For more, check out Park Slope Family Circus!

(For those who are not aware, Park Slope is an area in Brooklyn that is known for its elegant brownstones — and more recently, for its well-to-do, and oftentimes pretentious families with young children.

Who are obsessed with all things organic and artisanal and hippie and moan over first world problems.

I’m not saying all families in Park Slope are this way, but sometimes stereotypes exist for a reason. )

So aside from the first two pictures, these were all dug up from my camera’s memory banks. I think the oldest is about a couple of months old.

Claire has been obsessed with our growth chart lately. Every day, several times a day, she will stand up against it and ask me to measure her. She will then call for Aerin and measure her too.

A couple of days ago, she started to measure her giraffe too. (I’m pretty sure she got the idea from the opening scenes of Toy Story 3.) And since he’s not tall enough to reach the growth chart, she let him cheat a bit.

J and I have a Philips Sonicare we love (a dentist friend gifted us our first rechargeable electric toothbrush with a UV brushhead sanitizer as a wedding gift and we’ve been hooked ever since!), but for the past week I have been using a regular toothbrush instead to teach the girls better brushing habits.

One thing I have noticed lately is that if I am having trouble teaching Aerin certain things (like to use her toothbrush to actually brush her teeth instead of just chewing on it), I ask Claire to come demonstrate and she will pick it up faster. And since Claire learns best when I demonstrate, our life together becomes a mishmash of the games “follow the leader” and “telephone” at times.

This is an easy educational game I like to play with Claire. I lay out a deck of playing cards and organize it by number and suit. And before I’m done, I ask Claire to finish and fill in the blank spots with the appropriate cards.

Every time we play, I leave out more cards. She’s getting pretty good at the game now!

I love comparing pictures of the Aerin with those of Claire when she was at a similar age, in the same settings or wearing the same outfits. Aerin loves these Kai-Lan pajamas as much as Claire did last year!

I came across this photo of Aerin and I realized I never blogged about her baptism. We had her baptized quite late, but on the upside it was on this past Easter Sunday.

However, I’m a bit sad to report that this is the only decent picture of her on that day, in her baptism outfit. Someone (no names) was throwing a tantrum that morning and was refusing to get dressed, so we were running really late for church and didn’t have time for a mini photoshoot as we had done for Claire.

Lastly, a shot of the two of the girls’ favorite toys at the moment. We received these Korean blocks as a present for Claire’s first Christmas, and another friend gifted us the Chinese blocks earlier this year.

The picture above doesn’t show how each block depicts different characters and vocabulary on the other faces. So while Aerin is still learning to properly stack the blocks, Claire has been learning Korean and Chinese characters using the same toy. It’s amazing how she knows the English alphabet and some Korean and Chinese characters at just 2½ years old!

As mentioned previously on this blog, I probably looked my best when I was 20-21 years of age. However, I probably felt the best about my appearance last summer-fall, when — after having two kids just 13 months apart — I was starting to become more confident in my personhood, my abilities as a mom, and my body (as I was regularly working out). And I was 31 then: EXACTLY the age at which most women believe their beauty peaks, according to this infographic.

Whenever I ask J anything along this line, he automatically replies, “Now. You look your best now.” But I’m not too inclined to believe him because he answers too quickly and I know he’s smart enough to say anything else and potentially open a can of worms.

There are two other things I found interesting about this infographic, and the first is the word most commonly associated with gray hair. I had never even considered this, but it’s so true! (And so unfair!)

The second is the role models each sex chose for aging gracefully. While I agree that both choices are fantastic, I personally would’ve picked Helen Mirren. (Especially after reading this story — she becomes more lovable with each piece I read about her!)

What do you guys think? When do you believe your looks peaked? (Or will peak?) Do you have any other thoughts about the infographic?

I know that I am, along with many of my girlfriends. Improving how I look on the outside really helps me feel better, whether I am recovering from a cold, having a woe-is-me moment, or even suffering from a raging hangover.

This past year, being the primary caretaker of two kids — and thus often being afflicted with fatigue, frustration, and weariness — I have found myself putting on makeup more often than not.

And I’ve gotten pretty good at doing it quickly and efficiently, the whole routine within just 3 minutes. What’s more, the products I use have been tested by yours truly to last the entire day, so this routine is ideal for anyone who’s short on time, lazy, or both, like me.

First, the before-and-after shots, so you can see the difference:

Before I start slapping any makeup on my face, I cleanse with Shiseido Pureness Deep Cleansing Foam and moisturize with Philosophy Hope in a Jar. Just recently, I have also started to dab some Philosophy Total Matteness Mattifying Pore Eraser serum on my t-zone after moisturizing, and I love it! It’s been savior for my combination skin as the heat and humidity continues to rise.

(You will see that most of the products mentioned in this post were listed among my fav beauty products last year. And OOPS! I had forgotten to factor in the cleansing and moisturizing part of the routine in the total time — they would add another minute or two.)

Now, let’s go on to the makeup. First up is my HG foundation: the Giorgio Armani Maestro Foundation. (And yes, I’m still using the same bottle I bought in September last year!) Numerous people have asked me if I apply primer before applying the Maestro, and my answer is no. The couple of times I tried using the Smashbox Photo Finish Primer, my skin didn’t seem to absorb the foundation as well. I’ve also found that applying the Maestro with my fingers is far superior to using a foundation brush.

Next, I fill in my eyebrows and use an eyebrow brush to smooth them out. I know I have thick eyebrows to start with, but I prefer the look of darker, neater brows. I don’t use a brow pencil — pencil eyeliners with long-lasting formulas work better for me. (I think the one I’m using right now is the Revlon Colorstay Eyeliner in Black Brown.)

I then use my La Mer The Powder Brush, while it’s still retracted so that the brush is denser, and pat some La Mer The Powder over my eyelids and undereye area. I do this in lieu of an eyelid primer and a concealer — it’s much faster and works almost as well.

The brush is so old that the casing is peeling. I’ll need to get a new one when I get a new jar of powder.

This next step is the most time-consuming part, but I’ve gotten so good at it that it only takes a minute for me. I take my MAC 266 Brush and carefully dab it along the bottom part of the MAC Liquidast Eyeliner applicator brush, nearest to the handle. (This is where the “goopy” part of the eyeliner resides.) I then draw a line along the top AND bottom lash lines of ONE eye.

I blot SOME of the excess with a cotton swab.

Then QUICKLY, before everything dries, I take an old angled brush (I bought it when I was in high school, so I don’t even know what brand it is. All I remember is that I got it from a drugstore.) and use it to blend the edges so it creates a slightly smudged effect.

Repeat with the other eye.

Next, I apply the CoverGirl Outlast All-Day Lipcolor in Canyon. It almost looks garishly orange in the tube, but it’s a nice brownish-pink color on me.

Holy lens distortion, Batman!

SMILE for the blush! I’m not too particular on cheek color. The blush I’m using now is about six years old; it’s the Giorgio Armani Sheer Blush in Light Rose. While it’s a very nice blush, it’s nothing spectacular — it’s an expensive purchase I let a salesperson talk me into. However, I do LOVE the Face Brush I bought with it. (It’s the one in the picture, and it’s the best blush brush I’ve ever tried.)

In the picture below, I’ve only applied makeup to the right half of my face, so you can more clearly see the difference. Polished, yet natural, right?

I then spritz on some Urban Decay All-Nighter. (For the purposes of the final picture, I applied makeup to the other half of my face too.)

And set everything in place with the La Mer The Powder (this time, with the brush fully extended):

Finally, a dab of some Smith’s Minted Rose Balm.

That may seem like a lot of steps, but everything seriously takes me just 3 minutes! Here’s the final product:

If I have more time, I will add eyelid primer, eyeshadow, mascara, and bronzer.

And if I have less? I’ll substitute Benefit’s Hello Flawless! for the Maestro foundation, and forgo the liquid eyeliner for just the Revlon Colorstay liner. This way, I can have everything done in just a minute!

Once again, the before-and-after:

I know — primping oneself is a luxury for most mothers. But doing my makeup every morning helps me remember that I still have some semblance of control over my hectic life. Even if I’m feeling like I’m about to go batshit crazy from my hysterically-crying daughters, crayon-covered furniture and the cyclone of toys overtaking the entire house, I can at least look like I have it all together as I’m pushing the girls in the double stroller, hair carefully tousled and my face made up…right?

I wanted to do something nice in honor of his birth, so I’ve updated my SIL’s blog header to include him:

A big congratulations to A&W! You guys have been waiting for this for so long and I know that you’ll make be fantastic parents!

Please hop on over to Anniegurumi.com and wish them congratulations!

Taking advantage of today’s popularity of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Fire and Ice novels — as well as the Game of Thrones television show! — they have taken six of the Great Houses of Westeros, took into account their strengths and cultures, and transformed them into modern corporations with their own distinct brandings.

What’s more, they did this using stock photographs from its extensive database.

Take a look below — I’m especially loving Air Targaryen! (But then again, I may be biased because Daenerys is my favorite character from the series.)

Arryn Communications

Baratheon Security

Greyjoy Cruises

Lannister Investment Group

Stark Outfitters

Air Targaryen

Don’t you think more companies should take a cue from Shutterstock while promoting their ideas and products? After all, which other group has as much clout as geeks and die-hard fanatics when it comes to spreading ideas through the web?

Be sure to check out Shutterstock’s original blog post to read more about this project, learn how they arrived at each modern-day equivalent, and see the original stock photos!

Last week, while taking a walk with the girls, I came across a small playground that seemed intent on being kept hidden. Located on an overlooked side street and tucked between two tall buildings, it’s large enough for basic playground equipment and picnic tables, but small enough to easily keep an eye on your kids whilst sitting down and taking a break.

I also love that it’s guarded by a heavy gate, so I don’t need to worry about the kiddos running into the street. The crowd that visits is friendly, and perhaps the best part is that it’s a lot closer to our house than my previous favorite playground. Suffice it to say, we’ve been there a lot lately.

Those who follow me on Instagram may have seen this already: a product called “Squeezy Bubbles”— gently squeeze the bottle and the bubble wand pops up, “pre-loaded” and ready to use! It seems to be the perfect little invention for those like Claire who love to blow bubbles but hate getting their hands dirty.

I picked it up at our local grocery store for about $3, and I see that a similar product called Squeeze n Blow Pop-Up Bubbles is available online on Amazon for $10. (It seems to be a much larger bottle than the one we have.)

Last weekend, we met up with friends and family for a mega-playdate at the Liberty Science Center. Similar to what happened during our last time at LSC, the battery on our camera died so we missed out on some major photo ops (this time, it was me who forgot to charge the battery…doh!). However, the kids all had a blast and that’s all that counts, right?

The Saturday we attended fell on the last weekend of the Curious George exhibit, so it was undoubtedly crowded. (I overheard a security guard saying that he’s never seen the line for the entrance that long!) The girls watch Curious George occasionally, so they joyfully explored and played. Claire really seemed to like golf — she got 2 hole-in-one’s in a row! (And I immediately texted my father with the news, with accompanying pictures, since he’s a golf fanatic.)

Here’s a fun side-by-side of Claire entranced by the same exhibition, the left from a year ago.

Lastly, because I have been wondering this to myself and out-loud to J:

He says it’s probably more so because of the latter. Do you agree?

Created by Etckt, this periodic chart includes all characters from Episodes VI, V, and VI. Each character is categorized by allegiance, and their order of appearance and movies are numbered in each cell (in Aurebesh).

Be sure to check out Etckt to read more about how the chart was developed!

Via Neatorama.

ETA, 05.25.2013:

Etckt has updated its site with a new periodic table — this time featuring Episodes I, II, and III!

(And just like the prequels, this table has more special effects. )

Check it out below, and head on over to Etckt for the details!

So here it is, the top 5 things that have been keeping me busy…

(Cue deep announcer voice)

Number 5…

The NBA Playoffs. The Knicks haven’t made it to round 2 in THIRTEEN YEARS.  And while they still have some kinks to work out (and they shouldn’t be partying the night before games…ahem Smith!), my boys are looking pretty good. Just check out numbers 3 and 1 of last night’s top plays!

Number 4…

My site was hacked. It was a pharma hack, so it’s likely that you didn’t notice anything off about this blog. (And don’t worry. It doesn’t harm visitors to the site.)  But since I didn’t notice it for months, it led to some decrease in my web ranking and traffic. 

The good news is that I think I’ve gotten it sorted out now. Let’s just hope that I’m right.

Number 3…

Dead Ever After, the final book of the Sookie Stackhouse (otherwise known as the Southern Vampire) series. The quality of the books have definitely declined over the years, but I feel the need to read the last one to get some closure.

I’m not holding my breath, though, as most early reviews are far from glowing.

Number 2…

I actually had 4, not 5 items on this list. But since 5 is a much better number than 4, I’ve decided to share with you the following clip of Jimmy Fallon and John Krasinski having a lip-sync battle:

Who knew John Krasinski had so much swagger?!! I’m sorry Jimmy, my imaginary boyfriend kicked your ass on this!

And now, for number 1…

Rain, rain, go away. Come again another day.

It rained today. We’re expecting more through the weekend. And as any mother knows, keeping young kids entertained through long bouts of inclement weather is akin to pulling teeth.

Did you notice heroin is not on the list? It’s because heroin doesn’t need a video game to represent it; it already has Heroin Hero. 

(from the Guitar Queer-O episode of South Park)

Via Dorkly.