I kind of love it. I wear it all the time. It goes with almost everything in my wardrobe.
Right now Carolyn has a sale in her shop for 25% off most styles. Check out her stuff, I think you will love it!
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Archer
One of my college friends is a jewelry designer. She was in L.A. a few weeks ago attending the Renegade Craft Fair so the girls and I went to check out her booth and show some support. I bought this necklace:
I kind of love it. I wear it all the time. It goes with almost everything in my wardrobe.
Right now Carolyn has a sale in her shop for 25% off most styles. Check out her stuff, I think you will love it!
I kind of love it. I wear it all the time. It goes with almost everything in my wardrobe.
Right now Carolyn has a sale in her shop for 25% off most styles. Check out her stuff, I think you will love it!
Friday, August 9, 2013
The Right Choice
Last night, my friend and I made last minute plans to wake up early and go to the beach. I prepped our lunch, beach bag, and went to bed excited about it. Because of life (work, friends visiting, schedules), she had to cancel. I was bummed and thought about skipping the beach too, but everything was packed. I decided we might as well go.
It was the right choice.
We picked up donuts and ate a late breakfast on the beach. The morning was spent with Beatrice making a sand potty and sand sculptures of all the things that go in potties while Penelope stirred salt water concoctions and covered our blanket with sand.
Even without our friends, we had a great time. The weather was cool but sunny, the beach was packed with surfers and kids enjoying their last days of summer, and my girls played contentedly while I tried to even out my tan.
So many lengths of hair, so many ponytails.
We definitely made the right choice today.
It was the right choice.
We picked up donuts and ate a late breakfast on the beach. The morning was spent with Beatrice making a sand potty and sand sculptures of all the things that go in potties while Penelope stirred salt water concoctions and covered our blanket with sand.
Even without our friends, we had a great time. The weather was cool but sunny, the beach was packed with surfers and kids enjoying their last days of summer, and my girls played contentedly while I tried to even out my tan.
So many lengths of hair, so many ponytails.
We definitely made the right choice today.
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Haircut, Broken Heart
I'm kinda mad at this kid right now:
I left her and Penelope in the playroom for a minute while I stirred the rice in the kitchen. When I returned, I found this:
And this:
Beatrice chopped off Penelope's ponytail, cut bangs, and added some face-framing layers to her do. I didn't notice the hair cutting when I walked into the room. I didn't even realize they had the safety scissors (they were coloring when I left the room). I knew something was up though when Beatrice ran to hide behind the couch screaming "SORRY MOMMY!" I found wispy, blonde hair piled all over the floor and then I knew what had transpired in the 3 - 5 minutes I left them alone.
The next few moments were a blur. I didn't know how to react so I sent Beatrice to her room while I figured it out. I was really mad that she broke our scissors rule (only cut paper at the dining room table with mommy present), I was sad about missing my baby's first haircut, and I was angry that her beautiful hair was butchered. I was also trying to stifle my laughter because this is such a classic kid move: big sister whacks little sister's hair. Someday we'll all laugh at this, right?
After I picked up all the hair, I started crying. My baby's hair looks so awful, it is chopped throughout in weird, blunt angles. I'm sad she won't have the opportunity to grow her hair long like Beatrice's. I'm sad I won't be able to braid it and style it like usual. Penelope hugged me and said, "Sissy cut my hair. I'm beautiful!"
Yes baby, even with jacked up hair, you're still beautiful.
I feel really dumb for reacting to the haircut with so much emotion, it's just hair after all. It'll grow back. But I'm still sad. My sister in law summed it up best when she texted her condolences along with this nugget of truth: it can be heartbreaking when our kids make bad decisions. I guess that's the root of my feelings; I'm sad that Beatrice made a bad decision and ruined her sister's hair. I'm sad that she chose to disobey the scissors rule. I'm sad that I missed out on baby's first haircut. And I'm sad that someone in my family has a mullet, even if it is a beautiful blonde mullet.
Beatrice received a consequence for cutting something other than paper and lost all cutting privileges for a long, long time. She was really upset, but mostly she was really sad that I was sad. I let her see me cry and we talked about how making choices can affect others.
I don't know what we'll do with Penelope's hair. Part of me wants to ignore the chopped bits and let it continue to grow, but a bob would be really cute too. I'm still sad, although the shock of the haircut has worn off. Maybe I'll even laugh about it soon. And I have forgiven Beatrice for her poor choice. Who knows, maybe this is the beginning of her career as a stylist.
Too bad she can't touch scissors again until she's 18.
I left her and Penelope in the playroom for a minute while I stirred the rice in the kitchen. When I returned, I found this:
And this:
Beatrice chopped off Penelope's ponytail, cut bangs, and added some face-framing layers to her do. I didn't notice the hair cutting when I walked into the room. I didn't even realize they had the safety scissors (they were coloring when I left the room). I knew something was up though when Beatrice ran to hide behind the couch screaming "SORRY MOMMY!" I found wispy, blonde hair piled all over the floor and then I knew what had transpired in the 3 - 5 minutes I left them alone.
The next few moments were a blur. I didn't know how to react so I sent Beatrice to her room while I figured it out. I was really mad that she broke our scissors rule (only cut paper at the dining room table with mommy present), I was sad about missing my baby's first haircut, and I was angry that her beautiful hair was butchered. I was also trying to stifle my laughter because this is such a classic kid move: big sister whacks little sister's hair. Someday we'll all laugh at this, right?
After I picked up all the hair, I started crying. My baby's hair looks so awful, it is chopped throughout in weird, blunt angles. I'm sad she won't have the opportunity to grow her hair long like Beatrice's. I'm sad I won't be able to braid it and style it like usual. Penelope hugged me and said, "Sissy cut my hair. I'm beautiful!"
Yes baby, even with jacked up hair, you're still beautiful.
I feel really dumb for reacting to the haircut with so much emotion, it's just hair after all. It'll grow back. But I'm still sad. My sister in law summed it up best when she texted her condolences along with this nugget of truth: it can be heartbreaking when our kids make bad decisions. I guess that's the root of my feelings; I'm sad that Beatrice made a bad decision and ruined her sister's hair. I'm sad that she chose to disobey the scissors rule. I'm sad that I missed out on baby's first haircut. And I'm sad that someone in my family has a mullet, even if it is a beautiful blonde mullet.
Beatrice received a consequence for cutting something other than paper and lost all cutting privileges for a long, long time. She was really upset, but mostly she was really sad that I was sad. I let her see me cry and we talked about how making choices can affect others.
I don't know what we'll do with Penelope's hair. Part of me wants to ignore the chopped bits and let it continue to grow, but a bob would be really cute too. I'm still sad, although the shock of the haircut has worn off. Maybe I'll even laugh about it soon. And I have forgiven Beatrice for her poor choice. Who knows, maybe this is the beginning of her career as a stylist.
Too bad she can't touch scissors again until she's 18.
Sunday, August 4, 2013
23 Months, Both Girls
I was scrolling through my old photo albums on my computer the other day when I came across this photo of Beatrice at Penelope's age.
Oh my goodness, look at those cheeks!
Ugh, I can't stand how fast she's growing up!
I decided to dig out the same outfit Beatrice wore in those photos 2 years ago and take some photos of Penelope in it.
Oh, my sweet babies are so beautiful! Beatrice on the left, Penelope on the right.
It's so much fun watching them grow up. I just wish they'd slow it down a bit.
Oh my goodness, look at those cheeks!
Ugh, I can't stand how fast she's growing up!
I decided to dig out the same outfit Beatrice wore in those photos 2 years ago and take some photos of Penelope in it.
Oh, my sweet babies are so beautiful! Beatrice on the left, Penelope on the right.
It's so much fun watching them grow up. I just wish they'd slow it down a bit.
Friday, August 2, 2013
Band Aids
My kids are obsessed with Band Aids. Nothing gets them more riled up than choosing a new one, removing an old one, or losing one in their bed sheets.
We go through approximately 4 band aids a day. This is completely ridiculous considering neither girl ever has a legitimate boo boo. Lots of invisible scratches, scrapes, and cuts get smeared with Neosporin and covered in character bandages. 'Tis strange. And ever so wasteful.
"Girls, band aids are not stickers. You cannot use them as such." I made a new rule that only bloody boo boos get a band aid. So now any redness on or near the boo boo is declared "blood!" by my children.
"Mom, if I fell off of the car on some sticks in the road, I would have blood all over my body and would need so many band aids!!!!"
Hangnails are the most common injury in our house. Fingers are wrapped in Hello Kitty, Kermit, and PacMan like little cartoon manicures. The hangnail band aids fall off super easily so I find little sticky tubes all over the house. This is gross, but doesn't bother me as much as the leg band aids do. Removing those are so dramatic, the girls leave them on (because they won't let me near them) until they are black and scummy around the edges. These get caught on furniture and clothes on their way to the washing machine. So many band aids, so few boo boos.
Who knew little sticky bandages were so important to little girls?! Will this obsession ever end??
We go through approximately 4 band aids a day. This is completely ridiculous considering neither girl ever has a legitimate boo boo. Lots of invisible scratches, scrapes, and cuts get smeared with Neosporin and covered in character bandages. 'Tis strange. And ever so wasteful.
"Girls, band aids are not stickers. You cannot use them as such." I made a new rule that only bloody boo boos get a band aid. So now any redness on or near the boo boo is declared "blood!" by my children.
"Mom, if I fell off of the car on some sticks in the road, I would have blood all over my body and would need so many band aids!!!!"
Hangnails are the most common injury in our house. Fingers are wrapped in Hello Kitty, Kermit, and PacMan like little cartoon manicures. The hangnail band aids fall off super easily so I find little sticky tubes all over the house. This is gross, but doesn't bother me as much as the leg band aids do. Removing those are so dramatic, the girls leave them on (because they won't let me near them) until they are black and scummy around the edges. These get caught on furniture and clothes on their way to the washing machine. So many band aids, so few boo boos.
Who knew little sticky bandages were so important to little girls?! Will this obsession ever end??
Sunday, July 21, 2013
5 Lb Cake
Once upon a time, I made a cake. It was no ordinary cake though. It contained 5 sticks of butter, 6 cups of sugar, and was heavier than most newborn babies. It took me all day to make and destroyed my whole kitchen. This cake is what dreams are made of, desert dreams that is.
Behold, the caramel cake:
My grandmother makes a caramel cake every year around Christmas. I only get to eat a tiny slice or 2 once a year, so I was totally naive about what would happen if I had a whole cake to myself.
5 lbs is what happened. In a week. I gained 5 lbs in a week eating cake for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And dessert. It called to me in the mornings. It said, "I'm delicious with that cup of coffee. Cut a tiny 3-bite slice and see how I complement your morning joe." I did, and that cake was telling the truth. It was delicious with my coffee.
Then lunch time rolled around and it would whisper, "psst, I'm yummy right now. You ran around with your kids at the park all morning, a tiny bite of me won't do a bit of damage to your figure." So I forked a tiny bite, then kept forking until I had to lie down for a rest.
It sang to me while I cooked dinner. "Lalalala, I'm so good, you should stuff me in your mouth while you stir that sauce. No one is looking, lalalala!" So I did.
After I put the girls to bed, I'd promise myself NO MORE CAKE. But it lured me in like a sweet talking trollop. I ate myself into cake oblivion every night for a week and I have the tight jeans to prove it.
I didn't know how to end the eating of this cake. I knew after consuming 4 servings the first day I made the cake I was in trouble. My stomach ached, my teeth hurt, my jeans were struggling to zip. But I couldn't stop. "I will cut it in half and give it to the neighbors," I told JD. But I never did. I just kept eating it.
I served it at my wine and cheese party. That got rid of several slices, but there was still more cake left over. I was at a crossroads. I had begun to hate this cake that I loved so much. I begged my friends and family for advice. "Do I eat it all in one sitting to get rid of it, or do I throw it away to finally be done with it?" "Don't you dare throw that cake away," they screamed! "That is the best darn cake in the entire world and if you throw it away, you will be committing an injustice to all humanity." Or something like that...
So I pressed on. I had to, it was my duty for all mankind to consume every last bite of the best cake in the entire world. And last Thursday, at approximately 2:12 in the afternoon, I finished the cake. It was one of the happiest moments of my life (and the fattest). Now I can go back to living my life like it was intended; with only 1 or 2 slices of caramel cake at Christmas only.
If you would like to make your own delicious caramel cake and gain an additional 5 lbs in a very short period of time, here's the recipe I followed. Do it for yourself. Do it for humanity.
Behold, the caramel cake:
My grandmother makes a caramel cake every year around Christmas. I only get to eat a tiny slice or 2 once a year, so I was totally naive about what would happen if I had a whole cake to myself.
5 lbs is what happened. In a week. I gained 5 lbs in a week eating cake for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And dessert. It called to me in the mornings. It said, "I'm delicious with that cup of coffee. Cut a tiny 3-bite slice and see how I complement your morning joe." I did, and that cake was telling the truth. It was delicious with my coffee.
Then lunch time rolled around and it would whisper, "psst, I'm yummy right now. You ran around with your kids at the park all morning, a tiny bite of me won't do a bit of damage to your figure." So I forked a tiny bite, then kept forking until I had to lie down for a rest.
It sang to me while I cooked dinner. "Lalalala, I'm so good, you should stuff me in your mouth while you stir that sauce. No one is looking, lalalala!" So I did.
After I put the girls to bed, I'd promise myself NO MORE CAKE. But it lured me in like a sweet talking trollop. I ate myself into cake oblivion every night for a week and I have the tight jeans to prove it.
I didn't know how to end the eating of this cake. I knew after consuming 4 servings the first day I made the cake I was in trouble. My stomach ached, my teeth hurt, my jeans were struggling to zip. But I couldn't stop. "I will cut it in half and give it to the neighbors," I told JD. But I never did. I just kept eating it.
I served it at my wine and cheese party. That got rid of several slices, but there was still more cake left over. I was at a crossroads. I had begun to hate this cake that I loved so much. I begged my friends and family for advice. "Do I eat it all in one sitting to get rid of it, or do I throw it away to finally be done with it?" "Don't you dare throw that cake away," they screamed! "That is the best darn cake in the entire world and if you throw it away, you will be committing an injustice to all humanity." Or something like that...
So I pressed on. I had to, it was my duty for all mankind to consume every last bite of the best cake in the entire world. And last Thursday, at approximately 2:12 in the afternoon, I finished the cake. It was one of the happiest moments of my life (and the fattest). Now I can go back to living my life like it was intended; with only 1 or 2 slices of caramel cake at Christmas only.
If you would like to make your own delicious caramel cake and gain an additional 5 lbs in a very short period of time, here's the recipe I followed. Do it for yourself. Do it for humanity.
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Girls' Night In: Wine and Cheese Night
Last week in Arizona, my sister in law and I went to a wine bar for our girls' night out. It was this swanky little place that served small plates along with their impressive wine selections. Jenny and I ordered the butcher block, a meat and cheese plate with olives, hummus, and nuts to complement our vino. It was so good, we gobbled every bite and declared it to be the only way to eat for all time and eternity.
I wanted to recreate that experience with my girlfriends here in California, but with traveling husbands, babies, and schedules to synchronize, going out was going to be difficult. So we stayed in and had a wine night at my house!
I don't formally entertain very often because the thought of preparing my home and food for other people makes me anxious. But, it was so simple, there was nothing to be anxious about. There was very little prep involved. I assembled groupings of food that traditionally pair well with wine. Everything was very simple, the only food items I prepared were the roasted asparagus, caprese skewers, and a cake. I laid everything out a few minutes before my friends showed up, turned on some music, and waited for the fun to start.
Wine and Cheese Girls' Night In Menu:
- Cheese, I served manchego and toscano
- Grapes
- Mediterranean olives
- Roasted asparugus
- Caprese skewers (skewer grape tomatoes, basil, and fresh mozzarella on toothpicks or kabob skewers)
- An assortment of cured meats. I served salami, prosciutto, and capicola (tip: wrap the asparagus in the meat and eat it rolled up together)
- Artisanal bread with butter and/or pesto
- Caramel cake
- Wine
It was such a fun night. We ate, sipped our wine, and told hilarious stories until after midnight. And my friend Monica told us a ghost story that is still freaking me out and I don't even believe in ghosts!! It was a great night in and I can't wait to host another one!
I wanted to recreate that experience with my girlfriends here in California, but with traveling husbands, babies, and schedules to synchronize, going out was going to be difficult. So we stayed in and had a wine night at my house!
I don't formally entertain very often because the thought of preparing my home and food for other people makes me anxious. But, it was so simple, there was nothing to be anxious about. There was very little prep involved. I assembled groupings of food that traditionally pair well with wine. Everything was very simple, the only food items I prepared were the roasted asparagus, caprese skewers, and a cake. I laid everything out a few minutes before my friends showed up, turned on some music, and waited for the fun to start.
Wine and Cheese Girls' Night In Menu:
- Cheese, I served manchego and toscano
- Grapes
- Mediterranean olives
- Roasted asparugus
- Caprese skewers (skewer grape tomatoes, basil, and fresh mozzarella on toothpicks or kabob skewers)
- An assortment of cured meats. I served salami, prosciutto, and capicola (tip: wrap the asparagus in the meat and eat it rolled up together)
- Artisanal bread with butter and/or pesto
- Caramel cake
- Wine
It was such a fun night. We ate, sipped our wine, and told hilarious stories until after midnight. And my friend Monica told us a ghost story that is still freaking me out and I don't even believe in ghosts!! It was a great night in and I can't wait to host another one!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Subscribe to my blog
Posts
All Comments