Kelle, Author at Enjoying the Small Things

Everybody Plays

October 22, 2012 By Kelle

Last week I had the wonderful opportunity, for the second year in a row, to be part of a campaign that celebrates children and the things that make each of them unique. I became involved in Infantino and Step 2′s Everybody Plays Campaign when I met Colette, the senior brand manager for Infantino, at the BlogHer conference two years ago; and the two of us gushed over each others’ babies in the lobby of the San Diego Marriot. Colette, like me, gave birth to a baby with Down syndrome and soon searched for ways she could raise awareness and make a difference in acceptance using the resources she was given. Infantino and Step 2 whole-heartedly supported her idea for Everybody Plays and immediately took action. The idea was that these companies wanted their advertising and marketing to reflect the simple and beautiful fact that every child plays. They are committed to celebrating the uniqueness of every child, and for that I join thousands of other families in saying…thank you.

So last week, a team of individuals gathered for two days in San Diego and welcomed sixty beautiful children. I was fortunate to be part of that team, photographing each one of these children playing with toys, interacting with each other, exploring their surroundings and capturing the room with their very special something.

Each child possessed something different; each child displayed something unique. There were shy and quiet toddlers and vocal, enthusiastic babies; little ones who cried when their mamas left their sight and adventurous tikes who confidently set out to explore. We admired their beauty–fiery red hair, soft chocolate brown skin, almond eyes that smiled with soul and wide blue eyes that squinted with delight. They each have a story to tell–some with challenging beginnings but all with promising futures.

And though some of these babies and children might bear extra titles like “special needs,” it was clear to anyone present that every one of them was special and each one had unique needs–because that’s the definition of a child.

This campaign celebrates the uniting themes of childhood–play and wonder and imagination. How honored I felt to be surrounded by such celebration, and how much I learned from watching these children play together.

They didn’t see differences–they saw the opportunity to meet new friends, to explore new surroundings and to try out new toys. Okay, and yes, to fight over toys too because this little monkey squeaky teether was the wanted toy for every baby, and there was only one to play with. Baby boy will be getting one of these (soft, all natural rubber and part of the Go Gaga! collection coming soon to Target).

This campaign? Friends, this should be happening with far more companies and in many more media outlets. This is real life, and the only way to have it become the norm in our society is to celebrate it when it does happen. Keep the momentum going. When you see companies and organizations, magazines and media outlets making good choices and embracing inclusion in their advertising, please let them know you appreciate it. Support them, share the love and express your voice to other companies that this is good, this is what our world looks like, and this is what we celebrate.

On a personal note, to all the families I met last week, your children are beautiful. What a privilege it was to spend time with them. And thank you to the kind folks who came to the book signing last Wednesday. It was a pleasure meeting you, and I am so grateful for the outpouring of love and support you brought that evening.

Thank you, Infantino and Step 2. Thank you for embracing our family last week but far more important, for embracing children…all children.

*****

Appropriately timed after my camera-lugging trip, we are welcoming Lua Handbags to Enjoying the Small Things this month. Lua Handbags are the solution for any woman who’s faced the battle of compiling everything into one bag, including valuable things that need to be protected like cameras, lenses and iPads. I take my Lua bag (floral retro) everywhere. It’s been to New York, California, Texas and Michigan; it’s toted cameras and lenses, diapers and snacks, notebooks and make-up and sippy cups. It’s held up tremendously, and I love it because it doesn’t look like a camera bag and has lots of pockets (as well as interchangeable lens compartments inside). I recently added to my Lua collection and now am the proud owner of a Lua clutch, perfect for protecting my camera and an extra lens and yet small enough that I can carry it alone for grab-and-go or put it in a larger beach bag.

Lua bags are handmade right here in Florida and come in a wide variety of beautiful fabrics. I also happen to know Lola, the beautiful mama behind this business, and she’s pretty awesome.

*****

As we prepare for holiday sponsors this year, please note if you are interested in having your business featured, we have a new address for sponsors as many sponsor e-mails were getting lost in regular blog e-mail. The new sponsor e-mail is: blogsponsor@comcast.net.

And thank you, readers, for supporting the businesses featured on Enjoying the Small Things. I give sponsorship a lot of thought and, despite the fact that there are easier and less time-consuming ways to support our family through the blog, I have been thrilled with the partnerships we’ve made. I work directly with all sponsors, review their products and make sure the things we choose are products and services that fit well with our family and the readership of this blog. You all have helped a lot of mamas and poppas expand small ideas into bigger dreams, and hopefully you’ve discovered some new sites for your families and gifts for friends. Win/Win–that’s what we like.

Home feels so good right now. Good things to come.

A Travel Ramble

October 20, 2012 By Kelle

The first rule of travel, especially when kids are involved, is that you cannot come home from a continental jaunt without stories. I’m not just talking adventurous oh-the-things-we-saw kind of stories. Those are, of course, inevitable. I’m talking funny stories–the ones you’re not thrilled about as they’re happening but rather come to appreciate them later for their humor, their memories and their ability to keep it real–as if we need more of that around here. Let’s begin by stating some facts. We’re not exactly savvy travelers, even though before trips I envision our family sauntering through airports in chic travel attire and wheeling beautiful luggage behind us. “Oh, what’s that, TSA agent? You need my identification? Why, of course, let me just pull out my passport from this vintage Italian leather passport clutch.”

No, we are the modern day Griswolds. We tote broken, beat-up suitcases, we drag blankets, we take our shoes off for security only to be mortified by the state of our socks underneath. We walk through terminals, oblivious to the fact that people are chasing us down, alerting us that we dropped a bottle, a boarding pass, a baby shoe and half a bag of Doritos three gates back. Phone chargers dangle from our carry-on pockets and zippers never fail to break as we’re frantically trying to shove clothes into our suitcases, shifting the balance to avoid overweight luggage charges. This will change as “Become cool savvy traveler and purchase fabulous luggage” just moved up several notches on the bucket list. However, I can say our kids are very good on flights, and we are proud to flaunt that fact given it’s about the only thing we have going for us when we travel. They are ridiculously good–quiet, calm and happy for hours on end. I’m so proud of them.

So stories…

Well, the best I have is that the airport escalator almost pulled my pants off when we arrived in San Diego. And I realize that “almost” completely robs this story’s “story-ness” because–my, what a tale I’d have to tell if it really happened. But, for a moment I was sure it was going to as my hands were too full to hoist my very draggy pant legs up only three stairs away from the pants-eating edge of the down escalator. I balanced my kid and my bags while I strategized my jump, all the while telling myself, “You are about to lose your pants…in an airport full of people.” But it didn’t happen, so moving on.

I will share images and thoughts from Everybody Plays on Monday. San Diego’s Fox 5 News did a great story on the event which you can view here. It was wonderful to meet so many families with children of all abilities and unique things that make them beautiful. I am inspired and motivated by the events of this week, and I can’t wait to share more.

Yesterday, after a few days of fulfilling work, Brett and the girls and I explored the city a bit, checking off only a couple stops on our must-see list but completely enjoying a relaxing end to our visit. We walked the Ocean Beach Pier in the morning, stopping to watch the surfers and take in the view that is so different from our own beach–bigger waves, denser sand and a backdrop of breathtaking hills.

We continued on to La Jolla where Brett’s built-in Mexican Restaurant GPS directed him to Jose’s on Prospect where we sat under open windows, ate fat burritos and talked about future trips we’ll take someday.

Brett taught Nella this catchy dance where you put your fingers in the air and say “Ooo, ooo, ooo.” It’s her go-to trick for making us laugh.

We walked up and down streets, stopping for cappuccino and gelato, admiring art, sampling lotions in soap shops, taking pictures, and watching our girls be silly and inquisitive and entertained by new sights. This is my favorite way of traveling–making agendas in the morning but allowing lots of cushion for change of plans, staying in one place and leisurely drinking up the hidden gems of a city.

La Jolla was perfect for hidden gems. Like an impromptu rendevous with new friends (I met Jora through Instagram, and her family is just lovely)…

…and some seal watching at a rocky cove.

And then it happened–the unicorn moment. I walked the girls down to the beach to get a little closer to the cliff where the seals were lounging. We were listening to them bark and watching from a distance while they rolled around the edge of the cliff when a boy yelled, “MOM! A seal! A seal!” as he bolted from the water. A seal flopped right up on the beach and slowly waddled toward us and stopped (okay, I’m getting comments that it’s a sea lion). Yes, holy shellacked gourd, sweet mother of cornucopia, freaking corn husk garland!

Our day was highlighted last night with a return to The Station Tavern where friends from the week’s events gathered at picnic tables under strands of twinkly lights and enjoyed burgers and beer and good conversation–a perfect end to our stay.

We are home, feeling fulfilled and grateful to visit new places and meet new people. Have a wonderful weekend. I have a couple broken suitcases to attend to.

Stay Classy, San Diego

October 17, 2012 By Kelle

Well, we are a bit time zone confused, but we made it to San Diego after two very smooth flights with two very cooperative girls. I apologize for the Ron Burgundy quotes that are going to fall into this post. I can’t help myself–I’m in San Diego which, if I recall, means a Whale’s Vagina. No? Agree to Disagree. If that makes absolutely no sense, watch Anchorman. Thank me later.

Hardly a whale’s vagina, San Diego is lovely (no offense, whales). I can’t get over the sky here. I’ve been in the car for both sunsets the past two nights and, even from the car, it’s mesmorizing–an ombre sky, layered with blues and pinks and oranges, with staggered hills underneath. And hot air balloons. Yes, both nights–hot air balloons that found a way to join the sunset canvas of San Diego.

We just finished Day One of the Everybody Plays shoot today, and while I have very much to say about it, Day Two begins early tomorrow morning. Must rest. Or, as Ron Burgundy would say, I’m very important. I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogony. Okay, that had nothing to do with anything. The truth is, to be part of this experience for two years now? It is such an honor, and I will express it much better when I’m a little less tired. Photos of these beautiful children and words from the experience to come.

For now, some photos of our weekend–Heidi and I spent Saturday together, hitting our Third Street Farmer’s Market and thrifting with our girls. It was marvelous.