A Day in the Life with Liz from Linda & Harriett

I’ve asked some of my favorite creative mamas to help out while I’m away with our new baby. Today we get a look behind the scenes at a day in the life of one of my favorite stationers – and mama of two – Liz from Linda & Harriett! –Nole

Liz Libre Artist and Founder of Linda and Harriett

Photo by Kristin Gladney

6:15 am
Wake up to take our dog for a run in the park. I hear Griffin singing to himself in his room, so I go in & ask him if he wants to watch Arthur while I go for my run. Of course he says yes! This way, he won’t wake up my husband John for at least another 28 minutes, and won’t be too bummed (at all, really) that I’m leaving. He still asks for a kiss & a hug – and lately has been pretty fierce with both which makes my heart swell.

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7:30 am
Back from my run and find John, Griffin and Louise all eating breakfast. Get ready for the day. For some reason, the morning is the one time of day where it doesn’t even occur to me to look at email, texts or Instagram. The rest of day, not so much.

9 am
Griffin’s preschool hasn’t started yet, so I leave for work a bit later, once our beloved nanny arrives. Always with an iced coffee in tow. It’s supposed to be 90 degrees today!

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9:30 am
At the studio and write seven cards to go with the seven care packages I’m mailing to Sweden today – to thank John’s aunts and cousins for hosting us for a week this summer. I’m sending them all the L&H Seasonal Card Box Set, one of my favorite gifts to give. John’s aunt & uncle who hosted us the whole time (and even gave us their bed!) is also getting two mugs & kitchen towels from More & Co., my favorite online shop for buying gifts.

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10 am
My assistant Sarah is busy fulfilling orders. We have our big 25% off sale this week, so it’s busy around here. Our USPS guy is on vacation and we’re trying to figure out how to get these out, since scheduling a pickup doesn’t seem to be working. Our building neighbor, Tattly, nicely offers to send their USPS woman up to us. And it works! Phew!

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10:15 am
Call with Dara from Simply Framed, the online frame shop we’ve partnered with for our new prints. They do such a fantastic job & I’m thrilled to be working with them to offer my customers high quality framing. Dara is working on a project and has asked me to get involved. I love her energy and am fueled by it.

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11:15 am
Emailing a lot! We’re trying to find a new studio space because our current building in Dumbo isn’t renewing leases. I’ve been looking for four months and finally found the right one. So I’m going back and forth a lot right now with the sales rep as well as my husband – who, thankfully, is way more real estate savvy than I am (and also thankfully has a ton of patience for me being way less savvy). Fingers crossed it works out!

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12:00 pm
A text comes through from Molly at Chairloom. It’s a photo of a love seat she’s just reupholstered in the custom textile design I did for her – an Alexander Calder inspired Philadelphia print. A pretty thrilling moment to see it come to life! I text her back immediately with lots of high five and praise emojis, and then secretly send it to a few family and friends who I know will appreciate it. I share it with my assistant Sarah. We’re both excited.

12:15 pm
Lunch at my desk. Open faced sandwich: (always open face – which to me feels like I get two sandwiches!) sourdough with avocado, sea salt and cheddar. It’s easy & never fails to the spot. Siggis yogurt. Seltzer. This is the one time during the day at the studio where I check my favorite sites, like Oh So Beautiful Paper 🙂 or Cup of Jo or NY Magazine. Because I like to be home with my kids in the morning and evening, my time at the studio is limited, so I try to stay focused on work while I’m there.

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12:45 pm
Finally sit down with my brush, ink & lots of paper — my staples. I have been silently working on a big project that will debut next year, and I am trying to develop as much work as possible for upcoming meetings with my partner. I did some drawings today that made my heart race (like literally beat faster – no joke) which is always a good sign and motivates me to keep at it.

4:15 pm
Leave studio early to take Griffin on a play date. School hasn’t started yet, and it’s not often that he & I have one on one time anymore, so I jump at the chance when my friend asks if we want to come over. She whips up a batch of kale chips while our kids build garages out of magna tiles and throw airplanes around the room. On the way home, I feel grateful for the flexibility to do this this afternoon.

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6:30 pm
Return home to hear hip hop blaring from the bathroom where John is giving Louise a bath. This is a common bath time ritual for John. He loves all kinds of music and plays it during bath time on a portable speaker, so it can get pretty loud. Because of these bath time sing-a-longs, Griffin can now accurately identify images of Bob Marley and Toots & the Maytals.

7:30 pm
Our kids are generally pretty good at going to bed, which allows us some nice down time. Tonight, we order in Indian food, which despite the 85 degree heat, we’re both craving and haven’t had in months. While we wait for it, we clean up a bit and then hop on our laptops. I see an email from the sales office of the new studio to say that our application has been approved – hooray! One step closer to a new space.

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8:30 pm
I shamelessly find watching tv to be a great way to wind down, (maybe with a glass of wine too!) but we have been in a funk lately. Orange is the New Black, House of Cards – we need to get on it! John suffers through a DVR’d episode of the RHONY Reunion show with me, which is pretty bad, but pretty good. But pretty bad. Buuuut, pretty good. I take this welcomed brainless time to look over our calendar for the fall and put some deadlines in place for work. I can’t function without a deadline on the Google Calendar. I also place an order with soap.com — my go-to source for all our baby & household needs. I even buy my fancy mascara through them! I don’t know what I would do without online shopping. It’s pretty much this working mom’s dream come true.

10 pm
I love reading magazines through Next Issue on my iPad every night before bed. Tonight I read the Obsession with Foxcatcher in New York Magazine, and it has me excited to see the movie – which takes place near where I grew up.

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10:45 pm
Reading before bed always makes me so sleepy. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Thanks for having me, Nole!

Top Photo by Kristin Gladney; all others by Liz Libré of Linda & Harriett

Barrel Aged Martini

As we’re still in the process of figuring out how to handle a toddler and an infant at the same time, and don’t have a lot of spare time, here’s something I’m grateful for: a barrel-aged cocktail. Measured out weeks ago, I really don’t have to do any work to get one ready today, and that lack of work can mean the difference between having a drink and not having a drink when you’re busy. This time we’re playing around with aging a Martini, a drink that’s not normally supposed to be so brown but wears it well all the same. – Andrew

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Illustration by Shauna Lynn for Oh So Beautiful Paper

Barrel-Aged Martini

9 oz Dry Gin
9 oz Dry Vermouth
12 Dashes Citrus Bitters

Combine the gin and vermouth with some charred wooden staves (like these from Tuthilltown Spirits). Or, if you’re feeling fancy, you can try a wooden barrel or cask, soaked in water beforehand or else your spirits will leak out everywhere. Let it sit for a long while – two weeks to one month if you can stand it. When ready to serve, measure out three ounces, stir with ice, and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. (This recipe will give you six servings.) Garnish with a lemon twist and enjoy!

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This is a fun recipe to showcase the barrel aging process, tasting as you go to see how the wood changes the characteristics of the cocktail. Some drinks, like the Manhattan, take to barrel aging with ease. But the Martini starts out the aging process with lots of acrid, bitter notes and is pretty undrinkable after a week. But let it sit for longer – two weeks, or four, or more – and you’ll start to see the drink mellow out, the acrid notes replaced by a deep woodsy finish. It’s still recognizable as a Martini, with the gin and vermouth’s botanical notes, but with a toasty, oaky character and brown color that make it feel like an entirely new animal.

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So the downside of barrel aging is that you have to wait a long time before you can enjoy your drink. The upside, on the other hand, if you can wait that long, is an unusual and delicious drink ready to pour when you really need one. Barrel-aging cocktails can be fun gifts to give to friends, but setting one up to age is a lot like giving a gift to future you.

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So go do your future self a favor and start aging now!

Photo Credits: Nole Garey for Oh So Beautiful Paper

Guest Post: Erin Austen Abbott of Amelia + Pen Pals!

I’ve asked some of my favorite creative mamas to help out while I’m away with our new baby. Today, the wonderful Erin Austen Abbott from one of my most favorite shops – Amelia – is sharing a favorite tradition with her son Tom Otis: pen pals! Thanks Erin! –Nole

As a child, I wrote a lot of letters. I wrote to my grandparents weekly, to friends and family while I was aways at summer camp, to aunts, uncles, my brother at college. I wrote letters of thanks, sorry, and the general hellos. I also had a few pen pals from around the world. We wrote about different home life, what school was like and the types of foods that we loved. I was in the 3rd grade and a West African councilor from my summer camp had his students writing to a few of us campers. I remember it being so fun for me, to see the stamps that my pen pal used, loving the look of the airmail envelope and just the general excitement of being eight and getting mail. (It’s only natural that I went on to open a store that carries so much stationery). –Erin

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While letter writing is a lost art for some in the modern day world of computers and smart phones, it’s something I want to make sure my son, Tom Otis, is given the chance to experience. We’ve started writing to friends’ children in other states and countries. We have a list of friends that we plan to surprise with a letter, most with children around the same age as him. Tom is two, so while he can’t write yet, he draws a picture and loves pressing the stamp into place. We head to the post office and he loves watching it disappear into the slot.

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This is something that I hope we can keep up for a long time with our friends and that it does foster a love of writing for a lifetime in him.

Farm Fresh Birthday Party

Hi guys! It’s been so fun guest blogging over here this week! I am beyond excited for Nole and Andrew and cannot wait to meet their newest little cutie pie! For my last and final Urbanic guest post, I’ll be sharing yet another birthday party we hosted, but this time for my younger son Ian who said he wanted his party to be “like a farm.”

Farm Theme Kids Birthday Party by Urbanic via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Since Ian has an October birthday, the weather this time of year made the perfect canvas to serve yummy farm fresh foods. We had fried chicken, mac and cheese, buttermilk biscuits and a cranberry pecan salad. We also had the popcorn machine popping and some jars of red licorice around for the adults. We sourced a few giant hay stacks at a local feed ranch and decorated the yard to compliment them with blue gingham linenes, fall flowers and little plastic farm animals. We made tiny hats for the animals and placed them around the party, amd on the food tables to accent the arrangements.

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We were so blessed that a  good friend of ours made the adorable ‘pin the tail on the donkey’ game just for Ian! It worked perfectly when we put it into an old frame. We had a bandanna print hair-band which made it easy for kids to slide it off and on for their turn. After the party was over, each of the little ones took home a farm animal favor bag that we crafted out of brown paper bags and construction paper.  It was a perfect day on the birthday farm!

Thanks everyone, I’ll be back again soon.

– Audrey

 

Guest Post: Good on Paper

I’ve asked some of my favorite creative mamas to help out while I’m away with our new baby. Today, one of my favorite stationers – and mama of two boys! – Lisa from Good on Paper is sharing some thoughts about motherhood! –Nole

Hi guys! While Nole is out on maternity leave, she asked me to share something I love or found surprising about motherhood. Since Nole is soon to be a mother of two, I thought I would share a few stories and tips about being “Mama” to my two boys, (Lucas, 4, and Theo, 2), and in particular, preparing the older sibling for the newest member of the family. – Lisa from Good on Paper

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One thing that surprised me about motherhood was how much emotional energy is involved (in addition to the physical demands of chasing two boys around). From the fun and silly moments to the complete meltdowns for no apparent reason, motherhood has been rewarding, but exhausting. There are so many good days and a fair number of not-so-good, but I try to remember that the difficult phases will pass. Rather than focus on the negative, I’ve found that the important thing is to cherish every moment, take lots of pictures, and write down all those delightful toddler phrases and “preschooler-isms” for posterity. (Lucas recently observed, after sending a Hot Wheel car off a ramp, “Whoa! That one was extra does it!”)

A few things that worked for us to prepare Lucas for Baby Theo:

1. Refer to the baby-to-be as “your baby brother/sister,” rather than “my baby” or “our (the parents’) baby.” This seemed to resonate with Lucas, and he felt very special and proud to be such an important figure  in Theo’s life.

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2. Invest in some “older sibling primer” books.  I bought three books for Lucas about being a big brother, and his favorite by far was “I’m a New Big Brother” by Nora Gaydos.  The illustrations in particular seemed to help him understand what to expect from his new baby brother, and how he could help Mama and Daddy out in this new family adventure.

3. Get a “trainer baby.”  I bought Lucas this adorable baby brother doll that (as far as we knew) might resemble the real baby Theo. Lucas carried him around gently (only occasionally tossing him across the floor), and always referred to him as “baby brother.”

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4.     Buy the older kid a “birth-day” present.  At the hospital, we made it a point to get a gift for Lucas that was “from his baby brother.” We got him a new backpack, a book, and a toy fire engine. To this day, he remembers that Theo gave him those things.

Now that Theo has been around for a couple of years, I’ve also learned a few things that have helped our boys start their lifelong friendship on a positive note. So far so good.

1. Make the older kid feel extra special. We give lots of praise to Lucas for being a great helper, a kind and sweet big brother, and a teacher to his little brother. Theo copies everything Lucas does. And I mean everything, both good and bad. Lucas hides in the laundry hamper; Theo does, too. Lucas takes off his shirt; Theo does, too. Lucas holds hands; Theo does, too. Lucas throws sand; Theo does, too. We are always telling Lucas how much Theo loves him, appreciates him, and wants to do everything just like him. I think, for the most part, this builds Lucas’ self-esteem and encourages more good behavior than bad. Lucas always wants to hold his brother’s hand and take care of him when we leave the house, which has been incredibly sweet to watch.

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2. Make one-on-one time with each kid. My husband Nick and I like to use the “divide and conquer” parenting tactic on a regular basis. We do a lot of things as a family, but we also find that taking one-on-one adventures is rewarding in its own way. I’ll take Lucas to swim lessons, breakfast, play dates, etc., while Nick stays home with Theo during his nap (aka “nap jail”), then takes him to the park or on a hike. I realized just how much these one-on-one dates mean to Lucas when he said in the car one day, “Mama, I really like it when we do things just me and you. No one else. Just me and you.”

3. Reward good behavior. Whenever I see the boys playing nicely together, I make sure to give them lots of praise. One of the best toddler books I’ve read is “The Happiest Toddler on the Block” by Harvey Karp, M.D. The methods in this book worked well with both kids, and it has been a life saver. One little trick I’ve  learned is “gossiping,” i.e. praising a child’s behavior to a third party, within earshot of the child, but pretending you don’t want the child to hear. It’s a fun little game, and it seems to make the praise more effective. For example, I’ll say to my husband (in an audible whisper):  “Hey Nick, look how sweet Lucas is, holding Theo’s hand and making sure he gets down the stairs safely. I love that!” Or, “Hey Nick, I loved seeing Lucas and Theo taking turns with their toys today. It made me feel so happy.” Or, “Did you see how Theo gave Lucas his car when he was done with it? He probably learned that from Lucas!”

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It’s been such a treat for me to watch my two boys interact and grow together.  Of course, they don’t always agree on things (especially whose turn it is with the cool new toy), but I love how proud Lucas is of his baby brother; how he always says Theo is the cutest baby brother in the whole world;  how he introduces all of his friends to his baby brother;  how he holds his hand, kisses him, and pats his head; and how he teaches him to say new words (good, bad, and invented).  I honestly didn’t know what to expect when Theo was born, but I couldn’t be happier about the great big brother Lucas has become.