It’s all relative, of course. A double ear infection isn’t the worst thing ever, but Anders, at best, is on the needier side of the spectrum, so when faced with some sore ears and a sniffly nose? It’s not pretty. He’s been underfoot and screaming out, “Mama!” almost 87 times a day (maybe more) and said “Mama” is at the very, very end of her rope–hanging on by a mere frazzled, tiny, frayed thread to be honest.
weekend links.
Grocery shopping with “help.” This weekend we’re going to a few parties, one of which is a mid-century potluck that promises jello and gimlets (I’m making pigs in a blanket! Had to ask the guy at the store where the little hotdogs were–at least I didn’t say little weiners!). I’m excited. Hope you have a good weekend!
Sarah Jessica Parker’s SOHO townhouse. The kids’ bathroom, the kitchen table, AND THAT TOP FLOOR.
I wish I was married to Ina Garten. (I’ve had this thought before. Every time Jeffrey walks through the door, basically.)
Making this Halloween craft at Parker’s school today.
Planet Earth 2 trailer–so good and perfect song choice! We own the first series and LOVE it.
This bootie was everywhere a few years ago (remember?). They’re still great and they’re on sale.
What would it be like to be the person who can whip up a cake that is this perfect for fall (or anytime)? Seriously?
The perpetual panic of American parenthood. The main culprits: lack of paid leave, high cost of childcare.
A guide to oats — choosing, soaking, cooking. Spoiler alert: no more instant oats!
Charity ranking. So many to choose from but some are better than others–i.e. the president of said charity’s salary isn’t millions of dollars per year. That site will help. (Save the Children is a good one and jus$50 is a fresh food for a family. The latest article I read predicted Aleppo would run out of food by the end of the month. It is simply heartbreaking.)
five things i’m loving right now.
one. bootstraps (as in the band). a reader told me about them in a comment recently and i’m so glad i looked them up (and that she told me!). they’re all really good. the covers are fantastic! start with earned it. i’ve had them on repeat.
two. reading chapter books to kids. parker and i just started pippi longstocking. he thinks it’s hilarious–she has a horse on her porch! and a monkey named mr. nilsson riding around on her shoulder! when i read the part about how she doesn’t have any parents and can stay up as late as she wants, he said something along the lines of, “i still am glad i live with you.” (thanks, parker. i’m glad too.) we’ll watch the movie after we finish (and i remember LOVING it; for some reason her washing her house with the scrub brushes attached to her feet still is in my memory.). i can’t wait.
three. this tiny tags necklace that i’m wearing above (and in a lot of pictures recently). it has EVERYONE’S initials on it. mine and steve’s on one side, and all the kids on the other. i love it. (cue sweet thing by van morrison) when i brush parker’s teeth at night, he flips it around in his hand looking at all the initials. (he asked me why gracie’s wasn’t on it at one point! sorry buddy, dogs don’t get a spot–especially with the amount of names we have!). thank you tiny tags!!
four. the sweaters here. all of them! i could fill my closet with sweaters of the neutral variety and still want more.
five. pomegranates. i bought my first two the other day and they were delicious. it took me a full 30 minutes to remove each and every seed but it’s all the more satisfying that way. (bonus: makes for a good kid-activity. parker sat and did it for awhile the other day.)
a night out on the town.
reading to kids + some of our favorite books!
Reading with kids is near the very top of the list of my favorite things to do with my kids (second to playing spa, anyway… throwback!). Steve is so good at doing imaginative things like army men, and I’m just not. It’s like my brain just doesn’t work like that anymore. (Sad!) But give me a stack of books, a blanket, and a cozy spot, and I could read for hours. I’m trying to be more intentional lately and not turn on the television in the morning opting instead to sit down with some books, and Parker and Anders on either side. Obviously at 5 and nearly 2, they’re not always interested in the same books, so sometimes Anders is on one side throwing a board book on tow trucks my way while Parker can sit and listen to longer books like a Bill Peet. It’s a juggling act but we make it work. Reading is the best.
weekend links.
New England in the fall! Come visit! Anyway, what are you up to this weekend? We’re going to a fall/Halloween sort of party that promises butternut squash soup and lots of wine (perfect). I’d like to watch a Halloween movie with the kids too, any recommendations? Hope you have a good one!
For some weekend reading…
date night.
Our date nights don’t come around with the same frequency that they used to. You could say that makes them all the sweeter when they do. One of the best parts of date nights for me is that it’s a night when I don’t have to cook dinner–the kids can do frozen pizza at home (They’re thrilled.), and I get to order off a menu (I’m thrilled.).
three beauty purchases i’m loving right now.
I’ve made a few beauty purchases lately if you will. Is there anything as exciting as walking into a Sephora with $30 (nay, $100?!) to spend? Dear Lord, someone put this girl out of her misery because YES THERE’S A MILLION THINGS MORE EXCITING THAN THAT. But dammit, I do love me a new beauty purchase. I think I just heard Carly Simon singing in the background…
grocery store organic soup test.
The other night, between sneezes and nose-blowing, I looked at Steve and with my face tried to communicate: where is my dinner. He isn’t a mind-reader, no. But I wanted a good dinner and I did. not. want. to. be. the. person. preparing. it. His response, “Let’s make a Red Baron!” (Do you guys know Red Barons? They’re the frozen-pizza-of-choice in the Hunt house.) My face then communicated: absolutely not. Expletive thrown in the middle.
lately.
The other day I saw him sitting on the floor of their room, trying calmly to get his legs through Parker’s underwear over his pajamas. The allure of the underwear is two-fold: (1) Thomas is on it and (2) it’s big-boy. I sat down to help him and he was grateful. The leg through each hole was a challenge. I immediately brought him to the mirror in the bathroom so he could see Thomas on the butt. He was so excited. He kept it that way overnight and well into the next morning.
He’s so cute that it actually hurts.