Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum

Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum
Showing posts with label gifting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gifting. Show all posts

December 3, 2025

Hands like work

 

Virasana Hero Pose yoga doodle drawing mydailydoodle
Virasana - Hero Pose

How do we quiet the mind and open the heart? By moving the hands. 
A weighty question has been pulling me down and dragging me back, but I found respite and lightness this morning by: unpacking our suitcases, setting up the advent, calling an artist to collaborate, writing checks, designing and sending an invitation, decorating a small tree, cooking a nourishing dinner… ๐ŸŽ„ 

November 24, 2025

Not mydailydrawing

Mydailydoodle drawing yoga volcano asana tadasana urdhva hastasana mountain pose palm tree tippy toes
Tadasana Urdhva Hastasana - Volcano Pose, Mountain Pose variation
๐ŸŒ‹
On tippy ‘palm tree’ toes ๐ŸŒด

Not Big News : I have been playing with stylus (ipencil) and alternative programs (procreate from sketchbook) and even an upgraded iPad (I have always used my toddler’s), but the stylus sits in the crook of my hand while I type and draw with my middle finger, the new keyboard lacks emojis, and sketchbook continues to fulfill my meager doodling desires. So, as of yet, dailydoodles are lingering in their old ways - created in refurbished older model apple products with sharpie-esque outlines paint bucketed (filled in) in a marker/highlighter manner… for this doodler, old school still rules, plus - it’s not mydailydrawing, that’s for sure. ๐Ÿฅต๐Ÿ˜…

November 18, 2025

๐ŸŒŸ Starbaby ๐ŸŒŸ

 

Mydailydoodle drawing yoga asana pose Mudrasana psychic Union lotus
Yoga Mudrasana - Psychic Union Pose
Lotus legs, hands bound, third eye to the floor ๐Ÿงฟ

๐ŸŒˆ How do you prepare for your birthday? ✨ 

October 22, 2025

Returns and exchanges

Supta Padangusthasana reclined big toe pose with strap
Supta Padangusthasana - Reclined Big Toe Pose, with strap

Realize genuine aspirations by crossing off of your list any and all errands / shopping. XX even those returns and exchanges that seemingly save you money, but in reality perpetuate a vicious cycle (of believing that next thingie might finally make all the difference). Eat the ‘cost’ to reclaim the hours up front and bask in the meaningful goals accomplished before long.

September 15, 2025

Mirror rorriM


Bhujangasana - Cobra Pose arms wide ๐Ÿ 

When we lessen our own material requirements, (persistently removing those pesky impulses and cravings one-at-a-time,) the incessant worldly demands of our children (and other household members) no longer vex us, as the mirror aspect is removed. ๐Ÿชž 

XS enough to schlep XXL loads.


July 26, 2025

Beacon

 

Light bright beacon of artistic imagination. 

I have leaned heavily into the Mother role - which has physically manifested family-friendly, practical, durable, colorful, grounding and compounding clothes, foods and shelters. But there is a lighter, brighter, ASCETIC aspect of myself I’m turning more and more towards (without eschewing my foremost family-first ethos).

July 20, 2025

Dirndl

 

Dirndl 
Liebe - Love

How do we, as women, find our personal UNIFORM in the current CHAOS of literally unlimited options?


July 18, 2025

๐Ÿฆ‚

 

Balasana - Child’s Pose

Sometimes I forget to be kind. (Ingrained Scorpio habits die hard.) So I APOLOGIZE and try to be better. (There has been a marked decrease in my instinctual ‘revenge’ ways.)

June 28, 2025

Summer Elixer

 

CLEAN with bar soap ๐Ÿงผ 

SCRUB with sugar/salt + lemon, honey, vanilla, olive oil ๐Ÿง‚๐Ÿซ’ 

MOISTEN with coconut oil, castor oil, beef tallow ๐Ÿง‰๐Ÿฎ

SOOTHE with aloe, lavender essential oil, ice ๐Ÿ’œ๐ŸงŠ

May 22, 2025

Easy

 

Parivrtta Sukhasana - Easy Twist, Seated Twist, Simple Cross-legged Twist
Couples are yoga ๐Ÿ’•

Yes, the answer is kindness. 

April 21, 2025

Close and Click

Aparigraha - Yama of non-possessiveness, non-greed, non-attachment 

It’s finally here. Mommy’s ‘off’-season. No birthdays or holidays in this home until October and I’m giddy. I sat at the coffee shop this morning practically levitating; Easter was my final hoorah and it’s behind me. 

Of course, there will still be endless playdates, gatherings and pool parties in our near future, but those parlous (albeit winnowed* and well organized!) DECORATION BINS are now clicked shut and closed up in the cupboards — for nary half the year !!!!! ๐Ÿฅ‚ 

*Some sizable, substantial decorations have only lived with me through 2 years, 2 rounds of celebrating, but were a mistake that must be acknowledged and their donation pick-up is scheduled. I hope it’s not too inconvenient to pass along life-size trick-or-treating statues, giant glowing snowflakes, glitter encrusted cranberry wreaths, golden light-up nutcrackers, and stoic German Santa Clauses in May…

April 18, 2025

Hip to my Hop


๐Ÿฌ 

Sometimes a little piece of candy (or gum) is all the pick-me-up you (your passengers, fellow travelers, skiers, hikers, shoppers or meanderers), need to restore that Springy bounce in your step. So, have a small ๐Ÿญ stash on hand.  




My mother is known for licorice or caramel. I carry anything mint chocolate. The kids and their father go for peanut butter. Gum is always a crowd pleaser… you ??? 

February 9, 2025

Confetti

 

SHOW UP Show Pony!!!

If you’re suffering from the Winter Blues it’s likely those all about you are too!!  Bring on the color, the texture and the prezzies and MAKE THE FUN at the parties. In all the ways Winter encompasses GIVING. 




January 7, 2025

ATMOSPHERE

Xmas flowerchild dress, jellyfish onesie (on bรฉbรฉ), ‘tartlet’ (so says my brother) ruby and diamond earrings, pink and green tourmaline ring, bows, bows, bows, and BARE FEET !!



Every holiday has its ambiance - decide on and GUIDE that quality, but when life inevitably throws its curveball - just GO WITH IT. Our Christmas turned out sickly and stormy, but it was also curiously easygoing, exceptionally intimate and required a remarkable combined effort - an ESPRIT DE CORPS !!!

Atmosphere - ‘vapor’ ‘globe’



January 6, 2025

Back to the Sea

Crystal turtle-neck dress, gold and pearl choker, diamond hoops, suede cowboy boots, leather cherry purse, cremant champagne and Coke for Family party in Denver.
 

The river is flowing,

Flowing and growing

The river is flowing

Back to the sea

Mother Earth carry me

A child I will always be

Mother Earth carry me

Back to the sea

- Sun Bear, Chippewa Tribe

Home from the Sea, musing over what the future will be…

February 7, 2024

Put your own cashmere scarf on first

 

TieDye & bling cashmere/silk scarf.

Woolen thermals, hats, scarves, mittens - not just for children. Mamas be warm!!

November 26, 2023

Lay it down

THEME Themis - goddess of law and justice “that which is laid down or established”

Numerous trips, imminent holidayS and a berserk number of school proceedings, ceremonies, volunteer opportunities… 

Waldorf education has a classic and constant natural, beautiful inherent theme and feel. I adore coloring within those traditional lines. The more confining the constraints, the more the creativity pours. 

Outside of establishments, though, the choices are maddeningly infinite.

So fix yourself upon a THEME

EG these weeks for me : 
“Sweater Weather - Eastcoaster style” for Cleveland with family
“Romantic, Intimate - Lingerie” for 40th Birthday
“Helpful Elfin” for everyday style & overall mood
“What would a French woman do?” for a couples jaunt to isle St Maarten
“Hershey’s Kiss” in the advent calendar 
“Vintage Niwot” for Christmas
“Fuck it” for family photo, it might just not happen this year ;)

The tighter the theme the better. Don’t you just love a party where the hostess takes you on a very specific journey? And expects you you to show-up primed for said experience! 


November 30, 2018

commitment


Commitment : dedication, devotion, allegiance, loyalty, faithfulness, fidelity. 

Staying committed to ones values during the buffoonery and indulgence of this festive time I find especially tricky. "I will not succumb to senseless behavior!" I continually tell myself. Then I have a babysitter, and thus a few hours of risky freedom, and the practice of focus over folly becomes especially consequential. Take care of Astrid, connect with other humans and commune with nature - those are my essentials these days. But each morning, each moment, it is still a practice to prioritize these vital basics. Patience is therefore my current mantra and has been all through the Autumn. A first for me to stick to one maxim this long - now that's commitment!

May you enjoy a meaningful holiday season.

September 26, 2018

the face that launched a 1000 ships

Helen* ~ Bright, shining light.

Names are layered with meaning...
Having grown up with a very particular first 'title' - Astrid - I am ultra sensitive to names and considered designating them to my children an overwhelming task that I would ponder (obsess over) long after the birth certificate was ordered. I found it impossible not to daydream about other variances and still dwell on their first few days of life aiming to uncover what led me to my (our) ultimate decision. I still struggle with accepting their assignments. I am not one to choose the obvious option, either, and I wonder why I didn't go with more crystal clear family choices or blatant 'signs' while bรฉbรฉ was in belly. I fantasize about the monikers fictitous future children would/could have. It can be a preoccupation. My better half is not amused, and reminds me:
There is no right decision, there is no wrong decision, there is only a decision. 

*My grandmother's name was Helen, which served as the inspiration for our second daughter's name.

August 29, 2018

understated



RESTRAINT
~ unemotional, dispassionate, or moderate behavior, self-control.
~ understatement.

Amazing how well graceful restraint gratifies when we can assuage that insatiable compulsion to REACT.