After 3 years of searching, I finally found a comfortable nursing bra I love! I wrote (and raved) about it, and much like when I had my first child, I doubted that I could ever love another bra so completely! But, like any mom of multiple kids knows, when another one comes along your heart grows big enough to accommodate them all! And that’s exactly what happened when I found the Bella Materna Basic T-shirt Nursing Bra with underwire.
Sometimes I feel really in sync with my kids. It doesn’t happen every day, but sometimes it’s like they really, really know that I need something and they just come through for me in a big way.
Like today. Elliette slept all night last night, and then she took a long nap this afternoon while I worked in the kitchen. My husband took my son for a nap ride, so I had a couple of hours to myself, baby girl sound asleep and swinging next to me, to enjoy a little kitchen therapy. Not just cooking, exactly, but the careful practice of working through the things in my kitchen. Using my fresh ingredients, planning meals for the week. Making things we love out of things that would otherwise be thrown out. It’s an art, really – the art of homemaking. Being a homemaker. I’ve always been pretty good at it, but I’ve not always been able to put it into practice. Especially these past several years, as my career took off a little and I found myself borrowing from one important part of my life to pay off the other.
It’s the beginning of the growing season for us, and that usually starts off with 2 things: spinach and rhubarb. I get so excited to see them that I nearly forget each year that I’m not that crazy about either spinach or rhubarb. I’m just so damned happy to see them, and they serve as such a wonderful sign of things to come, that I don’t even care. In early spring, it’s not so much about having what you love, but loving what you have. So today I loved spinach and rhubarb. I stuffed as much spinach as humanly possible into a huge pan of ricotta shells (along with some parsley I bought from a local farmer) and I boiled the rhubarb into syrup for spritzers and ice cream. The remaining pulp will make great breakfasts slathered on toast, and watching my son eat it will be even better than eating it myself. For Finn’s lunch tomorrow, I boiled our older eggs instead of throwing them out. I’ve been meaning to do that for months with the eggs we don’t get to, but I never have time. For months, I haven’t had time to boil eggs. What the hell does that say about my life? Continue reading
Filed under Parenting & Family, The Everyday
Life is all about decisions. Decisions, change, challenges. They never seem to stop. And each decision I make seems to lead to more change, bigger challenges, and yet another decision to be made…
Like having children. I have never doubted that I wanted to become a mom. But now, I can no longer deny that I’m being faced with the decision as to whether I want to keep my job or not. The answer we’re leaning toward? Not.
I just can’t do the corporate rat race with a 130-mile per day commute, leaving me zero time to spend with those kids I wanted so badly. It’s NOT a sustainable way to live, so it’s time for a change. But that means challenges galore. Namely, our budget. But I can deal. I know big changes will need to happen, but I’m hoping I can make a lot of little ones, too.
Take my love of coffee, for instance. I live for the feel of a warm, hand-crafted coffeehouse drink in my hand. Alas, I’m going to have to break up with my barista. Those things ain’t cheap. But I have a new love! Once that saves me money without having to give up any of the quality of my beloved coffeehouse brew. It’s Gevalia, and it comes in new single serve K-cups. It’s by far the best single serve coffee I’ve ever had.
…and just look what you can do with it!
Filed under Product & Restaurant Reviews, Recipes & Food, Uncategorized
A weird thing happens during those tween years – you start to want what your friends have. But that goes beyond toys, clothes, CDs and such…I remember wanting glasses, braces, (my period, even!) just because my friends had them. I have a very distinct memory of going to the dentist office around 11 years old and having the dentist tell my dad he thought I would need braces for my overbite.
“She’s not going to be a model. She’ll be fine.” Thanks, Dad. Nothing like a little MORE insecurity to kick off 7th grade…
And I never did get braces. That “metal mouth” coolness eluded me, and even though my friends told me I was lucky to be able to eat popcorn and not have to worry about shooting rubber bands across the lunchroom, I still felt a little left out.
But seriously, even though my teeth really are very straight, I still have that overbite. My dentist has told me that it could lead to damage since my teeth could wear down and weaken, so I’m at the point where I’m considering doing something about it. But at 39 years old, you’d better believe I’m not coveting a mouth full of metal anymore. So, when I was asked to explore Invisalign clear braces for this post, I jumped at the chance.
I had to go to the doctor today, and I had no choice but to take both kids with me. I was a little worried about my son’s “poor behavior-itis” so I agreed to let him get a new app on my phone to keep him busy while we were there. The timing was perfect, because Disney Junior has just released the new “Doc McStuffins: Time for Your Check Up” app!
The brand new activity-based app for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch allows players to join Doc, along with Hallie, Lambie and the rest of her friends for a fun-filled time fixing, sorting, exploring and caring for toys, dolls and more. Inside Doc’s clinic, players can choose from four entertaining and engaging developmental activities.
Game features include:
The Big Book of Boo Boos saves the names and diagnoses of cured patients so players can go back and look at them at anytime. Additionally, throughout the game players will be able to earn Doctor’s Notes prescribed with “lots of love,” “kisses” and “cuddles.”
My appointment went smoothly, and my boy wasn’t even freaked out when I had blood drawn. In fact, he was quite interested. But then, he watched Doc, and knows that there’s nothing to be afraid of. Thanks, Doc!
The “Doc McStuffins: Time For Your Check Up!” App is available for $3.99 from the App Store on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore/.
Filed under Family Fun, Uncategorized
