{Local} Blog Lovin'

To be honest with you, I wasn't really into the whole blog thing a year ago. I didn't understand why people would want to read about other people's lives - especially people they didn't know. Then, my friend (another non-blog reader) introduced me to All & Sundry. This crass Washington mom of two is funny and real. There went my blog virginity. I was looking for other blogs to follow, but found that I didn't want to fully commit (aka "follow"). Was I a blog-monogamist? Could I devote additional minutes of my day to *gasp* other blogs?

Then, via Design Sponge, I found Cream City and Sugar. This girl has a realistic pulse on Milwaukee-happenings and gives you the "in" on events and accessible style without being stuffy. Have you ever wondered who created that mural on Water Street? Me too. She figured it out for us here.  

I had a taste of the blog world and wanted more. Here are some of my current faves:

• Joy the Baker - Her name is Joy and she bakes yummy stuff. 
• The Daybook - New mama Sydney has incredible style and well, you just start to like her after a few posts. Her tutorial on the bun a la Carrie Bradshaw is fantastic (for girls who just rock a messy bun most days). 
• MADE - Do you sew? Are you like me and like to think you sew? Either way, this is a good one.   
• Positively Square - Full disclosure - this is my sister's blog. It's a simple, sweet idea. Check it out.

Last, Haute Apple Pie. As I was reading a few posts I was compelled to click Older Posts. And again. And then, oh yeah, back to The Good Wife. Then, I finally read about the writers and learned they were Wisconsinites. I knew I liked their style! Read this for do-able seasonal Midwesterny (but not too Midwesterny) recipes.

From a monogamist to a blog-reading hussy, I'm a sucker for good food photography, crafty ideas and funny quick reads.

What are your blog faves? Share away!  

Two Miles and An Elk.

Last week, my friend and I ran the Samson Stomp & Romp two-mile race at the Milwaukee County Zoo.

Growing up, my grandma took my sisters and I to the zoo frequently. Fond zoo memories include -  train rides, sea lion shows and air-conditioning breaks in the reptile house. I loved those plastic Mold-a-Rama animal molds and lunches of ham sandwiches and sodas wrapped in aluminum foil (natch).

Remember Me? 

I couldn't help but feel a twinge of nostalgia while walking through the front gates of the zoo.

Then came the kids.

I figured a race at the zoo meant kids would be in attendance (the Children's 1/4 Mile race was also a clue), but I didn't anticipate running next to nine-year-olds. Nine-year-olds can run six minute miles while discussing Justin Bieber. We made it a mile-and-a-half before we stopped to complain about our cold toes and pointed at elk. We ran by families with strollers and a pack of firefighters. We huffed by real runners who were lapping us - or running multiple races with their kids. When all was said and done, we ended up finishing in a reasonable amount of time and left with a race shirt, Caribou coffee and renewed sense of motivation.

Next year, I hope to make this an annual family tradition. The whole Atkinson clan will be bundle up and run (and/or walk) one of these races. Just because it's January, doesn't mean we can't enjoy looking at elk and mountain goats. And maybe if the mood strikes us, we'll splurge for a plastic mold of a crocodile. Any maybe, I'll be able to keep pace with a nine-year-old, who is too cool to zip her coat.

Friday Night.

Today we welcomed a few more inches of snow. The drought of snow this winter had made us a little snow-giddy. Everything is so bright and soft looking.

On my way home, I smiled at Bay Viewians who were walking along the slippery streets and paused to wave "Thanks!" at some bundled-up guys (I'm assuming they were men but who really knows under all of those layers) who were plowing the streets with their snow blowers. They returned the gesture by raising aluminum cans in the air. Shoveling while drinking a Miller Lite. How refreshingly Wisconsin.

Before putting Ingrid to bed, we rustled up our borrowed Baby Signs DVD. Nothing says a wild Friday night like watching a Baby Signs DVD narrated by two moms in oversized boxy blouses. Well, that plus a frozen pizza.

And now, some unflattering Ingrid pictures.

Unflattering - but still pretty cute. Happy Friday!

Nine Months.

Earlier this week, I came across a real nugget of wisdom in What To Expect The First Year, The Ninth Month, Games Babies Play: 


"Clap Hands. While you sing - 'Clap hands, clap hands, till daddy comes home, 'cause daddy has money and mommy has none.' is the traditional verse - take your baby's hands and show her how to clap." 


What.

At first I was flat-out offended. Then, I furrowed my brow at the absurdity of it all and moved on with the day. But, if Ingrid did earn money for clapping (or am I earning the money as 'mommy'?) - she would earn lots of moneys.

At nine months, Ingrid's dislikes include: going to sleep, loud noises and redirection (away from the cable box and from picking at paint). Ingrid's likes include: crawling (or scooting), the board books cleverly titled - What, Who, Where and Where, yogurt, Harper, newspaper and black beans.

Do you have any black beans? 

Hey You. 

Mmm, it looks like I have four of those little white things now.

Kitty.

It was the summer of 2005. I had one semester left at UWEC and Dan had a few months left in his Army service - we decided to shorten the distance in our long distance relationship and live together in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

We enjoyed weekends at the beach, drinks in Raleigh and dinners out on non-payday Fridays.

One night, Dan's friend called. He found a cat in his apartment complex. Correction, he found the cutest kitten ever and wanted to know if Dan was interested. I wasn't - and am not - interested in cats. Born and raised a true "dog" person - I love big, wiggly butt dogs. Cats are ridiculous. They don't listen, they don't play games and they pee inside.

I remember opening their bathroom door and seeing this tiny, meowing orange kitten staring up with big Disneyesk sparkly eyes. Sold. We loaded her up in the car, headed over to Walmart to buy the essentials and that was that. He named her Halitosis. Yes, Halitosis. But we lovingly called her Kitty. She ran around the apartment, scaled furniture and loved string.

That fall, Dan moved to Milwaukee and started school. Kitty welcomed the Midwest with open paws and gained an amazing amount of weight.

The years ticked by and Kitty moved from one side of Milwaukee to the next. One year she lived with a bouncy cat, two ferrets, two bearded dragons, a lizard and three boys. Gross.

Years later, Dan and I moved in together. Kitty was now skeptical, fat and generally, not a fan of people. This was a Kitty I could get on board with. Dan had to teach me how to wiggle string "just right" so Kitty would respond. The jig was up - she was thrilled I wasn't a reptile.

Then, one fateful day in April we came home with a dog. The Humane Society named her Blessing. We laughed at that - and named her Harper. Harper, the wiggly butt, bouncy puppy couldn't wait to sniff at this fun looking white and orange thing! And Kitty couldn't wait to hiss and run away. It was the start of a beautiful, forced friendship.

Fast-forward to Ingrid. Harper and Kitty had no choice but to become BFFs:

Then, a few weeks ago, Kitty started to show her age.

I won't go into the nitty gritty, but she wasn't urinating in her litter box, and was starting to have accidents around the house. That was the nitty of the gritty - but there were a few other cues that led Dan to believe that Kitty was starting to show her age.

Rather than go down the "How much should we pay to fix our cat?" path - Dan, with guidance from our vet, made the tough decision to put kitty to sleep last week.

Now, I'll be honest, I never really had a deep relationship with this cat. But, when I came home from work and saw her empty food bowl, I lost it. Like, "ugly-cry-pass-me-a-Kleenex" lost it.

It's an odd feeling to grief for a pet. The house instantly feels empty. You can't describe the feeling to anyone without apologizing for your emotions (I know, she's just a cat, but...). Only those who lived with her can fully understand her annoying and "aww"-worthy quirks.

She loved Dan, food, paper, crumpled-up paper, laying on bills, food, string, Harper and stacks of paper. Ingrid was pleasantly surprised to see her everyday and Kitty kept a reasonable distance. She was with Dan through his 20s - and rolled with the roommate changes pretty well.

She was a good cat and she'll be missed.

On My Playlist - She & Him

This holiday season, I traded in the classics for Pandora's Indie Holiday channel. One download led to another and at the end of the month - I was hooked on She & Him.

The entire album is download worthy - and it's great to have on while you're working or cooking. Ingrid is really into Zoey too. She started this side-swaying-head-bobbing thing recently. They are the best-worst dance moves ever.

Happy Monday!

Awkward and Awesome

One of my favorite bloggers and new mama at The Daybook
shares her awkward and awesome moments and her fantastic style here.

Here are this week's awkward and awesome moments:

Awkward and Awesome: Ingrid's dance moves. 

Awkward
- To save a few bucks, I treated myself to a facial at the Aveda school. Do you know what's not relaxing? Laying on a spa table half-naked with 10 other people in the same room.
- Running so hard that my face is red from the effort - three hours later. Also awkward - having to assure the grocery store clerk that I am indeed, seriously OK.
- Living room yoga with a giggling Ingrid. This is also awesome.
- Cooking in the dark. Ingrid's room is off of the kitchen, so, at times, we're forced to quietly cook in the kitchen as Ingrid babbles herself to sleep.

Awesome
- Ingrid learning how to clap her hands.
- Winning a new TV from a random Glamour magazine contest! I know, I know - who wins these things? I'm still skeptical, because it has yet to arrive - but I'm hopeful that this isn't a hoax and I will no longer be able to say "I never win anything." Bah-bye enormous 1990-cube-TV!
- Brunch at Blue's Egg with Ingrid and friends. Bloody Marys, crab cakes, pankcakes for Ingrid and discussing It's a Brad Brad World. My kind of Saturday morning.
- Reading the third book of the Harry Potter series. This is also awkward.

Let's here it - share your awkward and awesome moments. 

2012, so nice to meet cha!

During the Yearly Recap 2011, I glossed over the resolutions section and included some basic, predictable and boring resolutions.

Drop weight, save money, be healthy. Blah blah blah. I don't want to create Vision Board a la The Secret - but let's add some meat to these bony resolutions:  

Be healthy - Drop all baby weight by Ingrid's first birthday. Workout and practice yoga consistently. 

Be mindful - With Ingrid, while eating, at work - be present.

Be good to my back - Have good posture. 

Be happy - Go on dates with Dan, giggle with Ingrid instead of trying to keep the house clean and snuggle with Harper. 

Shop smaller - Feed my community and my family and shop locally. 

Or, copy Husband's resolution - Be Better. At first this resolution seems eye-roll-worthy, but as he explained - just think about what you're doing and ask yourself "Can I do this better?" Probably. This evening I probably could have put my clothes away better, but instead I shoved them in drawers. 

There's always tomorrow. 

Wrapping Up 2011

Over the holiday break, we had a great time with our extended family
and catching up with friends over fantastic meals and multiple cocktails. 

Highlight of the week - Ingrid learning how to clap.
She now wakes up clapping - like she's giving her night of sleep a round of applause. 

Here are some of my favorite moments over the Christmas holiday:

Bath time is the best time. 

Too cute in a chunky knit. 

Flying around with Dan. 

Ready to go!

Christmas Eve Walk.

Cheers 2012!

At 1:00 am on January 1, this was funny.

Peas!

And, she's off.

Over the holiday break, Ingrid went from scooting around to sort-of crawling. 

She's here. Now she's over there. Oh no, now she's putting Harper's Kong in her mouth. 

Oh brother, she's on the move.

It's wonderful and insane.