3 stinky boys and me

Valentine Goodie Guide

admin — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:41:49 +0000

Making blueberry lemon muffins in heart cupcake papers for my boys to take to preschool today totally put me in the Valentine’s Day spirit. Reichen and Latham laughed, jumped up and down, and clapped like crazy at the thought of passing out the sweet treats wrapped in the pretty print to all their friends.

And that’s the same reaction I hope you have this holiday, but in case your loved one needs a little help, I put together the following Valentine Goodie Guide.

Enjoy!

p.s. David, just in case you’re reading this, #11 would totally make me laugh, jump up and down, and clap like crazy. Just sayin’…

1. Swatch Watch – red

2. Heart Stud Earrings

3. Heart Print Dress

4. To Love YouGiclee

5. Pleated Skirt

6. Valentine Cupcake Papers

7. Silk Scarf

8. Heart Print Platform

9. Red Heart Bobby Pins

10. Red Heart Pocket Mirror

11. Swatch Watch – pink

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Would A J.Crew Model Wear It?

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:24:45 +0000

When shopping for lipstick, gloss, or tint, my internal monologue goes a little something like this: “Hmmm. It’s a super pretty color, but would a J.Crew model wear it?”

What?

Just me?

Anyhow, nothing is fueling my interior monologue fire more than J.Crew’s February catalog. I love the nearly nude eyes and the pop of pastel lips the models are wearing.

Now the fun part: searching a slew of spring shades for the perfect J.Crew-y color.

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Sock It To Me

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:11:30 +0000

From striped shirt dresses to floral mini skirts, the entire Jason Wu for Target collaboration is totally covetable—and, at under sixty bucks a pop, remarkably affordable. But what I heart most about the collection: the styling. I am loving the milkmaid braid and lace ankle socks the model wears in every look.

*Photo via Jason Wu for Target

I’ve never really worn anklet socks with my heels or loafers, but I’m totally going to give it a try. All I need now are some super cute socks. Here are a few of my favs.

1. Pointelle 1937 Socks

2. Big Dot Socks – Aqua

3. Meadowbloom 1937 socks

5. Caged Bird

9. Big Dot Socks – Red

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Husbandism #47

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:00:41 +0000

David: “I’m dying a slow death watching this show. I mean, I’m clearly losing days off the back end of my life while watching this – I’m sure of it.”

What my husband said after watching The Bachelor with me on Monday night.

Hammerpress

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:38:21 +0000

My heart started beating a bit faster when I spotted Hammerpress, a letterpress boutique I just happened to stumble upon while driving all of my 3 stinky boys to see Sesame Street Live in downtown Kansas City last weekend. So after surviving 2 hours of Elmo, Bert, and Big Bird singing, dancing, and counting, I made a bee line back to the paper place.

Hammerpress makes the most pretty products. There, you’ll discover interesting and unique cards, posters, prints, and notebooks – all made with the most beautiful and saturated inks. I literally wanted to buy everything in the store. Everything. But I restrained myself and only bought about half of the store.

I mean, I try to practice self restraint whenever possible.

Want to know more? Click here to shop Hammerpress on line.

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Husbandism #46

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 02:15:12 +0000

David: “I wish I could find pitty spray that smells like your arms. I’m serious. I think I would be happier if I smelled like that.”

What my husband said after I put on vanilla scented lotion from Bath and Body Works.

Toddler Talk

admin — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:00:48 +0000

Latham: “Mommy?”

Me: “Yes, baby?”

Latham: “I’m going to dream about you when I go to sleep.”

The sweet words my 3 year old whispered in my ear after tucking him in bed last night.

*Photo courtesy of Solar Photographers

Birchbox Beauty

admin — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 03:22:18 +0000

One of my favorite gifts I received this holiday season: Birchbox. It’s the gift that keeps giving! And for beauty-a-holics like me, it totally feeds my addiction in an affordable way.

Birchbox, in case you haven’t heard, is a subscription service which delivers 4 – 5 sample beauty products to your mailbox once a month, every month, in a beautiful box with pink foil lettering.

And, I literally clapped and jumped up and down when I opened it and saw all the pretty packaging.

The best part: the goodies! There were 5 good sized beauty products in the blind box, some I’ve heard of, some I haven’t. And all of them totally worth trying.

The best part about Birchbox: the price. It only costs $10 a month to have the beauty box delivered to your door!

Try it! You’ll like it!

The Good News Is You Don’t Have Any Tumors

admin — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:53:03 +0000

“The good news,” he says to me, “is you don’t have any tumors.”

I thought he was joking at first, the radiologist, but I could see from his scowl he was serious.

“But you do have other issues going on,” he says slowly, ”that’s for sure.”

Of course I have other issues. Who doesn’t? But I assume he’s referring to something other than my garage door compulsion. I mean, does anyone else drive around the block just to make sure it’s closed?

What?

Just me?

Oh.

“You have acid reflux,” the doctor continues, “which is bit bizarre since that’s something old people like me have, not you.”

My family physician warned me I might have acid reflux. When I sat on her paper coated padded table a couple days prior and complained about a weird lump in my throat, she said I was describing a text book acid reflux symptom. But she said I should see a specialist for more tests, just in case.

“What other issues are going on,” I ask.

I could tell he either didn’t want talk or didn’t have time to talk, either way, he was going to talk. I mean, I just swallowed a bunch of barium for him, the least he could do was talk for me.

“Well,” he begins, “your general practitioner will go over the results with you in detail, but I did discover, in addition to your acid reflux, you have a hernia, an ulcer, and a belly full of harmful bacteria.” After taking a big breath he continues, “But don’t worry, you’re not contagious.” And with that, he smiled and walked away.

The nurse told me to get dressed and not to worry. “Your doctor will go over your results in detail,” she repeats, again.

When I met with my family physician the next day, she sucked her breath through her teeth when she walked in the room where I was waiting before saying, “you have a lot of issues going on.”

“I guess,” I agree.

She pulls out her pad and writes me 6 prescriptions. I am now popping 20 pills a day, every day, for the next 14 days for acid reflux, a belly full of bacteria, a hernia, and an ulcer.

And it’s been brutal. Real. Brutal.

I’ll spare you all the incredibly gross and incredibly gory medication side effects.

You’re welcome.

Watts Up

admin — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:14:40 +0000

I’m all about a pop of color pump these days. I mean, does #8 look familiar? I wore them to drinks and dinner just the other night. But even though I own a pair of pretty pink pumps, that doesn’t mean I don’t deserve another.

Neon yellow, anyone?

Anyone?

1. Jessica Simpson Evannan

2. CAPECORAL Red

3. MEASE Peach Yellow

4. MEASE Fuchsia

5. Karmine

6. CAPECORAL Purple

7. Love Me Patent Pump

8. Jessica Simpson Evannan

9. CAPECORAL Orange

Husbandism #45

admin — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 02:36:36 +0000

David: “Just so you know, no boy will ever say ‘no’ to that question.”

What my husband replied when I asked him if I could eat his pickle – his dill pickle that was served with his turkey sandwich from the deli.

If You Want My Opinion, Hair It Is

admin — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 03:44:35 +0000

You learn a lot about people when you’re the only one not drunk at your husband’s holiday work party.

“I’m obsessed with hair removal,” one woman shouts at me across the four person table top that at least eight of us crammed ourselves around.

“Really,” I scream. “You’re obsessed with hair removal?”

The band was playing so loud, you had to yell for the person inches away from you to hear you.

“Me too,” pipes up another lady.

As usual, most of the girls migrated together to chat about the typical topics of babies, working out, and cute clothes, while our boys were bellied to the bar cracking inappropriate jokes, drinking beer, and talking about work.

“Yes, I’m obsessed with it,” the first woman carries on. “I want lasers to remove every hair on my body. Every. Hair.”

“Every. Hair,” I repeat like a parrot.

“Yes. Every. Hair,” she continues. “But until I can laser my arm hair, I’m just shaving it.”

“What do you mean, you’re shaving your arm hair? Your under arm hair,” I scream as the band seems to have taken it up a few decimals.

“No,” she giggles. “I mean my forearm hair.”

“What? You shave your forearm hair,” I say as I choke on a swig of diet coke.

“Yes,” she shouts. “I have for years, that’s why I want laser hair removal.”

“Look at my arms,” I say as I raise my sleeve. “I have hair on my forearms. That grosses you out?”

“Kind of,” she sheepishly smiles.

All the other ladies at the table quickly agree.

“Seriously,” I question. “Forearm hair is gross?”

“It is,” the answer from all the woman crashes over me like a wave.

I was shocked. I had no idea forearm hair was so repulsive. I mean, I’ve never even thought about it.

“So,” I continue to clarify, “You all think I should shave my forearm hair?”

“YES,” all the women reply a little too quickly for my liking.

Here’s the thing, I have never heard of this extreme aversion to forearm hair. And what’s more, I’ve never even noticed whether or not girls have it. I am stunned to learn the blond fur on my forearm is so repulsive and all these ladies either shave it or laser it.

“No woman should have forearm hair,” she says again while nodding no.

And with that, the topic changes to babies and which woman wants to have another one.

And that, my friends, is the stuff you learn at your husband’s holiday work party when everyone is drunk except you.

Just thought I’d share.

Date Night Duds

admin — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 23:50:44 +0000

I love when David strolls through a store and sees a pretty pair of pink heels, he thinks of me. It makes getting dressed for date night that much more delightful.

Gap boyfriend blazer, Macys dress, Target tights, Jessica Simpson heels, Stella & Dot bracelets and necklace, Michele watch

Husbandism #44

admin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:00:51 +0000

David: “Don’t worry, I know what will fix it: A Subway napkin. It’s works just like a band-aid.”

What my husband said to my 3 year old after he fell down and bit his tongue.

Target, You Wu Me

admin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:04:12 +0000

In October, Target announced its next designer collaboration was Jason Wu for Target, and two days ago, the big box store revealed two pieces for the line: A poplin dress and satchel, with the pieces priced at $40 and $50.

And I want both pieces, please.

Lucky Magazine then released an ad for the line. The latest look, as pictured in the collection’s print campaign, is a pleated striped frock that is feminine, sophisticated, and I want it, too. Milu the cat (and muse of the collection) also makes an appearance, wreaking havoc in the most adorable way possible with a spool of ribbons.

The limited edition collection debuts at Target stores nationwide on February 5, so get your credit cards and calves ready, ladies. It’s going to be a mad-scramble at the mega retailer once it’s released.