The Cherrios Monster

The Tea Party

Life at the Szem household over the past week had been dedicated to these beauties

Our coffee table is smeared with glue and bits of paper...our floor scattered with cuttings and confetti from a hole puncher.

I have been working like MAD on custom orders lately. Tea parties, giraffes, Yellow Submarine, green and black, mod monkey and custom thank-you cards!

I know alot of you out there are going to be planning 1st birthday parties very soon, so please please if you need anything at all, and if I can take some of the stress out of your planning i'd be happy to do so!

Check out Sweet Stella's on Etsy for all of the latest creations and collections!

Y3W: More Than 3 Words

I originally was going to post pictures of the custom orders I've been working on and give a coupon code for Etsy for followers who might want to order something for their kiddo's 1st bday party, but that all seems very trivial compared to what is going on in the world right now.

A massive Tsunami hit and wiped out Japan and Hawaii.

Right now, that Tsunami is headed toward Vancouver Island...which happens to be where a large part of my heart lives.

It's where my Fairy GodMother lives, and where we scattered my Dad's ashes nearly 5 years ago. I like to think that his spirit lives on there, on MacKenzie Beach and I'd really love to take Owen there. Plus, I've always had a very special connection to my Fairy GodMother and I would...well...I don't want to even fathom something bad happening to her. She's almost...a spiritual extension of my Dad. I can't lose that.

So today, I just ask that you pray. Pray for the people of Japan who have lost their lives, their homes...their everything. Pray for the people of the Pacific Rim that will be impacted by this devastating Tsunami, or have already been impacted by it. Pray for our friends and family that will certainly be impacted in some way from this.

Sweet Stella's: MOMpreneur Monday (and GIVEAWAY!): Lilybugs Clips ...

Sweet Stella's: MOMpreneur Monday (and GIVEAWAY!): Lilybugs Clips ...: "Good morning everyone! It's such a beautiful morning, and what better way to celebrate the emergence of Spring than with a lovely MOMpreneur..."

Y3W: Best...Idea...Ever

Seriously...I am the smartest Mom ever (not that I'm bias but whatever)

It occurred to me that my Monster gets rather antsy at lunch/dinnertime and that I needed to streamline the process of prepping his meal, having him play on the floor while doing so, then getting him into his booster seat, tray on, bib on, and ready to go.

I always, ALWAYS was forgetting his bibs upstairs.

Forget no more!

Yes...that's right...On top of our wine fridge are Owen's bibs. Actually...all of our lovely wine bar is Owen's toy central now. So sad.

But it's really handy. I had thought about moving his bibs to the kitchen and was looking for a spot in our cupboards for the tote. It wouldn't fit anywhere, so on top of the wine fridge it went. Now, everything is within reach, right when I need it and I don't have to worry about forgetting a bib mid-feed and having to run upstairs to grab one (they were previously in his room), and returning to a screaming baby who's having a fit without his food.

Best...Idea...Ever!

Mama Needs a New Bag

To all of you Mamas out there that are sick of boring old diaper bags...I need your help.

I need a change. While I love my Skip Hop Via Messenger bag, and think that it is practical and spacious and lovely....it's boring.

It's black with a silver interior. It has no real bells and whistles, though it does attach very nicely to both of our strollers.

But...it has no ruffles...and I LOVE ruffles!

So, Trendy Mamas, suggest your beautiful bags.

Here are the ones that I'm considering (and hinting at Owen to save his pennies for Mother's Day)

Timi and Leslie

Charlie II Convertible Diaper Bag in Tangerine






Marie Antoinette Diaper Bag in Silver




Marilyn II Diaper Bag in Raspberry


I LOVE THEM! I stumbled upon the Timi and Leslie bags on Amazon, and I am head over heels for them! (hint hint C...and Owen...) They are beautiful, and look just as spacious as my current bag...and they're more reminiscent of some of my beautiful purses that I am mourning the loss of...seeing as I carry my diaper bag everywhere, but never a purse unless C and I have a (rare) night out.

What bags do you love? Do you have one you want to replace? Do you have one currently that you just cannot do without? I'd love to hear your recommendations!

Some Updates

I am so sorry that we haven't been updating that much lately. Things are really hectic with me running Sweet Stella's and my Coordinator gig at Life With Baby is keeping me busy as well.

Not to mention that Owen is 8.5months old...rolling all over the place and trying to crawl.

I'm still training with Liz, my fabulous trainer, though my sessions are coming to a close and we'll hopefully be renewing in June so I can continue with her. I am very proud to say that I have lost 55lbs from my pre-pregnancy weight, and am the slimmest I have been in my adult life.

C is working like a madman and chasing Owen around the floor when he's home from work.

Life is certainly busy.

As I mentioned, Owen is trying to crawl. He can get his knees up under himself, and will push himself backward, then get very frustrated that he isn't going in the direction he wanted to. He'll try and pull himself to stand if we're sitting on the floor with him, and he's getting really strong.

His favourite toys right now are tupperware containers and lids, and his favourite lovie is his Elephant, that we've named Ringo. He LOVES music and will stop whatever he is doing if there is music on the television or computer.

That's my boy!