Archives for September 2013

Sticky notes for your iPhone

September 23, 2013

The newest iteration of iPhones launched on Friday — did you get one? When JB stopped by the Apple store near base after work on Friday, they had already sold out of everything except the space grey ones. In fact, they had only received two gold Verizon iPhones, but they were the 64GB versions.

Since we’d both like the 32GB iPhone 5S — silver for JB, gold for me — we decided to order them online. It may be a while until I receive mine; apparently, Apple underestimated how many people would want a gold phone. Perhaps they should’ve done market research on Twitter. Like me, the majority of people I follow were most excited about the glamorous gold version!

Before the iPhone 5S was announced, I was seriously considering switching to an Android phone — specifically, the Samsung Galaxy S4. Its commercials succeeded in making the Samsung camera appear more impressive than the iPhone’s, which, as a slightly obsessed mobile phone photographer, is important to me.

But one big reason why I didn’t switch to an Android phone is that iOS apps are more reliable (and I think there are also many more available). I wouldn’t call myself an “app junkie,” per say, but I’m kind of hooked on organizational apps.

Not that I actually use them. I haven’t been able to commit to any of the 20 or so to-do list apps I’ve downloaded in the two and a half years I’ve had my iPhone. I love the idea of always having my to-do list on hand (sadly, I’m hardly ever without my phone), but turning on my phone, opening an app, typing (or mistyping) agenda items, and then saving them has always seemed like somewhat of a hassle to me.

Or maybe I’m just a pen-and-paper gal. After all, it’s much easier to scribble notes on a piece of paper and much more gratifying to cross off completed items rather than checking an electronic box.

That’s why these Paperback adhesive notes for iPhone are genius: they make it easy to carry your handwritten to-dos wherever you go without having to bring a separate notebook or random scrap of paper. I don’t know about you, but I find that the fewer things I have floating around my bag the better! (Although I suppose you’d have to remember to always have a pen handy…)

How do you manage your to-do list? Do you prefer jotting down tasks the old fashioned way or electronically? Is there a to-do app that has worked for you?

via Cool Mom Tech

The Corporate Cup and the fire truck

September 18, 2013

I’m here. But I’m exhausted.

In addition to working on a new social media freelance job, I’ve spent the past two days preparing for a quick trip to New York City — and by preparing, I mostly mean trying on the contents of my closet, shopping for new clothing, and putting together outfits for the BHG Stylemaker Workshop & Party on Thursday.

At 17 weeks, I’m at that awkward pregnancy stage where my regular clothes are too tight but my maternity clothes are still too big. And my baby bump isn’t so much a bump as it is a squashy ring around the middle of my belly. It looks like I ate a three-burrito lunch at Chipotle.

However, packing would have been a challenge even if I wasn’t pregnant. I’m not the type of person who can pull shirts off hangers and simply fold them in a suitcase; I first have to try on every outfit…down to the shoes. I also struggle to pack light because of my giant size-10 shoes. They take up so much room! I’m almost embarrassed to admit that I’ll be checking my suitcase for a two-day visit to NYC…

Before I pack up the computer in my trusty Lo & Sons O.G. bag, I’d like to share a couple of photos from this past Sunday.

After a rocky start (a thunderstorm woke Levi up at 5am, I had a bloody nose for almost an hour, and Levi was in time out before 8am), Levi and I made our way to Aksarban Village to meet JB at the finish line of the Fight for Air Corporate Cup race.

By the time we found parking and maneuvered our way through the crowd, we had about 10 minutes to spare before JB ran past us. To pass the time, Levi helped me looked for runners wearing red. When found somebody in a red t-shirt, he would call out, “Hi, daddy!”

I was extremely proud of JB for completing his first 10K in just under an hour — and for not being completely sore or winded afterwards. Although Levi was excited when he finally saw the red shirt belonging to his daddy cross the finish line, the highlight of his morning was sitting inside a fire truck! And I’m guessing the highlight of the firemen’s morning was hearing me call the fire truck a “weeoo-weeoo.” Apparently, the firemen had never heard it called that before and had a good laugh.

(I’m fascinated by the way that toddlers describe different objects as their language is developing. For example, Levi calls fire trucks “weeoo-weeoos” because of the siren. Similarly, he calls the alarm system in our home “the beep beep” because of how it sounds.)

Finally, isn’t Levi’s curly hair out of control in the photos above? He had his hair styled for the first time on Monday (previously he just had the really long pieces trimmed), and he looks so much less…wild now. You can check out a before and after photo on Bunny & Dolly’s Facebook page. If you don’t already follow Bunny & Dolly on Facebook, why not click the “like” button while you’re there?

Oh! And I’ll be sharing photos of my experience at the BHG Stylemaker Workshop in NYC on Instagram using the hashtag #bunnydollybhg. I’d love for you to follow along!

Saying I’m sorry

September 13, 2013

Before Yom Kippur (the day of Atonement) begins at tonight, I’d like to apologize to anyone I’ve unknowingly hurt this past year. Blame it on paranoia, low self-esteem or Jewish guilt, but I often worry that somewhere out there is somebody who’s mad at me. Somebody I’ve unintentionally upset or offended with my words or actions.

If that person is you, I’m sorry.

Also, if I’ve already apologized to you for something I said or did this year that I later learned was hurtful, I ask for your forgiveness one more time — just to be sure we’re all good.

P.S. — A touching and meaningful al chet (confession of sins) prayer for parents

i’m sorry card by South City Press

Levi’s Monthly Photo (24 Months Old)

September 12, 2013

I see you scratching your head at the title of this post. Yes, Levi has been two years old for a couple of months now. Today is actually his 26 month birthday! But life was so crazy in July that I missed my opportunity to post Levi’s 24 month old photos and stats.

Instead of my traditional letter to Levi, I’ve decided to simply share some of the highlights from these past two months. To start, Levi’s vocabulary continues to expand tremendously. He speaks in 6-7 word sentences, and we can almost always understand what he’s saying.

Levi made potty for the first time a few days before he turned two, and he’s nearly ready for potty training. Too bad mom and dad aren’t… We’ve actually started putting him to bed in a white short-sleeve onesie so he can’t remove it and his diaper in the morning!

One of Levi’s favorite things to do is look for school buses while we’re driving in the car. He also likes to point out familiar sites. His memory amazes me — for example, he’ll point to Wendy’s and recall that he ate “chicken nuggets and french fries and ice cream” there.

Sadly, Levi and the dog are still not best friends. Although Briscoe is slowly getting more comfortable around Levi, Levi is often reluctant to pet or hug him — although he does love to hold Briscoe’s leash on our walks to the mailbox. My hope is that they’ll become buddy-buddy once there’s a new baby in the house.

And now, some more of Levi’s noteworthy stats and milestones from the last two months…… READ MORE!

Grown-Up School Supplies

September 11, 2013

School’s back in session! Students across the country returned the classroom this week — well, except in Omaha, where they went back to school in mid-August. Can you imagine starting school that early?

As a kid, the beginning of a new school year always seemed to bring with it more possibilities than the beginning of a new calendar year. And shopping for school supplies–from Trapper Keepers and crayons to college-ruled notebooks and erasable pens–only fueled my excitement for what lay ahead: meeting teachers, making friends, and joining after-school activities.

Our classroom days might be long behind us, but that doesn’t mean you and I still can’t enjoy back-to-school shopping. Now’s the perfect time to spruce up the office with some grown-up school supplies. After all, why should school-age children get all the goodies?

Does this sentence look blurry? Schedule an eye exam and then order yourself a pair of nerdy chic glasses from Warby Parker.
Read more best sellers (and some classics, too) with the lightweight Kindle Paperweight from Amazon.
Extracurricular reading material like Anthology magazine that speak to your interests will keep your mind sharp.
Backpacks are the new black — unless they’re purple like this sophisticated MZ Wallace version.
A fresh pencil, of sorts, from Sephora will have you coloring within the (lip) lines.
Your busy schedule doesn’t allow time for journaling? Simply note the highlight of each day in this five-year memory book from Urban Outfitters.
Keep track of your to-do list on a lined notepad from Anthropologie reminiscent of composition paper.
Colorful desk accessories from Poppin create a cohesive office space while brightening your day.
Access your calendar, email, and camera with the sleek and shiny Apple 5S.
Stay clutter-free with a wireless scanner from Amazon that sends paper, receipts, and photos to your computer or favorite cloud apps.

What’s on your (real or imaginary back-to-school shopping list?