Friday Roundup


Happy Friday! March is finally here, flowers are blooming and the clocks will change this weekend. I'm a happy lady.

Here are some links to kick off the weekend:

It's National Cereal Day! Seven recipes that use cereal.

Did you watch the Oscars last weekend? The pizza guy was real and got his tip on Ellen. Also, what's your John Travolta name? Mines Theodore Harvis :) Annnnnd Kevin Spacey for the win on the red carpet.

9 reasons to bring back the cocktail party. YES.

What is Buzzfeed doing with all the data they are collecting from those quizzes?

Are creative people more dishonest? 

This breakfast dish looks so yummy.

Loving this "modern rustic" look, need to get some faux fur throws.

What you learn in your 40's...loved this.

What do you think of the new Annie trailer??

Our favorite 90's teenage heartthrobs today.

Watch your name grow and sink with popularity over 100 years, so cool.

Crazzzzy new app that helps you to read faster.

(Image of home for sale in Australia)

Myles: Seven Months Old


My baby is growing up so fast! As you can see, he has mastered sitting up on his own and is reaching forward to try the crawling position. He loves playing with Rafa and my sister's dog, going on walks to see the flowers blooming, eating avocado and broccoli, kicking his legs in the bath, singing with his dad and playing with mama's hair and necklaces. We are all happy that spring is on the horizon and we'll be able to spend more time outdoors! 







Storytelling


I loved watching this video of Ira Glass, host of This American Life, describing how to tell a great story. I'm inherently impatient so I tend to rush to the punchline when I'm telling a story. I like his tip about having a "moment of reflection" to go with anecdotes instead of just a list of events. I'm a big fan of This American Life, I have their app on my phone and listen to it on my way to and from work to calm my nerves on the road. I'm constantly amazed by how they can take a simple story and make it so enthralling.

Wedding Roundup


Yes, it's still the depth of winter for most of you, but if you're planning a summer wedding, you're probably spending the winter dreaming of dining al fresco at your reception, peonies and sparklers. Here are a few links with some great ideas for you...

Great idea for personalized napkins!

Lovely necklace

Flowers in her hair

Something Blue

Water for your guests for those really warm summer days.

I love the decor of this Australian summer wedding.

S'mores! 

Lovely lights

Romantic wedding ideas

Style Me Pretty's favorite honeymoon spots. 

Dried lavender confetti cones made out of pages from books (these make me sad Pinterest wasn't around when I got married)

Inn at Langley, Image via Studio JKoe

Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Month Favorites: Baby Gear

4-6 month favorites



Here is some of our family's favorite gear from the fourth through sixth month stage. I'm thinking at the end of the year I'll have to put together a sort of ultimate registry guide as well, I loved what Cup of Jo posted last week.

1. Boon Bathtub Appliques: These are so wonderful, Mylo is OBSESSED with them. He loves playing with them in the bath but I also throw a few in the diaper bag and around the house for him to gum and play with. I'm going to buy these for every baby shower I attend in the future, one of my all time favorites.

2. Little Giraffe "Splash and Dry" Towel: Jenny bought this for Mylo and I can't describe how far superior it is to other towels we have for him. It's is super fast absorbing, drys quickly, is extremely soft and still big enough for him now. It's a little pricey but so worth it.

3. Jellycat Stuffed Animals: I can't get enough of the Jellycat animals and neither can Mylo. As I've mentioned before he love having soft things by his face while he sleeps and these Jellycat animals are just perfect.

4. Chewbeads: I got two sets of Chewbeads as gifts and thought they were super cute and fun. Little did I know that they would become one of Mylo's favorite toys too. They are nice to have in a restaurant or out and about because they serve the same purpose as a pacifier but don't get thrown on the floor quite as easily.

5. MAM Night Glow Pacifiers: These will be at the top of my "must get" registry items. I happend upon them by accident and they are AMAZING. I put like five of them next to Mylo when he goes to bed and both of us an can find them during the night when he wakes up because they really do glow. MAM was also the only brand of paci he would take as an infant.

6. BOB "Revolution SE" Stroller: We were lucky enough to be gifted a BOB stroller when Mylo was born. I also have the Britax B-Agile (which we love) and thought of the BOB as a fun extra. Boy was I wrong! We use the BOB every single day because the streets around our house are completely uneven and is more suited for rugged terrain. I love having the Britax stroller in my car for trips out shopping, etc and the BOB at home for exercise and long walks on uneven pavement. It will also be great when we are in Northern Idaho this summer!

7. The North Face "Buttery" Fleece Bunting: Another item that we used every single day this winter. Mylo loves to be outside and this little suit was our go to for wintery walks around Seattle. It is so incredibly soft and comfy.

8. Baby Einstein Musical Activity Jumper: We used this as a hand me down from Kenedee and it has been a total and complete lifesaver. Mylo loves to bounce in it and it gives us a break from holding him. He's been using it since about four months (he's tall) and I'm betting he won't grow out of it until he starts walking.

PS. First month and also second and third month favorites.



Seattle Spotlight: Lost Lake Cafe


I may be a few miles away, but if you're in Seattle, you should check out Lost Lake Cafe. It opened a little over a year ago, so maybe you've already been there, but I just discovered it a few weeks before we left and it is easily my favorite 24hr. spot in the city. 

The food is classic diner/cafe fare done well, I'm a fan of the pie and they have some great specialty cocktails, too. 

On top of the great food, what makes this WAY better than hitting up a Denny's at 2 am is the decor. It's a cross between a 50's diner and a hunting lodge, sort of a retro getaway in the middle of Capitol Hill. Check it out. It's always open. 

Teresa, they have waffles. We have to go when I get back! 

Also, they have a happy hour. 

Monday Motivation


Do you give up anything for Lent? I have never participated but this year I feel like I need a change in my life and might use Lent as an excuse to get going with it. There are two things that I've been thinking about "sacrificing" this season, one is television and the other is sugar/sweets. Both have become unhealthy habits and are making me feel tired, lazy, and depressed. With the winter gloom I've gotten into a routine of powering through my afternoons at work with sweets and then getting home and making dinner, getting Mylo to bed and turning on the TV every single evening to catch up on my DVR. Now that spring is on the horizon it's time to find a more productive use of my time...I think if I wasn't watching so much TV I'd find time to do the things I actually WANT to do like blog, read, tidy, think, write, etc. Hmmm....decisions decisions.