Wednesday, January 30, 2013

6 Recipes You Need to Know About

If you're anything like me, you've pinned about a hundred recipes, tried about a dozen, and actualy liked a handful. Pinterest is a great source for inspiration, but it’s not always reliable when it comes to the likelihood of success implementing all that inspiration. Just because something was repinned 800 times doesn’t mean it’s good; it just means the cover photo looks good. The constant “liking” and “repinning” doesn’t hold much weight when it comes down to what that craft will actually look like, or what the recipe truly tastes like. Sometimes (and maybe more often than not) those bright and shiny pins can be pretty unrealistic (check out Pinterest Fail for proof that everything’s isn’t always as easy or delicious as it seems) And I’d like to say that you could rely on the descriptions for real information, but does anyone ever update those? I know I don’t! Unless it says something really crazy, I pretty much just let the “mmmmmmm, sooo gooooood!/this sauce is totally addicting!!/pinner says “I made this for my boyfriend’s parents and now we’re engaged!!!” tagline roll.

My friend Rachel is a genius (for lots of reasons), and actually has a Pinterest board dedicated to ideas she has Tried/Attempted/Printed/Used (yes, that’s the official board name. She’s thorough, and literal). When she tries things from Pinterest, she moves them over to this board and updates the description with details on how it really went. It's like the #showyourreal of pinning!

I’d love to be that organized, or diligent, but.....well....I’m just not. BUT- I do have a mental list of things I’ve tried, and a few of them are what I consider to be “must shares”. And so I must share them with you:

6 Recipes You Have to Know About...
(5 because they’re that awesome, and 1 because it’s that bad)


This is one of the easiest recipes ever...I was able to make them before work, and just pop them in the oven that night. Changes I made: 
  • I used 8oz of mushrooms- they came pre-sliced and packaged...not going to argue with that!
  • We didn’t have butter, so I just used olive oil for saute-ing.
  • I only used half and onion, because I’m a baby about onions and always think recipes have too much.
  • Dustin said he thought the cheese was a little overpowering (I don’t even understand that as a concept) so next time he’d skip the piece of provolone on the bottom (and probably add it on top of mine!)



Pizza crust- we often buy the giant eagle brand, and have been pretty happy with it. But we also recently tried the whole wheat pillsbury (comes in the exploding cardboard tube) and were surprisingly impressed with it. We’ve only made this in the winter, so we’ve made it in the oven, but grilling it would be delicious too! Oh- and you know I didn’t use the entire red onion. You do you.





This is one of those things where you don’t even really need the recipe (and you definitely don’t have to follow it exactly)...it’s more of an inspiration, and a reminder that “Yes. Taco salads are delicious! We should eat that tomorrow!” We make this all the time now, changing up what exactly is in it depending on what exactly we have. I’ve never made the dressing...Typically I either put a little bit of sour cream on the top, or a dash of Southwestern Ranch dressing. There’s so much going on with the ingredients it really doesn’t need much dressing.

Chesecake Brownies with Raspberries 
Cheesecake swirl brownies have been a staple of mine since long before the pinterest era. But for my birthday I wanted to do something special, so I searched for a new recipe and found this pretty picture:

Trouble is...the website is in Polish, and the measurements are in grams. SO- I improvised. 
I made a box of ghirardelli dark chocolate brownies, and then whipped up some cheesecake topping using my old tried and true recipe from Food.com (I found this back when they were RecipeZaar. Does anyone- besides Sarah, my college roommate- remember that?) It’s from 2001 and has 6 reviews...so I’m sure it’s not taking the pinterest world by storm, but it’s so easy, and so good (heavenly, in fact). 
Typically I swirl the two together, but for this I just let it go. Then I threw on some raspberries, and put it in the oven. Done!
Tip: Make sure your cream cheese is all the way softened or it will be lumpy. I microwave it on about 20% power for a minute or two to speed it up.
Bonus tip: Eat them for breakfast. Heavenly!



I’ve made this twice now, and I love it, but it needs some adjustments. The amount of fruit they call for is completely overwhelming (It’s like a fruit cup with a dash of liquid) so I cut that in half, and I double the rosemary to give it a boost of flavor. Also- I don’t bother rolling the rosemary in sugar...It looks pretty, but comes off the minute you mix it, so it’s not worth it. And I had enough on hand to double the liquid ingredients, which still worked with the original amount of fruit. It’s easy to freshen it up after people have been serving it for a while. 

Adapted recipe: 
  • 1 apple
  • 1/2c cranberries (I buy it in a small bag...and still don’t use the whole thing.)
  • 1/2c white grape juice
  • 12oz club soda
  • 2 sprigs rosemary
  • 1/4c sugar (go a little light on this if you’re using non-alcoholic wine, which is much sweeter to start with)
  • 1 bottle Pinot Grigio (you can sub sparkling juice- white grape or apple...still delish)
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bars

In life, there are a few sure things. Things I’ve come to trust in. The sun will rise every morning (kind of a technicality in Pittsburgh because we can’t always see it...but it does rise!) If I forget my umbrella, it will definitely rain. And pumpkin + cream cheese is always awesome.

AND THEN!? Something like this recipe comes around and shakes the foundation of everything I hold dear. I’m choosing not to link to pinterest here, because there about a hundred similar pins, that all point to the same thing: Pumpkin Cream Cheese Failure. How to recognize if you’re headed down the dark path of lies: the description mentions weight watchers points (ok...I should have maybe seen this coming), and the ingredients include angel food cake mix. If you see either of those things....just turn the other way. 
It was practically foaming......


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If you’re interested in seeing what other random things I’m pinning, you can follow me here....(or click the handy “P” logo on the right sidebar)

Monday, January 28, 2013

A Word with You: Direction

Last Summer, my sister shared a phrase with me that has resonated ever since: 


“Start as you mean to go on.”

She was saying it in reference to parenting, basically meaning you should approach each task with the end result in mind, and act in a way that will get you there. It’s total common sense, but sometimes the things that are most logical, or obvious, are still the hardest to actually carry out. 

I consider myself a goal oriented and strategic person, but still I find myself at times wading through life as if I don’t have a plan. And sometimes....I don’t. I have a vision of the end goal- how I want my life to look in the not-too distant future, but I’m not always the best about setting out (or executing) a path to get me there. For example- I’d love to have dinner every night as a family. But do I meal plan, and grocery shop, and strive to get out of work on time, and resist the urge to just pick up pizza? Not always. And I’d love to feel fit, and strong, and maintain my flexibility throughout this pregnancy. But do I make working out a top priority? Ummmmm, no.

I can see the road from point A to point B, but it can be hard to get my feet moving in that direction. It’s seems so non-sensical. Especially to such a black and white logic lover like myself. I shouldn’t expect my life, my job, my marriage, or my family to magically turn out a certain way, without intentional steps towards that end. But sometimes l
ife seems to go so quickly that days, weeks, or months pass with us just mindlessly moving, verses purposefully striving.
This year I didn't make resolutions. I didn't have a great reason not to. But I think I was a bit overwhelmed with the idea of all that's on my plate right now, so the idea of making a list of more must do's just wasn't appealing. But a concept I thought sounded intriguing, is rather than making resolutions, writing out a vision of my future life. Picturing what I want our life to look like in three, six, twelve months would help make some of my more abstract goals take shape. Once I see where I really want to be, it'll be a lot harder to ignore the fact that I need to design a path to get there, versus just coasting and hoping for the best.
  
So I'm still forming my direction...but I'm starting...and I plan to go on.

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We'd love to have a word with you.  
Join the link up below to share your direction.






Thursday, January 24, 2013

Little Days: Book it

Like most parents, I had dreams of what Piper would be like before she was born. I couldn’t picture what she’d look like necessarily, but I had things in mind that I hope she would love to do. Near the top of the list: reading.

I mean, my friends threw me a book shower, and Piper’s room was designed around a book wall. You could say I’m pretty into the idea....

I loved, loved reading as a child, and it is a huge wish (goal?) for me to foster that enthusiasm in Piper. From the time she was teeny tiny (much too teeny tiny to understand...or maybe even notice), we’ve been reading to her. I’d lay her on my lap and point to pictures while I narrated. And she would mostly tolerate it...and occasionally border on enjoying it. 


 
But as she left the infant stage, and became an increasingly curious (and wiggly) child, it’s been harder and harder to get her to sit still with a book. For months she wanted no part of reading....unless “reading” means flipping through pages as fast as possible, not listening at all, and basically using books as props to throw, or stand on. If that’s what you mean, then she was super into reading.

But I kept trying. My best successes came if I allowed her to have a book of her own to tear through (sometimes almost literally), while I read a different book to her (but mostly to myself).

BUT THEN....In the last month....something happened, and she all of a sudden is enamored by books. Don’t get me wrong, she still flips pre-tty quickly, but in between all that frantic page turning, she actually notices the pictures. And knows there are words. And recognizes the animals. And points to her favorites.


She is now obsessed with sitting on our lap. So every play session now involves her picking out a book (or a few if she can carry them) and toddling over to where we’re sitting. She then does a half turn, and slowly backs up until her legs hit mine, and plops her little rump down. If you’re sitting in a way that doesn’t create a formal “lap”, she is undeterred. She will climb and shift, back-up and plop as many times as necessary to get you to make her a little perch. It’s pretty much the cutest thing ever.


She has a rotating library of favorites, preferring mostly board books (because she doesn’t get in trouble for bending the pages), and anything with animals. She doesn’t have a ton of patience for long winded stories, preferring instead to just point at things she recognizes, and attempt to say their names or making their sounds. She’s a headstrong little thing (wherever would she get such a trait?) so we’re forced to follow her lead a bit when it comes to what to read, and the pace at which to read it. But as long as she wants to snuggle in my lap, book in hand....I’m a happy mama. 

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linking up with TheScribblePad for Little Days

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Pregnancy: Round 2

So...yeah. I'm pregnant. Almost 18 weeks pregnant, actually. (otherwise known as sooooooooo close to the halfway mark!) But I haven't blogged much about it. In fact, I haven't written much about it at all. When I was pregnant with Piper, I blogged fairly regularly, took weekly photos, and kept a private journal on the side with additional notes, milestones, photos and feelings. Recording my pregnancy was a priority for me, and my diligence paid off in the form of a keepsake book that I treasure.

But this time? Well....not so much.
It's not that I'm ANY less excited about this pregnancy, or this baby. I'm so grateful to be pregnant, and could not be more thrilled to welcome a new baby into our family. But I'm also tired. And busy. And somehow, as much as I'd love to go over the top documenting all the pregnancy milestones this go round, I haven't been able to devote the time to it that I would like. BUT- even though it's a bit harder to keep up this time around, I still have big dreams. I haven't been doing the best job compiling all the memories from the past few months, but I've still been taking pictures and saving little snippets behind the scenes as much as I can. My goal is to get all of these little mementos and shots into a scrapbook at the end, using the digital format of Project Life. I'm still a long way off from having anything pulled together, but there's still time, right?! (Should I mention I still don't have a final book from Piper's first year? Yeah....it's an uphill battle at times...)

It's a bit daunting to keep up with all the recording, when all the living doesn't slow down. But it's worth it to me. So it's time to start backlogging the past few (ok, 10) weeks. Better late than never!

doctor visits:
First time: Found out we were expecting exactly one day after my missed period, and counted down the minutes until my eight week appointment.
This time: Finally got a positive test three weeks (Yes, THREE) after my missed period. Didn’t go to the doctor until 11.5 weeks. Turns out when you wait that long you get to skip the boring first appointment and go right to the good stuff- hearing the heartbeat!


Belly pics:
First time: I set up a semi-permanent chalkboard-backdrop photobooth in our guest room.  Each week Dustin took my picture, and I added a letter to the baby (including its current size, as compared to produce!) with notes from that week.









This time:
I ditched the backdrop, in favor of (mostly) outdoor shots, but haven't yet figured out the final editing format. Again, I'm a little behind here, but at least I have the photos!
Here are my weekly portraits, from week 8 to week 16. (and yes...I'm digging the stripes. That may never change.)

 
“morning” sickness:
First time: I got sick one time- week 17.
This time: I was nauseous from week 6-14. (it’s actually the reason I suspected I was pregnant in the first place). Those weeks were a grueling blur of constant cracker eating, and gingerale sipping. I never actually threw up (thank you, thank you, thank you) but I wanted to; most of the time.

appetite:
First time: I was starving in the very beginning...but only got to about an 8 on the “I’ll eat your arm off scale”.
This time: I was staaaaaaarving.(Picture me as Chris Farley). It was rampant, ravenous hunger (again, week 6-14...and still occasionally). Eating also seemed to stave of the nausea, so I had no shame about shoving my face all day.


diet:
First time: No alcohol, no soft cheeses, no lunchmeat.
This time: I’m still laying off the booze- but have loosened the cheese rule. As long as it says pasteurized, I think I’m good. Welcome back to my life feta and goat cheese.

symptoms:
First time: I had lower back pain (a result of a broken tailbone a few years ago), constant heartburn,  sore muscles, and general fatigue.
This time: The lower back pain is minor if anything, I haven't had even a hint of heartburn, my muscle aches are definitely present (a fact I blame partially on not drinking enough water) and the fatigue....Oh my goodness the fatigue. I'm exhausted this time around. It's lightened up a bit now that I'm in the second trimester, but I'm still craving a nap most afternoons.


weight gain:
First time: Maybe 3 pounds by this point?
This time: I think I gained 5 pounds before I even knew I was pregnant. I could baaaaarely hold off telling my office until after my first appointment, because I was running out of clothes to cover my rapidly growing belly. It’s like my body remembered what being pregnant meant, and decided to get a jump on it. Now I’ve gained a total of 8 pounds, so it’s definitely slowed down, but I’ve basically looked 17 weeks pregnant since about the 8 week mark. (please don't mention the grilled cheeses. I choose to believe they are unrelated).


cravings/aversions:
First time: Nothing of note. (lame, I know)
This time: Cravings have been a lot stronger this time around (which might be related to all the nausea.)
There was week in the beginning where I wanted a chocolate milkshake every night (something I wouldn’t normally drink ever, let alone daily), and I crave grilled cheese sandwiches around 9pm most evenings (Dustin is practically a professional sandwich flipper at this point). The only other thing out of the ordinary is my appetite for salad. I could eat three salads a day. Or in a row. Mmmmmm salad. (Don't worry though- cheeseburgers and mac and cheese are still staples in my life).

heart rate:
First time: Usually in the low 140's. (at our twelve week appointment it was 143- the old pager code for "i love you." I'm a dork for knowing that, and a bigger dork for telling you.)

This time: Mid 150's. There is probably a wives’ tale that correlates this fact to the implication that this baby is a boy. Or a girl. Or a baby alligator. But I don't put much stock in all that. (Though I do hope it's not an alligator...We only have one bathtub. It's just not practical.)

movement:
First time: I first felt Piper move at 17.5 weeks. From her journal:
I had felt flutterings for the past few days but none so definitive that they qualified as Official Baby Movement Milestones. But last night as I lounged in a recliner playing an intense round of “Angry Birds” on Dustin’s iphone, I felt it. The unmistakable feeling of a baby moving. My baby moving. And it was a little weird, and a lot wonderful. I told Dustin non-chalantly that “I just felt the baby move”. He lit up, totally surprised, and jumped over to put a hand on my belly. Of course he couldn’t feel it yet, but he wanted to be a part of it. He asked me what it felt like, and I explained the best I could- mostly recycling comparisons I had heard before because that’s as close as I can get to describe the tiny little wiggling I had just experienced. I had dreamed about it forever, wondered and questioned, and in the end it just happened. It was somehow both the hugest deal ever, and curiously casual- momentous, but immediately familiar.
This time: I heard that second time moms often feel the baby move a few weeks earlier than the first time. So I set a goal for myself to feel the baby at 16 weeks. Yes, I realize that setting a goal for a fetus is pretty dumb. But hey, that's my M.O. As the 16 week mark came and went, I was pretty much freaking out that I couldn't feel the baby yet. I knew that it might not be possible for a couple more weeks, but I still worried that something was wrong, and this was the sign. But two days shy of 17 weeks, I felt it. I still doubted whether it was a real baby moving in there, or if it was just the extra few pieces of pizza I had, shifting around in there. But as I continued to feel it, there was no denyin telltale flutterings of a wiggly little babe. Best feeling ever.

spazzing about:
First time: I feared people finding out before I was ready. (how many excuses for not drinking can you come up with at work happy hours?)
. And then once the news was out, I continued to worry about the baby being ok. I worried about all kinds of things: not gaining enough weight, fearing the baby might be smaller than normal, or had stopped growing entirely, not feeling movement soon enough or often enough, and just general concern about the baby growing and developing normally and on schedule. 
This time: I've actually worried quite a bit less this time. I don't have any false assurances that just because I had a normal pregnancy last time, that it will be the case this time. But I think going through the process once before reminded me that there's not much I can do. I try to listen to my body, and maintain balance, but mostly I just pray that our baby is safe and normal, and try to keep the worry out of it. That said, I do have a (pretty much) irrational fear that I'm somehow carrying
twins. I don't really have any reason to suspect such a thing, I think my rapid weight gain, and increased nausea just freaked me out a bit. It's definitely not the worst thing that could happen, but I'm still a little panicked about the idea of having three kids under two. Hopefully God knows we're not ready for that.

looking forward to:
First time: In the first few months, I counted down to a few milestones, most notably the first the 12 week point (when we finally got to hear the heartbeat), and then our first ultrasound (scheduled around 20 weeks). 
This time:
The ultrasound!! The first part of pregnancy did drag a bit, but in general it seems we've been steadily marching ahead. I'm partly shocked that we're practically halfway through already! Our appointment is scheduled for 7:30am next Friday (You know I'm excited if I actually want to be somewhere that early!) and I can't wait. I need to see that (singular) baby swimming around in there. I want to count its fingers, and see its little profile. And of course I'm dying to find out the gender. Last time we found out but kept it a secret for a while. This time we've decided to share the news with friends and family much sooner. I can't wait to find out if we'll be adding a girl or a boy to our family, and start the fun stuff- planning a nursery, picking a name, and buying teeny tiny clothes.

A pic from my birthday. Twenty nine years. Seventeen weeks

So little baby #2...fear not. I may be a touch behind (and a lot sleepy)...But you are very much wanted, very much anticipated, and will be very much celebrated. Scrapbook or not.
 

Monday, January 21, 2013

A Word With You

With so much in my life, I’m fast.

Ok...maybe more impatient...but still fast. I’m a fast talker, a fast eater (except when I’m too busy fast-talking), a relatively fast driver....In general I like get things moving. I like to plan and talk out ideas, but sooner than later, I want to start doing them.

But when it comes to writing. I am slow. Like a turtle, walking up hill, in the snow, carrying a crock pot on its back, kind of slow. If I could invent a cord that would plug into my brain and connect it to my keyboard, I’d be the happiest little tortoise you’ve ever seen. It seems that my brain runs so fast, but getting those zooming thoughts in some sort of order to be able to share is a challenge sometimes. I find that I have to be in a writing “mood”, which doesn’t always align with when I have writing time. If I’m not in the zone (and even sometimes when I am) I end up spending forever trying to organize my thoughts and looking for the right words, phrases, and structure to convey what I’m thinking and feeling. It’s a version of writer’s block, I guess. But it’s not a matter of not having anything to write....it’s that I have SO many ideas and memories I want to share, they get kind of jammed up. Then more often than not, I find myself overwhelmed and frustrated, not knowing where to begin. So I just don’t. I’ll go weeks without writing because with all the ideas swirling, I can’t quite get in gear to just pick one thing and get it done.

What I need, is a goal. A deadline. And some accountability. My blog is for fun, so I don’t have delusions that readers are stopping by constantly, tapping their feet, begging for new content. But I find when I make a commitment to posting something, I am MUCH more likely to actually do it. Fortunately I’m not the only one that struggles with the push-pull of wanting to write, but needing a little help making it happen. So my friend Meg and I have formed an idea to help motivate each other to set aside the excuses, and put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboards.)

Introducing:


Each month we will pick a word to write about and share a story from our lives. Our aim is to make sure we make time to record all the little things that fill our days, that might otherwise go undocumented. By forming a group of people with the same goal,  we’re hoping that it will motivate us to keep at it. If you have a blog (or even if you don't), we would love for you to write with us each month and join in!

Our word for January :: Direction

There are no rules, just write something that ties in with this month's word in some way. On Monday, January 28th, we will share our posts and include a link up so that you can share your post with us too. I'm looking forward to it!

(Feel free to spread “the word” on twitter and instagram: #awordwithyou)

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Doing and Being

A while back, Hayley, over at The Tiny Twig, wrote about different aspects of motherhood, and it got me thinking. She was describing her mom-self, saying she’s good at the being part of motherhood...not always great at the doing. I totally get what she’s saying, but reading her description struck a chord with me, and illuminated something I’ve been feeling for a while, but didn’t really know how to say.

You see. I’m in the opposite camp. I’m a do-er. Not that I’m perfect…FAR from it. But I have just always been a type-A, striver, achiever, do-er. So the tasks of motherhood come easily to me (even if they do exhaust me). Picking out outfits, cleaning up toys, organizing closets, researching products, packing the weekend bag…I’m all over that. But just BEING? Hanging out, patiently cuddling, mindlessly babbling- just BEING? That’s hard for me. I struggle without boxes to check off, or results to measure.

How can I be, when there is so much to do
 
I’m sure I’m not alone, but at the same time, it’s not something that moms always feel comfortable saying.

Sure, there’s tons of pressure- especially in the pinterest era- to do. Do more. Do better. Do-it-yourself. But as a mom I also feel a huge amount of pressure to be. Be present. Be cheerful. Be content. Keeping up with the constant doing can run you ragged, but feeling like you’re not measuring up to what you’re supposed to be...that can really take a toll.

In the spirit of #showyourreal, here’s the truth. My truth(s):
I don’t want to be a stay at home mom. I don’t love the daycare drop-off, but I sure do like working. I like being around adults for a big chunk of my day. I like learning and accomplishing new things. I like eating lunch and using the bathroom (pretty much) whenever I want...and by myself if I choose. I like being creative, and seeing my contributions come to life out in the “real world”. I would never say I like my job more than I love Piper. But I do like to work. I have the utmost respect for moms who stay home (it is HARD), but I hope I don’t have to be one of them.

Stop working...I want to playyyyyyyyy....

I don’t always love playing with Piper. I know, right? But being with a baby can be boring, tiring and annoying. Right?! (Please someone say RIGHT so I don’t feel like The. Worst. Mom. Ever.) Sometimes losing myself in the necessary tasks is preferable than laying down on the floor stacking cups. Or repeating “what a doggie says” over and over. Or putting together that five piece puzzle again. There are parts I love: watching Piper rock her baby. Hearing her chime her version of “quack”. Flipping through board books together pointing to all the things she alllllllmost recognizes. But sometimes baby toys...are for babies. 

 And clothes are for suckers. 

When I identify or classify myself, I don’t always think of my Mother title. Or at least it’s not first on my list. I’m a lot of things. And as much as being  a mom defines me- or is supposed to anyway- it’s not my whole being. Having Piper absolutely changed my life, rearranged my priorities, and grew my heart, but it didn’t erase the me I was before. I’m a wife. I’m a creative thinker. I’m a compulsive talker. I’m a voracious eater. I’m loud, and selfish, and spontaneous, and lazy, and messy. I’m a slew of quirks (and if we’re being honest: sins) that don’t exactly jive with the perfect image (my perfect image) of who a mother is. To say “I’m a mom” conjures up the idea that I’m a martyr-y mix of selfless, organized, nurturing, and proper. It’s one thing to do some of those types of actions...but if that’s what I’m supposed to be, than I’ll always be off the mark.

So, the doing. I can muscle through that. I can talk the talk, walk the walk, and bake the baked-goods.

And the being? I can see both sides. I know that the pressure and the guilt isn’t the whole story. I know that I’m not the only one that doesn’t embrace every aspect of motherhood with unwavering enthusiasm. I know that all I can give is me. And that “me” is valuable.


Because when it comes to the loving...OH, I’m good at the loving. And that’s the best of all.


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linking up with TheScribblePad for Little Days

Friday, January 11, 2013

Fixated

When I first told you about Stitchfix, I told you how easy it is for me to get addicted to things.....
And it turns out, I became a Stitchfix addict. Over the last few months, I’ve gotten five fixes. Have I kept anything? Ummmm no. But partly because I didn’t care so much about the actual shopping part. I just really liked getting surprises in the mail. Whether I ended up getting anything or not, I loved every second of waiting for my package, tearing open my box, and seeing my mystery picks. And then there was always the fashion show around the office. Can’t beat that. 

If you missed my last post on the subject, you may be wondering...

What is stitchfix

Pretty much this:

Need a refresher on how it works?

Pretty much like this: 
Now that style profile is no joke. Stitchfix has all kinds of info about me on file. They know my sizes, my likes and dislikes, they even have links to my blog and pinterests boards. Plus I update my profile after each fix I receive, telling them what I liked and what I didn’t so they could nail it the next time. And when I found out I was pregnant, Stitchfix was pretty much second in line for the announcement (after Dustin.)


"Guess what! I'm pregnant....and you guys are among the first to know!!

I know you don't officially do "stitchfix maternity" but I was hoping you could help 
pull things that would have some longevity of use. Anything longer, stretchy, and/or without a formal constructed waist.... I'm still in my first trimester, so I'm not huge, but pieces that could grow with me a bit would be great."

That might seem a little personal...but it turns out I have a personal stylist. Her name is Margaret.




See? We're tight.
(I'm a little bit joking, but she did answer about a milllion of my questions via email this time around, so even if she has other clients, she's still very patient and attentive.


Since I haven’t kept anything (I came reaaaaaaally close, but couldn’t quite pull the trigger on any of them), I haven’t posted about it. BUT...this time? They got me. Each box comes with 5 pieces, and this last shipment had two items I was swooning over.

First, this emerald tunic:





(excuse the wrinkles. It will obviously never look like that when I wear it. ha.)


Pantone has officially named this the color of 2013, and I couldn’t be happier. I love this rich tone, the drapey rayon, and the roomy silhouette. (It might actually fit me for another two weeks!) I can see it mixing in with the multitude of blues and neutrals that I already own, and will be an easy layer piece. It seems super versatile, plus, it’s perfect with a scarf. Sold. Wait....almost....because we have this contender too: 

Cream and tan polka-dot sweater with open knit back.





You guys. I pretty much die over this sweater. I don’t know what it is that has me so transfixed (oooooh stitchfix pun, yes!) It might be the super soft fabric, or the tiny knit dorito (seriously, that’s what it’s called) at the neck, or the striped cuffs....Or it could be the itsy bitsy dot pattern, or the beautifully stitched back panel. Or the roomy silhouette (for real....girl needs a little extra space these days).

I love them both, but was completely torn over which to keep. So naturally I took to facebook and instagram for advice. 




30 some comments later green was the clear winner with the masses....but I was still torn. I actually have to return the box today and I’m still not sure what I'll keep. I might just say "Happy Early Birthday to Me!" and keep them both. Tempting.....


{Edited to add...kept the green. I'll miss you dot sweater.}




I DID. I did love my fix!

Now go get yours!

Friday, January 4, 2013

What to Read When You're Expecting

Brace yourselves...we've got another Bowden-bun in the oven, which translates to another 6 months of pregnancy overload and unsolicited advice on all things baby. Ok, hopefully not, but I'm a sharer by nature, so if I know something (or think I know something) I want to tell you all about it. I can't help it! So humor the wanna-be-expert in me, and allow me to drop some knowledge for a minute.

Last time I shared my baby registry tips, but since we're much earlier in the game this time, I wanted to share what was on my bookshelf pre-baby. If you find yourself "in the family way" hopefully I can save you some browsing, by highlighting a couple of winners.


The Ultimate Pregnancy Guide for Expectant Mothers: A Daily Guide to Ensure a Happy and Healthy Pregnancy
Dustin bought this one for me, and I loved it. (He actually secretly got it before we got pregnant, and had it wrapped and waiting for the day we got a positive test. And if that's not the most romantic thing you've ever heard of, then you just might live in The Notebook.)  It's very simple, but very informative. It seemed to nail exactly what I was going through...even down to the day (It was creepily accurate sometimes...Can you see me, book?!) This is a good alternative to the traditional "What to Expect When Expecting" (which I have a copy of, but never really got into.) Plus, I like that this version doesn't inundate you with every tiny thing that could ever, ever, ever happen to you, and scare the bejebus out of you with rare worst case scenarios (I mean, what's not to like about that?)

The Working Gal's Guide to Babyville: Your Must-Have Manual for Life with Baby 
I got this from the library in the midst of one of my (many) pregnancy panics- this one entitled- I Have No Idea How to Work and Raise a Baby, What the Crappity Crap am I going to Do, Don't they Make a Handbook for This Sort of Thing? (Volumes 1-5). So, yeah. I was a little desperate for some working-mom specific info and guidance...and was pretty disappointed by what's out there (mostly, what's not out there- i.e. "a handbook for this sort of thing"). But I found this, and read through the majority of it through the course of a one day business trip (oh, the irony.) Overall? Eh. There were a couple helpful things in here, but it was also a little cheesy at times. As desperate as I was for situation specific guidance, it was a little too customized at times. Like pens for women. Turns out sometimes a mom is just a mom, whether she works or not, and not all advice needs to vary based on how your family earns a living. Overall? If you're wigging out about how to juggle everything- Bail on the book, and call a friend who's been there. And if you don't have a friend that's been there? Email me. (I promise not to refer to you as "gal".)

The Mommy Docs' Ultimate Guide to Pregnancy and Birth
I pretty much got this instead of taking a birthing class. Because I'm responsible like that. Why commit to a formal learning environment and expose yourself to one on one instruction when you can just skim a few pages written by a bunch of super photogenic lady docs? (For real...did they choose the writing team based on who would look good on a cover?) I realized pretty late in the game (like...35 weeks?) that I had read a ton about being pregnant, but was juuuuuuust this side of ignorant when it came to the whole "getting the baby out" part. My plan was to not really have a plan, but I didn't want to sound like a backwoods teenager, when we got to the hospital, so a last minute cram session seemed like a necessary step. I pretty much skipped the pregnancy part of the book, so I can't vouch for that, but the sections on the birth process were pretty helpful. It is very thorough though (think textbook, but not as boring) so if you get this one, don't feel like you have to read everything. If I read too much about pregnancy, or birth I would start to freak myself out a little and panic at all the possibilities and details, so I tried to keep it somewhat high level, and just get a working knowledge of the whole thing. But if you're one of those "have to know everything types" this book will definitely get the job done.

The Happiest Baby on the Block
In a similar vein, I should confess that not only did I sort of neglect to read up on the whole birth thing...It also didn't fully occur to me that I should probably research a bit about the whole baby thing. Like...what to do once the bizarro little creature is out and about, and everyone expects you to protect, feed, clothe, and generally raise it. It's not because I'm dumb (ok, not that dumb). I just got caught up in the magic of pregnancy, and wasn't too thrilled to immerse myself in the harsh realities of parenting until I actually had to. And while I do think the adage of "ignorance is bliss" can be accurate (and comforting) to woman in the last stages of pregnancy, I also realize that a bit of background knowledge on children, might just be a good thing if you're about to have one. Unfortunately I honestly don't remember much about this this book because I skimmed it pretty fast as a formality towards the end of my pregnancy. But...I think it was good? Man, this is turning into the best advice column ever. You better not be skimming.




New Mother's Guide to Breastfeeding Alright, you're either into this, or you're not, and my advice is if you get this....skim it. It's got great info, but it also has the cheesiest, most annoying stories you ever heard. (and drawings. OH the drawings!) Plus- at least the first two chapters, (and really a quarter of the book in total) is blatant "why nursing is the best thing since sliced bread- but actually forget bread- breast milk is the best thing since ANYTHING" type propaganda, which is annoying, but also pretty unnecessary. I figure anyone reading the book already want to nurse. There's no need to jump on the high horse of preachiness to convert the converted. But that being said, nursing can be a challenge for a variety of reasons, and this book is super valuable in helping prepare you for what to expect. For me personally though, I think too much in advance reading would have just freaked me out about how hard it might be, so it was better used as a reference after the fact if I had questions or problems. (Or if I was desperate for a pencil rendering of a 70's era mother tandem feeding twins. It's pretty good for that too.)

On Becoming Baby Wise: Giving Your Infant the Gift of Nighttime Sleep
Ok- warning: some people get OBSESSED with this. Meaning, they use babywise as a verb- as in "oh yeah, we babywise. obvi.". Like they've cracked the code and found the only acceptable strategy to parenting an infant. To which I say: No. But! There are some good ideas in here, so long as you don't throw your brain out and become a babywise zealot. (And opposite warning: there are some people that think this book is the devil. Like any of the schedules are rigid, baby-prison scare-tactics. To which I also say: No.) I'm a middle of the road babywiser (as with a lot of things), so just picked and chose the things I thought seemed worth following, and ignored the parts that stressed me out or didn't fit with our life. I found the example schedules SUPER helpful, but then again some of the advice was a bit too "prefect world" and left me feeling like a failure that I wasn't able to get my baby on an exact schedule from minute one.

The Guy's Guide to Surviving Pregnancy Childbirth and The First Year of Fatherhood
Last one: This is the one and only baby related book Dustin ever read (now you see why him buying me a book is extra thoughtful. It's so not his wheelhouse). He found it pretty funny and mildly helpful, but it's by no means a textbook like informative guide. The main benefit to this book is that it at least made me feel like he was involved in the process. There's only so much a dad-to-be can do, so reading something, anything, goes a long way to show they're invested in the whole thing. (That and footrubs. Those go a long way to show everything.)


OH- and last minute bonus pick (because my book cover collage looked better with eight pictures...And because this might be the book I actually read the most of...)
Beyond Ava and Aiden: The Enlightened Guide To Naming Your Baby
Ok, nevermind the obnoxious title (would you have read this post if I branded it "The enlightened guide for reading books about baby junk"? I hope not.) This is actually a pretty fantastic book...if you're a stressed out pseudo-hipster who agonizes excessively about naming your child (hello, Courtney Bowden!) Naming the baby was in my top three list of pregnancy tasks (along with designing a nursery, and eating grilled cheese sandwiches), and I took the study of names VERY seriously. (see also: why I didn't bother with birthing strategies and parenting philosophies. I was busy preparing to bestow a moniker on my princess). Online research is king in this area (as are spreadsheet rankings, old school arguments and threats...at least in the Bowden household) but if you just can't get over the idea of thumbing through a real live volume of name inspiration (which, no lie, was one of my favorite pastimes as a kid!) then this is your book.

That's the long and short (and the very, very long) of it. All you experienced mamas out there...did you have any must reads?