10 Things I'm Enjoying Right Now

I've been in a bit of a mood lately. I'm not sure if it's due to the cloudy weather we've experienced the past two days, the 20 degree temperature drop that apparently happened overnight, or just a lack of sleep. In an attempt to get me out of my funk, I thought I'd focus on some of the more trivial (and a few non-trivial) things I'm enjoying right now.

 

1. Fall television: Most notably, the return of Revenge and the premiere of The Mindy Project. 

Is anyone else feeling particularly gross after viewing last night's Real Housewives of New Jersey Reunion Part 2? Ugh. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm in desperate need of a Bravo break. And there's no time like the present as my favorite show from last year, Revenge, is back! I love everything about this show - the crazy lengths Emily / Amanda will go through, the Hamptons eye candy, and how every episode leaves me in suspense. I find it hard to believe that season 2 will be half as good as the first season, but I'm excited to give it a shot. 

I haven't watched too many new shows, but I am enjoying The Mindy Project. I read Mindy Kaling's Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me several months ago and laughed my way through the entire book. If you liked her book and enjoyed her character on The Office, you'll appreciate The Mindy Project. If anything, it's a nice distraction from those crazy NJ Housewives.

2. I'm currently rereading Anne of Green Gables. I loved this book as a child and am having fun going back through it. After finishing Gone Girl recently (which was insanely good), I think I was in need of something a bit more light-hearted. I'm also feeling nostalgic lately for some reason, so may tackle a few other childhood favorites before the year is over. (Little Women or A Little Princess, anyone?

3. Chances are, if you've seen me with Sammy lately, you've witnessed Sammy walking backward on command. (The photo above shows him doing it - sans pants.) I don't know why, but the shuffling of those little feet make James and I laugh non-stop. We make him do it for everyone we see. Luckily, he doesn't seem to mind.

4. Cozy blankets. If you walk into my house past 8 at night (okay, 7) or on a Sunday afternoon, just look for the lump under the brown plush blanket on the couch. (That would be me.) I've replaced our summer throw with our autumn / winter blanket, and basically haven't gotten out from under it since. Though I'm quite attached to "brownie," I'd love a plaid lambswool throw like the one above. (The better to hide my autumn / winter sweatpants.)

5. Pretty twill ribbon. I recently purchased this ribbon (in red and blue) from Paper Source and am in love with it. If you receive a gift from me anytime soon, this will likely adorn the present.

Photo courtesy of Jenny Steffens Hobick

6. This creamy spinach dip recipe. James and I hosted a small gathering this past weekend, and though we weren't actually tailgating, with football on in the background and a fire burning on our patio, I felt a tailgating-themed menu would be appropriate. I made Jenny Steffens Hobick's spinach dip, and while let's be honest - spinach dip is spinach dip (it's all delicious), I found this recipe to be a keeper. It was super easy, didn't include dry soup mix, and I could have eaten the entire dish.

 

7. Pretty fabric-covered bedside tables. Do you remember all the hubbub about redoing my master bedroom earlier this year? I made some progress, but not a ton. There is still some fine tweaking that needs to be done around my actual bed. (Never mind the remainder of the room - we won't venture there.) Anyway, I'm in love with these gorgeous fabric-covered bedside tables, and I feel certain that this is a project I could actually tackle. And the bonus is that we wouldn't have to buy new nightstands!

8. Apple cider. Confession: I don't love Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Lattes. I used to, but now I find them too sweet for my liking. My preferred autumn drink of choice is apple cider - either hot or cold. It's refreshing, it's delicious, and it's one of the few caloric (non-alcoholic) beverages I allow myself. 

9. The prospect of attending my oldest friend's baby shower this coming weekend! Christine (pictured second from the right) and I have been friends since the second grade. I stopped counting after our friendship reached the 20-year mark, but yes, it's been that long. She was the first person that friended the new girl in school (that would be me), we played on countless softball and soccer teams together all the way from rec league to high school, and though we now live in separate states, we never have a hard time picking up where we left off when we do get to see each other. Christine is expecting her first baby this December, and I am so, so excited to see and celebrate her this weekend.

(And yes, there are probably a zillion photos of just the two of us that would make more sense to post here, but I couldn't find any decent ones [of me - she's way more photogenic] that were quickly accessible.) 

10. But before the weekend, James and I are sneaking away to Vermont for a night to (belatedly) celebrate our anniversary. I can not wait. 

Well look at that. I'm feeling better already! 

Sammy's First Birthday Party

Apologies for the walk down memory lane the past few posts. However, as Sammy is now accomplishing big boy feats such as walking backward on command, stacking wooden rings, and shooting hoops (okay - he's only made two actual baskets and otherwise shows absolutely zero interest in my new favorite toy), I wanted to document his first birthday party sometime before he is old enough to drive.

James and I hosted Sammy's birthday party on a gorgeous but insanely hot Saturday, the weekend before he actually turned one. I feared it would be a typical sweaty July day, and I wasn't disappointed. Regardless, we still planned on having much of the party outside. After all, we had just refurbished our patio! As such, the decor and activities all centered around the outdoors. 

I didn't want much of a theme, but I did try to coordinate the colors and patterns of everything. I fell in love with the colors of this cheery and summery striped straw mix and kind of went on from there. I love stripes and polka dots, and thus followed suit with polka dot balloons, polka dot napkins, polka dot paper accents, and striped table runners, which I ironed with hem tape sewed just days before the party.

I've made no secret of my distaste for crafting, craft stores and all things craft-related. (Primarily as I'm just not good at crafting.) But I was quite proud of the photo project above, featuring a handful of my favorite pictures from each month of his first year. I had so much fun picking out pictures, and it was a nice way to reminisce and appreciate how far he / we had come since the day he was born. 

I also had fun picking out some fun summer-ish favors for all the kids that attended the party. A few weeks prior to the party, my five-year-old nephew Patrick put the pressure on for good favors. I hope I didn't disappoint him too much!

We didn't get too many pictures of the food, but I tried to keep things easy and kid-friendly. Fruit skewers (pictured above), chips, mini (polka dot) cups of goldfish, sandwiches and wraps from our local grocery store, and at least three side salads, of which type now escapes me.

My mom and sister baked a ton of cupcakes (the flags that adorn the cupcakes were another craft project, tolerated only through multiple episodes of Real Housewives), and I made a dirt dessert trifle. Probably not something I'd ordinarily admit to being part of my repertoire, but I figured it would be a crowd pleaser.

But enough about the details, of which Sammy could have cared less about. Here are some of the action shots.

We set up a couple baby pools, a water table and a slip-and-slide, which kept the kids (and Sammy) mildly entertained.

After a brief mid-party nap, the birthday boy was ready for his birthday (cup)cake.

He was a bit unsure of what to do at first. What was the entire cupcake doing in front of him?

The frosting was deemed a success. Not pictured - the demolition of the remainder of the cupcake.

Also not pictured - the glop of dirt dessert someone put down in front of Sammy upon the completion of his cupcake. Dirt dessert = also a success.

Overwhelmed at the mess that had become my birthday boy, we decided to just strip him down and dunk him in one of the pools. (I wore an apron so as to not get my dress wet. Don't ask.)

After the cake festivities, most of us moved into the central air where Sammy opened many a fantastic present. (Including this big boy backpack from his Auntie Kate!)

All in all, it was a fantastic day. (And one that ended with a very early bedtime for this big one-year-old!)

Random Thoughts on Motherhood and a Mother's Day Recap

In honor of my first Mother's Day yesterday, I thought I'd jot down a few (dozen) thoughts on motherhood that have circulated throughout my head over the past ten months. Please take all of these with a pound grain of salt. I'm still ridiculously new to this game and barely think I deserve to share the same day - never mind the same title - with those who have many more years experience than I do. 

In no particular order....

• Nothing - absolutely nothing - can prepare you for what it's really like to care for a child.
• It is totally and completely possible to experience happiness and fulfillment with your husband if you're childless. But adding a baby adds a whole new element of both, which you could have never imagined previously.
• There is nothing better in the world than hearing your child's laugh.
• It's okay to believe that your baby is the cutest and best in the world.
• It's also okay to wonder why strangers who do not compliment your baby hate life.
• Being a germaphobe becomes a thing of the past. Yes, licking a shopping cart may still be considered gross and frowned upon, but at least it's building up your kid's immune system... right?
• Post-child, your ability to identify digested food improves ten-fold.
• Cute baby outfits tend to fall by the wayside once you realize that your child has become a squiggly, wiggly baby tiger.
• Upon entering the parenting world, you realize that there are all sorts of parenting styles. It's not easy to meet a mom who exhibits a similar style to your own.
• There is no limit on the number of times one can sing the alphabet so long as it keeps a baby from crying.
• Motherhood makes you stronger - both emotionally and physically.
• It is totally possible to shower every day when you're a new mother. (I'll likely need to revisit this statement if we're ever blessed with child #2.)
• But it's also important to realize when a shower or household chores can wait.
• You can have all the toys in the world, and your child's favorite play thing will still be 1) you, 2) your spouse, 3) socks, and / or 4) furniture.
• Nothing melts your heart more than when your child lays his head against your chest or puts his arms around you.
• Entertaining a child for hours on end is utterly exhausting. It's okay to look forward to nap time.
• Motherhood makes you more compassionate. But also sometimes more judgmental.
• Prior to having a child, you likely said, "I will never do x, y and z." And soon after having a child, you likely did all three.
• Your mother will become a million times better source for parenting than any guide book.
• It's okay to need time to yourself. Just be prepared to take it in the wee hours of the morning.
• Happy hours and multiple late nights out pretty much become a thing of the past. But it's actually kind of nice to not wake up every weekend with a hangover.
• The belly you developed in college and carried throughout your twenties due to too many beers and Taco Bell runs is all of a sudden a bit endearing, knowing that you once carried your baby in it for nine plus months. Even better,  you now have a legitimate reason for it.
• Having a child tests your relationship with your spouse like nothing else. But ultimately, it also makes it stronger than anything else ever could.
• You will never smile so much and laugh so often as when you have a child.
• You will be utterly exhausted by the end of each and every day. 
• You will be forced to become a morning person. But as morning is usually the happiest time of day for a child, it's not so bad.
• Every mother would like to think she's an expert in raising children. And yet no mother is.
• Being a mother is the best, hardest, and most fulfilling job in the world.
• Every baby is different and every family is different. The biggest lessons I've learned are to use common sense, and to do what works for my family.

What am I missing? I could probably go on and on, but at this point am trying to finish this entry up so I can get back to the ever so important cleaning of my kitchen while Sammy naps. And again, these are all just my opinions. I've only been a mother for 10 months and still know next to nothing.

With that said, I had a fabulous first Mother's Day weekend, once the four-and-a-half hour CPR class that James and I took on Friday night ended. (That's not a typo - four-and-a-half hours. And about the only thing that really stuck with me is that I should cut Sammy's food up into smaller pieces so that this poor child will never have to rely on me to administer the heimlich maneuver as I was too bored to pay attention during our class.)

My running outfit on this particular day was perhaps better suited for Ron-a-Roll, circa 1985.

Saturday morning I went for an almost 17 mile run with a couple of my running partners. It was an absolutely gorgeous day, which ended with me voiding all my burnt off calories via margaritas and grilled burgers and dogs on our patio. 

On Mother's Day, I was thoroughly spoiled by James and Sammy - the very least of my gifts being a pass on all diaper changes for the day. We hosted a smallish brunch for my mom and sister, but feasted large. I only had one contribution - pecan sticky buns, a Baking with Julia project that I'll blog about tomorrow. My mom made a homemade version of my childhood favorite - sausage and cheese biscuits, my sister made a fruit salad and spring asparagus pancetta hash (which was delicious!), and even James contributed, with Ina's roasted vegetable frittata (equally delish). 

A few other pics from our day....

Hope everyone had an equally fantastic day!

An Easter Weekend for the Record Books

This Easter weekend was one of my best yet. Besides it being Sammy's first Easter, it marked the first holiday that James and I hosted. Weather-wise, the weekend was absolutely gorgeous. I took full advantage of the sun and comfortable temps as I started the weekend off with a long run, and ended it with a long bike ride. The trees in our town are all in bloom and it was so nice to run / bike amongst fresh green grass.

On top of that, Saturday, Sammy had his first Water Babies class. I'm thrilled that he is showing signs of not sharing the same fear of the water as his mom. Though he wasn't his usual self due to the arrival of his two top teeth, he didn't cry once, splashed around the entire time, and I heard plenty of his high-pitched happy little screams.

After Water Babies, James and I spent the remainder of our Saturday in full-on prep mode for Sunday. (Though I may have managed to sneak in a quick wine tasting at my favorite wine shop and a pedicure with my sister.) We capped off the day with some pizza and a viewing of Paranormal Activity 3. 

(Side note: I did not sleep well for three months after Paranormal Activity 1. I actually cried while viewing Paranormal Activity 2 as it was so ridiculously scary. Paranormal 3 - eh, not as good [or scary] as the first two. It helped to watch it at home and I had no problem sleeping after whatsoever.)

Due to our impending brunch, we attended the early 8 a.m. Easter mass. Sammy was actually relatively calm throughout the entire mass (though as apparently by the below picture, this didn't last much longer), and the priest that married us and baptized Sammy resided over the mass, which is always a treat.

 The remainder of this post is basically one big photo dump. Apologies in advance.

A few pics of the decor.... I went with a lavender and white color scheme. The egg cups are filled with mini chocolate rabbits from my favorite chocolate maker.

My best Martha impersonation.

There's just something about white tulips that I love so much.

We forgot to take any pictures of the main brunch, but did snag a pic of one of the apps, as well as our dessert. My sous chef, James, would be upset if I didn't give him credit for single-handedly assembling the pumpernickel and cucumber canapés. (Recipe from Martha's Entertaining.)

Dessert, courtesy of pastry student extraordinaire, Auntie Kate. A New York-style cheesecake, topped with blackberries and served alongside a blueberry coulis, and cupcakes filled with lemon curd and topped with coconut frosting. (Hope I got that right!)

In addition to the aforementioned app and dessert, we also had prosciutto-wrapped melon and mint, leek, asparagus and gruyere quiche, a bourbon and brown sugar-glazed ham, scalloped tomatoes, a crispy potato roast (not worth sharing the link - another bland Martha recipe), fruit salad, homemade rolls and blueberry coffee cake. Along with numerous Lillet champagne cocktails, bloody marys, wine, etc. It was quite the celebration!

And for the people shots....

My sisters thought it would be funny to place this felt basket on top of my son's head.

Sammy and his auntie Em....

Auntie Em was determined to get a good shot of herself with Sammy, and thus many trial pics were taken.

Auntie Kate and her nephew!

Queenie, Grampy and Sammy....

Auntie Em, enjoying her Lillet champagne cocktail (which was insanely delicious).

Em's roommate, Christina (and one of my new running partners!), and Sammy.

The whole crew, with apologies to James, who I cut off by mistake. (Which is a total shame, as he went to great lengths to wear an outfit that matched my table color scheme!)