Tales of Me and the Husband

mother’s day with musana jewelry.

i had the unique opportunity to work with musana jewelry this mother’s day to swap a question with a mother in uganda.  my favorite sorts of organizations are ones like musana.  they go beyond monetary needs, and they provide continuing jobs.

after doing a bit of research, i cannot say enough good things about this organization.  here’s just a bit:
musana jewelry is a non-profit organization that works with women in uganda to design, produce, and sell beautiful jewelry, both in uganda and in the usa.  musana identifies women in at-risk populations who are in the greatest need, such as single mothers, women with little education,and women who are hiv-positive, but are determined to create a better life for themselves and for their children.

between the ten artisans (eve being one of them!), they are supporting more than 26 children.

not only do they provide jobs, but they also focus on social initiatives: english + literacy (musana offers literacy classes), small business (empowering them to be stronger candidates for other jobs outside musana), and health + wellness (birth control, caring for babies, etc.).  their jewelry is not solely focused on us sales, but there is a store-front in lugazi where they sell to the ugandans as well.

don’t forget to check out the jewelry!  that tukula necklace is beautiful.

now, on with the videos!  eve asked me a question, and then i asked her one!  here’s what we had to say:

ignore my super awkward… “see you guys later?” at the end.  videos are not my forte.

also, other bloggers had the chance to do the same this week with different artisans!  check them all out here on the musana blog.

thank you musana!

mother’s day, ii.

i decided for this mother’s day week to ask some mothers i admire for a few words–wisdom or otherwise–and a picture of them and their brood (or, however many they could wrangle for a semi-decent picture!). i know that mother’s day can be rough for a lot of people. i want to say, though, that i’m hoping all women who have shown love to another let themselves be celebrated a bit. that ‘ol saying, “it takes a village?” yeah, we’re all a part of that village. birth mothers, adoptive mothers, sisters, aunts, friends. happiest mother’s day to all.
let the celebrations continue!
{part one here}
(thanks for bearing with me.  this is waaaay longer than i thought it’d be.  and perhaps it is relevant to only some of you, but without these women (and many more–i could have made this weeks of posts if i allowed myself!), my road would be so much rockier.  i am so incredibly blessed to have this “village” behind me.  thank you to all!)
{this is my sister kate.  do you want to know how many phone calls she’s fielded from me since i’ve become a mom almost seven years ago?  oh… somewhere in the vicinity of 4,000 plus.  and don’t start me on how many just since parker’s been born.  she’s a best friend, an incredible mom, and one of the kindest souls.}
kate says:
Being a mother has allowed a certain peace to come over my heart. I am exactly where and who I need to be. And each and every day teems with joy…certainly not every moment (think diarrhea in the bathtub)…but absolutely every day.
{you might remember ahnika from her now defunct blog living with mr. johnson. while most of you don’t get glimpses into her life any more, i am lucky enough to be real life friends with this california babe and, let me tell you, she’s still as fabulous as ever. i mean it when i say she’s really funny, she’s real, she’s honest, she’s genuine, she’s great. and that little one? that’s svea. and she’s parker’s future wife.}
ahnika says:
Motherhood is the greatest potential influence in human society. Her caress first awakens in the child a sense of security; her kiss the first realization of affection; her sympathy and tenderness, the first assurance that there is love in the world. Thus in infancy and childhood she implants ever-directing and restraining influences that remain through life.  David 0. McKay

{rachael and i became close towards the end of our pregnancies.  we both had july babies and, as you can imagine, playdates with her and her lux were a god-send during some of the most monotonous days of mothering.  she is a really wise woman, really articulate (her writing is some of my absolute favorite on the internet), and her relaxed approach to motherhood has inspired me to chill out.  i’m so very glad to have rachael nearby.}
rachael says:
I like to think of motherhood as the summertime in the seasons of my life–humid mornings with juice glasses and quiet breezes, driftless afternoons spent with a bowl of watermelon under a tree, evenings reading a favorite book for the 20th (or what might feel like the 200th) time. All of it lolling away so slooowly at times, only to be longed for later, leaving a well thumbed collection of snapshots that barely represent how much those days will mean to us.

{i’ve been a longtime follower of jane’s blog but happened upon meeting her last fall.  she’s just as lovely in person as you’d imagine.  i fell in love with her blog for so many reasons, but the chief of which was her absolute celebration of life.  i can only imagine her kids (and husband!) feel so incredibly special both on their birthdays, and all the time, with jane at the helm.  they’re lucky to have her.}  
jane says:
mothers… we are women who love our children. including women without their own children who are influencing those around them – all of us. there are a million things that make kids different from each other or even us women different from each other…but there are a million more things that make us all the same, and the fact that we are all doing our very best to love these chidren makes us so incredibly bonded. you don’t have to be perfect to be a mother, you simply do your very best – and while doing so, your kiddos love you in return… that pure love is what makes motherhood feel perfect. the cycle. the journey is challenging and beautiful, and my favorite place to be.

{anna is full of creativity and beauty over on her blog and it’s always so inspiring to see what project she’s up to next.  sometimes i’m at her blog and i think, “how did she do that?”  she’s got so many great ideas and such good follow-through.  as a crafting-dummy, i’m endlessly impressed by anna’s many feats.  and on top of that, she is a mother to those sweet kiddos and is expecting her third in the not too distant future!}   
anna says:
I kind of look at motherhood like receiving this really cool pair of specs that allows you to see the world with new eyes. Even though some days its Mission Impossible III, its the most important mission I have ever been given, and the deep happiness I have received in return far outweighs the sacrifices made along the way.
{andrea and i met nearly six years ago while working out alongside each other doing barre method.    (since then, she’s become a yoga instructor, done aerial yoga, and learned to surf!)  once we finally broke the ice and introduced ourselves, it was an instant connection and i’ve been inspired by her ever since.  whether we’re going on double dates or just meeting at the beach over coffee, i always walk away more motivated to complete projects, to discover what i love to do, and to follow my passions.  she’s one of those cheerleader types, you know?  i’m so glad to have her in my life.}
andrea says:
I have never believed in sacrificing one’s personal happiness for anyone, including our kids…. I’m not talking about the many small compromises, or momentary discomforts that come with the territory of loving someone else as much, if not more than we love ourselves. I’m talking about sacrificing the big picture. Nothing good comes from foregoing our callings, giving up our passions and dreams.

{i remember caroline calling me one morning over a year ago telling me that she was pregnant.  she had just found out and was both shocked and scared.  i was so honored that it was me she called because, for me, throughout many dark times early on in my journey of being a wife and mother, caroline was the one with the incredible wisdom and listening ear.  she probably has no idea how much it meant to me then and still does.  i can only hope that i’ve been half the help to her as she has to me.  she is so smart, beautiful, and seriously wise.  i’m so glad to now share motherhood with her and her sweet vivienne!}
caroline says:
Only four months into my marriage, I was surprised by my pregnancy – and terrified by it. It felt like a hostile takeover of my body, career, and newly launched marriage. But the great surprise is this: I am still myself! The big adventures we had planned are looking a little different these days, but we’re forging ahead, and our fearless, charming girl is thrilled to tag along.

{grace’s blog is a newer find for me and you know how humor-writing can be really hard?  well grace is gooooood at it.  and with a seriously full plate (three under three and a hsuband in residency!) she regularly makes me, along with the rest of her readers, laugh about the struggles of motherhood.  many times in my own journey, i’ve thought, “if you don’t laugh, you’ll cry.”  and grace personifies that.}
 grace says:
Motherhood is not for the meek, weak, selfish, tired, or unorganized and yet … here I am. It’s a pungent, exhausting, and never ending privilege to spend my days with my kids – even when they drive me to exciting new levels of crazy.
image credit
{i think i was clued into sara’s blog when she sent me some incredibly sweet email when i had just had parker (i think that was the timetable?).  i am soooo glad she wrote me.  i had to see the face behind the words, and i was hooked immediately.  the friendship began!  sara parents with such care and thought.  there are times when i’m parenting my own and i think, “what would sara do?” – and then, i shoot her a lengthy email to which she lovingly responds!  she doesn’t half-ass the job and you come away from her blog refreshed and wanting to fully own your role.  i cannot wait to meet sara one day and talk to her for hours.}
sara says:
i’ve never been a career-sy girl. as far back as i can remember, i wanted to be a mom when i grew up. it took me a little while to realize that about myself, though. actually, it’s more like it took me a little while to be at peace with it.
i never had the big ah-ha, this-is-what-i-want-to-be moment. i never chose a major and felt my life’s purpose start to unfold with each passing semester. i never worked my way up a corporate ladder to achieve my career goals. sure i went to school, had a job in my field and even enjoyed it. but i never felt like it fit me. it just didn’t fulfill me to any measurable degree and i could never quite pinpoint why it all didn’t matter to me like it seemed to with co-workers and friends. i thought i had to have aspirations beyond “just being a mom”, that “just being a mom” somehow wasn’t enough. but as the years went on, it slowly became more and more clear to me. that was exactly what i wanted. 
 they say being a mother is the most important job in the world. it’s such a cliché, right? but, for me, it’s true. it wasn’t until i became a mom that i felt like i’d hit my stride in life. that i’d found my purpose, that i was doing what i was meant to be doing. the feeling of knowing i’m on the right path that had eluded me for years was suddenly so all encompassing. being a mom is the most important thing in the world to me. every single day i feel so fortunate to be able to be what i am, and what i love to be: a mom.
{alison has been a friend of mine since middle school.  oh yeah, we’re going way back.  i’m so grateful to have a handful of friends from way back when and alison is one of the best.  there’s something comforting about the shared history together.  we were pregnant at the same time and i’m so thrilled to be a mom with her.  though we’re separated by many states, there’s often a stream of text messages and a forthcoming plan to meet in nyc for a few weekends.  when we’re together, we’re right back in our groove like no time has passed.  alison is a devoted mom and we have so much in common.}
alison says:
Being a mom is a privilege that brings something new and beautiful to my life everyday. It surprises me, brings unimaginable joy, brings me to my knees, makes me want to scream, and leaves me shaking my head and giving my husband the “what do we do now?” look. And sometimes I think, “am I cut out for this? Who am I?!” But every morning when she wakes up and hugs me with a hug that says “never let me go” I know, I was meant for this. Oh yeah, and she was at our wedding. Sorry I’m not sorry!
{bron lives in australia with her beautiful family.  i came across her blog a few years ago and have checked in ever since.  she has a beautiful aesthetic, and celebrates being a mom over on her blog on a nearly daily basis.  and side note, check out the eyes on her littlest.  that little girl is gorgeous.  i was also thrilled to be sharing in the sling diaries with bron!}
bron says:
I don’t always find parenting easy, but being a mum to me means being given the privilege to love. Being loved is wonderful too, but loving them is second to none. It also means I get to play with fun kids toys and read picture books for way longer than would otherwise be socially acceptable. Bonus.
{shannon is one of those women who just does it all, does it all well, and you’re pretty sure that she just has more hours in her day than the rest of us!  i’ve known shannon for several years now and i’m always struck by how thoughtful she is (i.e. she sends me an anniversary card when steve and i don’t even get each other one!) and how willing she is to laugh at herself.  she just became a mom of TWO as well!}
shannon says:
Motherhood is letting go of what you can’t control. It is also getting out of the way so your kids have room to build their sibling bond — even when that means dirty toddler hands on precious newborn faces. This scene between my two sons has become a near daily experience in our house. A simple, gentle touch which makes my heart explode with joy (and cringe a tiny bit) every single time.
{lauren recently joined the ranks of motherhood and has done so with such ease and grace.  from her trips to portobello road in london to various beautiful eateries, she seems to be coasting through so beautifully with her lovely little viola by her side.  her road to becoming a mom made me both ache and rejoice with her.  if you haven’t been checking her out, you should be now!}
lauren says:
Motherhood is the most vulnerable you’ll ever make yourself. From the moment you see those two lines on that pregnancy stick to the moment you first hold your baby- your heart will never feel so fragile and yet completely satisfied.
{casey’s posts are always from the heart, intimate, and personal.  she freely talks about her fears, her insecurities, her love for being a mom and wife.  she embraces the role so beautifully and after having met her in person, it’s obvious that she means every word.  she loves those kids with every part of her.  i’m glad moms like her exist.}
casey says:
Being a mama forever gave me a love & purpose that I never knew existed. It’s forever to have your heart walking around outside your body. The fear and love that comes with being a mom is so powerful, there are days that I barely know how to manage it. A forever gift.

mother’s day, i.

i decided for this mother’s day week to ask some mothers i admire for a few words–wisdom or otherwise–and a picture of them and their brood (or, however many they could wrangle for a semi-decent picture!).  i know that mother’s day can be rough for a lot of people.  i want to say, though, that i’m hoping all women who have shown love to another let themselves be celebrated a bit.  that ‘ol saying, “it takes a village?”  yeah, we’re all a part of that village.  birth mothers, adoptive mothers, sisters, aunts, friends.  happiest mother’s day to all.
{this is my real-life friend jenny and her kiddos.  she is one of the most dear women i know and i am so grateful to have her in my life.  she has a heart of gold and has blessed me with her wisdom and grace more times than she probably knows.}
jenny says:
Mother Theresa once said, “we can do no great things, only small things with great love.” I am certainly no Mother Theresa. But I can be someone who takes one moment at a time and pours as much love as I possible can into it. That one moment may look like a mess… like the many times I have placed my tear covered face in my hands, crying out for more love to fill me. Or, that one moment may look like eating donut holes.

{i found kera’s blog a million years ago and we became blog friends pretty quickly.  she is hilarious, beautiful, and we have a common love for, at times, speaking without a filter.  her funny and honest musings about motherhood in abu dhabi made it easy to fall for her and her blog.}
kera says:
Happy Mother’s Day to me.
I hope that my children will freaking know and will one day understand how hard this is.
But mostly, I hope that they have really nice things to say about me at my funeral.

{i actually found annie through her comments on my blog.  she was a frequent commenter and always left really thoughtful ones that so resonated with me (particularly on my new-mom posts!).  of course, i had to click over and see who the face behind the sweet words, and i found annie!  here she is with her little guy!}
annie says:
Being a mom is absolutely my hearts greatest joy. Making sure that you are sharing Jesus, teaching manners, raising a gentleman and having fun, it’s a great responsibility, but one with the biggest reward. Sure, I’m teaching him, but he teaches me too. You learn that not only should you extend grace more, but that you need grace more. At the end of the day when that little boy comes up and stares a hole right through to your soul with those twinkling brown eyes, and says “I love you momma”, then, right then, you believe you are doing something right.
{this is drea and the little marlowe.  drea is stylish, funny, real, and just a cool gal.  her love for that little lady is evident in everything she writes.  she lives in florida, has a seriously fun home, and blogs about their vegan eating and other adventures.  i’d love to meet drea in real life pluuuus she has some massachusetts roots so, you know, it could happen.}
drea says:
being a mom means never having to dance in my underwear (or fully clothed), alone, in my home again…… well, at least until she’s a teenager and then well, you know, I just embarrass her.

{this is my friend candis, her husband, and her littlest (wait!  not anymore!  she just had a baby girl!).  candis is one of those women who just exudes a peaceful energy.  i don’t know how to explain it besides that.  she’s just calming, she’s kind, and you just want to be around her.  her family is lucky to have her.}
candis says:
The other day my son fell and bumped his head pretty hard. It could have been a lot worse and I was really shaken up by it. As I rocked him and kissed his face holding back tears myself I realized that no matter how old he gets I will always feel his hurts and my heart will always be with him. It was beautiful, it was scary. It was something I already knew of course, because from the moment you lay eyes on your child you know this truth. But you know, sometimes it really hits you. Motherhood to me is relentless. Relentless love, movement, work, joy and bittersweet heartache having this perfect being who is your own heart walking around exposed to this great unpredictable world.
{jora has been a longtime blog friend and a mother i really look up to.  she’s honest about the difficulties of motherhood, but also seems to do it with such grace, beauty, and patience that you really want to know her secret.  along with her family, she lives in san diego and one day i’m going to stop over for a dip in their pool.}
jora says:
“your children are not your children,
they are the sons and daughters of life’s longing for itself.
they come through you but are not from you,
and though they are with you yet they belong not to you.
you may give them your love but not your thoughts,
for they have their own thoughts.
you may house their bodies but not their souls,
for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
you may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
for life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.”
-kahlil gibran


{sarah is a long time blog friend and, as you can all probably attest, she’s a genuine woman, a seriously loving wife, and now the sweetest mother to little tuck.  whenever i visit sarah’s blog, her love for life and people comes through in her posts and i think her readers would agree.  she’s got such talent for so many things too and, no doubt, motherhood is chief among them!}
sarah says:
we find a delight in the beauty and happiness of children that makes the heart too big for the body – ralph waldo emerson 

boston: charlestown, bunker hill, + the north end.

Charlestown.  Charlestown is really a sweet place full of quiet little tree-lined streets, fluffy cherry blossom trees, out-of-the-way side yards and patios that surprise you, intricate wooden entryways to beautiful old homes, ivy-covered brick, and lots and lots of roof decks.  It’s also home to the nation’s oldest firehouse which may, in fact, also be the prettiest.  As we walked by and peered inside the open bay, a kind fireman brought his sweet dogs out, plastic firefighter hats for all, and asked if Parker would like to get in the driver’s seat.  Of course he did.  Oldest, prettiest, and home of the nicest firefighter around.  
Whenever I’m walking through a town, I wonder, “Could I live here?  Would this be do-able?”  When I saw the little grassy yards and quiet streets Charlestown has to offer, I thought, “Yeah, I could make this work.”  Do you do that?
We walked all throughout Charlestown, marveling at the beautiful brick, the tulips in this park, the historical plaque over there.  The day was in the low 60s, a jacket wasn’t necessary.  Of course, Bunker Hill was on the agenda and I do believe that Steve and the kids have climbed it almost a dozen times at this point.  It never gets old (to them): cannons and climbs, and views from the top.  
We worked up an appetite.  A ride over to the North End, a short wait outside Regina’s, and we were seated at a little booth in the back.  Our no-nonsense waitress (they’re always no nonsense at Regina’s.  I quite like it that way.) took our order, delivered our drinks, and shortly thereafter our two perfect pizzas.  One plain for Lindsey, Parker, and I, and another with green peppers and onions for Steve and William.  Conversation quieted as we filled our bellies with what I consider to be some of the most delicious pizza ever.  I think I polished off five pieces in about ten minutes.

water, cups, bowls, + one happy kid.

he’s showing more interest these days in what is that magic you’re doing up there above the counter top where i can’t see?  (oh!  real fun stuff, parker!  cleaning dishes, cutting onions, and smearing peanut butter across sandwich bread!)

nevertheless, he’ll push those chairs around the kitchen floor – all three of them – until they’re haphazardly up against the sink… and then, he begins to climb them.  (side note, are all toddler boys climbers??)

the most recent activity is this one: bowls and spoons and measuring cups and a little trickle of water.  he’ll fill, dump, fill again.  repeat.  times eleventyseven.

the wendy’s experience.

well… here’s the whole experience bit of my fun wendy’s opportunity.  {see the sandwich bit here!}

read more after the jump!

this experience was craaaaazy to say the least.  let’s start at the beginning: steve, parker, and i began the day at the crack of dawn and with a boston blizzard.  luckily we made it to the airport in time (despite being stuck behind many a snow-plow on the highway!) and our plane actually took off.  it was nerve-wracking, but all was well!  we were airborne!

i knew before going that there’d be some filming happening.  i had noooo idea it would be as extensive as it was.  as soon as we got off the plane, like any good mom, i begin to change parker’s diaper, use the ‘ol hand sanitizer (airplanes!  gross!), go to the bathroom…  but, ding!  ding!  ding!  i get a text, and then another.  “bridget, this is josh from plan a film, we’re at the bottom of the escalator ready to film.”  or something like that.  SAY WHAT? (yes, didn’t you know?  this is me.  OOOOOR NO.)  had i known, i might’ve done a little more primping of myself?  a least a little lip gloss?  maybe run a brush through my mane?  come on bridge.  this will most likely be your one and only camera-debut and YOU SCREWED IT UP.  

just kidding, but not really.

so, the filming promptly began {plan a!  those guys are GOOD.}.  we’re talking microphones, multiple cameras, cameramen, etc.  i wanted to shout at passersby who were staring, “I AM A NOBODY.  JUST A BLOGGER.  I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT S.E.O. MEANS.  I CAN’T FIGURE OUT HOW TO CHANGE MY BLOG TITLE FONT.  NOTHING TO SEE HERE.”  i figured, enjoy it while it lasts!  cause it’s straight on back to the daily grind of motherhood tomorrow.

it was really so much fun.  meeting the other bloggers, hanging with the team at VML, plan a, and wendy’s – all such nice people, really – having a fancy dinner… with cameras all around (i joked with victoria that this is what they must feel like on the bachelor.  and which is another reason the wine is kept a-floooooowin’).  i got to see the inner workings of the wendy’s headquarters, talk about how long it takes to get a product on the menu (we’re talking 1000+ taste testers, panels, blind taste tests, etc.!), how they’re trying to meet the needs of the time and offer healthier options.  i saw a wendy’s concept store {pictured below – wendy’s steppin’ it up!}, and finished the trip off with a frosty.

done and done.

in conclusion, i was thoroughly impressed by every bit of the experience.  the way they treated us, the cleanliness of their headquarters, kitchens, the concept store, the amount of work and time and taste that goes into new products, how much they listen to the consumer.  it was a really cool opportunity.  thanks to all who made it possible!!!

also, you’ve got until may 12 to tweet a pic of the sandwich to @wendys using the hashtag #twEATfor1k – you can win $1000… per day!

{and thanks to you folks who’ve emailed me/tweeted me pictures of yourselves eating the sandwich.  i have loved ’em!}

{you can read the other bloggers’ behind-the-scenes posts + pictures here: victoria + casey – and i don’t think mel has done hers yet!}

this post is sponsored by wendy’s.  all opinions are my own.

giveaway: toto knits! {open internationally!}

at toto knits you can get really sweet unique handmade goodies for the kids in your life and, at the same time, be supporting jobs for mothers in africa.  these knit goodies are made by single mothers in kenya and with organic cotton.  they’re such special pieces (parker was given these pants from the coos and knits line!  i love them!)… beautifully made, durable, soft, unique.  please check out the website!  i think you’ll love it.  images above all taken from the coos and knits line.

enter to win a
$75 credit to the shop
(that can get you a few things!)
and coupon code: TALES for 15% off till tuesday!

{to enter}
leave a comment WITH your email address!

{additional entries}
separate comments for more entries!
+ pin an item from coos & knits line and leave URL!
+ tweet giveaway!
+ like toto knits on facebook!
+ leave a comment telling me what you’ll get from their coos and knits line!

giveaway closed.
alanna is the winner!

lately.

1. parker helping me mix banana oatmeal muffins while clutching his own bit of banana
2. pretty window boxes (you probably knew that though?)
3. lindsey and i doing some spring cleaning to the car.  there are few things in this world that make me happier than a really clean car (and yet i do it so infrequently…)
4. nathaniel and parker having a toss
5. little explorers: parker and his friend alfie
6. bike riding has begun!!
7. so have outdoor walks!  and bare and awfully white legs…
8. the public gardens
9. a boston building
10. parker and lux take a little beach walk together, how romantic!
11. sand play
what can i say???  {insert lots of praise about the weather and the sun and mother nature blah blah blah.}  but seriously!  the forecast!  it’s amazing!  massachusetts, you back in my good graces you sexy thang you!  
we’ve spent most of the last several days outside.  at the end of the day, as my weary bones settle into bed, i’ve just felt more spent, a good spent, than the days we spend on the more house-bound side of things.  we’ve walked, visited playgrounds, the beach… i bought a purely fun magazine (people magazine!) at the grocery checkout and sat in my sunny driveway reading it while he slept in his crib.  it felt a little indulgent, i’ll admit.  (is that sad?  that reading a people magazine during nap time instead of doing something more constructive is indulgent?  don’t answer that…….. YES.)
all that to say, it’s been a really good week.  and mama’s tired.

a picture is worth a thousand words.

as the saying goes, let me tell you the “thousand” words behind this here jolly pic:

parker, who loved the beach last year, hated it this day.  i can’t totally blame him.  the wind was whipping around and, when inland, the day was pretty warm, but it was cold on the beach.  prob upper 50s?  lindsey was pissed that she forgot her jacket (why didn’t you tell me to bring my jacket?!?!) and while i was telling her to improve upon said attitude, i re-adjusted the blanket we brought.  my hand flung off the blanket and whacked william in the nose giving him a bloody nose in the process.  then, i made the genius decision to bring gracie who immediately pooped on the beach – like the moment her feet hit the sand.  passersby were staring.  i did have some grocery store bags (thank GOD) in the car but not right with me.  so while they stared i considered giving an ‘ol “we got this” wave.  but i’m sure they were thinking, “SHE is the reason dogs aren’t allowed on the beach year round!  somebody call the cops!”  i wanted to extravagantly wave the bags around once we had them all elaine-from-seinfeld like: “LOOK EVERYBODY!  BAGS!  I AM PICKING UP MY DOG’S POOP!” but i didn’t.  in fact, william picked it up, bless him.  parker continued fussing.  we packed it up about five minutes after getting there and went to a playground.  all in all, i’d consider it a……. failure.

that is all.  don’t let pictures deceive you, people.

portland, me.

thursday adventures!  
that might be overstating it a bit.  but… blah blah blah, steve has off on thursdays, so this was our latest endeavor.  let’s go to portland!  maine, not oregon.  it’d be a true adventure if the latter were true.  the day went as follows: wake up at 7, ponder the rest of the day, decide an out-of-the-house “adventure” was definitely in order, let husband sleep in till 9 am on his day off (!!), deliver coffee with his wake-up call (i know.  we’re all thinking it so let’s just say it: best wife ever), and then declare PORTLAND.  he was down.  so off we went.
the weather was spectacular the entire time.  i even removed my blazer!  high-fives, maine!  and we ate lunch outside!  weather like that makes me giddy and good-moodish.  and it’s only april!  more is on its way.  hallelujah, it’s been a long winter.  we made it!  we walked around, i took pictures (and yes, a lot of pictures of signs because… have you seen the signs in portland?!?  there are a LOT of great signs there.).  we got ice cream, walked some more, saw the motherlode of construction sites complete with a concrete mixer (and it kept parker content as steve and i ate our meal… score!), and then, after more strolling, left.  a lot of details you probably didn’t need but there you have it.  our day in portland.
i’ve only been a few times but every time i go i declare it a really great city (town?  big town?  small city?) and one that i want to return to and fast.  it also has really good shopping, and really good eats.  you done good, portland!  
so, if you can manage it, get there yourself.
{deeelish ice cream from the mt. desert ice cream place // and i wanted every single thing in folly 101, this home decor shop that doesn’t have a website, but bought nothing, blast!  you’ll have to go see it for yourself.  sooooo pretty.}
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