Author: Gina @ Oaxacaborn

Gina Munsey is a Mexico-born, Eastern Europe-raised missionary kid who ended up being a Californian by way of Florida outside of Nashville, Tennessee. She lives her days full of coffee and adventures while her 12-year-old learns Mandarin Chinese and Greek, her 3-year-old uses all the markers, and her artist-husband creates worlds from pixels and light. A blogger since the turn of the century (ouch!) she's an editor, co-op teacher, and writer who has only completed four chapters of her languishing manuscript. You can find Gina right here at oaxacaborn.com, or in the middle of [home]school surrounded by stacks and stacks of books.

How is that I have not yet done a coffee edition of Monday’s Pretty Things? This essential needs no introduction, so without further ado…

DRINK COFFEE Do stupid things faster and with more energy

This postcard makes me laugh, even though I see it every single morning — it’s taped onto our coffee jar. (Note that this is one of the very rare times I will post an image on my blog without a link back to the source. I’m a firm believer in properly crediting the artist, as explained in Design*Sponge’s informative piece, How to Credit.)

Keep Calm and Drink Coffee via the Keep Calm Shop on Etsy

Ah yes, an absolute classic.

Image of Christina Holm-Sandok of Style-Architects via Glitter Girl

(P.S. If that was me in the morning, the clothes would be Christmas flannel pants and a hoodie…and the dog would be a Papillon ;-)

Homemade Mocha Coconut Iced Coffee via How Sweet it Is

When you click on the link you have to scroll way, way, way down to get to the decadent recipe for that coconut mocha. Now, who’s making me one tomorrow morning?!

“A morning without coffee is like sleep”, a print via Jan Skácelík

I don’t understand people who don’t drink coffee.

“Do you know how I feel?” coffee comic via Exploding Dog

I burst out laughing every time I read this comic. Because it’s ludicrous? No, because it’s absolutely and completely true, Chaaa’lie (said in my Lola voice.)

“I measure my life in coffee spoons”, a T.S. Elliot quote print via Vol. 25

This quote always reminds me of a snippet of lyrics from “Seasons of Love”, the only Broadway song I like.

“Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes
How do you measure, measure a year?

In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights
In cups of coffee…”

London Coffee via Green Kitchen Stories

Now, I’m off to bed so I can wake up and have my coffee!

Poetry & Words

WRITING & WORDS :: Guest Post on The Organic Bird Blog – On Contentment, and Living in the Moment

January 22, 2012March 22, 2014 Gina @ Oaxacaborn

Do you all read The Organic Bird? Andrea Levendusky’s treasure trove of poignant, honest writing has quickly become one of my favorite places on the web. It’s truly worth adding to your reading list.

I’ve been so blessed getting to know Andrea through Facebook and Twitter over the last few months, and was thrilled when she asked me to pen a guest post. So, you can find me on The Organic Bird today, talking a little about the ways God is using my daughter to teach me about being content.

Thank you, Andrea!

Oaxacaborn - Guest Post on The Organic BIrd Blog - Motherhood

“I’m staring. It’s that time of the afternoon where all I want is another cup of coffee, but Aveline’s bedroom is right off the kitchen. She’s the world’s lightest sleeper; if I even think about that cup of coffee too loudly, I know she’ll hear me & wake up.

There is a pot of white beans simmering on the stove. I’ll add some sage and garlic in a bit. I’m not sure why I bought white beans. I nearly always cook black beans — black beans with onion, garlic, lime, jalapeño, and cilantro. Once upon a time, when I lived in my beautiful California, I added epazote, too. It grew wild around my front step.

But here, here in the land of my sojourn….” [continue reading my guest post on The Organic Bird blog]

//Comments are disabled here, so you can leave them on Andrea’s blog. :-)//

Life in Photos, Little Style

LITTLE STYLE :: Aveline’s First Birthday – Handmade Felt Feather Birthday Crown, Stuffed Plush Toy Bunny, and Gluten-free Chocolate Cake

January 20, 2012March 22, 2014 Gina @ Oaxacaborn

Handmade felt feather crown - Feathered birthday crown

Aveline’s birthday yesterday was such a lot of fun! I can’t believe she’s a whole year old. We had a quiet little party for her, just Josiah and I, since our families are ~~millions~~ thousands of miles away — but it was joyous and beautiful and so full of laughter. (She even got to FaceTime and talk with both sets of grandparents!)

And can I just say I’m really happy with the way her feathered crown turned out? Even if the feathers did keep flopping over. I’m hoping to make a different birthday crown for her each year. My mom made us special birthday hats when we were little, and I thought it was the best thing ever.

What are your favorite birthday traditions — either from your childhood, or for your own children? I think it would be great to make a new handmade toy for her each birthday as well!

Oaxacaborn - First Birthday - Handmade Kawaii Plush Toy Creature

Oaxacaborn - First Birthday - Gluten-free Chocolate Cake

Oaxacaborn - First Birthday - First taste of cake

Oaxacaborn - First Birthday - Close up of baby taking bite of cake

Oaxacaborn - Baby birthday cake

Oaxacaborn - First Birthday - Baby in highchair eating cake

Oaxacaborn - First Birthday - Cake Crumbs

Oaxacaborn - First Birthday - Pink first birthday candle

Oaxacaborn - First Birthday - Cake crumbs on IKEA Blames high chair tray

P.S. Here is the gluten-free chocolate cake recipe I used.

Poetry & Words

WRITING & WORDS :: It was a year ago today that I first met my baby girl, and…

January 19, 2012March 22, 2014 Gina @ Oaxacaborn

…I thought that now, at one year later, I would finally have words for this.

Home from hospital with baby Aveline Alenka

Words for what it felt like to hold her, outside of my body, for the very first time.

Words for what it felt like to look at her living, breathing soul.

Widescreen baby portrait in black and white

2-Widescreen baby portrait in black and white

But I don’t.

I still have no words — only awe,

only wonder,

only joy.

So, so much joy.

To God be the glory, great things He has done!

Poetry & Words

WRITING & WORDS :: The Bestest Job in the Whole Wide World

January 17, 2012March 22, 2014 Gina @ Oaxacaborn

Toddler Aveline running down the sidewalk

Today, this has mainly been my view — the back of a very quickly moving Aveline. It’s been a “part of” kind of day.

Part of the laundry folded.

Part of an article for Babiekins Magazine written.

Part of Aveline’s birthday crown made.

Part of the bathroom cleaned.

Toddler Aveline stooping down to pick up bark off the sidewalk

But that’s ok. It’s been a day full of life, full of laughter, full of joy, full of peace.

Toddler Aveline kneeling on sidewalk holding bark pieces

I wouldn’t trade my position now with any one.

I love being a mama. I couldn’t think of a better gift in the world than my little, hilarious, laughing miracle.

Toddler Aveline tasting bark

Life in Photos

LIFE IN PHOTOS :: Spontaneous Hug

January 17, 2012March 22, 2014 Gina @ Oaxacaborn

I was photographing Aveline this morning while we were waiting for the furnace repair-man, and she ran toward me to give me a big hug. I turned the camera toward us and snapped a couple of shots blindly. I love the resulting photo! Can you believe the little bug will be ONE on Thursday?

Monday's Pretty Things

MONDAY’S PRETTY THINGS :: Here’s to 2012

January 16, 2012November 1, 2012 Gina @ Oaxacaborn

It’s been too long since I posted an edition of “Monday’s Pretty Things”. Let’s start this year off with a short list — just two photos. (It’s still a list if there are only two things, right?)

I love winter scenes like this one, which at first glace look as though they’ve been shot in black and white. Such an achingly beautiful stand of birch trees.

via Helt Enklet

The pure light in this next image is so clean and beautiful, a bright contrast to the cloudy, grey day above. Plus, I was especially attracted to this photograph because of the colors — mustard (of course!) against white.

via moa og kaffekoppen

Want to see more pretty things? I don’t blame you…two images barely whets your appetite for inspiration! ;)

Life in Photos

LIFE IN PHOTOS :: Corners of our Home at the Start of 2012: Instagram Snapshots

January 9, 2012March 22, 2014 Gina @ Oaxacaborn

I’ve been busy this month cleaning, sorting, and de-cluttering — a really great start to 2012! Here are a handful of snapshots from around the house, snagged from my Instagram feed.

View from our bedroom, looking out into the living room. Taken the first night back in Florida after Christmas vacation

This is the cozy view through our bedroom door, looking into the living room. I took this the first night we were back in Florida after Christmas break.

I really want to leave these lights up forever. It's always so sad when they're taken down after Christmas.

I think I’d like to keep these lights up forever. It always seems so sad and dark in January when the lights are packed away.

The top of my dresser –the amazing London grid art is from TexturedINK on Etsy (and I won it via a giveaway on the Happy Interior Blog!) I really need to pick up some frames. I’ll have to post some additional photos once I get the art hung properly.

Seriously, is there anything better than salsa?

I mean, really, is there anything better than salsa? I’ve been eating it with every meal lately.

Working on the first Japanese-inspired creature of 2012. This will be in the shop later this year. The first one is for Aveline's first birthday!

I worked on this little Japanese-inspired creature over the weekend. Aveline will get this particular one for her first birthday (which is on the 19th. THIS MONTH. Ahhhhh!), and I’ll list subsequent ones in the Oaxacaborn shop. (Did you see the kawaii plush I made her for Christmas?)

A rare cool fog which makes me miss the California coast like crazy.

This morning’s rare and heart-breakingly beautiful fog made me miss the California coast something awful. Someday, someday.

And oh yes, last by not least, my new Nakate Project beads. I love that purchasing these beautiful necklaces helps women in Uganda eat properly, put a roof over their heads, send their children to school, and start small businesses. (P.S. Right now the ENTIRE Nakate store is 50% off when you use the code NEWYEARSALE.)

Full disclosure: Yes, I am the Systems Administrator for Nakate, but I’m not being compensated in any way for my posts about them. I talk about Nakate often because it’s important to me, not because I have to. :)