{winner!}

Congratulations, Heidi {who said, "Count me in! I would love to win this give-away! My 18 month old would love these things!"}. You have one pretty, pretty Catch Me if You Can blabla mobile! And now, one very lucky 18 month old. Please email us at tangledandtrue@gmail.com with your name and address and we will relay your information for the package to be on it's was shortly.

Thank you! blabla.

Stay close for a new giveaway that will be announced on Friday morning. And please feel welcome to sign up for our {confidential} friends mailing list for giveaway reminders, the inside know, etc. [See sidebar for details.]

-Tangled and True.

simply charmed.

I am sort of obsessed with Helen Ficalora right now. I really like her alpha-charms and think that the initial{s} of a baby, husband or significant other would make for a sentimental and chic accessory. I wouldn't mind having the Smile charm around my neck. Even better- 25% of its profits go to Jacob's Cure. The Star and Mom charms are also on my wish-list (the "mom" charm being a perfect gift for me to give to a sister, mother or friend since I do not yet fit the category).

Really- the entire collection is simple, sweet & classy. I love it. I want my own charm. Actually, I want several. Soon.

case study.

We received a fun question from one of our friends:

"Hi-

I'm on the search for a great book case for my daughter's room and I was wondering if you had any suggestions? We have cherry baby furniture so I'm looking for something that could coordinate well with that. It doesn't have to be an actual book case, just some type of storage for books that's kid friendly and at kid level. Oh and budget friendly would be good too! Her actual room is purple, so I'm okay with something colorful in pastels or any complimentary color. Thanks for your suggestions!

sincerely-Jen"

Hi Jen! I was excited to do a bit of research, as I'm needing shelving for my son's room as well. Although the research for your little girl's room is sure to turn up something different than if I was looking for Cole's room, it's given me some great ideas. I hope this helps your dilemma.

{I do have to say that the matching furniture to a cherry finish makes the task a bit difficult. With some of these choices, think about the option of staining or painting...}

{one}

design within reach: I love the idea of stackable cubes for a playroom or nursery: Each kit contains 18 panels to create up to six attached cubes, depending on your choice of assembly. {Available in red, blue, white and orange.} Each shelf holds up to 55 pounds and the system can easily anchor into the wall {safety!}. Only $220.

{two}

bb2 shelf unit: the amazing bin-style shelf on the bottom allows for both book and toy storage. I think all parents are a fan of versatility, yes? "Made of environmentally-friendly, industrial grade euro color plywood." I say: very cool design, very usable product, very easy to paint to match your nursery. $290.

{three}

offi bench box: "Minimal in form and maximum in function, this finely crafted Bench Box is a fabulous solution for storing toys & books." Is available with base {pictured} or on wheels and has the option for a seat cushion. $349.

{four}

neighborhood book case: Obviously this one is a little more traditional and a little more child. {Perfect if you're looking for a traditional children's bookcase I suppose.} I appreciate the features of "clean, crisp lines and fresh, smooth finishes." Available in periwinkle, french blue, sky blue and white. $299.

Ikea and The Container Store always stand as good options for build-it-yourself shelving.

Let us know what you decide! Good luck.

from the hips.

During my daily check of Apartment Therapy: the Nursery, I learned about from the hips, what seems like the latest {and most honest} of the pregnancy, postpartum, and new mommy books. It's labeled: "a comprehensive, open minded, uncensored, totally honest guide to pregnancy, birth and becoming a parent." It's like drawing on the experience of a panel of best friends that are willing to share the amazing, the crazy and the nitty gritty. Invaluable, really!

From their intro,

Should I have an amniocentesis? Should I eat this tuna sandwich? Should I circumcise? Will my baby be more comfortable in a $37 organic cotton onesie? Seriously, will this tuna really hurt the fetus? And what the hell is a doula anyway?

"Like most women, we found ourselves braving the road to motherhood without a decent map. We were shocked to discover that every piece of media we encountered on the subject of having a baby made us feel pressured to act in one way or another, rather than encouraging us to find our own voices as parents. There we were, newly pregnant, giddy with excitement as we browsed the bookshelves. To the right, the old-school medical advisory manual, bursting with what to freak out about when you're expecting. To the left, the wise-cracking Hollywood mom, wagging a manicured finger at us all the way to the hospital. Who else? The rustic midwife? The Belgian nun? The more we read the more lost and intimidated we felt."

I think we could all use a good manual. I flipped through my collection of books several times a day during my pregnancy with Cole. Because answers bring a little bit of settlement to a life that is suddenly upheaved {in the best of ways}. It would help with some of the I wish I knews.

save Darfur.

"John Lennon would have turned 67 in 2007. If alive, he could well be at the forefront of bringing peace to Darfur, where more than half a million have died from violence and disease during four years of rebel discord. So to create awareness of the ongoing conflict, Amnesty International (with permission from Yoko Ono) has mined Lennon's solo work and rounded up nearly two dozen current artists to reinterpret the music, which spans the ex-Beatle's entire post-band catalog (plus a pair from while the Fab Four were still in business)." {-Scott Holter}

On the lineup?

Disc: 1
1. Instant Karma - U2
2. #9 Dream - R.E.M.
3. Mother - Christina Aguilera
4. Give Peace a Chance - Aerosmith, Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars
5. Cold Turkey - Lenny Kravitz
6. Whatever Gets You Through the Night - Los Lonely Boys
7. I'm Losing You - Corinne Bailey Rae
8. Gimme Some Truth - Jakob Dylan, Dhani Harrison
9. Oh, My Love - Jackson Browne
10. Imagine - Avril Lavigne
11. Nobody Told Me - Big & Rich
12. Jealous Guy - Youssou N'Dour
Disc: 2
1. Working Class Hero - Green Day
2. Power to the People - Black Eyed Peas
3. Imagine - Jack Johnson
4. Beautiful Boy - Ben Harper
5. Isolation - Snow Patrol
6. Watching the Wheels - Matisyahu
7. Grow Old With Me - The Postal Service
8. Gimme Some Truth - Jaguares
9. (Just Like) Starting Over - The Flaming Lips
10. God - Mick Fleetwood, Jack's Mannequin
11. Real Love - Regina Spektor

Here's a taste:

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In an effort to mobilize activism around this catastrophe, musicians unite to save lives. Support the cause by buying the album here.

{get in shape} cycle

Third in our get in shape series: cycle.

I'm talking cycle in your home. Dim the lights. Put in your earphones and you become your own instructor. Think spin class.

I am not going to go into the details of getting into a road bike vs. mountain bike vs. cyclecross vs. tri bike. The list goes on. There are as many kinds of bikes as there are shades of pink. So get your bike of choice {besides a cruiser} and you're ready. Almost.

You need one of these.

It's my favorite workouts these days. We keep our trainer and my bike in the garage. During Avery's nap or after she goes down at night...I ride. I feel energized afterwards. I create my own workout, including hills and speed. I love it.

{If you have extra padding in your budget, try Pod Fitness. With a monthly subscription you get your own personal trainer via your iPod. See how it works here.}

{reminder!}

Final countdown for the darling bla bla mobile {perfect decor accessory in any child's room or an amazing baby gift}. Giveaway ends tonight at midnight PST. Leave a comment on the giveaway post. And check back tomorrow to see if you're the lucky winner.