After a Day Like Today...

A day where you slept in so late it can't be real. It's Saturday, right? No, it's Wednesday, get it in gear and get out the door!

A day where there's a glitch in payroll and you might not get a paycheck.

A day where you can't find a mailbox to save your life.

A day where an over-priced lunch from Whole Foods doesn't even do the trick.

A day where your reservations to The Aviary are cancelled due to a private party. (I was THIS close to asking if we could just attend the exclusive, probably-amazing private party).

A day where you left your running shoes at a friend's house.

A day that apparently has no end.

A day where 95 million small annoying things add up to stress overload. Somehow the big, amazing, life-changing awesome things on the horizon are covered up by the four (not 95 million, drama queen) small short-term annoying things.

After - or should I say - during a day like today - this little video made me smile. Smile at the what a joy it is to be a kid. To get a little look into those little minds.

I'm trying to stay positive here and not be envious of the perfect hair-dos some of these kids are sporting (nice top-knot!):

And I totally understand that's it's a month after Valentine's Day. I'm cool with that on a day like today.

Currently

Ingrid received these little "palm stamps" from Grandma for Valentine's Day. Dan's the artist in the family (for further evidence, see recent Instagram photos) and I hope Ingrid gets some of his mad skills. Or should I say "skillz."



Currently...

Reading craziness on CNN.com. Bodies in water tanks, Olympic runners on trial. What's going on 2013?

Waiting for the right house to magically pop up in our price range, in our ideal area and come with a fireplace, front porch and fenced-in yard.

Excited about catching up on the Oscar movies! Argo tonight!

Trying to stick with the Whole Living Action Plan. Day five of no: coffee, sweets, carbs or meat. I'm craving a warm cup of coffee with a big ol' bakery treat alongside.

Working on parenting a toddler. She's starting to say "No I don't." to anything these days. Dinner options, clothing, activities: her response is "No I don't." Here we go...

Enjoying the effects of DayQuil. 

Using the Clarisonic facial scrubber. Seriously, worth every dollar.

Wearing a gigantic scarf

Planning on what to wear to an Oscar party!

Singing along to Mumford & Sons

Needing to be wearing yoga gear.

Learning that I need to be a bit more considerate to those closest to me.

Listening to the rumble of traffic outside my window.

Doing some inbox clean up. I feel so much more organized with a little email inbox and everything else tucked away into folders.

Dreaming of playing in the snow with the family!

Have a wonderful Friday! 

Valentine's Day Date

Ingrid was my dinner date for Valentine's Day this year. After overhearing a daycare mom announce that the kids were having frozen yogurt after dinner, I decided that a frozen yogurt dinner sounded even better.

Ingrid was so excited when I told her our plans. I reminded her that she couldn't scream or run around the yogurt shop so she whispered in excitement over the toppings, "Shhhhh - berries! Ms! mango!" 

We grabbed a seat by the window to watch the buses drive by and the snowflakes fall down. She was the perfect date:

Funny sidebar: Ingrid thought the coconut was cheese.

Watching snow flakes.

Dancing around to Mumford & Sons. There was a lot of singing going on. 

P.S. Dan DID receive a special Valentine's Day gift too. I made him a little date-coupon book over at Datevitation. It's a super easy and cute idea, custom coupons for loved ones.

*Please note, this is NOT a sponsored post, I just like the Datevitation idea!

Valentine's Day

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I love Valentine's Day. I love celebrating this holiday with a growing Ingrid. I love the simplistic nature of the day: make a card, cook a delicious meal and eat sugar (natch).

Since having Ingrid, I've embraced the holiday with open arms. It's know longer about a "fancy" homemade meal or dinner out with Dan. Last week, I spent a solid 15 minutes at Walgreens picking out a card for Ingrid. Then, I remembered she's not even two and anything with some sort of pony/kangaroo will work.

This year, Ingrid has taken a liking to pink M&Ms (and, M&Ms in general) and pointing out anything heart-shaped. It's incredible to watch that little face light-up, point and shout whatever she's identified: "HEARTS! RAIN! M&MS! DUCK! BUS! More M&Ms?"

I know the holiday gets a bad rap because of all of the above-mentioned "love-festness," but we all have someone, to be grateful for: wonderful parents, grandparent, friends who can make us laugh. If all else fails, there's always something magical about a night of online shopping with vodka tonics. It's a win-win combination.

For those of you who are embracing the holiday this year, I've created a Pinterest board with my favorite cards, decor and sweets treats. Check out the Heart-Shaped Bacon (Yes.) and Red-Hot Buttercream frosting (Ok, sounds great.) Is there any better way to say "I love you?" Probably, but meat and frosting can't hurt.

This year, we're celebrating simply by making the grandparent's cards and creating a semi-special breakfast-for-dinner meal. Breakfast for dinner is nostalgic, casual and somehow, exciting. It's like breaking a rule. Orange juice in the evening? Pancakes in the dark. I've really been into everything on SkinnyTaste.com and I'm excited to try these festive Red Velvet Pancakes for dinner.

What's on your Valentine's Day menu? 

What fun traditions do you celebrate with your family or friends? 

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!

Valentine's Day

A holiday full of red, pink, sugar and love. What's not to love? Pun intended. 

This year, I got a little homemade-happy for Valentine's Day:

Spent way too long crafting this wreath. Mine looks like a sloppy-weird version of this. 

Strawberry cake mix, butter, cream cheese, and more butter = Two for us and give the rest to Ingrid's daycare teachers.

Free printable vintage valentines for the grandparents.

The best part of my day was coming home to this homemade card. For a 10 month-old, she's a great speller. 

We enjoyed a simple meal of mussels and crusty bread. For dessert, donuts. Or doughnuts. Spell it however you wish - they are cakey, sweet, cheap and amazing. 

Now, Dan is watching a movie on his computer and I'm watching It's a Brad, Brad World. Ahh, wedded bliss. 

Happy Valentine's Day to you!