You, Mr. Impatient, tapping your hands at the wheel as your signal light incessently blinks off and on. That glowering stare of yours won’t make me move out of a coveted, first-aisle parking space in the Trader Joe’s lot any faster. Because, (just in case you haven’t noticed), I have two children yet to be strapped into their carseats, along with a cart full of groceries that still needs unloading. And, would you look at that. I had forgotten to take out the double stroller and then some.

I totally took this picture while homeboy was waiting.
I’m totally kidding.

Yikes, I accidentally pinched baby Dax’s chin with his seat buckle! I’m set back another minute. Yet, you still wait. And stare. And have a million cars zoom around you to snap up other open spaces.

On to kid #2. You finally leave. Oh, but now you’re replaced by another dummkopf.

On a more reverent note, the auction for the Nielson family is still going on! Latest bid is $85. Update: it’s now at $100! Jump right in. You know you want some silhouette-goodness.

Nie Nie day is here! I am auctioning off custom stationery to help raise funds for the Stephanie & Christian Nielson fund. Please visit her sister’s blog and Nie Recovery for more information.

Aren’t silhouettes so chic, and so Nie?

The lovely Nielson family.

You are bidding on 1 custom boy or 1 custom girl stationery set of 20 notecards and envelopes. Prize is valued at $70. Winner gets their silhouette of choice (son, daughter, pet, or even you!) along with name printed on A6-size (4.75″ x 6.5″) folding cards. Blank inside, so you can send a note to grandma, mail out thank you notes for birthday party gifts, correspond, etc. Coordinating envelopes included. The set comes packaged in a velvet-lined, vintage children’s puzzle box. Girl stationery set includes extra fuchsia satin ribbon to tie around each card.

Will you choose boy?

Or, girly girl?

Vintage = old = slightly worn. Just FYI!

To bid, fill out the name and email fields in the comments section and post your bid amount. Auction opens at $25. Please place bid increments in whole dollar amounts.

Auction will go until Sunday midnight, PST. I will contact the winner shortly after the auction to set up payment to go directly to Stephanie and Christian’s fund via Paypal, and also to obtain a photograph to use for the silhouette image.

Feel free to email me at jenn@ambrosiagirl.com with any questions. Happy bidding!

(Excuse the sour face –
just the typical post-nap grumpiness.)

Wife-beater, shorts, and boots. Kai’s outfit of choice for a Target run.

And speaking of Target, on our way out, Kai felt it imperative to stop and investigate the tactility of some padded bras in the lingerie department. “It’s very special, mommy! It’s very special!” he exclaimed.

I’ll add that one to the “Who taught you that?!” list.

A few posts down, I had blogged about Stephanie Nielson and husband Christian, who were both involved in a terrible plane crash about a week ago. Like so many others, I’ve been heartsick over this tragedy and its implications on their family. And, like so many others, I want to help.

Design Mom has issued out a call for us bloggers to hold silent auctions, where proceeds will go to the Stephanie and Christian Nielson fund. The plan is to kick-off the auctions this Thursday, which Design Mom has officially declared Nie Nie Day.

So without further ado, here is a preview of what I’ll be auctioning:

Custom Boy or Girl Silhouette Stationery Set
(Inspired by Stephanie’s famous mantle)

Boy design

I have still yet to design the girl stationery set. I’m thinking something floral. Bright colors. Definitely with a retro influence to it.

Winner of the auction will receive 20 A6-size folded notecards with their child’s silhouette and name printed on the front. Inside will be blank. Set will come with 20 coordinating envelopes (orange for boy, I don’t know yet for girl).

The entire set will be packaged in a very cute, vintage children’s puzzle box. Inside of the box to be fabric lined, by moi.

Make sure to come back here Thursday for product photos and to join in the silent auction. Design Mom will have a running list on her site of other bloggers auctioning their wares. If you still don’t see anything you like but would like to help out, visit Stephanie’s Benefit Page.

Amy and Stacie, the random number generator chose YOU! Isn’t that just neat? I’ll be emailing you for mailing addresses.

Thanks for participating everyone!

Yes, that last pic is urine. Because Kai went pee in the potty today for the first time. Ever. I almost cried. Then, I almost cried again when Dax knocked over the full potty seat.

But it was incredible seeing Kai feel so accomplished and proud of himself. He was beaming and so full of pride, he didn’t ask for any of the treats we’ve been bribing him with all month (lollies, jellybeans, and, um…Chuck E. Cheese).

Update: Kai went again today, Saturday. While exciting, it is also frightening. Just the realization at how fast he’s growing up. He’s also been so conversational as of late; “I like this song, mommy!” or “That makes Jesus very happy in the temple!” Wow. To think he was a little baby in my arms not even three years ago. I’m getting teary-eyed now…

Because today, the vet told me that I need to stop feeding Elsa so much and give her more exercise. But that she has a pretty face.

“I can’t believe she called me fat!”

While I’m anxious for fall, I need summer to linger just a little bit longer. Because we haven’t done a family beach day, all summer long (shame on us!). And I want to try the famed, but possibly overrated Pinkberry now that ice cream is back in my diet (hooray!). And we’re not using the pool in our complex as often as we should (lazy me).

But fall…fall will be good. I’m looking forward to cooler weather, to Dax walking, and Kai turning the big 3. Three will be a magical age, I can just tell.

Once upon a time — okay, a year ago, *ahem* — I sucked at baking. Truly, truly sucked, in a major sort of way. Ryan would get visibly nervous as I bust out the flour, and sugar, and measuring cups. “Uhhh, Jenn, you sure you want to be doing that?” But since becoming a mother, I’ve honed my domestic skills and sort of rule the kitchen. On a good day.

Look at me, I’m miss bakey-bakey, muffin-top lady!

Anyways, the reason I’m writing this post is because “chochi-chip kookies” is like love tonic for Kai; give him a fresh-baked cookie, and all is well and swell. There’s just such a warm, happy feeling as we sit at the table, chomping away on our “sfecial treets” and making funny faces at each other. I really hope I’m creating some positive childhood memories for him, and so glad that I gave baking another go. I dream to one day conquer pie. But just thinking about buttery flour and rolling pins gives me anxiety.

A subdued Kai post-cookie. And a thankful Dax for taming his bro.

Snooze!

But the Rachel Zoe Project afterwards felt like a guilty pleasure. Anyone else surprised at how grounded she seems? “They’re just clothes,” she says to a distraught assistant when they realize hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of designer gowns were ruined. “It’s not like we’re saving lives!”

Bob Revolution AW Duallie (that’s a mouthful) up for sale.
Takers? Email jenniferkirk@gmail.com for price. Pickup only.

And no, I’ve never taken it off any sweet jumps.

I can’t stop thinking about Stephanie and her husband, survivors of a very terrible plane crash on Saturday. I actually “met” her through email a few days ago and found her to be every bit as charming and friendly as she is on her blog. My heart goes out to them, their little ones, and the rest of their family.

I’m raffling off two stationery packs, designed by yours truly. If you’d like to try your hand at winning one of the pretty little packages above, all you need to do is:

1) Leave a comment, any comment. Just nothing offensive. And no Rickrolling. I hear that song often enough as it’s Ryan’s ringtone.

and,

2) Link back to us from your blog. If you already do, please update to ambrosiagirl.com (you can still call us the Kirks, if you like). If you don’t have a blog, no worries — just say so in the comments. Stationery is meant for non-bloggers, too (Lola and Grandma, talkin’ to you!).

So that’s it. Easy peasy. Comments are open until midnight Friday, then we’ll pick two winners.

(10 note cards + 10 white envelopes per pack)

(And for a quick shop update; new products for the store are in the works and we’re looking into a new printer so we can deliver more high-end, quality products to our customers. I will also be teaming up with a couple blogger friends for even more Ambrosia Paperie giveaways. Yay!)

I am living in these jeans from Forever 21. A very forgiving, alternative way to go the skinny-jean route. The dark wash, and cropped length is really flattering, especially if you top it off with a tunic-length blouse. The best part is they’re only $12.50 a pair. The worst part is that I literally have to peel it off my sweaty and sticky legs at the end of a hot, humid day. Sorry, was that TMI?

Headboard from Anthropologie.

Winning look on last night’s Project Runway.
That skirt…wow!

Intricate paper cuts by Cynthia Ferguson. All carved by hand.
This one of the Savior is my favorite.

Poor Kai-Guy. This week, he moved into a new bed, gave up his pacifier, started potty-training, and developed an ear-infection. Life has taken a toll on my son, and by 4:30 pm today, my home was anything but a heaven on earth. So I said, “You know what? Let’s get out of here,” grabbed my bag, keys, kids and headed out the door, not sure where we were headed. All I knew was that we were in dire need of fresh air and some sugar-therapy. So we ended up here:

The lovely Ventura Harbor.
Where we successfully tracked down a bakery I’ve been wanting to try.

Le Petit Cafe Bakery.
Score.

Ginourmous double chocolate cookie for Kai…

…and tirimisu for me.
Sugar is happiness and makes everything better. ‘Nuff said.

So let me introduce you to Albert Hammond Jr., guitarist for the Strokes, but a solo musician in his own right. His two albums are fantastic. The song ‘Lisa’ is one of my faves.