Archives for September 2012

Mixed up on a Monday

September 24, 2012

This post is a pretty accurate representation of how I’ve been feeling lately — mixed up and kind of all over the place. My mind races with ideas, none of which I think are any good. I’m so caught up in my head that I feel uninspired, and this lack of inspiration or creativity has been making blogging a challenge.

Confession: I’m kind of getting bored writing all the time about motherhood.

To make matters worse, I’ve also been feeling uninspired as a mom. Levi has been taking fewer and shorter naps, which means I need to find more ways to entertain him during the day. (We can only browse Target or run to Costco so many times in a week.) If I were more creative I would come up with art projects and games to occupy our time, but I’m feeling totally clueless about what to do with a 14-month-old boy. And anyway, he’s not walking yet, so our options seem a bit limited.

I believe they call this the doldrums.

Despite experiencing the doldrums, there have been moments of sweet happiness and joy. Like this weekend, when we popped by the Henry Doorly Zoo for an hour and checked out the aquarium for the first time. Levi loved watching the penguins swimming and goofing around. Or when my little guy messily spread refried beans all over his place mat at Rivera’s, our favorite Mexican restaurant, and then put his face on the table to lick them up. Serious cuteness.

I was going to end this post with a list on links to other interesting articles, but I think I’ll just share an assortment of photos from my iPhone instead. Randomness.

PS: I welcome your advice, opinions or words of encouragement on how to beat the doldrum and on what I should be doing with my life. (No biggie.)

Mom uniform: colored skinny jeans

September 20, 2012

Chasing after a toddler all day, I’m most comfortable wearing a pair of jeans, but I still like my “mom uniform” to look current and stylish. That’s why I’m loving the colored skinny jean trend this fall. In an unexpected hue like teal or plum, they can add a bit of whimsy to an otherwise simple (ahem, boring) outfit, and their slim silhouette is effortlessly chic.

I recently tried on a pair of great-fitting colored jeans at one of my favorite stores but couldn’t justify spending way over $100 on them. What if they’re no longer in style next year? Heck, what if they’re not in style next season?

Luckily, there are affordable options out there, including Old Navy Rockstar Jeans. I was actually slightly overwhelmed when I first saw Old Navy’s in-store display of their Rockstar skinny jeans. They must have had at least twenty colors from which to choose, and some were even offered as cords.

Here’s how I’d wear colored skinny jeans:

During the day, I’d pair them with a short-sleeved or long-sleeved t-shirt in a stripe or polka dot print, my two favorite patterns. (Since I spend my waking hours with a messy 14 month old, my only requirement is that my top must be machine washable.) I’ve been into ankle-length jeans lately; I love how they look with ballet flats or loafers.

At night, if JB and I could ever find a babysitter and have a proper date, I’d swap my cotton shirt for something a bit more flowy and drapey. I don’t ever wear super high heels because I’m already 5′ 8″ tall, but I’d trade in my flats for something a little bit sexier.

So what do you think? Will you try colored skinny jeans this fall?

PS: And if you think only certain body types can wear skinny jeans, check out this video.

{top image: Old Navy, bottom images: 1, 2}

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Apple picking in Nebraska City

September 19, 2012

My little family of three went apple picking Sunday in Nebraska City with new friends–a mom, dad and their son. Levi and I met her and her little boy in music class and started getting together last month for play dates. Her toddler is a month younger than Levi, but you’d never know it. He already walks and his hands and feet dwarf little Levi’s!

When I mentioned recently that I was hoping to go apple picking sometime this fall, she suggested our families go together to Kimmel Orchard & Vineyard. It just so happens that this weekend was also the Nebraska City Apple Jack Festival, but the crowds and chaos at the orchard only added to our fun. Sunday also happened to be Erev Rosh Hashanah (Rosh Hashanah eve), so it felt apropos to be picking apples, the symbolic fruit of the Jewish New Year.

Since I had never met her husband, and she had never met JB, our afternoon at the apple orchard was sort of like a first date. Luckily, it turned out that we are all compatible! At one point, our husbands, the designated stroller pushers, were so engrossed in conversation that they continued down a dirt road while we stopped to pick some apples.

We all walked, talked and tasted apples for maybe two hours or so before waiting in line for, oh, probably 45 minutes to buy Kimmel Orchard’s much-acclaimed spicy apple donuts. The wait took so long because they simply couldn’t keep up with the demand and were literally making the donuts right then and there, a couple dozen at a time. As soon as we were handed our boxes (they bought three dozen; we bought two dozen), we gobbled up some hot, fresh, melt-in-your-mouth delicious donuts. Oh. My. God. They were so worth the wait!

Besides the best apple donuts we’ve had in ages (or maybe ever), we also discovered that a whole apple (or two) will occupy Levi for several hours. Having only two bottom teeth, he couldn’t exactly eat the apples, but he thoroughly enjoyed gnawing and sucking on them. Note to parents: If you take a child to go apple picking, bring lots of wipes because you will have very sticky fingers afterwards!

All in all, it was a near perfect afternoon, and I’m looking forward to scheduling another outing with our new friends soon.

The laziest xylophone player

September 18, 2012

Lately, Levi’s go-to toy has been the xylophone that came in this set of toddler musical instruments, and his new favorite spot to sit and “jam” is leaning against the side of a bookcase. It’s just too funny.

PS: He carries those two mallets all over the basement and will also bang them on top of the coffee table. Maybe he needs some kid-size drums?

My Iron Man and weekend links

September 14, 2012

At Levi’s one year appointment, we learned that his iron levels were a little bit low, so the doctor prescribed him an iron supplement. I brought Levi to the pediatrician’s office yesterday to get a blood draw, and I’m happy to report that his iron levels are exactly where they should be. Hooray! The doctor did, however, recommend that we start Levi on a multivitamin with iron like Poly-Vi-Sol to help keep his levels up.

This weekend we’re looking forward to our neighbors’ daughter’s first birthday party and a day trip to Nebraska City for the Apple Jack Festival. We’ll meet up with the family of one of Levi’s new buddies at an orchard down there to pick some apples. Is there no activity more fall-like than apple picking? (Besides pumpkin picking, that is.) Tell me in the comments below what you plan to do this weekend!