A trip to the dinosaur museum on film.
The Fellowship slowly coming together in a double knit blanket. I use Purl Soho’s Till yarn, which is lovely to work with.
The art of gifting.
We're getting very old school over here. 
The Ballerina Farm Farmer Hydrate electrolyte powder is divine.
I knit this chunky wool sweater. Available in my shop.
These are purchases that I have genuinely made and this post contains affiliate links at no additional cost to you.
Bella Luna Toys x Haba Kitchen Play Set
My daughter reached a point in which she no longer wanted to sit in her high-chair. I bought the Piccalio helper tower and it has been a huge win in our home. My daughter contently eats standing up or plays with the water in the sink while I wash dishes and make dinner.
My mother saw the Tonie Box on TV and ordered it without really understanding what it was. Turns out that it was one of the best gifts we have received. While Tonie recommends many of the figurines for older children, my one-year-old has absolutely loved swapping the figurines and listening to the music. Find a list of my favorite Tonies here.
This gorgeous hardwood play kitchen invites children into imaginative cooking, storytelling, and collaborative role-play. My daughter loves to put objects away and take them out, she “sautés” on the burners, and serves us her cooking creations.
I am a big fan of organization, so when I found a beautifully handcrafted bookcase for my daughter, I was instantly sold. It sits low to the ground so I don’t have to worry about tipping and it holds a large number of books.
The Stapelstein Stacker is an open-ended, modular movement toy designed to inspire active, imaginative play. Lightweight yet sturdy, the stackable elements can be used for balancing, building, stepping, spinning, and creative obstacle courses. Simple in form but endlessly versatile, it supports gross motor development, coordination, and cooperative play—indoors or out. I purchased one (for now) which my daughter uses to watch passersby from our just-a-little-too-tall-window.
The coveted Artipoppe carrier has been hands-down one of my favorite and best purchases. I have used it to help finish chores around the house, to lull baby to sleep, and travelling. Though the price tag is high and there are alternative carriers on the market, Artipoppe’s commitment to natural and beautiful materials is a big selling-point for me. It’s easy as a mom to feel frumpy, particularly in the midst of a busy and hard day, and Artipoppe is the antidote.
Wearing Christy Dawn Dress, Lauren Manoogian Skirt, The Row Boots, and Artipoppe Zeitgeist Baby Carrier. 
This post contains gifts and affiliate links at no additional cost to you.
My life has been busier than ever. Between caring for my daughter,
work, book club, my endless knitting projects, and our home renovation,
there isn’t much time for extras. I love low-maintenance but effective
skincare routines which is why I was excited when I came across Vetted Dermlab. Founded by a dermatologists, Vetted Dermlab formulates hypoallergenic skincare using science-backed and ethically sourced ingredients for long lasting skin health.
I use the C Cleanser
morning and night which gently removes makeup, dirt, and impurities
while protecting my skin’s natural barrier. I then follow up with the M2 Rich Moisturizer
which is lightweight and designed to repair the skin and lock in
moisture. Living in such a dry climate, I will take all the moisture I
can get!
My skin had been a nightmare since the birth of my
daughter. But this simplified and supportive routine gave my skin the
reset it needed and has helped me to feel like myself again.
This post contains gifts and affiliate links at no additional cost to you.
I had the immense pleasure of participating in the launch of Ballerina Farm’s new Pirouette smoothie recipe. A group of us girls met up at the Ballerina Farm store for a get-together and how-to demonstration. I’ve never made a smoothie with such unexpected ingredients and the addition of ginger and olive oil was utterly delightful. I am looking forward to making this smoothie again at home. Thank you for having me, Ballerina Farm!
1/4 C. Whole Milk
1/2 Scoop of Vanilla Bean Farmer Protein
1/2 Pitted Medjool Date
1/4 Small Steamed Beet
1/4 C. Frozen Strawberries
1 C. Frozen Cherries
1/4 Inch Fresh Ginger, Peeled
1-1/2 tsp. Lemon Juice, Freshly Squeezed
1/4 tsp. Kosher Salt
1 tsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/2 tsp. Beet Powder (optional)
1 Cup Whole Milk Plain Yogurt
1 Scoop of Vanilla Bean Farmer Protein
Pinch Kosher Salt
To a high-powered blender, add the milk, protein powder, date, steamed beet, strawberries, cherries, ginger, lemon juice, and salt. Starting on low speed and slowly increasing to high, blend until completely smooth. Set aside. Measure the olive oil and set aside separately. In a small bowl, whisk together the yogurt, protein powder, and salt. To assemble, add the beet powder (if using) to a large glass or a Weck jar. Twirl the glass to let the beet powder stick around the sides of the glass. You can either leave the remaining beet powder in the glass, or toss whatever doesn’t stick to the sides.
Add a heaping ½ cup of the cherry ginger smoothie to the bottom of the glass. Drizzle half of the olive oil around the edges, then top with half of the yogurt mixture. Add another ½ cup of the smoothie, drizzle the remaining olive oil around the edges, and top with the last of the yogurt. Add the remaining smoothie and enjoy.
This is a paid partnership and contains affiliate links at no additional cost to you.
Most of our life is captured on 35mm and 120 format film. So having a physical copy of our memories throughout the year is important to me. Artifact Uprising has an easy drag and drop program to create an Everyday Photo Album worthy of life’s beautiful moments.
Every photo was arranged chronologically so we can see how much my daughter has grown over the past year. I have loved every stage of motherhood so the hardest part was choosing my favorite images. I mixed posed and spontaneous shots which gave my yearly album a more editorial feel. Now last year’s film negatives have been turned into an heirloom album my family can cherish forever.
For 15% off your order, use code TAYLORKRISTIINA15. #AUpartner
