Tales of Me and the Husband - Page 57 of 207 -

June 3, 2016

weekend links.

What are you doing this weekend? We’ll be going to a festival tomorrow, and otherwise having a low key weekend.

I love this tee.

Accidents happen. A good read on the awful Cincinatti zoo story.

Stephen Hawking angers Trump supporters with baffling array of long words. Lol.

This food quiz can determine your age. (Mine almost got me. It said 29; I’m 31.)

This would be so pretty to serve fruit in (as shown, how creative of me).

Netflix will stream every single Disney movie starting in September. Yes! Can’t wait to watch the oldies with my kids.

We’ll see if I make any of these, but with summer coming, it’d be fun to pull a few of these fruit snacks off.

Watching Bloodline? (If you’re not, you should be. It is soooo good.)

June 1, 2016

I poked into his room after putting Anders down, and found him asleep, or so I thought. I whispered in his ear, “I love you.” He stirred just enough to say it back to me and I was so happy to find him still awake enough to cuddle and to know I was there while he fell asleep. Often, I miss that opportunity, taking too long to get Anders to sleep. I climbed into the top bunk where he draped his leg over my waist, and his arm around my neck as he fell asleep. The weight of his leg on me made me wonder, “When did there become so much of him?” It’s easy to see Anders progress, milestones practically screaming at you–crawling to walking, no words to speaking. It becomes more subtle at four-almost-five but he is a kid. No baby, no toddler, all kid. I began to run my hands through his hair. It stayed the way I ran my hands through it, stiff with the day’s sweat. With his hair like that, I could see a 15-year old Parker if I tried. He’s already begun a summer tan, the apples of his cheeks browning, remaining that way even after a damp washcloth is dragged across his face before bed. “Your hands are filthy!” I told him. He washed those too.

When my arm got too tired to hold up, I moved to his arm, scratching it just the way I love to have mine scratched. More of a tickle, really, I’ve always liked it really light. “That feels so good. Will you do that for an hour?” I said okay and continued. Then I moved to his leg where he said, “That feels even better.” He continued saying that, every time I moved to a new appendage. I smiled. “Will you do that for two hours?” He didn’t open his eyes as he talked, practically slurring as the thickness of sleep started to take him.

{picture from earlier on this hot day; eating strawberries, stems still on, in the backyard by the kiddie pool with his friends and brother while the Moms sipped beers and ate hummus and carrots and talked about life}

May 31, 2016

bike ride to the park!

our weather was all over the place this weekend. saturday was 90 degrees, sunday was 50! but, since the summery days have mostly arrived, i wanted to be outside–even on that sunday. so we bundled the boys and ourselves and went for a long bike ride. it’s only anders’ second time in the bike trailer and we want to get him used to it because it’s so much fun to get both of them in it and traipse all over town. a nice break from the typical walking we do (though i like that too).

when we found a playground with a sandbox and construction trucks in it, we stopped of course. boy heaven. they scooped and dumped, repeat times ten, for at least a half hour until we turned their attention to the playground itself. steve is going to build them a sandbox in our backyard this summer and i am so excited. they will love it. (i will too, minus the sand we are probably always going to be bringing inside. my vacuum will be on double duty this summer.)

as i said in my instagram post the other day, monkey bars are a lot harder than i remember. i used to master them! and swing my legs up and over and hang from my knees! i think i’ve lost it a little… (though, in the last two weeks i’ve done five classes–two pilates and three barre! trying to be better about this!)

anders is following suit with parker and hating the swings! i have a picture of him looking not so happy on them but i didn’t include it here. what is with my boys and swings?? steve doesn’t like them either. is a dislike of swings genetic?! (for steve, i think it’s inner ear trouble.)

beyond steve, that’s the river leading to the ocean just a few miles further. i love where i live. especially in the summer months.

both boys fell asleep in the trailer on the way home. i noticed it as we were finishing up our ride. both of their heads bobbing along. asleep! it must be cozy in there.

outfits:

{anders: pants + top from baby gap, old jacket from old navy, shoes, helmet; me: pants, shoes, best long sleeve tee ever from asos (i’ve had people ask about the sizing i get in these shirts–mine is a 4), jacket by jack + jones (men’s section at a store in orvieto), and old plaid from j.crew via thredUP. bike trailer is this one from burley and we love it.

May 27, 2016

weekend links.

Tomorrow is supposed to be 90! 90!!! We’re going to do something that involves water. I’m not sure what but there will definitely be water. What are you doing?

The men from Jo Jo’s season have been revealed! And here they’re all ranked by t-shirt. My favorite so far: the guy who brought All for One, Jordan Rogers, and James Taylor. Chad (is that his name?) was nice to look at until he opened his mouth.

Jimmy and Billy Crystal speak through magazine covers. So funny.

Airbnb’s that will blow your mind (not your budget). THE AIRSTREAM.

Futuristic Chinese bus concept. Woah. Until… someone strays out of their lane (!!).

Ikea has a new minimalist collection. Or… more minimalist. Because wasn’t Ikea already sort of minimalist?

Good news: food labels are changing!

Making toast for a toddler. LOL.

Buy these when Nordstrom has a sale (so, right now!).

Chicken soup in a tortilla bowl. (I love these Tasty videos.)

May 25, 2016

Brain space.

I was telling my sister that when I used to work out, I heard every bit of instruction that our barre instructor would shout out at us. “Tuck in your pelvis, connect the heels, get the arch out of your spine, shoulders down.” There was so much more room in my head. I was present. That was all before I had Parker and Anders. So, essentially, I was a different person entirely. Now I am in class and I begin the leg raises only to look around and discover that everyone’s toes are flexed while mine are pointed. I have less room in my brain to hear the intricacies of the workout. Is that just the mind of a woman with small children?

I have jury duty coming up. I already postponed it last year so I can’t postpone it again. When I called and said I had a baby (I don’t really have to call him a toddler, do I?) they asked how old and I said one year and they responded, “You’ll have to make arrangements.” What if there are no arrangements to be made?! What if I don’t know anyone capable of watching my child??? I’m still nursing! I’m an attachment parenter! You can’t make me stop! There’s a lawsuit here. If I don’t show up will I go to jail? Settle down, I am going to go, or call the line the day before and really, really hope that I’m not called, that is. But the mere idea that I could have some extended jury duty is giving me more anxiety than it should. Despite the aforementioned lack of space in my brain, I also really don’t like to be away from my kids for any length of time. What is that? It’d probably do me some good to get out, and yet I have a really hard time taking the opportunity. If I’m going to get some me-time, I certainly don’t want it to be at jury duty. Horrors.

I think it comes from that enormous-mentioned-all-too-often thing that time flies and I want to be around for every bit of it. Even now, here I sit, at a coffee shop (She’s out! She’s at a coffee shop! Sans children!). There’s a baby sitting across the way. I’m looking at that baby and thinking, “I miss my Anders.” Lord help us.

May 23, 2016

ten things i’m absolutely loving right now.

one. before my dad arrived last week, parker got that above husky tool bucket thing all prepped full of his tools, in all the compartments, totally of his own accord. plopped it on the table like, “okay. now pop can come.” (my dad bought it for him.)

two. this sunless tanning lotion. i’m taking skincare SERIOUSLY now and wearing sunscreen (not for the first time ever or anything, but just trying to be more mindful) and blah blah blah so… sunless tanning it is. subtle. used it on my legs so far and don’t look orange! it didn’t make the list in this post but i’m telling ya, used it and like it.

three. after being out of the habit of home fries (well, habit is strong wordage. i used to make them at least once a month though?), i made them again saturday morning with some cheddar sprinkled on top of over easy fried eggs and YUM. handed the whole dish to steve who was busy grading papers and he practically leapt out of his chair. safe to say we love home fries and eggs.

four. lindsey’s made this zucchini bread a few times and while on the healthy side it is soooo delicious. tip: add chocolate chips to the batter but then add a few on the very top once it’s already poured in the loaf pan so they sort of sit on top through the whole baking process instead of all of them sinking to the bottom.

five. anders’ profile. what is it about a baby’s profile? especially when he’s concentrating and his lips are all pouty. i seriously want to smooch them constantly.

six. bachelorette is on tonight. bachelorette is on tonight!!! if this list only had one item on it, this would be it. it’s silly how much i love that show. almost as much as grace. almost.

seven. the lilacs i’m smelling in my yard. i can also see them from parker’s room window. there’s something so lovely about that. i point them out to him, as well as the sound of the birds chirping that i can sometimes hear even as i put him to bed. oh i love that sound!

eight. this clay. using it for blackheads on my forehead (i hate them!!) and i think it’s making a difference.

nine. the new snapchat old face filter. been having a little too much fun with it. both posting on snapchat or recording ridiculous ones to send to friends.

ten. this top. i’m obsessed with the cut of it.

May 20, 2016

weekend links.

I love this picture of the boys’ playing yesterday. I’m not even sure why. Just the two of them, in their element. Also, Parker is asking to learn how to ride a bike. Any recommendations? Any balance bike owners out there love those?

This weekend is supposed to be beautiful and I’ve promised Parker some time at the beach. Let’s hope! What are you doing?

Zit-zapping techniques you have at home.

I don’t think Massachusetts is the most forgiving climate for a succulent garden, but if it were, I’d build this vertical one.

I finally bought these shoes that I’ve had sitting in a cart forever.

Whitening your teeth naturally. The charcoal one looks downright scary.

15 year old found a lost Mayan city using stars and Google maps. What?!

8 facts that will change how you see the Breakfast Club. Rick Moranis was almost janitor. That’s funny and reminds me I should probably show my kids Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.

Cats saying hey instead of meow. This made me laugh harder than it should’ve.

Actors and their stunt doubles.

These perfect summer jeans. Good price point too.

Nepal ends the world’s largest animal sacrifice event. Does this mean the world is becoming a kinder place??

See you next week!

May 19, 2016

swiss muesli.

when i was in high school, we had an exchange student from switzerland named claudia. she was with us for six months? maybe more? she attended our local high school and was the same year as my sister kate. i have such fun memories of claudia living with us. it was like my sister’s best friend (who i really liked) living in our home. she’s still good family friends with us and we’ve seen her since her time as our exchange student.

anyway, aside from the swiss chocolate that she’d bring us (the best!!), she also made this muesli for us. we’d have a huge bowl of it in the fridge and i would plow through it bowl by bowl by bowl… by bowl. my mom got the recipe and continued making it beyond claudia’s time with us. it’s the perfect mix of slightly crunchy, sweet, and hearty. it feels like it could be dinner if you were having a lazy night, though, i guess it’s technically breakfast. still, that doesn’t stop me from eating it for each meal and all the snacks in between.

there’s a lot of different ways to do it. things you can add or exclude based on what you have, what’s in season, how you like it. get the green one pictured above with no added sugar. the side of it has a recipe that i loosely follow. so much of it is eyeballing and mixing, pouring a little, then pouring some more, so measurements don’t really matter. i just made a really big bowl the other day with two of the above boxes and it’s almost gone. in my house, william and i are the only ones who eat it but don’t let that deter you! it’s good. the rest of my family are just fools.

the recipe is going to drive you crazy, because it’s not really a recipe at all. but it’s pretty hard to get wrong. also, letting it sit is key. overnight is best, but at least an hour is necessary. both for taste, texture, and digestion.

original swiss muesli

a box of “no added sugar” familia swiss muesli

a ratio of plain yogurt to strawberry (i used much more plain than strawberry, but the strawberry is nice for some sweetness); for one box i’d estimate at least 2 cups of yogurt

a few cups of milk; again, for one box, at least 1 cup (the liquid will get soaked up and then you might want to add more; it should be more liquid, with a soft texture

grapes, chopped in half

a grated apple, maybe two

you could go crazy and add berries, bananas, but my favorite combination is just the grapes and apples.

optional: a splash of orange juice

mix all of the above. let sit. enjoy!

(as the dry ingredients soak up the liquid ingredients you might find you need to add more milk/yogurt. do so!)

May 17, 2016

releasing our butterflies!

Our butterflies were finally released the other day. It was around 60, maybe 65 degrees. I’d been ready to let them free for a few days and they seemed more ready too. We missed our opportunity on Saturday when it was so nice, and then Sunday got cold and windy and more of the same on Monday. I knew I’d think about whether it was too cold for them, too windy, enough food, would they be eaten and then, while on a walk on Tuesday, I saw another butterfly out and thought, “That’s it! My sign. It’s okay for me to release them.” (Unless, I didn’t think till just now, that lone butterfly was also released by someone who, like me, purchased caterpillars on Amazon. Hm.)

The cool thing about it is that they really hang out on your fingers. It seems impossible to get a butterfly in the wild to do that, but you can practically hold these guys. They’re not eager to take off. But then they do, and off they go. I’d say that it’s well worth it to do with your kids. You start with a small cup, food already in it and five (in our case) caterpillars. They grew to more than 10x their size, eventually become chrysalides, and they remain that way for about a week. Then, behold! You’ve got butterflies hatching, one by one. That part was unbelievable to me. How did it change from that fat caterpillar I saw a few days ago to a butterfly inside the chrysalides?! How? Anyway, I was not a perfect butterfly Mom by any means (two of the chrysalides fell off in the transfer to the net), but still all five made it so if you think you’re neglectful, this is the perfect science project. We checked out a few butterfly books from the library to go along with it. Overall, Parker really enjoyed the project. He’s into bugs more and more these days. Lately I watch him outside carefully studying what appears to be his arm, his hand, to discover it’s a tiny inchworm he’s housing. A note, however: if you consider yourself squeamish, it’s a little yucky. Butterfly poop in the jar, and then some blood is released when they break out of their cocoons. Nature, ya’ll! We got our butterflies from here.