Au Courant Columbia

Happy Birthday to Jones

2012-01-26T09:08:00.000-08:00

Today is my sweet baby's first birthday.

snapped with my phone this morning at Jones' daycare

What an amazing roller coaster of a year this past one has been--all emotions and relationship experiences crammed into a succinct package. I probably slept less this past year than any other year of my life. I fell in love daily with an amazing baby boy who is quickly turning into a sassy little toddler. I questioned my life direction, and lamented the loss of my youth...and then made adult decisions and childish ones, circling back around to realizing that my life direction is what it should be at the moment, and that's all I can ask.

This child has taught me more about myself and how I want my life to go simply by being alive, than I have been able to figure out on my own these past 33 years. Guess that's how it goes, huh?

My mom called me this morning:
Mom: Happy Birthday, baby!
Me: Thanks, I'll tell Jones you said so.
Mom: Well, yes, tell him Happy Birthday, but I also mean Happy Birthday to you.
Me: It's not my birthday...
Mom: Well, you gave birth to the child, didn't you?! So, it's your birth-day too...

Moms are so wise.
Wait, I am a mom now...
Though I am certainly not wise yet, I do feel like today is my birthday-a whole new life began for me on this day last year. Thanks for that, my sweet Jones. Your momma adores you.

A Word for Wednesday

2012-01-25T06:35:00.000-08:00

chadenfreude: satisfaction or pleasure felt at someone else's misfortune
(The word's origin is German; it's a combination of the German words for harm + joy).

Never in my life had I heard this word until last Friday night while watching Avenue Q, off-Broadway in New York City. Pretty funny show, by the way. There is an entire song about schadenfreude: (warning--it's not exactly a very kind or child-friendly song, but funny).

image via here

Then, not 2 days later, I read the word in The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz. Here's the NY Times review of the award-winning book--I quite like it so far.

Has that ever happened to you? You hear or read a word for the first time, then promptly hear or read it again and again? I kind of love that phenomenon...and try to read some deeper meaning in it...I'm kinda romantic/superstitious like that...

Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische.

NYC Here We Come

2012-01-16T10:53:00.000-08:00

And by "we," I not only mean myself and my friend/boss who I'm traveling with, I also mean my appetite. I have only been to New York City once before, when I was in 10th grade. Back then I was more interested in shopping and hitting the "touristy" spots, like the Statue of Liberty, FAO Schwartz, Times Square, etc.

This go-round, I am most excited about the food. I am actually going to the city to attend a conference: Beyond Housing: A National Conversation on Child Homelessness and Poverty. I work with homeless families and children, so the conference should be informative for my work, plus Jonathan Kozol, an author who I read when I was in school for social work years ago, is the keynote speaker. Kozol has been a voice for homeless families as well as the inequities in the American education system for years, and his work is inspiring.

I plan on writing a few posts about the conference and the other fun NYC-things we do (we're going to see Avenue Q and to see a comedy show at the Upright Citizens Brigade!), but this anticipatory post is dedicated to the food...

Here's where we have planned to go, mostly by way of recommendations from friends:

Co. Pane

1) Co. Pane (pronounced 'Company')- recommended by 2 of my favorite bloggers (A Cup of Jo and Rockstar Diaries). In their own words: "Co. celebrates the communal dining experience with bread as the centerpiece of the meal. Our menu features a variety of toasts, soup, salads, artisanal meat and cheese selections - and, of course, pizza."

Mexicana Mama

2) Mexicana Mama- recommended by one of my best friends. She had me at: "they make fresh guacamole tableside." It's also listed in the New York Magazine Restaurant Guide.

3) Rai Rai Ken- I asked my Facebook friends to recommend a place for good noodles in NYC. A high school friend who I haven't heard from in probably 10 years messaged me this: "Best noodles in the world. Rai Rai Ken in East Village. I swear to god. Really small, really good. Also, hey! How are you?" If this is the first thing he has to tell me after 10 years, then it must be good.

momofuku noodle bar

4) momofuku noodle bar- A vegetarian (and foodie) friend recommended this place--it's supposedly "trendy," so we'll probably have to wait a while to try it, but the menu is pretty amazing.

Cafe Blossom

5) Cafe Blossom- My traveling companion is vegan. As long as I can have cheese at every other meal of the trip, I'm not opposed to dining veganese for one meal. This place has gotten great reviews and the menu has things like Root Vegetable Phyllo Pastry and Homestyle Pancakes with Chocolate Chips that sound pretty amazing, vegan or not.

Also recommended that we're contemplating: Jane, Angelica Kitchen (vegan), Lodge (for Saturday brunch), Mesa Grill...where should we go?
Any recommendations for sushi and/or Thai food in NYC?

A Random Thursday Post

2012-01-12T09:31:00.000-08:00

My week has been crazy. We're still battling a stomach bug in the Hill house--momma and daddy got it first, and now baby has it--yuck! On top of that, we are planning to leave the babe with his grandparents for 2 nights this weekend so we can attend a wedding in Spartanburg, SC- (yay, Kaley & Drew!). I am a bit nervous about leaving him, especially now that he's not feeling well...hopefully he'll be better tomorrow.

I haven't even begun to pack for that trip, and then when I get back I have two days to do laundry and pack for my trip to NYC! I am beyond excited about this trip, but I'm a little nervous that my wardrobe may not be prepared for the weather...but oh well, I'll worry about that next week...one trip at a time, right?

So, now for the randomness--I bought these cord shorts for Jones on major sale this week:

image via here

So cute, right!? And FREE shipping from Zara, you can't beat that.

And, instead of doing laundry and packing, this week I've been working on some handmade items for Jones' first birthday party--which is 2 weeks away! Crazy. I'm making a crown for the birthday boy and a bunting for his cake--similar to the one below.

image via here

So, sorry for the lack of posts this week, and don't expect much for next week, but I'll be back soon with posts about the wedding, the NYC trip, and the birthday party! Whew.
Happy January!

Craving Neon

2012-01-09T09:34:00.000-08:00

I think it's safe to say that neon is an official trend these days...and because I am no style icon, (far from it), it is also probably safe to say that it may be passe at this point, but I am loving it. (Please forgive me if you are now rolling your eyes and saying: "duh, neon is so 5 minutes ago.")

Recenty purchased this scarf from Target (hard to tell from the photo, but there is some neon orange in there):


image via here

Coveting these neon beauties from around the web:

image via here


image via here

image via here

So, are you loving neons too? Am I late to the party??

The Start of Something Wonderful...

2012-01-06T12:17:00.000-08:00

James and I received Season 1, Disc 1 of MadMen in the mail yesterday from Netflix, and promptly watched the first episode last night.

image via here

The blatant and pervasive misogyny and sexism is a bit mind-blowing, I must admit, and makes me thankful to live in a different time, but I think I'm really gonna like the show...

Have you watched MadMen? What do you think?
Happy Friday!
XO, B

The Meaning of Happiness

2012-01-04T12:11:00.000-08:00

I read this quote on one of my favorite tumblr's today:

“I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, ‘If this isn’t nice, I don’t know what is.’” -Kurt Vonnegut

I like it. But, then it made me think of a quote that I can't quite remember accurately, and whose author I can't place, but here's the gist:

"Children do not speak of happiness, they simply let it run all over them like water."

Can you help me place that quote? I feel like it's from a book I once read, but I can't remember for the life of me...

And speaking of Kurt Vonnegut, I want to read this book: And So It Goes Kurt Vonnegut: A Life.

image via here

Art , Dogs & a Baby

2011-12-22T07:42:00.000-08:00

That's what's on my list for tomorrow--visit the Columbia Museum of Art and shop for the dogs at Pupcakes Pet Boutique with Jones. Then, tomorrow night we'll indulge at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse for dinner with some close family friends, a December 23rd tradition, (or as my Dad calls it- Christmas Eve Eve).

image via here

I am dying to see the Hudson River School Painters Exhibit; just gonna pop Jones in his sling and expose him to some beautiful art. Then, we'll venture to Pupcakes to get new collars and treats for the dogs for Christmas.

I am off of work and Jones is out of school, and I can't imagine a more perfect day.

Happy Holidays!

A Word for Wednesday

2011-12-21T05:52:00.000-08:00

ejune: lacking knowledge or experience; uninformed

As in: a line from the NY Times' review of Joan Didion's A Year of Magical Thinking: "Hard sweet wisdom. That 'hard sweet wisdom'-the literary critical phrase that once seemed strong- after experience feels jejune."

Read the entire book review here. If you haven't read the book, you should. It is an emotional and very visceral account of the grief the author feels following her husband's sudden death. Not an overly sad or sentimental book, just a very real account of grief by a very smart and sad woman.

image via here

Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische.

Wanderlust

2011-12-19T11:00:00.000-08:00

Wanderlust is an ever-present feeling in my gut. As a result, and also because of my love for almost anything vintage, I have a fascination with old globes and maps. San Francisco artist Wendy Gold turns vintage globes into works of art.

My favorite:

image via here

Peace:

image via here

Now...where shall we go?

Christmas Card

2011-12-19T10:30:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas!

Photo Card

View the entire collection of cards.

Holiday Movie Love

2011-12-19T06:55:00.000-08:00

I have been searching for days for my copy of Love Actually. I have the DVD case, just no DVD. It has put a bit of a damper on my holiday spirit, I think. It is by far my favorite Christmas movie, and I need to watch it. So, I will be purchasing a new copy later today and watching it tonight. Merry Christmas to me. (and you!)

The flashcard scene is the best ever...

A Dangerous Method

2011-12-16T10:30:00.000-08:00

I was a psych major, so I am a total dork for the theories and lives of Freud, Jung, Pavlov, Skinner, and a host of other influential, (and often off-their-rockers-crazy), scientists who studied the human brain and behavior.

This is on my short-list to see:

See the official website for A Dangerous Method (and a more risque trailer) here.

A Pretty Thing

2011-12-16T05:45:00.000-08:00

Possibly the most stunningly beautiful man-made thing I have ever seen:

Lobmeyr chandelier in Kennedy Center Opera House via here

I had the privilege of touring The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC a few years ago, and after experiencing this chandelier--and you truly must experience being in the room with it; it is huge and elegant and grand and the picture does not even do it justice--I swore I would come back for a show in the Opera House someday.

image via here

Anyone seen a show in The Kennedy Center Opera House?
Happy Friday!

Horns and a Stand-Up Bass

2011-12-13T08:16:00.000-08:00

I love horns-trumpet, sax, trombone. I get it honestly, my father really only likes music that includes horns...he used to say of the rock 'n roll/pop that I listened to as an angsty teenager: "3 guitarists, a drummer and a singer does not a band make. Where are the horns?!" Of course, because I was an angsty teen, I rolled my eyes and tried not to sing along too loudly when he played his favorites with horns- mostly Motown and beach music like The Embers, The Four Tops, and The Four Seasons.

Lots of horns in this classic--beloved by my Dad (and me):

I also love a stand-up bass (aka cello). One of my favorite REM songs includes an amazingly well-timed cello solo:...wait for it, it's at the end:

So, those things being said about my love of horns and stand-up-bass, here are a couple songs from new-to-me artists I was excited to come across on NPR's list of 5 Artists You Should Know in 2011. Enjoy.

Of Monsters and Men:

J.D. McPherson:

Any new music you're loving?

A Very Crafty Christmas

2011-12-08T09:21:00.001-08:00

I love the adrenaline and pressure of staying up late to finish holiday projects. I am a holy-horrible-procrastinator by nature, and I get it honestly: I vividly remember my mother staying up into the wee hours to complete sewing projects when I was a kid. Here are some of the crafts that I am working on (or planning on working on by December 24th!) for the holidays:

image via here

1) Popsicle Memory Game- this one is actually already complete! The printable pattern and instructions can be found here at a favorite blog, Eat, Drink, Chic. This is a gift for my 4 year old nephew, Ben. He is obsessed with anything sweet, popsicles especially. I got a glass jar with screw-on lid from Hobby Lobby and decorated it with popsicle stickers. I also Contact-papered the popsicles so they'll last longer. Really cute, and easy.

image via here

2) Ribbon Wreath- Finished this last night! Instructions and material list were found in the December 2011 Woman's Day magazine. Don't have a great picture of the one I did with Candy Cane-striped red and white ribbon, but the one above was created using the same instructions, borrowed from here. I am gifting this to my sister today.

image via here

3) A-Frame Tent- This is what I am most excited to make (and give) this year...this is for my almost-11-month-old son, Jones. The complete step-by-step instructions I found here, on one of my favorite blogs, Cakies. I always loved making temporary pillow-and-blanket forts as a kid, and I hope that he will appreciate this fun handmade tent for years to come. My husband is handling the wooden frame and I will be sewing the fabric piece. I ordered the vintage Sesame Street sheet below to make into the tent cover.

images via here

Pictures to come of the finished product, (but don't expect them before December 25th!)

What are you making this holiday season?

A Word for Wednesday

2011-11-23T06:20:00.000-08:00

isyphean: a task or labor that is unavailing; endless; (of or pertaining to Sisyphus)

In Greek mythology, Sisyphus, was a hubristic (another great word) king whose ultimate punishment was having to roll an immense boulder up a hill, only to have it roll back down before reaching the top and to repeat this throughout eternity.

As heard in this Bright Eyes song, Shell Games-one I have been listening to of late:

Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische.

definition via here

Leafy Craft

2011-11-21T12:06:00.000-08:00

The leaf mobile that I made and (James) hung in Jones' room:

I collected leaves from around the neighborhood--I tried to get different colors, types, sizes. Then I "laminated" the leaves in Contact paper, punched a hole through each, and tied them to a large skinny stick with fishing line.

I got the inspiration from one of the Parenting magazines I've read recently (can't remember which one!)

It was super-simple, but gives Jones' room a cool, nature-y feel. He loves to look at it, and someday I can tell him that we collected the leaves on our walks together during his first-ever Fall.

Thursday's Thinking of Food (on a Friday)

2011-11-18T09:13:00.000-08:00

So, as promised, here is a quick photo re-cap of the oh-so-amazing Harvest Dinner that we enjoyed at City Roots last week:

Pre-Gaming:

Shaking up an American Harvest Pineapple Basil (or sage--can't remember!) cocktail

American Harvest Organic Spirits

Dinner:

pretty fall tablescape by The Southern Greenie

dinner was in the City Roots greenhouse instead of the field due to cold & rain

me & the hubs

the delicious salad that I blogged about here; my husband's new "favorite salad"

local beef carpaccio with City Roots micro greens by Chef Ryan Whitaker of @116 Espresso & Wine Bar

Butterscotch Oatmeal cookie from Pink Magnolia- I am totally a simple-dessert-kinda-girl, and this was perfect

There was also a wonderful fish dish, created by Chef Steven Blitch of Tombo Grille, (which I sadly have no pictures of), but was awesome. It was an awesome night-wonderful local food, great wines, we made some new friends, and we will be back.

Get your tickets to the Harvest Dinner Holiday party on December 12th here.

Random food news for the day: did you see that Congress protected pizza as a vegetable in school lunch?! If this pisses you off as much as it does me, please take a moment to let your Congressmen and women know.

And, finally, Jones and I will be at the Food Truck Rodeo at City Roots this evening--will you?!

Grammar Love

2011-11-15T11:10:00.000-08:00

via here

New Favorite Salad

2011-11-15T08:23:00.000-08:00

This is a preview of my full post coming Thursday about the City Roots Harvest Dinner that we attended last week. It was ah-mazing. If you are thinking of attending one in the future, do it.

the hubs exclaimed: "this is the best salad I've ever had." and meant it.

Seriously yummy salad consisting of City Roots micro-greens, local feta, thinly sliced radishes, and an amazing cumin vinaigrette, for which James swears he's going to call Chef Ryan at 116 Espresso & Wine Bar to get the recipe.

The bread was from Heather's Artisan Bakery and it was slathered with anchovy-butter (from Happy Cow Creamery) and topped with thinly sliced radishes. Amaze.

Jones- 9 Months Old!

2011-11-14T10:59:00.000-08:00

Our baby is 9 months old! Jones, I believe, is just not going to crawl, (in the conventional sense, anyway). He can scoot, dive, roll, and pull his way around to get where he wants to go, but as for moving legs and arms in tandem while on all fours, it's not happening! His unorthodox methods sure are cute and entertaining though.

What? I may not crawl, but I strike a cute pose...

This past month we celebrated his first Halloween, where he dressed as a chicken and attended a fun Halloween party with plenty of other adorably-garbed baby friends.

Party fowl--a chicken, a penguin, and a duck

Ready to "trick or treat"

Jones is still a super laid-back baby and goes with the flow on most occasions, but he's getting more opinionated when it comes to certain things. He has gotten very independent when it comes to feeding/eating, so I must give him his own spoon to hold while I feed him or else he'll grab the one I'm using before it can get to his mouth. Because of this, I try to feed him mostly foods that he can pick up himself! I am still making some of his baby food--organic applesauce, mashed sweet potatoes/banana--but mostly, he's eating what we eat. He still loves peas and pretty much all fruits, but chicken (and soy "chicken") are his favorite things--behind Trader Joe's Organic Animal Crackers!

Notice dog, Peach, lurking beneath the high chair...the only reason my kitchen floor is ever "clean."

We're still working on waving, he can do it and will on occasion, but not consistently yet. He claps all the time--unprompted, to get our attention, or when he's excited. His smile melts my heart, and he smiles all the time...he has a sweet dimple and adorable teeth! The top 4 teeth are all in the process of coming in and he has 3 teeth on the bottom.

SC State Fair-wonderment at its best

His favorite toys are anything that he can shake or bang together to make noise--blocks, rattles, balls, anything. He also loves to grab the entire box/bin/basket of toys that are nearby and dump it--and then play with the box. Looks to be a cheap Christmas around our parts--Jones will be content with cardboard boxes :)

Jones channeling his old man persona--the boy loves a hat (and so does momma)

Our sweet boy is growing so fast--pulling up on furniture and wanting to stand (with our assistance) all the time! He is babbling constantly now, and though he hasn't said it directly to him yet, he says "DaDa" pretty often.

And, just to embarrass him someday, I leave you with this picture of his "rooster hair" that he woke up with one day this week.

Look closely--there's a nice spike at the crown :)

A Word (kinda) for Wednesday

2011-11-09T06:44:00.000-08:00

xford comma: "The 'Oxford comma' is an optional comma before the word 'and' at the end of a list:

We sell books, videos, and magazines.

It's known as the Oxford comma because it was traditionally used by printers, readers, and editors at Oxford University Press. Not all writers and publishers use it, but it can clarify the meaning of a sentence when the items in a list are not single words:

These items are available in black and white, red and yellow, and blue and green."

definition via here

So, it's not so much a word, but an actual thing...something I personally believe in and use implicitly.

their eponymous first album, image via here

Oxford Comma is also the name of a song by Vampire Weekend, a band that has been around for a hot minute, but to whom I just started listening. I am really loving their sound, especially the song Horchata, from their new album, Contra--it has been stuck in my head for days.

So, do you use the Oxford comma? Do you like Vampire Weekend?
XO, Happy Wednesday!

Daily Drop Cap by Darren Booth, for Jessica Hische

Like Crazy

2011-11-04T11:20:00.000-07:00

I really want to see this film. Read a review here first.

It won the Sundance Grand Jury prize.

The raw innocence and giddy love scenes get me every time.

The State also picked up the LA Times review of it here.

Pumpkin Bars & Brick-Layin'

2011-10-31T10:43:00.000-07:00

I will never be called a "baker," I fear. I love to bake, and I try things often, but honestly, I can mess up slice-and-bake cookies and brownies from a box. (And do. Often). But, I got these right:

Pumpkin Bars with Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting

I tried this recipe for Vegan Pumpkin Bars with Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting for Jones' class Halloween party. I'm not vegan, but since kids under age 1 shouldn't have milk and eggs, I tried this recipe. I took my time, followed the directions, and somehow these bars turned out perfect. The frosting is super-sweet and thick, and balances nicely with the dense pumpkin-spice bar.

Doesn't it feel really good to follow steps and make something that turns out exactly how you hope?
Makes me think me of my new favorite song: Lost In My Mind by The Head and the Heart.

Sometimes you just need to do some "brick-layin'" to keep your "hands gettin' filled."

Anticipating Saturday

2011-10-20T09:55:00.000-07:00

Do you have plans for Saturday yet? If you live in Columbia and you said no to that, then you'd better start planning-there is so much to do! And the Fall weather that crept in last night will make a perfect backdrop for anything you choose!

Here's what the Hill family has planned:
Wesley Memorial UMC Neighborhood Fall Festival begins at 11 AM. FREE to attend and there will be live music by the Blue Iguanas Bluegrass Band, who are not only good, but very generous (they play the St. Lawrence Place Oyster Roast fundraiser every year at a very reasonable price). There is also bouncy houses, a pumpkin patch, a fire truck, BBQ, and more! We will be picking out our family pumpkin with Jones. My sister, mom, and I took my nephew Ben to this a couple years ago and it was fun.

image via here

Next, we hope to attend the first-ever Carolina Green Fair in Finlay Park. The event is going to be huge! Live entertainment, local vendors and exhibitors, all showing easy ways for you and your family to make more sustainable choices. The Free Times has an awesome publication detailing the entertainment, exhibitors, and containing a map of the event. We hope to hear Lunch Money, a fun local children's band that will go on stage at 3:15. We'll also make sure to stop by and see our friends from KD's Treehouse, and maybe catch The Blue Dogs at 2:30 too.
Admission is $5, or free if you bring 4 incandescent light bulbs to recycle.

Saturday night the hubs and I will be venturing out all by ourselves for dinner to celebrate his birthday, (which is today--happy birthday, James!) He has not made up his mind on where we're going yet, but the ideas I've heard so far include Hunter Gatherer and Motor Supply; I'll let you know where we end up! Afterward, we're meeting some friends at our favorite "Peach Pit After Dark-esque" spot: NiteCaps. Here's to an adult night out! (The babe is spending the night at my parents' house).

image of Motor Supply via here

image of Hunter Gatherer via here

The Nickelodeon is showing some pretty crazy stuff this weekend, and the SC State Fair is here through Sunday too.
So, for real, plan your weekend already!
XO, B

A Word for Wednesday

2011-10-19T07:33:00.000-07:00

etulant: moved to impatient irritation over a trifling annoyance

As in: Bill Compton's description of his newly-made vampire, Jessica: "She's petulant, dangerous, and scared."

image via here

I heard this word last night while watching our newest Netflix guilty pleasure, True Blood. James is a long-time sci-fi/vampire/zombie- lover, but I started watching this show very reluctantly...and now I'm hooked. It's addictively funny and clever.

Biding our time until the final season of Entourage is released, and the next season of Californication--my other two Netflix guilty pleasures. What shows do you watch--any recommendations?

Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische.

Fall Squash and Beer

2011-10-07T11:04:00.000-07:00

After reading my October Real Simple magazine last weekend, I decided to try a recipe. If you know me, you know that I love to cook, but I'm not very good at it...so, when I saw that this recipe essentially has only 3 ingredients, I knew I could do it: Parmesan- Roasted Acorn Squash.

image via here

Last night I was eating some leftover squash and added some of my homemade bleu cheese dressing and some pine nuts, and it was practically a meal. Yum!

It also paired nicely with a Sierra Nevada Tumbler Autumn Brown Ale. And a fire in the chiminea.

image via here

Fun family plans this weekend--an engagement party for my sweet brother-in-law Drew and his fiance, Kaley tonight, then birthday party at my in-laws house tomorrow night, and a baby shower for a dear friend on Sunday afternoon!

What are you up to this fine fall weekend?

XO, B

Jones- 8 Months

2011-10-06T08:53:00.000-07:00

The past month has been so fun, as Jones has started "scooting" (not quite crawling) and showing his sweet personality more and more...but it has also been a little rough because he has been sick a lot. In the past 6 weeks Jones had had his first 3 illnesses--they definitely took their toll on our poor boy, and the whole household, as no one slept very well! But, knock on wood, he is feeling better and I hope it is a long while before he is sick again.

Last month we took Jones to the Outerbanks to attend our friends', Heidi & Tom's, wedding, and they had their precious little boy there too, "LT." We all loved seeing the boys meet for the first time, and getting to hang out in a beautiful house on the beach together for a few days.


Jones found his first crush in the OBX- 5 year old Jules!

chubby, naked, and bald--does it get any cuter?!

baby loves to travel

Sweet, amazing, boy...he is grabbing onto things and trying to pull-up...can't quite do it yet, but he may just bypass crawling altogether. He is really good at entertaining himself these days--loves to talk to himself and play with blocks and rattle toys. He loves when mommy sings (go figure!) and any music--he bounces in time and smiles.

Loving every second!
Happy Thursday!

Attention Creative Geniuses

2011-09-23T08:38:00.000-07:00

So, I admit, occasionally on this blog I have mentioned that I work for a small non-profit called St. Lawrence Place (SLP). Heck, I may have even shamelessly promoted one or two of our special events in the past...but this time, it's not shameless, I promise! This is really cool, y'all! And you can get a really cool prize if you help us out!

Just a reminder--SLP provides support services, life skills, and transitional housing for homeless families with children in Columbia, SC.

We are looking to re-brand, and as a first step, we are in search of a new logo! You can see the details on our website here.

The prize package includes:

image via here

Dinner for 8 at your home from Pawley's Front Porch Food Truck! (have you eaten from the Pawley's Food Truck before--it is amazing!) I had a BLT a couple Saturdays ago and it was heaven...Fried Green Tomatoes, Pimento Cheese, lots of bacon...mmmm.
Spirits and soft beverages to accompany dinner.
Serving pieces painted by teens and kids living at St. Lawrence Place, compliments of Mad Platter. Mad Platter is awesome--they help SLP with numerous fundraisers and events for the kids throughout the year--much love.
Community-wide recognition, as SLP re-brands using your new artwork as our logo!! You'll be famous!

So, are you interested?! Know someone who would be great at this? Please pass it along. Submissions due October 7th. See details here.

And, now, I'm hungry...Pawley's Food Truck will be at the All Local Farmer's Market tomorrow morning...I think I'm gonna try the Mahi Mahi Tacos this time...

Happy Friday!
XO, B

A Word for Wednesday

2011-09-21T07:26:00.000-07:00

audlin: overly emotional; foolishly sentimental

As in: Grey, damp Fall weather makes me want to listen to music that's a bit maudlin. Ryan Adams, Adele, Ray LaMontagne, Bon Iver, and Fleet Foxes are all on my Pandora Radio this week.

image via here

The amazingly maudlin Ryan Adams has a new album coming out next month, Ashes & Fire. Love him.

Do you have any other suggestions for maudlin, grey-skies music?

Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische.

Get Your Cultural Learnin' on for Free!

2011-09-19T13:07:00.000-07:00

This Saturday, September 24, 2011, take advantage of the Smithsonian Magazine's Free Museum Day! There are museums all over the country participating.

In Columbia, SC, you can check out the SC State Museum, Columbia Museum of Art, or the McKissick Museum for FREE! Click here to find out which museums in your town are participating.

I Heart Fall

2011-09-07T09:52:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, we live in Columbia, SC, so Fall is technically not here until Halloween...and sometimes later than that. But today it was 64 degrees when I left the house for work, and at 12:39 PM it's still only in the 70s...this is Fall weather, and I couldn't be happier.

I have waxed (not-so)poetic about this before, but I seriously love Fall. The crisp air, colorful leaves, all the typical reasons why people love Fall...I love to wear scarves; I love fires; I love the holidays that Fall brings. I love Fall clothing and colors and of course the cooler weather.

This year I can't wait to put this sweet little nearly-bald head in some cute beanies:

and in this cute Halloween costume:

image via here- I found one in like-new condition at a consignment sale for $4!

What are you looking forward to this Fall?

Jones- 7 Months

2011-08-30T12:05:00.000-07:00

You guessed it, the babe just keeps on getting older...and more fun! We have taken a couple trips in the past month, one to the beach with family, and another to visit friends in Charleston. Jones has turned into quite the easy traveler. The days of hating the carseat seem to be behind us, (please knock on wood for us on that), and he adjusts nicely to sleeping in his pack 'n play in our room when on trips. We are blessed to have a very happy, easy baby.

Without further ado, the baby highlights of the last month:


can totally hit two things together

preferred arm position while eating

Jones loves sand. a lot.

"Look Ma, I got three teef!"

Love this sweet, goofy boy to pieces.

XO, B

Thursday's Thinking of Food

2011-08-25T10:35:00.000-07:00

So, I have a few tidbits for you today--things I've read recently and my newest food obsessions:

image via here

If you follow me on Twitter or FB, then you know that I took my virgin trip to Trader Joe's this week. Despite the fact that I was so over-hyped for it that it was bound to not live up, and the fact that due to a power outage, the store had NO cold items for sale that day, it was still pretty darn cool, y'all. My 2 favorite things thus far: TJ's Dark Chocolate Roasted Pistachio Toffee and TJ's Harvest Grains Blend of Israeli CousCous, Orzo, Red Quinoa...seriously, yum. I also got some Apple Banana Crushers for the baby, pasta sauce, pesto, Organic Fruit Wraps, organic apples, 3 bottles of wine, cashews, almonds, a list of stuff for a co-worker and a few other odds 'n ends for $75. Everything is super-cheap. Now, if we could only get a TJ's in Columbia...

But, know what Columbia does have to look forward to?! Whole Foods! Set to open in October 2012--it can't come fast enough in my opinion...

image via here

While reading my newest Eating Well magazine this week, I came across a couple things that I thought were interesting. (Side note, Eating Well magazine is new to me, and it is awesome).

image via here

First, National Food Day is October 24th. This is new this year, and according to the website: "Food Day seeks to bring together Americans from all walks of life—parents, teachers, and students; health professionals, community organizers, and local officials; chefs, school lunch providers, and eaters of all stripes—to push for healthy, affordable food produced in a sustainable, humane way." So far there are no organized events planned in Columbia, SC--anyone want to create one or host one?!

image via here

Second, here is an unsettling fact about agriculture in America: "$1,500 is the amount per US household that goes to farm subsidies. [And we're not talking tiny, family farms here, folks...] Subsidies for corn and other commodity crops, such as soybeans, keep the price of unhealthy foods lower than healthy foods, like fruits and vegetables, argues Thomas M. Kostigen in The Big Handout (Rodale, October 2011)." Another book to put on my reading list.

And, that my friends, is Thursday's Thinking of Food.
XO, B

Harvest Dinner and A Vacation

2011-08-16T11:18:00.000-07:00

Have I mentioned yet on this blog that November is my favorite month of the year? I'm pretty sure I have...I adore autumn and the cooler air, shorter days, and impending holidays that it brings. I love wearing scarves and jeans and clogs. I love sitting beside fires and gazing at yellow leaves and running when it's cold, (but not too cold). My husband and I were married in November.

image via here

So, here's another thing for me to look forward to in November: I just snagged the last 2 spots for the November 10th Harvest Dinner hosted by Eric McClam of City Roots, Chef Ryan Whittaker of 116 Espresso and Wine Bar, and Vanessa Driscoll of The Southern Greenie. For only $45/person, according to the website you get:

"Dinners start with a cocktail made with American Harvest Organic Spirits mixed with fresh seasonal juices and fruit. You will be able to enjoy a cocktail while exploring the farm. Then everyone will proceed to the table in the field for a sit down family style dinner paired with sustainable beer or wine.

Your local Chef and Farmer will be on hand to dine with you and talk about the harvest menu and the farm. After dinner you will be able to experience dessert from Pink Magnolia and purchase produce packages as well as order the beer or wine featured during the dinner. It will be a unique sustainable dinning experience."

If you didn't get tickets yet, don't fret--there is a waiting list, or sign up for one of the dinners in the months to follow.

my loves on the beach

And, something to look forward to for now: this Thursday I am heading to Litchfield with my family for one last summer hurrah before my USC class starts back next Monday. Hello yummy food, lazy days in the sun, and naptimes with babes :)

XO, B

(Obsolete) Words for Thursday

2011-08-11T09:36:00.000-07:00

lateration: blabber; chatter

As in: Today I had to listen to some random guy's blateration about how he is much better suited to "bring home the bacon" and women should be at home.

The word blateration is part of Oxford's, (as in the OED), effort to "save the words," and I have officially adopted it as my own. According to the site, "every year hundreds of words are dropped from the English language," and this is the plan to save them.

image via here

If you go the the Save the Words site, you can "adopt" your own word. Once you choose the one you want, you must promise to use it in your everyday conversations in an effort to save the word. Nerdy and clever, my favorite combo. I love it.

Wanna adopt a word? Let me know which one you choose so we can help each other in our quest to save the words!

Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische.
Save the Words site found via @GOOD Twitter post. (I heart Good).

Social Media in the Classroom

2011-08-04T12:04:00.000-07:00

As a new Twitter addict, a blogger, a current college educator, and a former middle school teacher, this really resonates with me. An awesome presentation by a high school principal, highlighting why social media in the classroom is important, as well as how to do it:

Presentation from Principal Patrick Larkin's blog found via We Are Teachers' Twitter post. (A great "follow" for any teachers on Twitter!)

What do you think about teachers using social media in the classroom? Did you have teachers/professors who did so?

A Word for Wednesday

2011-08-03T09:10:00.000-07:00

entient: conscious; having the power of perception by the senses; understanding, cognizant

image via here

Sentient was an answer on Jeopardy College Week last night. Don't you just LOVE College Week on Jeopardy? Ok, for sure, it's not as easy as High School Week, but the categories are typically more playful and college-age-driven...

Update--I can now watch Jeopardy again! Joy. On the recommendation from many of you, James and I now have a TV converter, (rabbit ears and all), and we get all local channels, plus the Weather channel, and CW for free :)

Definition via dictionary.com
Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische.

Weekend Round-Up: A Trip Down Devine Street

2011-07-29T09:47:00.000-07:00

Date night tonight--woohoo! We have decided not to go see a movie this evening, but do happy hour and dinner with friends instead.

Publick House (image via here)

I think we are hitting up Publick House for happy hour drinks and apps--love their artichoke feta dip with pita bread.

Henry's (image via here)

Then, we're gonna head down Devine street to Henry's. I've never been, but apparently they have awesome burgers and fried pickles, as well as a local sports-bar-type-feel. I'm still missing Green's Sports Bar on Polk St. in San Francisco, so maybe this could be a replacement? We shall see.

I hit up Restaurant.com to get a $25 gift certificate for Henry's for $15--if you haven't used this site before, definitely check it out. Awesome deals on restaurants in your area! As an added bonus, when I checked to see if there are any current promo codes to use for Restaurant.com, I found one that gave me 80% off of my total purchase! You read that right. I bought a $25 certificate to Henry's and a $10 certificate to the Sheraton Roof Top Bar and my total was $4. I felt like I was robbing the site!

image via here

Tomorrow we are going to try to finally make it to Baan-In, the Saturday brunch at Baan Sawan, featuring the Bone-In BBQ Truck. For real, I have been talking about the sriracha pulled-pork stuffed French toast for weeks and have yet to try it. (Hope they have it tomorrow!)

image via here

Then we'll head back down Devine Street to KD's Treehouse for their Little Back to School Party. There will be live music from my friend Jamie Beresford, a book-signing by a local children's author, a 15% discount on KD's merchandise with a donation to charity, and much more!

Sunday we'll be squeezing in some pool time, I think.
What are you up to this weekend?
XO

Jones- 6 Months

2011-07-28T08:38:00.000-07:00

So, the babe is half a year old.

Jones at his Christening a week ago. In a dress my mother made and shadow-stitched. Both cousins have worn it too.

He is such a joy--and such a chunk. At his check-up this week he was in the 90th percentile for both height and weight! He is wearing 9 and 12 month clothes already.

At the beach.

Love this one of Jones and my grandmother, MamaCat, smiling at each other.

The boy is finally sleeping through the night (most nights), and he cut his first tooth in the past week. He is loving trying new foods--he has had brown rice cereal, squash, zuchinni, green beans, peas, carrots, sweet potatoes, peaches, banana, honey dew, cantaloupe, prunes, apples with cinnamon, avocado, beets...his favorites are sweet potatoes, peas and beets! Not digging banana yet, but we'll keep trying. I am making almost all of his food and still enjoying it--just steaming/pureeing it all on Sunday for the week. Organic, and sometimes local, produce as much as possible.

He can now sit unsupported and rolls over. Most mornings we find him happily babbling and playing in his crib, waiting for us to come get him. He is so mellow and laid back these days, it is so nice!

His newest "trick" is clapping along as we sing "If You're Happy and You Know It" to him. He started this a few days ago, and now he knows that it elicits such a response from all around him, that he will clap randomly for attention. The funniest is when we get him up to change his diaper at about 11 PM each night, (the boy leaks out of every diaper we've tried if we don't change it once in the middle of the night), and he is lying on the changing table smiling and clapping for us. A half-asleep, happy baby might be one of the most amazing things in the world.

We feel so blessed to have a happy, healthy 6 month old baby boy and can't wait to see what the second half of his first year will bring.

XO,
B

Short List for Date Night

2011-07-26T10:30:00.000-07:00

Thinking of going to see this Friday night:
(I love Emma Stone and Julianne Moore and Steve Carrell)

Or this:

(James loves the Harry Potter series, and I find it entertaining enough)

Or maybe this, but only because it has J-Tim in it.
(Except my husband would probably refuse)

So, anyone have an opinion on these flicks? What should we see on our date night Friday?

Cable-less and Loving It

2011-07-25T12:38:00.000-07:00

About a month ago, my husband and I--sick of looking at our very-low bank account balance and lamenting the fact that we are always broke--decided that to save money we would get rid of cable TV.

We had AT&T U-verse for the past 6 months or so and we loved it, but since we canceled internet, (we can tether with our fancy MyTouch phones, so no need to have AT&T internet), the bill seemed a little ridiculous to pay for cable only. We still have our Netflix membership (just switched to DVD by mail only, so we only pay $7.99/month), so we can watch full seasons of Entourage and Californication.

Who doesn't love to hate Ari Gold?!

(I heart Jeremy Piven).

And with Hulu we can watch many of our favorite shows, like The Office. We're really not missing much. Plus, I find that I am a whole lot more productive, I go to sleep earlier, I read more, and James and I have more "real" conversations. (Not just conversations about what we're watching on TV).

I was one of those people that always had the TV on for background noise more than anything else, (I've read this is a sign of ADD, but who knows). Since recent research has shown that babies under 2 really shouldn't watch TV, it is also better for Jones that we got rid of cable. Now we listen to NPR and music on the radio a lot more instead of the TV.

The one thing I do miss is Jeopardy--it was the one show we watched pretty religiously, and full episodes are not available on Hulu.

I miss this--I mean, it is "America's Favorite Quiz Show," after all...

Anyone know how I can still watch Jeopardy without cable?
What about you--have you given up anything to save money lately?

XO, B

A Word for Wednesday

2011-07-20T11:03:00.000-07:00

nit: an agitated or irritated state

I discovered this word by trying it in a game of Words With Friends last night, and it worked! I wasn't entirely sure of what it meant, but I had an idea.

It makes me think of the word "twit," and when used to describe how someone looks, as in "she looks as if she's in a snit," then it makes me think of the mean step-sisters in Cinderella.

image via here

And there, my friends, is the strange free-association that goes on in my brain sometimes. You're welcome.

Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische.
Definition via dictionary.com.

Pinning Foxes for Jones

2011-07-15T11:41:00.000-07:00

Have you found Pinterest yet? It's a great place to find inspiration and ideas, as well as keep up with your internet finds. You can also "follow" other people's boards to see what they're "pinning."

You can keep multiple "inspiration boards" and it is super-easy to save things directly to them via a handy internet browser tool bar button. My boards include: Stuff for Jones, Books Worth Reading, For When I Have a Girl, and Feeding Baby, among others.

I have quite the obsession with foxes as of late, not sure why, but here are some "foxy" things I've added to my "Stuff for Jones" board lately:

image via here

image via here

And some other random things that I would love to have for Jones:

image via here

And, there's where my head is today...have you been "pinning" lately!?

Happy weekend,
XO

Weekend Round-Up

2011-07-08T08:09:00.000-07:00

There are plenty of fun things to do in Columbia this weekend! I will be attending my nephew, Ben's, 4th birthday party on Saturday, and Sunday I hope to make it to the Columbia Museum of Art with baby and hubs.

Ben's birthday party is being held at Woodland Park, a really nice, shady park in our neighborhood. My sister has asked that instead of gifts for Ben, guests bring art supplies to donate to the kids in the after-school program at St. Lawrence Place. What an awesome thing to do, don't you think? Ben will get plenty of gifts from family members, so he won't miss out on presents, I assure you-- and what an amazing and easy way to teach kids about giving back to those less fortunate!

image via here

Speaking of talking to your kids about helping others, Central Carolina Community Foundation has introduced an initiative to do just that: help you Talk About Giving with your children. There is a game you can purchase and play with your kids, and right now they are giving away a $2,000 award to a local non-profit. (By the way, St. Lawrence Place would appreciate your vote if you have a quick minute!)

The Columbia Museum of Art is currently exhibiting Rembrandt: From Sacred to Profane.

image via here

And have you heard about their new monthly event: Craft. Bar. Happy. Hour?! You bring your own craft project to the museum and enjoy snacks, adult beverages, good conversation and inspiration. Craft kits are available for purchase, and a different local artist/crafter will be on hand each month to display his/her work. Cost is $20. This month's event is Tuesday, July 26th at 6:00 PM and the artist is Sally Peek of Nana Bags. (Her bags are sooo chic!)

image via here

Also, if I can swing it before the birthday party, we may head to Baan Sawan for the Bone-In Artisan BBQ Truck's Baan-In Boozy Saturday Brunch! Thai Bloody Mary's and Sriracha pulled BBQ pork-stuffed French toast. Sounds awesome, right?
Follow the BBQ Truck on Twitter here so you always know where they are!

What else is going on in your life and town this weekend?
Happy Friday, loves!

Thursday's Thinking of Food (for babies)

2011-07-07T10:48:00.000-07:00

Jones is eating baby food--and loving it! He hasn't tried anything yet that he doesn't like; his favorite is peas. I've posted before about making his food, which I am still doing and loving, but there are times when it's not the most convenient option. Here is my short list of convenient, store-bought organic baby foods. Here's what we've tried so far:

image via here

The Plum Organics food pouches are organic and eco-friendly. They have food for babies and toddlers, and you can find the line at Target and Whole Foods, as well as on-line.

image via here

Boon makes a special reusable spoon that screws onto the end of Plum Organics' pouches for easy dispensing and serving on-the-go--genius!

image via here

Ella's Kitchen organic baby food pouches are also easy to dispense and serve, and available at Target.


image via here

Jones has tried the sweet potatoes, pumpkin & apple and the carrots, apples & parsnips so far--loved both.

Got other recommendations on good store-bought organic baby food?

Summertime Tidbits

2011-06-29T12:39:00.000-07:00

Here's a few things I've been swooning over today:

Essie nail polish in Braziliant:

image via here

Black bean salad with cilantro lime vinaigrette from El Burrito:

Seriously, my favorite salad in all of Columbia, SC

This Ryan Adams set list from a recent show in London:

June 20, 2011 Set

1) Oh My Sweet Carolina (Heartbreaker)

2) Roll Away? (New song, don’t know name of it?)

3) Please Do Not Let Me Go (Love is Hell pt 2)

4) Why Do They Leave? (Heartbreaker)

5) New York, New York (Gold)

6) Let it Ride (Cold Roses)*

7) Desire (Demolition)

8 ) Carolina Rain (29)

9) Rescue Blues (Gold)

10) Dirty Rain (New song)

11) In My Time of Need (Heartbreaker)

12) My Winding Wheel (Heartbreaker)

13) Bartering Lines (Heartbreaker)

14) Firecracker (Gold)

15) Everybody Knows (Easy Tiger)

16) Houses on the Hill (Whiskeytown) (Strangers Almanac)*

17) Sylvia Plath (Gold)

18) Strawberry Wine (29)

19) Come Pick Me Up (Heartbreaker)

(via Scene SC blog here)

I mean, this is amazing...I heart Ryan Adams.

The trailer for the movie 50/50 (via A Cup of Jo blog here):

And, the 6th edition of Matchbook Mag online. View it here.

image via here

What's got you excited and swooning these days?

Thursday's Thinking of Food

2011-06-23T05:37:00.000-07:00

OK, so most of my Thinking of Food posts are about eating healthier, or organic, or farm-fresh and local. Today is not like that. At all.

Today I saw the words "Rolo McFlurry" on the marquee of the McDonald's near my house. WHAT!? Sounds amazing, right? I hadn't even thought of Rolos since I was about 12...throw them in some soft serve and mix it up--heaven.

image via here

I might have to try one...

Yes, I know how nutritionally bad they are, and no, I am not suggesting you eat McDonald's with wild abandon--or that I like their business practices. I just want to try a Rolo McFlurry.

Anyone tried one yet?

Weekend Round-Up

2011-06-17T07:35:00.000-07:00

Here's the plan for our weekend:

image via here

All-Local Farmer's Market--it's been too long since I've been and now that Jones is trying new foods, I can't wait to find some cool local produce to make into baby food for him!

Abby and Peach

Dog wash fundraiser at Earth Fare. It's only $7 per dog and all proceeds will go to helping find retired racing Greyhounds new homes. Abby and Peach will be in attendance; (they just don't know it yet). The shampoos used to bathe the dogs will be organic (naturally), and all dogs get a goodie bag to take home. 11 am- 3 pm.

Possibly a trip to Buy Buy Baby...I have a coupon burning a hole in my pocket, plus Jones really does need a few things:

image via here

We need a couple new sleep sacks--love the Aden + Anais ones. Jones is almost too long for the ones we have now.


image via here

image via here

I need some additional freezer food storage for the baby food I'm making.

image via here

Now that the babe likes his baths, (hallelujah!), we need some fun bath toys for him to play with...Boon toys are the cutest and they're BpA, PVC and Phthalate-free.

Father's Day lunch on Sunday with my Dad by the pool--homemade hamburgers. Father's Day dinner with my husband's family. Jones has a couple cute first Father's Day gifts up his sleeve for James :)

Another cool thing going on this weekend--the SC State Farmer's Market is giving away FREE BLT's to the first 1,000 through the gates on Saturday morning! You can sign up to get a weekly text from the market letting you know what will be going on each Saturday by texting HARVEST to 313131.

Happy weekend, loves! What are you up to?

Jones- 5 Months Old

2011-06-15T10:20:00.000-07:00

So many new things have occured in the life of this child in the past month! He took his first trip to the beach over Memorial Day weekend:

He started eating solid foods; so far he's tried brown rice cereal and homemade squash and peas--next week it's carrots.

He started school--he is loving his Child Development Center at Shandon Presbyterian Church. They have him on a great schedule--he now naps twice a day for over 2 hours each nap!

He also loves his bath now--(up until about a month ago he screamed for the entirety of every bath we gave him).

Playing with his cousin Taylor.

Jones is the light of my life and his little personality is really starting to show itself these days. He is very "assessive", (as my mom calls it), and it still takes a lot to make him smile...you have to work for it! He loves to be read to already; Brown Bear is a favorite, and Goodnight Moon is climbing the charts. And he is just starting to reach for people when he wants them-the highlight of my day this morning.

Happy Wednesday!
XO, B

Thursday's Thinking of Food

2011-06-09T06:54:00.000-07:00

I have dipped my toe into the waters of making baby food...another venture that some said wouldn't last (like the cloth diapering--which we're still doing when he's not at daycare, btw)...and I love it! There is nothing more satisfying than knowing exactly what is going into my child's body, and knowing that I prepared it.

So far I have "made"-- and when I say made, all it entails is pureeing and sometimes steaming the veggies--peas and squash. The peas were frozen organic peas and the squash is fresh squash just in from my CSA, Gruber Farms. Gruber farms is out of St. George, SC and we have been really pleased with them. My mom, sister and I are splitting a family share and we always have more than enough stuff to go around--we've gotten strawberries, yellow squash, zucchini, patty pan squash, kale, cabbage, green beans, peas, red potatoes, broccoli, amazing corn, turnips, beets, and more!

Here's what I did to make the baby food:

Chop the squash into small pieces.

Bring water to a boil in a large sautee pan, add squash, cover and simmer until tender.

(It would probably be easier to simply steam the squash, but alas, I have no steamer basket-yet.)

Then, puree with a little of the pot water in a food processor.

My sister and I went in halfsies on a baby food making set last year--

the KidCo Baby Steps Natural Feeding System

Click here to see a video as seen on Martha Stewart's show about the KidCo system.

Food processor that came with the KidCo set--it also comes with a food mill, freezer trays, and serving dish--all for $60!

Spoon the squash out of the processor and into the freezer tray for storage, or into the serving dish if you want to feed baby immediately.

And here's a picture of the peas. I didn't even cook the peas, I just defrosted them and pureed them.

So far, I really like the KidCo system. There are a lot of other baby-food-making systems out there, and I have heard that the Baby Bullet is a good one, but I have no complaints about the KidCo thus far.

As a side note, while researching the KidCo website, I realized they also make the Go-Pod that we just purchased to take to the beach a few weeks ago--another affordable and really user-friendly baby item!

image via here


Jones in his Go-Pod at Litchfield

I'll let you know how Jones likes his very first taste of squash and peas!

I want to get some more freezer trays/small containers to freeze and serve the baby food from--anyone have any suggestions on brands?

Happy almost-Friday!

5x7 Folded Card

2011-06-08T11:08:00.001-07:00

Happy Day Navy Father's Day 5x7 folded card

Send Shutterfly Valentine's Day cards to those closest to you.

View the entire collection of cards.

The Simple Things

2011-06-06T10:18:00.000-07:00

Here's what's making me smile after the weekend:

My baby boy's first laughter:

(You can hear my nephew, Taylor, yelling in the background :))

My first lunch packed in my new Goodbyn bento box:

roasted chicken, black beans, roasted almonds, string cheese, pistachios, sandwich thins, and an avocado

(Goodbyn bought using the discount code provided by Bleubird Vintage--thanks! Bleubird was also the inspiration for posting a photo of my lunch--checkout her cool kids' lunches).

And, I made our first batch of baby food with my baby food system, organic green peas--pictures and details on that to come, but it was easy and fun!

image via here

I think I'll try edamame and chick peas next, then maybe squash...any other suggestions on first foods for baby that are easy to make yourself?

(The Return of) Thursday's Thinking of Food

2011-06-02T08:35:00.000-07:00

So, after 10 months of pregnancy and 4 months adjusting to baby, I am ready to think about food again!

What do you think of the USDA's elimination of the Food Guide Pyramid and replacing it with a plate? In fact, you can't even find that pyramid anymore; when you go to my pyramid.gov, which used to be the USDA site, it now takes you to choosemyplate.gov.

image via here

I love that half the plate is designated for fruits and veggies now, and the recommendation to make half your grains whole grains and to drink water instead of sugary drinks is admirable as well. However, I wish they had recommended that a percentage of protein come from sources other than meat. (Probably won't happen anytime soon because of backlash from the US meat producers, but, it would make us all healthier, and the environment as well). Check out the research that says so here.

Check out this Healthy Habits Kids Plate--a great idea to help you and your kiddos remember how much of each food to eat at a meal.

image via here

So, any recommendations for the new USDA"Plate"? Do you try to go meat-free at least one day a week?

A Word for Wednesday

2011-06-01T07:18:00.000-07:00

aner: one who works with cane; especially in canework for chairs

Never heard this word before, but it was just used against me in a game of Words With Friends on my phone (Droid). (Well played, Matt).

image via here

Have you played this yet? It's like Scrabble. Just downloaded it last night and I am addicted.

Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische.

Feeding Baby

2011-05-26T09:00:00.000-07:00

I want this book:

image via here

I bought this yesterday at Earth Fare with the hopes that our Pediatrician will tell us it's OK to start feeding Jones rice cereal: (the boy is hungry, and not sleeping well!)

image via here

Any thoughts or reviews of either?

Summer Books

2011-05-23T13:23:00.000-07:00

Warning: this post is asking a favor of you, dear reader: please comment.

As a reader of tons of blogs, believe me, I know the drill; rarely do I comment. But please know as a writer of a blog, it means the world when you get a comment. Truly.

Anyway, I would love any and all comments on this post in particular because I am planning my summer reading list and have basically nothing to start from. So, please tell me what to read! I like anything--fiction, non-fiction, chic lit, biographies, how-to/self-improvement, even a little sci-fi is ok once in awhile.

Here is the only book that is on my list so far that I plan on reading this weekend while I'm at the beach:

image via here

"The central premise of this book is that many of modern society’s strategies for nurturing children are
in fact backfiring – because key twists in the science have been overlooked. Nothing like a parenting manual, NurtureShock gets to the core of how we grow, learn and live."
Sounds interesting, huh? Not sure what to think of this, but I will definitely let you know my review!

So, please...give me some good book ideas for the summer?
XO, Becca

Weekend Round-Up

2011-05-20T06:08:00.000-07:00

This time of year there is always something going on around town--I love it! I am planning to have a restful weekend, (if possible), as the babe has not been sleeping well lately, which means momma has not been sleeping well. I hope there will be lots of lounging by the pool, naps, family time, and some homemade meals using veggies from our CSA.

One event I don't want to miss though is the final weekend of the Columbia Museum of Art's exhibit Who Shot Rock & Roll. "The exhibition includes 175 works by more than 100 photographers and covers the rock and roll era from the 1950s to the present including some of the world's most iconic images." I am definitely going to try to go with the hubs and babe on Sunday.

image via here

I would also like to mosey (love that word) around the All Local Farmer's Market on Saturday morning and someday soon, if not this weekend, I want to visit Judy's At the Market Restaurant at the SC State Farmers Market. It just opened this month, and the menu looks yummy. They make everything from scratch and their motto is "fresh, healthy and local."

For all of my expectant-mother (and father) friends--don't miss the Palmetto Health Oh Baby! event at the convention center! It's free and there will be tons of baby vendors, pediatricians, a fashion show and more.

Here's to a lovely spring weekend--full of almost 90-degree temps here in Columbia, and hopefully some rest! What are you up to?
XO, B

A Word for Wednesday- (and a Plan)

2011-05-18T11:38:00.000-07:00

alaise: lethargy

I heard this word spoken by a SportsSouth commentator last night while watching the USC baseball game vs.UNC Asheville. Basically, the commentator said "there is no malaise among the USC players due to the fact that they have such a wide breadth of talent on the team; they are constantly jockeying for position."
USC won that game and are currently ranked #3 in the nation. Here's to another World Series run :)

As for the aforementioned plans...I am going out tonight! My sister, a friend, and I are going to eat Mexican food at our local Eric's San Jose and then go to the movies, (which I haven't done since before the baby was born), to see Something Borrowed.

Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische.

Jones- 4 Months

2011-05-17T18:27:00.000-07:00

Jones with his DiDi, (my mother)

Four months of our life with this child, and as each day passes our former days without him seem more and more distant. In a good way, I can hardly remember my life before Jones. He is such a joy!

He is holding his head up so well now, and flirting and smiling with family and friends. As my husband says, "the boy loves a compliment," as it always seems he knows when people are commenting on how cute he is or how sweet, and he smiles and coyly jerks his head from eye contact.

He is getting his first tooth already--it seems so early, but we can see it pushing through the gum on his bottom left. As a result, he had a few pretty fussy days last week, but it seems to have abated for now.

James and I take him pretty much anywhere we go--he's been to countless USC baseball games, loads of local restaurants, the Rosewood Crawfish Festival, the Zoo, the Sheraton RoofTop Bar, and to visit family and friends. He had his first overnight stay at his YiaYia's, (James' mom's), house last weekend. And next week we'll take him to the beach for the first time--I can't wait!

We also have his 4-month check up at the pediatrician's next week, so I'll update you on his growth. Thanks for indulging me in this monthly account of our little boy's development.

XO, B

The Down and Dirty (literally) on Cloth Diapering

2011-05-17T05:46:00.000-07:00

image via here

I posted last week that James and I are loving cloth-diapering Jones, and we really are. I mentioned that our favorite diaper is the Bum Genius 4.0 all-in-one, but I didn't give details on how we were rinsing and washing and drying the diaps, so here we go for those who have asked:

I found this Potty Pail on-line before we even had Jones and knew that this was what I wanted to use to rinse out the diapers. My husband is pretty darn handy, so he saw the product and knew that he could make his own version cheaper, so here it is:


5 gallon bucket with hole drilled in the bottom, placed on top of the toilet

tubing with toggle that connects to water at the back of the toilet (turn on and off as needed to rinse diapers)

sprayer attached the other end of the hose

the silver hooks are simply shower hooks that we got in a package of 12--you can use them to hang up rinsed diapers while they drip-dry in the bucket or to hold the sprayer (shown above), or to hang washed diapers on a shower rod to dry

diaper pail that I inherited from my sister--she used it for disposable diapers, but I'm using it for our cloth diapers; after a diaper has been rinsed and dripped dry (mostly) in the potty pail, then I put it in this baby until I'm ready to wash

Most parts of the homemade potty pail we got at a plumbing supply store. James just took in a photo of the parts we needed and showed it to an employee, and he gathered everything we needed--I think it came to about $30 total. The 5 gallon bucket we already had, and it came from Lowe's, (obviously). The silver shower curtain hooks are from Bed, Bath & Beyond.

I wash diapers about every other day and there are definitely times when Jones wears disposable diapers. From the beginning we decided not to pressure ourselves, but to make the cloth diapering routine user-friendly for us so that we would stick with it.

Some things we have learned along the way:

1- I was scared to put Jones in a cloth diaper overnight at first because I was scared of leakage. (The cloth diapers don't have quite as much absorbency as the fake fibers that wick moisture into the disposables, so they get wetter faster). But, I was wrong. Since we started cloth diapering him at night, Jones has had nary a leak. We put 3 absorbent inserts in the diaper for overnight, (as opposed to 1 for day-time use), and we have had less leaks from the cloth diapers than we have the disposables.

2- I thought the cloth diapers may leak poop more readily than the disposables. Wrong again. Jones has had some blow-out diapers, as I assume all babies do at one time or another, and almost all of the blow-outs that were super messy were in disposable diapers.

3- We like the BumGenius 4.0 diapers with the velcro better than those with the snaps. They are both fine to use, and we have an equal number of each because we didn't know what we would like best when we bought them, but we no know we like velcro best.

4- Use just a 1/4 of the amount of laundry detergent to wash a load of cloth diapers as you would to wash a normal load of clothes. If you use a regular amount, the diapers will still be soapy when the wash cycle is finished.

5- There is no need to take the diaper inserts out of the dirty diapers before rinsing or before washing in the machine--they will get just as clean inside the diaper, and many times the machine agitation will pull them separate from the diapers during the cycle anyway. You can separate them to dry.

The diapers we use can be dried in a clothes dryer, but I prefer to line dry them to save energy and also to save the life of the diapers.

If you have any other questions about our routine or anything related to our cloth diapering experience, feel free to ask! I am by no means an expert, but I do know what has worked best for us.

XO, B

Summer is Here!

2011-05-16T09:06:00.000-07:00

So, I had a bit of a summer spending spree last week...but with part of a leftover J. Crew gift card, some great sales, plus some awesome online discount codes found here, the purchases were not so outrageous. (I promise honey!)

We're headed to the beach for Memorial Day weekend with my family, so here's what we got that will come in handy for beach trips:

Stuff for Jones:

image via here


Really cute and eco-friendly re-usable swim diapers!


image via here

image via here

Portable activity seat for the beach. image via here

Stuff for Me:


image via here

image via here

What's on your summer wish list? Happy Monday!

Stroller Envy

2011-05-13T10:31:00.000-07:00

The babe is now 15 weeks old...I have no excuse for the fact that I have not gotten back into a hard and fast workout routine, except for the fact that having a child totally changes your ability to workout whenever you want!
My hubs works at times 5 nights a week, so this means we are ships passing the baby off when I get home from work most days. I was in a pretty good running routine before I got pregnant, so I would love to get back into that now, but the stroller we have is a (much appreciated) hand-me-down and not meant for jogging. My sister has a bangin' 2-seater jogging stroller, but to have to go to her house to borrow it every time I feel like running is a bit of a hassle.

So, this brings me to the point of this post:
we got a new jogging stroller, and so far we are loving it! We got this InStep from Buy Buy Baby. It was the floor model, and the last one they had in stock, so we got it on major sale for only $110!


InStep Grand Safari Swivel Wheel Stroller	image via here

We took it for a spin last night and Jones fell right asleep in it (bonus!), and it handled beautifully. I had previously thought that we could not afford to buy a good jogging stroller that would last, but we did the research on this baby and here's the review that really sold me:

"I had a more expensive stroller that we loved, but I accidentally bent the frame....so when shopping for a new one was sooo happy to find this one!!! It had all the features the $300+ had, for a fraction of the price...i set it up myself in 20 minutes, and we love it!!! I definitely recommend it, especially because of the price for what it is!"

In other baby gear news, we are loving using cloth diapers! I was a little intimidated at first to get started, but now that we're in a routine with them, it's so easy. And we're saving not only tons of money on diapers, but the Earth too! Our favorite diaper is the BumGenius all-in-one.

Post Office Goes Green

2011-05-11T11:50:00.000-07:00

Don't you just love these new USPS-issued stamps depicting ways to "Go Green"!?

image via here

My local Post Office didn't have any when I went yesterday, but I hope to get some soon. My favorites:

Have you seen these in your Post Office yet? Which is your favorite?
You can buy them online here.

Jones- 3 Months

2011-04-21T05:38:00.000-07:00

My baby boy is 3 months old (yesterday). Each day with him is more amazing than the last.
He can hold his head up for long periods of time now, and he loves to be sung to. He coos and smiles and talks so much, and it brings tears to my eyes every time. Our favorite thing to do is dance and sing to the radio in the kitchen--sometimes he "sings" with me, and sometimes it puts him to sleep on my shoulder...either one is heaven.
Life without him now seems impossible and unthinkable.

Happy Thursday, loves. Today is my Friday, as I have tomorrow off from work; I am looking forward to a long weekend of friends and family time, yard work, and walks with the babe in the balmy weather. Happy Easter weekend! Going to get some Easter basket goodies for Jones from KD's Treehouse this afternoon :)

Local Fare

2011-04-18T11:53:00.000-07:00

A friend contacted me last week to see if I would be interested in buying local, free-range, all-natural eggs once a week from a man in Columbia who raises hens in his backyard. Um, yes!

Here's our first batch: (they are delivered in a store-bought carton that will be re-used each week)

love that they're all different colors and sizes!

Made some scrambled eggs this weekend and they were delicious--and the yolks are so bright.

Also had some locally grown red potatoes last week and made lemon pesto roasted potatoes--yum!

Happy Monday!

A Word for Wednesday

2011-04-13T09:27:00.000-07:00

ilious: irritable; cranky; extremely unpleasant or distasteful (of or pertaining to bile)

What a descriptive word, right? And one I was not familiar with...I came across this word when reading Girls of Riyadh by Rajaa al-Sanea.

image via here

My cousin, who is majoring in Middle Eastern Studies at USC, recommended the book after reading it for a class. I have only read a chapter so far, but it's interesting so far.

Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische
Definition by dictionary.com

jamie oliver's food revolution is back!

2011-04-12T06:32:00.000-07:00

image via here

Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution is back...premiere is tonight at 8 PM on ABC.

In Love...

2011-04-11T05:54:00.000-07:00

With Adele.

Love, love, love the song Rolling in the Deep. I saw her sing it on the Today Show a month or so ago. She is so pretty and so real.
She's currently touring the US and I would love to go see her--the closest she gets to Columbia is Asheville on June 18th, but it seems to be sold out.

Happy Monday!

Healthy Store Bought Snacks for Kids (or Grown-Ups)

2011-04-08T08:05:00.000-07:00

As a new mom to 10-week old Jones, I know it is a little early to start thinking about him eating solid food, but it is on my brain these days. I'm hoping to make his baby food using a cool baby food-making system that my sister and I went in halfsies on a few months ago when she thought she wanted to try to make baby food for her little one. I haven't tried it yet, but I have high hopes!

For now though, since Jones won't be eating solids for a while, I have started seeking out healthy snacks (store bought) to provide my 3 1/2 year old nephew, Ben, with when he comes to my house to visit.

Here are a few of my (and Ben's!) faves:

Clif Organic Twisted Fruit

image via here

They look and taste like old school fruit roll-ups, (or so I would assume, since I don't eat fruit-in-weird-forms myself), but each snack contains 1 serving of real fruit!

Annie's Organic Cheddar Bunnies

image via here

They taste a lot like Cheez-Its, (a long-time fave in my family), but they're all-organic!

Annie's Cinnamon Bunny Grahams

image via here

Remember Cinnamon Teddy Grahams? Well, these taste the same, (maybe better), and they're organic!

Craisins- 100 Calorie Packs


image via here

Do you have any healthy/organic store bought snacks to recommend?

Happy weekend!

bamboo magazine

2011-04-08T06:52:00.000-07:00

image via here

A friend just passed this my way and I am excited about receiving this new e-zine, bamboo magazine! The premier issue debuts mid-April, so subscribe now.

image via here

Bamboo magazine as described on the website: "is dedicated to conscious family lifestyles -- all that encompasses natural parenting, holistic health, organic foods, green living, the celebration of nature and creativity ... and more. Each issue will incorporate a seasonal theme coincided with regular columns of general interest to families." And it's FREE to subscribe!

They also have a blog you can follow here.

Here's to a wonderful spring weekend, loves, and here's to hoping we finally get our garden planted!
XO

The Hangover- Part II

2011-04-01T10:31:00.000-07:00

Yes, please.

Fun Spring Weekend

2011-04-01T08:20:00.000-07:00

I am so glad it's Friday!

It's funny how the things you look forward to about a weekend change once you have a baby though...instead of looking forward to sleeping late (ha!) and going out on the town with friends, instead, this weekend I am looking forward to staying in with friends and family, and enjoying the spring weather with the babe at the USC baseball games.

image via here

Tomorrow is my sister, Catherine's birthday, (happy birthday, Cat!), and she has scheduled us to have makeup consultations done at Pout. Now, if you know me, you know I am not a makeup kinda girl--I typically wear mascara, blush, maybe some cover-up on any apparent zits, and I'm done. But, hey, I'm 32 and I don't even know how to apply eyeshadow, much less what colors I should be wearing, so it should be interesting!

image via here

After our Pout consultations--which are FREE, by the way--we will go to the USC baseball game against Tennessee. If you have not visited the new Carolina baseball stadium, you are missing out. It is a beautiful facility and sunny games are so nice--and USC is really good, (2010 National Champs), so they're fun to watch!

Publix pizza dough

Tomorrow night we'll cook calzones at Cat's house for her birthday dinner with family. Have you ever tried the pre-made pizza dough from the deli at Publix ? It is amazing and cheap--and it's such fun for everyone to be able to make their own pizza or calzone! And, as I was searching the web for a picture of a calzone or Publix pizza dough, I came across a Facebook page titled "making your own pizza with publix pizza dough." So, apparently I'm not the first to discover and love the Publix dough, who knew?!

What are you up to this weekend? If I had coordinated a babysitter sooner I would have liked to go to the final Arts & Draughts for the season, it should be a good time! What else is going on in Columbia this weekend?

XO

Jones- 2 Months

2011-03-30T06:03:00.000-07:00

My baby is 2 months old, (actually 2 months, 1 week as of today). Time is flying. He is smiling pretty regularly now, although the boy is pretty darn serious and reserved--it takes a lot to make him smile, but when he does it totally melts your heart.

He is already outgrowing his Newborn clothing, and we went for his 2 month check-up at the Dr's yesterday and he weighs 11 lbs 14 ozs and is almost 2 feet long now. The boy is a good eater, (as you can tell from his chubby cheeks!)

Love him so. Have a great Wednesday!
XO

Daydreaming on a Dreary Day

2011-03-28T13:35:00.000-07:00

Since my bank account reads $48.92 right now, none of these items are even an option, but it's fun to look :)

Tiny Toms--omg so adorable.


images via here

Elephant Organic Onesie

image via here

Christian Chaize's Praia Piquinia via Jen Beckman's 20X200 Project-

I would love to have the huge 80" x 60" version of this print...dreaming...

image via here

butter London's Yummy Mummy nail polish

image via here

What are you dreaming of on this dreary day?
XO

Looking Forward Columbia

2011-03-23T10:12:00.000-07:00

I am slowly, but surely, getting the hang of this working mom thing. It is not for the faint of heart. Juggling childcare, (which is piece-meal right now since Jones can't start daycare until June), work, showers (yes, these have to be scheduled now!), laundry, dishes, diapers, breast feeding/pumping, exercise, family-time, couple-time, and friends, is a lot of work, and takes careful balancing of time. I am so lucky to have a wonderful husband and family to help, but seriously, it's a lot to figure out!

But, with all that said, I am getting better with the time management thing and adjusting to my altered sleep schedule, so hopefully my blog posts will become more regular again.

Spring is such a fun time in Columbia--so many things going on! Here are a few I'm looking forward to in the next few weeks:

Springtime at the Garden Festival at Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Garden: This Saturday from 9-4. There will be Master Gardeners on-hand to answer your gardening questions--I'm hoping to ask how to (organically) prevent those pesky vine-borers from killing my squash plants this year--and composting demonstrations. There will also be live music and arts and crafts for the kids. Free with membership or general admission.

image via here

Assassins at Trustus Theatre: From the Trustus website: "ASSASSINS is perhaps the most controversial musical ever written. This most American of musicals lays bare the lives of nine individuals who assassinated or tried to assassinate the President of the United States, in a historical "revusical" that explores the dark side of the American experience." Sounds interesting, huh? The show runs March 25th- April 16th. James and I will be in attendance on April 7th.

Arts & Draughts
image via here

Arts and Draughts at CMA: The Columbia Museum of Art hosts this First Friday event one last time before the summer--April 1, 2011. You can explore open galleries, listen to live music, see a live figure drawing session, and taste beer at the same time--$5 for CMA members and $7 for non-members. Doors open at 7, music begins at 8.

KD's Treehouse Little Earth Day Celebration: Saturday: April 9th from 10-1, in the parking lot behind KD's Treehouse. There will be arts & crafts for kids, live music from The Steel Band Project, a local writer book-signing and more! Fun for the kiddos!

image via here

Slow Food at Indie Grits Sustainable Chef's Tasting Party & Hosted Potluck:
Wednesday, April 13th at 6:30 PM in the All Local Farmer's Market building on Whaley Street- join local chefs dedicated to sustainable and local ingredients for a tasting. There will also be live music, locally-brewed beers, and wine. $20 for Slow Food and Nickelodeon members, $40 general admission.

What are you looking forward to in the next few warm spring-time weeks?

Make Every Pic a Polaroid

2011-03-06T18:46:00.000-08:00

Found this cool app today on-line. It turns your digital images into Polaroid pictures. Love the kitsch.

image via here

you can save pictures in varying degrees of development-
in case you're too impatient to "shake it like a Polaroid picture"

And the app is FREE and easy to download. Click here to download Poladroid.

My Favorite Baby Gear

2011-03-05T20:36:00.000-08:00

I cannot believe that Jones will be 6 weeks old on Wednesday. The past 6 weeks have flown by and have been filled with amazing highs and unbelievable exhaustion, but mostly a growing respect for mothers everywhere, especially single ones.

Anyway, over these 6 short weeks as a mother, I have already come to love certain baby products and items, and I thought I would share with you my current list of must-haves for a newborn:

1. Kimono-style onesies. My favorite onesie BY FAR is a kimono-style. Not only are these onesies sooo much easier to get on Jones--they snap up the front rather than go over his head--but I also think they are cuter. I don't know, there's just something kinda stylish about them, don't you think? And my favorite of the kimono-style that we have is Kate Quinn Organics. I love the color combinations and the simple prints, and they come in short or long-sleeve! You can buy them locally at KD's Treehouse, or watch for sales on sites like Zulily.com...I just bought 2 for $9 each!!

image via here

2. Aden + Anais swaddler blankets. These can be found lots of places all of a sudden--Target, Buy Buy Baby, or on-line. They are very large blankets, perfect for swaddling, and made of muslin, so they are very breathable and soft and perfect for baby. Not to mention, they come in tons of stylish prints.

image via here

3. The Woombie. I read about this item on a blog long before I had Jones and I bought one and let my sister try it out on her new baby, Taylor. Well, after one night, she was sold. Taylor slept in the Woombie until he could roll over, and now we're using it with Jones. The website describes the Woombie: " The Woombie comforts, softly confines arms & gently compresses baby's unique curves to hug baby... preventing Startling issues, face scratching, overheating and also preventing dangerous loose unraveled blankets from covering baby's face." We love it so far.

image via here

4. My Brest Friend. Hokey name, essential breast-feeding accoutrement. Better than the Boppy for newborns because the pillow actually latches around your body and it's adjustable--baby rests on the pillow and mom's hands are free. Seriously makes breast-feeding a lot easier.

image via here

5. The Oball Rattle by Rhino Toys, Inc. This item was a gift, and Jones loves it. Not sure what it is, but it is by far his favorite toy to gaze at while he lies on his playmat.

image via here

6. Serena & Lily sling. Jones loves sleeping in this thing, and we'll be able to use it for months to come...see the picture below of an older baby in the sling. I read a study recently that indicated that "worn babies" can learn more from their environment because they are secure in knowing that they are attached to a
parent and needn't continually look around for a familiar face. I intend to "wear" Jones as much as possible :)

image via here

So, that's it for now. I will update this list with more of my baby must-haves as we go along. What are your favorite baby products?

A Word for Wednesday

2011-03-02T16:33:00.000-08:00

ecund: producing or capable of producing offspring, fruit, vegetation, etc., in abundance

I watched The Kids Are All Right last night and loved it. Julianne Moore's character, Jules, uses the word fecund to describe her landscape plan: "overgrown and lush, untamed; fecund."

Love Julianne Moore and love this word.

Definition via dictionary.com
Daily Drop Cap by Friends of Type via here.

One Month

2011-02-24T10:49:00.000-08:00

My baby was 1 month old yesterday.

I'm going to do my best to catalog monthly photos of him here. He has definitely chunked-up a bit since he was born--his cheeks are so chubby now! He is having more alert, awake time and that is fun--he focuses on faces and toys more now, and although he is still not sleeping more than a few hours at a time, his father and I are thrilled with him more and more every day.

Thanks for indulging me :)

XO

Baby Shoes- Not Always Practical, But So Cute, Right?

2011-02-17T14:02:00.000-08:00

**Disclaimer--I promise to calm down with the baby posts once I go back to work, but while I'm on maternity leave, baby is pretty much on the brain all the time. (And should be, I think). But, for those of you who aren't impressed or interested with all the baby posts, I just wanted to reassure you that soon I will resume more adult-focused posts :)

But today, baby shoes is on the brain. Jones received the pair below as a gift--they fit snug even on the tiniest little feet.

from Little Lambs and Ivy on Devine Street

And I just bought these on-line at Gymboree last night--on sale. Pretty preppy, but adorable little moccasins, don't you think?!.

image via here

Happy Thursday!

Choosing Cloth Diapers

2011-02-16T13:12:00.000-08:00

Ever since I found out I was pregnant I have entertained the idea of using cloth diapers with our baby. My husband was not on board at first. He, along with a lot of my family and friends, thought this idea was just me going "overboard with environmentalism" or trying to be "too tree-hugger" and that it was really going to be a lot of trouble and not realistic.

Well, my determination to use cloth diapers has only gained momentum during my pregnancy. I spoke with people who actually use cloth diapers, (thanks, Conni), and I read blogs that describe others' experiences using cloth diapers--and all accounts are positive. Cloth diapers have certainly changed since our parents' day--they're really cute now! And environmentally friendly, and money-saving, and easier on a baby's sensitive skin...

image via here

This last detail is what has sold my husband on giving cloth diapers a try. The newborn Pampers diapers we have been using on Jones since his birth make his skin red and sometimes stick to his little bottom.

Growing Greens cloth diaper
image via here

So, our journey will begin soon--we just ordered 6 Bum Genius diapers and received some Growing Greens Organic cloth diapers from our registry at KD's Treehouse, as well as a couple Funky Butts diapers. James is going to make our own version of the "Potty Pail," and then we'll be ready to go.

Here's a great post on cloth diapers from the blog Jen Loves Kev. This post really helped me figure out what products to use and how the routine goes with cloth diapers--the rinsing, cleaning, etc.

I'll keep you updated on how the cloth diaper experience unfolds for us!

Bumble Boutique Finds

2011-02-15T18:35:00.000-08:00

A sweet, dear friend of ours sent me and James and Jones a sweet card including a Groupon to Bumble Boutique to welcome little Jones to the world. She said it was the Groupon in Columbia on Jones' birthday, January 26th, and she thought of us when she saw it. What a clever and fun gift, don't you think!?

[In case you haven't heard of Groupon, click here for more details; it is awesome! If you're interested in signing up for free, click this link: http://www.groupon.com/r/uu8963308]

James and I took Jones to Bumble Boutique to use the Groupon this weekend--they were having a 75% off sale on some of their winter clothing. Without further ado, here is what we got for Jones:

A cute "touch and feel" book that has a mirror on the last page, exclaiming: "that's my baby!"

Cute knit outfit that was once waaay out of our price range, but thanks to the 75% off sale, it was a steal!

Zutano summer shirt

Thanks to Ashley for the sweet gift. And thanks to Bumble Boutique for a fun shopping experience.

XO,
B

Pizza and Wine

2011-02-08T13:00:00.000-08:00

What's not to like about that combination? There are plenty of amazing local restaurants in Columbia that make this combination even more amazing by making it cheap!

In case you want an amazing pizza and wine deal more than once in a week, here's where you should go and when:

image via here

Tuesday nights: Tombo Grille offers $5 pizzas and $15 bottles of wine every Tuesday. Click here for other daily specials.

Rosso menu
image via here

Wednesday nights: from 5- 6:30 PM, Rosso offers $7 brick-oven pizzas and $5 wine tasting.

image via here

Thursday nights: Cellar on Greene offers 2 individual pizzas and a bottle of wine for $25. Plus, Tuesdays are Champagne Tuesdays...half-priced bubblys!

And, just a quick run-down of my other favorite Columbia pizzas...Labrasca's (they have the best cheese salad too, and they'll let you buy uncooked pizzas to "take and bake" later); Pizza Man; and The Whig- $1 slices on Monday nights. Also, the Village Idiot on Forest Drive has a Monday deal where you buy one pizza, get one free!

Can you tell I'm craving pizza and wine today?

What are your favorite pizza joints and dinner specials in Columbia?