Five Things

Yesterday I made a good-bad decision. What's a good-bad decision? An example: online shopping for hours and then Xing out of your browser. Sure, it was fun but now it's 11pm and you didn't even get that clearance button-down. My most recent good-bad decision was to go on a mini-cleanse before Memorial Day weekend. The first weekend of summer. A weekend full of BBQs, parades, kite festivals and baseball games: all of these things involve toasting adult beverages.

I'll start this cleanse on Tuesday. Yep. Tuesday. I feel better already.

Here are five things that made the week sweet:

1. Summer Preparation: 
Summer is on the horizon and it's full of possibilities! Camping, sunshine, festivals, sandals! I love mapping out our summer plans and hope to "schedule" a few in Milwaukee. It's the most wonderful time of the year here in the good ol' Midwest.

If I ever have the patience to create these cupcakes, you're invited to come over:

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2. Speaking of Smoothies... 
I've been a fan of this Green Mango one:

• 2 cups spinach 
• 2 cups water 
• 1 cup frozen mango 
• 3/4 cup plain yogurt 
• A little sprinkle of chia seed 

3. Books. 

Since we have a bizarre amount of time to kill during our brief stay in the furnished apartment, I've read a few books. I've tried to read The Great Gatsby but found that light-hearted books like: Waiting for Birdy, one by Heather McDonald (surprisingly we have really similar parenting styles) and another by Ross Matthews (surprisingly delightful read).

4. Spring Roll in a Bowl 
So pretty to make and so simple! I found the noodles near the tofu in my grocery store's produce department and was delighted to discover that they rang in 20 calories per serving. Score. 

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5. Chicken & Waffles 

Ingrid's going through a growth spurt. No matter what she eats during the day, she's ravenous in the middle of the night. She woke up in a haze and question-yelled "I have. I have. I have chicken? And...waffles?" I couldn't deny her request - we had both on-hand: 

Man, I love her. 

Happy Food-Related Post Friday (I guess)! Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!

Five Things

Happy Friday! This weekend we're down one Atkinson. With just Ingrid, Harper and I, the weekend is trending pretty girly: a Scentsy party, outlet mall stop and if the weather is right, a Mother's Day trip to the zoo. Here are five things that made the week pretty sweet:


Ingrid and I popped some tags last weekend at the University School of Milwaukee's Rummage on the Rink. That rummage sale is no joke - there were maps and directional cones involved. Ingrid literally rummaged through a pile of stuffed animals to find her prized princess pillow. I was thrilled that these books turned out to be pretty great - I was drawn to them for the illustrations.

Cooking in this little kitchen stinks. Now, when we move to our new place, the kitchen won't be much bigger but, it will be brighter, roomier and ours. Baking is manageable. Baking fish feels springy. This Salmon with Sriracha Sauce and Lime feels just about right - even in this teeny kitchen. I bet you three dollars you have all of the sauce ingredients in your pantry/fridge.

These transitional seasons are always rough for me, wardrobe wise. Currently I'm searching for the perfect: mint cross-body bag, chambray shirt dress, work/play appropriate skirts, little knot studs and work shirts that aren't stuffy. I wish this ampersand sweatshirt was somehow justifiable because, it's just so cute:

Like everyone else, I'm reading The Great Gatsby and anticipating the movie. This is my favorite quote by F. Scott Fitzgerald. By favorite I mean, it was pinned to my Words board two months ago because it looks and sounds fancy.

Ingrid went on a big swing for the first time. She was cautious, curious and mimicked the little girl next to her. She would faux pump her legs and make the tiniest micro movements. It's hard to imagine that just a year ago she was taking wobbly steps.

Happy Mother's Day! Enjoy the sunshine and thank your moms.

Five Things {According to Dan's Flip Phone}

That's right, Dan still rocks T9. Dan watches Ingrid a few days during the week. Here are some of the pictures I've received:

Blurry but, she's so chubby-tiny.

Getting Baby #3 ready for a ride around the living room.

And, now she's enjoying some fresh air.

How? Why? What goes on here while I'm gone?

Ingrid = Totally normal.
Soap dispenser = Totally not  normal.

Happy Friday!

Five Things {Ingrid Said}

This weekend my girlfriends and I will run a 5K. The first race of the year! I'm busy putting together a playlist and willing the mound of laundry to somehow get done tonight. Saturday we'll be visiting our family and friends from out of town (and hopefully have a Bloody Mary - or two - while our girls play).


Here are five things Ingrid said this week (some humorous, some obvious): 

1. Run Around 
This sounds more like "Fun 'anoun! Fun 'anoun!" Ingrid loves to "run around" the living room from time to time. She'll simply stop what she's doing - and in this case - put on a hat from one of her stuff animals - and announce that she's going to run around.

2. No Getting Out 
Ingrid started this bad habit of getting out of bed in the night. We'll be in the living room and hear the familiar "squeak-a squeak-a" sound of the doorknob turning back and forth. After asking her to not get out of her bed, this hasn't happened (yet). Now, while tucking her in, she'll let us know "No getting out." Very good Ingrid. No getting out. Now can you try sleeping in too?

3. Please Don't Drink The Chalk.
This came out of my mouth on Wednesday morning.

4. Kiss It. 
After a few minutes of ohhing and ahhing at the nail polish Ingrid announced to everyone at Walgreens that she wanted to kiss it. All of the nail polishes. I entertained one little smooch but received an ear-full when I interrupted the kissing session. And then I heard...

5. I Love It. 
She's figured out that she loves nail polish, swimming suits (aka "Cinderelly dress"), cupcake boxes and a Toy Story 2 DVD case. I'm waiting to hear this phrase directed toward me, Dan or even Harper. Someday. Someday we'll be loved more than nail polish.


I leave you with pictures of Ingrid at Noodles (someone figured out how to create collages!):

Cheers to you on this happy Friday! 

Five Things

This week has been a little hectic. We're all getting over colds, the weather has typical Wisconin-in-February weather but, it's added to drive times and forced plans to be cancelled.

In an attempt to maintain some normalcy, I'm back on caffeine (ok, and sweets) and started running again. I guess I could just sit on the couch, hungry, but something about balancing cookies with a run makes me feel more...balanced. Whatever it takes to feel sane.

Here are Five Things that made this week extra sweet:

1. Quotes: 
Is liking quotes a "mom" thing? I'm asking this because up until two years ago, I had a tendency to roll my eyes at quotes. Apparently I wasn't inspired by "words" back then...I don't know. Lately, I've been moved by that wonderful phrase in Love You Forever; "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living, my baby you'll be." 

Remember this little gem:

Cameron Diaz? Anyone?

2. Yoga Gear 
A really unique and completely interesting goal of mine is to lose weight. When I hit my next mini-goal, I'm treating myself to a pair of inappropriately expensive yoga leggings. I have my eye on the Irezumi Japanese Pilates Leggings. Amazing, right?

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3. MyAgenda/Mom Agenda: 
Do you know when you buy a planner for the year and think, "I wish it had __________ (a place for workouts, notes, basically a place to jot down stuff that actually doesn't have to get done, but it would be nice to be corralled into some sort of notebook). As in, "Don't forget to tape Top Chef." You know, super important stuff. Well, this planner has thought of most of those scenarios and I love it.

P.S. Take that Josie!

4. Rethinking Celebrations: 
Right now, plans to celebrate Ingrid's birthday are looking a little bleak. Dan's work is piling up, we have a weekend getaway planned and well, life is getting in the way. I'm trying to find some sort of creative, meaningful, cheap and thoughtful way to celebrate. While on Pinterest, I thought this doughnut cake looked easy, whimsical, cheap and fun.

Wait? Are doughnuts ever whimsical?

They are today my friends! I laughed so hard when I clicked over to this "recipe" to learn that it was an actual recipe for doughnuts and icing. I'm comfortable admitting to you that I envisioned a stack of doughnuts (fancy ones, not from the gas station) with two candles.

5. Conversations with Ingrid:
Here are some of my favorites from this week:

Me: What did you do at school today?

Ingrid: Play bunnies. Mama bunny. Hop hop. Orange Room.

Me: Do you want to eat pasta?

Ingrid: No, I don't.

Me: Soup?

Ingrid: Puff HOUSE. Peek-a-boo. Nigh-night.

Me: What do you want for breakfast?

Ingrid: Shoe-gurt.

That would be yogurt. Why do I even ask?

Happy First Day of March! 

Five Things

After a long weekend in Minneapolis and a long week involving travel for work - I'm thrilled to spend the weekend in Milwaukee with family and friends. Tonight we'll enjoy a couple's dinner at Odd Duck. Then a weekend full of toddler swimming lessons, house hunting and relaxing!

Here are Five Things that brought a smile to my face this week. 

Cheers and Happy Friday to you! 

1. Bed Head
Since day one, people have commented on Ingrid's rather large head. As you'd expect, I don't really  notice but, there are photos like these where I think, "Geez girl, that's one monsterous head." Ingrid's head, bed-head hair and love for faux food continues to grow.

2. Pickled Red Onions
Last weekend our friend made amazing tacos for a pre-Beer Dabbler meal. The tacos were wonderful, but for me, the pickled red onions stole the show. This Brie Grilled Cheese with pickled red onions is welcomed in my kitchen any day.

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3. Pictures from Daycare 
Every month the staff at Ingrid's daycare snaps candid shots of the kids around the room. They compile these monthly photos, add captions and save them for whatever reason. Then, we the child leaves the room the parents are handed a massive stack of photos, drawings and paintings from the past year.

I completely forgot about this awesome memento until a large file folder spilled out on me from Ingrid's locker. I spent the better part of the night looking through the photos.  In complete awe over her tininess, cuteness and overall babyness. I'll get real with you - I cried. Like a sap. But come on, that paint mustache? Seriously. 

4. Valentine's Day 

Last year, I had a great time planning, crafting, baking and overall celebrating the day of love. This year, I'm looking forward to making Valentine's for Ingrid's class, the grandparents. This little Valentine idea is pretty cute (and by cute I mean, I can reasonably make a dozen of these in one afternoon).

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5. Good Reads 
Currently reading and loving Gretchen Rubin's second book, Happier at Home, because we can all afford to focus on our happiness!