Tales of Me and the Husband

spring break projects galore!

spring break is upon us. you going to the beach? the mountains? the islands? we’re… doing a lot of projects in the great and still cold state of massachusetts. on the agenda: switch bedrooms with parker (and eventually anders). steve and i will be taking the smallest room in the house, parker’s current bedroom, and giving him our room, which is bigger, for him and anders to eventually share. my reasoning? adults don’t need a big bedroom! we spend little to no time in it (sleep, and a few other things, hardee har harrrrr). and with a first floor as small as ours, we can give them both a bedroom and a play space in what will become their new room. steve’s not thrilled about the arrangement but i on the other hand have visions of grandeur!! “steve! everything will be different! our lives are about to dramatically improve!!! just wait and see!!!!” he’s doubtful.
also, we’re ripping out this tv console thing that’s built into the house that we sort of hate. we might come to regret this one, but again–visions of grandeur (and pinterest!). the tv will then go on the wall along with pictures (almost two years in and still… no… pictures… on… the… walls) and finally, a new kitchen table and sofa are on the list but… piecemeal. money don’t grow on trees and bridget needs to keep spending it on new makeup instead. 
so, that’s that. just wanted to keep you all abreast of the hunt happenings as i know you’re all sitting at home tapping your fingers on the refresh-refresh-refresh button waiting for a new post on ye old blog.  if you want to see more, or perhaps even witness a heated moment between steve and i as these projects get underway, be sure to follow along on snapchat (itsahuntlife)!! 
image + more cute kid-rooms on my pinterest

The things I wish I bought in the aisles of Target but didn’t or else I’d be broke, volume 06.

Behold, boys! The land of technology, and endless entertainment, and Nate Berkus, and personal pan pizzas, and pleeeeenty!!! Also known as… Target!
Let’s dive right in. No introduction needed at this point, right?
After the jump!

Target made another good decision, as the head-honchos over at Target Incorporated are apt to do, and hitched their wagon to the fine shoemakers over at Dolce Vita headquarters to come up with a line of DV shoes for the modern gal with a smaller paycheck than those fancy ladies who buy their DV shoes at Nordstrom. They’re quite cute too. Those espadrilles? They’re cute, right? Yeah, I tried them on. Cute on too. How many times can I use the word cute in this paragraph? At least I didn’t say that I swooned over them. PLUCK MY EYEBALLS OUT IF I SAY SWOON (Really, can we stop saying swoon?). I still like these ones better from Nordstroms but maybe that’s because the bigger price tag is brainwashing me into thinking I want them more. 

 Bose Sound Docks in pretty colors! I think they’re portable too. It’d be nice if I could actually confirm that for you though, wouldn’t it?

 We Bought a Zoo for $4.50! I just figured out your Saturday night for you! Night with Matt Damon! You’re welcome! Oooor you could spend it with PeeWee Herman if that’s your thing (is that your thing? You’re a nut job).

I think a Target employee was actually putting these little terrariums together right there on end cap shelf number one. How did I miss that mess until now? Anyway, these terrariums. They’re pretty!  And low no maintenance (because they’re fake). And your kids will break them in three seconds. But that will be three very pretty, zen seconds until their untimely death.
These little wooden bowls. I got one for salsa, or hummus, or walnuts out on the counter all the time that continue to sit there because who’s like, “Ooh! Walnuts!” (I do eat them, but less by choice and more because I hear my mother in my head telling me they’re such a healthy snack.). Sometimes I put Annie’s bunny grahams in it too and that is more delicious than the walnuts. 
This lamp! I am obsessed with it. I don’t even need a lamp, but I need this lamp.
That gray polish. It’d be convenient if I’d taken down the name of it, now wouldn’t it? But you have to realize, I’m just stealthily snapping pictures with the sound off on my phone so passersby at Target aren’t like WTF is that girl doing so sometimes getting the names and SKU numbers of things isn’t top of my priority list, guys.
Sharing this picture only to share that Mrs. Meyer’s changed their design! Is this permanent? Is this just the special spring line? Easter line?!?? Tell me, Mrs. Meyer’s! Tell me!!! (They both smelled good, floral, btw.)
These lip balms! I’m mostly sucked in by the packaging which S.W. Basics has down. Once you slip off that paper sleeve, it was like an Altoids-ish container for your chapstick which you didn’t know you needed but now you really, really need. Target has a way of making us really greedy, consumer-driven people, don’t they? We love them still!

the beach in february.

i could be speaking too soon (so i’m speaking but only in a whisper!), but this winter was not so bad. or is not so bad, since we are still in it technically. steve, lindsey, and i were talking about that on the way to the beach (on the way to the beach! in february!). it feels like we’ve only just needed our jackets! we haven’t even gone sledding! i’ve barely used the snow blower! after last winter, this is a welcome relief. we were pummeled last winter. pummeled! we couldn’t see our fence for weeks! looking outside at no hint of snow is such a welcome relief. spring is right around the corner! right? RIGHT???? 

we went to the beach for an hour or so yesterday and a lot of others had the same idea. there were dogs running around, people strolling, kids filling their shirts with sand (it was hilarious. these two kids kept FILLING the stomach of their shirts with sand like a pregnant belly. watching it we couldn’t help but crack up.). we laid on a beach blanket in the sun and parker and anders played with two construction vehicles we brought. it was fabulous. looking forward to more days like that as the weather gets warmer! come on, spring!!!
outfit details: vest (on sale!) / pants / shirt / shoes

weekend links.

The rainbow carrots from Trader Joe’s! Aren’t they pretty? I’ve been roasting them or putting them in beef stew in the crockpot lately. What are you up to this weekend? Sunday is supposed to be amazing weather here. I’m hoping to go for a hike. TBD.

My friend came over last week with this jacket on. It looked so good.

I made muffins soooort of like these last week (quite a few changes, but still delicious).
I just saw this children’s book on National Parks at a local store the other day and it was so cute. (Great illustrations too.)
A book for your friend who loves Italy, loves reading, and loves a good cocktail. (I love the cover.)
I want an indoor swing!
Oreos as mascara (Oreo crumbs on your eyeballs sounds like a surefire way to go blind. Hello, corneal abrasions! Sounds sexy, right?). Ombre eyebrows. The 7 All-Time Worst Pieces Of Advice From YouTube Beauty Vloggers. This was really funny.

Zappos is carrying these Birkenstocks now! (I’d read they were discontinued, which is why I found mine on Amazon. Maybe they’re bringing them back? They’re my favorite Birkenstock style. Wearing them here!)

Have a good weekend!

ten things i’m absolutely loving right now.

one. the flower selection at trader joes. and the organic wine ($6.99 for organic merlot. what. how do they do this.). the mini biscotti. it’s mini! it’s biscotti! trader joes, you saucy temptress you.
two. chipotle’s burrito bowl with carnitas on top. and the veggies! if you saw my snapchat you know i WANT THE VEGGIES. those veggies they’re always trying to keep from me. i see you chipotle. i see your veggies too.
three. this bachelor season. ben! he’s just so good! he’s honest and kind and real and down to earth and… am i really waxing on about the positives of bachelor ben? can i have the final rose?
four. these overalls. the first pair i’ve seen that actually have me thinking the trend isn’t a bad thing after all.
five. the sweet things parker just comes up with. watching inside out the other day he says, “mom. i’ll never do what rylie does. i love you too much.” (referencing her running away from home.) oh buddy!
six. these tiny glasses i bought at ikea last weekend. i told steve, “for our jello shots!” (that’ll be the day.)
seven. that grace is back. 
eight. j. crew’s entire swim section right now. it’s too freaking good. this for instance!
nine. lindsey organizing our very unorganized pantry last night because she wanted to. and it looks amazing. (hoping it stays that way for more than two days.)
ten. james taylor. but that’s nothing new. (throwback!) 
you!?

lately.

Playground fun! This is the first time in a long time that this playground has been free of snow and full of kids. It was so fun. Also the first time Anders has been on a slide! He loved it, can you tell? (Parker decided on a space costume, helmet, and goggles. When I asked him to wear his jacket too he got upset. “Is it because you want people to see your space costume, buddy?” Bingo. I let him go sans jacket a little bit too.)


Dinner at a friend’s (her husband Ryan made the whole meal–and is the one responsible for a lot of the recipes I’ve shared here. He’s such a great cook.) to celebrate our other friend’s birthday. It was so good.

My last fiddle leaf fig died in the move to this house. RIP beautiful fiddle leaf. I ordered this one here and it’s great! I was hesitant to order a fairly tropical plant in the winter in Massachusetts but so far so good. I did rescue him (her?) off the step outside quickly. It’s been about a month… TBD. (Baskets from here!)

Nursing my little buddy. I love how he gets folded up like that. (Throwback!)

Playing hide-and-go-seek in the cabinet with Parker. His two favorite things. Hide and go seek and Parker.

The most beautiful groceries from Trader Joe’s. Flowers to usher in spring. We’re ready for yoooooou!


Outside without jackets and no hypothermia!!! (These shoes are on sale right now, btw!)

Chronicle Books sent us a box of fun theme-goodies to celebrate the release of the newest Herve Tullet book, Let’s Play! Parker was SO excited to have a box arrive FOR HIM. I guess they’re for me most of the time…. :- and we immediately read the new book and played with the goodies. If you don’t know Herve Tullet, his books are fun ones. Mix It Up! and Press Here are two others to try too.

Boston in February.


Oh you beautiful city, you. Parker, Anders, and I drove into the city last week (I drove, they rode. Merrrrp, terrible joke.). Our reason was two-fold: Get out! Fresh air! Temperatures weren’t too cold (but there was some wind, which always throws a curveball into the projected temps, you know. 40 degrees you say? Subtract 32 from that once this wind picks up.). That’s reason one. Seeing good friends was reason two. So there we were! One of Parker’s oldest friends is Lux (yes, only 4 years old, but it’s all relative!) He was so excited to see her.

There was a sort of winter celebration taking place on the Commons. A giant snow globe the kids could go inside and throw “snow” around in, a big slide, free Dunkin Donuts hot (lukewarm! For the kids.) chocolate, a DJ (who played Who Let the Dogs Out–winning!). We stayed as long as we could manage, and when cheeks were getting too chilled, fingers a bit numb, bellies hungry, we headed to Rachael’s apartment.

The Moms managed a quiet lunch while the kids played! What an (unusual) treat. Rachael threw together a salad of mixed greens, roasted sweet potato, and fried egg on top with a vinaigrette drizzle. When I say threw together, I mean it was just sort of presented to me, beautifully delicious, with seemingly little effort. I always appreciate a lunch like that (and a breezy host who moves about the kitchen, opening the fridge, arranging things on plates, and then serving up something wonderful while you talked her ear off the whole time). We only saw the kids for the occasional drink of water, or to show us their latest costume. I eventually had to tear Parker away to beat the traffic home, but not without making future plans. 

outfit details: 
shoes: zappos / jacket: jcrew (on sale!) / ear muff: asos (old) / jeans: h&m

p.s. Boston in the fall. I loved this day!

weekend links.

This Steven Avery shirt.

“One small cup but a large.” Ellen’s prank with Adele.

I love these leggings for working out (and they’re on sale too). And so are these that I’ve been eyeing forever!

One of my favorite Snapchatters to follow is Elizabeth Minchilli. Cafes in Rome (the clinking! The beautiful presentation of a simple cappuccino, the hustle and bustle of dozens of Italians drinking theirs while standing with a newspaper!), what she’s cooking in her own home, the various piazzas. Makes me miss it so much. Search her name Elizabeth Minchilli on Snapchat to follow.

Rachael’s post on backing up your photos (but in a place that’s actually accessible to you) was just what I needed. I do have things on hard drives, but do I ever pull them out to browse? (You know the answer.) I now have them on iCloud. Yes, it’s $10 a month but will I ever regret it? (You know the answer to that too.)

Melissa & Doug really know what they’re doing when it comes to coloring books for kids. Big pictures, big pages, good for little hands that are just learning to color for the first time. We keep this jumbo coloring pad out on the table with some colored pencils and Parker continues sitting to do it for sometimes an hour at a time. Plus… $5!

Two of my sisters made switchel this week and claim it’s good. I may try it, I may not. Jury’s still out.

Why kids need philosophy. (To engage in respectful dialogue, to live in community together, etc. etc. etc.!)

You hate February too? Take a bath.

Have a good weekend!

because you know i’m all about the brows, bout the brows…

left to right: brush // powder // high brow // gimme brow
that’ll be in your head all day long now. you’re welcome!
so, blah blah i’m 31 now and am finally discovering the magic of makeup (see this post). i’ve already explained all that. so, one of the things, nay, the thing i’ve probably been most excited to discover is that if one was born with nearly invisible brows, one can fill them in! if you go deep into the tales of me and the husband archives, you’ll see that i do have brows but… they’re pretty light. well, somewhere over the past two (three?) years i started using this pencil. and while that pencil is great (and really, really quick if you have only like three minutes to spare for makeup), i was flying through it and i also couldn’t get quite as bold as i wanted to with it. what now?! “i still haven’t found what i’m looking for…” song lyrics ftw.
enter anastasia brow duo. (what i have on here!) it’s answered my prayers (jk, i’ve never prayed about my brows, only my eyelashes!). it will definitely give you a legit brow and you can choose how heavy-handed you want to be with it. cons? it takes more than 4 seconds and has a teeny bit of a learning curve. i got this brush to apply it and it works great.
when i want to really go all out (like on the days i go through the panera drive-thru for instance), i’ll top it off with a little gimme brow which keeps them in place nicely. (i also like gimme brow alone, but am tending more towards brow duo if i were to only do one.)
finally, i also use this underneath my brows (the brow bone, i believe?) for brightening. i’ve had the same stick for probably… 7 years now. we’re well beyond its expiration date but i press on! it brightens the whole area making your eyebrows really pop, and that’s what we want now isn’t it, ladies???
(next i’d like to try this but the sephora gals even told me that it is a little bit tough to get the hang of at first and they’re THE SEPHORA GALS. so what does that mean for me? i’d end up looking like frida kahlo is what i think that means.)
brows

 

Advertise OnTales of Me and the Husband
Get Started