Freckles are Delish!

Full disclosure, I love me some lemonade like I love a red head with freckles.  And to be clear, that is a LOT.  (Total redhead envy over here.  Insane jealousy.)

And yes, there is a super embarrassing story from my childhood involving a bad day, hypoglycemic fit and a restaurant JUST running out of it at the table next to ours.  Tears ensued.  I'm not proud of the emotional breakdown in which this delicious, summery beverage was literally the straw that broke the camel's back but my love of it remains the same.

Sadly, my awareness of sugar's harmful side effects and overall health require me to pay a little more attention than I did, say 20 years ago.  I'm always trying to find little ways to eliminate excessive sugar from the things I love.  (And just to be clear, my definition of excessive means when not in the form of cocktails or delicious desserts.)

Low and behold, I present Light Freckled Lemonade.  Less than 100 calories in the pitcher and still full of taste.

Ingredients
* Two 12oz cans of Zevia Lemon Lime Twist
* Two cups of water
* Lemon juice from 3-4 lemons OR 1/4-1/2 cup lemon juice - decide how sour you like it
* 1/2 cup strawberries, pureed

Recipe
* Mix it all together, over ice, enjoy! 

A Breath

I'm back.  No seriously.  This time, it's for reals.

The last year has been absolutely bonkers.  I knew parenthood would be intense but rocking my job, marriage and toddler have thrown me for a loop.  Don't get me wrong, most days are oodles of fun and the days that aren't usually end of a splash of wine for a little self-medicating reward.

So what's changed?  Honestly, nothing.  And nothing is going to, unless I change.  So this is it, a pledge to myself to make it happen.  We'll call the last year a breath of air.  I needed one, or a few billion, and while that won't stop, neither will I.

The parties are planned, the cocktails have been thoroughly tested and recipes invented on whim.  Take it in people.  I'm just getting started . . .

Baby Must Haves: Playtime!

There is no fathomable way I could tell you about every single toy TripG loves. There is simply not enough room on the interweb. So, here is a list of musts, Griffin tested, Griffin approved obvi. And if you know my little guy, he is rough on toys and not easily entertained by just anything that lights up.

 

Toy styles change frequently but some brands are just fantastic over and over again. A few we love to the end of the Earth and back again . . .

B. Toys– An awesome brand, easily found at Target and Amazon, these toys really kick it up a notch in engagement not to mention they come in a gorgeous, jewel toned color palette. Our favs including the Electronic Kid's Sing Along Recordable Toy Microphone, One Two Squeeze Blocks, and Stackadoos (see below).

SkipHop – They do a great job combining quality products with fun, graphical animals that Mr. Jonathan Adler might as well have designed himself. Fun, bright and bold, I love them so much. They make way more than toys and I dig them all!

Melissa and Doug – All wooden, all awesome. Super focused on educational play. My favorites include the car carrier, the owl stacker and of course, the stack and sort board.

PlanToys – Sustainably made toys that are really well crafted and perfect for durable play.

Things you absolutely must own . . .

Lets preface this whole list saying that books are always on the top of the list but I have a whole SLEW to recommend and in the interest of keeping this under a billion words, we'll stick to toys here. Another time, another place.

A Fly Ride - Yep, TripG was already WAY to cool to ride in a stroller so we knew an upgrade was in order. FINALLY we found Little Tykes 2-in-1 Cozy Roadster. The awesome little car had a sun shade, cup holders, and a horn that beeped. Best of all, this car is the perfect place for little man to chill on a nice long ride, and still feel engaged. We could not go to Starbucks without a plethora of oohs and awws. And yes, my kid is cute, but the car took it to a whole new level.

His Own "iPod" - Ok, so not really, but we caled this perfect little toy his iPod and he loves, loves, LOVES it. The Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes is a must. My 16 month old still finds new ways to giggle to this one.

Better Blocks - Sure, he has those perfect vintage wooden blocks. What kid doesn't. But seriously, other than stacking them up and knocking them down, what else are we going to do? Blocks will never be the same after finding B. Bristle Block Stackadoos. These perfectly little combed blocks interlock in a variety of sizes and shapes so the possibilities of building are endless. Bonus, his little lady friend, Miss O, likes to use them to comb her hair. Such a girl!

A Big Arse Light Up, Plastic Toy - This Fisher-Price Little Superstar Step N' Play Piano is kind of big and kind of ugly but guess what, he loves it and has for MONTHS. It transitioned well from a place to sit and play before he was mobile, to something he could pull himself up on, and now, to something he walks in and around, using it as a DJ station most days. Watching him play music and start dancing is worth every single time I have cringed allowing it to reside in our living room.

PadMan - Ok, so that's not his actual name, but this fabulous cover, IGuy by Speck Products, was a great buy. We put on our iPad for Griff to play is still a total fav. He loves it and hasn't destroyed the iPad yet. Best of all, you can charge it with the cover on, remove the cover very easily and the arms create some cute little handles for little hands.

Bumbo – This is an amazing seat that you will literally use over and over again be it snacks, painting or just those times when mommy needs a minute.

Play Gym – These are a fantastic early toy to invest in for some engaged exploration on their backs, tummy time and of course, that rolling practice.

Trucks, trucks and more trucks - We totally adore these Battat brand trucks. Cement mixer, garbage truck and dump truck, Oh My! All are super cute, perfectly plastic and durable.

Swing – I am a big fan of swings that go side to side as well as front to back. 3 speeds and a variety of music with volume is all very important as well. In the early days you will look adoringly at your baby in the swing thinking how peaceful he/she can be. Choose one that works, but you don't hate looking at. They discontinued the one we had, Fisher Price "How Now Brown Cow". Yep, I bought it because I liked the name. Seriously.

Bouncer– We invested in a fairly inexpensive Fisher Price model (Also, How Now Brown Cow) and loved it.He didn’t prefer this for long but the flexibility it provided was worth every single dollar.

So, ya, it's a long list, but seriously, the look on their faces when they discover a new or favorite toy is priceless.

Baby Must Haves: Poop & Primping

Number two in my series of unsolicited advice! This list focuses on poop and primping. You could not imagine how many grooming products you can buy for someone with so little hair. And the poop! Well if you haven't already, you better brace yourself. It's about to get real. (Really smelly that is.)

Welcome to Baby Must Haves: Poop & Primping edition!

Episencial Playful Wash - Get it in the giant pump and scrub your little smelly monster clean with this all natural body and hair wash.

Episencial Suggly Lotion - A soft lotion and simple way to choose a better, natural lotion for your kidlet.

Green Sprouts Wooden Hairbrush - I am a BIG fan of Green Sprouts hairbrush. The bristles are super soft! You can get this great brand at Whole Foods Market and Amazon among others.

Safety First Nail Clippers - It’s not brain surgery but it has about as much pressure when they are wiggly and you are trying not to clip their little skin. These have a great grip for tiny little clippers.

Fisher Price Whale of a Tub - We really enjoyed this bathtub available on Amazon or just about any Target. The support for the newborn was great and it transitioned well up to about 1. The little green piece comes out of the middle so they have more room to play as soon as they can sit independently.

Towels and Washclothes - urprisingly, they animal hooded towels are fantastic. Big enough to last into toddler phase and small enough to be effective. For washcloths, choose some soft, thin, and most importantly, have a few.

Huggies - You’ll find your own brand. Our kid just has a prominent tush and these covered him the best and felt soft. My pet peeve was diapers that felt like paper. How can that be comfy?

Target Up and Up Brand Baby Wipes - The non-scented and sensitive options are super soft and really well. And please, who isn’t looking for a reason to go to Target just one more time?!?

Diaper Dekor Plus - We really like this diaper pail because, and lets be frank, it holds the shit.  Poops smell and this one holds that stank in pretty well.  Bonus, I prefer to change a bag of diapers instead of what looks like a sausage a la Diaper Genie style.

A couple things you don’t need?
Newborn bathtubs. Seriously you can wash them in a sink or their baby bathtub just as easily.
Wipes warmer. I am convinced that all babies that get their tush dabbed with a warm wipe will end up in therapy with dependency issues at some point.

And now for a love note.
Amazon, how do I love you? Let me count the ways. I love you for your diaper pricing. I love you for your Amazon Mom program that opened me up to the world of Amazon Prime. I love you for all the Downton Abbey I was able to stream, for free, at my leisure. I love you for the two day shipping because lord knows it would take me three times as long to find half an hour to waste at Target. I love you for the ease and added discounts of Subscribe and Save. And mostly, I love you because diapers always arrive, when I need them, like magic. If Amazon was a man, my husband would have some serious competition. Join my fantasy land and sign up here.

 

 

Obsession: Drawer Decor!

Lets face it, I'm a total organizing nerd.  Give me a label maker and some tiny bins and I get all hot and bothered.  Even with the fairly massive amount of storage I am lucky enough to have, things can get sloppy.  Kitchen utensil drawers are one of the worst.  Odd sizes, combined with somewhat infrequent use makes me want to abolish them all, until of course I realize how often I use my peeler.  So what to do?  Enter Drawer Decor. 

These silcone drawer liners are A-MAH-ZING!  I love that you can cut them to size.  I love that they have a grid pattern.  (El Husbando is known for the saying "If it's not a right angle, it's a wrong angle."  And yes, I still married him.)  Best part of all, the little dividers they call Divitz, can be recongifured again, and again, and again.  I poured myself  glass of vino and got my organization on.  A total type-A happy hour and I know I'm not alone in this.  I ordered two starter kits and a couple of extra Divitz sets as I knew I was battling quantity in this area.  Alas, my bits and pieces are a well arranged, my glass is half empty and yes, I am a little hot and bothered.

And of course, you can purchase Drawer Decor on Amazon by clicking here. The hardest part is choosing the color!

Baby Must Haves: Sleepytime

As I look back on my first year in the mommyhood I realized that I have a slew of products I adore and some I loathe.  So consider this a total bombardment of unsolicited advice! 

 

Welcome to my Baby Must Haves: Sleepytime edition!

 

Oeuf Sparrow Crib – We adore this crib.  It assembled insanely easily, looks great and changes levels in minutes.  Look hard and you can totally find a deal like we did.  Floor model sale!

Bedding – You only need a fitted sheet so buy three and make sure they are soft.  Otherwise, pick the cutest things you can find.  I love the ones at Land of Nod.

Trend Lab Crib Rail Covers – If your tiny human decides that the crib is a tasty snack, protect your adorable baby furniture with these super soft fleece protectors. 

Waterproof Mattress pad - You can buy them almost anywhere, but I suggest having 2-3 so you don’t have to stress if one is in the wash and you are changing the bed . . . again.

Chico First Dream Crib Mobile - My son hated his room, or crib, or both. It's likely my fault. I resisted a mobile because it didn't really work with the decor and I didn't know if he'd really love it. Insert. All of a sudden my two month old son that would scream bloody murder when laid down loves his crib. You can actually lay him down awake and tired and this entertains then lulls him to sleep. Best part of all, the mobile has a sound detector that is perfectly sensitive. Coos are nothing but when he starts crying this kicks on and buys me a few more seconds to rub my eyes open and grab a bottle. It's even been known to get him back to sleep unaided! Very minor complaints, the projector started jerking a little but a light slap and it was back to normal for now. Oh, and it runs on batteries. In my book, the adjustment to sub-par wine for our new battery budget is easily accepted. This mobile bridged the "plastic, shiny, toys with lights and sounds" and "mommy really likes clean, mid-century/modern lines" line.

Summer Infant Baby Touch Digital Color Video Monitor – Yes, you can hear a baby from the room next door but you sure can’t see what they are doing.  Even SuperMom needs a visual clue.  Think of the monitor as a sleep training tool.  It’s a useful tool, not over-parenting.

Aden and Anais Swaddle Blankets – Super soft and adorable patterns.  We didn’t have a lot of luck with blanket swaddling, but they are perfect for throwing over the carseat in the early days and as a light summer blanket for a toddler.

Halo Sleep Sacks – Swaddling is not easy and it’s less awesome when you have baby Hulk.  We loved the Halo brand sleep sacks with the ability to include or exclude their arms.  Strong Velcro and a variety of fleece or light cotton, depending on the season and need.  Also, these are very easy to change in and out of a few times a night.

Cloud B Sound Machine Soother  - We got the monkey version as a gift and are still using it for naptimes/bedtime today.  It travels easily and plays a variety of sounds and music.  Not a must but a nice to have for sure.

Baby Shower: Sweet As Pi

I adore throwing parties for my friends and I love even more when I get to co-host with great people!  Lindsey and I have known Andrew and Shauni for years and we were so lucky to connect wihth Shauni's dear friend Amy to throw a shower for the fabulous couple to celebrate the impending arrival of cuteness, little lady James. 

Shauni and Andrew are some of my favorite people, probably because they are as gorgeous inside as they are out.  Shauni was planning a science themed nursery, a personal passion of her own.  Don't you love that?  I was swooning and full of ideas as soon as I heard the theme and colors scheme orange/coral and mint, which we knew we had to use as well.  I like to call this party "Pretty Nerdy".

I had been trying to work in a cute sign that said "Cute As Pi" but after a little discovery, found out that pie was in fact their favorite dessert.  Done and done!  Under a banner saying "Sweet As Pi 3.14" we had peach, apple and pecan pies fresh out of the oven, perfect for the comfort food-style of the afternoon. 

And seriously, how amazing is this piece of art?  Yep, Lindsey already had that in her dining room.  Obsessed!!!

The food was an amazing collaboration by amazing friends.  I have never met a group of ladies so willing to pitch in and collaborate.  They say it takes a village to raise a kid.  We say it helps to have a village of fabulous people to throw a shower in honor of that kid.  To keep the theme going, I made some cute little signs inspired by the periodic table.  (Taking some elemental liberties of course.  Like I remember anything from science class people.)

Pulled BBQ pork and chicken mini sandwiches, mac and cheese cupcakes, chopped salad, fresh fruit and veggies with some yummy dips plus fresh lemonade and a rather delicious lemonade beer cocktail made our bellies and hearts full!

With a mix of co-ed friends, colleagues and family we had to find some fun games/activities that weren't too cheesy, lady-centric and for this couple, totally original.  For this game, we asked all of the guests to bring their own baby picture.  After posting all of these super cute images along a fence, we had Shauni and Andrew compete against each other and guess who was who.  As you can imagine, one of our handsome friends was a total golden haired toe-head as a child and looked as pretty as any of the ladies. It was a riot! 

A truly perfect day for wonderful friends!  And funny enough, little lady James was born on 3.14, Pi Day!!!