I can hardly believe I’m typing this: pretty*swell has its very first sponsor.

HOLLA.

Emma Dear Vintage Goods is one of my all-time favorite Etsy shops. I first fell in love with the pillow covers made from repurposed men’s suits, and once I dug into the site (which is PACKED), I discovered all sorts of treasures.

Antique buttons, cross-stitched and embroidered linens, ribbon with the most delicate trim, a beautiful vintage perfume bottle, funky pewter roosters.

Browsing Emma Dear is like walking the aisles of your favorite flea market or antique store, but without the junk. It’s addicting and fun, and I always love to see what’s next.

Just look at this stuff:

Becky, the lovely artist and curator behind the shop, also runs two other sites on Etsy: Clara Peyton Vintage Clothier, packed with vintage clothes and accessories for women (don’t get me started on the jewelry!) and Oscar and Theodore, which carries adorable vintage and handmade clothing for boys.

We’ve become friends over the interwebs, and I’m just thrilled about our new partnership. Which translates into fun stuff for you guys in the coming months!

I hope you’ll take a moment to browse Emma Dear Vintage Goods. And if you’d like regular updates on Becky’s fab finds (and creations), follow her on Twitter and Facebook.

Welcome to pretty*swell, Becky! So glad to have you here.

There are two very different types of mornings in our house.

On weekends and days that I’m home with Small Fry, mornings are peaceful and made up of good stuff like pancakes. On the three days a week that I report to the office, mornings are a complete zoo. And I am never on time.

So, when I read this week’s You Capture theme, I knew exactly which type of morning I wanted to try to photograph. Because taking pictures during a busy morning means that I’d likely drop the camera in the toilet or forget to diaper my child.

I had hoped to capture what I see as soon as I open Small Fry’s bedroom door: a sweet, smiling girl peering at me from over the crib rail. But on this particular morning, Small Fry was most definitely not in a good mood.

So I put the camera down, opened her window and let her ease into her day. The morning light in her room is just beautiful. Hazy and mellow. Gives everything (especially her) a diaphanous quality.

I love the little pom-poms on her curtains, and almost every time I pull them open, I think fondly of shopping for the fabric with my mother-in-law. And my big pregnant belly. Much of Small Fry’s room is handmade or repurposed, and that makes me happy.

After some banana pancakes and a few twirls around the cul-de-sac in her big-girl bike, Small Fry’s mood improved. A visit from Laura and Baby O was the icing on the cake.

What are mornings like in your house? How do you handle the chaotic ones? Any tips (or tricks) on how to get a toddler moving? I’m all ears.

And for more morning photos, stop by I Should Be Folding Laundry today!

I can’t believe today is the first day of September!

Summer, you sped by way too quickly. I miss you already.

But I sure do love when the temperature dips just low enough to slip on jeans for the first time. And long sleeves. And cozy socks.

My favorites are a pair of old-school argyles I’ve worn for I can’t remember how long. They’re definitely not a fashion statement, but they’re as comfortable as it gets, and I will wear them until they spring holes. And probably for a while after that, too.

Small Fry’s favorite socks came out of the boxes pictured above. Seriously, since they arrived in the mail, she has asked to wear them non-stop. She even snuck the boxes off the counter and ripped into them, demanding to wear them outside in the 95-degree heat. With sandals. Give her a metal detector, and the look is complete.

We received three pairs of SmartKnitKIDS seamless socks to review, and I have to say I was skeptical at first. They look awfully small out of the box. But, I tell you what, they stretch like magic. And they stay put once they’re on. The best thing about these socks is that they have NO seams.

Like any other parent of a picky toddler (who won’t wear itchy tags, binding elastic, or depending on her mood, buttons), I love the idea of seamless socks. Any which way Small Fry pulls them on is correct. So it makes my life easier, and she feels like a rock star putting them on all by herself.

The socks are designed for kids with Sensory Processing Disorder, Autism or hypersensitivity. Having worked with developmentally disabled youth for one summer in high school, I think this concept of comfortable, non-irritating clothing is just wonderful. And, as evidenced by my child putting on two pairs at a time, these socks are perfect for picky toddlers, too.

The heel-less design also means that she won’t outgrow them as quickly. My only wish is that these socks had some sort of tread, to make them less slippery. Other than that, I think they’re just about perfect. Small Fry agrees:

SmartKnitKIDS is giving away three pairs of seamless socks to one lucky winner! They have every size imaginable, even adult sizes, as well as different styles (in addition to the knee socks, we received pink ankle socks that have already found their way into the laundry).

To enter this giveaway, please leave a comment below telling us about your all-time favorite pair of socks.

You also can do any of the following (be sure to leave a separate comment for each one):

> “Like” SmartKnitKIDS on Facebook
> Follow SmartKnitKIDS on Twitter
> Tweet about this giveaway with something like: “Socks rock! Enter to win three pairs of @SmartKnitKIDS seamless socks in the @pretty_swell giveaway: http://bit.ly/aDSxxP”

This giveaway ends at noon on Wednesday, Sept. 8. I’ll use random.org to choose the winner. Have fun!

Disclaimer: I was given three pairs of socks to review. I received no compensation for my opinions. Which are always my own. And are always honest.

Also. This is what happened when I asked Small Fry to smile:

This is one of the few photos of newborn Small Fry and me that does not make me want to cry.

I tuck a print into whatever book I’m reading as a reminder that, yes, I struggled, but even more important, I have a beautiful daughter to show for it.

Most everyone who reads this blog knows that I’m a postpartum depression survivor.

It’s pretty much the reason I started writing pretty*swell. To be a resource for other moms and (I hope) show that life DOES get better.

Another way that I try to pay it forward is by volunteering with the organization that played a huge role in my recovery: Postpartum Education and Support.

I’ll never forget the gigantic wave of relief that washed over me during my first support group meeting. Not only because I’d been dreading it with a capital D, but also because there were so many other moms in that room feeling EXACTLY the was I was feeling. Hopeless. Scared. Crazy.

I realized I was not alone.

And I healed.

Thank goodness.

On October 2, Postpartum Education and Support is hosting its first-ever StrollerThon fundraiser, and I am super-excited about this event. All proceeds from the three-mile walk will fund programs and services that benefits moms and their families.

If you live in (or near) the Triangle area and want to walk, or if you’d just like to support the cause, click here.

If you’re a blogger and would be willing to post a badge on your site for the next month, drop me an e-mail.

Thanks for anything you can do to help get the word out. Every little bit makes a big difference!

I love everything about this photo.

My arm around my dad’s neck. The Big Bird sheets. The Raggedy Ann jammies. The green floral wallpaper. My bowl cut.

Most of all? My dad’s patient smile.

He read to us every night, and we loved every minute of it. And until we got too big, he used to carry us up the stairs, one daughter on each hip, and toss us gently into our beds. It’s a tradition I can’t wait to continue when Small Fry gets her big-girl bed.

I couldn’t have gotten luckier in the dad department. And it’s a whole new level of awesome watching Small Fry bond with her smitten Papa.

Happy birthday, Dad! Love you.