Mainly Marta :: A Motherhood + Lifestyle Blog

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What started as a digital diary to document a newfound journey as a stay at home mom / wife has quickly evolved into my own little corner on the internet where I share all that life brings my way -- the good, the bad, and those "aha!" moments. All with a hint of sarcasm, a dash of truth and bold European wit. Thanks for following along!

12.01.2023

18 Things To Do This Month In The Treasure Valley

HELLO! HAPPY DECEMBER PEOPLE :) we made it and the christmas countdown is officially on!

I thought I'd take this blogmas post to talk about our plans for the month. We're in a new city this holiday season and we're having the holidays without any close family this Christmas, so I'm trying to over compensate that sadness with doing all the local things! Here is a small list of things I'd like to do and see this month. 

 

the to do list :

1. Walk Through 45-Miles Of Holiday Lights At Scentsy Commons

2. Go to the Vintage Holiday Market


5. Go Sledding at Camel Back Park

6. Drive Through Christmas In Color

7. Take a Sleigh Ride in the Sun Valley

8. Watch a Journey To Bethlehem in Theaters 

9. Talk A Horse Drawn Carriage Ride

10. Walk Though The Christmas Light Maze

11. See Christmas Lights at Winter Wonderland 

12. Visit the Idaho Botanical Garden

13. See Christmas Trees @ Capital Building, The Grove + The Village

14. Go Snow Shoeing at Bogus Basin

15. Grinchmas Market

16. Down Home Country Christmas in Kuna 

17. Meet Real Reindeer

18. Visit Winter Wonder Village


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11.30.2023

My Christmas + Birthday Wish list

hello again, welcome to another day of blogmas! day 21 -- we're almost at the end and just in time as tomorrow is the first day of december! I can't believe it. Christmas is really right around the corner!

Every year, I use a blogmas post to curate a birthday and wish list for myself and this year is no different. Fun fact -- I was supposed to be born on Christmas Eve and was a whole month late -- on the dot. I like to combine the two into one comprehensive list and I never really think about it until it's time to make this post, so it gives me an opportunity to sit down and think about what I want.  

this year, I'd like to start a brooch collection, so I added a few that I'd love to have, and of course, things for the home are always on the list. a few books, different type of candle holders + plates because I love the coziness of candles in the coming months made the list as well. I basically put things that I've been eyeing on the list, that's fair right? 

* as always, some links are affiliate!

 

Growing Seasons Book

Slippers

Badger Brooch

Earthy Shades of Nail Polish

Beeswax Pillar Candles

Fox Butter Dish

Moth Brooch

Distressed Taper Holder

Mouse Salt + Pepper Shakers

Scarf 

Painted Measuring Spoons

Enamel Canister Set

Pie School Book 

Blue Scarf 

Enamel Taper Plate

Rabbit Brooch

Lore Pemberton Prints

Patchwork Kitchen Set

Black Bird Brooch 

Wooden Spoons

Botanical Shakespeare

Door Mouse Brooch

Mouse in Cup Figurine

Pillar Candle Plate

Vole Brooch

12 Days of Christmas Mug

Tiny Nativity Cake Toppers

* items lined through are  things that I bought for myself.
 
alright, that's about it friends! my current wishlist. I hope you've enjoyed a little glimpse into the kind of things that I would hope to see under the tree. and with that, I'll bid you farewell -- see you in december! 



 

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11.29.2023

Winter Felted Friends + A Small Announcement

Gerda and the Reindeer by Edmund Dulac

one more day until december, eep! I cannot believe we've made it this far. today's blogmas is near and dear to my heart as I'm officially showcasing my woodland felted friends + announcing my upcoming small shop!

if you've been following on Instagram, you've seen that I've picked up needle felting as a hobby this autumn. I've surprised myself (and everyone who's close to me) with how well they've turned out. It's been so fun creating them and revealing the final product to friends and family. 

Several of you have asked if I'm selling them and I've decided to open up a little shop and sell them (as orders) come in. it'll probably open in the spring though as I have yet to figure out the logistics behind selling physical items -- things like packaging material, branding tools, marketing, etc. Keep an eye out for more updates!

Until then, here are a few of my creations that I am most proud of.


Darcy The Fox 


Winston the Mouse 


Clara the Chickadee

 

Milton the Mole


Otis the Opossum


Mildred the Squirrel 


 

Mildred is still a work in progress as I want to give her feet + tiny paws, but I thought I'd share her too as she's turning out so sweet.  I'm so pleased that I picked up this hobby because I am surprising myself with how well they're turning out. 

Anywaaaaaaays that's all for today's post. What little critter do you think I should make next?!



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11.28.2023

Christmas Movie Line Up


hello again. we're really creeping closer to December, so it's time to ring in the Christmas movies! I'm big on holiday movies and I'd be lying of I said we haven't started watching them. I'm one of those have hallmark movies running all day during the holidays, but in addition to those, I love watching classics with the kids. here are the movies that are part of this years line up for holiday family movie nights!



and there you have it: a few films to watch the with the kids each night in december! but wait -- there are three bonus film that you have to see which are actually about the TRUE meaning of christmas.


okay friends, that's a wrap! Better get a head start on these because there are more than 30 films listed ;)





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11.27.2023

Inventive Snow Day Fun

 

hello hello, happy monday! let's chat snow days. they're so fun and festive. snow makes everything feel so whimsy + magical. the sight of it instantly sparks joy. for the longest time, we lived in a place where we hardly got any snow, so I had to be inventive since I couldn't drive to the mountains each day. here are some ideas to bring the snow fun indoors.

 



 


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11.24.2023

Small Shops To Support on Saturday

 

christmas shopping (1947) by Roger Wilkerson

hello there. welcome back. I hope you had a wonderful thanksgiving! I cannot believe it's black friday already. I hope you've found some amazing deals. since we're resuming blogmas, I wanted to take today to shout out some of my favorite small shops and artists that could use your support tomorrow for small shop saturday. these shops are near and dear to my heart as they are ones that I frequent often.

I'll be adding some codes and links as i have them, but really just support these amazing without the links if you can because the revenue they make today and this season help pay their bills and support their families. I love supporting them and love the amazing work + products they consistently bring!

so enough blabbing, here's that list --


favorite small shops

happy place nature

I'm Irena's biggest fan. she makes wonderful play-dough stampers and wooden animals that we consistently reach for during the day. She also makes wooden trays and puzzles that are absolutely wonderful. She gave me a code to share with my followers a while back and it's valid for the rest of this year!

use code : 10MARTA2023 for 10% off your order 


the child's apothecary

another one of my all time favorites. Sarah creates the most beautiful fizzy kits and curates a collection of wonderful curiosities. She has seasonal drops that are literally jaw dropping. 

 

one of my favorite places to buy natural homemade play dough. the colors are gorgeous and the quality is amazing! 
 
 
my favorite mom and dad team! they make the most beautiful wooden toys and trays. Becky has become a close friend of mine and every launch she and her husband, Andrew, release with is so original and beautiful! I really love their commitment to using earthy and muted tones. they're on winter break right now, but I couldn't not add them to this list! 


my toy wagon

sells a beautiful collection of wooden and felt toys. we also love buying our connectix tiles from this shop.  

get $10 off your first order by clicking here!

 

a collection of beautiful books, clothes, and toys.

 

the first small shop I ever supported and bought from when I started homeschooling. they have wonderful educational resources in the form of white boards and wooden trays. they also have a wonderful selection of manipulative. 
 
 
our favorite place to buy play silks for capes and forts. The colors are amazing and we love the seasonal prints. We also use their subscription and get a play silk each month in the mail!

 

bella luna toys

the go to place for all my waldorf needs!  

get $10 off of $50 using this link or use code "MARTA" at checkout! 


YaYa Eco Designs

another favorite place to buy homemade play-dough. the colors + quality are always up to par with our expectations!


we love their selection of wooden open ended toys. they carry one of our favorite Romanian toy brands!


 my go to for colorful nature based toys. they have some great educational resources too.
 
 
they're based in canada, but I love their selection of items especially during the holidays
 
 
their seasonal toys are amazing! a great place to browse. I don't have a daughter, but if I did, I'd shop their doll shop on the regular.


this toy shop is the dreamiest, with heirloom pieces you'll cherish forever.


my go to place for maileg and grapat items. they have an amazing selection of toys! 
get 10% off your order by clicking here or use code "MAINLYMARTA" at checkout


a homemaker's paradise! I love this shop for so many reasons. they have vintage markets every month as well as household staples. I love shopping at this shop and wish they had a local brick and mortar store in my city.

hierloom art co

a little shop filled with vintage inspired pieces and books.


treehouse schoolhouse

this is the shop that sells our favorite seasonal nature studies!


mornings together / penpal clubhouse

they have beautiful digital resources that are inspired by nature. they also have penpal clubhouse which is a cute little subscription that gives you a letter pack each month that your child can send to their pen pal.


the wooden wagon

they have a wonderful selection of european toys + folk art. 


flying pig toys

this is a shop I love because they sell so many kinds of toys and books. I love browsing their selection of usborne books and wooden toys. 

 

timber and sprout toys

the most beautiful wooden heirloom toys -- name puzzles, push toys, homeschooling tools and so much more. all amazing quality and handmade!


favorite artists


picwool

pauline makes miniature needle felted companions that are completely magical. they're stunning creations and so creative.

@picwool on instagram


lilalune

vanessa makes the cutest waldorf dolls.  

@lilalune on instagram / @lilalune.patterns on instagram


fable + forest

jamie is one of my favorite watercolor artists. her painting of whimsical little mice are magical!

@jamie.lauby on instagram

 

dollbelge

viktoriya make the sweetest fruit and veggie waldorf dolls that I have ever seen! 

@dollbelge on instagram


lamb little

another watercolor artist that does such beautiful work! 

@lamblittle on instagram


fauna clay

the sweetest little animal sculptures made out of clay

@faunaclay on instagram


rustles from the meadow

heirloom minature felted animal friends

@rustlesfromthemeadow on instagram


studio satsch

lovely illustrations of every day life and seasons

@studiosatsch on instagram 


Lavi Poder

such whimsical illustrations of the countryside 

@lavi_illustration on instagram

 

Brooklyn Swenson

she makes modern folk art . 

@brooklynswenson on instagram


fox children

some of the sweetest tiny waldorf dolls.

@foxchildren on instagram


gwen van knippenburg

beautiful illustrations + prints 

@gwens_illustrations on instagram


the sweetest most magical felt mice 


stunning illustrations of children and scenes from nostoglic stories
 
 
... well, this list could go on an on because there are so many creators, artists and shop owners that I love. I hope you check them out + consider support a few shops tomorrow. even a follow on social media helps a little bit. 

until next time, 




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