January 2011 Motherlode!

With this Motherlode you will get all these fantastic things we blogged about this month:
1. Not one, but TWO packages of Bucky Balls!
2. Darlybird's January AND Feburary earrings from the Earrings of the Month Club!
3. $50 shopping spree to Freshly Picked!
4. Ryan Innes fresh album!
5. A perky banner from Annily Green!
6. $25 credit to the etsy shop type type type!




Just leave us a comment by February 5th midnight Utah time.

(And please tell us how to reach you, should you be the winner! Thanks!)

St. George Reading Links

Oh man did we have fun at the St. George Reading. It was so thrilling to meet new people, to listen to new stories and eat new cupcakes. For instance, really good cupcakes.

(Kristin's cupcakes won, hands down.)


 

I wanted to share a couple of the posts we heard that night. I can't stop thinking about them:

Jenn  (who is Justin Hackworth's sister) wrote about sharing a hotel room with five women for an extended period of time. Touching and funny, read it here.

Ronelle (who, with a friend, drove up from California) wrote about her how her dog died when left in the care of a friend. Touching and funny too, read it here. (That's Ronelle and me in the close up shot, from off her blog).

Andrea (who is a kindergarten teacher) wrote about the moment her daughter was born at 26 weeks. Incredible and so personal. I don't think Andrea actually posted the essay on her blog, but you can find similar stories here.

Plus, Haley answered questions about photography. (Pictures should be big on blogs AND close ups are best are two tips to start with.)

And my friend Anne and her mom JoAnn drove down for the evening from Provo. I was amazed. So much love in such a big Rec-center room! Where should we go next?

I am C. Jane Kendrick and I'd like to thank everyone for coming out! I love you. You can contact me personally at cjanemail @ gmail.com or leave comments on my facebook page and if you are on twitter you can find my tweets here. But no pressure.

Annily Green Banner

 

We bought one of Annily Green's one-thread banner and it provided the mid-January perk our post-Christmas living room needed. It's modern, it's simple, it's pizazz. Like, like, like.

Plus Chup has this fascination with how she made it--with one continuous thread? Kinda cool.

$10 here.

I am C. Jane Kendrick and I cannot resist banners. They do it for me. You can contact me personally at cjanemail @ gmail.com or leave comments on my facebook page and if you are on twitter you can find my tweets here. But no pressure.

Update

Here.

I am C. Jane Kendrick and vaaacaaationnn. You can contact me personally at cjanemail @ gmail.com or leave comments on my facebook page and if you are on twitter you can find my tweets here. But no pressure. Especially since I'm on VACATION!

Taking the Day ON Instead of OFF

 

I like this idea of not taking the holiday off, but turning our service on. Surely there is something we can do today to show love, respect and brotherly kindness to our community. As Jared Gay from A Day On For Service puts it, "Do something good on a day made for good"

What do you do for MLKJ Day?

I am C. Jane Kendrick and I am inspired to do good on a day made for good. You can contact me personally at cjanemail @ gmail.com or leave comments on my facebook page and if you are on twitter you can find my tweets here. But no pressure.

Air Hogs Hawk Eye

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Chup here.

This week: Another item from my Christmas wish list. The Air Hogs Hawk Eye.

My parents picked this up for me for Christmas. Which is good, because C. Jane won't buy me toys anymore. I'm just saying.

Overall I'm pretty pleased with this little heli. I've owned -I don't know- 10 of these toy-grade helicopters since they became popular a couple of years ago, and this one is about the best flying. (Read: you can actually control it. Somewhat.)

AND, it has a video camera.

The GOOD:

-Nice, stable flight. The helicopter, once spun-up will leave your hand and begin a slow, steady forward flight. You affect altitude with the left stick and left/right turns with the right stick. You can actually trim the little bird out to fly in a gentle circle. The Chief LOVES it. "I try, Daddy?"

-Robust-ness. Almost said robustiness. That would've been funny. And totally inappropriate. You will crash it. I've crashed mine a bunch and it's still flies great. Foam body, plastic landing gear, blades and linkage all take a beating. The connectors are tough as well. Actual USB docking connection between helicopter and controller, and mini-USB from controller to computer.

-Pretty dummy proof. The helicopter charges in it's cradle through a USB cable that you can plug into a wall adapter (iphone charger anyone?) Same for transferring pictures and video. To transfer vids/pics, just plug it in and it shows up as a removable drive. On a pc. Don't have a mac to test it. Wonder if it'd work on an ipad?

-Cool controller. There are 2 shoulder buttons on the controller. Left one takes snapshots. Right one starts and stops video. Cool.

The BAD:

-Left/Right controls are not super proportional. Meaning they're basically on/off. Meaning not smooth. Meaning sometimes your videos will make Grandma sick. Which could also be fun.

-NO audio. Bummer.

-Infra-red controls. Common to toy-grade helicopters but lacking in response and precise-y-ness. Lots of lag in throttle inputs.

-Video or pictures in low light conditions is lack luster. NARF!

-Not great outdoors. Very sensitive to even a small breeze. And to light (see infra-red controls.)

-Your two-year old can probably fly it better than you.

I'm Chup and I live vicariously through my toys. But C. Jane won't buy me any.

You can contact C. Jane personally at cjanemail @ gmail.com or leave comments on her facebook page and if you are on twitter you can find her tweets here. But no pressure.

Macy's First Impressions Gift Set Review by a Baby

So, I don't know, decades ago maybe, Macy's contacted me about reviewing a product. I usually don't respond to review emails (except the FREE FRIDGE ONES!!!) but this one was called First Impressions Gift Set--a whole set of goods for a baby. And as my procreation time table would have it, I had just birthed a specimen of my own. So I said, "Send one over!"

Which they did. It came in a white box and inside that white box was an "outfit from the Satin Hanger Collection, a five-piece layette set from the Everyday Value Collection and an adorable plush animal" just like they promised.

Only, it was for a little boy.

Lucky for me, my friend La Yen had her procreation time table set slightly later than mine, and she had a boy. So I sent her the package for her to review.

And she should win mother of the year, her bright-eyed son Waldo Jr. is only a couple months here and he's already reviewing products and using his Flip video.


Untitled from Jennifer Galan on Vimeo.




Sneaky guy, I saw that.

I am C. Jane Kendrick and I have to say, this is a perfect idea for a baby shower gift. Easy and simple. You can contact me personally at cjanemail @ gmail.com or leave comments on my facebook page and if you are on twitter you can find my tweets here. But no pressure.

Dear C. Jane, Motherhood Transitions?

Page, Me (Ever), Stephanie and Lucy shortly after Ever was born. 

Dear C. Jane,

If you get a moment...which was a more complicated transition? Having no kiddos to one? Or one kiddo to two?

Nicole in Maine

--------------------------------------------------------------

Nicole,

I thought one child to two was nothing short of brutal, however "they" all tell me it's two to three that does a soul in. I think my difficulties came because I wasn't emotionally ready for the sacrifice it takes to care for two humans. Alone time gets severely shrunk, and oh man, I like my alone time. So for me, the transition called for some grieving of what was lost (including those golden hours with the one child).

And I think there is some post traumatic stress involved in birthing, how could there not be? The line between ultimate beauty and tragedy is so thin and we walk it ever so close in those first few weeks or even months. It's a wonder how we all survived, our mothers included.

I've learned something beautiful about this postpartum stage that I didn't realize before. When my sister Lucy had her second baby just last month, my oldest sister Page took over her care. Page made certain that someone was with Lucy, at her house for three weeks straight. She set up a schedule, called, reminded, and asked everyone in the family to pitch in (Yay oldest sisters!) My sister-in-law Lisa (also an oldest sister) has always preached that the new mom must have constant care and food, now I get it. I resolve to be a better help to those new mothers in that vulnerable stage. And if I get to have another baby, I resolve to also accept that care.

In the meantime, I am actively searching a spiritual answer to two questions: why the pregnancy sickness and why the postpartum blues/depression? There must be a purpose in this. And why does it only come to some and not others?

Now, for a treat. This post by my pregnant friend Azucar about her proactive decision to start caring for her postpartum self now. Click here to read her battle plan.

Thanks for asking,

C. Jane

I am C. Jane Kendrick and I want a million babies, but not a million postpartums.  You can contact me personally at cjanemail @ gmail.com or leave comments on my facebook page and if you are on twitter you can find my tweets here. But no pressure.

Something to do While you are Waiting at the Dentist's Office

 

I am going to be writing a weekly column for the Deseret News, my first column here, came out this evening. It's about how I overcame some difficulties to be the model citizen I am today. Ok, it's sorta about that.

Here are some things I'd like to write about: Sarah Palin, My Dad, briefcases and clementines.

Wowzers, there's a list to look forward to!

Also, did you know you can contribute your own writings to the Deseret News (and other Deseret Media-Ksl, Mormon Times) by logging on to Deseret Connect and submitting your work? Utah residency is not required.

Seize the day!

I am C. Jane Kendrick and contrary to recent reports, self-promotion always feels weird. You can contact me personally at cjanemail @ gmail.com or leave comments on my facebook page and if you are on twitter you can find my tweets here. But no pressure.

Darlybird's Earring of the Month Club

I fantasize about a colorful box showing up at my house once a month. Inside that box are fantastic earrings--handcrafted and smartly designed. And I think about being able to give a pair to my sister for her birthday, or my friend just because, or keep them all to myself . . . if I really love them. And if they are Darlybird, I just might.

$8.25 for a pair of gorgeous earrings in the mail every month?
I hate to be cliche, but honey you deserve it.

Sign up here.

I am C. Jane Kendrick and sign me up. You can contact me personally at cjanemail @ gmail.com or leave comments on my facebook page and if you are on twitter you can find my tweets here. But no pressure.

Chup: Bucky Balls

Hey, hi.  Chup here with the post-holiday wish-list report.

While I wasn't exactly holding my breath thinking Santa would drop off my STi this year, I was definitely hoping for some of the other -less spendy- things on my list.

Hello, BuckyBalls.

I've been a bit of a magnet nerd for...well a long time.  Nerdy like scouring Chinese websites for cheap magnets. 

And I was happy with my humble magnet collection.  Discs, cubes, rectangles and spheres.  Large and small.  Ceramic.  Ferrite.  Neodymium.  And Rare earth, Oh Yeah!

What little I do know about magnets makes me appreciate Buckyballs:  they're super strong, and the coating doesn't chip.  Most every other source I've tried fails in one or both categories.

Funny:  my parents bought me a set for Christmas.

And then my brother and I didn't put them down for 3 days.

Then my dad felt bad and bought my brother his own set.

Then I felt bad and bought my dad his own set.

Merry Christmas, Buckyballs.

What do you do with them?



Duh.

Dunno really what else I can say about Buckyballs other than: buy some. 

Most places (like their site) are around $30.  Occasionally woot.com has a two-fer for $30 plus $5 shipping.

There are some other names out there: Neocube and Zen Magnets.   Haven't tried either of these (yet!) But Zen makes some pretty convincing arguments.  Funny.  If you're nerd.

Oh yeah, evidently they can mess up your intestines.















Gratuitous macro fun:

I'm Chup and I'm made of non-ferrous material.

Ryan Innes Call to Arms

My friends told me Ryan's voice was ear candy, and my ears are licking up this song:

• Call to Arms by Ryan Innes

More Ryan Innes music on iLike

I am C. Jane Kendrick and I am a solider in love. You can contact me personally at cjanemail @ gmail.com or leave comments on my facebook page and if you are on twitter you can find my tweets here. But no pressure.

BOM Reading Charts

I went to order some new Book of Mormon (aka Nie's favorite book) from type type type  Etsy shop and I was pleased to see some new colors (Hello Orange, I adore!) I'm ordering some for the Book of Mormon readers in my life. (Well, not all the Book of Mormon readers in my life because that would probably be zillions. But even still, it wouldn't be that expensive, these prints are kindly cheap.)

See the new palette here and other colors there.

[LDS tip] Get your YM and YW a mutual theme 13th Article of Faith print in all sorts of swirling colors, here.







I am C. Jane Kendrick and I am a Book of Mormon reader.  You can contact me personally at cjanemail @ gmail.com or leave comments on my facebook page and if you are on twitter you can find my tweets here. But no pressure.

Newness Around Here + Major Announcement!

Welcome to a new year of Dear C. Jane! Huzzah! Here are some changes in the way we are operating this year:

1. We changed the title a bit. We're calling this a "Guide to Life" but Chup thinks the tagline "A Simple Guide to a Simple Life" is sorta misleading. I see his point, because who really leads a simple life? And if there is someone out there doing just that, I'd like to read their blog. But no matter, we want to include more than just products around here--like lifestyle choices and happy thoughts. Free stuff, basically.

2. Like all my blogs, this site will be under construction as we get ready to roll out a new C. Jane look. Please pray for us, and excuse our dust.

3. We are hoping to get out and meet readers this year. With this will bring little travel guides as we go. We hope readers will point us in the best directions. Readers never fail--neither does charity.

4. We are going to be earnest in our Monthly Motherlodes. 11 winners for 2011 is our goal. If you are a newbie, Monthly Motherlodes is a giveaway at the end of the month that usually includes all the stuff we blogged about in that month. It's the motherlode of all giveaways, get it? Huzzah? Huzzah!

5. I use "we" and "our" a lot but most days it's really "me" and "only me" running this operation. (rude. ed: (chup))

6. We'll still be answering questions (something I've been lazy about in recent months) every Wednesday. And we'll try to include your "Where did Nie Nie get her...wallpaper, woodland animals, fish tank, can opener, toothpick, sieve..." questions.

7. That leads me to my major announcement: Chup will be posting every Friday! Huzzah again! Guy guides, buying guides, techy stuff, geek stuff, books, movies, photography "ask a man" junk all of it. Did Friday just become your favorite day?



We are now accepting advertising for this special blog. Email me at cjanemail @ gmail .com for rates. I have heard advertising with C. Jane is life changing. What? I am only repeating what I heard.




I am C. Jane Kendrick and I tried to get to 10 on this list, but that's all I got. You can contact me personally at cjanemail @ gmail.com or leave comments on my facebook page and if you are on twitter you can find my tweets here. But no pressure.

Freshly Picked Moccasins

I think a new year calls for new moccasins for the little people in our lives. Freshly Picked has all the colors you dream of (including Ever's favorite, gold) plus sizes for boys and girls. They are soft, stylish and I am telling you, they stay on little feet. It's almost like they are magic moccasins.

See here.

And if you follow these sorts of things, Kourtney Kardashian puts her Mason in Freshly Picked moccasins, see here, here and here. You can't go wrong sharing footsies with a Kardashian, no?






I am C. Jane Kendrick and I am a proud supporter of magic and moccasins. And celebrity babies. You can contact me personally at cjanemail @ gmail.com or leave comments on my facebook page and if you are on twitter you can find my tweets here. But no pressure.