Always Aubrey

Proof of Life: 2021

noreply@blogger.com (Aubrey) — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 19:06:00 +0000

I have been a blogger on and off for 20 years, from LiveJournal and Diaryland to when my friend bought me the domain aubreyann.com to, well, this blog. But the advent of shorter form social media (mainly Instagram) has made this medium less appealing because it requires me to sit down in front of a larger screen and keyboard and make more of an effort to put together coherent thoughts. These days, those quiet moments without a child or cat trying to press keys on my laptop are few and far between.

Top Nine in 2021

I went back to work in January after a short maternity leave with Freddie, and he started at the same daycare as Kenny.
We celebrated Kenny's 3rd birthday (with a Cars theme) with all three of his grandparents.
I was named Tennessee DAR's State Outstanding Junior, and I was also a National Finalist (one of eight) for the national contest.
We road tripped to 30A to spend a week at the beach with friends and family.
I traveled to Connecticut and Disney World to spend time with my BFF Lindsey.
We road tripped to Wisconsin Dells with my parents for a vacation, then cut over to Pittsburgh to celebrate my mother-in-law's 70th birthday.
I traveled to Washington, D.C. twice for short DAR trips.
Freddie turned 1 and had a birthday party focused on Korean family traditions... and he started walking too!
We explored Indiana, including the Children's Museum of Indianapolis, the Indianapolis Zoo, and Carmel's Christkindlmarkt.

I also started strength training this fall about twice a week, have been able to enjoy a lot of podcasts, and I joined Bloomington's chapter of Tri Kappa, a philanthrophic sorority. I didn't live up to my resolution for 2021 of trying to be better at keeping in touch with friends. I think that balancing family and work has consumed me for the most part, and even just adding exercise to the mix was challenging.

But life is good, it really is. We love our home. We love having family close by. I love my new career, even when it gives me grey hairs or the stock market is having a wonky day. It's a good life that I have, and I'm thankful every minute of it.

I do want to write some blog posts about our travels, albeit late in the game as I even have one from 2020 unpublished. But at a minimum I may check in here once a year or so, just to say hello to my old friend and to preserve something on the internet for posterity.

Freddie's Birth Story

noreply@blogger.com (Aubrey) — Tue, 09 Feb 2021 02:34:00 +0000

Three months ago (OMG time has flown), we were blessed with our second little bundle of joy, Freddie! Overall, his birth was much less eventful than Kenny's (read that story here), but definitely challenging in its own way!

We'd celebrated Halloween with my parents, taking Kenny to trick-or-treat at their house. Of course, that meant he wanted to spend the night with them! He spent one night just about every week at their house during my pregnancy, to give us a chance to rest and clean the house as we prepped for the new baby. It's a good thing that Kenny was with my parents, because the next morning I started to feel contractions. I started tracking them, because at 38 weeks I know there was a chance that they were Braxton-Hicks. But these were persistent, and none of the usual tricks to get them to stop worked! I told Dan, and we hunkered down at home to wait for them to get closer together.

This was definitely more challenging than with Kenny, because I was induced for my first pregnancy. Every contraction happened at the hospital, and I was able to get the epidural started well before they became very painful, so I'd never really experienced the "real deal" painful contractions. Honestly, the worst I'd had the first go-round felt like painful cramping.

Around 9pm, I told Dan that I wanted to go to the hospital. My contractions were about 10 minutes apart, and they were starting to hurt. But when I got to the hospital, the contractions were close enough together for them to want to keep me there. They encouraged us to go home and labor for longer. Ugh! It was frustrating.

I spent the rest of the night on an exercise ball that my Mom had brought over, watching Band of Brothers on TV as I moaned and endured more and more painful contractions. The nurse had told me to come back when they were consistently 3 minutes apart, but around 3am (at 5 minutes apart) I told Dan they were too painful and I wanted to go back to the hospital. By the time we got checked, I was 5cm dilated and they were ready to move me to a delivery room! Yay!

I included a photo here of me with my mask (pulled down to smile). Due to COVID-19, I'd never visited the maternity ward at our hospital before. I'd only toured it virtually! We also wore masks (yes, I labored and delivered wearing a mask!) the whole time. I did not have issues with the mask at all, though at the end of delivery they did give me an oxygen mask to help me breathe between pushes. I also had a COVID-19 test done during labor, which I apparently refused pre-epidural. LOL. Don't ask me to do anything when I'm in pain!

Even though I'd progressed quickly during the night, I stalled out a bit that morning. This gave us time to get my epidural going (thank goodness), and the doctor broke my water in anticipation of some pitocin to speed things along. Well, breaking my water did the trick! By the time she checked me next, I was fully dilated and ready to push. Baby was sunny side up (face up) but ended up turning last-minute after half an hour of pushing. And then he was here!

Due to my gestational diabetes, Freddie's blood sugar was a little out of whack initially, but after nursing he adjusted well enough for us to go home. I was feeling pretty good (definitely well compared to postpartum with Kenny!) and we were on our way home within 36 hours. Freddie had a touch of jaundice, but he was such a good eater that it passed to normal levels quickly.

Kenny has embraced his role as older brother. Our lives are louder, messier, and more exhausting, but we're really happy we added this little guy to the mix!

My Pandemic Pregnancy

noreply@blogger.com (Aubrey) — Sun, 06 Dec 2020 16:50:00 +0000

Dan and I had always talked about having two children, and we had hoped to get pregnant or have our second before we moved to Indiana. We had even gone through fertility exams again, including a round of IUI before we moved. After the IUI didn't take, we seriously discussed adoption again, but we knew that I'd gotten pregnant before in the cycles after my HSG exam before and I hoped it would happen again... and it did!

In March of 2020, just a few days before the pandemic shutdowns hit our area, I found out I was pregnant. We'd been trying for over a year like we had with Kenny, so Dan didn't quite believe me when I told him. The timing was also challenging, as we'd just moved and I was starting a new career. But we knew this was what we wanted, and thankfully our move had brought us close to family who would be able to help us.

Things That Were Different...

Virtual Visits instead of in-person visits

I didn't really have much of an exam before my last trimester! Since I found out about my pregnancy right as the first pandemic shutdowns and protocols hit, so they honestly didn't really even want to see me other than in-person.

Curbside Blood Draw

Since I had pre-eclampsia last pregnancy, they wanted to be sure to monitor me closely in case it happened again. But what was different is that for one of my big blood draws, I was asked to pull up in my car and have the phlebotomist draw blood while I sat in my vehicle!

Masks for Visits

No surprise there, but I had to wear a mask every visit.

No Partner for Ultrasounds

Dan was unable to attend the two main ultrasounds, as no guests were allowed. This protocol changed later in the year, so when I needed an ultrasound close to my due date, they allowed him to join me.

No Babymoon, or traveling in general. All my trips for the year were cancelled.
Virtual Hospital Tour

We were delivering at a new-to-us hospital, but we couldn't take a tour of the maternity ward. Instead, I watched a video online!

Limited Hospital Guests & No Hospital Photographer

Our hospital only allowed one guest per day, which included your support person. So if I had tried to rotate someone else in, Dan wouldn't be allowed back. But this worked out just fine because we only stayed at the hospital for 36 hours, and my parents were caring for Kenny.
For Kenny, there was a photographer who did a newborn photo shoot on-site in our recovery room. This was not the case in 2020!

COVID-19 test in the delivery room

Apparently I refused this test pre-epidural (can you blame me? I was in pain!) but the doctor asked me again once I had my meds and I consented. It sucked! It was a swab that went way down your throat, then the same swab went way up your nose. It made my eyes water, and I had to cough afterwards.

20-week Ultrasound

One thing we were able to do safely with distancing was take family photos! Pictures and social media were how we updated family and friends.

portraits by Amanda Field Photography

We also did a Star Wars/Mandalorian themed pregnancy announcement, sticking to TV trends like our Game of Thrones announcement when Kenny was born.

Overall, pregnancy in a pandemic felt more isolating and lonely. I didn't have my social support structure like last time (other than my parents and texts). I did have super generous friends and family who sent us giftcards and gifts, which really cheered me up quite a bit to be able to shop or order food when we needed things. It was also tougher for Dan to connect with this pregnancy, since he couldn't attend the ultrasounds or appointments to hear the heartbeat. But we definitely were grateful to be growing our family in spite of it all!

Kenny's 2nd Birthday

noreply@blogger.com (Aubrey) — Sun, 06 Dec 2020 16:01:00 +0000

Kenny is almost three years old, but I never shared how we celebrated his 2nd birthday in early 2020!

Like so many toddlers, Kenny was a fan of Baby Shark. So when it came time for his birthday, I decided to make a Baby Shark cake to celebrate! At the time, Kenny couldn't get enough blueberries in his belly, so I made a lemon blueberry flavored cake with buttercream frosting. I used some plastic pieces from a cake decorating kit I found on clearance at Target to make the fins.

We got Baby Shark balloons from a local party store, and we had cake and presents at my parents' house since we had just moved to Indiana the weekend prior. His favorite gifts were his stuffed WALL-E and EVE toys from the Pixar movie.

Kenny was also able to celebrate with his daycare friends before we moved. I sent mini cupcakes to the daycare, and he wore his Baby Shark shirt. I didn't post photos here because of privacy for the other littles in his class, but I think he enjoyed his birthday celebration.

And now, due to the pandemic, we will likely celebrate in this small fashion again for Kenny's 3rd birthday in January! It's tradition for us to do a big 1st birthday, but other than that I think we may wait until he is kindergarten age to do a party. These mini family gatherings are much less stress and expense, and the memories are just as sweet.

Our New Home!

noreply@blogger.com (Aubrey) — Sun, 06 Dec 2020 15:26:00 +0000

Remember when I used to blog here? I'm on maternity leave, and I feel compelled to reflect on 2020 and share more about how we've been.

We moved from Tennessee to my hometown in Indiana early this year, and we bought our first house as a family! So many things came together to make this happen, and it felt really great to move from apartment living to a house with a yard for a growing toddler.

We found a lovely house just 15 minutes from my parents and my office, as well as walking distance to a great paved trail. The yard is perfect, it has a paver patio which we hope to furnish and enjoy more over time (we used it for a kiddie pool mostly this year!), and the previous owner who built it ensured we have pretty landscaping year-round. The perennials he planted delighted us all spring and summer.

We did make a few updates to the house, which was built in 2008. The downstairs had three flooring types: laminate, vinyl, and carpet. We put engineered hardwood the whole way through the downstairs, and we painted the whole house. It really spruced things up and gave us a blank slate, as we did also need to add some furniture for the downstairs mainly.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Aubrey (@alwaysaubrey)

We would like to redo the kitchen at some point, adding an extended island, painting cabinets, and updating light fixtures. This house really only required cosmetic updates for our personal preference, which made it perfect for us! We did a U-Haul move, and we hired movers in Indiana to help us with the heavy lifting.

The upstairs has three bedrooms and a loft, the latter of which we converted to a playroom. We made quite a few trips to IKEA to furnish the house, and Dan has basically banned me from it. But combining what we had from our apartment with the new items, we really have made it into what we had hoped!

I've embedded a number of Instagram photos in this post, so you can swipe for Before/After images of what the house looks like and what it looked like in listing photos.

Living Room

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Aubrey (@alwaysaubrey)

Kitchen/Dining

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Aubrey (@alwaysaubrey)

Playroom

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Aubrey (@alwaysaubrey)

Master Bedroom

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Aubrey (@alwaysaubrey)

Proof of Life: 2020

noreply@blogger.com (Aubrey) — Sun, 27 Sep 2020 13:40:00 +0000

It's been so long since I blogged here, I don't even recognize the Blogger interface anymore as it has changed! I did want to check in here, as I do have a few posts I'd like to work on from this year. But here's a rundown of where we are right now...

We moved to Bloomington, Indiana! My hometown.
We've made a house into a home.
Kenny turned two years old!
I started a new job as a second generation financial advisor.
A PANDEMIC AND CHAOTIC DUMPSTER FIRE OF A YEAR HAPPENED.
I got pregnant, and I'm due with another baby boy in November!
All the trips we had planned this year were straight up CANCELLED.
We celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary in New Harmony.
We've spent quality time with family.
Kenny started a new daycare.

I'm hoping to do some belated blog posts here for posterity, but mostly you can find me on Instagram.

We're doing as well as we can be!

Reflections

noreply@blogger.com (Aubrey) — Sun, 14 Jun 2020 13:58:00 +0000

Today is both Flag Day and the Army Birthday.  When I was in the Army, we often had cake and celebrations associated with this day.  Today, I'm just at home still in my PJs reflecting on the fact that I've spent more time outside of the Army than in it.

The first time I deployed, a volunteer handed me a little flag before I stepped on the plane.  It was the same kind I've handed out at parades or nursing homes, the little inexpensive ones on a wooden rod that might give you a splinter if you're not careful.  But that day, I had this realization that there was a chance I might not set foot on American soil again.  I clung to that little flag in fear and anxiety, hoping for the best.

As controversial as General MacArthur was, sometimes I still hear the recording of his aged voice in my head...  ""Duty, Honor, Country" — those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be. They are your rallying point to build courage when courage seems to fail, to regain faith when there seems to be little cause for faith, to create hope when hope becomes forlorn."

In tough times, in challenging times, in scary times, I find myself clinging metaphorically to that little 30-cent flag.  Sometimes, I feel its splinters digging into my hand.  But I hold fast because of those three words, reminding me to never give up on courage, faith, and hope.  There remains the possibility and potential for a better tomorrow.

San Diego

noreply@blogger.com (Aubrey) — Sun, 05 Jan 2020 00:37:00 +0000

Another work trip journal... My team went to San Diego to do some focus group research last year, so I got to travel to California and enjoy some pretty beautiful weather. I also stayed at a hotel with marina views, which was positively lovely! (I also had a chance to see a DAR friend and a family friends, both before starting work... love being able to do things like that when I can!)

Hotel room view and breakfast

We also indulged in some delicious eats! My favorite meal was in Little Italy at Barbusa. It was absolutely delicious! We found it using Yelp, and we made a reservation same-day. I'm glad we did, because the wait when we arrived was long! Parking was challenging too, but we managed. The garlic bread was an absolute must! It's an old family recipe. The burrata was so fresh too.

My meal was a bit on the overindulgent side... a pasta with bone marrow! It was heavy and creamy and had delicious sausage in addition to the marrow. I loved it, even though it left me feeling a bit sluggish after the fact.

My favorite outing was our trip to the San Diego Zoo. I'd visited the zoo once before in 2012 on a road trip with my sister. It's an AZA zoo and world-class facility... and it's absolutely huge! It's hilly, too, so you get your steps in. We also enjoyed the aerial skyfari at sunset, another highlight to be sure.

On my last visit, my favorite animal to see was the giant panda exhibit. Unfortunately, the giant pandas were recalled the China in April, so the zoo no longer has them. This time, I enjoyed the elephants the most.

A weekday evening is the perfect time to visit the San Diego zoo... we found great parking, enjoyed few crowds, and the sunset was absolutely stunning.

I love San Diego, and I hope to visit again soon!

Eating Meat in Minneapolis

noreply@blogger.com (Aubrey) — Fri, 20 Dec 2019 15:20:00 +0000

I was going to give this post a title of just "Minneapolis"... until I looked at my photos and realized it was pretty much a bunch of pics of meat that I ate. I hadn't been back since 2014, other than the airport for connections, and I had the chance to return for another work trip to our Minneapolis office. I was joined by coworkers who lean to the carnivorous side of life (as I sometimes do!) and we definitely indulged.

But first, a photo of some art because it was outside our super cool hotel, the Emery. I wish I'd taken more photos inside, because the lobby was so unique (so many plants!) and the rooms were quirky too.

For dinner the first night we were in town, a group of us headed to Manny's a classic steakhouse and Minneapolis meat institution since the '80s. It's often in the "top steakhouses" lists nationally, and they bring out this rolling cart of meat to describe the cuts and help you make decisions. I've been fortunate during my travels to experience a lot of great steakhouse, so I was excited to visit Manny's. I couldn't resist taking a photo of the artwork in the waiting area of the restaurant, which is pretty, um, ballsy. LOL.

The side at Manny's are shareable, and we got the giant hash browns with onions and the macaroni and cheese. I loved the macaroni, but I wished the hash browns were crispier. It's such a thick patty, the insides don't get crispy, so I think if they did two thinner layers it would be better. But they're doing fine without my input, so I'll let it be!

For steak, I got the filet though I considered the baseball steak because that sounded good too. It was a really good steak, as you would expect. Not the greatest steak I've had in my life, but a great steakhouse experience for sure.

The server was outstanding, and he threw in a crazy dessert for us to try. It was huge, and it had a steak knife running through it!

The next night, our larger group went to another downtown restaurant known for its meats, Butcher & the Boar. We ordered a smorgasbord of things (including charcuterie and the sausage sampler), and they were all delicious! The restaurant has a hipster beer garden vibe in all the right ways, and I thought the food was really great. I preferred it to the more traditional experience at Manny's the previous night.

For my main, I was going to order the sausage sampler, but they ordered some for the table so I got to try those beforehand!

So I ordered a steak for dinner, again! And it was another filet... topped with smoked onion rings. It was really good, even better than the one I had the previous night.

So as you can see, pretty much the only photos I took in Minneapolis were of meat. :) It's a really cool city that I'd like to explore more someday, but sadly the weather wasn't the most conducive to that. Maybe next trip!

Succulent & Cacti Naked Cake

noreply@blogger.com (Aubrey) — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 18:57:00 +0000

I've been wanting to learn to do flowers and succulents in buttercream frosting, because I've always found piping to be a bit intimidating. As I've grown more confident in my ability to make good-tasting cake and frosting, I've spent the past couple of years focused on making my cakes look more well-stacked, level, and decorated.

photo by Allison

My friend was organizing a baby shower for another one of our work friends, and a naked cake with succulents and cacti totally fit the bill. The mom-to-be is a plant lady, so it was the perfect excuse to try out something new in decorating! I used Wilton gel food colors (Moss Green and Leaf Green for the plants) and some videos from Wilton to get started, then just went to YouTube and typed in "buttercream succulent" and watched techniques.

photo by Allison

I screwed up quite a few of them, but the ones that didn't find their way into my mouth (emotional eaters, I see you) ended up on little pieces of parchment paper to go into the freezer. Freezing them really helped firm them up for when I placed them on the cake itself! It also helped divided up the work so I could get this done on a weeknight.

I'm SO pleased by how this cake turned out. I'm an amateur baker and decorator with no training, just figuring things out as I go. But I love to bake as a sort of love language, so I'm game to try new things. My favorite professional to follow is Minette Rushing, who I met during my time in Savannah.

I'm pleased as Punch with how this cake turned out!

Return to Bentonville, Arkansas

noreply@blogger.com (Aubrey) — Tue, 10 Dec 2019 21:34:00 +0000

I've traveled to Bentonville, Arkansas on and off since 2012 for work, as it's the home base for retail giant Walmart. I went back for a few days this year for a work trip, and I tried my best to take photos of some of the highlights!

From a food perspective, my favorite meal was at The Preacher's Son, set in a restored church just off the downtown square in Bentonville. Their menu changes seasonally, and in hindsight I can't remember exactly what we ordered, but everything, from the cocktails to the appetizer to the food was delicious. I vaguely remember choosing a cocktail with pisco in it, because it reminded me of my honeymoon in Peru.

Preacher's Son

Another night, we went as a group to Doe's Eat Place, which makes me chuckle. Saying "Eat Place" instead of restaurant reminds me of the time on The Office when Kevin decided to speak in "small talk" and not using complete sentences. "Why waste time say lot word when few word do trick?" That said, the tamales and steak were yummy, the portions were huge (I shared my steak with my work bestie) and Peyton Manning has eaten there, so... #winning.

On our last free night, my coworkers and I visited Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. It's as beautiful a building as ever, but the collection/organization have changed a ton since my last visit. It's definitely worth visiting, but it has dropped off my list of favorite museums in place of some others. But the sculpture trails are worth a visit on a sunny day for sure!

We actually hit up two museums in the same day, visiting The Walmart Museum in downtown Bentonville. It's another place that I think has expanded/grown since I first visited. I remember it feeling a lot smaller. But my favorite bit of the museum is still Sam Walton's preserved office, down to stacks of magazines and things on the floor.

You could pretty much count the 21C hotel as a third museum, if you think about it. It's full of artwork, including a painting from a French artist that I really loved! We grabbed beautiful drinks at The Hive (I think mine was the Origami Crane.) and then walked to Tavola for Italian food. Both The Hive and Tavola were placed I used to visit on trips in the past.

My 2019 trip to Bentonville was a good mix of new and old haunts for me.

Have you ever been to Northwest Arkansas?

Miramar Beach with a Toddler

noreply@blogger.com (Aubrey) — Wed, 25 Sep 2019 17:51:00 +0000

I'm working on a few posts about my travels over the last few months, but while it's still warm in Tennessee, I decided to knock this one out since it's beachy!

I mentioned in a past post that we went to Miramar Beach near Destin, but I didn't do a post about it because life got busy. Well, earlier this month we went back with my parents and sister! Kenny is definitely a little water baby. We stayed at a timeshare at Majestic Sun, which was just a short walk to the beach.

I will say this... I'm not a beach person. A couple of hours of beach time for like two days is enough for me! I like trips planned around food, sights, nature, museums, culture... and I'm prone to a sunburn if I'm not careful. So both last year and this year, I wasn't overly excited at the prospect of a sandy baby and the beach... and both times I was ultimately happy that we went.

I think the trick has been to follow Kenny's lead on the beach. We generally stuck to his feeding times and naptimes (last year, I was still nursing, so we nursed on the beach) and he was a happy camper. This year, since he's down to one daily nap, we would do the beach in the morning, head to lunch, nap in the afternoon, then decide how we wanted to spend the rest of the day. The nice thing about Miramar Beach is that the sand is pretty soft, and the water can be pretty warm and gentle. We've been able to let Kenny play near the water (supervised, of course) and he can get into the wet sand and stay cool.

A few of the spots we ate that were worth visiting... Grimaldi's for pizza, the Surf Hut and Pompano Joe's for seafood, and Fat Clemenza's for Italian! All of them were kid-friendly, with great service.

Am I converted to a beach bum? Not quite... I still love a swimming pool over salt water. But because it makes Dan and Kenny happy, I'm content to go every so often, so long as we can eat good food and see some sights in addition to sand!

Here are a few throwback photos to last year's framily trip to the same beach. Look how Kenny has grown! We were in a rental house just down the street from the condo where we stayed this year.

What's your favorite family-friendly beach destination?

2019 DAR State Conference, Continental Congress, and Juniors Retreat

noreply@blogger.com (Aubrey) — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 00:38:00 +0000

Am I even a blogger anymore? I'm months and months behind! But I like to come back here and look at old posts, so I figure I'll still update from time to time!

2019 has been a busy year as usual for the Daughters of the American Revolution! In April, we had our annual Tennessee State Conference, and for the third and final year, I had the pleasure of serving as a Personal Page to our State Regent Mrs. Reynolds. This year, my Mom took care of Kenny at our place, and I had a fun weekend with my friends in service! We also had the pleasure of having Mrs. Van Buren visit our conference, during her time as First Vice President General. She is now our DAR President General!

2019 Tennessee Pages at State Conference

with Mrs. Van Buren

I was also featured in a local magazine, Franklin Lifestyle, about how the DAR supports veterans. It was an honor to be able to call attention to the positive works that DAR members make in their communities.

In June, for the first time in a few years, I went back to Washington, D.C. for Continental Congress. I was one of many pages who attended from Tennessee! For our Page event, we went on a night tour of monuments. I was also able to sneak away with a couple of friends to visit the National Portrait Gallery.

2019 Tennessee Pages at Continental Congress

And then this month, we had our annual Tennessee Juniors Retreat. Earlier this year, we lost an incredible member, Rebekah Lemley. She was our State Outstanding Junior last year and one of the kindest souls you could meet. So while we were cleaning up Old Fort Park in Murfreesboro, we also planted a dogwood tree in her memory. We also attended the Constitution Week Bell Ringing at the State Capitol.

As you can see, it's been a busy year for these Daughters, both in service and in celebration! If you've found this blog while searching for information on joining the DAR, check out more of my DAR-tagged posts.

Pittsburgh with a Toddler

noreply@blogger.com (Aubrey) — Fri, 19 Jul 2019 18:16:00 +0000

In June, we flew to Pittsburgh for an extended weekend (sort of between a long weekend and a week!) to visit with Dan's family and friends. It was Kenny's first trip to Pittsburgh, and honestly he was at the perfect age to visit the city! We flew on a direct Southwest flight, like we've done with Kenny before, and he was pretty good. We are definitely at the age now where even though he can fly for free, it's getting difficult/uncomfortable if he doesn't have his own seat. So I'm seeing more road trips (or buying him a seat) in our future, especially now that I'm the proud owner of a minivan!

We rented a car upon arrival, because it was the most convenient way for us to get around, especially now that our extended family has grown and requires more carseats. That meant we had some flexibility to take Kenny to the Children's Museum in Pittsburgh. As an added bonus, the museum was offering free admission for Veterans, and with Kenny being under 2, he was also free admission.

Kenny absolutely loved the museum! They had exhibits with Curious George and Eric Carle (he loves The Hungry Caterpillar) that he really enjoyed exploring. It was fun to see him get hands-on in an environment designed for little ones.

On the top floor, there is a water play area. Hindsight, I'd have packed Kenny swimming clothes or strips him down to shorts, because he got DRENCHED. But he was enjoying it to the max, and I was glad we did that activity last, because he was not happy we had to leave.

We also got to visit the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, a place Dan loved as a kid! We were lucky again because the zoo had free admission for veterans for the summer, so it was another free excursion for us, along with a big group of family and friends.

Kenny loved the warthogs!

Sidenote: I was saddened to learn that the zoo was no longer AZA accredited, as we make an effort to support those zoos and aquariums that are. But this was a fairly recent change due to disputes over elephant handling. They do have ZAA accreditation (a much newer and smaller organization), and I believe Pittsburgh's a high quality facility, but I know that means it cannot participate in some of the species survival programs and grants that AZA zoos have.

The Pittsburgh Zoo is hilly, but it has plenty of shaded areas and an air-conditioned aquarium to give you relief from the heat. I didn't love the parking situation, as it's a gravelly hike to the gates, and you have to take an elevator (with stroller) or escalator to get to the exhibits. But overall, there are tons of animals and lots to see, so much you might not get to all of it in one visit if you have little ones. I liked the elephants and lions the best, I think. There were also newborn leopard cubs to see!

I'd love to take Kenny to the Carnegie Museums on a future visit, as I haven't been since Dan and I were dating. We also didn't get to visit the most kid-friendly area of the zoo, so maybe on another trip we could head to that first. It was a hot day, and all of the kids (and adults) were just worn out from the hills and heat. I've also heard Idlewild has a Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood area of the amusement park.

Overall, it was my favorite trip to Pittsburgh yet. We had a lot of time to relax and let Kenny enjoy being around his cousins, uncles, aunt, and Nana, friends, dogs, etc. And we also were able to show him some pretty cool places to go too.

Pittsburgh has a ton to do for families of toddlers!

We're lucky to always have an excuse to go back.

Kenny's cousin-dog, Taco

Staying in a Pod Hotel: Washington, D.C.

noreply@blogger.com (Aubrey) — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 01:18:00 +0000

On the same trip that I visited Fredericksburg, I also did something pretty interesting... I stayed at a pod hotel! The Pod DC Hotel, specifically. Located in Chinatown, it is very close to Metro Center where our large DAR events are located, and not too far from our headquarters itself. Since I was traveling in for just a quick trip, I decided to give it a go because the price was really good. ($124-154/night for a full-size bed. The bunkbed room was cheaper, but I was staying alone.)

Super cool hotel digs!

This wasn't a space-age pod hotel, where you sleep in like a spaceship capsule. The Pod DC is a micro-hotel with stripped down rooms that offer the bare essentials but have really great amenities and social spaces. I was a little nervous, given it was a new concept to me. I was also still pumping, so I needed a fridge. I contacted the hotel in advance, and they had a little medical fridge sent to my room that served my needs. (During the day, I had them store milk for me in their walk-in freezer.)

Pano of the room, which had a tiny but nice bathroom!

Overall, the room was clean, efficient, and had everything I needed. The Wifi was good, and I was surprised by the size of the TV! The bed was comfy, the bathroom was clean and modern (tiny!) but good for the trip. There was also a small safe, and they had so much thoughtful storage, shelves, and hooks.

But the best parts about the Pod aren't the rooms, because you're just there to sleep. The common areas (diner, whiskey bar, gym access, etc.) are super chic, and a ton of people were hanging there who weren't even staying at the hotel. In addition, it's on the edge of Chinatown near Metro Center, so lots of restaurants, shops, and more. Just a block to Walgreens, Starbucks, you name it!

I also found the staff to be SO HELPFUL. They were so helpful knowing I was pumping and traveling, and they solved all issues very quickly.

If I were staying in DC on my own again and needed to be near the National Mall and things, and the prices were lower than Airbnb and traditional hotels, I'd definitely stay at a Pod again. It's not kid-friendly because of the space constraints and lack of bathtub, but for a budget-conscious adult or couple, it would do the trick!

After all, you spend your day away from your room anyways, in places like the beautiful DAR Headquarters! Had to include a few insider photos...

The eagle lectern has been used by multiple Presidents

Would you stay at a hotel like the Pod DC?

Fredericksburg: Washington Family Sites

noreply@blogger.com (Aubrey) — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 03:13:00 +0000

Last last year, I was in D.C. for a DAR meeting, and I'd hoped to attend the annual Christmas open house. But then President George H.W. Bush passed away, so the event was cancelled as the government was shut down. I was disappointed but understanding... and then three wonderful DAR friends whisked me off to Fredericksburg, Virginia, to visit some historic sites!

Ferry Farm

Our first stop was George Washington's boyhood home, known as Ferry Farm. There is a replica of his home on the site, overlooking the river, and you could just imagine what life must have been like for his widowed mother managing the family estate and 276 acres on her own until her children were grown. The site is supported by the state and local DAR chapters.

Fittingly, we paid tribute to Mary, Mother of Washington, by visiting the Mary Washington Monument. The Mary Washington Monument is the only monument in the United States erected to a woman by women. The DAR's first resolution in 1890 was a pledge to complete a memorial monument to Mary Washington, and it was one of two organizations to support it. DAR members contributed nearly three-fourths of the $11,000 raised for the project. It felt very fitting as a DAR member to visit this site!

Mary Washington's monument is near to Kenmore, a historic plantation owned by her daughter Betty Washington Lewis and husband Fielding Lewis. I had no idea the financial and personal sacrifices this well-to-do couple made towards the American Revolution! You can't take photos inside the house, but it was worth touring! It's known for the decorative plaster work on its ceilings. It wasn't known as Kenmore until the 1800s, named by its new owners, but the name stuck over time. The site is, you guessed it, also supported by local DAR chapters! It was pretty cool to go around and get a DAR discount because of the contributions made over the years by our members.

Kenmore

Model showing Kenmore in relation to the town

On our way out of town, we did two quick stops to see the exteriors of the Mary Washington House and the Lewis Store. The gardener for the house was actually outside as we approached, and she allowed us a peek into the back garden and told us a bit about the history. Mary Washington spent her last seventeen years in the house, which sits walking distance from Kenmore. If I ever come back I'll have to revisit!

The Fielding Lewis Store was built by the father of Fielding Lewis, and it was just down the street from Kenmore and Mary Washington's house. It was a general store.

I was truly blessed to have three wonderful DAR members take me on this awesome tour of Fredericksburg sites related to the family of George Washington! I'll never forget it.

National Museum of African American History & Culture

noreply@blogger.com (Aubrey) — Tue, 18 Jun 2019 13:15:00 +0000

During personal time on a work trip to Washington, D.C., I had the privilege of visiting the National Museum of African American Heritage & Culture. I’ve taken some time to consider what to write about my experience, because I did not want to appropriate or claim a single piece of it as my own. It is not mine, and it’s an undeniable part of our history and culture as Americans. And I wanted to tell my friends, you. must. go.

It is one of the most moving museums I’ve seen in the world in my lifetime. I spent hours there yet couldn’t see everything or read every word. I cried. I smiled. And I honestly left feeling exhausted.

I started with history, and I was taken underground in one of the biggest elevators I have ever seen. I made my way up three floors covering centuries of history, learning how the economies of so many countries and the outcomes of so many wars were built and won on the backs and lives of so many black and enslaved Americans. I paid my respects at the Emmett Till Memorial, wondering if as the mother of a son I could ever be so brave as Mamie, especially as violence and racism have not ended even today. As you walk up through the history floors, you begin to see more light from above. The highest floors covering culture feel brightest, filled with optimism and pride.

I listened, and I tried to understand. I appreciated it the best I could.

If I had to pick a word that describes this museum, I would choose resilience. And if you’re ever in D.C., you absolutely need to see it.

(originally written for and posted to my personal Facebook profile)

Chattanooga for Families

noreply@blogger.com (Aubrey) — Mon, 20 May 2019 13:10:00 +0000

Chattanooga is one of my favorite places in Tennessee, quite possibly the South in general. It feels like this cool combo of Asheville and Cincinnati, a city that is outdoorsy and unique and friendly. There's good food and drink, friendly people, and vibrant neighborhoods to explore. It was one of our fav places to go before we had Kenny, so we decided to head back for a weekend with him as a family getaway.

Walnut St. Bridge

The downside to our visit is that it was a rainy weekend, but we still enjoyed ourselves. We chose a hotel downtown, knowing that we would be walking distance to so many places. The downtown area has plenty of sidewalks! We took a walk across the Walnut St. Bridge, the world's longest pedestrian bridge, until the rain made us take a break.

But the #1 reason we wanted to bring Kenny to Chattanooga was the world-class AZA-certified Tennessee Aquarium. It's one of our favorite aquariums, and we visited during Chatt trips in 2014 and 2017. Kenny loves the fish tank at daycare, and so we figured it would be a good time to take him. He LOVED it.

The sea turtle was going by and doubled back to check out Kenny!

The aquarium is perfect for families. We took our stroller, but Kenny could stand and look at some of the exhibits on his own. You can take the elevator to the top and then work your way down, with automatic doors and ramps. Since it is divided into two buildings (River and Ocean Journeys), we decided to do one building before lunch/naptime and another after. Your tickets allow you to come back in if you leave! This is where staying at a hotel nearby came in handy. The box office opens 30 minutes before the aquarium does, so I went ahead and bought our tickets (there is a discount for Veterans) before heading back to the hotel to help get Kenny ready. It was nice to be able to visit restaurants nearby and hit the hotel for naptime to make the most of a full day at the aquarium. We had so much fun!

I think it's obvious that places like the aquarium are family-friendly, but Chattanooga also has a lot of dining options. One thing I miss about life pre-kid is those foodie dinner dates we used to have. Public House was one of the restaurants on my list from years ago that I wanted to visit, but I wasn't sure it was feasible with a toddler. Then I learned they have a three-course kids menu, so they had to be welcoming to families, right? I made a reservation on the earlier side (I find people are more friendly if you are eating with kids at 5 or 6, because non-kid people tend to eat later) and we braved it. It was a great experience for all of us, as Dan and I could enjoy cocktails and delicious food in a setting we normally wouldn't take Kenny. They even validate parking, y'all.

We also ate at Beast + Barrel, Mellow Mushroom, and Milk & Honey, all of which were accommodating of Kenny. Milk & Honey didn't have a kids menu, and it was very small, but they had the first-ever high top highchairs I've ever soon!

Public House Chattanooga

Years ago, Dan and I decided that we would try to visit only AZA-certified zoos and aquariums. Would you believe that Chattanooga has TWO such places to visit? The Chattanooga Zoo is very small, so small that it might be overlooked as a place to go if you're not local. But if you've got a toddler, it's absolutely perfect! It wasn't crowded, parking was ample and close by, and the prices are low. (In fact, for Veterans admission is FREE!) Kenny loved running around the zoo, and they had some great exhibits.

Petting Zoo

Because it wasn't insanely crowded, we really felt we could let Kenny explore and walk on his own, which was perfect to wear him out before our car ride home. The zoo is also expanding to add giraffes and lions in the future, so we wouldn't hesitate to take him back!

Chattanooga just has so much to offer. If we'd had more time, we would have loved to stop by the Creative Discovery Museum or the Hunter Museum of American Art.

We love Chattanooga, and it's a great place for families!

Boston, Massachusetts

noreply@blogger.com (Aubrey) — Tue, 07 May 2019 00:17:00 +0000

I took a work trip to Boston for three nights, and it was probably the longest stretch of time I've spent in what is truly a very cool city.

Flying over the city, walking near my hotel

My conference was at the Westin in Copley Square, a beautiful hotel that has restaurants and shops and a skywalk to the nearby mall. I loved the mixture of historic and modern architecture in the area.

Copley Square area

On my first afternoon/evening, I walked to The Salty Pig for lunch. I had their Salty Pig pizza with salted pork, pale ale caramel, and arugula, but subbed tomato sauce for the mustard... so good! Then I walked to Flour Bakery + Cafe at the behest of my cousin's reco and grabbed a sticky bun. In the evening, I connected with some college classmates in Southie for a nice night in. (I was fortunate to have friends and family to connect with each evening I was there!)

The second night, I took the T to Fenway to meet my cousin for dinner at Wahlburgers! I had the BBQ Bacon burger with white cheddar, bacon, housemade BBQ sauce & avocado spread (I skipped the jalapeños), and it was delicious. The tater tots were also awesome. It was a really good burger spot, and the decorations were very Boston and Wahlburg (movie posters everywhere) at the same time.

Wahlburgers

I also got to see my friend Lindsey on my trip to Boston! I've been wanting a Louis Vuitton Neverfull for years now (yes, I'm basic, deal with it) and since Linds has her own collection, I figured it would be fun to shop together. I chose a "damier ebene" canvas with the "rose ballerine" interior color. Our salesgirl Athena truly made it a magical experience for this first-timer. Is it normal or practical to spend so much on a handbag? Probably not. But if that's what you want in order to reward yourself for a milestone, I say there's no time like the present!

We finished the night with Italian food at Sorellina, where I had a delicious meatless bolognese (the Impossible Foods stuff!) and dessert so good that we didn't take pictures of it. We had a slumber party at the hotel that night before I had to leave early in the morning.

I love Boston, and I need to spend more time there. I want to explore more historic landmarks, the architecture, the food... so much! I could spend a week there and still leave things undone.

Do you have any Boston recommendations in case I go back?

Nashville Food Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Aubrey) — Wed, 17 Apr 2019 01:16:00 +0000

Sometimes it's fun to play tourist in your own local area. That's exactly what I did for a work event with coworkers! We took a private food tour with Dabble Studio in Germantown and explored a multiple neighborhoods and types of Nashville classic fare.

We started off with hot chicken at the Listening Room Cafe, which moved to SoBro (South of Broadway neighborhood) a couple of years ago. It's a great music venue, and the food was food too! I've heard it's the kind of place serious music listeners visit, i.e. don't talk while the music is playing.

Our next stop was East Nashville, to get a bushwacker at 3 Crow Bar. The bushwacker is the unofficial cocktail of Nashville, but I'd never had one before this tour. I know, I know... I've lived here for seven years, what gives? I'd heard that is was like an adult Frosty, and I'm not a chocolate person. But it's a delicious boozy milkshake that everyone should try at least once, and the liquor sneaks up on your fast.

Also in East Nashville, we had a sampler of hot dogs (and soda!) at I Dream of Weenie, probably one of the most Instagrammed spots on that side of town. I loved the Cheerwine, which is such a Southern thing.

And it wouldn't be Nashville if we didn't stop at a mural for a photo opp! Seriously, the number of murals in Nashville is insane. I once did a post about visiting a bunch with my friend B, but now there are so many more... I love Kristin Luna's post about them with so many I haven't visited.

It wouldn't be a Nashville tourist

I had to leave the tour before the final two stops, because I had to get home to pick up Kenny at daycare. But after I left, they hit up one of the best BBQ joints in town (Martin's Bar-B-Que in Belmont) and got dessert at Colts Chocolates in the Gulch. Talk about a great way to spend an afternoon!

I'd definitely recommend you check out a food tour if you're coming to Nashville; this one hits so many different neighborhoods (they give you history and trivia along the way) and is a great way to enjoy a taste of Music City.

Little Rock, Arkansas

noreply@blogger.com (Aubrey) — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 18:22:00 +0000

In the fall, I started a new role at work, which means I get to do more of something that I really enjoy... hitting the road for customer meetings and other events! I've already done a quick day trip down to Fort Lauderdale (literally, I flew down and back in the same day), and recently I hit the road to Northwest Arkansas for a meeting. Since it was a rather long road trip, we broke it up by stopping in Little Rock going to and from Nashville!

Outside of Little Rock, we headed to De Valls Bluff for one of my coworker's favorite BBQ joints: Craig's Bar-B-Q. Craig's is a cash-only, family-run dive that is absolutely a gem. Look, it's not fancy. At all. But we watched a steady stream of locals taking food away the entire time we were there, and we were able to get four sandwiches (three BBQ, one grilled cheese) and drinks for under $20. For real.

Craig's is one of those road trip detours that is absolutely worth the trek! The pork is sliced vs. pulled (sort of the thickness/consistency of brisket) with homemade sauce. We got it spicy, and it's served with a slaw inside. I'm not even a slaw person, and I loved it.

On our return trip back through Little Rock, we decided to go a different direction foodwise... Asian noodles and dumplings! We hit up Three Fold downtown and got soup noodle bowls, dumplings, and a steam bun to sample the goods.

Little Rock (and its environs) impressed us foodwise, and there were a bunch of places I wish I could have tried. But we also tried to see some cool sights! We drove by the State Capitol at night and it was gorgeous. They had great statues and monuments around it, and it was beautifully lit.

We also did a quick walk-through of the Clinton Presidential Library & Museum. Regardless of your politics, I think visiting Presidential libraries and museums is pretty cool... it's like walking into a time capsule of a President's time in office.

President Clinton is one of the first Presidents that I remember, so it was kind of cool to look at the technology, the news headlines and major events, and more that happened from 1993 to 2001. I really enjoyed the full scale replicas of the Oval Office and Cabinet Room, and seeing Cadillac One.

I also enjoyed seeing artifacts, gifts, and decor from the Clinton White House. There were saxophones, china settings, letters, even a white Chihuly Christmas tree!

I wish we'd had time for a guided tour, but maybe next time! It was really fun to blaze through before hitting the road back home. These types of road trip stops remind of how much there is to see in America and its "flyover states". I usually fly when I travel, focusing on my destinations. On this trip, I enjoyed focusing on the journey and figuring out things along the way off the cuff!

Thank you, Little Rock!

Kenny's 1st Birthday Party 돌

noreply@blogger.com (Aubrey) — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 14:16:00 +0000

I'm going to be honest with you... I never thought I'd throw a big 1st birthday party for my kid. But then, when I was pregnant, I was discussing with my Mom how it might be nice to give Kenny a traditional Korean first birthday celebration (call a dol or 돌), even if it was just close family. My wonderful relatives in Korea gifted us a beautiful traditional outfit (called hanbok) for him to wear, and our minds were made up... we'd be having a party!

For the party, we decorated a table with a lot of symbolic elements. A traditional table for a dol celebration includes a number of elements, but in general, it represents hope for a bountiful future. For Kenny's table, we had food to represent abundance, color to represent a bright and vivid future, and circles for generosity and life without hardship. My Mom made sure that there were odd numbers (lucky!) of fruit and lots of homemade rice cakes. I made his birthday cake and ordered decorations and party gear online. My Mom, sister, and I made bean towers with Kenny's name spelled in Korean script and "Happy Dol". These cost like $200-300 on Etsy, so we DIYed them ourselves for like $25.

More than 50 friends and family from six states joined us for Kenny's party, which included traditional Korean first birthday elements including a doljabi (돌잡이).

The highlight of the Korean dol (돌) is a custom called the doljabi (돌잡이) where the child is placed in front of a tray of objects and encouraged to pick one. It is believed the object the child selects will foretell the child's future. We also had a raffle where guests could guest which object Kenny would pick, and the winner would get a Korean children's book.

Kenny picked a medallion, which symbolizes "high position" in life, such as political figure or other achievements. He grabbed the ball next (athleticism), and then the yarn (long life).

For food, we had both American and Korean dishes, but the Korean food was a big hit! We had bulgogi, japchae, and bibimbap from Soy Bistro. I wish I'd taken photos, but it was so delicious it was devoured before I remembered!

We also had family portraits and party photos captured by our friend Steve Cross, who has captured so many special memories of our family's life. Dan's mother, my parents, and my sister were a huge part of the weekend too, making the party run as smoothly as possible along with Dan and me.

That said, I think next year for his 2nd birthday, we'll just do a little cake at home and maybe something fun as a little family. I love the Korean tradition of a big 1st birthday as something truly special to cap off that first year in the world. He'll have a party again someday, maybe when he's old enough to ask for one!

Proof of Life

noreply@blogger.com (Aubrey) — Tue, 29 Jan 2019 17:35:00 +0000

I'm alive and well, y'all. I know that I've been posting here less and less, but it just hasn't been a priority. #honesty

I wanted to do a post about our weeklong beach trip to Miramar Beach/Destin in September, but once I thought about it, it seemed so long ago and not current. We did a nice overnight getaway in Indianapolis over the holidays, which was super great for Dan and me (thanks, Mom, for watching Kenny!).

But I guess because I haven't had any big events or trips or things, I haven't really been compelled to post here. I don't want to write content for the sake of content (which is why you don't see as many sponsored posts anymore), because it's not worth taking time away from family. I have to feel like I need a little creative space to write about something noteworthy or special or just something I love! (Like Rothy's shoes, which I wear DAILY still.)

I do think I'll share a big post covering Kenny's 1st birthday party, because it's taken a lot of my time and energy recently. From there, we shall see!

In the meantime, I do post much more often on Instagram, for the little things. :)

Messy mom life

Merry Christmas!

noreply@blogger.com (Aubrey) — Wed, 26 Dec 2018 19:28:00 +0000

We had a wonderful 1st Christmas with Kenny this year. I haven't been able to write as much in the past, and I wonder sometimes if I'm done blogging (because I love Instagram...) but I can't say goodbye to this space. I think I'll be back with more in 2019, or I at least hope to be.

Wishing you a Happy New Year!

Grateful

noreply@blogger.com (Aubrey) — Wed, 21 Nov 2018 14:52:00 +0000

I've been pretty quiet on this blog in recent months, and it has everything to do with life being so different these days... I have a baby. I don't travel as much. I started a new role at work. It feels like every spare minute I have, I'm trying to eat, tidy up, or just veg out watching 'This is Us' on TV.

I'm tired. I'm happy. And I'm shocked by what a blur this year has been.

But I wanted to take a moment and capture a few of my thoughts today, in the spirit of Thanksgiving.

I'm grateful for family. Kenny and I saw a lot of our Korean family in Los Angeles this summer. We also spent a week at the beach with Dan's family and friends. I'm glad that we have so much love surrounding us. I am especially grateful for my parents, who make such an effort to connect with us every month. They take time away from work and home to make it happen, and it really helps us a lot with Kenny and even our own relationship with date nights!

photo by Steve Cross

I'm grateful for friends. I just got back from a lake weekend with some of my girlfriends, and it was such a wonderful time. I went to Newport to visit my friend Lindsey this summer. My friends at work keep me sane. My DAR friends are my family. There are just so many people in my life who care about me and support us as a family, and I feel lucky to feel so full. It's hard living in a different state than your family, but friends can really make that difference.

I'm grateful for a healthy baby. Sweet Kenny has had his share of runny noses, but we've been fortunate to have a healthy year thus far. I love watching him grow and explore, and he has so much personality now. I love being able to experience it all with him.

at Cheekwood Harvest

I'm grateful to be an American. This one has been tough, not gonna lie. But I do feel fortunate to live where I do, to have the opportunity that I do, and to know that I have a lot of great people alongside me. I could have a very different life someplace else, and I'm hopeful for positive change that helps our country unite for the better.

I'm never here often enough anymore (though I'm almost always on Instagram!) but I think that is just natural at this point. I hope to bring you more travels and adventures (and of course, our annual Christmas card!) in the months to come.