I finally finished the peep toes that several of you requested. I wonder to myself, what took so long to get these together? Then I consider that I have been up easily ten times with the kids just trying to type this post, and I know the answer.

I had said I would make them green {see it in the lining} but I ended up liking the versatiliy of cream better. These shoes, Adalyn, will be available in a paypal link in this post Saturday, March 27, 9:30 am CST. Size 3-8, $32. **SOLD OUT**
The weather is lovely right now; it's the best time of year for this climate. I try not to think of the hot summers around the corner... why let tomorrow steal today's joy?

"It was one of those March days
when the sun shines hot
and the wind blows cold:
when it is summer in the light,
and winter in the shade."
~Charles Dickens





One final thought, a few of you have asked me if I am taking suggestions for a new name. The answer is absolutely! I do have a name picked out; however, I won't finalize everything until next week, so it's not too late to make a suggestion as long as it's received by Sunday. In fact, if I use your name, I'll send you a free pair of shoes. However, please make your suggestion privately via email {miajoieboutique@yahoo.com} or via Etsy, not publicly. Thanks!

Last week was spring break--both kiddos home for an entire week. I started off trying to work a little around their needs and found it... all but impossible. I'm pretty sure I left little tufts of red hair in my studio. The fighting, the noise, the mess... As the week progressed, my voice got louder and my disposition volatile. The kids started looking at me wide-eyed and skittish. I have found that to be the perfect time to throw caution to the wind and get out. So that's what we did.



I really look forward to Aidan being out of the stage where he is Spiderman "webbing" me in every photo.



Despite my best efforts, Mia refused to wear her swimsuit bottoms. Parents gave me horrified looks, but I just smiled and said she was a free spirit.



This is Sara and her son Ian. Sara is super fun and sweet--and she works for Mia Joie! I've been meaning to get a proper photo and write up put together for her soon...





My friend Nanette and her lovely girls, Carly and Natalie.


Oh, the things kids eat at the beach... can't you feel the gritty crunch just looking at this picture.


Soggy goldfish.... yum!



I am very behind in emails--about a week behind. Thank you so much for your lovely notes. Please know that I will be returning them soon. I have been working hard on moving forward under the new name. It takes so much time and research! I need a think tank! :)

On the weekends, I generally don't set an alarm. It's usually the same; around 7 am the kids shuffle downstairs and wake me up. Mia does the same routine: hugs me around the neck and says, "Mommy, get up! You need caw-chee, don't you?" {i.e. "coffee." She knows me well.} This week was spring break, so we carried this routine through the weekdays.

Only one morning, I didn't wake up to hugs and commands from little Mia. Instead, my bedroom door was closed when I woke, and I could barely make out the hushed and furtive exchange of co-conspirators coming from the kitchen.

"Not like that. No no no no no no. Like this."

"Oops."

"Uugh. Mia! Get the paper towels."

I'm thinking: uggghhh, this is going to be bad. And sure enough, I made the slow trek from my bedroom though the family room into the kitchen to find the path littered with a half dozen bananas still in their peel, all of them covered in teeth marks and gushing mushy spurts out the sides, forming little puddles on the area rug and wood floor. Around the corner in the kitchen, both kids were standing on leather dining room chairs pushed up to the counter, each have a hand on the last remaining banana. Puddles of milk, sprinklings of ovaltine, two cups filled to the rim, a pile of sopping paper towels, and two dirty spoons litter the counter. I noted the fresh grey crayon marks on the cupboards {at least they coordinate with the silver drawer pulls} and listened to their exchange.

"Mia, you can't bite it open. You have to do it from the top. Drink your ovaltine. I'll do it..." She clearly doesn't like this and tightens her grip; I can see the last banana war is about to ensue.

At that point, I cleared my throat and made my presence know. Both kids jump a little. Aidan {in a too small shirt t-shirt and Spiderman undies} puts one hand on his hip and with the other gestures to the counter and says in his best deep voice impression, "Uh, hey, mom. We were just gettin' some breakfast."

Yes, I see that.

Tell me, what unexpected suprises have you walked in on with your children.

McKenna Riding Boots

These boots are one of my personal favorites, and Mia wore hers almost every day through the Houston winter. Inspired by this season's trendy over-the-knee boot, the McKenna boots are as tall as I dared to go for a baby/toddler boot. They are made from a soft, light-weight faux leather and lined with eco-friendly felt made from recycled water bottles. They have a fixed ribbon tie, and slide on and off. Thick and cushiony insole, black, flexible rubber outsole.

Available size 3-8, $38; Paypal link will appear at 9:30 CST 3/19/10. You can see a product only picture here. *note, size 3 and 4 have a square {not arched top} and are $32.

*SOLD OUT*

*******************************************************************************

I wrote this as an entry to Amy Wenzel's Photography workshop contest. If you've read my blog before, then you know I bought my camera used from my photog friend, Tasha, and the lesson went something like, "leave the setting here and press this button." The rest has been trial and error. I've never done any photography training and thought it would be fun to get away and be around some amazing photography talent. Plus, the workshop is very near Holland, Michigan, where Robert and I formerly lived. Despite living in Houston almost 5 years now, it still doesn't feel like home, and I'd love a reason to visit and hang with my friend, Michele! Some of Amy Wenzel's images are below, and for more photography inspiration, you can see Amy's website and blog here.

photo credit: Cloud Atlas by irenesuchocki

"I thank you, God, for this most amazing day, for the blue true dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes." ~e.e. cummings

Shoes pictured will be available in a paypal link around noon-ish Wednesday, size 5/6. **SOLD OUT**



Today the sky wasn't actually blue--it was grey. It may not be blue tomorrow, or the next day, or even the day after that, but I know there are blue skies in my future. Yours, too.

**Note on the peep toes: Aidan sprained his knee on Sunday. The poor little guy can't even walk, and I have been playing nurse maid and not so much getting anything done. When we are mothers, our life loses all sense of efficiency--or so it seems to me. I hope to have them for you soon.**

photo credit: Happy Chinese New Year!

What a busy few weeks it has been, and in the interim my blog posts are falling few and far between. I've missed you, my friends! I have been so bogged down in serious phone calls. I have to tell you, it's an interesting thing, working from home. Sometimes it is wonderful: I can be home with my kids, brew coffee all day long, play the music I like, keep my own hours, etc. But sometimes I end up tucked into my closet, behind three closed doors, trying to have a professional, serious conversation and praying that the person on the other end can't hear the howls, screams, and thumping of chubby little fits on the door. What is it with little children and closed doors? There is nothing like it to ignite loud fits of protest!

In a previous post, several people were lobbying in the comments for more peep toes. As I have been saying, when I am stressed, I create. So, I made a little pair of peep toes in just a slightly greener shade than Tiffany box blue...

I have a confession: sometimes when I am dressing Mia, we match. I don't do this everyday, of course, but on occasion, when we are both donning new digs, we coordinate. Make sure you hear me: coordinate, not dress matchy matchy. The funny thing is that I always act like it was an accident. I get the usual comment: "you and Mia are both in shades of brown and cream today!" Then I feign being unaware: "Hmmm?! Oh, we are! Isn't that funny!"

So, just for fun, I put together a little ensemble that mom could wear to coordinate with her little miss if she were wearing the peep toes above. I have put together looks before, and Mai {the owner of the fab shop, Ruche} asked if I use Polyvore. I had never heard of Polyvore, so this time, I gave it a try. What wickedly good fun! If you're a fashionista, be prepared to want to spend hours paging through creative fashion scapes and trendy apparel. It's especially fun because I seem to shop at all the same places, and it introduced me to some interesting boutiques and clothing lines of which I was previously unaware.

Untitled by MiaJoie featuring Kurt Geiger shoes

You can follow the link on the photo to see where you can purchase the items, like the little cream dress that is a steal at only $42! Or this dress, for the same price. However, they also feature designer shoes and clothing, too. Have fun and don't blame me if you spend an hour paging through dresses and shoes... I gave you full warning ;)

Back to the peep toes, I am sorry, but I don't have a range of sizes in anything for you yet. As I mentioned, everything is still temporarily on hold. {I'll be able to explain some of it soon.} However, I will sell these one-of-a-kind little peep toes available here.


Finally, here is a picture of my two little munchkins in the tub. They look so sweet, but don't let them fool you--they're rebel rousers!