After Bedtime

The sweet sound of a quiet house at night. Even sweeter, a house all to myself.

Ingrid is in bed. Harper is sleeping. Dan is at school. A quiet house is oh-so sweet.

Here's what I like to do after the kids go to bed. Or, simply put - here's a list of 21 things you can do when you're board:

1. Mix cocktail. Read magazine. Better yet, change into jammies. 
2. Make tea. Read book. In jammies (similar yet very different from #1). 
3. Watch Boardwalk Empire. Watch Bravo to get over the disturbing scene involving Jimmy's mother. 
4. Work out in your living room. Don't worry, you can do this for about 15 minutes and feel some sense of accomplishment. 
5. Write your mom a card. 
6. Or phone it in and send your mom an e-card.
7. Reserve books at the library.   
8. Paint your nails. 
9. Promise to go to bed earlier, tomorrow. 
10. Google Chat with friends. The best way to catch up! 
11. Wonder how you didn't know about The Land of Nod sooner. 
12. Think of ways to replicate The Land of Nod holiday decor in your living room. 
13. Wonder if anyone else thinks The New Girl is seriously funny. 
14. Make a Cupcake Costume for Ingrid. 
15. Check out The Everygirl.
16. Read The Happiness Project. Nah, just watch Fashion Police instead. 
17. Pin a wonderful recipes like these lovely Doughnut Muffins
18. Learn modern calligraphy.
19. Debate the cost-per-wear of this J.Crew Keeper Chambray shirt. 
20. The cost-per-wear will be low. Order it.  
21. Look at these pictures of Ingrid and marvel over how much she has grown: 

Little Letters {link up}

Today I'm linking up with one of my favorite bloggers, Emily over at Life, etc. She's got a knack for creating serious sweet treats in the kitchen - and her hair tutorials are Pinterest-worthy.


Emily's Little Letters kind of remind me of Jimmy Fallon's Thank You Letters. Inspired by Emily and (not at all funny like) Jimmy, here's what I'm thanking (or dearing?) this week:


Dear fall, thank you, favorite season, for the crisp air, the football Sundays, scarves, long sleeves, boots, for apples and pumpkins and lovely pumpkin spice lattes. Generic list and all - I love fall!

Dear barking dogs next door, please stop waking up little Ingrid at 5:30 in the morning. She needs her little sleep.

Dear Weeds (the show), I know I'm about five years late to hop on the Weeds bandwagon but, I'm here now and so in love.

Dear library, thank you for letting members check out 100 books, books on CD or videos at a time. It's new board-book bonanza over here.

Dear running schedule, I'm trying, seriously!

Dear JCrew september catalog, I'll take one of each, thanks.   

Dear AT&T Uverse, I'll admit it - my bank account would be cool without cable - but these past two months have been tolerable without it. Thank you for Bravo, Food Network - and my favorite guilty pleasure - Fashion Police.

Dear life, tonight while I was cooking in the kitchen and Dan and Ingrid were dancing to Paul Simon, I thought you were pretty great.

Fall Favorites

Last summer at my friend's bachelorette party, we all received one-on-one palm readings. It was a unique and fun and make us all say (out-loud, in unison) "Ohh!" when the hosts announced that our guest would be a palm reader (vs. your typical bachelorette party guest).

The reader told me that I had one child (ding!) had a "normal" life line (fine, I guess) and that I was the first "Earth" see had read all night.

I beamed as if I received a gold star. I didn't know what that meant to her, but I loved the sound of the phrase, "I am an Earth." She explained that I had an appreciation for nature and gravitated to flavors and textures found in nature (ding! ding!).

Let's be real though, she could have said anything semi-positive and would have reacted in the same way. After a few cocktails and phallic-shaped Jell-o Jigglers, I was all smiles.

Like most of you, I love this season. Beyond the pumpkin lattes, I love the welcomed change of pace. To slow down, read more and spend more time at home.

This fall, I'm excited to take Ingrid to the apple orchard (again):

And a few other things:

• Visit the pumpkin patch.
• Make a big decision. Carve or paint a chevron pumpkin?
• Or, I guess we could live on the wild side and do both. 
• Visit the zoo. 
• Sunday afternoon drives to "watch the leaves." 
• What the heck, let's make a stop in Cedarburg for a decadent caramel apple while we're at it. 
• Packer gatherings with friends. 
• Film on the Hill.
• Bake with pumpkin and apples. 
• Rather than bake an apple pie, just cut to the chase and buy an Elegant Farmer apple pie.
• Tour the Pabst Brewery and Great Lakes Distillery.
• Piece together Ingrid's Halloween costume. 
• Ingrid's first trick-or-treat. 
• Take a trip to the petting zoo for a hay ride. 
• Celebrate our second anniversary.
• And of course, get a few pumpkin spice lattes! 

Cheers (with your seasonal pumpkiny beers) and let us toast to fall! 

Your turn. Share your fall favorites! 

Currently

A quick list of things that are going on right about...now: 

loving: reruns of The Hills on Netflix - without cable - this timeless guilty pleasure resurfaces. 

reading: a stack of magazines and maybe today's paper.

waiting for: an idea of where we'll move next. 

missing: this little baby burrito bundle: 

trying to: find a church. Not an easy task! Any suggestions?  

working on: training for the triathlon. I don't know what I'm more nervous for - the swim, the bike, or the logistics of how everything is supposed to come together. 

enjoying: summer nights and weekend with the family and friends. 

using: my iPhone...a little too much. 

wearing: the same boring eight things over and over. Coveting this J Crew necklace and wishing for more exciting looks like this: 

via

planning: my favorite season fall! Football, boots, apple picking and Ingrid's Halloween costume. 

singing: along to The Spice Girls. Awesome. 

needing: more gratitude and perhaps a manicure. 

learning: how to stay on a budget.  

listening: to Ingrid's little voice. It's amazing to hear her thoughts out loud. Granted, a majority of her talking is gibberish, but those clear words are a reason to celebrate. Today she said "Hi Tutle" to her turtle - and I had to stop cooking to exchange a heartfelt glance at Dan. 

and this lovely song from The Head and The Heart:

wishing: I didn't Google the symptoms of Ingrid's diaper rash. 

doing: laundry. Will it ever end? 

praying for: more relaxed, carefree weekends full of moments like these, where all are healthy, happy and stress-free:

dreaming of: a lovey farm house with an inviting, sunny white kitchen: 

via

One last note: the Closing Ceremonies to the Olympics are wonderful! Do you feel like you were more engaged in the Olympics this year more than others? They were amazing!

This blog idea is from one of my faves: Jones Design Company - check it out.