Little Man In A Box.

Sometimes I really forget how little my Little Man actually is. His presence is always so BIG, that I sometimes lose sight of the fact that he is still less than 3 feet tall and under 35 pounds. Over the weekend the basement in our building flooded and for about 2 hours the two of us made up the entire emergency clean up crew. As I was taking the furniture off the floor in the function room I lost sight of my little guy, and it took me a minute or two to find him playing in a turned over box.

Here is our version of a "jack in the box."

Now if I could just find a lid! (kidding of course.)

Gratitude Topped With Powdered Sugar.

Yesterday, I was devastated to learn about the death of one of my favorite bloggers Marija. Her husband wrote a beautiful and heart breaking post letting the world know that his wife, and the mother of his two  children, had died in a car accident over the weekend as she was coming back from a weekend antiquing in Georgia. She was a beautiful woman inside and out and I was always drawn to her because her story vaguely resembled mine. Marija was a attorney, turned mom, turned interior designer, who had an eye for beautiful things which she shared daily through her blog. She was an inspiration to me and I simply cannot even begin to imagine the pain that her family is feeling, losing such a bright light at such an early age.

Reading through the last few weeks of her blog, I am sadly reminded that everyday is not a guarantee. I know that many of us, me included, take this for granted. We make plans, we go about our day. We work, take care of our children or ourselves, never stopping to appreciate the fact that just waking up that morning was a gift, and it is a gift that could so easily be taken away. Reading about the tragic loss of Marija has made me take stock of what I am grateful for, and for me I am most grateful that I get to spend every day with the love of my life, my little man.

When I was considering whether I wanted to leave my career to become a stay at home mom I never realized how lucky I was to be in a position to actually have a choice in the matter. For a long time I wondered if I made the right decision and now, almost three years later, I know with 100 percent certainty that I did. I am so grateful to my husband and my family that I was able to have this time with my little boy. Although it is not always easy, every day that I get to wake up and spend the day watching him learn and grow, truly is a gift.

The highlight of my day has to be making breakfast with my Little Man. This used to be a chore, but for the past few months it has become something special between us. I love walking up every morning knowing that in about 30 minutes I will be making French Toast with with the best sous-chef a girl could ask for. Every day we make the same thing (by order of the LM) and today, after hearing about the tragedy with Marija, my breakfast came topped with a little something extra; Gratitude. I am so grateful that I am here today, and I am so grateful that the LM and I again get to make our meal together. Today I will take the time to remember that there are no guarantees in this life, and that all of it can be taken away in an instant. My only wish is that tomorrow I will be able to again wake up and do the same.

Little Man's Cinnamon Raisin French Toast

Serves 2

Ingredients

2 eggs

4 pieces Cinnamon raisin toast

Splash of Milk

Maple Syrup

Powered Sugar

Greased Pan

(Strawberries and Raspberries as garnish)

Preparation

First pick out two eggs from the carton (this is the LM's favorite part.)

Shake the eggs (I'm not exactly sure why.)

And then crack them in the bowl. 

Add a splash of milk and stir.

Dip the Cinnamon Raisin Toast in the egg and then add to a greased pan over medium heat. Or "dip and flip" as the Little Man says. Cook each side until golden brown. 

Pour a small amount of maple syrup over the toast and allow for your sous-chef to add the powered sugar.

A quick wash of the hands.

The final product... gratitude topped with powdered sugar. 

My thoughts and prayers go out to Marija's family. She was a wonderful woman and her presence will be greatly missed.

EAT here.

# 801 of the reasons why I love to write this blog so much, is the great feedback that I get from all of you lovely readers. Take a few months ago, when I wrote about my devastation (okay, that's a little over dramatic), err my disappointment, at having to leave behind those awesome EAT letters at the Brimfield Fair because I couldn't figure out a way to get them to "fit" in our home. Well, that same day, an awesome reader commented that perhaps I should consider getting letters that could go OVER the cabinets. I 1) never would have thought of that, and 2) ordered new set of letters that same day. After waiting for months, my letters arrived last week and I was thrilled to find that they fit perfectly (just like the dear reader said) right over the cabinets. Rather than the white I originally saw,  I went with black, and these letters have the added bonus of being covered with paint that can be written on with chalk (and you know I'm a sucker for anything chalkboard related.) They were half the price of the Brimfield set and they stand on their own which means there is no need for  nails in the wall (something that drives my husband nuts.)

Now there is no doubt of where to EAT in this house (as if there was any before.)

I think they are great, and add the perfect amount of kitsch to what was a pretty sterile looking kitchen.

So again, thank you all for reading and for your wonderful comments, you can see that I truly take them to heart (and home.)

Summer Denim... It Sounds So Wrong, But It Looks So Right.

There are two words I never thought I would say together Summer + Denim, it sounds so wrong, but just it looks so right.

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Happy weekend my friends... stay "cool" out there.

She Wears Them... And Just Look At Her Ass.

Monday, I was stretching after a run jog at the gym and I looked down noticed that my shoes were literally coming apart at the seams. Not just at the seams, but the mesh netting was completely gone, and the sole of the shoe seemed to be somewhat removed from the body.*  One would think that I would have noticed before now that my shoes were falling apart, but the fact is I usually just throw them on when I get to the gym, and then take them off immediately after, so the truth is that they could have been like this for years without me noticing. Yes, I said years. I am slightly embarrassed to admit that my one and only pair of running/gym shoes was purchased for me, by my in-laws, in 2002. Uh huh, I've had them for 8 years. I wish I could say I've only worn them a few times since then, but I actually wear them about 4-5 times a week (which means they have been used and abused about 2,000** times for those of you counting.) Along the way there has been a couple of times that I thought about getting new shoes, but the fact is that the ones I have are just so comfy, and they fit my 5.5 size foot so perfectly, that, well, I just never got around to getting a new pair.

Well,  I'm afraid to say I think I'm going to have to finally bite the bullet and get a new pair. Really at this point there isn't any other choice. So, the need for a new pair of gym shoes leaves me with only one question, what kind of shoe should I get? See, the thing is I know nothing about athletic shoes, nothing. Ask me about a bootie, heel, wedge or sandal, and I could rattle off a few great selections at every price point, but a sneaker... let's just say that is not my area of expertise (hence the wearing of the same shoe for 8 years.)

In my search for a shoe to last me the next decade I have found myself drawn to the Reebok Reetone/ Easytone. Correction, I have found myself drawn to the picture of the woman who is wearing the somewhat ugly Reeboks. I mean, a shoe that promises to tone your tush while you walk and work out, hell for that I'd pay almost anything. I figured that this must be one of those "too good to be true things," so I asked my husband for his medical opinion. His response was two fold, 1) apparently they don't teach this kind of stuff in medical school (who knew?) and 2) a sneaker is not going to give me the tush that I dream of, so I should just get a normal shoe.

I would like to believe him, but I have two pieces of evidence that beg to differ.

Presenting Exhibits A and B.

I mean she wears them... and just look at her ass.

I'm still not completely sold on them, I think it's the fact that they are just so ugly and bulky that is holding me back, but I wonder if any of you readers out there have tried them. Are they really too good to be true? Also, if any of you have a shoe that you love and can recommend, please let me know,*** I really am clueless when it comes to things in this shoe (and ass) department. 

*nothing a little super glue can't fix, right?
** that breaks down to .045 cents a wear... pretty impressive.
***Jennifer Aniston butt not required.

How Long Is Too Long?

Growing up I was always under the assumption that "older" women had to have their hair a certain length. Of course, at the time, "older" to me was anything over the age of 30, and now that I am firmly in my thirties (okay, I'm 31) I find myself lusting after some seriously long locks.  As in L.U.S.T.I.N.G. I have been growing my hair out for about two years now, and I am at the point where I either need to go for it, or accept that maybe I am just too old mature for the hair of my dreams. I'm not quite sure where I got the idea that women of a certain age had to have their hair a certain length, but I think it must have come from my father (then again I easily could have just made this idea up in my head) but I began to think differently about this whole hair thing when I became friends with two of the yummiest mummies that I've ever seen, who even in their mid-thirties have amazingly, beautiful long hair that still looks completely age appropriate. Basically, this is just a long way of me saying that I think I'm going to go for it. I mean, why not. If 50 is the new 40, and 40 is the new 30, than isn't 31 the new 21? (I'll take the hair, and leave the long nights at the bars, thank you very much.)

How long am I thinking you ask? Well that very question was answered for me by the newest J.Crew* catalog (you've just got to love their incredible styling.)

What do we think? Can a woman in her 30's pull this off?

I guess I'm about to find out.

*Speaking of J.Crew I just picked up this, and this, which happen to combine my two favorite things, stripes and sequins. Yes, you had me at hello.

Oh Man Gawd!

Temperature outside: 98 degrees.

Temperature in my living room: 108 degrees.

Yes, we have a problem with our AC. And by "problem" I mean we came home from two weeks away only to find that our central air  (which is less than 18 months old and has only been used about 10 times total) for some reason decided to shit the bed. Why it chose the hottest week of the year to do so is beyond me.

Given that this was a holiday weekend,we have been living on the face of the sun for about 36 hours now (and by living I mean barely surviving.) Someone came by to look at it earlier today, and assured us that it is easily fixable, and we will be up and running after he finishes some "errands."

That was 6 hours ago.

To quote my Little Man, "Oh Man Gawd, Momma it's hot in here."

I never thought I'd say it, but I long for last week when were cooler and living on the equator. File that under things I never thought I'd say.

Stay cool out there my East Coast friends...

Things I Learned From My Summer Vacation.

Right now we are quickly packing up, and in a few hours we will begin our two day trek back to  the States. I figured that this was the perfect time to reflect on a few things that I have learned from my Summer vacation.*  

1. Traveling with kids under the age of 2.9 is pretty much hell. Traveling with kids over the age of 2.9 is actually really fun. This is the little man's 14th trip, and 5th out of the country. This little fact will absolutely be remembered when we have baby number two. I.e.We aren't going anywhere for the first 2+ years.
2. Speaking of baby number two, I am no longer in any kind of hurry to get that ball rolling. Sure, we will still move forward with our plans in the Fall, but having only one almost three year old is a lot of fun (and to be honest is pretty damn easy.) I plan on savoring every minute of it this Summer (and traveling as much as humanly possibly considering #1.)
3. 13 days is about the longest that I can spend 1 on 1 with my family before they drive me bat shit crazy. We are now on day 16, you do the math.
4. I will never again (NEVER) fly anywhere that is not a direct flight. The 9 hour layover in Miami on the way down nearly killed us all. From now on, it's one flight or no flight. (It is important to note that I also never again will fly American Airlines.)  
5. Running in the sand without shoes is freaking hard. My calves have never been this sore. I must find a way to copy this feeling when I get back.
6. My kid is nowhere near ready to be potty trained. That or I am nowhere near ready to clean up a thousand puddles of pee. We gave it the old college try when we got down here. Accidents 15, successes 0. We'll try that one again never at the end of the Summer. 
7. Both the Little Man and I really, really, really miss our friends. Even though we are having a blast we keep talking about them at least 5 times a day. He misses his buds... and I miss their Momma's. I can't wait until a play date is again one phone call away! I also miss my daily phone calls with my sisters (yeah I'm talking about you auntie em and holly.)
8. My little man is a fish. He's also a pretty good swimmer. This kid has spent at least 4 hours a day in the water. We do go swimming at home (almost every day) but I think we need to step it up a notch. I may have to bite the bullet and get a private instructor when we get back, for at least the rest of Summer. I think he could be pretty good on his own with some real lessons. This would lead to a lot less "almost" heart attacks on my end.
9. I don't know how I missed this one, but the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo series is absolutely unbelievable... like really good. Okay, I'm even going to say like Twilight good. I am about to start book number 3 and am already feeling sad that there aren't going to be any more to read. 
10. Kids like to dig holes. Lots of holes. Lots, and lots and lots of holes. If this Stay at home Mom thing doesn't pan out I will go back to work; as a professional hole digger. 

I wish all of my American readers a wonderful long holiday weekend, and the rest of you the same. Happy Fourth!

*I recognize that this is a totally random list, I think the sun may have gotten to me a bit. 

Save a Bike... Ride a Horse.

About an hour into the ride the Little Man declared, "Costa Rica is the best... I never go home." Yeah, I think I'll have to agree with that.