Josh and Janie went to the Father-Daughter Dance at school last weekend and despite a major sob-fest about the new sandals I bought her to wear (not pictured, FYI) being a smidge to small, I think they had a great time. And, I wasn’t bitter about the fact that they went to Palisades for dinner. In fact, I was so NOT bitter, that I decided Meg, Everett and I should skip dinner all together and simply go to Menchie’s for frozen yogurt (or, whatever that stuff is).
I wish that I could go to this event this weekend, but we’re headed out of town for our own Mother’s Day celebration.
Late last year, I had the chance to feature HaitiBabi (and one of their wonderful board members!) in my first Moms with a Cause article for SheKnows Parenting and every time I read about the progress that this young charitable organization has made in the past year, my heart grows a little warmer.
This weekend, they are celebrating moms from Seattle to Haiti with a Toast to Moms.
You can find all of the details online here — it’s the perfect way to celebrate pre-Mother’s Day in honor of the moms all over the world. After all, we are connected through this incredible journey of motherhood — no matter where we live, aren’t we?
Grab your own mama, if she’s in town to celebrate or the moms in your life who help you survive the day-to-day and join the HaitiBabi team (who you’re going to adore!) to toast moms, enjoy wine and food from some of Seattle’s faves and more.
Raise a glass for me, will you?
Read more about HaitiBabi on their website.
If you were trying to get a hold of anyone in Seattle this weekend, it’s likely that you didn’t get a response.
You see, it was 80-degrees in the Great Northwest, about 20-degrees warmer that it usually is this time of year, at the least, and if you live in this area, you pretty much put everything else on hold to soak up the sunshine.
Seriously. I just convinced myself that the entire world was on pause while I basked in all of that yummy, much-needed vitamin d.
We kicked off the summer season with an impromptu neighbor bbq, which is as all neighbor bbqs should be. Sara made strawberry-rhubarb margaritas, because she does things like that. Josh busted out the Weber and we let the kids run around, Lord of the Flies-style, while we visited and laughed and listened to Pearl Jam. (i swear.)
Sunday was spent on chores that didn’t really feel like chores because it was just so nice out. Ev discovered the joys of mowing the lawn. Please note the sippy cup in the cup holder of our lawn mower, which is actually more like a vacuum, if you ask me. Add some Slip-n-Slide action and fresh halibut for dinner (which I butchered).
Sometimes, sunshine is really hard work.
What did you do this weekend?
Okay, nobody tell my kids that I’m giving out free ice cream. Please?
You know Cupcake Royale for their cupcakes, but have you heard about their ice cream? It’s really really REALLY good. Especially with a, um, cupcake on the side. Nobody ever said you had to pick one or the other!
Tomorrow, Wednesday, May 1, 2013, from 2-8 p.m., Cupcake Royale is giving out FREE SCOOPS OF ICE CREAM at their Seattle and Bellevue locations (find the location closest to you here) and free ice cream sammies at their West Seattle and Madrona locations. I think six-hours is plenty of time to hit up all six locations, don’t you? (wink!)
Join me at the popular Cupcake Royale Ballard location — right in the heart of Ballard, at 2052 NW Market St. — where I’ll be scooping up ice cream with Cupcake Royale owner, Jody Hall, from 6-7 p.m.
Bring your kids or leave them at home while you sneak out for a scoop — I promise not to tell your secret if you promise not to tell mine!
Hope to see you tomorrow!
xo.
(PS — If you tell the team at Cupcake Royale that I’m not really a celebrity, I’m going to take a bite of your ice cream before I give it to you. Don’t pop my bubble.)
… because I’ve been so MIA lately. Same old story. Work. Kids. Sun is shining. Work. Repeat as necessary.
one. This season of Mad Men is boring me to death. THERE. I said it. And I feel so much better.
two. We did take down Everett’s crib last night, as his little bedroom is just too small for a crib and a bed and his vast collection of trucks. He had a harder time going to bed tonight, but I have faith. Right now, he just has his crib mattress on the floor — we still need to get a real mattress for his bed and apparently, one of those rails that keeps him in the bed, because I found him sleeping on the floor about 20-minutes ago.
three. Recent movies we’ve watched/I’ve watched: John Carter. Conception. The Babymakers. War, Inc. How to Lose Friends and Alienate People. A Little Bit of Heaven. End of Watch. The Five-Year Engagement. The Bourne Legacy. This is 40. Loved them all, however This is 40 was probably my least favorite.
four. I think I joined a book club today. I haven’t been in one in years, but I love the crowd and I really need a kick in the ass to do more reading, so all signs pointed to JOIN. I have until May 16th to finish this book, which I’ve been reading since the holidays… I think. It’s good, but has slowed down, a lot.
five. Raise you hand if you ordered these shoes for your husband/male significant other in your life. Josh’s modeling debut was a huge success and I’m pretty sure that half of Seattle’s male population is going to be sporting Rockports this spring… or, like, 10 of them. I’m rounding that up.
six. I was obsessed with the coverage from Boston.
seven. What I have told the kids about this week: That we get to preview the new exhibit at the zoo. What I have not told the kids about this week: That we’re going to the dentist. Although, they might be equally as excited about going to the dentist — these pediatric dentist offices are pretty much like Dental Disneylands.
eight. At the top of my shoe wish list right now: these. And these too.
nine. That picture is the first one that I have on my Instagram account.
ten. Um, I wrote an article about yeast infections. Somebody had to do it.
Please excuse the dark picture, but I had to share my latest mama heartbreak with you.
Ev has been climbing out of his crib for the past couple of months — mostly when he woke up in the morning and we ready to get out or after nap time. But, this weekend, he started to climb out in protest of taking a nap. Yesterday, he came out of his room about an hour after we put him down and Josh and I both realized that he hadn’t slept at all, but had been playing quietly with his cars in his room instead.
So, last night, as he climbed out again, I pulled his mattress out of his crib, put it on the floor with pillows on each side and gave it a shot. I didn’t, in a million years, think that he would actually fall asleep. I tucked him in and went back to work.
It was about an hour later that I realized that he hadn’t come out. And sure enough, he was fast asleep.
Josh just emailed me this picture at work — he is actually taking a nap there today too.
Sigh.
I’m not sure why this is feeling so incredibly heartbreaking to me. On one hand, I feel bad for underestimating this little guy — I was not expecting him to be ready to potty train, which he kicked ass with a couple of weeks ago and now this. I figured that we had until the end of the summer in the crib, but I guess we’ll be setting up Janie’s old bed for him sooner rather than later. On the other hand, I’m so proud of him and he makes me feel like my heart is going to explode with love sometimes.
I can’t handle this. Seriously.
A few weeks ago, I emailed Josh and told him to pick out a pair of Rockport Shoes from OnlineShoes.com. I gave him some choices, he made some jokes about man-sandals (do you call them mandals too?) and he settled on these — the Rockport truWALK Zero II Wingtip Oxfords in Grey Suede and Light Green.
I didn’t tell him that he was going to be a model.
Eventually, the shoes arrived and I broke the news — that with handsome new shoes comes great responsibility.
He rolled his eyes.
I grabbed my camera.
We were headed out to a 30th birthday party that night and styled the Rockport Shoes with a pair of slim fit navy pants to help pop that green sole, which is as close to being neon as you can get without the shoes actually being glow-in-the-dark. We added a simple, brightly colored button-down with a tiny stripe for his shirt — we wanted the shoes to be the star of the outfit, and they were.
In addition to being super cool looking, the Men’s Rockport truWALK Shoes are super comfortable. And, that’s saying a lot coming from a guy who does a lot of walking during the work day. It’s hard for Josh to find shoes that will take him from meetings (with some very stylish clients, at that) to site visits where he’s walking around in buildings that are only semi-constructed. These fit the bill perfectly. Someone at the party called them a “guy’s dream shoe” and based on how often Josh has worn them since they arrived, I’m pretty sure that’s on the right track!
See my own obsession with Rockport Shoes from OnlineShoes.com HERE and HERE.
Thanks to Rockport Shoes and OnlineShoes.com for providing us the shoes for this review. All opinions are my own. And Josh’s too.
In case I haven’t told you three times already (I have.), we’re potty training Everett this week. I really don’t want to jinx this, but things are going pretty well. Dare I even say that he’s been the easiest child to potty train thus far? And, we’ve done so without the use of candy or bribery, which is BLOWING MY PARENTING MIND. I was pretty sure it would take a Costco sized bag of gummy bears (which he calls “gummies bears,” by the way) and every 99-cent Hot Wheels car that Target had in stock to get this little guy potty trained.
I have had a few secret weapons in my back pocket, however. I didn’t include margaritas on this list because I assumed that you knew that was a given. (totally kidding. the last thing you need while potty training is a hangover, for the love of god.)
Potty Training Essentials: (From the top, clockwise)
Baby Bjorn Potty Chair: It’s simple. It’s read. It doesn’t light up or have a fake flusher or play music. It’s perfect and easy to clean.
Kids ‘N’ Pets: This is non-toxic and it works very well. While I love a good scent, I don’t like a nasty scent on top of the smell of urine. Ditto for throw up. Add some to your next Amazon order.
Shark Steam Mop: I think this is the one that I have. I loved it before we started potty training and I love it even more now. It’s quick and easy to do a steam clean on the hardwood or bathroom floor in between potty sessions. Plus, it dries much quicker than if you mopped, which is awesome. Throw the pads in the wash with the load of wet underwear that you inevitability need to clean and you’re set.
Goatmilk Kidware: Super soft underwear makes all the difference on little ones who are used to wearing diapers. These Striped Briefs are Everett’s favorites and they’re mine too. The girls and Ev have their Striped Tanks too and I die of happiness every time they wear them. Love.
Whirlpool Cabrio Top Loading Washing Machine: We bought one of these over the holidays, as our washing machine was on its last leg and I can’t tell you how much I’m still loving it. My favorite feature, when it comes to potty training — the “Quick Wash” feature. I feel like I’m doing a ton of mini-loads of Ev’s wet underwear and shorts this week and having to wait 30-minutes, rather than 50+ for a load to be finished makes me a happy mama.
What are you potty training essentials?
FYI, Kids ‘N’ Pets and Goatmilk both sent me products, ages ago, to review for other work-related topics, but now that we’re potty training, they’ve come to the top of my faves list again. All other products are mine mine mine, AKA, not provided by Baby Bjorn, Shark, or Whirlpool. Per usual, all opinions are my own.
I hear that today is National Siblings Day and while I’m pretty sure that “holidays” such as these were made up by Facebook to post sappy status updates, I’m not ashamed to jump on board.
I don’t get to see my brothers often. We live too far away and are too bad at picking up the phone to call and say hi. I think this was the last time the four of us were together — at Jeff and Amber’s wedding in 2005. If we were together today to celebrate being in this crazy family together, I can imagine we’d need cash for tattoos, a shit load of weed and a few get out of jail free cards.
And, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Love you guys.
