Last week Mama Surfs featured Cotton Candy created by my friend Christin for our handmade holiday feature. Christin spoke about how motherhood has taught her that life is more about the simple truths and this reminded me of a favorite book and kind of “BIble” by which hubby and I have poured over many many times searching for guidance, inspiration or just simply a truth of some sort.

The book, aptly named “Simple Truths” by Kent Nerburn is summed up as “clear and gentle guidance on the big issues in life” and does just that so poetically and gently that you find yourself reading passages over and over. Many of you may already be familiar with this book because it is one that we constantly are referring to friends and loved ones faced with difficult decisions or times in their lives. For me, this book has been a great comfort and reassurance in great times of need and I hope that many of you will pick it up next time you are at the book store, thumb through some pages and add it to your collection of can’t live withouts!

Since we are amidst the season of giving, I’d like to share with you one of my favorite passages from the book on the topic. Nerburn says:

” Many people tend to think of giving only in terms of grand gestures. They miss the simple openings of the heart that can be practiced anywhere with almost anyone. We can say hello to someone everybody ignores. We can offer to help a neighbor. We can buy a bouquet of flowers and take it to a nursing home, or spend an extra minute talking to someone who needs our time. We can take ten dollars out of our pockets and give it to someone on the street. No praise, no hushed tones of holy generosity. Just give, smile and walk away. If you perform these simple acts, little by little you will start to understand the miracle of giving. You will begin to see the unprotected human heart and the honest smiles of human happiness. You will start to feel what is common among us, not what separates and differentiates us. Before long you will discover that you have the power to create joy and happiness by your simplest gestures of caring and compassion. You will see that you have the power to unlock the goodness in other people’s hearts by sharing the goodness in yours. And, most of all, you will find the other givers. No matter where you live or where you travel, whether you speak the their language or know their names, you will know them by their small acts, and they will recognize you by yours. You will become a part of the community of humanity that trusts and shares and dares to reveal the softness of its hearts. Once you become a giver you will never be alone.”

Hoping this inspires you and brings about the true feeling of this season as it has in my heart! If you’re looking for a copy of this amazing book just follow this link.

So much to be thankful for this year and excited to share the day with friends that have grown into family. Wishing you and your loved ones a blessed day–Happy Thanksgiving!

My dear friend Christin is the magic behind today’s “Handmade Holiday” highlight Cotton Candy!

“Cotton Candy — Sweet treats to adorn your little ones, currently carries Sour Capes (capes) Sweet Peas (clips and headbands), Bottle caps (beanies), and Belly Beans (tutus). All made from fabric. The fabrics have been repurposed, collected over time, or recently purchased to create your perfect indulgence.”

Christin: Cotton Candy really began about a year ago when I wanted a simple yet chic headband to match my daughter’s Christmas dress. Since my mom is the most crafty and talented woman I know was making the dress I was sure to get scrap material from her. I had seen something I liked on a website and wanted to try it myself for a custom look. It was a success and a few prototypes later and several requests from friends and family I took the step to launch Cotton Candy late this summer. Having grown up in a crafty, improvising, embelleshing, and creating home I have found such joy in these venture. I love doing custom orders and some of those have become my favorite color combinations.

I am a working from home mom of a three year old boy Rylan, and a one and half year old girl Elle, with a baby due in March — and we are keeping this one a surprise.

Adorable babes showing off their Sweet Pea treats

Mama: As a mom of two with another on the way, how do you balance family and work?

Christin: I have an incredibly supportive husband who is a very involved dad who helps me find time on a regular basis. Because my babes are my priority I have given myself a work schedule. I work a few hours Mon, Wed, Fri and one weekend day. After working out a few kinks and getting a real process going, I have streamlined the work in a much more organized fashion than a few months ago. My kids, as little as they are, have an understanding that sometimes mama has to work and that as fun as all the fabrics, scissors, buttons, etc… are it is special for mama and now special daddy grommet time

Elle Models her Bottle Cap and shows off mama’s talent

Mama: How has motherhood changed you?

Christin: Gosh, where would I even begin. Better yet what hasn’t motherhood changed about me? Life has become about the simple truths and loves in my life to start. Days are long but the years are short. Sleep, eating out, nice clothes, the number on the scale, down time, and holidays, are just a few of the things that have a completely different meaning. I guess more than anything I have learned what an incredible privilege I have been given. There is nothing that stirs my soul more than watching my child learn and love.

Mama: What has the creation of Cotton Candy meant for you?

Christin: Cotton Candy has brought back a feeling of accomplishment at the end of the day that had very much taken a back seat for the last few years. Rightfully so, there are days that getting laundry and dishes done, and a shower all in one day feels like an accomplishment, but being able to create something I would want and having it purchased by someone feels rewarding. I am happy to contribute to the well being of the family I cherish so much. I am able to used the beautiful part of my brain that delights in color, texture, “pretty” things.

Sour Capes and Belly Beans

Mama: How does such a busy mama unwind?

Christin: Honestly, my work time is usually when I relax, or a rare date with my husband. Family time outside on our “adventure dates” is always renewing for all four of us.

Mama: Married to a surfer husband and living close to the beach, how does your family see the beach lifestyle work it’s way into your home?

Christin: Besides the fact that my son is completely obsessed with the beach, literally we have to call it the “B” or it will be mandatory we head out, we try to take advantage of the coastal lifestyle whenever possible. I have always lived on some body of water from the central coast of California, to the northcoast of Humboldt Bay area of California, and the peninsula of Puget Sound in Washington, so much of my life is oriented by where the water is and how often we can get there. A simple casual feel, like a seaside cottage is our escape, aka our master bedroom. Our cars always have sand in them and beach toys and towels within reach for frequent jaunts over to the coast.

Mama: Hopes and plans for Cotton Candy in the future?

Christin: As I said before my mom is the ultimate seamstress, crafter, creator, you name, so… my long term hope is to join her and launch many more products down the road. She and I designed and made the bedding for each of my kids and so many other projects in the last 20 years, that I am confidant that if time and location allow we could develop a great business. The next year for Cotton Candy will be a whole new adventure adding a new little babe in March. I did just get a new sewing machine for my birthday so I am thrilled to complete more projects with little to no frustration

Mama: Favorite holiday traditions you look forward to most?

Christin: Funny I was just talking about this. Having a December birthday I am one who is in the love with the fall and winter. I can’t think of any real Thanksgiving traditions but we have started a couple Christmas traditions in our family of four. I’d have to say two of our holiday traditions that I look forward to the most are Christmas eve and Christmas day. Christmas eve after naps we talk a walk late afternoon, come home and open one present, make homemade pizza and watch a Christmas movie, then play Santa when the kids have gone to bed. Christmas morning we open gifts with some type of sweet goodness for breakfast then load up and go hike as far as the kids allow up “Madonna” Mountain in San Luis Obispo. Before we head home we pick up the BEST veggie burritos from Taco De Mexico. Clearly, food plays a big role. Of course we have our traditional meal on Christmas night, but the rest of our families traditions started before we were parents. We have really enjoyed sharing these things with our mini me’s and hope to continue them as long as possible.

Cotton Candy’s sweet treats can be found by clicking here. Christin loves custom orders and these are the perfect treat for the little ones in your life (a portion of all sales are donated to The Children’s Cancer Research Fund). I’ve personally ordered one of the Sweet Pea clips as a gift for a friend expecting a little girl and am dying for my little one to be decked out in a Sour Cape! I also love that these treats are not just for the wee ones, sweet peas can double as a brooch or decoration on purses, lapels, or anywhere that needs a little sweetening up.

Thanks again Chris for participating in our handmade holiday and for being such an inspiring mama/crafter and incredible friend! XOXO

One drawer at a time, one room at a time, progress is being made. Each item crossed off the “To-Do” list brings us one step closer to being prepared for our little ones arrival.

Truth is, I think in reality crossing items off our list isn’t really going to “prepare” us for anything. It just means we’ll have a better organized and functional house. As I grow anxious looking at all there is to be done, I’m trying to remind myself that really all that needs to be done is already complete.

This little boy has two parents who are so completely, helplessly, madly in love with him and we haven’t even seen his face. Parents who have loved one another since the day they met, have grown to be individuals that falter and stumble but always help one another up. Parents who were raised to truly value the idea of marriage, of family, of friendship. All the moments and decisions of our lives have brought us to this place and really we are as prepared as we’ll ever be, that’s why we chose now as the time to start our family.

There might be a whole lot of things “to do” but I think the most important of them all is to slow down, enjoy this time together, treasure our final weeks as a family of two and know that we’ve set up a pretty good foundation for this little one to be loved and grow upon.

Papa sets up Harper’s crib and takes us back about 28 years

I’ve been feeling more and more like a giant whale lately and so it was a great inspiration and laugh to find these Orcas in New Zealand enjoying the surf! The article found on yahoo.com jokes that these killer whales, “positioned themselves prominently and made it clear they were the real experts — and that no mere human on a surfboard was going to deny them whatever waves they wanted.”

If they can do it, so can I!

I am so excited to share Hazelnut Cottage with you today, the first feature of our “Handmade Holiday” highlights! In the owner Jan’s words:

“There is a little cottage near the seashore, painted white, with sandswept grasses and puddle glass in the window panes. A sturdy picket fence encircles the house, and on the lawn, children play. Their sweet laugher lingers in the damp, salty hair. This is my home…and yours while you visit here at Hazelnut Cottage.

Hazelnut Cottage has gone through many permutations over the years: graphic design, bookbinding, dried flowers, soap making and even potted plants (really)! The version of Hazelnut Cottage that now exists came into being when my second child was a newborn baby. I stumbled upon Etsy and found my calling and my tribe. I had been making jewelry off and on for the last dozen years or so, but Etsy made me realize that living the indie life was indeed possible. Today, Hazelnut Cottage offers a meaningful line of hand stamped sterling silver jewelry. But my artistic yearnings don’t stop there. In the near future, I hope to offer my original paintings, mixed collage and encaustic works! Stay tuned…”

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Mama: Tell us a little about Hazelnut Cottage began?

Jan: Hah, would you like the long or short version?! Okay, here we go… I have both a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in graphic design and a Master’s of Education in Teaching. I spent my first five years or so out of college as a graphic designer and freelancer. Then, seeking a “job” that would heal the ache I was feeling inside, I turned to teaching — a noble, people-helping profession if ever there was one. Of course, misery ensued until I began to listen to my angst.

When my littlest one was born, I would search the net night after night, quite desperate to find creative work to do from home. I stumbled upon Etsy and with my second child just 3 months old, I decided to open up shop!

That said, I have spent most of my adult life figuring out that I really do want to be an artist. Motherhood and lots of “inner work” seeking God’s voice have helped the healing process along, though there is still so far for me to go.

Mama: One of my favorite pieces you have created is stamped with the words “Let love be a sea”. The meaning you have included is the quote, “Love one another but make not a bond of love: let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls” by Kahlil Gibran (one of my favorite philosophers), among poetry and philosophy, where else do you draw inspiration and how do you translate that into your craft?

Jan: I draw inspiration from the things that I love… my children, my God, the ocean, my husband, books I love, even thoughts from my journal. I have a love affair with words, oh, I do!

The wording for the “Let Love Be a Sea” piece came to me as a special request from a bride years ago… I reworked the design a bit and it’s been a favorite among my fellow water women!

Mama: In addition to jewelry making, you are also a mother of two. Tell us how motherhood has changed you as a person and your artwork?

Jan: Oh my. Life overall is just much more intense now that I have children. Until I actually became a mom, I never felt particularly maternal… my choice to have children was based on aging and it was like, “If we’re going to have children, it’s now or never!” Of course, they rocked my world completely and I found out that I had a mama bear inside me after all. Grrrrr! Needless to say, I am uber motivated to make this artist life work for me, as well as for my family. My children are the reason I turned back to art, my true love and calling; they gave me the courage and permission to pursue a life’s work that makes me happy. I owe that to them and to myself.

Mama: How do you feed both your passion to create and all those hungry mouths?

Jan: Oh, it hasn’t been easy. This indie art life has such financial ups and downs and a huge learning curve and truth is, I’m not the savviest business person… I struggle a lot with the idea of going back to a regular job, at least part-time in order to provide a more stable income on my end. Currently, I am in this weird transition in my artlife; I want to find a way to work on more mixed-media pieces, paintings other yummies and it’s really hard trying to do both my mixed-media work and run my jewelry line. I work an awful lot more than I like right now and am really working on figuring out what 2011 will look like for Hazelnut Cottage.

Mama: Besides creating, how do you unwind? Do you have a special place that brings you peace or comfort when you need to relax most?

Jan: Yes! The beach! We are always at the Makapu’u tidepools… I love to take the kiddies there. A bunch of my family live on the North Shore of Oahu, so we love packing up and heading out there when we can. The ocean on that side of the island is pristine and I love to go on long solitary walks and for late afternoon (shark eating time!) swims.

Mama: What special traditions do you look forward to most during the holiday season?

Jan: Definitely spending the holidays on the North Shore with my very large and loud family! The chaos, all the voices shouting over one another, the kids screaming and running around… and the laughter… that’s the best. At Christmas time, I love decorating our apartment and try to make it magical for the boys (and me)! We also spend every Christmas Eve at our church’s Christmas candelight service, and then we eat together afterwards and stay at church until very, very late. I love my church family so much.

Mama: I love your signature line, “hoping that what moves me stirs something in you too.” It seems like you put your heart, soul and positive energy into each piece that you create. What hopes do you have for your artwork once it has been purchased?

Jan: I hope that whoever the recipient is feels a connection to me, and maybe in some way feels a little less alone in this world. I hope that something I got to make with my hands brings encouragement and comfort and love to someone else. I hope I help to stir up someone’s passion in some small way and inspire or release them to live a truer, more joyful life.

Mama: I’ve searched through your Etsy store many, many times and fall in love with each piece I come across. How does anyone ever decide which piece to purchase? Between the messages, deeper meanings, handcrafted finish and details, there is something for everyone in your store. Do you have a favorite piece?

Jan: First of all, you are so sweet, I am going to have to print out these questions and post them on my inspiration board! Hamm… lessee… I think I like “You Grew in My Heart” as a sentimental favorite because so many moms have shared their hearts with me over this one… they often tell about the loss of a child or a miscarriage. The way these awesome women are able to survive such a loss I will hopefully never understand.

Mama: I imagine *and hope* that you are sporting some of your own designs. What will we find around your neck and what is it about that piece that is so dear to your heart?

Jan: I am actually wearing a double pendant necklace with my son’s names on it. It’s a new style, not yet in the shop. I often interchange what I wear, but I do like to have them close to my heart and my littlest one — whom I still carry sometimes — especially loves to see his name on my necklace.

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***Hazelnut Cottage is offering a special “Buy 1, get the 2nd (equal or lesser value) 50% off + free 1st class shipping through today 11/17/2010! Be sure to check out Hazelnut Cottage on Etsy, and keep up to date on all Hazelnut Cottage happenings at Jan’s blog. ***

If there is one thing that I keep hearing over and over regarding things that aid in a smoother labor, it is to stay active throughout your pregnancy. I’ve posted before about the challenges and excuses that sometimes win out on my “active” time but really it all boils down to finding something you love to do that can also be considered a bit of a workout. Obviously I LOVE to surf but I also LOVE to hike and this past weekend hubby and I ventured down a new path on an old favorite trail.

The Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail is what I would consider an easy hike. The trail is paved, slightly steep in some sections but the biggest challenge is how exposed the cliff is to the hot sun. The greatest things about this trail are the rewarding breezes that you get with each switchback exposed to the water, the phenomenal views of the East side of the island and during the right season WHALES! We’ve hiked this trail literally a bazillion times, we take almost all our friends and family up here and during whale season you can find me perched up on the pillars a few times a week.

Despite hearing rumors of a secret trail we’ve never ventured off the path until this past weekend. Hiking down a rocky cliff face was pretty interesting being almost 8 months pregnant and in a skirt but once we were just a few yards down we caught a glimpse of the paradise waiting for us below.

Tide pools, blowholes, beautiful surf crashing against the rough coastline, it was gorgeous and we made our way down towards this mecca in no time. We came across blowhole land mines, laughing our heads off and feeling refreshed by the chilled mist in the air. The sound that these blowholes make was SO eery, it literally sounded like the earth was breathing or there was a monster hiding in one of the sea caves! I’m glad we were here during mid- day because this place could easily go from paradise to feeling like a hell on Earth if you let your imagine get away from you. Hubby thinks it would make for a great full moon hike and some scary ghost stories!

The tide pools were out of this world with a bright blue, turquoise color and tropical fish darting in and out of the lava tubes. I braved the occasional surge that washed into these peaceful pools and found myself sitting in a live aquarium. The fish were so friendly and curious that they would come right up to me and swim between my legs and arms! And oh, how refreshing the water felt after such a hot and sweaty afternoon of hiking!

This Moment- A Friday ritual. A single photo- no words- capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor, and remember. If you’re inspired to do the same, leave a link to your ‘moment’ in the comments for all to find and see.