re none of the above, so… happy curating!

Photo credits: Dispatcher Mommy, Vladimir Smokov, Ashlee Alaine Designs and Aldari Art

So, if you’re looking to make preparations for the unknown, what are some important tips for making that happen?

Organize & Plan Ahead

By preparing lists and making note of what sales you can shop each week to add to your pantry you can gradually add to your stock each week when you shop for your regular grocery items.

Helpful Link: 3 Month Pantry List (pdf)

Begin Shopping Now

Don’t wait for a windfall of money to get started on your storage shopping. Start buying extra now and gradually you will begin to see your supply build.

Helpful link: Baby Steps for Food Storage

Shop Smart

Use coupons, hit sales and buy in bulk for items that are a great deal in the bulk sizes.

Helpful link: Money Saving Tips for Food Storage Shoppers

Store Properly

Learn how to store items properly so you don’t find yourself wasting food over the course of time. Keep track of dates, come up with a system that works for your for budget and store your food to maximize longevity.

Rotate & Take Stock of Food Regularly

Come up with a system for noting the dates and be certain you are rotating food accordingly so there is minimal waste.

Look for our next article in this series where you will receive links to a variety of resources which will provide you with what you need to do all of the above in more depth – so be sure to check back for that!

Your homework for today is to make note of possible storage locations within your home. Think outside of the box if you live in a smaller space – you can make it work.

Image: Jesse Michael Nix

There isn’t a specific way to do it – no rules, no constraints. Some parents-to-be ask their technician to keep the secret, opting to carry a sealed envelope containing the information from the ultrasound to their favorite bakery. The baker opens the envelope and secretly creates a special cupcake filled with either pink or blue cream – a surprise to even the parents.

Other couples prefer to know ahead of time and the color found inside the cake is only a surprise to the guests at the party.

If you want to make the cupcakes yourself, it isn’t hard. Just bake your favorite chocolate or vanilla cupcakes (either from a mix or from scratch). Let them cool completely and then cut out some of the cake in the middle – just enough to leave a space for a filling.

Tint non-dairy topping either pink or blue, depending on the sex of your baby. You can also use vanilla pudding but it will not give you the clear color that the non-dairy topping will.

Cover the filled cupcake with your favorite chocolate or vanilla frosting so that the colored filling is completely hidden. Decorate the treats with pastel sprinkles in both pink and blue so that no one knows what color lies within until that very first bite.

photo credit: Theresa Iovcheva

Knowledge talks, wisdom listens.

Such a lovely way to distill all that encompasses the mental machinations of being wise.

Now, listen. I’ve got to tell you that I’m intentionally not going to wax philosophical about wisdom in relation to religion. The Bible, the Koran, Confucius, Buddha, Hindu religion – all good places to find a wealth of teachings on wisdom.

If you have a spiritual practice then there is your go-to place to start. In fact, you might have a few great teaching ideas yourself, and if so, please share them. I’d love to hear many different perspectives.

After doing my research, however, I can say that wisdom is a gumbo of good judgement: knowledge, open mindedness, creativity, curiosity, perspective, love of learning and listening.

Raising wise children

1. Read books. Lots of books. A good place to start is Barefoot Books Tales of Wisdom and Wonder. It’s a compilation of stories gathered from around the world and retold for little ears.

2. Grandparents. If wisdom comes with age, than what better place to learn than at the feet of our elders. Plus, grandparents and grandchildren can have an incredibly strong bond – if for no other reason that they share a common enemy: the parents. At least that’s what my mother tells me (he he).

3. Mother Nature. Aside from getting kids outside, which is always a good thing, traipsing about in nature rewards wise decisions. Balancing on a downed tree? The wise child goes slowly and makes it safely to the other side. The tree will be the teacher. And gravity.

It only takes one fall to get kids to start making better, wiser decisions. Nature is a wonderful place to test out our instincts, ultimately teaching wisdom.

4. Ask good questions. This isn’t for silly time or just bantering back and forth. When you feel that teachable moment upon you, ask your child provoking questions that get him thinking. Contemplation leads to knowing oneself, and that leads to wisdom.

Being wise adults

As with all of the other character traits, you can’t teach what you don’t have. The old axiom ‘Do as I say and not as I do’ is a bunch of hooey. Only, as a parent, sometimes it’s easier to lecture than to act. Seriously, whenever I hear myself lecturing my girls I think of Charlie Brown’s teacher. Urgh. Actions speak louder than words.

1. Think before you act or decide. Let your child see you thinking. Taking a moment teaches patience and decision making.

2. Consider the long term goal. If you get stuck making short term decisions: a ‘shut up treat’ at the grocery store, one more book at bed time and then another book and then another. You see where I’m going…the long tern goals keep things in perspective.

3. Make exceptions to the rule. Barry Schwartz has an interesting TED talk on the loss of our wisdom. Like Joni Mitchell’s Big Yellow Taxi ‘you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone‘. There are rules, even ones that you’ve made yourself. But rules should be broken sometimes, or at least altered.

Wisdom always points you in the right direction. Schwartz’s take away sound bite: “the good news is you don’t need to be brilliant to be wise. The bad news is that without wisdom, brilliance isn’t enough.”

I could put together a check list. In fact, you could put together a check list. But, seriously, that’s like the whole No Child Left Behind debacle. It assures mediocrity (to paraphrase Schwartz on rules and incentives). It stops people from actually thinking for themselves and it’s the thinking, the listening, the weighing of right and wrong that leads to wisdom.

So teach that: thinking, listening, weighing of right and wrong. You’ll be golden. And so will your kids.

Previous Character Lessons: Love of Learning, Bravery, Open Mindedness, Curiosity, Creativity, Patience, Humor, Hope, Love, Gratitude, Zest, Social Intelligence, Self Control, Grit

photo credit: Modern Home Modern Baby

We’d play until someone noticed that it was too dim to see much and the lights were blinking on all over the neighborhood. At that point it was a mad scramble to get in your house before your mom noticed it was dark.

Red Rover was a favorite back then and it provides just as much fun, exercise, and entertainment now! It is a great way to use up the last bit of energy before bed.

You’ll need at least six people, but it’s better if you have more.

How to Play

1. Choose two captains – one for each team.
2. Divide everyone up into two equal teams.
3. Each team forms a line, holds hands, and faces the other team – keep the lines about 20 to 30 feet apart.
4. The captain of the first team calls one player from the other team by saying, “Red Rover, Red Rover, send (player’s name) on over!”
5. The person called has to leave his team and run to the other team, attempting to break the other teams’ chain.
6. If the player doesn’t break the chain he has to become part of the other team.
7. If he does break the chain he can “capture” one of the players whose link was broken and take them back to his team where they become part of that team.
8. Teams take turns calling players from the opposing team until all of the players are on one side.

As with all games that involve physical interaction, you should be careful. Try to have the players all in the same age group and similar weights and sizes. If a large person breaks through the chain with too much force, obviously someone could get hurt. Remember, these games are supposed to be fun!

photo credit: Lauren Lank

Common Reasons to Store Food:

• Loss of income
• Unforeseen natural disasters
• Sick family resulting in job loss or inability to make regular trips to the store
• Allow for ease in creating last minute meals on busy days
• Religious beliefs

Whatever your reasons, it’s not a bad idea to have some sort of long term food storage, but without a game plan as well as resources for making it all work, the idea can seem daunting and quite frankly, overwhelming.

We’re here to help.

There are a variety of websites that can help you accomplish your goals for food storage whether you are looking to prep for three months, a year or longer. They offer everything from basic advice to get you started all the way to checklists, spreadsheets and video tutorials.

They all recommend the following:

• Organization - Figure out what you need and create a comprehensive list of the necessities, including toiletries.
• Plan Ahead - Plan ahead how you will store your items so you know where you can keep your supplies and how you will keep them.
•  Proper Storage - Understand proper storage methods to maximize the longevity of your supplies.
• Begin Shopping Now - Chip away at your list little by little, building up your supply.
• Shop Smart - Use coupons and sales to help you accomplish your goals in an economical way.

Here at Modern Home, Modern Baby we will be featuring a series of posts on food storage that will provide tips and resources covering all you need to know in small bite sized articles so you can digest this process a bit easier – so be certain to come back for those tips in the coming days.

What are you most uncertain about regarding long term food storage?

Main Image: Suzba

2nd Image: author generated

That would be a direct sales company. But there’s a lot out there. And everyone knows about Avon, Partylite, Silpa, and Mary Kay … what if those aren’t you? What if you want something a little … different?

Check out these three companies that are different but fun and totally fall into the direct sale category.

Celadon Road: This company offers a line of eco-friendly products for the home and body. The cost to get started averages around $100 and the reported earnings per party (on average) is around $160. The products are not only green, they’re packaged super-cute so it’s easy to sell them as gifts as well. Plus, the company donates 1% of each consultant’s yearly sales to the charity of his/her choice.

The Clever Container Co.: What a concept! A home-based business that sells organizational products? If I didn’t already have something I loved doing, I suspect I would be all about this. The demand for organizational stuff is huge … and growing by the year, so I suspect there’s lots of potential here. The start-up costs run about $150 and consultants earn an average of $125 per party.

Initials, Inc.: Personalized products are another winner. People love to stamp their ownership on just about everything … this particular company caters to that need. Selling everything from home decor to accessories, Initials, Inc. takes customer feedback seriously and constantly changes their line-up according to customer demand. Start-up costs are roughly $140 and the average reported earnings (per party) coming in around $125.

Have you ever considered a direct sale business? Which one? Did you have any success?

photo credit: a small sampling of products from The Clever Container Co.

Another fantastic option for getting together is a wine and cheese tasting. It allows for lots of chatting, eating and the discovery of new wines and appetizing dishes. Truth be told, this party could be done with girlfriends or with couples, so run with it how you choose; just make socializing a priority!

There are a variety of ways you could do this. You can host the entire event yourself if you thrive in the creativity of that planning, or you can have guests bring items and it can be a potluck type event.

Self-Hosted Wine & Cheese Tasting

If you love to have the creative control of an entire event then here’s what you need to see this event through on your own:

• Have a white wine glass and a red wine glass for each person attending. Provide wine charms and rinsing water for ease of changing out wines.
• Choose 4-6 wines, half of which should be white and half red to meet the interests and palates of all attending. You may want multiple bottles of each wine depending on the number of guests…and whether or not you have lushes in your midst.
• Once you’ve chosen your wines, do your research as to which foods pair nicely with them and create your menu accordingly.
• Set up your spread with wines next to their complimentary dishes. Include labels next to wines and food items so attendees are aware of what they are getting and can make an informed decision both with dietary and personal taste in mind.
• Provide pre-printed score sheets with wine names and lines for personal notes. This will allow for guests to go home with their own reminders as to which wines they might like to purchase again in the future.

Pot-luck Wine & Cheese Tasting Party

• Instruct each guest to bring their favorite wine and cheese/appetizer pairing to the party.
• Provide blank label tents for guests to use for labeling their wines and food items on the food table.
• Have enough red and white wine glasses for each guest as well as wine charms and rinsing water.
• Provide pens, blank templates for scoring/notes for guests to make notes of what items they enjoyed for future reference.

Nearing the end of either of the gatherings, a discussion of which wines and food items went together well can happen based on the score sheets.

At the close of the evening, you’ll have had a relaxing evening with friends and you’ll feel refreshed and ready to tackle the kids again.

**Please enjoy your wine responsibly and have a designated driver – or a cab.

Websites for Inspiration & Pairings:

Rachel Voorhees is a blogger who is nearing the end of her wine connoisseur training (i.e. Sommelier School) and her website is chaulk full of information on wine pairings, wine destinations and all things wine, wine and more wine. She is also a wine columnist as Momtastic  – keep tabs on her and you have a one-stop resource for your  Moms Night In party.

Pinterest is great for menu inspiration!

Can’t Make it Out? 

Have Wine, Will Drink is a newly launched site that aims to provide you with information and socialization all centered around wine. So, if you can’t get out for wine time with your friends, then have a Mom’s Night In with your online gal pals.

Have Wine, Will Drink hosts regular twitter parties using the hashtag #winebuzz. So if you can’t make it out for a wine tasting party, head over to their website and mark your calendar to meet up with the gals for a glass of wine and giveaways! It’s always a ton of fun!

Would you host a Wine and Cheese Tasting or attend one? 

Image: meetusinghal

The ubiquitous zigzag is turning up on everything from chairs and pillows to lamps and table runners, and with good reason: it’s classic, it’s cool and it lends a perfect balance of chaos and order. Here, a little stroll through some of the cutest chevron-emblazoned items we’ve found of late:

Photo credits: Urban Outfitters (x3) and House Beautiful

Today, we’re talking about clutches – a fabulous accessory that can accomplish your fashion experimentation goal.

When you’re used to carrying around a large handbag filled with items that meet the needs of your children, it can feel exhausting to carry around and less than stylish to say the least.

But what about those times when you actually get out for date night with your significant other or some fun with your girlfriends? Well ladies, it’s time to forgo the oversized bag and spruce up your outfit with a rockin’ clutch.

What Is a Clutch?

A clutch is  a small handbag that fits just the necessities for an evening out – identification, money, cellphone, lip gloss and small compact. There are larger clutches that fit more, so depending on the look you are going for or your needs, you can choose accordingly. Most clutches do not have straps, some come with handles.

Take a Fashion Risk with Your Clutch

So how do you choose a clutch that works for you? It depends on the outfit and personal style, but trust me when I tell you that accessories are a great way to take risks with fashion and try something new, so don’t play it safe my friends.

Not sure if you can pull of animal print? Pick up a clutch like the snakeskin bag pictured. Love the idea of the peacock feather trend we’ve seen a lot of lately? Pick up a cobalt wrap dress and pair it with the clutch we found.

Have a lot of solid prints in your closet? Add a pop of magenta or mustard yellow to your little black dress or chocolate brown maxi sundress with these clutches we found over at Polyvore.

Finally, a silver and black clutch are solid investment pieces, so don’t hesitate to pick both of these up. Consider them in a textured material for a little extra interest and you’ll go back to these pieces for years to come.

Fashion risks don’t have to be bold choices taken only with your clothing, start with your accessories and build into bigger pieces, or simply stick to the accessories – that’s ok, too.

Would you purchase any of these clutches? What accessories do you love to take fashion risks with?

Image: Polyvore

Hibiscus is a flower that gives a citrusy punch and a bright red color to lemonade, tea, and punch. You can usually find it in dried forms at health food and natural foods stores. It provides calcium, iron, beta-carotene, and vitamin C to your child’s diet – always a good thing!

Keep the hibiscus syrup around for a quick, colorful alternative to those other drinks kids love. You can also make popsicles with it. You can even add it to your favorite cocktails for a beautiful twist.

The hibiscus syrup will keep in the refrigerator, tightly covered, for several weeks.

Hibiscus Lemonade

• 5 cups water
• 3 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup culinary hibiscus buds
• 5 cups water
• 2 cup lemon juice

Instructions

1. Bring 5 cups of water and 3 cups of sugar to a boil, stirring constantly.
2. Boil until the sugar dissolves.
3. Remove from heat.
4. Add the hibiscus and let the mixture cool to room temperature.
5. Strain the flowers out of the sugar mixture by lining a colander with a paper towel or cheesecloth and setting it over a bowl. Carefully pour the liquid through the paper towel and into the bowl.
6. Add the strained sugar mixture to a pitcher.
7. Add 2 cups of lemon juice and 5 cups of water.
8. Stir and taste. Add more sugar as necessary.
9. Drop lemon slices and ice in chilled glasses and pour the lemonade over the ice.
10. Serve immediately.

Makes about 8 servings

photo credit: Marye Audet

Call it a “girls will be girls” thing or “right of passage” – I call it bullying and I think that Finding Kind is a breath of fresh air. What a fantastic way to open the doors of communication for our daughters. I have three and I’m a woman who remembers what it was like to be young and in the path of mean girls.

I also know what it’s like to see and be around mean women, because mean girls can grow up to be mean women. So this campaign is a fantastic opportunity to work with our daughters to engage in change and perhaps we can be the change we want to see.

The girls from the documentary are now seeing their idea through to fruition and are hosting Kind Campaign Assemblies at schools around the nation. They are engaging in open conversations with girls in those schools. Exercises are conducted during the assemblies which involve the girls becoming accountable for their actions.

One example, given in a news report, shared that the girls were asked to write an apology to someone in the room along with something kind and it was an activity that really resonated with many in attendance. It was clear through the various interviews that the activities had the potential to lead to social changes within those schools.

The premise behind Finding Kind is fantastic and it really has a wonderful message and the potential for great growth for all who participate in the assemblies and view the documentary.

If you can’t bring an assembly to your area, consider hosting a movie screening. Movie screenings are being hosted privately around the nation where schools and families are taking a proactive approach to solving this well known, yet swept under the rug “mean girl” trend. They are using the viewing of this film as a catalyst for discussion, and it’s a consideration for all who are looking to help their daughters be the best versions of themselves.

I find it very encouraging to see so many documentaries focusing on the bullying epidemic that is occurring with our children. We simply shouldn’t have children feeling so hopeless that they are willing to harm themselves. Period.

By bringing to light what is happening in our schools and neighborhoods, rather than pretending it’s not happening, we have the potential for real change. By holding our children accountable, providing them with real tools for change as well as advocating for that change – we will see a difference, I am confident of that.

Interested in knowing more?

Watch the Trailer

Head to the Finding Kind Website

Would you take your daughters to a screening of Finding Kind?

image credit: Kind Campaign

For lots of us, that means delighting in all the beauty of the world around us — a pastime made even easier by sites like Pinterest and Etsy. And today, we’ve pulled together a host of adorable clocks from the fine folks just like us who have their own little online shops on the side. Get ready for some Etsy therapy!

First, there’s this aviary clock from Wall Decoration — a sweet parental story presented in black and white:

Next, from the same shop, check out this little guy for those who just can’t get enough of their Droid phones:

Since we’re rather literally riding the theme of “creature” comforts, so to speak, here’s a cute lime green elephant clock from LeLuni (who, by the way, also has roosters, rhinos and rabbits… oh my!) that would be equally charming in a kid’s room or a kitchen:

And up top, leading off today’s post is a polka dot creation from Shannybeebo. Of course, these are just a tiny sampling of everything that’s available out there, so with that, we’ll bid you a timely adieu. Happy shopping!

Photo credits: Shannybeebo, Wall Decoration (x2) and LeLuni