This past Saturday, we got to go to the annual Dream Halloween event for the Starlight Children’s Foundation and we all had a blast. It’s the ultimate Halloween party. Not all the girls’ costumes were completed, but that didn’t stop them from getting into character. Ben and I pulled a last minute costume together and were sort of “birds of a feather flock together” kind of thing. I used Brave’s swan lake head from her 5th birthday and Ben used my bird costume from last year (and I changed the color of the beak). And like last year, Glow garnered the most attention for her costume (last year she was rolling around as BB-8). It’s fun looking at the creativity people put into dressing up.

After we stuffed ourselves (the food was fantastic this year, better than last year’s), we headed to the Michaels‘ room. The girls were very eager to visit all the craft tables. They decorated frames, made masks, danced a little, took family photos, but I think they would all agree that the slime decorating table was their favorite. They could have spent the whole night there, but once they learned there was a Star Wars room, they wanted to head there too. C3PO was waiting to greet them there, and they each got their own lightsabers, then went on stage to have a lightsaber duel with each other. The night was filled with crafts and Star Wars, which is pretty much their dream combo, so you can imagine they came home very tired, but happy.

See last year’s party here.

There is such sadness and heaviness with all the news of sexual harassment/assault stories that have been coming out these past few weeks. As a mother of 4 girls, it reminds me to be especially vigilant, and teach my girls to do the same, but most importantly, I want them to learn to speak.

A week ago, I told Ben of one instance in my life when an older male made me feel uncomfortable. I was in 11 or 12, and older male in our church (I think he was either 19 or early 20s) came up from behind me when no one was around, and gave me a kiss on the cheek as I was cleaning a table. He just laughed as he walked away, and I was shocked, so I laughed it off too. I never told anyone because I just chalked it up to it being a joke, but it was kind of weird. I thought he was just trying to be annoying or something, and he very well may have been, but it certainly was not right. After I told Ben, he said that was not okay for him to do. I know that now and would be angry if someone did that to True, who is the same age I was when it happened, but at that time, I was unsure, so I just never told anyone (until a few days ago when I told Ben). Knowing what I know now, I should have just said something to my parents (I told them last week too for the first time).

We’ve always told our daughters, “If anything ever makes you feel uncomfortable, just tell us. We won’t get mad at you.” Also, another rule we have is there are no secrets allowed in our home. In case someone tries to disguise something harmful to them as a “secret” that should never be told to us, it’s our hope that would raise a red flag, make them feel uncomfortable, and tell us. If we are planning presents or doing something for someone we don’t want them to know (for birthday or some sort of gift), we call it a surprise, and never a secret. We want the channels between us and them to be as wide open as possible. Additionally, we never discount that something harmful can be done by someone close to us. We ask the girls all the time, about people close to us, and if “so and so” made them feel uncomfortable. Not that I have any concerns, but I do ask them, “Has Papi ever made you feel uncomfortable?” And Ben asks them about me too. Our hope and prayer  is that we foster a safe environment where they feel comfortable speaking about anything. Even if they’re unsure of something, we want them to speak.

We aren’t naive to the evils in this world and we want to equip our daughters as much as possible. One of the most powerful things they have is their voice, to use it with gospel intentionality and to speak up when needed.

Halloween is about a week away, are you ready for it?! Some last items to complete costumes just came in the mail today and the girls are excited about it.

We had a Halloween movie night with our neighbors on Friday, but it was much too dark to do any real party decorating. If it was earlier and brighter out, I would have made this jack-o-lantern balloon garland. It can be put together easily and adds a quirky Halloween touch. Get the full DIY over here on the Babiekins blog.

Last year, Glow requested a “shapes” themed 6th birthday as soon as her 5th birthday was over. I had no clue what I was going to do, other than make lots of shapes. Eventually, the idea came together after my BFF showed me this book (we ordered it and gave it to her as part of her birthday presents). As you know, if you’ve been reading here awhile, we like to go on vacation for birthdays. Thus, this celebration was pulled off in our hotel room and it was shapes everything… homemade shapes dress, shapes cake topper, shapes wrapped gifts, and shapes background, exactly what this birthday girl wanted. 

The backdrop was made at home, on large drawing paper, and I taped it up over our headboard. Birthday cake was homemade and assembled in the hotel room. By the way, I used a Trader Joe’s boxed vanilla cake mix, and doctored it up with lavender infused milk, along with lavender frosting, and it came out so delicious! For her birthday meal, she requested shrimp (she loves shrimp) and even that was prepared at home (made this recipe), and put together in the hotel room. Thankfully, there was a microwave, which I knew prior to coming. The sisters made her all sorts of shapes-themed birthday gifts, and after we sang “Happy Birthday” and were all feasting on cake, Ben read us Triangle. She was filled with giddy at all the shapes and surprises, and Ben and I are always so happy to be able to fulfill birthday wishes.

She’s been 6 for about a month now, and I have yet to hear what she wants for next year, but I’m sure her birthday theme request will be coming soon. Once she gets an idea in her head, it sticks and rarely ever changes. 

It’s been a couple years since we’ve had a little baby in our home (Glow makes it abundantly clear that she is THE baby, though she no longer IS a baby), so all those teeny, tiny clothes stuffed in their drawers are all gone. I recently ordered my friend some shoes as a gift for her daughter turning 1, and the shoes looked so tiny that I was sure they wouldn’t fit. The shoes ended up fitting perfectly, with room to spare, but it’s just my size barometer is totally off now that wee ones no longer rule my home. We do have a new baby coming to join our family soon, but it’s my sister who is having the baby, so my girls get their first cousin. Searching things to buy for my coming nephew has me oh-ing and ah-ing for all the wonderful infant goods they have these days. I didn’t pop out kids that long ago, but there are so many more options these days. 

This collection by Kalinka from Ladida are all the things that make my heart go thumpity-thump and kind of make me wish I had a baby to dress again. It’s the type of quality item that would be cherished as it was passed down from sister to sister. And after, could be saved in a keepsake box for later! My favorites are this viola sweater, the pompoms are too sweet, and this pair of ravena overalls. I had a good collection of vintage rompers and playsuits, and I would have loved to dress them in any of the ones in the Kalinka collection. To make things last, I always to got a bigger size to allow them more time to wear it. I didn’t mind things being slightly too big because you could layer a shirt under and sweater over help it fit better. With the cold weather starting to arrive in most places (not in California), little babes need a camellia bonnet to keep them warm. Babes with bonnets on always looks so positively darling. I would have loved to dress my babes in any of these cozy knits.

The simplicity and heirloom quality of Kalinka clothing is so lovely, and makes me missing the days when I used to dress them up. These days, I don’t even mess with their styles, so moms of little ones, enjoy curating their closets for as long as it lasts.

Shop the Kalinka clothing collection here.

I spied this vintage skirt haphazardly hanging off the rack. It’s like like someone contemplated getting it, then decided no, didn’t put it neatly back in place, and left it for me to see. Thank you to whoever left it there for me. I wore it once before these sets of photos, but I wore it slightly lower than it is here, and it was kind of weird looking at that spot. Once, I put it on to sit higher up on my waist, it looked much better. Now, it looks sort of like a corset, so I call it the corset skirt. It has a lovely vintage made in USA label and you all know how much things like that make me dance.

My earrings are vintage too and they have such Annie Costello Brown vibes. I found them almost a year ago and could hardly believe how much they remind me of my fave indie designer. I love when something like that happens. I told Ben, “See, I found these and saved you money.” HA! Anyone else say the same thing when you find something at the thrift store that’s similar to what you were eyeing at a retail shop?

on me: top, thrifted. skirt, vintage (similar here). shoes, loq via garmentory. basket, wovenfolk (available here). earrings, vintage (similar here)