Minty Fresh: Point of View.

Mint. (adj.) meaning new, fresh, sweet, brilliant, awesome.

ok, I'm cheating a bit with this one, but I thought it would be fun...  Three and four year old kids see the world in a very different way than we do.  My daughter Lilly really finds it to be a very magical place. 

Yesterday, I was sitting in the kitchen with her when she suddenly jumped up and yelled, "Fairies!!!"  Wondering what in the world she was talking about, of course I asked, "where?"  She quickly ran over to a little stream of sunlight coming in through the window, pointing out the tiny dust bunnies floating around.  "Right here, mama!  Fairies!"  (Note to self: cleaning is overrated. Ha Ha!)

Anyway, a few months before she turned four, we got her a tiny little camera (I think it's by Fisher Price).  Here are some of her photos.

Now, aside from the fact that she is a genius (right?), I adore looking at these photos because I get to see the world through her eyes for a few photos.  My absolute favorite just has to be her self portrait in the middle.  Love it. 

Don't be afraid to look at things in a new way, and find a fresh point of view.
xo,
Kristen

Photo-essay Friday.

What is love?

Love is trusting.

Love is full.

Love is joyful.

Share your thoughts with me!
xo,
Kristen

Minty Fresh + Snow.

Mint. (adj.) meaning new, fresh, sweet, brilliant, awesome.

I have to tell you this secretly.  Lean in. Don't let your family hear me say this.  I live in Southern California.  The weather here has been chilly and windy, but I haven't seen an inch of snow. Sssshhhhh!!!!
I'm telling you this because I know what it feels like.  I want you to know that the sun is shining somewhere, and that there is hope.  Spring is coming.  And Phil said it is coming soon!  This weekend, I'm going to announce a "dreaming of spring" giveaway, but in the meantime, I want you to embrace the snow.  Yes.  You read that correctly.  I said, "embrace it."
Do you have a delayed opening? Go outside and play! Don't forget your camera! Get down on their level. Capture the "couch", snowman, cave, snowballs...the  trail of snow pants, coats, hats, mittens, boots and scarves that litter the floor.  Maybe you'd rather stay inside?  Give me a photo of your child looking out the window, or sipping some hot cocoa. Here are some of my favorites: Check out this snow suit- remind you of A Christmas Story? Utterly ridiculous, right?

Here's one that shows how much my daughter loved "swimming" in the snow.

Ahhh, and one of the good old fashioned "couch".  Love.

Enjoy your time with the snow.  And if you want to come to my house for a little break, please feel free!  :)
xo,
Kristen

Ps- please leave a link in the comments to your photos- I'd love to see them!!!

Minty Fresh

Mint. (adj.) meaning new, fresh, sweet, brilliant, awesome.

This is going to become a monthly thing for me, I can just tell.

One of my goals for this year is to have a cleaner house.  So I got some tips from Martha Stewart (don't hate), and I'm going to try to do a little every day.  Each day, I'm going to give myself some tasks.  It might look something like this: Monday-laundry, Tuesday-windows, Wednesday-floors, Thursday-bathrooms, Friday-counters, Saturday-clutter... wait.  Clutter?  Shoot, I think I need to revise that.  You see, I have these two little people who live with me.  I have tubs for their toys, an entire play room, but toys somehow end up everywhere in the house.  Everywhere.  No place is off limits to them. Not even (dare I admit this?) the toilet.  *gross.*  I just gave myself the chills.  I will literally pick up a toy and put it in the toy bin just to have Jack take it out as soon as I turn my back.  Along with two more toys.  This is a photo I took when he was about 11 months old. It's titled "One Baby, Ten Minutes."  Completely true.

The other day, I sat down with my four year old, Lilly to help her clean her room.  "I like it messy," She told me.  "It makes me happy." So I came back with, "but my dear, it doesn't make ME happy.  It makes me sad.  And the Toy Fairy will come and take your toys if you don't clean up." (the Toy Fairy will be explained in my next blog post...)
"But mommy," she replies, "I want to share my toys with her."  Awesome.  No need to clean the clutter! 

That is mint.
-more minty freshness: here's a quick photography tip- keep your camera close to you all the time. Capture messes that your family makes!  These photos will always tell their own story, and will make you laugh one day!  Maybe one day far, far into the future... but still. :)
xo,
Kristen