The Scribble Pad

A childhood rite of passage, the sprinkler

2012-05-30T03:00:00.000-07:00

What could be better Memorial Day weekend than a backyard sprinkler? Behr may not have liked the grass. The water may have been a tad on the cold side. But the sprinkler entertained for hours! Especially once we moved the sprinkler to the warm smooth patio where puddles formed for splashing.

Behr officially loves the sprinkler.

We also taught him how to drink from the hose, but that's a post for another day!

Congratulations to tellmeastoryjosie you won The Little Blue Truck!

Your Questions, Answered {part two}

2012-05-29T06:45:00.001-07:00

What is your favorite part of blogging?

I love that I am creating a record for my family. That is hands down, my favorite part of blogging. I also really enjoy sharing experiences with friends, family, and other bloggers. It is a fun outlet for me. I can't imagine ever giving it up.

What do you dislike most about blogging?

Fortunately, I haven't had to deal with much of the negative side of blogging that some experience. However, I do occasionally get sucked into the numbers. It is hard to remember that blog traffic doesn't define me or my family.

Why do you blog when you have so much else going on?

I blog first and foremost for my family. It seems counter intuitive to spend time away from my family, for my family. But at the end of the day, this blog is the best record we have. We all look back on it. Just this past weekend I searched for an old post that featured pictures of a story my family was laughing about.

Also, I hope blogging can become something a bit more for my family, a means for keeping me home during the day with Behr. That would be the ultimate!

Do you plan on staying in DC long term?

We love DC, but know that now is the time to take an adventure. Behr isn't in school, there aren't any other babies on the way. If we want to live or work somewhere else for a while, now is the time. So as we consider next steps for our family we are keeping doors open.

Do you ever feel insecure? How do you combat those feelings?

Yes, all the time. My insecurity primarily stems from other people's opinions of me. Naturally a people pleaser, I stress out about how I will be perceived. Blogger meet-ups are the hardest for me. I am always afraid that people will stop liking me, think I misrepresent myself on my blog, or some other crazy thing like that.

I often get nervous about letting people down, and in turn over commit. This is the most destructive form of my insecurity, something I really have to work on.

I am also insecure about my working mom status. I hate conversations about work vs. motherhood, because I feel like everyone always has an agenda, or a solution to offer me. People make assumptions, that I am putting my career before my family, that I want an extravagant life style, that money matters more than my child, that I don't enjoy motherhood. None of these assumptions are correct, but they still sting. I have to keep reminding myself that I am doing what is best for my family right now.

To combat these all of my feelings on insecurity? Oh wow, I am not sure I am very good at this. I try to pray when I am feeling insecure, I listen to positive and encouraging music, and I surround myself with encouraging friendships, I stop reading magazines, or blogs that I start comparing myself to. The whole mantra garbage in garbage out...I try to make it apply to all areas of my life.
When you daydream of the perfect life for your family in the fictitious 5 years, what does that include?

Five years from now...in my dreams: We may still live in a city, but we have a farm with a barn where everyone likes to hang out. Our house if full of children, our own and their friends, because we have created a welcoming place that is kid friendly. We enjoy summers outside on a big porch. We have a garden where we grow most of our food, but we also support local farmers. We have a full size freezer so we can buy a whole cow. If we don't live near family, we are blessed to be able to visit them often. I no longer have a traditional day job, but instead support my family through my own business (maybe my etsy shop and blog...maybe something else, who knows!) This dream could go on and on...

If/when Mark is working late or out with the guys, and Behr is happily in bed, what do you watch on TV and what do you make for dinner?

If Mark is out for the evening, I tend to keep dinner really simple but not necessarily healthy. We tend to eat healthy together, so solo style looks like prepackaged tortellini, bagel bites, or mac and cheese, something Behr and I both enjoy that is quick and easy.

Once Behr goes to bed (which is always earlier when we aren't both home for some crazy reason...) I tend to catch up on blogging or make more cards for my etsy shop. But my go to TV shows are Fairly Legal, Parenthood, NCIS, and The Good Wife, but we often watch these together even though I know they aren't Mark's favorite. He's a good sport.

What is your favorite food? The food on your blog always seems healthy, do you ever eat dessert?

I eat my fair share of dessert, but typical crave salty food, not sweets. I make a mean chocolate chip cookie and those are my favorite non-fruit dessert. I am not a huge chocolate fan.

The food on my blog looks healthy because we eat a lot of fruits and veggies from our farm share, or CSA. I like experimenting with new recipes with CSA food, so that is why they get featured more heavily on the blog. Plus fresh produce makes for better photos.

My absolute favorite, I would eat it any time of day, food is a philly cheesesteak. Kinda gross right? But I love them. Its a good thing I haven't found a place to get an authentic cheesesteak here in DC.

Thanks so much for asking great questions! This has been really fun.

Be sure to check out part one and my new FAQ page.

Memorial Day Thoughts

2012-05-28T18:45:00.000-07:00

Several weeks ago, friends visited us in DC and we enjoyed one of our favorite walks in the city, the Capitol at night. The photos are always stunning, but nothing compares to the real thing.

As I reflect on Memorial Day weekend, I am reminded of the words inscribed above the Supreme Court, "Justice The Guardian of Liberty," and the incredible sacrifices made every day. Sacrifices made so I can freely walk these streets and gaze up at these buildings, and so much more. I cannot fathom the liberties that you and I share and take for granted every day. The least that we can do is say thank you to those who serve today, and the families of those who came before us.

I look forward to years of sharing our family's heritage of service with Behr, of visiting Arlington with him, and showing Behr the legacy of his grandparents. For now, we will simply remember them in our prayers.

Your Questions, Answered {part one}

2012-05-25T05:21:00.000-07:00

When I put out the call for questions, I had no idea what to expect. But the response was surprising! First, I received a lot of questions! Second, most of you asked the same general questions. At the end, it was pretty telling about what I might not be sharing enough about, namely motherhood and work life balance. So without further ado, your answers

What do you think is the hardest part about being a Mom?

I am not sure there is a hardest part. Motherhood offers an extra component to every single thing you do. There is always another life to consider, plan for, or accommodate. It is very rarely ever easy. That being said it is still good. Just because something isn't easy, doesn't make it bad.

For me, personally, having patience is what I struggle with most. I would say I've got it 70% of the time, but when I don't, it is really bad. No one in our house is happy. I get frazzled, I lose my temper, I forget to take a deep breath. That is hard when you are a mom. Not having patience often means Behr is paying the price. After the fact, that causes a lot of guilt.

How many kids do you hope to have?

A full quiver! I hope and pray that we are blessed with a full family. I used to say I wanted seven or nine kids, my mom is one of seven, but now I think my heart has settled around five. Five seems practical. You can still fit in a small home, drive a normal car with each family member securely buckled in, sit around a table together, play games with everyone included. Yes, five; a fun brood, but not totally overwhelming.

Why did you start potty training Behr so early? Do you think you are forcing it?

We pulled out the potty we had received off our registry to show a friend, and Behr loved it, so we kept it out. We don't make Behr sit on the potty at specific times or even daily, instead we let him show us when he has to poop. He usually goes over towards the bathroom and starts grunting. The whole process has been totally led by him and is also quite humorous.

Since you've been a Mom for a year now, could you make a list for Mom's to be on your fav products, what Behr loved as a baby, etc?

Well, when I first saw this question, I thought I had answered it here, here, here, or most recently, here. But then I realize there isn't a good all encompassing post. I will work on that. Expect it to be coming in the next month or so.

Do you work because you "have" to, or because you "want" to?

I work because I have to.

But I have to work because of my own decisions. Although we are fairly financially responsible, I still have a pile of student loan debt from my undergrad. Until just recently I have been feeling rather entitled. My thoughts went along the lines of..."Since I work, I have a right to buy a new pair of black heels." or when getting starbucks or eating lunch out, "These are the luxuries I grant myself for being such a hard worker." This line of thought has made me, what my husband jokes, "a money pit." Recently, as I have been struggling with leaving Behr and missing out on fun activities, I have been striving to make an effort to think about him before spending money.

That said, I like my work. And if I do reach the point where I have a choice to stay home, it will likely be a short term decision. I can see myself coming back to this sort of work again, later in my life.

Is it tough to balance working full-time and a family?

This is incredibly difficult for me. Especially because most of the moms at our church and in our community stay at home. I am still working through my own thoughts on this one, and will be writting about it more soon.

How do you balance working full time and serving your family?

Things don't always go smoothly, and I have to be okay with that. I hae learned to turn more invitations down and to volunteer for less. Everyone goes through different seasons of life, and currently I am in a season that is stretched pretty thin.

For a while we had our groceries delivered. I didn't have the bandwidth to make it to the grocery store. Now I go super late at night during the week, the store is less crowded and I get in and out faster.

I only cook 2-3 times a week, the rest of the nights are some form of leftovers from these meals.

I have embraced clutter.

I avoid clothes that need to be dry cleaned. I am loving Boden and Ann Taylor Loft for their high quality items that look dry clean only, but actually go through the laundry surprisingly well.

Stay tuned, the second half of the questions will be answered next week.

Don't forget to enter the giveaway for a copy of our favorite book!

We hope you all have a lovely memorial day weekend.

Our Graduate + the epic journey that got us there

2012-05-24T06:25:00.001-07:00

I don't really know how to write this post. In my head it was going to be about how proud we are of all of Mark's hard work over the past two years, the incredible way he juggled work and family and school and a crazy neurotic blogger wife becomeing a momma for the first time. Leaving the country days after his son was born, knowing he was missing a few small things, but holding firm that this step was leading to a life of being present for more. Because, you know, sometimes you have to make the hard choice now for the better future. Our little family is still in the waiting phase, waiting to see what's next, waiting to see if DC will remain our home, waiting to see where God is taking us, what he has in store for us. But as we celebrate Mark's graduation, the completion of his master's degree from Johns Hopkins, we are proud of him and that's what this post was supposed to be about.

But the real story is how we got there, no not the whole journey, just the day of the actual ceremony. Mark was required to arrive by 2:00. I was required to be seated by 2:45. We left DC around noon, with nearly two hours to spare, the biggest lag time we have ever given ourselves to get to Baltimore. And then it took us 40 minutes and twist and turns to get out of DC, only to sit in bumper to bumper traffic, switching highways for open road, only to be slowed down by on and off visability reducing downpours. Everywhere we looked we were in traffic. No matter how hard we tried to go faster, we slowed down. Finally, at five after 2, a few blocks from the ceremony site, we plotted our Chinese firedrill. Mark jumped out of the car, grabbed his regalia, and began to ran. I got in the driver's seat as Behr woke up and began to scream. I circled the building twice, following the direction of event staff to parking. Lots are full, lots are full. By the third parking lot I resorted to bribery, offering to pay extra, and lying about my condition in hopes of gaining pitty. I am not proud of this moment. Nor was it successful. I can typically charm my way in and out of things, but my efforts were futile. As 3:00 rolled around, I am literally about to burst into tears on the phone with my mother-in-law, proclaiming I am going to miss everything. I find street parking, the very first spot I see, I take. I am 14 blocks away, but desperate to finally park. I pay the meter, juggling Behr, the diaper bag, the umbrella, and my wallet at the meter machine, a gentleman approaches and offers to hold my baby while I pay. Ummm...no. Now my momma senses go on high alert and I feel threatened, the last thing I need. I begin to run, in pouring rain, in a silk dress and heels, over cobblestone and brick sidewalks, carrying a 16 month old, because strollers are not allowed at the graduation ceremony, and the heaviest diaper bag on the planet filled with the essentials for two hours of entertainment. I ditch my umbrella. When we get to the building, my father-in-law spots us immediately. Bless him. I hand him the remaining tickets and elbow my way to the nearest bathroom, closed, and then find another so I can pull myself together, change the worst diaper I have ever seen in my life on the dirty floor because there were not changing tables. At this point, I may or may not have told a group of graduates straigtening their caps and gowns to never believe the world is a baby-friendly place. Once again, not a proud moment. Finally, Behr and I have both stopped crying and we sprint to our seats, over 30 minutes late, but somehow just in time.

The ceremony was wonderful. The speakers were thoughtful, interesting, and brief. Behr clapped with the crowed, and signed "more" every time he heard the word in a speech. My heart melted watching him be so excited to be with the adults, attentive and well behaved. Mark crossed the stage, his brother cheered, Behr clapped so hard, it was as if he truly understand the significance. I passed Behr off to the grandparents so I could return to the car, 14 blocks away to feed the meter, passing a few open spots along the way, I decide to move the car closer and make it back inside in time to meet Mark as he filed out of the ceremony with his classmates. We reunite with the rest of the family and celebrated. We gathered with friends in Federal Hill at The Rowhouse Grille for a fabulous dinner in honor of our graduate!

I could have posted one hundred pictures of these two hanging out. We are already certain they are going to be life long friends, Behr and Evelyn.

I am linking up to small style, even though the rain kept most of my picture taking at bay, I can't resist sharing Behr in a button down with his hair all combed! Behr wore: a plaid shirt from Polo Ralph Lauren via TJ Maxx, hand-me-down khakis, and a Carter's zip up sweater.

Sliced Brussels Sprout Salad

2012-05-23T04:00:00.000-07:00

It is no secret that I love my brussels sprouts. As much as I love them straight up roasted, a la Ina, I could not resist the chance to share another recipe with you. My friend Leah hosted a Kentucky Derby party and served pulled pork sandwiches along with this salad. Two simple dishes, but it was fantastically delicious. I tracked down the recipe, so simple its stupid, and have made it twice since!

raw brussels sprouts, slice thinly with a sharp knife

walnuts, toast lightly, crush

toss together

top with freshly grated parmesan

extra virgin olive oil

freshly squeezed lemon juice to taste

toss again

add crushed pepper, if desired

And there you have it!

The joy of this recipe is you don't need exact measurements, so I omitted them.

If you prefer the precise details, hop on over to epicurious.

Family Favorite Books + a giveaway

2012-05-22T04:00:00.000-07:00

One of the early lessons we learned in reducing baby clutter was to ask for diapers and books, books and diapers, lots of books, and did I mention diapers? Our friends and family delivered! We didn't have to buy diapers until Behr was almost six months old, and we are still discovering new books as we rotate our collection. Among the books, a few stood out early as family favorites. Here are our top five(ish).

Just Because You're Mine This book is the story of a father's love for his son, not because he is fast, brave, or anything he could do on his own, a beautiful reflection of our Father's love for us. The author, Sally Lloyd-Jones also writes our favorite children's bible. This is a wonderful gift.

Little Blue Truck Little Blue Truck teaches his friend the lesson of being kind and helping others. The illustrations are beautiful, and it is fun to read aloud the sound effects. Behr carries this book around the house with him. This book has worked its way into the home of nearly every friend who has had a baby since Behr. (Seriously, I just bough 5 more last week!)

Barnyard Dance! I am not a huge Sandra Boynton fan, but this book is hard to resist. Every time Behr picks it out, he stands next to me and reaches for my hand so he can "spin with the chickens...not cluck, cluck, cluck!" This book gets us dancing and giggling every time.

Little Pea, Little Hoot, Little Oink (a set of three, but I am counting them here as oneish). These cheeky books again teach lessons with a bit of irony, a pea that doesn't eat his veggies, a pig that doesn't like dirt. The whit and humor keep us reading these again and again. Much like Little Blue Truck, we give this book set to everyone. I even embarrassingly emailed a blogger who reference the book and a different gift giver in her vlog...only to realize that we had given her Little Blue Truck instead. My cheeks are still red from that one!

Snuggle Up, Sleepy Ones a sweet and simple book of how the jungle animals say good night. Behr brings us this book often. The illustrations are serene, akin to the colorful skies in the movie Lion King. And while there isn't much that makes this stand out, it has given us a family phrase, "a big hippo hug!" to replace the more common idiom, "bear hug," because that might get a bit tricky some day...

We love these books so much, we keep our house stocked with these for baby shower, birthday, and baptism gifts. We are always ready! And now we want you to be ready too. Win your own Little Blue Truck board book.

to enter:

you must be a follower of this blog via google friend connect

leave a comment sharing your favorite book and why you love it so much

p.s. be sure to leave your email in the comment too!

this could be a the book you read last week, from your childhood, that you read to your own children. etc. note, it doesn't have to be a children's book.

this giveaway closes monday, may 28

+ + +

ooh, don't forget, this is the last week to ask me questions anonymously.

sixteen months

2012-05-21T03:00:00.000-07:00

You recently learned to walk backwards. So quickly, we almost missed that it was a new trick. But the look on your face when you show us, excitement with big eyes looking for an approving smile, tells how proud you are of your new abilities. We are proud of you too.

We are trying to teach you to blow on hot food or wait until it cools off before you eat it. You put your hand over hot food, fingers flared out and say, "hot." Then you make a face like you are going to blow on the food and bend over to get your face real close. But no air comes out. You haven't figured that part out yet. This scene happens almost daily, and bring such a smile to my face. I can't help but giggle.

You climb UP the big slide, all by yourself.

Lately, we've been blowing bubbles. The soapy kind on our balcony, bubbles in the bath getting ready for pool season, and even sometimes with food. We are having a blast.

You've discovered the excitement of new heights. You climb up and stand tall on anything within your reach.

A few weeks ago you transitioned to the toddler room at daycare. You took to the new room like a fish to water. Each day when I pick you up, you seem a little bit older to me.

You love books. Now you have some favorites, you pick them out and bring them over to me as you climb into my lap. Please keep doing this.

Potty training with you is a lot of fun. You get excited to sit on the toilet, you cheer for yourself when you succeed with arms up, touchdown style, and you wave goodbye when we flush the toilet.

You rang in your 16 month milestone with double ear infections. Not even ear aches stopped you from giving us bright big smiles and lots of cuddles. It was a rough week, but you handled it like a champ. It is safe to say we all hope this does not become a regular occurrence for you.

Saturday Shoes: Grapefruit Flats

2012-05-19T10:30:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I shared my recent blog date with Whitney. We have a growing list of things in common, our lust for shoes and good real food, plus we are both working mommas who miss our little ones so much it hurts. Our instagram feeds (hers + mine) are filled with images of us soaking up all the cuddles we can, in an effort to hold on to them when we get to the office. Bottom line, she is a pretty stellar lady.

Whitney recently told me that she found my blog via a Saturday Shoes post. I love that. So last week she sent me a link to a pair of shoes that she was undoubtably about to purchase, it seemed only natural that she would get a Saturday Shoes feature of her own.

Vince Camuto Women's Ellen Flat

Just like Whitney, these shoes are pretty awesome.

Do you have a shoe crush, or a favorite pair you would like to feature?

Leave a comment or shoot me an email to submit your own Saturday Shoes.

The Ferry Building Blog Date The Stopped Time

2012-05-17T21:09:00.000-07:00

The Ferry Building in San Francisco is where bloggers find heaven. Foodies, crafters, photographers, florists, chefs, and graphic designers a like will all be smitten. I want to go back, every single day. The Ferry Building alone might draw me to move to San Francisco. If you are planning a trip, you must plan to spend some time, simply wondering around. It may have been one of my favorite parts of the trip, well, until the greatest blogger date of all time.

After soaking in every inch of the place, scoping out restaurants and pastries, we headed outside to meet our new friend...

(which I seriously wish Mark had captured on film because we practically leapt into each others arms)

lunch at Il Canne Rosso, determining that our husbands would be good friends, falling in love with Whitney's perfect brown sandals (classic Shannon), being kind to the tourists from Atlanta behind us who kept interrupting our very first real life in person conversation, mourning over the sick that kept our kiddos from their first potential meeting, lots of excited smiles from Behr nevertheless, swapping notes on life as a working (in the office) mom, and strategies for coping with missing our kids, talking well beyond a normal lunch hour before we even think about wrapping things up, passing Blue Bottle Co. because of the long line and the fact that it would have been better with Erin, witnessing the mom in Whitney come out as she paparazzi-ed my son with moves only a well practiced toddler photog could be familiar with, gingersnaps and a vanilla macaron at Miette, and an all too quick goodbye to a very dear friend who I cannot wait to see again. It was perfect. Next time we are going to grab burgers at good stuff here in DC, and our third date will be back on the West Coast at la casa de McMadness. I have planned it all out. If only I had my own plane...

psst. you can read more about our date here.

oh, and next time, we will take legit blogger photos with us in them.

Uncle Ben Comes to the Park

2012-05-17T03:00:00.000-07:00

could their matching facial expressions be any cuter?

he spotted us!

Behr and his Uncle Ben have a special bond. They are serious buds and while they are likely already plotting ways to torment me in the future, I wouldn't change their relationship for the world. Behr lights up when Uncle Ben visits. So a few weeks ago, when Ben joined us for a Sunday afternoon in the park, Mark and I happily let them play while we sat on a distant bench and chatted. As you can see they have a blast.

Uncle Ben joined us again this past weekend for his birthday dinner, burgers, beer, and milk shakes at good stuff. As always Behr had a blast as evidenced in my instagram pictures. Happy Birthday Uncle Ben.

As always, my favorite part of Thursdays is joining Small Style.

Behr is wearing: Old Navy Polo Shirt // Genuine Kids Jeans // New Balance Sneakers

Author Interview: Hannah Sternberg

2012-05-16T06:26:00.000-07:00

Let me tell you what a treat it is to share Hannah Sternberg with you. A local DC author, she shared her book, Queens of All the Earth. This may be the first official non-baby book I read since Behr was born, and it was worth it! A story of sisters in Spain, it spoke to my heart. The intricate details Hannah weaves into the character descriptions literally make them jump off the page. She leads you through the streets in such a way you feel the energy come alive. Now you are going to have to go read it yourself...but first, and interview with Hannah. psst...I wouldn't want to lead you astray, the tagline above highlights the interview, not the actual book!

Well, I spent my junior year of college at Queen Mary College in London, and I got to know that city pretty well while I was there. It was my first time leaving the United States -- I was a late bloomer, travel-wise. My favorite neighborhood was up near the British Museum, where I would sometimes wander by myself for hours. My university's library was there too, in a gorgeous dusty Deco building that I could imagine being the set of an Indiana Jones movie, in the scene where he frantically researches his next step. I didn't do the backpacking through Europe thing that most of my friends did when they studied abroad, though, because I hate just spending one or two days in a city and then moving on -- I'd rather save up my time and money for a full week or more in one city or region and really sink into it. In only a day or two, my brain just doesn't digest all the new sights and sounds -- I'm in a daze, and I barely feel like I've arrived by the time I leave. So that year, I took a weeklong trip to Barcelona, where I started writing Queens of All the Earth after a friend and I talked about how much fun it would be to turn our travels into a novel. I also visited a few other cities in Britain -- Bristol and York were my favorites outside of London. But spending time in London, I still had plenty of adventures -- picnics on Hampstead Heath, and running into a hookah bar when it started to rain, to smoke and doodle pictures of my friends; a pub where a few of my Londoner friends were regulars, that served authentic Mongolian food on the weekends; learning how to roll a cigarette on the floor of my friend's flat while drinking cheap wine from the bottle and pondering life in the way that cheap wine generally leads one to do. Sometimes I went to class, too. That year I also visited my brother in Hong Kong, and hopped to Macau and some of the surrounding islands while I was there. I'm heading back in a week, to see more of Hong Kong, and take a side trip to Bangkok!

To be honest, I actually hated all of my hostel experiences. But I was a lot more withdrawn and self-conscious back when I did my hostel stays in college, and I think my greatest anxieties came from simply fearing that people were watching me and judging me, when really no one gave a flip. I do make more efforts now to reach out to people, learn about them and connect with them, even briefly, but I have to admit I'm a creature of comfort and I value privacy and quiet time a lot -- if I go a day or two without a silent, private moment to myself, I start to feel mentally exhausted. So I don't need a luxury hotel by any stretch, but a private room is very important to me. And plumbing. I think I would stay in a hostel again, and have more fun this time now that I'm much more relaxed and confident than I was at 19, but I would definitely need a room of my own.

Greg. Of course! And Hugo. But Hugo's the only character in the book that I shamelessly ripped from real life. He's based on the proprietor of the hostel I stayed in when I was in Barcelona. There really was a pinboard in the common room, at least when I was there, with love notes to him from previous guests.

Funny you should ask that, because I'm actually taking a 10-day trip to Hong Kong and Bangkok! My oldest brother is a journalist in Hong Kong, and this will be the second time I visit him there. I'm looking forward to visiting the crowded colorful chaotic street markets, the temples (where, last time, tiny Buddhist monks would walk up to me, smiling and gesturing, to invite me to see other parts of the shrine -- they were the friendliest faces I saw), the surrounding islands with their hiking trails through tropical forest, and the bustling nightlife. At the end of the visit, my brother and I are taking a side trip to Bangkok, a city he's visited before, though it will be my first time. These are the destinations that have been most on my mind recently, but other places I'd love to see are India, Israel, Turkey, and Morocco. And I wouldn't mind returning to London sometime soon -- it's been five years since I was there.

All no-brainers: Lots of water. It's easy to get dehydrated when you're excited and wrapped up in all that you're seeing and doing, and having a dehydration headache is a stupid way to ruin an afternoon. A map. I love getting lost and discovering new things, but I hate not being able to find my way home again. If you want to go off the beaten path and be spontaneous, bring a map, just don't look at it when you don't want to. I like to have a good book to read in quiet moments. Travel can be overwhelming, a sensory overload, and if it's possible, I like to turn to my little rituals to calm my mind and help me digest all the sights and sounds of the day. One of those rituals is reading a book every night before I go to sleep, even if I only have enough energy to make it through a few pages. It quells any homesickness I might feel, and gives me a little break from the onslaught of new things, so my mind can catch up.

A mix. I like photography, but I'm never fully satisfied with the pictures I take, and afterward I realize I spent all my time looking through a lens rather than absorbing what was going on around me and experiencing the moment. I don't like how in many things -- not just travel, but social gatherings and concerts and special events -- lots of people think that taking pictures will make the moment more meaningful, sometimes getting virtually frantic about it, constantly asking people to stop and pose. It's a great way to remember something, but if you spent all of your time in a place or at an event snapping pictures, what else have you done to make it memorable? My exception is events where picture-taking is part of the fun, like a photo scavenger hunt in the National Gallery that a friend and I organized once. But when I'm traveling, sometimes I try to take a day or two "off camera," to force myself to loosen up and enjoy the experience in the present. Another way I "capture" a trip, besides writing and photography, is in the souvenirs I bring back. I have lots of little knickknacks that I like to pick up and hold in my hand while I remember the day that I bought them or found them: little Buddha statues, shells, jewelry, post cards of art.

I take writing materials with me when I travel because I often don't bring my computer. I have a collection of old marbled-cover composition books, the kind with the pages all sewn in and the space on the front to write the subject of the class you're using it for. Some of them have lines, but my favorite are the unruled, with just blank pages. They're all leftovers from school, but I hate wasting stuff like that, so I flip forward to the blank pages at the end, wherever I'd left off the last time I was note-taking or doodling or jotting something. I used to carry a tiny little Moleskine, but it was too small and I went through the pages too fast -- convenient for throwing into a bag, but inconvenient for actually writing or sketching or doodling on! Do you write or type? Type, type, type. I can't write fast enough to keep up with the words in my head. I'm a very fast typer, and I vastly prefer to type. When I write by hand, my hand and arm cramp up and I lose my next thought in the time it takes me to finish jotting down the first one. I have erratic illegible handwriting and I switch randomly between print and cursive, sometimes word by word or between letters. I'm also an obsessive-compulsive saver -- I click save every paragraph or so when I'm typing, but there's no save on a notebook and I have no outlet for that tic. Once I drew a save button at the top of a page and tapped it with my pen while I was thinking. Probably not something I should share with the public at large. Plus, I worry about how easy it is to lose a notebook with hours of work in it, while I back up all my electronic files on the cloud so even if my computer crashes I can access them anywhere. But I do write longhand when I travel or I'm away from my computer, and it is a good challenge, mentally, to both overcome my tics, and to keep my thoughts organized and flowing even with the slower rate. Oh, and it definitely helps with word economy.

Just. Freaking. Do it. I say this over and over and over again to anyone I talk to who wants to write, in any capacity, whether it's fiction or blogging or an idea for a nonfiction project. Just get started. People put off writing for all sorts of made-up reasons. The truth is there's no such thing as writer's block. Unless your hands are cuffed behind your back, you can write something. It's the fear of dissatisfaction with what they write that keeps many people from taking the plunge. But you'll never become the better writer you want to be if you don't get started. Every writer started out, at some moment, as a pre-writer sitting in front of a page wondering if he/she was completely crazy for doing this.

We'd love to hear your secret. Gin done treat me wrong one too many times, and we've parted ways for a little while, though sometimes we still encounter each other at social gatherings and I feel a stirring of that old flame. Back in the heyday of our romance, I juiced things up a little bit with a dash of olive brine; I liked it dirty when I was with gin. These days I'm a bourbon girl, scotch when I'm feeling classy. I like my whiskey neat, or with a little ice; sometimes I'll take a Manhattan, but that's a sneaky bastard that will punch you when you're not looking. I normally don't mix scotch with anything, but I was very pleased with a creative scotch cocktail I tried at Jack Rose's here in DC lately. Summer's coming, though, which means I'm dusting off my sangria and Pimms mixing skills.

Ask Questions

2012-05-14T17:00:00.000-07:00

There is a recent movement on the internet about the things bloggers are AFRAID to tell you. See here, here, here, and here. I've been thinking about this ever since I first saw Jess' original post. In the end, I am not sure it applies on The Scribble Pad. I do my best to keep it real. I don't hide much. In fact, the only things I am afraid to tell you are privacy details that protect my family, Candis captures the concept well. You won't find me giving you our license plate or social security numbers any time soon.

That said, I do want to share with you. I get the occasional questions on formspring, which you may or may not see. So I am working up a post to share those with you. In the mean time, feel free to ask more questions over there or right here in the comment section. I've enabled anonymous comments and moderation, so none of the questions will show below, but I will still get them. This is my first jump at a q & a, so indulge me a bit.

these text images were created by me,

but intended to play off the image found on creature comforts.

To The Mother's Who Hired Me.

2012-05-14T03:30:00.000-07:00

A letter to all of the Mother's whose children I babysat.

At age 13 you first hired me to watch your children. Thank you for trusting me. For the nine years followed, I babysat countless children, entering the lives of so many of your families. I babysat your children, their cousins and friends, your friends children, and so on. Never could I have imagined the influence you would all have on my life.

You taught me the importance of responsibility. Of finishing a job well, toys put away, blankets folded, dishes washed.

And you never blamed me when things didn't go as planned; when something broke, when green beans were left uneaten.

You taught me the value of a little something extra, in the form of a tip or rounding up. You were generous, and in turn taught me to be generous.

Not only did you trust me, but you had confidence in me. You let me teach your children how to swim, go bike riding with them, cook them real food, struggle over difficult homework, help with your brand new baby twins, or all five of your kids at once, take care of them when they were sick, babysit overnight while you got away, and even gave me your car to drive them to and from.

Thank you for the positive references. You helped me save up for camp in high school, pay my way through college, and even begin to pay for my wedding, all by continuing to hire me, and spreading the word.

I began babysitting some of your families before your youngest child (or two!) were born, and stopped babysitting when your oldest began to babysit themselves. I changed their diapers and now they are changing diapers. Some of your children have even graduated from college, closing the door on their own babysitting careers. I now send you Christmas cards of my own family. I am thrilled to receive your in return, seeing how much everyone has grown.

Now that I am a mother myself, I also want to thank you for showing me how to have balance in a family. You were present for your children, but also trusted that I could get the job done when you had a work event or a much needed date night. You showed me that wanting time away from your kids didn't make you a bad parent, but in many ways it made you a better parent. You taught me tips on motherhood and marriage long before I was considering either.

Today, and I reflect on my own role as a parent, I am glad to know all that you taught me. Like you, I hope that I will recommend the best babysitters with the highest praise, be generous with an occasional tip or rounding up, trust babysitters to actively engage with Behr, and appreciate when they go the extra mile, to finish the job well.

Thank you for bringing me into your lives and for the countless lessons you taught me.

image credit

Kate Reed Inspired Bold & Bright

2012-05-11T06:09:00.001-07:00

It is no secret that I have a serious girl crush on Kate Reed from the television show Fairly Legal. Her fabulous wardrobe choices are constantly influencing for my own wardrobe choices for work. So when this week's "Friday's Fancies" theme was declared Punchy Primary, I knew exactly where to pull my inspiration.

Sources: Vintage Berry Talitha Blouse $110 // Teardrop Initial Necklace $25 // Gold Double Drop Necklace $24 // Silk Camp Shirt $68 // Athena Bracelets $30 // Ivory Braid Trio $24 // Photos of Kate Reed c/o USA.com

San Francisco Bay Area | Our Last Day

2012-05-10T02:30:00.000-07:00

We spent our last day in San Francisco soaking up everything the city had to offer. We went to a park with swings (!) overlooking the painted ladies, headed to the Mission for lunch with Amanda at Pizzeria Delfina, and while we waited for a table, we explored this incredible neighborhood for which Amanda is so passionate! The wall murals were breathtaking. Everywhere I looked, my senses were in overdrive, from delicious food to all. of. those. bright. colors! This area of the city is truly beautiful, its no wonder Amanda loves it so much. After a fantastic lunch at Delfina (thanks to Erin for the recommendation) we kicked it around at Dolores Park, which boasts the greatest kid playground I have ever seen. Reason alone to move to San Francisco! A quick tour up Twin Peaks, and then we headed to our final destination of our trip, Golden Gate Park. It was once we settled down near this fountain that I realized how much of the city we had yet to see. Until next time, San Francisco!

Behr so enjoyed the fountain that I couldn't help taking about 300 pictures. But they work out perfectly for my favorite part of Thursdays...small style! You know I'm linking up.

Behr is wearing:
Shirt - GapKids - the best part about this shirt is it nearly matches perfectly to one of Mark's favorite shirts (did you notice?) even though Mark's is from J.Crew several years ago. Love it when that happens!
Jeans - KoalaKids, hand me downs, rolled up
Hat - GapKids
Shoes - Baby Saltwaters and yes they are all over the internet, and some of you have gone on rants about being sick of them, but I wore them as a kid and loved them, plus they are nearly indestructible. They are a bandwagon worth jumping on!

San Francisco Bay Area | The City

2012-05-09T07:12:00.002-07:00

The Golden Gate Bridge was a must see on our list, especially after our first trip to the bay area, when we excitedly drove over the bay bridge and realized like true out-of towners, that we had mixed them up! Classic. With a beautiful clear day, we knew we didn't want to miss the opportunity, so we swung by the bridge on our way south into the city from Muir Woods, and checked out the Marin Headlands too! The coolest part of the experience is captures in the photo above, using the pedestrian walk way to go under the bridge. It was surreal, loud, exciting, and even maybe a bit frightening. I highly recommend taking the path to view both sides of the bridge.

When planning a trip to a new city, why not coordinate your trip with your favorite sports team? As we headed to AT&T Park for a baseball game, I was thoroughly impressed with the number of Phillies fans on the West Coast. We had a good showing, despite losing in the 11th inning...but no need to talk about that. Mark wore the wrong hat, completely disregarding the abundance of Philadelphia sports apparel in our home. But it was a great evening, joined with cousins and friends, cheered for the AWAY team! Go Philly!

And now for the rundown of the top tourist sights of San Francisco:

Highlights: Lombard Street (is it really the crookedest street? it is certainly the most visited) // taking a photo on a parked cable car, instead of paying for a ride // Ghiradelli for a free chocolate sample and an ice cream sundae if you are in the mood // seeing the Golden Gate Bridge completed covered by fog // hanging out down by the bay...where the watermelon grow...(not really, but we couldn't stop singing the song) // Chinatown // Fisherman's Wharf // Boudin Sourdough, pure heaven in the form of bread // Peir 39, only to see the Harbor Seals, that place is like the Ocean City boardwalk on crack! // watching Muni trains // bikes everywhere // historic architecture of the financial district. All in one day, no less.

And of course, throughout our trip, we had snapshots of quality time with friends. I went to college with Ashley and Amanda (and Ashley's husband too!) and was thrilled to reconnect with them. It was like we still lived together. I miss those girls...they are joining the campaign to get us to move West...we shall see.

Believe it or not, there is still more to share! Coming soon:

The Ferry Building (it deserves a post of it's own) where I had a date with the fabulous Whitney.

Our last day in San Francisco, spent with Amanda in the Mission, and at Dolores and Golden Gate parks

Life Lessons | My 20's

2012-05-08T03:30:00.000-07:00

our rehearsal dinner

21 // As a college senior, studying abroad and feeling invincible, I lost my great-grandmother. I abruptly flew home to be with loved ones and was reminded of the importance of family. This single event changed my interactions with my parents and grandparents, I gift of which I remain grateful to this day.

22 // Completing my final events as a college athlete, graduating, planning a wedding, and job searching, I learned the hard way, the importance of being content.

Once we became content, thanking God for his blessings rather than spending our time looking for something bigger and better, God laid out a plan for new jobs, and new city, and moved everything into place.

23 // Preparing to leave Boston, I realized the importance of seizing the day. I looked at my city with new eyes, and finally explored the hidden gems I had neglected.

24 // New jobs and demanding schedules pulled Mark and I in different directions. The wisdom of friends directed us towards marriage counseling, and only then did we begin to use our words to edify each other first. I learned the importance of loving communication.

25 // I learned to stop worrying. (I am still learning to stop worrying...)

Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles, it empties today of its strengths. - Corrie Ten Boom

26 // I learned that grieving is a process, a long slow process, and that is okay.

27 // After having Behr and receiving an outpouring of love and support from our friends here in DC, I learned what it looks like to be a resource that serves others.

a hidden gems of our vacation, being able to comfort this little guy when he was under the weather

28 // Juggling work, home, and motherhood, I catch myself constantly looking for the next thing to tackle. I want to slow down, to spend this year living in the moment. I hope that I can look back and see progress, that I can declare with determination that I learned to be present.

Being present.

With that, I turn to you, my friends.

How do you do it? What are your secrets?

How do you stay present at dinner with your husband, over a cup of coffee with a girlfriend, on the phone with your mom, reading books to your kids... In life's most precious moments, how do block out the distractions, ignore your phone, forget your to-do list, and simply be present? How do you decide to enjoy the moment instead of capturing the moment with your camera?

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A tremendous thanks goes out to Sarah of Fairy Tales Are True for continuing this series, and inviting other bloggers to join her. Thinking back over these lessons, and the blessing of God during this course of time, has proved to be a blessing of its own. Thanks for letting me share along with you!

Thank You Plant

2012-05-07T03:00:00.000-07:00

Mother's day is just around the corner, the school year is coming to a close, and inevitably the warmer weather is accompanied by invitations to backyard barbecues and pool parties over the next several months. These mini plants are the perfect way to say thank you, for any occasion. I brought one to a Kentucky Derby party this weekend, four are heading to my son's infant room teachers at daycare (Behr transitioned to the toddler room...not ready to talk about it). These are so easy, I might even make a few more next weekend just to have on hand. Oh, and I need to make more for the grandmothers and great-grandmothers too!

Tips:
+ Choose a plant that is relatively compact. I chose mint, but considered thyme and rosemary.
+ Be sure to lay down a drop cloth or newspaper as you will get dirt everywhere.
+ No need for garden tools, but you will get your hands dirty.
+ To finish the jars, cut a long piece of string, yarn, or fabric, enough to wrap about ten times around the mouth of the jar. Be sure to leave extra length from the start to be able to tie a bow and the end.

Aztec Graphic Prints

2012-05-04T02:00:00.000-07:00

This weekend marks both the Kentucky Derby and Cinco de Mayo. Is there enough love to go around? I will be wearing a cute dress and celebrating the Derby here in DC. However, I cannot let Cinco de Mayo pass me by. It is my unofficial start to summer, the welcoming of dinner outside on our porch, the promise of sunny weather, the kickstart of bbqs and pool parties. The pre-summer season if you will. I am obsessed with the aztec meets southwest prints that are everywhere these days. Mixed with bright pops of color, they scream happiness. And even better, one of these gems is on its way to my front door. Can you guess which one?

I am linking up with Friday's Fancies.

San Francisco Bay Area | Muir Woods

2012-05-02T11:52:00.000-07:00

adopt the pace of nature:

her secret is patience.

ralph waldo emerson

Don't mind the slightly haggard look. Muir Woods marked day seven of our vacation. The paved path and wooded walk were a welcome escape for us. The love of our family deepened in the woods as the beauty of the redwoods overwhelmed us. We were quiet and reflective. If you have a chance to been near Muir Woods, go. You will not regret the trip. I look forward to going back someday to explore the hiking trails.

p.s. There is just something about being among the world's largest trees that makes you want to spread your arms out wide. Am I right?

I am linking up to small style. Behr is wearing:

polo shirt from gapkids | 3/4 zip shirt from old navy | gym pants from gapkids | sneakers from new balance

San Francisco Bay Area | Drake's Bay

2012-05-01T09:20:00.000-07:00

Although this is our first time at Drake's Bay, and Point Reyes National Seashore for that matter, the visit is tightly interwoven to our engagement story. Rather than continue to gush over how many incredible pictures I took of the beautiful scenery, I will share with you how I got my ring.

Shortly after returning from a semester studying in London, Mark suggested we plan a day to officially welcome me back to Boston. We picked a weekend, and out of the blue suggested we return to the New England Aquarium, the site of our first official date. After picking a few other spots to see and places to eat, we were set for our adventure.

When the planned Saturday morning rolled around, I begrudgingly got out of bed, suggesting we spend a lazy day instead of treking into the city. Mark insisted that we properly welcome me back to Boston. My laziness manifested inself into sleeping late, skipping a shower, and simply throwing my hair back into a messy ponytail. I was more excited about spending time with Mark, than any of our plans.

The weather in Boston was beautiful for January, bringing crowds to the aquarium. The buzz of people distracting me from my funk simultaneously brightening my mood. Mark insisted we become members and get our picutre taken. I complied, wishing I had not refused to shower.

As we meandered around the aquarium, waiting for our appointment to feed the seals, I bragged about what a great day it was, that my suggestion to visit the aquarium was brilliant, that Mark was lucky to have such a smart girlfriend.

Upon meeting the seal trainer, he explained that we would be feeding Chuck, an Atlantic Harbor Seal, and encouraging them to play. The seal tank is outside the Aquarium, right in front of the main entrance. People gathered to watch the show. We fed the seals fish and threw toys to Chuck. After a few attempts, he retrieved a toy for the trainer, commanding a round of applause from his audience. As the trainer passed the toy for Mark to toss back in, he shook it, commenting that there must be something in there...

...Mark opened the seal toy, getting down on one knee, and pulled out a ring. I think I was hugging him and exclaiming yes before he even finished asking the question. Neither of us can quite remember. The crowds roared, and the seals joined in the celebration with a few claps and barks of their own.

Here we are, six years later on a family vacation with our son. As soon as we decided on San Francisco, we knew visiting the seals would be at the top of our list.

Here is a short video we took of the seals playing at Drake's Bay.

They we certainly enjoying the beautiful weather!

San Francisco Bay Area | Point Reyes

2012-04-27T03:30:00.000-07:00

When we decided on a day trip to Point Reyes National Seashore, we were hoping to see harbor seals, a chance sighting of a migrating whales and a visit to the lighthouse. We had no idea how stunningly beautiful the more than 30000 acres of rolling farmland and coastal cliffs would be! And much to my joy, the National Park featured more cows that I could capture in photos. I've got a thing for cows. Point Reyes is where I took the bulk of the pictures on our vacation. So many, it could never be captured in one post. So therefore, I present to you, the cows.

Hanging out at the Hotel

2012-04-26T06:43:00.000-07:00

There is not much worse than being sick on vacation. But if you have to be stuck somewhere, this beautiful hotel we stayed at in Sonoma was perfect. We had a wonderful bathroom with a soaker tub and steam shower (both came in handy!) a fireplace, and a balcony to get all the fresh air we could stand. We spent a good deal of downtime lounging around the pool and out door firepits, marveling at the hills of Sonoma rolling in the background, and citrus trees, situated like boxwoods, growing right before our eyes. Lemons and organes, and grapefruits, oh my! You know you are from the Northeast when hotel staff comments on how many pictures you are taking of their lemon tree.

I am linking up to Small Style on Mama Loves Papa.

Behr is wearing:
Navy Zip sweater from Carters, gifted

Gap Swim Trunks, hand-me-downs

Salt-Water Sandals

San Francisco Bay Area | Napa & St. Helena

2012-04-25T03:00:00.000-07:00

Vineyards are not very baby friendly.

They are especially unfriendly when you are already sleep deprived and under the weather. After the perfect storm of tears, runny noses, and a lost sneaker in Napa, we abandoned our hopes of touring the vineyards and headed North. Upon recommendation of our friend Kelsey, we drove to St. Helena, the town that saved our vacation. A few steps down the sidewalk and I was already swooning. The shops there are wonderfully currated. So much so, I joked that their buyers must have been expecting me. Here are the items that would have made it home in my suitcase if there was room:

1. Animal Kisses Notecards // 2. Artiga Tote // 3. Morse Code Jewelry by Coatt //

4. Paper + Cup Old School Ledger // 5. Haws Watering Can // 6. Stamps by Yellow Owl Workshop

You see?

St. Helena had me at hello.

Highlights: Napa Valley Vintage Home, Acres Home and Garden, Muse, St. Helena Olive Oil Company (which deserves its own post...) and Gotts, which we didn't get to stop at, but hope to visit next time.