I want to be the kind of mom who . . .

I've come across so many things on blogs lately that have really inspired me and given me some ideas about the kind of mom I want to be. I thought I'd share a few because it gives me a chance to share some great ideas and some of my favorite blogs.

I want to be the kind of mom who makes some handmade gifts for my kids birthdays and holidays that will help them use their imaginations like this darling wooden family from Gemmielou's Etsy shop. You can also buy plain wooden people there or pick some up at your local craft store. There a whole post about wooden dolls here on Design Mom's blog (one of my very favorite blogs to follow). Wouldn't every kid get a kick out their very own wooden family modeled after their real family? I want to be the kind of mom who keeps a photo booth album like Jordon Ferney does (she also has a great blog and she just happens to be Design Mom's sister). I've tried to find an old school photo booth in Columbus and alas, I have not discovered a single one. At least there are several in Utah, another thing to look forward to!

And speaking of family portraits, I want to be the kind of mom that has frequent family portraits taken that capture the spirit of our family, not stiff and posed, but just us being us. Tara Whitney is a great example of this. Larry and I both heart this family portrait. Good thing I have a professional photographer in the family. Now I just need to work on learning to use my own camera or move to CA and become Tara Whitney's best friend.I want to be the kind of mom who provides a comfortable reading nook for each member of the family. Ok, it most likely won't be as extravagant as this one spotted on Apartment Therapy (there is a round mattress with lots of pillows inside), but a want a comfortable spot for reading to be a special part of our daily life.

I'm thinking more along the lines of this cardboard rocket playhouse they used to sell at MOMA, but I think it's no longer available. Do you think I can talk my dad into helping me make one? I think this would be so cosy in Creed's room with some comfy pillows and a light inside.I want to be the kind of mom who makes every holiday special and magical and full of traditions the whole family will look forward to. I think I spotted this on Apartment therapy too, but I'm not sure. Sorry if you know better send me a link and I will fix it. This is nest of hot chocolate with a marshmellow peep in it is someones beautiful Easter morning tradition. For other great holiday tradition ideas, try checking in with the uber fabulous Kristi of Everythingispink.

I want to be the kind of mom who helps my kids come up with inventive activities and helps them find little ways to serve others and support the community. One of the best posts that I've read recently did both. Andrea of Hula Seventy gathered her daughter and friends and helped them write secret wishes/fortunes for other people and then they walked around town finding little spots to leave them for other people to discover. What a wonderful way to spend the day. I wish that I could have been there to see people discover little slips of paper with "read me" written on the outside and things like, "Don't listen to the mean things people say" or "You will always be beautiful" in a child's handwriting on the inside.
I want to be the kind of mom who encourages her kids to be original instead of following the crowd, which includes dressing them a little differently (while I still have the chance to dress them) and encouraging the idea that it's fun to be different and boring and impossible to be just like everyone else. I recently discovered the blog to two sisters-in-law who among other creative endeavors, create the most wonderful clothing for their kids that I have ever seen. Oh would I love to be the kind of mom who could just whip out any clothing that I could dream up. Sewing clothing scares me so I'll have to work on getting over that. Check out the Sugar City blog for more amazing children's clothing like this (and some cute doll clothing too!)

I want to be the kind of mom who find ways to bring fun and cheer into the details of everyday life. I don't remember where this photo came from (sorry I just saved it a while back because it made me happy), but you can bet I will be drawing faces on the fruit in Creed's lunchbox some day!So now it's your turn. What kind of a mom/wife/friend/dad do you want to be? What are your favorite blogs? And what has inspired you lately?