A Girl Named PJ

Father’s Day gifts

June 6, 2013

We have several reasons to celebrate JB in the upcoming months: a milestone birthday, completion of his master’s degree, and, of course, Father’s Day. I typically have a hard time buying my husband gifts because he doesn’t ask for anything, but recently I’ve been ~~forcing~~ encouraging him to brainstorm with me.

Inspired by JB’s wish list, here are some potential birthday, anniversary, or Father’s Day gifts for the guy in your life .

1. Striped nylon watch

2. Classic backpack

3. Trendy boat shoe

4. Shaving kit

5. Futuristic binary clock

6. Wireless activity & sleep tracker

What are you getting your dad (or baby daddy) this year?

P.S. – JB’s Father’s Day wish list from last year, plus what I actually bought him. He loved it!

Nature connects

June 5, 2013

Nature Connects, a LEGO exhibit built from 500,000 bricks by artist Sean Kenney, was on display in Omaha from early February to mid-May — and we almost missed it.

It wasn’t until a week before the exhibit closed that we finally made our way down to Lauritzen Gardens, but not without a bit drama first. Levi napped for longer than usual that afternoon, and there was some miscommunication between JB and I over what time I wanted him home from running errands.

I think we finally arrived at Lauritzen Gardens only 15-20 minutes before closing time. The woman behind the admission desk must have sensed how frantic we were and took pity on us; she only charged us for one ticket.

However, it turned out that all we needed was a short window of time to walk through the LEGO exhibit. Levi was definitely intrigued by the fact that the 27 sculptures were all formed with LEGO bricks, but like most 22 month olds, his attention span was short. There were a few touchable displays like the lawn mower above, but since it wasn’t necessarily an interactive exhibit, we were able to quickly see it all.

Just for perspective: This American Bumblebee, suspended from the ceiling, measured 50″ x 38″ x 35″ and was constructed from 16,383 LEGO pieces. Incredible, right?

There were even sculptures outside. Four enormous water lilies sat atop the small pond between the parking lot and the building.

Levi may be too young to appreciate these types of exhibits (and they may be few and far between here in Omaha), but I think it’s important to expose him to the arts now. My hope is that he grows up with an appreciation for creative endeavors and beautiful things.

Being Pregnant with Rebecca from A Daily Something

June 4, 2013

Some women love being pregnant, some don’t. Some pregnant women carry only in the front, some gain weight all over. And some find out the sex of their baby while others choose to wait until their little bundle of joy is born.

(For the record, I wan’t comfortable in my body during my pregnancy, carried mostly in my belly, and glimpsed Levi’s boy parts on the ultrasound screen before the tech even had the chance to say, “It’s a…“)

I’m so excited to be kicking off a brand new series on Bunny & Dolly today: Being Pregnant. Because every woman’s pregnancy is unique, I want to start sharing a variety of maternity experiences on the blog, not just mine with Levi.

Our first mom-to-be is Rebecca from A Daily Something. In addition to being a blogger, Rebecca is also a prop stylist and wedding designer, which explains why her blog has such a gorgeous, coordinated look. I’m constantly inspired by her beautiful photography and creative offerings.

Rebecca is due any day now, so let’s get on with the interview!

… READ MORE!

Desktop Designs: Wallpaper for your devices

June 3, 2013

I’ve been struggling with a serious case of envy for the past couple of weeks.

Every few months the green-eyed monster rears its ugly head. The last time I experienced strong feelings of jealousy was back in March when I turned 33.

I think it would be easier to handle my envy if it was directed towards celebrities. I mean, don’t we all wish we were rich and famous? Then I could remind myself that starlets are few and far between and that the chances of any talented actress/musician/model getting a big break are slim.

But I’m not jealous of celebrities (at least not today). I’m jealous of you.

Yes, you. My peers. Ladies with whom I have more in common than Oscar or Grammy winners. Other young women and moms who share their lives via social media.

This time, however, I’m not solely jealous of your blog’s success.

I’m envious of superficial things — where you live, what you wear, the fact that your hair cooperates in humid weather — rather than, say, your acting ability or vocal prowess. For example, I’m jealous that you live on the coast and can take weekend trips to the beach. I’m jealous that you have weekly coffee dates with friends and frequent date nights with your husband. I’m jealous that you wear shoes my long, narrow feet don’t fit into.

I’ve been dealing with these types of complicated emotions long enough to understand that they stem from being discontented with aspects of my own life. I also know that the pictures you share on Instagram and the stories you tell on your blogs don’t paint the whole picture of who you are.

Although I make it a point to be open and honest on Bunny & Dolly (case in point: this blog post), there are still things I choose not to share. Personal matters that only those closest to me know. And I need to remember that, surely, you do the same.

“Jealousy is all the fun you think they had.” – Erica Jong

Mariah designed this month’s Desktop Designs with a quote I chose to remind myself that your life is (probably) not as perfect as it may appear to me. That you have struggles and bad days and regrets. That, like me, you’re not sharing all of the really private, really ugly things. And that I make assumptions about your life because I don’t know the whole story.

Unless your life really is that amazing, in which case, I should stop reading your blog.

Download this month’s desktop wallpaper here!

1920 x 1080 / 1600 x 1200 / 1400 x 900 / iPad / iPhone 4 / iPhone 5

Desktop Designs is an on-going collaboration between Bunny & Dolly and Oh, What Love. Click here to view all past desktop wallpapers.

Friday Rewind

May 31, 2013

Last week we went on a family vacation with my parents, sister, brother-in-law, and nephew. Here’s a look back at our week together in Hilton Head…

We were surprised to see rocking chairs outside the Savannah airport.

We stayed at this house in Sea Pines Plantation on Hilton Head.

We took family bike rides around the plantation…

…while towing Levi around in his bike trailer.

We snuggled with Cousin Max.

We relaxed by the pool.

We enjoyed local fare.

We built ~~sandcastles~~ sand mounds on the beach.

We played with mommy’s accessories and an ear thermometer.

We not-so-patiently waited to be seated at A Lowcountry Backyard Restaurant (but it was SO worth it!).

Not pictured: We watched several episodes of Arrested Development on Netflix every night in anticipation of the premiere of season 4. (Well, my brother-in-law and I did. Everybody else eventually fell asleep on the couch!)

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