Tomorrow I want to look exactly like this.

Yesterday I "accidentally" picked up my neighbors new J. Crew catalog and I have to admit I instantly fell in love. No, it wasn't with the clothes (some of which were actually pretty cute) but rather it was with the way they styled their main model.

When I say in love, I mean IN LOVE.

Not only does my new muse have this perfect, "I'm a stay at home mom and have no time nor reason to actually style my hair," tousled hairstyle, but the makeup itself is just so fresh and clean that right now it is taking all of my willpower to not run to Sephora and copy this look from head to, well, chin. By willpower I mean not waking my little man and dragging him downtown, but rather patiently waiting until he is in school tomorrow so I can get my hands on the goodies, willpower.  I love that her hair is a little blonder in the front and tomorrow, thanks to my favorite hairstylist, mine will be too.

In short, tomorrow I want to look exactly like this.

Did I say love????
Now if I could also try to find a way to have the face of a 20 year old J. Crew model.
Baby steps, baby steps.

Cold Turkey.

It's time for me to admit it, to come right out and say it. Some of my closest friends already know this, but for most of you this will come as a surprise. A dirty and shocking surprise.

I am an addict.

For the most part I live a very clean and healthy lifestyle. I practice yoga regularly, I eat little to no meat, I don't smoke, I try to consume as many green veggies and berries as I can in a day, and rarely do I drink things like soda or any type of sugary beverage. In short, my body is my temple. Except it's not. See my vice, the thing that I just can't seem to quit, the thing that I think about on an hourly basis, the thing that I can NEVER have just one of... well this is the thing that it is time for me to say goodbye to. What is this evil that consumes my every other thought?

White sugar.

Okay, I know what you are thinking. White sugar, really? Come on how bad can it be. Well, let me tell you it has become bad. As in please step away from the cupcake (my drug of choice) with your hands up. As in, "I know this is my third mini cupcake of the night, but they are just so mini can't I have just one more?"As in my little man (who gets one mini cupcake after dinner at night) woke up this morning and looked in the box and asked, "where all the cupcakes went." Yeah, that bad.

Yep, I have a problem. Just like a social smoker I have convinced myself that it is okay to have just one a day. Just one cookie, just one cupcake, just one spoonful of the white stuff in my tea. Lately my "just one" has turned into my "just so many." Basically I have slowly spiraled down the sugar drain. This is not the first time this has happened,  I have seen this behavior before, every time I think that I am even close to getting pregnant, I tend to fall face first off the sugar wagon. Face first into a pillowy donut, or into a piece of chocolate cake. (mmmmmmmmm, chocolate cake.)

Not this time. Nope, this time I am giving it up cold turkey. Starting today, March 30 2010, I am embarking on a 90 day cleanse. I will not, under any circumstances (except on my birthday) indulge in the sweet stuff. No cookies, no donuts, no cupcakes (cry), none of it. I'm even giving up the artificial sweetener as well. I am going to see what it is like in a bitter, frosting free world.

What a sad and scary place the world seems to be without sugar, but I know it's my time to be brave. From now on my motto is WWASD aka What would Alicia Siverstone do. I can tell you she absolutely would not have had the third cupcake last night. Oh, the shame.

(Photo Credit: From Here.)

"What Happened?" Is The New "Why?"

Two year olds are notorious for getting stuck on certain phrases, the most common one is Why? They are called conversation extenders and supposedly they use them to keep the conversation going so they can learn how to expand their language. While they are a great tool for the little ones, they also can be super, SUPER annoying to the big ones who are on the other side of the extender. I have been very patiently (aka dreading) the day that the whys would begin in our household, and I'm thinking that at this point we may have dodged that bullet. What bullet we didn't dodge is the one that hit us straight in the heart. The one called "What Happened." 

Here is a little snippet from my day, and what every day has been like for the past few weeks.

LM: What Happened?

Me: I turned on the car.

LM. Oh yea.

(one second later)

LM: What Happened?

Me: I pushed the garage opener.

LM. Oh yea.

(one second later)

LM: What Happened?

Me: I turned on the radio.

LM. Oh yea.

(one second later)

LM: What Happened?

Me: I scratched my ear.

LM. Oh yea.

(one second later)

LM: What Happened?

Me: Nothing, nothing happened.

LM. Oh yea.

(one second later)

LM: What Happened?

Me: I stopped at the stop sign.

LM. Oh yea.

(one second later)

..... you get the point. 

While this is a great sign of his little developing mind (yay for him) it is also really, really, really, really, really exhausting to narrate the ENTIRE day. By five o' clock the following is often running through my head on repeat, 

"I so need a glass of wine I think I might be losing my mind I really love this kid but if he asks me one more question without caring what the answer is I might have to claw my eyes out with a hammer oh my god when is Daddy going to be home to answer one of these questions, did I really sign up for this, why do I want another two year old...."

Usually this thought is broken with,

"Mama what happened?"

I really wish I could answer back,

 "Nothing honey, momma's just losing her mind, thats all."

Of course I would *never* say that.

Okay its not quite that bad, but it definitely leaves me with the desire to have absolutely no conversation once the little guy is in bed. The other night I had to sit my big guy down (aka my husband) and say, 

"Look babe, you know I love you right? So here's the deal, I answer about one million and one questions a day so I at night I need you to only ask be about things you absolutely must have the answer to. Actually if you could not ask me any questions at all that would be really great. Talk all you want just please of you have any mercy in your soul DO NOT ASK ME A QUESTION TONIGHT. Okay? Now please pour me a double glass of wine."

His response?

What Happened?

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that they are trying to kill me.

Yummy Recipe of the Week: Watercress and Beet Salad.

Remember when I told you all that I was going to share with you some of my favorite recipes from the Kind Diet? I bet you thought I would forget all about that didn't you? Well, look at me making good on my promise! I am about to share with you my absolute favorite new recipe, a watercress and beet salad. Honestly, who knew beets were so good, so good for you, and so easy to make? Um, I sure didn't! I found this salad last week and we have had it every night since (seriously.) It really is the perfect side dish to any meal. Since we are not vegans, cheese I heart you, I added in some goat cheese. The recipe can be done either way.

Watercress, Beet, and Heirloom Tomato Salad. 

Ingredients for 2

2 medium beets

1 bunch watercress, tough stems removed

1 tomato, preferably an heirloom variety, cut into bite-size pieces

1 tablespoon olive oil

Juice of 1 lemon

Fine sea salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Goat cheese if you love it as much as I do. 

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 425f. Wrap the beets in foil, and roast 40 to 60 minutes or until you can easily pierce them with a skewer. Allow the beets to cool a bit, then slip off the skins and slice the beets into quarters from root to stem or slice as I did.

Combine the beets, watercress, and tomato in a salad bowl. Mic the olive oil and lemon juice together, and pour over the salad; mix well. Add a couple pinches of salt and a little pepper to taste. Toss again and serve. If preferred top with a few slices of goat cheese. 

Momma's Got a Brand New Bag.

Ever since the strap broke on my very favorite Marc Jacobs bag I have been not-so-secretly been on the hunt for a replacement. A few months ago I found the perfect day bag, and I must say that I do love the Serena and Lilly tote bag that I purchased. It has everything I need in a bag. Let me rephrase it has everything I need in an every day bag. What it is lacking is the ability to turn into a night time bag as well. Lately I have found that I actually have a bit of a life (shocking I know.) I have been going out to dinner with my girls on a more regular basis, meeting old friends for lunch, and the husband and I have re-instituted date night on a more regular basis. In short the day bag just wasn't cutting it any more. I wasn't ready to spend a small fortune on the Bottega, but I still wanted a bag that was fashionable, lightweight, reasonably priced, and something that could withstand all the crap I have to carry for my little man. I thought that finding a bag that met all of these qualifications was going to be a daunting task. I thought that before I stumbled upon this beauty. Behold the Tory Burch 'Clayton Classic'.

It's functional, fashionable, and oh so yummy, it is exactly what I have been looking for. The only problem? My Little Man likes it almost as much as I do. Hey, you can't fault the boy for having good taste, that and a serious case of bed head. 

Parenting 101.

Dad can take responsibility for the first, Mom for the latter.  Parent FAIL.



With baseball season right around the corner I'm thinking I need to intervene... and fast!

Go Sox!

20 Random Things.

In honor of my 100th follower, thank you Elena of The White Picket Fence, I figured I would share with you 20 random things that you may not know about me. Hopefully after you finish this list I won't have scared any of you off!

Gulp, here goes!

1. I cannot stand when my toe nails and fingers are different colors. They are always painted exactly the same.
2. I have three little sisters, the youngest is only 15 and the oldest is 21.
3. My favorite song is Don't Stop Believing, by Journey. When my Little Man was a baby he wouldn't eat unless it was playing.
4. My favorite food is black olives, I can't stand green ones unless they are in dirty martini (which is my drink of choice.)
5. I have never been bowling. Never.
6. My favorite movie is Forest Gump. I have seen it at least 200 times and I still cry at the end.
7. I not-so-secretly dislike dogs, but love dog owners.
8. I get seasick. Bad.
9. I moved in with my husband after 5 months of dating, 2 of those months he lived in another country.
10. I have worn the same perfume for 16 years, Allure by Chanel. My husband now hates the smell.
11. If I could do anything I would go to culinary school.
12. I was *madly* in love with my college professor Dr. Nichols. He had a ponytail and an earring.
13. I would never date a guy with a ponytail or an earring.
14. When I was 14 I changed the spelling of my name to Robyn. 2 years later I changed it back to Robin.
15. I consider myself to be "from" California, but I actually spent the fist 12 years of my life in Colorado.
16. I think Steve Colbert is the sexiest man alive... followed closely by Anderson Cooper. Yes, I have a bit of a nerd fetish.
17. My favorite day of the week is Friday because that's when my US Weekly arrives. I won't open it until I can read the entire thing in one sitting.
18. I am living the exact life I always planned on living. Sometimes that freaks me out.
19. I sleep in an Gore 2008 T-Shirt every night.
20. I think about (and miss) my old job every day but I have never once considered going back.

So there you have it, 20 completely random things that you may not have known about me.

Thank you all for reading every day!! Muah!

As If I Didn't Have Enough Pressure.

As if I didn't have enough pressure to make baby number 2 a reality, the little man has now joined the cause.

Last Friday we met a little girl at the park who had a baby brother. She was very proud of the little guy and kept showing him to my Little Man. After a few minutes my LM came up and declared, very matter-of -factly:

"I want baby brother."

"Um, okay," I replied.

"I want one!" he excitedly yelled.

"Working on it bud," was about all I could come up with.

"I want brother, I want brother, I want brother!"

"You and me both kid, you and me both. "

Since the stork forgot to drop off a new brother for the LM, for now we are settling for his "baby" which he has named "Daddy." As an aside he likes to be called "Mommy" when he is holding the baby. Yep, confusing at best.

Here he is getting "Daddy" ready for bed.

What Book Were They Reading?

What book were they reading?

Maybe the better question is what were they smoking when they were reading that book and where can I get some?

See yesterday I had the pleasure of seeing the trailer for the new movie based on Eat, Pray, Snooze err Love and I have to say that it looks pretty good. Like really good. So again I have to ask what book were they reading?

As I have said here before I had really high hopes for this before I began reading it (yes, Oprah convinced me it would "change my life too.)"Eat I liked, because, well, I like to eat but somewhere in the middle of "Pray" I just simply lost my resolve to push through to "Love" (which I heard is not all that bad.) After writing that post I was elated to find out that I was not the only one who felt this way (thank you all, even if you were lying to make me feel better.)

I have picked it up a few times (um, once) since writing that post and in the end I figured I would just wait for the movie to come out to see how it all ends. This once anticipated torturous event has now turned into something I am actually looking forward to.

Really good trailer or possible awesome movie? You be the judge.

Oh Eat, Pray, Love... I just can't quit you.

You've Left Me No Choice.

Gisele, I'm sorry but you and I can no longer be "friends." This shouldn't come as a surprise to you but if you have to know it is because of the following:

• You did not wear maternity clothes during your pregnancy. As for the dreaded baby weight you said "I gained a little, but I kept using almost the same clothes, with minor adjustments to close in the belly." Yeah, I hate you.
• You had a natural birth and said "didn't hurt in the slightest." I've been there girlfriend and you are totally lying. I simply cannot be friends with a liar.
• This is what you recently said about gaining and losing the baby weight, "[I] only gained 30 pounds during pregnancy, and didn't find it very difficult to shed the weight once [I] gave birth. "I did kung fu up until two weeks before Benjamin was born, and yoga three days a week." Okay, I believe you about this. Again I hate you.

For these I can sort of forgive you, but after seeing this picture of you just a few months after giving birth.... well I'm sorry but you have left me no choice. Consider this our official break up.

In the end you only have yourself to blame.

The Three Week Countdown.

Finally I have some baby news to report. Nothing too exciting (believe me you will know) but at last we have a date set for our embryo transfer. Up until today we were in a bit of a holding pattern (I'll spare you the specifics) but we now finally have a set day when I will be getting my little egglet back where it belongs.

Three weeks from today we will be going in for what I hope is the end of this baby mama drama (hope, but am completely realistic about the odds.) Three weeks from today we will get our 1 perfect little blastocyst put in, and then 7-14 days later we will know if it worked or not. While these dates don't mean a whole lot to the process, in my head they have done wonders. I am one of those people who has to feel like I am doing something (anything, everything) to fix a problem and all of this waiting has been driving me nuts and I feel so relieved to have these set dates on the calendar (yes I have them circled in red, I am one of those people.)

Three weeks until painless transfer; check. 5 weeks until we know whether or not out little blast made it; check. 15 weeks until we would (technically) be out of the woods; check. A baby born possibly around Christmas; check, check, check. You see where I'm going with this don't you? For today at least I feel like we have a plan. Today I feel like we are being proactive. Today I have hope.

So if you all wouldn't mind again crossing your fingers and toes for me, I'm pretty sure we could use all the good wishes you can muster. I'll make sure to report back in 5 weeks with some news. Good or bad at least we will finally know something.

That Damn Dress.

For the past few weeks I have been haunted by a dress. Yes, the above show has become "that damn dress" in my world. Everywhere I turn I see this dress. It is in every magazine, on every billboard, and even today I passed it at a bus station. Why is this dress haunting me? Because I am totally and completely unable to get my grubby little paws on it.

I love this dress. I love the watercolor effect, love the kimono style, love the flowy sleeves, love, love, love it. The price? It doesn't get much cheaper than 19.99$. Seriously, that is like the price of a sandwich and a coffee around here, so needless to say I want this dress. W.A.N.T. No, it is not going to be part of my "lifetime" collection, but for a one season wear I think it is about the sweetest deal in town. If I lived in a town in "pretend land."

See the problem is that his amazingly, magnificent dress doesn't exist. Sure it exists somewhere but not anywhere that I can find. It is made by H&M which means it might as well be made by Lanvin, the two are equally impossible to fine. Yes, there is an H&M on every corner, but as most of you know H&M is the kind of place where you shop when you aren't actually looking for anything specific. Go in looking for a dress that is in ALL OF THEIR ADDS and they will look at you like you are some kind of crazy person. Go in a second time with a picture of said add and you will be kindly escorted out. Go in a third time pointing at the picture IN THEIR WINDOW and the men in blue will be there faster than you can say discount shopping (no that did not really happen.) The point is if you advertise a dress shouldn't you then have to carry it?

No. Apparently not.

So far this dress has been able to allude me, but what it does not know is that my fabulous sister-in-law just so happens to live and work in Manhattan (I know, jealous right?) and Manhattan also happens to be home to the mother of all H&Ms. Basically if this dress truly exists than it should be there. My lovely has agreed to fight the crowds this evening in search of that damn dress. May the force be with her!!!!

Update to follow.

Spring Additions.

Over the past few weeks I have received a few emails asking me what I have my eye on for Spring. Specifically, I got a few requests to "peek" inside my Spring shopping bag. I hate to disappoint, but this season I have made only a few additions to my Spring/Summer wardrobe (yes, honey you can take a deep breath.) Over the past year or two I have gone through such a major wardrobe overhaul that I feel like I still have so many pieces that are perfect for the upcoming season(s) that this year I have kept things pretty basic. That doesn't mean I'm not always on the look for a little wardrobe pick me up so over the past week I have gotten some key pieces that I think are really versatile and are still pretty on trend. So without further ado here are my spring must haves.

I'm loving the whole "utility chic" look and as you can see this is one trend that I have adopted wholeheartedly. Cargo pants that can be worn to the park then to dinner, meaning comfort + style? Yes, you had me at "Hello." I'm also lurving the nautical trend. I cannot get enough of navy and white and as you can see this is going to be my costume for the warmer months. I picked up those skinny, cropped jeans to pair pair with the über comfy striped T, topped with a navy linen scarf and awesome army jacket...yes, yes, yes! Throw in that delicious neutral dress which I plan on wearing now with tights and boots and in the Spring with a pair of gray suede wedges that I purchased at the end of last season when the temperature rises, and I must say that I minimalism looks pretty damn good right now. Not pictured is a navy "cape like" cardi made of light wool that I found at Club Monaco last week which I plan on mixing and matching between the items (yes, I may have to go to navy anonymous sooner rather than later.)

I'm still on the lookout for some fun patterned dresses as Summer nears but for now I'm more than happy with my little wardrobe update. I learned in the last few years that buying a few key "quality" pieces really is the way to go. There isn't anything in the last 2 years that I have purchased that I don't still love, and I plan on continuing to wear them (along with the newbies) season after season.

So there you have it, a true peek inside my shopping bag. What are you all wearing this Spring? I showed you mine, now you show me yours!

Clockwise from top left:

1. Army Jacket: Calypso
2. Shirt A.L.C: Intermix
3. Linen Scarf: Calypso
4. MIH Skinny Jean: Dress
5. Marrakech Cargo Pant: Intermix
6. Tunic, Josh Podoll: Calypso

Where Was This When I Was 21?

Wednesday morning I tweeted that I needed a hangover cure stat. Sadly, the twitter world was not able to answer my prayers, but because miracles do happen, that very same day I found what had been missing from the past 10 13 years (sorry mom) of my life. Yes, a cure for a hangover. No joke this really works!

The *magical* potion was found like this:

(8am call to BFF)

Me: Head Hurty

Bff: Right there with ya sister.

Me: Why did I think it was suck a good idea to have 5 glasses of wine last night?

Bff: Yeah, I'm not sure.

Me: Can you kill me now?

Bff: Probably not.

Me: LM up at 6, how am I going to survive until nap?

Bff: You need cure all tea.

Me: Cure all what?

Bff: Cure all tea, from the Kind Diet. Remember discussing this in detail last night?

Me: No, head hurty.

Bff: Meet me at the park in an hour and I'll bring you a cup.

Me: I owe you my life.

(Fast forward 2 hours and one large glass of salty tea later.)

Me: Holy shit it works!

Bff: Told you.

I am a believer! Never before has something made me feel so much better so damn fast. Alicia Silverstone must have sold her soul to the devil himself because this tea truly is other worldly. After I was cured I immediately rushed out and bought the book (yes, I am always late to the bandwagon) and thus far I haven't been disappointed. I'll save you all the 17.95$ and the pounding headache and share the recipe with you myself, but I must also highly recommend this book. We are 90 % vegetarian, and have a similar lifestyle to the one discussed, even so I am finding it a fascinating read and the recipes alone have made it worth the purchase price. I promise to try out almost all of them and share with you the best of the best.

In preparation for St. Patrick's day here is the Cure All Tea (note I found all the ingredients at Whole Foods.) It is recommended for hangovers, nausea, heartburn relief, to soothe digestion, and basically if you have a case of the blahs.

Serves 1

1 Kukicha tea bag(I've also used green)

1/4- 1/2 Umeboshi plum, pit removed and chopped very fine

3-5 drops Shoyu (it's a type of soy sauce)

Seep the tea in 1 cup of boiling water. While the tea seeps, place the Umeboshi plum into a teacup with the Shoyu. Pour the tea over the plum and stir well. Drink hot.

A cure for a hangover, where was this when I was 21? Hmmm perhaps it's a good thing I only found this now!

(Photo Credit: From Here)

I Blame Hoarders.

Is anyone else out there as obsessed with the show Hoarders as I am? Yeah, I figured as much. For those of you who haven't seen it, it's basically an Intervention type show about people who are Hoarders. What is a hoarder? A hoarder is a person who attaches sentimental value to any material possession, literally keeps everything, and is unable to throw away anything; a hoarder is basically the complete and total opposite of me.

Confession: I get so freaked out by "stuff" that I am always the first to want to give anything and everything away if I think that we no longer have a use for it (shoes and bags not included.) This is great, and allows us to live a pretty clutter free lifestyle unless and until we actually need the thing that I threw/ gave away (hence my 2 hour search for a denim jacket this morning.) I realize it is a bit strange that I love the show Hoarders given my fear of accumulating stuff. But I just can't help it, I love that damn show. I love it because when I watch it I seriously start to twitch and sweat, my heart starts racing and about 5 minutes in I become possessed and begin to clean and organize every inch of my 1800 square foot home. Every. Single. Inch. Honestly, our home has never looked better but trust me there is a downside to this insanity. The other day my husband came in and I was in the kitchen surrounded by every single utensil and appliance that we own, deciding whether they could be better organized (they couldn't) and in the background I was watching a woman stand in a kitchen that she couldn't even walk through. Yeah, we had a little bit of crazy going on. Given that "episode" I guess it shouldn't have come as a surprise that when I went to the DVR today all of my episodes had been deleted. All of them. I'm guessing "someone" would rather not come home to a deranged spoon organizer.

While I can part with almost anything, I have begun to notice that this rule doesn't apply to the Little Man. Specifically, it doesn't apply to anything the Little Man has ever created. Yes, I am talking about the dreaded artwork. I am not joking when I say that we are on our way to being overrun with his projects. Every time I pick him up from school, he has another 5 "creations" that are being sent home with him. In the beginning I taped them to the fridge. Then to the windows. Then to the walls in the kitchen. And, well, then I ran out of room. I realize that I could make a book of them but given that my guy is only 2 and already has three full baby books I'm wondering how many this kid is going to want when he goes off to college (zero.) At this rate he will have about 25. That's why I got so excited when I saw this on one my favorite website Ohdeedoh. Here is the answer to my clutter nightmare:

A framed photo collage made up off all that beautiful artwork! This may be the coolest idea ever (this and indoor plumbing.) From what I gather all you do is shrink and color copy your favorite pieces and arrange them in a gallery frame. The possibilities are endless. I'm thinking I would do a few by season and then change the artwork every few moths while keeping the same frame. I also love the idea that as the child grows so can the artwork. This is just what a crazy minimalist like myself dreams of! (No joke I dream of organizing in my sleep, yes I may need therapy.) But whether you are crazy or not this idea could work for everyone and it is so simple and easy.

Now I'm off to sort through my favorites, meaning I am off to copy every single picture that little boy ever made. Not only do I get to organize those pictures, but I then get to lay them out in a frame? This is a girls' dream!!!!!

Yep, definitely need therapy.

Happy cleaning everyone!

Next Stop London 2012?

Yummy Mummy is *officially* a soccer mom! For the last few months my little man has joined a little league of soccer super stars (ahem toddlers) and while the kids don't actually play any "real" games they do have an awesome time running around trying to kick the balls into an extra large net. Every week I am tempted to bring orange slices and Gatorade for our hard working players but then I remember that they are only two and the there is plenty of soccer games in our future. Maybe London 2012 is an impossibility (that damn age restriction) but as with most sports it's really about how you look playing isn't it? Hmmm at least that's what I told myself all those years ago when I was on the team (sadly a varsity player I was not.) Well, as you can see these boys have the look down pat... now if I could just get my little man to stop using his hands!

These awesome pictures were taken by Jaimie Arnold of Jaimie Arnold photography. If you live in Mass and are thinking of having portraits taken, trust me this is your girl! Her website can be found here.

The Family Book.

Over the weekend my Little Man and I attended his school's book fair. Lately my little man has been *obsessed* with reading so I was very excited to pick up some new books. The event was well organized and I was thrilled when I saw that there was a table of books "recommended" by his teachers for kids in his age group. I picked up The Family Book first and within the first 4 pages I declared that this book the best kids book I have ever read, and by the end I had tears rolling down my cheeks. We brought it home and my little man has already read it about 1000 times. I cannot tell you how good it feels to see my little boy getting such an important lesson in diversity in such a way that is fun and easy for him to understand. This book truly celebrates all families and teaches kids that no family is the same, and because of that every family is special.

The text reads as follows:

Some families are big.

Some families are small.

Some families are the same color.

Some families are different colors.

All families like to hug each other.

Some families live near each other.

Some families live far from each other.

Some families look alike.

Some families look like their pets.

All families are sad when they loose someone they love.

Some families have a stepmom or stepdad and stepsisters or stepbrothers.

Some families adopt children.

Some families have two moms or two dads.

Some families have one parent instead of two.

All families like to celebrate special days together.

Some families eat the same things.

Some families eat different things.

Some families like to be quiet.

Some families like to be noisy.

Some families like to be clean.

Some families like to be messy.

Some families live in a house by themselves.

Some families live in a house with other families.

All families can help each other be strong.

There are lots of different ways to be a family. Your family is special no matter what kind it is.

This amazing book is written by a man, Todd Parr, who's "family" consists of his dog Bully. The illustrations are simple yet done in a way that even children as young as two are able to easily understand the message that the book is aiming to convey. The author has written over 30 books, each with messages of peace, love, and celebrating who you are and the uniqueness of those around us. I am so excited to start adding to our library with these awesome books.

The whole collection can be found here.

Spring Fever.

Okay, I realize that today it is only in the Mid 50's, but after 5 months of cold and dreary weather it feels as though spring is here! Maybe not quite Spring but at least a sneak preview of Spring. The streets and parks are filled with people who are just as excited as I am to get out and spend some time in the warmer weather. Tonight we will take the bike out for our usual grocery run, and tomorrow I plan on spending the entire day at the park soaking up the sun with my little man. Spring may still be a few weeks away, but for this weekend at least I have to admit that I've got the fever. We still may have to wear our jackets, but today I feel something like this on the inside. It's never ceases to amaze me how a few degrees can really change your mood. Today's outlook? Sunny with a chance of pure happiness.

I hope wherever you are this weekend you are also getting some warmer weather. A little Spring goes a long way.

(Photo Credit: The sartorialist)

Easy 15 Minute Tuscan White Bean and Kale Soup.

A warm and yummy dinner in less than 15 minutes? No you are not dreaming. This is one of my very favorite recipes and is something that I serve often (ahem weekly) during the cold Winter months. I love it because it is so easy but it is also delicious, inexpensive, hearty, and amazingly healthy as well. 15 minutes from beginning prep to table? Yeah, you can thank me anytime!

Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 cup diced yellow onion

4 large garlic cloves, roughly chopped

1 (32-ounce) box Vegetable Broth

4 cups packed chopped kale

1 (14.5-ounce) Italian-Style Diced Tomatoes

2 (14.5-ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

1 (14.5-ounce) Sliced Carrots, drained; or two large carrots, peeled and sliced

Method

In a large saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and cook 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook 2 minutes longer. Add broth, kale and tomatoes (and fresh carrots, if using) and cover. Cook 5 minutes or until kale is tender. Add beans and canned carrots and heat thoroughly. Serve hot. If desired top with crunchy croutons and grated Pecorino Romano cheese.

Serves 4 as a side, 2 as a Main Course.

There's An Upside To "Waiting."

I finally found an upside to our "waiting" to have baby number two. (Yes, that's how I'm going to play this thing from now on.) It turns out that one of my very favorite home designers was also "waiting" to unleash his Jr. line. That's right, Jonathan Adler (swoon) is starting up a line that is directed towards the little people that share our space. The pieces are expected to be available online in mid May, and from this preview I can assure you that I will be first in line. I have already been dreaming of this lamp from his "adult" collection for the nursery in my head, and I can only imagine how many other amazing pieces he is going to come out with. With his new store on Newbury only minutes away... well now I know why we waited so long. (sarcasm, sarcasm, sarcasm.)

(Photo Credit: From Here)

The Road Not Taken

Now that I am firmly in my thirties (by about 200 days) I often find myself thinking about the road not taken. Whether it was my career choice, the choice to leave my career, someone I dated, and or moving away from the town I called home, I find myself wondering if I made the right choices in my life. Don't get me wrong I love how things turned out and where I am at right now, but I must admit that I sometimes find myself sometimes romanticising my "former" life. You know the one, the pre-kids, or pre-husband life. The one where the whole world was wide open and although it was scary there was something exhilarating about the unknown and knowing that you had your whole life in front of you.

I remember countless nights sitting with friends talking about who we would marry (was it the guy I was at the time obsessed with, or some unknown stranger,) wondering what my kids would look like (I wanted a blue eyed blond hair girl,) and how my career would turn out (I was pretty positive that I would be the Angie Harmon character from Law and Order.) All of these things were just dreams 10 years ago and now when I wake up I realize that my life is pretty much decided. I got the husband part right (who fell into the "unknown" category) the baby (except for the girl part,) and while I definitely wasn't Angie Harmon I still have very fond memories of my time at the DA's office. I got almost everything I wished for yet I can't help thinking about the what ifs.

What if I had married someone else, what if I had chosen another career that was more family friendly, i.e. one that I could do part time, what if we moved back to California when we had the chance, what if I hadn't decided to stay home would I still love my job as much as I remember loving it? What if, what if, what if. I guess my question is how much "whatifing" is good, and how much of it just keeps you living in the past? I know I'm not the only one out there who has these thoughts and lately I have had many of those "grass is always greener" talks. Part of me thinks that it is healthy to have these thoughts and to evaluate your life and how you go there. Otherwise how are you going to know where you are going?

The problem, I now realize, is that after a few years the reality of a situation becomes muddy and I truly believe that we often insert positive memories into places where we have forgotten the actual details. A person, place, or thing can take on more meaning that they ever actually had, and we forget why we made the choice we did in the first place. I am the first to admit I have a very creative imagination and I absolutely color things with a more positive spin than they may be owed.

Recently having gone back home, seeing people from my past, and also spending some time with people from my work life I am staring to realize that the life "in my head" is very different that the "real life" that I would be living had I gone a different route. While I may have these romantic notions about how my life would have been, I can say with 100 percent certainty that I am better off having made the choices that I made. Were they the right choices? I guess I will never know, but in the end they are my choices and I realize that I am lucky to have such an amazing husband and son, and a life that allows me to spend all of my time with the both of them. I also have an awesome healthy family, and some pretty kick ass girlfriends. What more could one person ask for? The road not taken may have turned out better, but the more likely possibility is that it would have turned out much, much worse.

The bottom line is that I'm done living in the past, and unlike when I was in my 20's I don't want to live in the future. I think for the first time I am going to see what it is live more in the now and know that the choices I made were made for a reason, even if I can't remember what that reason was. For me I think it's important to take off the rose colored glasses and to try to remember people and places for what they were (and are) and everyday be more confident in the decisions that I made. This quote says it all.

You can clutch the past so tightly to your chest that it leaves your arms too full to embrace the present. ~Jan Glidewell

Amen to that.

How do all of you deal with "road not taken?"

(Photo Credit: From Here)

Line I Love: Orion London.

I am so over winter fashion. As in O.V.E.R. If I have to pull out another skinny jean/ sweater/ boot/ scarf combo I may have to hang myself in my closet! (how's that for being dramatic?) I now find myself dreaming of floral dresses, sandals and bare legs almost as much as I find myself dreaming of baby number two. (Yes, that much...sense the desperation?) I now lust after spring fashions like I lust after a 90 degree sunny day.

The other day when I went on Gilt I thought that I must have been dreaming when I came across the frocks at the Orion London sale. Awesome boho prints, beautiful floral patterns, basically the whole line screamed Spring. Sadly I missed out on all the bargains, but my world was opened to this adorable brand. I went to their website and was amazed to find that they had literally hundreds of different designs. They are all such easy pieces, and almost every single one could be worn in the warmer seasons with sandals and in the colder months with tights and heels. A four season wear? You can't really beat that.

Here are a few of my favorites.

Today there was a notice that they now have distributors in the US and with their reasonable prices this is definitely a line I love.

20 days until Spring..... I think I can.

Clearly A Man Designed This Place.

I just got home from the fertility doctor (in 21 days (ish) we will transfer our blastocyst assuming it survives the thaw) and I have to admit that I am always a bit annoyed when I walk out of that place. I love our doctor, love the location, love the facility and I am very happy with our current plan. What I don't love? The fact that the Fertility Center is located smack in the middle of the OB portion of the building. Like RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE. Who goes to the OB? Pregnant women. Lots and lots and lots of pregnant women. Who doesn't *love* pregnant women? Infertile women. Yeah, clearly a man designed this place.

Who else would think that it would be an enjoyable experience for an "infertile" to be surrounded in line, such as I was today, by 10 (yes 1o) noticeably pregnant women? It's not that I have anything against them and I have been to the place so many times that it doesn't even phase me when I see them anymore. I just think that perhaps it is not necessary for me to swim in the fertile sea and then be dragged back into my little infertility hole. If your going to give me a sip of wine, can't I just have the whole damn bottle? Oh, and the 4 foot partition that runs 1/4 of the room doesn't really hide the fact that we are not one of them, it just makes it harder to glare from across the room, not that I would ever do that (insert sarcasm here.)

The funny thing is that even when I was on the other side of that faux wall I thought the same thing. When I was pregnant with my little man I was one of those happy full bellied women. I would sit on my "side" and watch all of the couples going into the little fertility office and I would find myself guessing what their situation was. Obviously I was blissfully unaware of the world of infertility but I remember how cruel it felt to sit there and rub my belly while someone who was having trouble conceiving had to watch. Even worse when I miscarried with baby number two the ultrasound rooms were full of still pregnant women, so I was ushered through the fertile section and was paraded in front of everyone until an infertile room opened up. Awesome.

Maybe one of these days (when I am no longer in need of their fertile or infertile services) I will write to the folks over at Harvard Vanguard and let them know that the next time they design a medical facility perhaps they should make sure that a woman is in charge. I have a hard time believing that a woman (even a childless one) would make such a poor choice in planning.

What's next, a McDonalds in the middle of the cardiac wing?

(Photo Credit: From Here)