A Sneak Peek at My New Book: My Prudent Advice

Eeek! Advance copies of my new book just arrived. I’m so excited to hold it in my hand and share it with you. Inspired by my first book, Prudent Advice: Lessons for My Baby Daughter (A Life List for Every Woman) this is a guided journal in which you will write your own list of Prudent Advice for your daughter.

The book is beautifully hardbound in linen, with a ribbon marker, and pretty shades of my current favorite color, coral. Inside you’ll find some new prudent advice, but the bulk of the book is for you to write. There are suggestions and thought-starters to help you create a treasure for your daughter. When you are ready to give it to her, the traditional-book-stuff on the front and back cover peels right off, to make a truly special gift she will cherish forever.

Because I created this journal for you to write your own book as a unique gift to your daughter, I did not include the kind of dedication or acknowledgements an author traditionally would. This is your book to dedicate to whomever you please. But, of course, there are some inspiring women I would like to thank for helping bring this project to life, and a few special girls I want to honor. So if you will indulge me for a moment, I would like to include what would have been my dedication and express my gratitude here…

For Scarlet, Joleen, Niko, Clare, Quinn, Madison, and Sylvie:

A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.
-John A. Shedd

Acknowledgements
My daughter, Scarlet, you are the window through which I am finally able to see the beauty everywhere. Joleen, Niko, Clare, Quinn, Madison, and Sylvie, I see you (and your mothers) as droplets of fresh water, splashing new hope onto the plainest of hearts. Take everything we say with a grain of salt, then chart your own course on that buoyant sea. To my agent Alison Fargis, editors Kate Woodrow and Lisa Tauber, and business partner and dearest friend, Jacinda: I wish I had known you as girls. To my sister, Jennifer: I did know you as a girl, and despite all evidence to the contrary, I feel privileged. You are the heart of our family. To my youngest sister, Rachel: You are destined for greatness, this I know. To my mother: Thank you.

This journal will be in stores in September, and is available for pre-order on Amazon now. I hope you like it! My Prudent Advice: Lessons for My Daughter.

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Fill Your Heart in Jordan

Scarlet, Carleton, and I recently had the pleasure of touring the beautiful country of Jordan. From wandering the green north of Jerash, to luxuriating at the Dead Sea, to unplugging in the quiet desert, to exploring the wonders of Petra, to relaxing at the balmy red sea of Aqaba – we had the experience of a lifetime. The most overwhelming feeling we came away with was a sense of welcome: This country adores children and truly made our family feel at home. Come along with us as we discover the top 15 things for families to do in Jordan. What do you think? Will you add Jordan to your list?

A big thank you to the Jordan Tourism Board (also on Twitter) and our tour guide Ibrahim Semrin. I’ll share more details, specifics, & suggestions for visiting Jordan in upcoming posts, so ask questions in the comments and I’ll answer them soon. Happy travels!

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Friday I’m in Love

Random blog we are crushing on: Sweet Verbena
This Texas co-ed combines on-trend youthful style with easy-to-understand sewing tutorials.

Project we wish we had posted: Piñata Cookies
Sure they were genius but it was the Gawker mention that pushed our fan-girl envy over the edge.

Funny thing my kid said:
Clare: “You can’t get by without the password”
Quinn: “The password is (voice deepens to a growl)… Get. Out. My. Way. Tister.”

Favorite reader comment: on Jaime’s FB pic from her last night in Jordan*
Amnah said “Never in all of my life would I have thought I’d read the word “mansaf” on prudent baby. Awesome. Or actually, sahtein!!”
I’ve been fascinated by Jaime’s Jordanian adventure and can’t wait for her to share more from her trip.

New fabric on my wish list: This Dear Stella, Maasai Mara, Fair Isle Charcoal from Fabricworm* needs to come home with me and be my lover.

Place I wish we were headed this weekend: Norwegian Cruise Line Canada & New England Cruise*
I’d cruise up the coast from NYC surprising my sister in Newport, grabbing lobster in Bar Harbor and dropping in on my dad in Halifax. In reality you will find me at the Etsy Spring Bash in Dallas.

Cause that caught our attention: Warrior Princess. We have been watching our personal friend, little Meera, battle to recover from surgery to remove a cancerous brain tumor. Learn more about Meera and how you can help here.

This thing that I acquired and utterly adore: The pretty little pink Brother* PE500 Embroidery-Only Machine was just dropped on my doorstep. We have great things planned with this little beauty. Oh yes.

Know a blog we would definitely fall in love with? A project you really want to guest post? A product you simply must tell us about? Send it over to submissions(at)prudentbaby(dot)com

*Prudent Baby Sponsor

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Convertible Zipper Dress-Up Headband

When we were brainstorming projects for Zipper Week: Sponsored by Zipit Zippers, Jaime had this great idea for a dress-up headband for which you could interchange accessories in a zip. Since she was globe-trotting, I stole the idea and ran with it. It’s already a big hit around here, especially with this little girl…

And with a quick zip she is transformed into her favorite princess, Rapunzel.

Zipper Week sponsored by Zipit ZippersDo little girls still wear veils for First Communion? I love that you can remove the veil and still have a fancy headband to wear about town. Not that we wouldn’t wear a floor-length veil about town, because we totally would. (more…)

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How to Make Sangria – The Easy Way

I am no wine snob, I can barely tell red from white. I’ll drink pretty much anything you put in front of me. But I have to admit that I can’t stand the taste of Two Buck Chuck (is it just me?). I recently had a party where a bunch of two buck chuck ended up at my house, and I couldn’t let wine go to waste (the horror!). What do you do when you have lots of red wine and the sun is shining bright? Make sangria! You can find a million recipes online, but they always seem rather complicated and fancy. I just want to tell you the basic outline for how to make sangria, then you can whip it up at the last minute from whatever wine and fruit you have lying around. I never follow a real recipe and everyone always enjoys it. We literally have a pitcher of it in the fridge all summer long.

Now that is what I call “naptime.” HA! Learn how to make sangria the easy way…
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Link Love – Zipper Week Style!

Can you believe that it’s Friday already? Don’t start shedding tears over the end of Zipper Week so soon…because there’s more! Yup, we had such a blast this week with zipper mania that we have decided to extend it for a couple of more days next week, thanks to our lovely sponsor Zipit Zippers for joining in on the fun.

Keep your hands busy this weekend with zipper projects like this Easy Peasy Zipper Pouch from the Zip It Zippers blog.

While you are on there make sure to download Ms. Lipsie the Pocket Girl tutorial. I think I want to make one resembling each member of my family.

Now that you know all about sewing zipper pockets put your skills to the test with this bomber jacket.

Want a project that you can get done in less than 10 min? Zipper flowers make for pretty accessories to add to clothes, purses and hair.

These macaroon coin purses are definitely on my to-do list and these zipper ruffle ballet flats are a summer must-have/make.

Use your scrap fabrics to sew up a fun patchwork wristlet with zipper.

Surprise the kiddos with an adorable and durable pencil pouch that will last them for years to come.

Need some zippers to get started? Check out our intro to zippers post and stop by Zipit Zippers to see their wide selection of zippers at great prices.

We are big fans of giveaways here. Find out how to enter for the chance to win $50 Gift Certificate to Zipit Zippers and/or a Silhouette Cameo Digital Cutting Tool.

While Zipper Week has been in full bloom here on Prudent Baby we’ve been babbling on about 5 Inexpensive Options for Summertime Outdoor Lighting and 25 DIY Essentials for the Great Outdoors.

Best parts of this week overall…

Quinn turned 3!

And the many surprise updates Jaime has been posting on our Facebook while on her family trip to Jordan. Wish I could be there with you!

What was your week like? Crazy and fun or mellow and relaxing? We want to hear all about it.

Zipper Week – Sponsored by Zipit Zippers.

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Zipper & Bow Clutch


Zipper Week sponsored by Zipit Zippers
Since we’ve had a blast perfecting the art of the zipper we wanted to take a gander out there and see who else was brave enough to tackle the zipper. Whitney, from Elm Street Life, had a bunch of adorable tutorials like making a pillow out of a placemat, a cute and girly heating pad and adorable ruffle kitchen towels and then we spotted it, this adorable bow clutch complete with a zipper. What perfect timing with Mother’s Day right around the corner.

What do you say? Let’s get started…

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