Weekend Links

Friday, January 30, 2015


Happy snowy Friday!  I can't even believe it after the week we've had, but it's again snowing outside and guess what's in the forecast... more snow!  The LM and I aren't complaining because we have a hot ski date tomorrow and let me tell you, chasing my kid down the mountain on my snowboard in the soft, newly fallen snow is MUCH more desirable than chasing him down the mountain on ice that feel like concrete when you wipe out.  Which I do.  A lot.  Other than that we are going to try to stay as cozy as possible.  I've stocked up on tea, hot chocolate and wine... lots and lots of wine. I'm most looking forward to starting this show tonight with my love.  I've heard so many good things and ever since we finished binge watching The Killing (amazing) we've been kind of in a funk at night.  Whatever your plans are, I hope you stay warm and safe!  Here are a few links from around the web that caught me eye this week. xoxo


Speaking of being lost since something ended, Thursdays just aren't the same without Serial.  This completely unsubstantiated theory explains everything!!!

Made me laugh out loud.

A look behind the scenes of red carpet award shows.

Moss graffiti is INSANE, and I want to do it somewhere... immediately.

People who became successful after age 40... there is still time!

Just another reason why I love penning this blog.  While I'm not exactly rewriting history, keeping this online journal is so therapeutic for me, and by focusing on and writing about the positive aspects of our lives, I am really able to find so much more joy in my life.

Can we seriously start doing something about maternity leave policies in the US?  I have a feeling if we could get more women in power things would stop moving at a snails pace.

Skip the gym and have a glass of wine instead? Um, okay! Haha, I prefer to do both, but still this is good news!

I use to live and breathe core fusion at Exhale, but after some of my favorite instructors left and I got burned by their crazy cancellation policy I cancelled my membership.  I often think about going back, but things like this definitely turn me off!  Turns out you might need boxing gloves for you next barre class!

27 diagrams that make cooking so much easier.

I really related to this article, having suffered a 10 week miscarriage and not really knowing how to tell people.  During my third pregnancy, being open about our fertility struggle and sharing the early complications was a lifeline for me, and having the support of those around us made all the difference in the world

Finally, 19 healthy crockpot recipes.  I tell you what, I've been using mine more than ever this winter and it really is game changer.  Coming home to a fully prepared and WARM meal at the end of a cold day is gold!!!



Do You Dare To Go Bare?

Thursday, January 29, 2015


Are you a big mascara fan?

I used to be and would never leave the house without it, but over the years I've started to think it's more hassle than it's worth.  I naturally have very long lashes and I touch my eyes a lot because I wear glasses, so by the end of every day I end up having a second line of mascara flaked underneath my eyes.  Trust me when I say that this was not a good look.

I tried about a dozen different brands, and I had better luck with waterproof mascara, but I found it so hard to get off at night that I was basically rubbing my skin raw.  Again not a good look.  About a year ago, I gave up mascara completely, unless I was going out somewhere at night, and while I didn't miss the dark flakes or the red under eyes, I did miss the polish that it gave especially when I was out of my daily uniform of jeans and sneakers.  I had this great idea that I would just get my lashes tinted, but that was quickly quashed when I found out doing so was illegal in Massachusetts so I went in search of something new.

Even though I'm not a huge fan of eyeliner, one day I was getting ready to go out and I found an old stick in my bathroom drawer.  Just for fun I drew on a pretty thick line, just to see what it would look like without mascara, and you know what?  I loved it.  Since that day, whenever I am getting dressed up, I always sweep on a light shadow and follow it up with a thick sweep of liner.  It gives the illusion of dark lashes without any of the flaking or running and at the end of the day it is so much easier to get off.  Last summer I even experimented with colored liner (my favorite being blue) and I loved how fresh it looked without the heavy lash line around it.  Now, I get so many compliments when I am "done up" believe me when I say a little liner and some chap stick go a long way.  I've experimented with a few brands and thought I'd share my favorites with you.


When I am really looking for that va va voom effect my go to is definitely Stila Stay All Day Eyeliner.  This is one foolproof liner that really does stay all day.


Jouer Liquid Eyeliner in Charcoal is my absolute favorite for daily use.  It goes on easy, comes of without a lot of rubbing and the charcoal color is a little less intense than the black.  The slight shimmer is really illuminating, and really makes my blue eyes pop.


Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Chaos. This is just about the best blue there is, and I love the creamy finish and how easily it glides on.  Paired with a simple white dress, this is my go-to look for summer.

How about you?  Do you dare to go bare? I think from now on I'm just saying no when it comes to mascara.

Pink Hair... Don't Care

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

 The kids and I survived snowmageddon, the blizzard of 2015, or "the end of the world" as the news would tell it and after two days I'm pretty positive that if the three of us had to spend another day cooped up in the house, it would have been us that would have led to each other's  demise... not the storm outside.  So far school is on for tomorrow and if I had a way to describe how that feels, it would be that emoji with the two hands up in the air praising the heavens.  Yeah, I'm ready. 

In all my excitement over my blog redesign and my e-design launch, I completely forgot to share with you my new pink hair!  Yes I took the plunge and I, and possibly only I, am in love.  Okay, that's not fair, I'm sure some others like it but I have been getting a few stares and I'm pretty sure they aren't looks of desire.  Oh well, c'est la vie... right!


Now Available- E-Design Services

Monday, January 26, 2015

I am so incredibly excited to announce that I am now accepting e-design work!!!  

After working on our home, some projects for friends and family members, and a few clients, I have realized that home design truly is a passion for me and I can think of no better way to share it with all of you than to actually come into your home to help you figure out some of those places and spaces that have been nagging you for far too long!  I am constantly getting emails from friends and readers asking for design help, and I am excited to finally be able to say yes to all of you!


How it works:

If you are interested in designing a room, contact me, and I will be in touch with you within 1-2 days depending on demand.  After seeing pictures of your space, learning more about what your likes and dislikes are, what you would like to keep/replace and what your budget is, I will create a board like the ones below to give you a feel for my vision of your space.  Once we settle on a design concept you will receive links to all the resources to complete the look, which will all be within the proposed budget.  This way you can purchase the items on your own timeline, and once you have received everything I will work with you to help you complete your space.  My fee will be a  flat one, and I will work with you until you are satisfied with your home.  Because this is a new endeavor, my services are reasonably priced.  Please contact me at robinanderson09@gmail to learn more!

I feel like my talent lies in creating beautiful rooms on smaller budgets, so I want you to know that no budget is too small.   These sample boards were all created only using products from big box stores, or inexpensive online retailers and etsy.  As you can see you can definitely get a big look with a small budget!!!

I can't wait to begin working with you! As always thank you for your support! xx

Master Bedroom Makeover


Living Room on a Budget


Teen Girls Room


Teen Girls Room


Teen Boys Room


Nursery/ Guest Room


Home Lust Item: Banquette Seating

Thursday, January 22, 2015

Ever since the LM was born, it has been a rare occasion that all of us would eat dinner together as a family, when we are at home.  From about the time he started eating table food,  I would make the LM dinner around 5:30-6, and either myself or my husband would sit with him while he ate.  Typically, after he went to bed around 7- 7:30 pm we would eat our "grown up" dinner together, and pretty much do nothing but revel in the quiet.  Right before his fourth birthday, I started to notice that he would eat a little later, and we would eat a little earlier, and he would be open to having some version of the same thing we were, so by chance we were actually having the mystical and elusive family dinner. 

 Then Gray came along, and the whole thing started over.  Recently, due to my husband's inability to sit down because of his pain saga, the boys have started eating dinner on the counter stools while I make our adult meal.  Somehow, and without me even knowing, we started having a family dinner.   

Okay, so technically we aren't eating dinner together, but because they are facing me while I cook, it feels like we are.  On a typical night,  I'll be in the kitchen making diner for my husband and I, and they will be eating their dinner at the counter when my husband comes home.  Both of us will grab a glass of wine for what I annoyingly call "wine time" (not to be confused with "tea time" which comes around 8:30pm ;)) and we both kind of flank the boys and catch up everyone's day.  As soon as the boys are done eating, they move to the living room (a whole 4 feet away) and I switch out their food for ours.  One or both will climb back up, sampling what we are having (or in Gray's case eating my dinner as his second meal) and surprisingly, it has been a really nice change of pace. 

While this works great in our current space, when I dream of our next home (which in all honesty could happen in the next 5 years-  never) the one thing that I know I absolutely want is banquette seating in the kitchen.  Sure, the counter stools we have are great while the boys are young, but the truth is they aren't all that comfortable, and no one would ever say, "I'm just going to hang here a little longer because this feels so good."  I don't know about your kids, but mine pretty much inhale their food as fast as they can to get back to whatever it is that they were doing before, so what we have works perfectly fine,  BUT I have these dreams of teenagers (college students, adults... eek) coming in, throwing down their backpack, kicking off their shoes, and piling in amongst the throw pillows and saying "mom, do you have anything to eat."  If the kitchen is the heart of the home, I can't real think of a better way to make it more inviting than with some great, comfortable seating.  I have some ideas of how we could make it work in our current home, but trust me, it going to be a long, long time before I start making any changes around here after that last impromptu kitchen renovation.

Until then I'll dream of my banquette, and trust me when I say that in my dreams it looks EXACTLY like the top photograph.  I could pretty much stop there, but there is just so much banquette inspiration out there, it seems that whatever your style, there is something that is sure to fit every taste, and every kitchen. 

Behold my dream... 









... one day. 

Currently Loving: Montiel Athletic Wear

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

I don't know about you, but I've hard a very hard time finding cute, comfortable, quality workout clothes.  It's like the three little bears, this one is too tight, this one is too see-thru, this one will fall apart in like 5 minutes... this one is just right!  The best brand is clearly lululemon, but 1) their stuff is incredibly overpriced and, 2) most importantly, from what I've read and continue to read, they are a terrible company.  The fat shaming, the child labor, the denial of product failures, the list goes on and on.  A few years back, I tried out a couple of different brands given the bad press I was reading, and was so incredibly disappointed when I would find seams coming apart after washing, or color bleeding... so I went back to lulu.  I'm not kidding when I say I have serious guilt over this.

This is why I was beyond excited to discover the new athletic company Montiel!  Their clothes are insanely adorable, and the quality is incredible.  Even better, everything is much less than the cost of lululemon!!!  I have  been looking for white leggings everywhere, and picked up a pair from Monteil and let me tell you, they are awesome!  I was so worried that they would be thin, which is not a good idea when you are wearing skin tight white, but to my surprise they are not only thick but so flattering.  I'm completely sold.  You can view the whole line here, and below are my favorites.


















Hello and Welcome!

Tuesday, January 20, 2015


Hello and welcome to my new and improved site!  For those of you doing a second take, yes it's still me Robin, aka Diary of a Yummy Mummy and you are definitely in the right place!

After almost 7 years of blogging (!!!) I felt like it was time for this space to better reflect where I am at this point in my life, and as much as I loved being Yummy Mummy the truth is most days I felt a lot more mummy, than yummy.  I started this blog on a whim in 2008, as a way to stay connected to my friends and family members after the birth of our little man, and at the time I had no idea where this online journey would take me.  Here I am, no longer the mother to an infant, but rather the mother of two big boys, and even though it's been temping to walk away over the years, I just can't quit this space (said in a Brokeback Mountain voice.)  Everything will stay business as usual around here, and I even have a few fun projects in the pipeline that I'll be sharing in the new few months! This new redesign signifies my renewed commitment to this blog, and I'm looking forward to sharing more of our life over the coming years. 

I wanted to thank all of you for reading over the years, and for your continued support and comments.  I'm really excited about this next chapter and hope you will continue to follow along! 

Weekend Links

Friday, January 16, 2015

 

Happy Friday!  What are you all up to this weekend?  Our winter weekends have started to fall in to the same routine, and I have to say that I'm loving it.  On Saturdays, I take the LM skiing while Gray stays home with Daddy, and on Sunday I take the boys with me to yoga (my gym has a great daycare) and then as a reward we do something super fun in the afternoon (like Legoland, or the movies, or an indoor playground.)  It's been working great for everyone, except my husband has been looking for something fun to do with them while still being able to recover from his surgery.  This weekend we are starting "donuts with dad," which means he is in charge of getting them out the door and to the Dunkin Donuts a few blocks away.   My goal is to stay in bed the entire time... let's see if that actually happens.  I'm really hoping this becomes a thing because, man, that would be awesome.

I hope whatever your plans are that you are able to get some time to relax in.  Here are a few fun links that caught my eye, all Sunday morning in bed approved!!! xoxo



I've been thinking so much about "meaning" since reading this article.  I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Warby Parker's new Spring line is out!  I'm loving the gold!!!!!

Adorable yoga mats.  

A list of the top interior trends of 2015

I keep hearing about icing as being the new skin craze.  This is one that I can definitely get on board with since all it entails is taking a piece of ice, wrapping it in a cloth, and rubbing it all over your face in the morning.  Apparently, Kate Moss is a fan, which reason enough for me to give it a go.  Well, that and it's free!!!

When real life doesn't look like a lifestyle blog.  I took this one to heart and left the house without making beds today, which is something I NEVER do.  The world didn't fall apart and we made it to school on time without rushing.  Mind blown.

The debate is settled, the best way to load a dishwasher.  Done and done. 

I'm more than halfway though my 35th year of life, and this quote really resonated with me.  I have a tendency to dwell and sometimes I will still beat myself up for things I said or did in high school or college!  Lately, I've noticed I've been doing it so much less and sometimes not at all.  I can't even begin to tell you how good it feels to leave it all behind. s

Taco Bell?  I've always thought of Gwyneth as more of a Rubio's fish tacos kind of girl.  It's nice to see her acting a little more human.  Oh, and sweatpants for the win!

How to outsource your life.  I loved this is list and will never ever go to the post office again. 

The new trailer for the next installment of House of Cards is out and I can hardly make it though without rewinding.  I'm SO excited, the whole "we're survivors" part gives me head to toe chills.  Netflix... there are no words for how much I love you. 

Finally, I'm really taking a break from shopping again this year, but I have been desperate need of some new white jeans, given that my old paid were pretty much yellow from so much wear.  I ordered these and could not be happier.  They are freakishly soft and the cut is perfection.  If you are on the hunt, look no further!

(Photo via this site)

Just The Tip.

Thursday, January 15, 2015

It's been over a year now, since I died my hair platinum blonde and I have to say... I still LOVE it.  Like, love it.  Love with every fiber of my being.  I keep telling my girlfriend, it's like it was always meant to be this way, I'm never changing it!  Also, I'm still very content with my mid length hair.  I find it completely shocking that right now I have no desire to cut or grow it, and for someone who is never content with their hair, this is a good thing.  

Or is it?  

See, I've started to realize something about myself.  When we are in the throws of winter, I get restless.  I start needing to do something big.  Anything just to get excited.  A change is always needed.  My hair is usually the thing that gets changed, mostly because it's not that expensive, it's semi permanent, and well, it's just hair, but thinking back this is also when I started to dream of tattoos, re upholstery jobs, and tile.  Winter is cold and dark and it's so long. Yes, there are about a million things that we are so blessed with, but that doesn't make it any warmer or light any longer. 

I need to do something. 

I 've figured out what that something is.

I think I'm going to die my hair pink on Tuesday.  (gasp)

But not all my hair, just the tip.  Not even the whole tip, maybe just a few pieces painted on around the ends.  Kind of like ombre, but not that aggressive. 

Part of me (a big part) thinks this is a terrible idea.  I'm a 35 year old mother of two.  As much as I want to be Nicole Ritchie, I am not.  

BUT...

The other part of me is like, "why not."  It's just hair.  It won't be that crazy.  I'm already a little weird, and by the time fall rolls around I can just chop off the ends and be done with it.  Plus, my little sister said she would have no problem with me having in her wedding. 

Tuesday, I'm going in for my regular all over dye job and I'm going to see what my guy thinks.  For inspiration I'm bringing in these pictures of the lovely Caroline Ventura.  She did pink in a way that pink should always be done; subtle and beautiful.  I love the way it looks in this top photo.  That is exactly what my cut looks like, which makes me think this is a great idea.  





If my guy thinks he can do it, I'm going for it.  My husband and kids are only halfway on board, which makes me a little nervous.  It is possible that I'll chicken out, but I'm already obsessively thinking about it which means it's probably going to happen. 

You will be the first I tell.

If you want to weigh in, in the comments section I would love to hear what you think.  Do it!!!!!! is also welcome. 

You know there are going to be some pictures to follow. 

Great Storage Solution For a Small Space.

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Living in the city definitely has its perks, but one of the drawbacks is definitely a lack of storage space.  In our home, we have plenty of space for us, but for all our stuff?  Well, that can sometimes be a different story.  As much as I try to limit what we buy, and purge often, I still sometimes find myself overrun by our possessions, and there is no where more in need of storage than in our kitchen.  Our kitchen is an open concept, and it's small.  Really what that means is that we have just about as many cabinets as you possibly can have, and what we have is no where near enough for food, dishes, glasses, and all the "kid stuff."  (Those of you with kids know exactly what I'm talking about.) A few years ago, we purchased sideboard, and that was a game changer... finally our stemware, my grandmother's china and silver, and the kids board games had a home (lucky on opposite sides) and that worked great until the new kitchen countertops were put in.  In short, there is just no way I'm storing anything on them.  No cookbooks, no bowls, no toasters, no crap.  I keep my Nespresso machine out and a sweet little woven bowl I picked up in Costa Rica and that is it!  I know, I know, what great idea to get countertops that you actually want to see, when you are already lacking storage, but c'est la vie, I love them and I want to see them.  After cleaning out as much as I could from the existing cabinets, I realized what was left over really wasn't that much,  and I had a great little space by the kitchen that would be perfect for some shelves.  Originally, I wanted wood but I figured with all the butcher block and the wood sideboard, that would be too much.  I didn't want to spend bucks on this after just re-doing the kitchen so when I stumbled upon these inexpensive little shelves from CB2, I knew I was in business.  


Yes, that is faux brass and marble and yes, they are awesome.  I picked these guys up during some Christmas sale, and I pretty much squealed with delight after they were installed yesterday.  (They may be faux, but they sure are heavy as real marble so I had them professionally installed.)




 Now, all my favorite cookbooks and bowls have a place of their own, leaving the countertop clear and clutter free.  This is the first time EVER that has happened and let me tell you, I won't be turning back anytime soon.  I absolutely adore these shelves and think they would be perfect in a kitchen, home office, bathroom, or side by side in a living room, with leaning photos on top.  They look like the real deal, and even my husband didn't believe me when I told him they were only $50 dollars each.  If you are looking for a simple storage solution, this is it! 

Kitchen down, now if I could only get the clutter out from under the bathroom cabinets (just say no to free samples!!!) 

... to be continued. 

Patterned Tile... I'm Sold.

Monday, January 12, 2015

Lately, I feel like I've been seeing the same design over and over... and over when it comes to bathrooms and kitchens.  You know, white subway tile, dark grout, white marble counters, brass hardware, etc...  I get it, I do.  This scheme is gorgeous, functional, and subway tile won't break the bank.  Honestly, if we were starting from scratch, it is exactly what I would do in our bonus bathrooms, and would definitely consider something similar for a kitchen or bar area.  It just makes sense on all levels.  The thing is, nowadays it just seems like everyone has the same house.  It's like the great Tuscan takeover of 2000.  While these spaces are beautiful and enviable, for me it feels like they just feel like they can be lacking in personality and I have to wonder how dated these "modern" kitchens will soon feel, once they are in every model home in the country.

Those of you who have been reading this blog for a while know that a few years back I decided to jazz up our kitchen a little with some patterned tile, and I have to say that to this day it is the best design decision I've ever made.  It just added so much oomph to our home and it is the one thing that everyone still comments on when they come in our home.  The mini renovation that we did recently, only enhances how great the tile is, and I can honestly say that I've never been more excited to cook in my life.  I really do love being in that space!

I will do a full kitchen reveal soon, but until then, here is what our kitchen currently looks like, once all the construction dust settled.  As you can see the tile is most definitely the star of the room, and while it probably isn't everyone's style, it is so univocally me.  Like, if I were tile, I would be this tile and I would want to surround myself in navy, brass, neon pink, and butcher block.  Oh look, someone already did that ;).  You get what I'm saying though, when we put the backsplash in, it wasn't a budget buster, and it totally changed the whole personality of the room. I find myself constantly amazed when looking through blogs or magazines just how much impact can come from adding a little bit of patterned tile.  Below you can see my roundup of my all time favorite tiles, and each just goes to show how just adding a little bit of pattern can make a big difference.


Our kitchen. Man, I love her. 


I am obsessed with this fireplace, mostly because we have the same tile, but also because it's just so damn pretty.  I am absolutely copying this if and when we move!


Now THIS is a stairway to heaven! Tile on the stairs is never a bad idea. 


Never. 


Patterned tile in a more traditional kitchen... Yeah, I could live with that!


Some moroccan tile inspiration.  I swear I could look at this all day. 


The tile used here adds so much visual impact to what is a pretty neutral space.  Without it there would be no personality, but that backslash makes it a show stopper!


I love how this tile takes the plain subway to a whole new level.  That bathtub?  Well, I cry.  Someday. 


Again, subway and pattered tile... a killer combination.  A claw foot tub obviously doesn't hurt anything.  


This is probably my favorite tile of all time, and is perfect on the floor (below) or on the wall.  Talk about some serious impact. 



Wall to floor... clearly I need to meet this person, I'm pretty sure we'd be best friends. 


In my next home my one luxury item I'm demanding is an island and I love the idea of a white kitchen with a tiled island similar to this bar.  Throw in some black lower cabinets and you had me at hello!


Here there is some mixing of tiles, and I am not mad at it at all.  I also love the tile on the side of the tub!  This would be perfect if you had an old tub that you were looking to camouflage. 

What do you think?  Are you like me, do you love a pattern in a room, or is it something you shy away from?