I recently discovered My Day Registry, and I think this is such a fun idea and the perfect gift for someone in your life who has everything or can buy anything they want. You basically dedicate a special day to someone, and that day becomes officially recognized as their own. Every owner’s title and ownership rights are recorded in the official International Day Registry database—the only registry of its kind. Then you get a snazzy framed certificate to give as a gift to your special someone.

My Day Registry offered me my own day in the Registry.

I thought it would be fun to register my 6th “Blogiversary,” which just came and went without much ado on March 25th. (As an aside, I cannot believe I’ve been blogging here for six years. Does anyone remember my first post!??)

All you do is enter your special day in the search box to see if it’s available. You can then choose from three packages to register your day by state, country, or worldwide.

Every registered day comes with a beautifully framed certificate as proof of ownership rights. You’ll also receive an online profile that can be personalized with music, photos, video, and details about that special day for sharing with family and friends.

How fun is that!? I can’t wait to receive my framed certificate from My Day Registry. It will be the perfect addition to my office!

UPDATE: For my fellow bloggers, mention my name and join My Day Registry’s affiliate program, and you’ll receive a $10 bonus with your first posting of a My Day Registry banner.

And for my readers, you may receive a special 10% discount with coupon code: MUSH10 (expires 6/1/12).

Last Wednesday I attended a Mom’s Night Out event hosted by Main Line Parent. The dress code was cocktail attire, so I pulled out my favorite dress. This is the first time I’ve work it without black tights. I was a little bit self conscious, but I got a ton of compliments so I guessed it works!

Because the dress is so busy, I usually go light on the jewelry. I wore silver chandelier earrings from Stella & Dot and doubled up on my bracelets for a chunkier look. Those shoes are old favorites by Boutique 9.

Thursday was mostly errands and working from home. Purple tank (old) with gray cardi (Gap Outlet) and straight-leg jeans (Sevens) with Silpada necklace and bracelet and silver flips from Banana.

On Friday, I got up at 5:30 and was at the gym by 6:45 for a training appointment. I figure any day I get up and work out before 7 am I deserve to wear workout gear all day. I was even wearing it when our neighbors stopped over for drinks after dinner. Clearly I have no shame.

This was Mother’s Day. You’ve seen it all before — ruffle trim tie-dye top and coral cardi from Banana, white cropped skinnies from Gap, necklace and earrings from Stella & Dot and the wedge sandals are Stuart Weitzmans (which I scored on a super duper sale at 6pm.com.) I love this outfit. You will be seeing a lot more of it.

And then the rains came.

It was a dreary day on Monday when we drove to NYC for a live recording of The Talk. I was in a rush when I left the house so I meant to grab a photo of my outfit when I was in NYC, but I never thought about it again. I basically wore a version of this outfit that I posted last week. Except I wore my darker skinny jeans and black pointy-toe flats.

And Tuesday’s picture could be alternately titled: Mama Needs Rain Boots. Yes, I wore my leather knee-high boots on May 15th. It was raining cats and dogs. What can I say, I didn’t want wet feet, and I had to take my daughter to swim lessons and run some errands. I also didn’t bother to wash or style my hair. Again with the cats and dogs. I figured, what’s the point?

If you’re wondering what’s up with the sunglasses, long about 2:00, it suddenly got sunny and warm. Fortunately I had my sunglasses in my purse. As soon as I got home, it was off with the boots and the sweater.

And that’s a wrap.

For more outfit inspiration, check out all of my Mom Style posts.

As usual, I’m linking up with:

Today was our first CSA* pickup. We are new to the CSA, and I have to admit, I am a bit overwhelmed. This is a HALF SHARE, believe it or not! I’m SO glad we decided to split our CSA share with a neighbor.

I’m impressed with the quality of the produce, and it’s all organic. WOOT! But now I have to figure out what to DO with it all.

Anyone have any idea what the thing in the back with the big white bulb is?

*CSA = Community Supported Agriculture

Over the last 20 years, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) has become a popular way for consumers to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer. Here are the basics: a farmer offers a certain number of “shares” to the public. Typically the share consists of a box of vegetables, but other farm products may be included. Interested consumers purchase a share (aka a “membership” or a “subscription”) and in return receive a box (bag, basket) of seasonal produce each week throughout the farming season.

source: localharvest.org

This was a new one for me. I have stayed at several of the Disney Deluxe Resorts, but none in the Epcot Area resorts.

After spending a weekend at the Yacht Club, I consider the Epcot area resorts one of the most convenient locations on Disney property — second only to the resorts located on the Monorail (my very favorite place to stay!)

The Yacht Club, and its sister resorts Beach Club and BoardWalk, are located within a 5-minute walk of Epcot and a 1-mile walk or ferry ride to Hollywood Studios.

We are huge Epcot fans in my house, so being able to stroll over to Epcot is a huge bonus for us.

The Yacht Club boasts the gracious atmosphere of a New England beach resort. I love the casual elegance of the dark woods and leather and wicker. With the fresh morning breeze drifting through the lobby, I almost forgot I was in Florida.

The nautical theming is carried throughout the resort, right down to the elevator buttons.

There is definitely an air of sophistication about this resort. It would be a great place to stay with older kids. The Beach Club next door is a bit more casual and family-friendly.

The rooms at the Yacht Club are spacious, and the crisp white and blue decor is calming. We didn’t get a picture of our room, but you can check out the Disney website.

Outside, the nautical theme continues with this picturesque little lighthouse at the end of the dock.

The BoardWalk area is just a short walk around Stormalong Bay, where there are shops, eateries and even a nightclub.

The Yacht Club and Beach Club boast the highly acclaimed sand-bottom pool at Stormalong Bay. This fun beach area is a huge draw to these resorts as well.

Stormalong Bay spans 3 acres, with water slides emerging from the life-size replica of a wrecked ship, lagoons, a slow river to float along in inner tubes and a sand-bottom pool.

My kids would have had a blast here. My only concern would be keeping track of younger kids. The area is divided up into a lot of smaller sections.

Another amenity that I enjoyed during my stay was the Ship Shape Health Club located right between the Yacht and Beach Clubs.

My roommate and I got up early one morning and trotted over to use the treadmill and elliptical machines. There was also Nautilus and Hammer Strength exercise equipment available.

Another morning I took a jog with a friend over to Hollywood Studios and back. On our way, we passed the Swan and Dolphin resorts, also part of the Epcot Area.

There is also a convention center within the Yacht Club property, where we had our conference sessions. It’s a gorgeous space with natural light pouring in through the high ceilings.

There is plenty of space for breakout sessions and an elegant ballroom for formal events.

If you like Epcot and/or plan to spend time at the pool, the Yacht Club and Beach Club resorts are definitely worth considering for your next Disney stay.

Read all my Disney Reviews and let me know if you have any questions!

Hello, bangs.

Mother's Day circa 2000

That little guy is 12 now. Crazy, ain’t it?

This is the day I discovered I was pregnant with C.

Mother's Day 2002

I miss that hair.

Mama said there’d be days like these . . .

Mother's Day 2003

Now this is more like it!

Mother's Day 2004

I wish my daughters would still let me put big bows in their hair.

Mother's Day 2007

Mother's Day 2008

I interrupted their play and made them pose with me for this picture. They weren’t thrilled, but they obliged.

Mother's Day 2009

Which is why last year I insisted upon pictures first thing in the morning — before everyone got grumpy and tired.

Mother's Day 2011

And finally . . .

Happy Mother’s Day!

Why the Campaign to Stop America’s Obesity Crisis Keeps Failing | The Daily Beast

While the government spent hundreds of millions trying to prove that salt and saturated fat are bad for our health, it spent virtually nothing on sugar. Had it targeted sugar then, instead of waiting for an obesity and diabetes epidemic for motivation, our entire food culture and the options that go with it might have changed as they did with low-fat and low-salt foods.

WHEN will the mainstream grab hold of this theory???? (hat tip to @centsiblelife)

Finding His Way: Theology with Boo | Blackbelt Oma

I wouldn’t let him find his own way to the store let alone his own way to Eternity.

The conversations with our little ones are often the deepest ones we have all day.

Are You On Trend? | Studio Jewel

What if you actually embraced what YOU like? That’s what makes you happy isn’t it? That’s when you feel your very best, correct? That my friend is what becoming a trend is all about.

Don’t discount this post before you read it. It might not be what you think.

Sleep Curbs Influence of Obesity Genes | Health

“We spend so much time in this country trying to keep our weight down with diet and exercise, but we never think about sleep,” he says. “I think of sleep as the third leg on the stool of good health, along with diet and exercise.”

I found this article interesting. We all know that sleep is a huge factor in health and wellness, but I never knew it had any links to obesity.

No, I am NOT obsessed with the “obesity crisis” but I just happened to come across these two articles.

Grass-Fed Beef Vs. Grain-Fed Beef | Cooking Light

Our testers liked several samples but discovered no universal preference for grass-fed or grain-fed, finding various degrees of beefiness and juiciness across the samples.

Interesting and encouraging to see Grass-Fed Beef touted by a mainstream publication. (hat tip to @kitchenstew)

Hospital Food So Fresh, Even The Healthy Come To Dine | NPR.org

Twice a week, local seniors in Warrenton, Virginia, flock to a hip new dinner spot called the Bistro on the Hill for good food, a great view, and musical accompaniment by a retired piano player from a nearby Nordstrom’s.

Only “The Bistro” is no stand-alone restaurant. It’s the cafeteria of Fauquier Hospital, one of a new group of “patient-centered” health facilities focused on meeting more than just people’s medical needs.

Good news, for once! LOVE THIS.

What have you been reading this week??

One of the hottest fashion trends for spring 2012 is stripes.

But wait! Stripes make me look fat!

No, not necessarily. There are good stripes, and there are bad stripes. The key is knowing what works for you.

Read more at The Skinny, a blog by Therapon Skin Health.

But wait! 

First, before you click over . . . Did you blog about fashion this week? LINK UP!

Fashion Friday Carnival

The week, Jenn Bullock of @MommyBKnowsBest asks us, What television show would you like to be a guest on?

Here is my answer. Can you guess before you push play???

And make sure to check out the other #VlogMom videos this week!

I will NEVER forget how excited I was when I ordered my first custom designed blog header. I thought I had arrived.

It was a total splurge at the time, because back in prehistoric blogging days, there was no money to be made. It was simply a fun hobby and a social outlet. I wasn’t a “big blogger” but I wanted a design to call my own so I spent $75, which at the time seemed astronomical.

I was on pins and needles all day as the designer worked, and when I finally got to see her handiwork, I squealed with delight. It was PERFECT for me.

fall 2006

Raise your hand if you’ve been around long enough to remember that one! I was still blogging on Blogspot when I had that design!!!

About a year later, I was ready for something new, and I had moved over to Typepad. I employed Jules of Everyday Design (no longer in business) to create a design for me. I can’t find the first one she did; I remember it was pink and green and inspired by a piece of fabric that I loved.

When I tired of that, I called her up again, and she came up with this. I still miss this design sometimes. I think of all my designs ever, this was my favorite.

fall 2007

I wish I had all my old headers. I’ve changed my design so often, I could never come up with all of them. But here is the first one I created for myself, when I started learning design. Keeping with the handbag and coffee theme . . .

spring 2008

And sometime later I went to this. I kept this one and changed the colors with the seasons for quite a while.

summer 2008

Somewhere along the way, I moved to WordPress. When I bought my first premium theme for WordPress, I went all out and had a logo custom made. I wanted something you couldn’t find in stock art, so I commissioned the guy who did all my husband’s Handyguys Podcast design elements to make this coffee-and-handbag logo for me, based on a handbag I own.

spring 2009

The next year, I switched over to a version of what I have now. I kept the custom logo, but I integrated it into a photo header. This is still one of my favorite photo headers EVER.

summer 2010

Since then I’ve been changing up my photos often.

christmas 2010

I diverged for a bit last spring and had my good friend Grace design a totally different look for me.

spring 2011

It was gorgeous, but I missed my photos and my coffee-and-handbag logo. Soon I went back to the photo header, but I designed a new logo for myself, keeping the title the way Grace had it.

The only reason I dropped the tagline is because I have no idea where to put it. So for those of you who are wondering, why the coffee and handbag . . . there you go!

summer 2011

I liked the Christmas one so much that I reinvented it for 2011 with the new logo.

christmas 2011

And that pretty much brings us to where we are today!

april 2012

Blog design has certainly evolved in the past six years. The goofy cartoons have largely been replaced by photos or simple logo designs. Headers are not so tall anymore. Everything is becoming more streamlined so as to enhance the content, not over-power it.

How about you? If you blog, how many designs have you had? Most people aren’t crazy like me, changing their design with every shift of the wind. What can I say . . . I get bored easily!

I hope you’ve enjoyed this little walk down Memory Lane!

I wish Mother Nature would get it straight already.

Maybe I should just move. Anyone in San Diego got a room to let?

ANYWHO. Here we go. I’ve been feeling less than inspired in the fashion department. You’ve been warned.

Yellow gathered v-neck tee (Old Navy) over white tank, topped with pink hooded zip-up cardi (Banana) over straight-leg jeans by Citizens and silver ballet flats from Aldo. Accessories are by Stella & Dot and Grace Tags. Working from home and running errands.

Weird, I THOUGHT I had a waist in that orange sweater. I hope it is more flattering in person. The sweater is old, old, old. The white jeans I got last year, and they desperately need to be hemmed. The gray leather bag was a birthday present from my mom, and I adore it. Not sure why I don’t carry it more often. And the snakeskin espadrilles are by Coach — I got them on a mega-sale at Bloomingdales a couple summers ago. Encircled earrings and necklace from Studio Jewel, orange and green charm bracelet from JanMary Designs (a gift) and white watch. Wore this to church and out to dinner.

Love this ivory hooded sweater from Athleta over the blue tank. I just threw on the sneaks I wore to the gym earlier in the day for this picture. (I was barefoot the rest of the time because I was at home. STILL want to get myself some gray Chucks or pumas or something with a bit more style.)

I have NO idea what is going on with the picture quality in that one! Another chilly May day, and another pair of jeans and long-sleeved sweater. This time I pulled out my pink dolman sleeve sweater from Gap, worn over a gray and pink striped tank (also Gap) and the same old silver flats and gray handbag. Necklace and bracelet are Silpada.

For more outfit inspiration, check out all of my Mom Style posts.

linking up with: