Author Archive
Friday Morning Coffee
Posted by: | CommentsWell, good morning, friends! Today is the day, Triple W Forum is here and I am so ready and so excited. (you can follow Triple W on twitter – I’m pretty sure I’ll be tweeting from that account tonight and tomorrow, so check in, engage, unleash your happy, even virtually!)
I’m feeling a little stressed.
I have questioned every single decision I have ever made for this conference and am still trying to decide what to do. That’s the bad news.
The good news. I am wearing jeans that button and zip for the first time in a year. I went shopping yesterday and bought clothing that fits and I feel sorta pretty and normal. This morning I put my jeans on and Noah walked in and touched my jeans and said “WOW! You look great!” And then I put on a sweater over a tank top and his response was both awesome and borderline insulting, something like “wow, Mom, you have never looked so pretty!”
Now, I was just trying my sweater on, so I took it off but I heard him run to Anna, who was busy counting silly bandz and heard him say “Anna, you have to see Mom, she looks SO GOOD!”
He walked in and saw that I changed my clothes and asked me to look nice again.
So, you know. THERE’S THAT.
I found out some encouraging information this week, I visited a specialist I was seeing right before getting pregnant with Eli and found out I was only five pounds away from my pre-pregnancy weight. This is perplexing because I still have so much skin hanging out in my mid-section. In fact, since putting jeans on this morning, I realized I need to add an extra minute (or two) in the bathroom to tuck things in exactly where they belong.
I am really hoping you all have a great weekend. I am heading out right now to find some cute flats and then home to shower and pack.
I’m thinking about the lives lost on September 11, nine years ago. The families whose hearts ache so much, not just on this anniversary but also every single day. and I’m thinking about our troops and their safety as they defend our freedom and the freedom of others today and every single day. There are so many good people out there.
I have just one question for you: if you could buy a cup of coffee for a soldier…would you? I have an idea….
You Capture – Signs
Posted by: | CommentsHi friends. I’m fairly certain that we have done “signs” before. I knew this before taking on this assignment, hoping that maybe THIS time I would get some of the really cool signs that surround us, the ones that we pass everyday without even paying attention to them…but, no such luck.
Instead, I forgot what the assignment was. Over and over again.
My brain is broken, guys. No joke.
I finally did remember, so now I can participate. *whew*
We live smack dab in between two really cool historic downtown areas, I feel really lucky about that. The family and I walked around quite a bit on Saturday, right past HUNDREDS! OF! SIGNS! but I didn’t remember until I was trying to take a good picture of my kids. I found this sign, which I like simply because I love this area.
And then, of course, there is this popular sign, which could also be known as the “WE WILL KILL YOUR WALLET” sign. But I love Chicago, so I forgive it. Mostly.
Now it’s your turn to share! But first, be a dear and read these guidelines, they’re important, I promise.
1. Anyone can join in on the challenge at anytime.
2. Please make sure the photos you use were taken for the challenge, meaning do not search your archives for an appropriate photo. The goal of You Capture is to get you out taking photos each week!
3. Use YOUR photos.
4. When linking up, only link to your You Capture blog post, not your main blog URL. (incorrect links will be deleted.)
5. You MUST link back to You Capture in your post.
6. I encourage you to visit other participants and leave comments. This is a great way to meet new friends!
{more You Capture info can be found here.}
Photographer’s choice. OH YEAH, BABY! It’s all you. My only request is that you really challenge yourself, get creative, turn off that stinky flash, open up your manual…and don’t be shy – try some creative editing! (Picnik is a great *free* website just for that!)
Happy Capturing!
Fisher Price EZ Bundle
Posted by: | CommentsAlright friends. I’m about to do something that I haven’t done in many, many, many years.
Awhile ago, many, many, many years ago, I decided that I would never do a product review without giving away that same products to my readers. You guys are important to me, I have always said “I like free stuff but I like my readers better.” Believe me, I know what it’s like to go to blogs and read endlessly about products they are reviewing and you end up scratching your head and wondering “is this person even telling the truth?”
You know I’m right.
Anyway, a few weeks ago, I was contacted about reviewing something called the Fisher Price EZ Bundle.
Aren’t the colors cool and fantastic? I think so, too. But, I just couldn’t do it. I have standards, people! I showed it to Brian and he was like “so, when do you get it?” I was taken aback…”um, no, I’m not going to do it because I don’t do reviews when there isn’t a giveaway attached” and he was like “yeah, but maybe do it, this thing looks pretty awesome.”
Me: But no giveaway!
Him: But lots of free things, things we will actually use!
Me: But
Him: FREE
Me: STANDARDS!
Him: We have $14 in our checking account.
Me: BUT.
and I surrendered and I sort of want to apologize to you because I feel like I’ve let you down but I feel kind of good about this because maybe you should know about this product and also I have SO MANY CUTE PICTURES OF ELI! (so, we’re cool, right?)
Also, maybe Fisher-Price will be like, “awwww…let’s give away some to her readers! You’re getting a Fisher Price EZ Bundle! You’re getting a Fisher Price EZ Bundle! You’re getting a Fisher Price EZ Bundle! You’re getting a Fisher Price EZ Bundle!” or whatever.
Aden + Anais blankie, froggie and cute baby are not included.
This is what I put Eli in each morning while I shower and get ready. I like it pretty well! ”I like it, too!” he says.
That chair piece comes off and attaches to other components. The idea being that rather than having all four of these full size things (swing, infant seat, toddler seat and highchair) taking up much needed space in your home, you can just have one. But really, that’s not true, you have one put together and two other components, lying around.
So, less stuff but still stuff. And good news, you need not be a genius to take these things apart and put back together. I did it without instructions WHICH SAYS A WHOLE LOT.
Here’s Eli in the highchair. We love this highchair. He sits up incredibly well in it and he things it’s pretty fancy. The other components are placed in front of the highchair.
Cute baby and crinkly book not included. This is Eli’s FAVORITE book. It’s about crinkles and things to bite on. and drool.
Hey Mom, I dropped my book about crinkles. A little help?
And then his brother came home from school. (neither brother is included. They are mine.)
And here’s the seat as an infant seat.
Eli likes it pretty well but we think he would have REALLY liked it 2 months ago. Now he thinks he’s sixteen and wants to sit up all of the time. Fortunately, there is a toddler seat, which is the highchair without the legs, but we haven’t put him in that, yet.
So, what are my honest thoughts? Well, HONESTLY, when I saw that first picture (pictured above) I thought, “WOW! Four products in one box, SMART!” So, either the marketing is a little misleading or I have zero brain cells leftover. Then Brian took it out of the box and I was like “wait, there are 325 pieces missing.” And then he explained to his wife, who has lost too many brain cells, exactly how it works.
We like it. It’s incredibly sturdy, high quality, lightweight, easy to clean and really we think traveling with it will be awesome. Would we want it instead of having each thing individually…not necessarily. I’m always on the move, from one task to the next and having to put Eli down (on the floor?) to move things around just doesn’t seem to fit with my life, so that bothers me a bit. But for the price $150.00? I think it’s a pretty good deal.
Questions? Concerns? Ask me! And thanks Fisher-Price for the review.
*and now back to our regularly schedule no reviews without a giveaway show. Thank you for your patience.*
This product was given to me, free of cost, in exchange for an honest to goodness review, which you see here.
Spin me right round
Posted by: | CommentsThis past weekend was one of those really slow, really fast, completely filled up weekends with tons of events and zero downtime but still sprinkled with lots of really cool moments but also sprinkled with yucky things like laundry and reorganizing and marital spats and reminding yourself to clean the toilets every time you use the restroom because MYGOD what are we animals? but you don’t go to the restroom as often as you like because Eli has plans for you and those plans do not include restroom breaks. Also, I don’t typically say restroom but I do now because that’s what Noah says and he’s an 80 year man, happily trapped in a six year old body.
It all began Friday night when Brian and I finally went on a date for the first time in seven hundred years. We dropped the kids off at Grandma and Grandpa’s and we were off for 2.75 hours of free time. We headed to a restaurant we had never been to – we sat down and opened the menu and the prices made Brian’s wallet and heart fall onto the floor and sprint towards the door.
Seriously. I looked at Brian and out of the corner of my mouth, I quietly said “do you want to run because OHMYGOD, let’s buy some furniture for the price of this steak.”
Except we couldn’t run without getting busted because they took our number when we made reservations which we soon realized the next time a restaurant wants our PHONE NUMBER when taking RESERVATIONS that we are not at Denny’s anymore and to HANG UP, immediately and go order the Grand Slam.
Except we stayed and we drank a bottle of wine and had filet mignon that literally melted in your mouth and chocolate cake, so rich that you want to nap on it and service beyond compare to any other service and a night filled with magic. But I’m pretty sure the magic was not because of the forty jillion dollar dinner but moreso because we were actually dedicating time to US.
Which was so needed.
The next day, I had a newborn photo session scheduled with a very dear friend of mine. I was in my bedroom working, trying to get caught up on my never-ending to-do list when I became so inspired that I told Brian to drop everything and let’s get dressed and go to our European Market. I don’t know what came over me but I know that this market is so awesome and it’s every Saturday and we have only gone once this year which is a shame because it is so delightful and the popcorn and Rosemary Flatbread are to die for and now I’m realizing why I am overweight.
oh, hello, wonderful, happy, healthy children. Your Mama loves you.
So, we packed up for the entire day. Headed to the market, then to my Mom’s, I went to my photo shoot and did a session with THE NEWBORN WHO DOES NOT SLEEP and four hours later went back to my Mom’s where I got to hear stories about my kids and Eli with my family and that made me so happy.
The next day, we went to church earlier than normal and Anna and I went to lunch at Panera and then went shopping which made that day “the best day of her life.”
Yesterday, also known as “Labor All Day” was exhausting. Brian and Noah went out for breakfast for boy’s time while Anna and I hung out with Eli, who by the way has been sleeping for the past 45 minutes which is freaking me out but I’m staring at him through the monitor but I think I need to invest in some hospital equipment that will tell me his vitals at all times. Including his pulse ox. Which I have no idea what the means but I heard it on Grey’s Anatomy the other night and now I feel smart. and cool.
PULSE OX! DEFIBRILLATOR! CHROMOSOME! VENTRICLE! STAT!
I am feeling really cool right about now.
Anyway, yesterday I moved from sun up to sun down and when I finally got down time, I sat on the couch to respond to emails and edit photos and my eyes failed me and I fell asleep.
Then this morning I HAD to take photos for my photography workshop but my normal models were at school, so I had to recruit Eli and put in him this basket of strangulation and take photos, which he didn’t seem to mind because strings are fun.
And if you are thinking he’s looking at me like I’m an absolute idiot, well, you should have seen what I was doing to get him to look at ME and not those strings. Because I looked like an absolute idiot. I’m certain all of my neighbors would agree.
This weekend was a blur, a busy, colorful, twisted, lovely, exhausting, laundry-filled, argument having, cuddling, kissing, steak eating BLUR.
The absolute best kind.
Friday Morning (decaf) Coffee
Posted by: | CommentsOkay, that’s a lie. I do not drink decaf coffee, although, I would, because coffee is delicious. By the way, I take mine with cream, regular cream, no sugar. How do you take yours?
I can distinctly remember my Grandma giving me my first cup of coffee when I was young, she poured tons of half and half in it. I can also remember her making me breakfast, she cut up bananas and poured half and half over the bananas in a bowl, that simple little breakfast remains one of my favorite things to eat. Brings back such amazing memories of such a wonderful woman. She died many years ago, somehow, it’s been, I don’t know, 17 years or so? My God, how can that be?
Yesterday would have been her birthday. I thought about her all day. I even felt like her a little bit as I baked brownies and made a delicious dinner for my family. (I’m serious, it was AMAZING.)
Anyway, back to coffee. many of you have expressed concerns about my nursing and drinking coffee and also hearing my complaints about Elijah’s poor sleeping habits in the same breath. I really appreciate your concern, honestly, I do, but I just don’t believe they are related because I don’t drink caffeine except for coffee in the mornings and one diet coke in the early afternoons. Surrounding the coffee and diet coke, I drink about 120 ounces of water, every single day. I’m sure it’s possible that the diet coke is getting through my breast milk just at the time of him going to bed at 8:30, but he goes right to sleep, we can’t even keep him awake past 8:30. The trouble comes around 2:30 or 3, and then again at 4:30, and again at 5:45 and sometimes at 6:30.
But hey! Last night I slept for three solid hours, I feel like a new (totally exhausted) woman!
And, tiny baby boy has a tooth! A TOOTH! Wha? How in the? What in the? He’s just a baby who was just born and now he has a tooth and plays in his exersaucer and cries when I leave the room? Slow down time! Slow down, sweet baby!
Last night, I laid next to him in bed, my room was dimly lit and I was watching him doze off. Before he’d close his eyes, his eyes always met mine and he’d smile behind his pacifier. He did this over and over again and since he can’t say words, I saw those smiles and heard the words “I just love you and my family so much” and then my heart melted, right there on the floor and I realized what a perfect fit he is in our family. He just belongs. He’s meant to be.
Today’s weather is sunny and crisp with blue skies and soft, billowy clouds. I like today. I like it a lot.
