Father' Day Fotos: Daddy Pete

above: Designing Mom Kate's leading man, Pete with their adorable Oscar. They are happy to announce the birth of their baby boy, Charlie on May 21...Congrats Kate!

Fridays Fotos: Date Night

Designing Mom Kate is having baby #2 and posted this sweet photo up on Crave to try and win a free date night before the little one arrives. Click here to give them a lending hand!

Have a happy Friday and weekend everyone!

Make: New Year Cards

by Designing Mom Kate of The Proprietress

We were a little too busy to get out a “holiday” card – so we decided to focus on the surprises and joy of 2010 instead. We just sent the simple postcards out yesterday (everything takes a little longer to accomplish with a toddler in the house). What I love about a post-holiday card? Double as a thank you note for holiday gifts!!

Story: Word #2...Hat

by Designing Mom Kate

A little background: My husband and are both writers (he's a copywriter, I am now a blogger), we consume books by the shelf-ful (less so for me now that Oscar has arrived), and we love to play scrabble on date night. I guess we have a thing for words. Our little magpie, Oscar, is picking up words like crazy - and I'd like to chronicle some of his favorites here. *to read the story of Oscar's first word click here!



This was not his second word (that was "beer") - but at 18 months, it is still in heavy rotation. With my little tow-head, I feared I'd be the mom spraying sunscreen all over his head every time we walked out the door. But alas! He actually wanted to wear a hat. In fact, he became obsessed with hats.

First word as he woke in the morning? "Hat" (followed with patting of head). We quickly obliged.


As we went about our daily business - errand, park, walks, etc - he'd diligently point out every person wearing a hat and say "hat" matter-of-factly. Sometimes he'd get particularly excited when he saw a plethora of hats. This time we'd get an "oooh! Hat! Hat! Hat!". This was said with the same degree of excitement as kids usually give to Santa Claus.

I don't think there has been a single day in the last 6 months that my child has not worn a hat. We have outgrown two baseball hats and now have 3 baseball hats, 3 pub hats and 2 beanies in rotation. I let him select his own hat each day - and wouldn't you know it? He always picks just the right look.


Not only does he love saying and wearing hats - but you should see him in a hat store! I took him to Goorin Brothers a few weeks ago and you'd think he was running loose in a candy store what with all the enthusiasm. He tried on several hats and paraded around the store like a peacock. He looked in the mirror and smiled and then he'd try on another. I so wanted him to dig a fedora - but that was thrown off with disdain. Though he adores hats - they must be "just so".

Oscar never had a blankie or animal he toted around - which leads me to believe that wearing a hat is his version of a security blanket. Which I think is pretty rad. May his love of hats continue throughout life - as a man with a hat can be quite dashing.

What's in My Bag: Designing Mom Kate

Today my bag was packed to go to the fountain for water-play…even though we ended up at the park instead! I love this colorful Fossil bag for summer because it goes with everything and has so many pockets that I can designate specific ones just for Oscar’s stuff. I only use my diaper bag when I’m gone for a long time or need more stuff….but this is my everyday purse that doubles as a diaper-bag “light”.

Here’s the gist (note that the contents are always changing!): Oscar stuff:
-Diaper(new Huggies natural--we're trying it out)
-Swim diaper
-Change of clothes in case he got too wet (I usually pack a one-piece for this occasion)
-Sippy cup
-Ziploc bag of wheat-free newtons and gluten-free animal crackers (he's allergic to wheat, eggs & peanuts)
-Seventh Generation wipes (for bum)
-Wet wipes (for hands)
-45 spf sunblock
-Noodle and boo eczema cream sample
-Sample of prescription eczema cream

Kate stuff:
-Wallet (the colorful melamine case with flowers)
-Little fabric bag for store loyalty cards and secret cash stash
-Orbit gum
-Angela Adams noteboook
-Dum Dum lollipop (from restaurant)
-Peppermint candy (from restaurant)
-Cell Phone (yes, it's old school)
-Chanel super duper won't come off lip gloss
-5 different lipsticks in various brands/shades
-Alba lip gloss
-Banana boat chapstick with SPF
-Mac lip liner
-A pen
-An assortment of change
-ALL OUT OF shopping list (used yesterday)

Story: Word #1...Ball

by Designing Mom Kate

My husband and I are both writers (he's a copywriter, I am now a blogger), we consume books by the shelf-ful (less so for me now that Oscar has arrived), and we love to play Scrabble on date night. I guess we have a thing for words. Our little magpie, Oscar, is picking up words like crazy and I'd like to chronicle some of his favorites here.


Word #1: BALL Oscar's first word was uttered in Mexico around his 1st birthday: "Ball." Since then, I think I may have heard him say the word at least three thousand times. Sometimes he questions, "Ball?" (as in: where is the ball? Is that a ball? Can I have my ball? Are you holding a ball?). sometimes he exclaims with gusto, "BALL!" (as in: there's the ball! I see the ball! A new ball! I caught the ball! I want that ball that isn't mine! I love the ball! The ball brings me more joy than I can possibly express!). And often times the word is simply uttered matter-of-factly, "Ball." (as in: I just woke up and I need to see a ball. I know what a ball is. That is a ball. There's a ball in front of my face. I can say the word ball. Even though you just gave me a vaccination, I will forgive you since you just gave me a ball.).


When we arrive at the park for our morning run - he starts yelling, "Ball!
Ball! Ball!" when he gets his first glimpse of the basketball court. One time in a restaurant he started shouting, "Ball, Ball!" - I didn't see one anywhere - until I glanced at a TV in the corner showing a baseball game (how on earth did he see that?). His ball radar is very acute. His little obsession drives our entertainment choices. He loves balls? Well - then we'll get him a whole slew. Whenever we shop and he sees a ball (as in: Ball!) - I can't resist buying it. I reason - he needs indoor balls, outdoor balls, park balls, car balls, bath balls, diaper-bag balls. And of course he needs large balls, small balls, squishy balls, bouncy
balls, hard balls, balls that fit in my purse, balls that are larger than his entire body. My husband wants to encourage his interest in baseballs, basketballs, footballs, soccer balls, tennis balls. I like the clear ball with a tiny cockatoo inside. I could open a ball store at this point and Oscar would be the best salesman.


He's recently morphed his first word into crude sentences: "That Ball!" is a new favorite. Recently at an outdoor wedding - the couple filled the pool with about 20 beach balls (for the kids). Oscar was like a magnet to the edge of the pool - trying to grab a ball. Finally, I got in the water and would bring him the ball of his choice as he excitedly pointed to "that ball!" (note that each ball was exactly the same). His passion for balls is genuine and adorable and I hope he never outgrows this brand of enthusiasm in his life.

Shop: Vinyl Sticker Train

By Designing Mom Kate


Since all of Oscars grandparents, aunts and uncles live out of state – I’ve been thinking of ways we can introduce them on a regular basis so he can “get to know” them in between live visits (and Skype). I thought it would be fun to hang photos – but this train vinyl frame set is even better. What a fun way to share photos in a little boys room. They also have some great stickers for grown-ups as well. They’re easy to move around and require no nails. I used some of these vinyl “stickers” at Ooma and loved them.

Shop: Haute Frame Decals

by Designing Mom Kate
I thought it would be cool to put up pictures of all of our family members so Oscar can learn their names and faces, especially since we moved to Portland and aren’t as geographically close to family anymore.

These haute frame decals are just too cute and a great way to keep the photos updated.

Decorate: My Favorite Things

Here is Kate's addition to my question of "What's your favorite "thing" in your little one's room?"


Favorite Items in Oscar's room

by Designing Mom Kate

I have three:

(1) one is a darling vintage toy box we bought at the Alameda Flea Market. It holds all his little animals and smaller toys. I love that it has a little kooky clown on it. It’s so “kid” while being very cool retro.

(2) Teal blue chair I found at Salvation Army years ago (it used to be the “man chair” at ooma!) I use this chair for nursing – so it serves a purpose other than being the most delicious shade of teal and having the coolest gold “legs”.

(3) A circular frame from Target that holds various sized photos. We’ve filled it the various stages of Oscar and he gets the biggest kick out of looking at his own photos. It’s a great distracter come diaper changing time.

Make: Party Hat

Celebrations just won't do without a proper party hat. And Designing Mom Kate has created the perfect one to help her little Oscar celebrate his big "One"!

Make: Party Hat

by Designing Mom Kate

One year ago – I was uber pregnant and doing everything in my power to birth my baby on time (eating hot wings, makin’ love, scarfing hot fudge sundaes, acupuncture, massage). I was reading all the expecting books, reviewing my birth plan, meeting with my doula and getting excited for the big day. I kept wondering if I would know when labor started and how that would feel. But mostly, I just wanted to meet the little person growing inside of my body for all these months.

And now – that little person is turning ONE! This first year has been one of the most amazing and delightful and challenging and hilarious and sleep-deprived of my life. My heart has expanded and continues to do so every day as I fall more and more in love with Oscar.

We’ll be in Mexico for his 1^st birthday – so I decided to make him a little party hat. I had some leftover denim from a botched hemming job that inspired the hat. I’m not as crafty as some of the moms here – but give me some cute fabric and some glue and even I can make something original and cool.

Kate’s steps to a cool party hat:

1. Buy a cheap card stock party hat at any party store

2. Un-staple it and use it to make a pattern for any fabric (I chose denim)

3. Cut out the number you’re celebrating in a contrasting fabric (I chose denim in reverse)

4. Cut out other designs (stripes, dots, shapes) in various fabrics/colors

5. Staple the hat back together with the main fabric.

6. Fabric glue your design onto the hat

7. Make a little hoo-haw for the top (I just chopped up a square of felt – bunched at one end and fanned out)

And voila! An easy, adorable, original birthday hat for your favorite little one.

Decorate: Bird Mobile

On the hunt for a stylish, eco-friendly mobile? This lovely Helen Ige bird mobile is laser cut from walnut plywood and hangs in Designing Mom Kate's nursery.

Make: Birthing Necklace

It's amazing the power and compassion that can come from a collective of mothers. Today's "Make" is by Designing Mom Kate and the meaning behind the birthing necklace that she and her best friends share is such a wonderful, symbolic gift to one another.

Make: Birthing Necklace

by Kate

My best friends and I started a tradition when the first of our crew got pregnant: birthing necklaces. We always come together before the birth of a new child and present our beads to the mama-to-be. Each bead is hand selected and offered to the mama with a story behind its inspiration. The mama then makes a necklace using the beads (plus a few fillers). It’s then packed with the birthing bag (or at home, as the case may be) and ready to do its purpose as labor begins: to remind the mama of her unique power, to be surrounded by love and friendship, and to wear something pretty.

It’s funny how each birthing necklace ends up looking exactly like the mama (if she was a necklace!). A picture of mine is attached. The nurses at the hospital fell in love with the idea and I wore it proudly as I nursed my son for the first time.

Designing Moms: Meet Kate cont'd

As promised, I am so happy to introduce Designing Mom Kate to all of you. When Kate told me that she was planning to open a stationery boutique, I was giddy. Not only do I love a fellow paper geek but I know her newest venture will be full of all the joyous spirit and whimsy that she is known for!
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Name: Kate

Business: Founder of Ooma in San Francisco, currently planning to open a stationery/gift boutique in Portland, Oregon

Babies: I am the mother of a little boy named Oscar, born 3/13/08

Inspiration: My son & husband are a huge source of inspiration - both make me laugh. My girlfriends make me want to tap into my goddess power. Color/humor/design all get me jazzed. Chocolate never hurts.




Why I do what I do:

I became an entrepreneur after 12 years in marketing. When I added up what would be my ideal job, the solution was to open a women’s clothing boutique. There was absolutely nothing else I wanted to do and it was the sum total of all my career desires.

I sold Ooma last year when I was pregnant and planning a move to Portland. Now I’m super jazzed to open another store – and do it on terms that allow me to be the best mom as well (I’ve been a SAHM since Oscar was born in March).

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Thank you for sharing Kate, we look forward to seeing your future posts!

Designing Moms: Meet Kate

If you live in San Francisco or have ever visited, chances are you have frequented the neighborhood of North Beach. And if you have, then I'll also lay bets that (with gelato in hand), you wandered along Grant Street so you could press your nose against the windows of two of the most charming boutique/studios ever. One of them is Shinmin's "I Dream of Cake" studio, and the other is none other than "Ooma," the beloved, retail clothing and accessories boutique founded by Kate Fulford. Just one look and you know it exudes the vibrant creativity and charm of its founder.

I'll be posting up Kate's introduction next!