It's my SITS Day!!!

Today I am thrilled to welcome SITS readers to my blog!





 
Hello and welcome!!  So nice to meet you!

For those of you who don't know the SITS network is a network of bloggers 15,000 strong who believe that the secret to success is support.  Such a great philosophy.  I've met some absolutely wonderful people through their site in the recent months.  I just signed up for their Spring Fling Event and am looking forward to learning even more about this whole blogging thing.

Anyways!  To let the new readers know a little bit more about me and who this blog is about...

Who I am... 

I am Jeanne aka Sourire11.

My profile pic pretty much everywhere these days.

I'm 30 something and happily married to my college sweetheart:

Our wedding back in 2004.

I"m a mom of 2:

The Boy who just turned 1, and The Girl who just turned 3.

I'm a Cleveland girl who loves her hometown despite being married to a Steelers Fan.

I"m a knitter and an indie dyer who occasionally dabbles in designing patterns. I also love dogs, wine, twitter, reading, and photography. 

What I Do...

This:

And this:

And a whole lot of this:

I was an architect with the 6 years of design school and masters degree and ambition to remake this city I love and all of it.  And then I had a baby and..... I never went back.

Pictured:  A bit of a distraction from that whole Architecture thing.

But! Also!  I couldn't walk away from design completely.  So I started a company, Destination Yarn, which merges all of my passions - design, travel, knitting, and color.

Every colorway is based on a place.  This makes me unreasonably happy.

I occasionally post shop updates and pretty yarn to this blog.  Because seriously even if you're not a knitter who doesn't love a rainbow of yarn?

Why I Blog...

I started blogging because I was obsessively reading knitting blogs as a way to research patterns.  It didn't seem fair that I wasn't contributing to the online knowledge bank.  Then I got into it and it became a way to share both my projects and our adventures.  I still see it as that even if our adventures are less this:

Us at Machu Picchu in 2007.  We hiked there via the 4 day Inca Trail.

and are more this:

The kids at Geneva State Park last summer.  We drove there at naptime.

And my knitting is less this:

Traditional Stranded sweater that it took me 2 weeks to knit (part of the knitting Olympics but still)

and more this:

Hat that it took me 2 months to knit.  I did design the pattern, though so that's something I guess!

What I blog about...

I often feel that this blog is a misfit.  I'd love to be able to be a genre blog and do it well.  To be a Cleveland Blog.  Or a Knit Blog.  Or a Parenting Blog.  But... I just end up blogging about whatever shiny object is currently capturing my attention so this blog is kindof all over the map.  And alot of my posts cover more than one category.  For example this one:


Matching LEEOW Skirt and Shoes.

She loved those shoes So, SO much.

But here are some of my best recent posts in my most prevalent categories:

Family/Life/Kids:
Mall Santa
My 2.5 year old's thoughts on Project Runway
The last 48 Hours
20 Questions for Three

Knitting / Yarn:
Mod Cables Slouchy Hat
Ireland Hat for St. Pats
Girl Scouts are Good Citizens
Rainbow of Yarn
February is for Finishing

Cleveland:
Lake Erie Love
Great Lakes, Ice, and Yarn
Cleveland Aquarium Visit
Happy Third Birthday and St. Pats!

Sewing/Baking/Photography/Other Creative Nonsense:
My picture is on CNN!
Two Trifles for Tasty Tuesday
Maleficent for Halloween
Awesome Pants

Yeah like I said... I'm pretty all over the map.  But I love documenting our random here and love reading other people's random as well.

Thanks so much for visiting and I hope you come back again soon!!!

Fresh Produce Clothing Review.

So recently I was contacted by the Fresh Produce clothing company to try out one of their products and share it with you.  I pretty much jumped at that offer considering how out of date and sad my wardrobe is.  But what really excited me about this opportunity was the company, itself.  Co-founded and still run by a mom entrepreneur it's a US based company that manufactures primarily in the US.  That all really resonated with me (obviously.)

Truthfully I had a hard time choosing which item to review.  They have a ton of really cute casual clothing that I could see myself wearing ALLTHETIME.  They also have adorable beach cover-ups and considering I plan on this being the Summer of the Beach that was very appealing to me.  But in the end I decided on this wardrobe-staple:

They had many style options for dresses for spring but the Cafe Wrap Dress seemed like it would flatter my still very post baby body.  I have to say.... I love this dress.  I love dresses in general for summer.  They are just so easy.  Comfy when it's hot out and no-nonsense getting ready in the morning since it's one item.  Nothing to match, nothing to coordinate.  Just throw it on, add some accessories (that's a fancy word.  Wow I've read those Fancy Nancy books ALOT in the last few weeks.) and look put together: 

Excuse the pulled back bun.  We opened the pool today so my hair was a bit... grassy:

Our pool is kindof on the small side.

This dress is very well made.  The 92% rayon, 8% lycra fabric is soft and thick.  I don't see this piling or falling apart any time soon.  There are tons of color options and even some prints but I went with a solid purple:

Sorry, Angela.

I'm kindof going through a purple phase.

Overall I'm very happy with this dress and would totally recommend this company.  And right now all of their dresses are buy one get one 50% with the coupon code LOVEMOM !  I also totally want one of the classic stripe tanks in every color....

This picture has nothing to do with anything.

I received a Cafe Wrap dress in exchange for this review.  It retails for $69.  All opinions are my own.

2 Things I'm Excited and also Freaking Out About.

1.)  May 7 I am the SITS Featured Blog.

I am so, SO honored to be a featured blogger.  The SITS girls are a great group and I have met so many wonderful bloggers through their network.  Not to mention how awesome the 31 days to build a better blog program was.  And this is such a great chance to really get my name out there.  I have to admit I've really been enjoying watching this blog grow beyond just being read by my family and friends.  So I'm beyond excited about this opportunity.




But also?  I'M FREAKING OUT. 


It's like this.  If I was having a major party at my house with lots of people I've never met I would clean every inch of it.  Even really stupid places like behind the couch and under the bed.  I might even iron my pillow shams. I was just raised that way.  And chances are I'd stress out over each and every one of those dumb things...

On May 7 Life in Cleveland is having a major party.

Sidebar must be cleaned up!  Headers must be aligned!  New Social Media Icons must be made!  Subscribe buttons must be prettified!  IT MUST BE PERFECT GAAAAAH!

Look I even made a fancy button you can grab:

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.lifeincleveland.com" title="Life in Cleveland"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdj_HGp848111Ed7QPnvVMJ7G2mWDWk4FharlEzcgpdNiYR6bCMHMAsxvnf4lzQeEZ3Zkr8GVG5-KnubAVh3gbmLv0ZpdxatWQVqEGXYeqWtXrx1xfBOG0mvfLRiROxXC5oLBH/s1600/lifeincleveland150x150.jpg" alt="Life in Cleveland" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

And what it all boils down to is this:

What if they don't like me?  What if they think this is all crap?  What if the party is a complete flop?

So I'm keeping busy stressing about the dumb stuff so I don't freak out and shut the whole thing down.

It did get me to set up an advertising page, though.  So that's fun. By the way it's super, SUPER easy to buy ads with the way it's set up and I"m about to get a ton of traffic so... Just sayin'

Edited to add:  I'd really love to fill up a few more sponsor spots before Monday!  So if you use the code SITS25 you can get 25% off any of the spots!  Also if you are a Cleveland based business/blog use the code HAPPYINCLE and you get 50% off!  Have to spread the Cleveland love.

2.)  This weekend I'm going to the Kentucky Derby

Us at the Derby in 2008.

I am so, SO excited about this weekend.  I'll be gone Fri-Sun for a bachelorette / shower weekend of fun with my ladies.  That includes the Kentucky Derby. YES.  I went once before (here's the post about it) and it was a BALL.  And funtimes aside I'm a little bit excited for some solid time away from the kids.  Meals uninterrupted!  No diapers to change! 2 nights in a row with noone waking me up with a crisis!

But also?  FREAKING OUT.

Because what happens when someone wakes up with a crisis?  And I know the answer is Matt.  And he is going to do a wonderful job and I am so lucky to have him.  And he's gone out of town for several weekends on his own for various bachelor party-type events.  And this is my first time away for more than a few hours since I was pregnant with my 1 year old:

Me with Dimitri Martin in the Washington Airport.  The last adventure I went on w/o the kids.  I was 9 weeks pregnant at the time.

I know that time away is good for everyone but... OMFG THE GUILT.

You know I"m totally going to take my first steps in the 48 hours you're away from me, right?

Because even though I know he will rock it doing it all yourself suuuuuuuucks.  Especially when one kid is solidly in the WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY phase and the other has earned the nickname Sir Edmund Hillary:

Pictured:  The first non-walker to ascend these stairs.  Also what happens if you turn your back on this kid for a second.

Deep down I know that everyone will be fine without me but worry about them is just part of the deal.

Something tells me the Mint Juleps will help with this worry thing.

Anyways.... good stress is MUCH better than bad stress.  What does everyone think of the blog spruce up, btw?

Life is not over. A Rant.

So it's been awhile since I've gone on an old fashioned rant so why not.... 

A few things have happened lately that have nothing to do with me and yet have frustrated me to distraction.  And I couldn't understand why situations that I have no stake in whatsoever would make me so angry.  By all accounts it made no sense.  But the more I thought about it the more I realized it had nothing to do with the situations themselves.   And what I'm angry about makes perfect sense:

I am so, so, SO sick of the thought that when you have kids?  LIFE IS OVER.

Um no.  NO.  No it's not. Yet this seems to be the prevailing attitude lately.  There are whole websites devoted to Before Kids Bucket Lists.  And even a whole advertising campaign devoted to this concept.  And it pisses me off.

Because there is an inherent insult in this way of thinking.  You know what?  I have two kids.  And my life is FAR from over thankyouverymuch.

Pictured:  Last Friday night.  I went out with the intention of having one drink.  Maybe two.  Then we made friends with the bartender, tried a new shot on the house, and hung out with the band.  A night that would have made even my kidless 27 year old self proud.

I'm not saying things aren't different.  I would never say that.  I joke all the time about how different things are.  Hell my little About Me on my sidebar is basically a paragraph about how things have changed.  But different is NOT the death of funtimes.

Pictured:  No fun at all, obviously.

The opposite of that, actually.  Because with kids - especially kids my kids' age - anything and everything can be a recipe for ridiculous funtimes.  Situations that suck as an adult become awesome adventures with a kid.  Even a random lazy Sunday lunch in our pj's can result in laughing so hard that you cry:


Video of our entire family cry-laughing at lunch today.  Over basically nothing.  Yet I laughed so hard my sides hurt afterwards.

And yes.  It's hard.  I'm frazzled.  I'm sleep deprived (I did the math once and realized that in the whole of 2011 I never had more than 2 nights in a row of 6+ hours of uninterrupted sleep.  So "sleep deprived" seems like a poor description of just how fucking tired I am.)  And alot of the times I'm also sticky.

But I am happy.

Deeply happy.  Soulfully happy.  The type of happy that only comes when you know that you are exactly where you are supposed to be.  When you are no longer living towards some dream of a hopeful future.  When you are actually in it, giggles and stickiness and all.

But don't get me wrong.  I would also never say that "life began with my children" or "I never knew what love was until I saw her face" or "There's nothing more beautiful than a child's laugh" or any of those awful platitudes on the other side of it.  They make me equally insane.  Because kids are absolutely NOT a requirement for happiness (neither is marriage or travel or any other life choice people are intent on being judgy about) But I will tell you this:

I wouldn't trade my kids for any awesome trip, amazing time with friends, or ridiculous night out in the entire world.

(and I know from awesome trips, amazing times with friends, and ridiculous nights out)

In other less rant-y news we finally have a grown up patio set a mere 6 years after we built our patio!

 My kid in typical her fashion immediately asked "Are we having a party?"  I explained that no, this was going to be a permanent fixture in our backyard.  Her reaction?  "We should have a party"

Yes.  Yes we should.

Edited to add a line of clarification.  I do NOT believe that kids are the only road to happiness any more than I believe that they are the death of it.  Just wanted to make that clear.

Lake Erie Love

So this week at Life in Cleveland has been pretty insane, huh.  Guest blogging!  My first ever book review!  Tons of new followers!  OH MY.  This little blog is growing up.  But.  While I welcome all of these new opportunities this is still going to be my space to occasionally be random.

So how about some Lake Erie Love?

Those of you who have been around awhile know that my dad is a photographer.  Which is awesome because then I get to share with you fabulous photographs like this:

Lake Erie in Winter.  This is one of my all time favorite photographs and is the basis for my header.

And ones like this:

Us on Easter.  WOW.  I have got to get my hair under control.  It's starting to look like a competition between me and my kid for craziest hair and that is not a good personal style philosophy.

He's also a fisherman and loves Lake Erie more than anyone.  No really.  He loves it enough that he has become a licensed captain and is now running fishing charters out of Edgewater (Here's the link to his site:  Peerless Charters):

You should totally join him on his boat this summer for a charter.

He loves the lake so much that on Monday when there were gale force winds and everyone in their right mind was taking cover he went and photographed it:





Insanity, right?  But amazing photographs:



He wasn't the only one who had this idea:


But something tells me his images were the best.

Socialpunk Book Review

So I was asked to read and review the new book Socialpunk by Monica Leonelle.

I jumped on this opportunity immediately b/c not only do I love reading but the synopsis completely intrigued me:

Ima would give anything to escape The Dome and learn what’s beyond its barriers, but the Chicago government has kept all its citizens on lockdown ever since the Scorched Years left most of the world a desert wasteland. When a mysterious group of hooded figures enters the city unexpectedly, Ima uncovers a plot to destroy The Dome and is given the choice between escaping to a new, dangerous city or staying behind and fighting a battle she can never win.

The book was an enjoyable read - and a quick one as it's a YA novel and it was only 275 pages.  It is the extremely fast paced story of a teenaged girl, Ima, who escapes her current reality and discovers a completely new one.

As this is an honest review I'll start with the negative.  The character development was not very in depth.  I found myself having difficulty understanding or caring about the choices the characters made because I just didn't know enough about who they were and what motivated them.  I think part of this is that this novel is the first in a series.  It is setup for future novels.  So perhaps the characters will gain more depth as the series continues.  However since this is a setup I think alot more backstory would have been appropriate.

The part where this book really shines is in the worlds that it creates.  Two very different settings are described - both future visions of Chicago. The first is a domed city because the rest of the world is Scorched.  Interesting thought on where we could be headed.  The second Chicago is what intrigued me the most...(warning the next bit of this review might be a bit spoilerish)

In this world computers are integrated into the characters very brains.   No, really.  Which leads to two really dramatic things - first of all noone asks questions anymore.  Because if you even think it your brain tells you it in incredible detail that only a computer could give you.  Ummmm... that sounds a bit like what smartphones have already done to normal conversation.  Noone talks about facts anymore - someone just looks it up on their phone and the conversation is over.  And if we aren't communicating through questions and answers how are we communicating?

The second is that the built environment is essentially blank.  Then the characters use their minds to customize what they see.  Again this is a startling and fascinating extrapolation of where we are now.  And is customizing your environment any different than customizing the interface on your phone or tablet?  What is the logical end to this incredible dependance on having the interenets in our back pocket all the time always?  Honestly you could replace iphone with mind in every sentence of this excerpt and it would completely be describing me:

she'd become so reliant on the data that flowed through her mind whenever she summoned it. She couldn't imagine living without it, couldn't imagine having to ask questions every time she needed information, couldn't imagine not knowing where she was or what time it was at any given moment

And the really interesting question the book raises is what if the providers of the technology that we rely on for EVERYTHING have nefarious intentions?  Fascinating (and really alarming) thought.  Especially for someone as into social media as I am. (if google wanted too?  they could end me).

(please, google, don't end me.  I puffy heart love you.  Even if I never ever use google+ for anything ever seriously why do you even have that lever?)

Anyways!  I very much enjoyed reading this book and writing this review.  Thanks so much to Monica Leonelle for this opportunity - I wish her the best of luck with this release and with her upcoming books Socialmob and Socialhood.

Oh and I haven't told you the best part yet - she's having a huge giveaway to celebrate her book launch!  Here's how to enter: