Last Saturday, we attended a local Chinese New Year celebration at Austin’s Chinatown Center, and had a wonderful time. Rhys is still enamored with dragons, and we thought he would enjoy seeing them dance in person. We talked about going for a few weeks before the event, and even read a story about the dancing dragons in High Five Magazine, but I forgot to prepare him for the fireworks.
They were really, really loud, and I spent most of my time trying to get Rhys away from the noise, while Ryan and James enjoyed being in the thick of things. Still, it was amazing to take part in such a significant holiday, and I think the boys will love it even more as they get older. Here are some pictures from our day.
(A dragon dancing in the crowd. It was such a beautiful day.)
(The celebration drew a large crowd, but it was very family-friendly.)
(The dragon dances were performed in front of every shop in the center.)
(Rhys trying to be brave. All of the small children there looked like this.)
(Austin Fire Department was on hand with a truck, and the boys were so excited.)
(James enjoying the view from the truck.)
(A shop owner setting up fireworks.)
(A tiny souvenir from the celebration.)
We had a blast, quite literally, celebrating the Chinese New Year, and I can’t wait to take the boys again next year! You can see more photos from our local event here.
When I was pregnant with James, Ryan discovered the work of artist Susie Ghahremani, and we both quickly became loyal fans. I was immediately drawn to Ghahremani’s whimsical prints, which are perfectly suited for a child’s nursery, but also portray an edgier quality, too, that appeals to adults. We own several pieces from boygirlparty, Ghahremani’s site that showcases her artwork and other creations, and our boys love the sweet animals that watch over them while they are sleeping.
Undersea #1, pictured above, is a family favorite of ours. I bought the print for James’ room before he was born, and also purchased a t-shirt in a similar print for Ryan, who wore it for the births of both boys. When Rhys came along, we added Undersea #2 to our collection, as we completed our little family.
I especially adore the sense of family and togetherness evident within Ghahremani’s work, and the two prints above also hang in the boys’ rooms.
Susie Ghahremani is also a sought-after illustrator, and her newest children’s book, What Will Hatch? by Jennifer Ward, was recently released. I ordered a copy to share with James and Rhys, and they love the wonderful, lifelike illustrations featuring oviparous animals, which hatch from eggs. Take a look at these beautiful pictures, graciously provided by Susie.
(What Will Hatch?, illustrated by Susie Ghahremani.)
(Details from What Will Hatch?, illustrated by Susie Ghahremani.)
(From What Will Hatch?, illustrated by Susie Ghahremani.)
(A page from What Will Hatch?, illustrated by Susie Ghahremani.)
What Will Hatch? is wonderfully written in a simple way for the youngest children to understand, and each page features various egg-size holes for little ones to touch as they learn about different creatures, from crocodiles to penguins, who hatch from eggs. It’s such a lovely book and is fun to read aloud, too.
I love Susie Ghahremani’s beautiful illustrations, and I hope you’ll check out her work at her website, which features an entire line of products inspired by her art, including jewelry, notepads, and magnets, as well as prints and original pieces available for purchase.
(All images copyright Susie Ghahremani and used with permission from the artist.)
Last Monday, Shayla and I began our collaboration, which we plan to continue weekly as we discuss the subject of blogging. I hope you enjoyed our first conversation! It’s a great way to start the week.
Today’s question is: What Keeps You Blogging?
Last week, I mentioned that I now think of blogging as a job, albeit a really fun and rewarding one, so I try to stick to a regular posting schedule and write as much as I can when I have free time. Since my boys are so young, free time is a luxury, and I look forward to the quiet evening hours when I can write a post or two.
Blogging really is my creative outlet, but I consider it more than a hobby, and I’m constantly on the lookout for new blog posts. I guess my blog qualifies as a “lifestyle” blog, but since my life is pretty quiet, I try to find interesting things around me, in the places I go, and in things I see on a daily basis. I love beauty products and clothing, and it’s fun to share those things with my readers, especially because I haven’t found many people in real life who like to discuss those topics all the time, besides my mom and my sisters. And where else can I post a picture I took alongside a poem that touches me so much it makes me cry? My little guys aren’t interested in hearing my thoughts on Emily Dickinson or W.B. Yeats, and they might never be. But here, on my blog, I can share those things, and maybe someone else will enjoy them, too.
Blogging can be truly one-sided and a little self-involved, but I also think people read blogs to learn about the lives of others. At least, that’s why I do. One of the reasons I was drawn to Shayla’s blog in the first place was because her world is so completely different than my own, but she is so similar to me, too. I’ve formed some amazing friendships through blogging, and just recently, discovered that a fellow Blog Trends member lives in my little town! We are meeting for coffee soon, and it will be incredible to know someone In Real Life who really gets what I’m doing. Another blogger I know is planning a move to Austin, and we’ve been chatting for months about what she can expect when she gets here. And one day, I hope to meet Shayla in person, because I know we’ll have a lot to talk about!
I know the term inspire is thrown around a lot, especially on blogs, and I guess I just want to show people that you can find joy in the little things in life, like a potted plant on the porch, or a new lipstick, or a day trip to another town with a stop at the local Dairy Queen. I try to be open and honest, and sometimes I write about more serious subjects, but I hope that my blog is a quiet little space for people to stop by every now and then, or daily if you’re a loyal reader.
And I love getting comments (every blogger thrives on comments!), so please feel free to leave one and let me know what you think!
That’s what keeps me blogging, and I’d love to hear why you blog, or craft, or sew, or cook, or do what you do. And don’t forget to check out Shayla’s response on her lovely blog. We’ll be back next week with another blogging question.
