Tales of Me and the Husband

July 29, 2016

weekend links.

We’re in Colorado this week visiting Steve’s family and going to his nephew’s wedding. I took this picture on a hike in Evergreen. It just seemed so… Colorado? Anyway, what a beautiful state this is. One of my favorites! Looking forward to a few more days of exploring before we head home. (more on Snapchat and IG!)

“Jen and I are utterly horrified to announce the arrival of our son…” LOL. An honest birth announcement.

These are on sale and are awesome. I’ve tried them on and they’re comfortable too.

This farming robot is amazing. (Though, it begs the question: are we going to be slowly replaced by robots?)

The foods everyone was obsessed with year by year. The year of my birth is blackened fish. I’m so disappointed by this.

This shop has the nicest things; I’ve been using the immunity roll-on on the boys’ feet and I love it. (Even on my own wrists–the smell is just so good. Plus the benefits!)

Love these book storage ideas for kids’ rooms. The DIY drawer turned book bin!

22 movies on Netflix you didn’t know you should be watching (including one shot entirely on an iPhone. What?!).

Ummmmm this dress.

Son secretly replaces all the pictures of his brother with Steve Buscemi and Mom hasn’t noticed. This is hysterical.

Hope you guys have a fabulous weekend. See you next week!

July 27, 2016

my skincare routine and favorites these days.

Here’s a picture of me looking super grumpy to share with you my favorite skincare products these days, and my everyday routine. As I’m now 31, I’m feeling the need to take better care of my skin. For a long time, I’d sort of just wing it. I also loved getting a tan in the summer (and still do!) but now I’m like, “It is NOT worth the damage it is doing long-term to my skin.” I’m trying to convince Lindsey of this every time she skips sunscreen when we’re at the beach!! This latest trip to the Jersey shore, I covered up with a hat, or sunscreen more deliberately than ever before. I was like, “Yep. I’m really old now.” But you see those spots on my right cheek? (I’m not wearing any foundation here. Just a little bit of this cover-up on the top of my nose where I have permanent redness, almost like broken blood vessels.) They’re permanent sun spots, and they sort of drive me crazy. Not a big deal in the grand scheme, I know, but if I had my way, they’d be gone and knowing they’re there because of sun–extra frustrating!

I just read something that says your face begins at the top of your breasts. I thought it was so telling, because there’s nothing that shows age and sun more than your neck and chest. And, at least for me, I usually completely ignore that area. Now it’s one of the areas I concentrate on when I use sunscreen, and I’m trying to be better about putting my everyday face moisturizer on it too.

To make a long story short, here’s my favorites lately that are working for my skin. All of them are good products too, full of ingredients you can pronounce! It’s worth adding that my skin tends to be on the dry side. If I have a breakout it’s usually in the T-zone area, and I also have blackheads on my forehead. With hormones and nursing and babies, I feel like my skin isn’t even sure what it’s been doing for the last few years, but my dryness has pretty much always been with me.

July 26, 2016

moss glen falls!

When we were in Stowe last week, we visited Moss Glens Falls. I’m always googling and reading reviews before we head to a new place–Trip Advisor, Yelp, Instagram (looking at places using geo-tag on IG is one of my favorite ways to scout out new places; if you’re not already doing that, do it! Where else are you going to get beautiful overhead shots of someone’s favorite breakfast dish and then have a good idea as to whether that particular restaurant is the one?! Instagram!). I found Moss Glen Falls and read the reviews: easy, kid friendly, beautiful waterfall at the end, one mile. Done.

July 25, 2016

happy 5th birthday, parker!!!

This particular birthday, the big five, could also be considered the year of the boy. I never thought of myself as someone who would jump on the superhero bandwagon (as it is, he doesn’t take those books out at the library, doesn’t watch those shows… so where, pray tell Parker, are you picking up on the superhero culture?!). And yet, in his gift loot–both purchased and wrapped by yours truly–was a Spiderman costume, a Captain America shield, and a Captain America figurine. So, I guess we’re here, I’ve arrived. The mother of a five year old who loves superheroes. I do recall, though it’s been years, a young William–six or seven–tooting around the house in a superhero costume as well. I just don’t remember how we came upon it, who purchased it, whether it was a Nathaniel or Jordan hand-me-down. Now it feels really official. I clicked checkout on that superhero-filled Amazon cart myself. And a certain someone is delighted.

July 22, 2016

weekend links.

Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone (a favorite Hollywood acting pair, in my book) are together again. This movie comes out in December and I’m totally intrigued.

“I only let my son play with wooden toys, why is he such a douche?”

“Lying in soft, soft sand. The grains do not adhere to their skin. The grains simply fall off, and do not land anywhere inconvenient.” 40 things everyone but you is doing this summer.

Beer bottles to have a calorie count soon. Ruh-roh.

A wall around Trump’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star.

This is a good price for these boots — and sadly, winter will come again. (And, as I always share when they’re on sale, these leggings. #BrokenRecord)

This might be the prettiest cake I’ve ever seen. (Too bad the recipe isn’t in English; though, let’s be honest, I wasn’t going to make it anyway. I am not a gourmet baker by any stretch of the imagination.)

7 foods that can calm anxiety.

July 21, 2016

a few days in stowe, vermont with field guide!

Stowe! Only three hours from our front door and yet this is our first time there. First, but certainly not last. Stowe is such a beautiful, pastoral retreat for the Boston-folk (or greater New England; it’s just that the accessibility from the Boston area was a pleasant surprise). It reminded me, bear with me, of Switzerland just a bit. It helps that we passed a Swiss fondue restaurant on our way in, and then you’ve got the whole Trapp family element (not Swiss, but close. Am I making connections here where they simply don’t exist?!). No, the mountains aren’t as high, nor are they snow capped, no one is speaking German, and I don’t believe I heard a cow bell actually ring. But it has the same sort of rolling, green beauty, lazing cows in fields dotting the sides of the road, winding roads abutted by huge rocks that were once attached to mountains, and isn’t-this-peaceful feel that I had when I was in Switzerland.

July 20, 2016

ten things i’m absolutely loving right now.

one. the wall in this bathroom at the field guide. actually, the whole place’s interior design is perrrrrrrfect.
two. the seeds of change garlic rice and quinoa blend from costco. anders is so much pickier than parker was, plus he’s got eczema so he’s not eating just anything, so this is really nice. i throw it in a skillet with broccoli, or peas, or sliced organic hot dog or chicken… i’ve also put it over spinach for a sort of heartier salad for us too.
three. my newest water bottle. pretty sure it’s one of the bigger (biggest?) glass bottles on the market. i try to drink a whole one every day (though i really should be having closer to two whole ones every day, i’m sure.)
four. how parker says, “all people!” when he’s trying to get everyone’s attention. he won’t call us by name, or say “everybody” or “all you guys.” just “all people!” it’s so funny.
five. these socks. they really are so comfortable.
six. this song. listening to it all the time lately. the boys love dancing to it.
seven. gin and tonics! we are not fancy drinkers by any means (beer and wine is about as fancy as we get; we never make our own cocktails at home, anyway.) but this summer we’ve made a few gin and tonics. they’re such a nice summer drink!
eight. these amazing magnetic frame things. i just saw them at a store in portsmouth and they were awesome. i think i want to get one print, attach it to the wall with this, and put it above my bed.
nine. ALL OF THESE ROMPERS. seriously they’re sooooo cute.
ten. cooking up bacon, sauteeing kale in the fat, and then scrambling some eggs over all of it. yummmm. steve isn’t the biggest fan of kale, so any time i serve it to him he says, “this must be good for you,” as he chews it straight-faced. i like it (enough, anyway) except for the tough stem.

July 18, 2016

chicken, the state of the world, and other things.

I sit down here to write lately, a more meaty post–which are really my favorite types–and I stare at the screen. Click over to Amazon, to other favorite reads. I’m interrupted no less than four times in the span of five minutes. The last two: I’m watching Anders, with oatmeal on his hand, pet Josh (Josh, my sister’s boxer) and now Josh keeps going under my outstretched legs, rubbing oatmeal onto me. Awesome.

The state of the world has me sorely depressed. I said to Steve the other day, “I don’t want to be numb, but I also can’t feel every single thing.” Steve remembers a day (and I sort of do too) when flags were at half-mast and everyone paused. Something big happened, and you knew what it was. Now, it seems, they’re at half-mast more than they’re not and half of the time I have to ask myself, “Now which sad event is responsible this time?” And then I’ve got these kids running around, learning to moo like a cow, talking about how Spiderman is cooler than Captain America. One who is dying to be grown up and have her own kitchen (no, Lindsey! Stay young!) even. Oh to be blissfully unaware. As I write this they’re stomping in puddles that Parker made in the driveway with the hose. One in a diaper only and the other in a Jedi shirt and underwear. Giggles abound. I love the sight.

We had friends over for dinner the other night. I like to whip out a new flavor, a new twist on an old classic when we have company. It has to be something I’ve tried in the presence of no company however. The past few summers, it was always these pork burgers with slaw. And while I still love those, I’m dipping my toes into the world of kebabs with these Middle Eastern Aleppo pepper kebabs. As it turns out, when you marinate chicken in yogurt all day (pictured above), it’s really, really good and moist which is the only way I want my chicken. Shout out (again) to my friend Gail who’s the first to serve me this, among many fine meals (like those pork burgers, coincidentally), that I have happily adopted into my own repertoire. For the presentation, I do remove the pieces from the skewers and serve it in a big dish–plus, my friend’s twist, which is Greek yogurt with paprika and salt, mixed up and served along side dollop-style. It cuts the heat of the pepper, which is really not that intense to begin with. I am a spicy-foods-wuss and I can handle it, though I do reserve a few pieces for the kids that don’t get marinated in anything but some olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and salt, as it might be a bit much for young tastebuds. Tell me if you make it. It would go well with a spinach salad like this one that I made a variation of that same night. Also, if you can’t find Aleppo pepper (I didn’t even bother trying), you can get it here like I did.

I’m still reading Into Thin Air despite my snaps which suggest that I never put it down. In reality, I have to stop all the time to, you know, take care of things. It’s wholly exciting and depressing and I am nearly finished but still wonder to myself, “How did it really all happen that way?” These were men who knew what they were doing! Who’d done it before! And Everest still won.

The Nordstrom sale is almost here and I’m putting my credit card someplace really, really high while clearing my computer of saved numbers (and apparently also hiding any ladders or stools in the house?) so that I can’t shop it. (Or, perhaps, just exhibiting some self control would be easier.) But if I were, this bra, which I own, is so great. Like, really comfortable and works perfectly with tees. Maybe I’ll buy another (Whoosh! That was my self control going out the window.). I’m definitely buying this spray too. (Just kidding. Who really buys that? Who?)

I’m going to watch The Fundamentals of Caring soon. My friend Megan said it’s her favorite movie in awhile and I have Netflix and absolutely love Paul Rudd so it’s an easy yes. It looks good too. Totally impressed with Netflix putting out all these quality movies and TV shows on their own. It’s a brave new world.

July 15, 2016

weekend links.

Love this selfie of us from the Tilt-a-Whirl on the OC Boardwalk. That was so much fun.

Spice up your iced coffee. I want to try the cold brew. Do any of you do cold brew in the summer?

15 years since Legally Blonde (makes me feel old!!). Elle Woods puts her pink bikini back on.

I love this overnight bag.

If Trump were a mime. This guy is hysterical.

“No one told me I would be coming home in diapers too.” Funny tweets from Christine Tiegen.

Not pregnant and sick of people asking when she’s having a baby. Jennifer Aniston telling it straight.

I used this the other day for the first time in a long time, and I’m reminded of how much I love it. Makes my nails look so neat and healthy (and takes about two seconds to do).

New pasta salads! I am always making this one as a side or to bring to a BBQ. I could use some new ideas.

Changing gears: it feels like there aren’t any new things left to say about the atrocities that happen every day, the latest of which is the Bastille Day attack in Nice. I am so heartbroken for the families there who witnessed the violence, felt the fear, and most of all, for those who lost a loved one (kids! in strollers!). It is not fair and it should not be this way. I am sad and angry that every day it feels like we wake to a new horror. What can I do?

July 14, 2016