Happy weekend:

[photo]

Happy Friday, friends! How about the weather this week? M got to see his first snow and we spent the rest of our time off cuddled up in blankets, playing, watching cartoons, and eating way too many homemade donuts.

What are you doing this weekend? Anything fun? I have been working on a project for the past week that I hope to wrap up this weekend. I can't wait to share it with you. We had big plans to spend some time outside this weekend after being cooped up in the house all week but I don't think the weather is going to cooperate. So, movies and naps it is!

Have a great one! Stay warm and dry.

New reads:

I just finished reading Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple. Have you read it? I've heard a lot of people talking about it lately and couldn't wait to dig in. Here's what it's about (from the back cover):

"When fifteen-year-old Bee claims a family trip to Antartica as a reward for perfect grades, her fiercely intelligent but agoraphobic mother, Bernadette, throws herself into preparations for the trip. Worn down by years of trying to live the Seattle life she never wanted, Bernadette is on the brink of a meltdown. As disaster follows disaster, she disappears, leaving her family to pick up the pieces. Which is exactly what Bee does, weaving together emails, invoices, and school memos to reveal the secret past that Bernadette has been hiding for decades. Where'd You Go, Bernadette is an ingeniously entertaining novel about a family coming to terms with who they are, and the power of a daughter's love for her imperfect mother."

I loved it. It was a really fast read and very enjoyable -- light and funny. And Bernadette? Loved her. She was probably my favorite character. Maybe one of my favorite characters ever. Top 20, at least. She's smart, independent, and does and says whatever she wants. Like this little gem:

"My heart started racing, not the bad kind of heart racing, like, I'm going to die. But the good kind of racing, like, Hello, can I help you with something? If not, please step aside because I'm about to kick the shit out of life."

I found her very refreshing and relatable. And I vowed to try and be a little more like Bernadette from time to time.

So, did you read it? If so, what did you think? Did you like Bernadette as much as I did? And if not, what are you waiting for?! It's great, I swear. You will not be disappointed.

Happy weekend:

[photo]

Happy Friday, friends! Got any plans for the weekend? I have Monday off (thank you, state holiday) and I am excited about getting to hang out with little M for three whole days.

Valentine's Day is Saturday! Do you celebrate? We really don't, just because I think it's kind of ridiculous. I mean, the sentiment is sweet but the commercialization has really made me kind of grumpy about the whole thing. I guess we celebrate in our own way -- we usually just reserve the evening to hang out and enjoy each other's company. The evening usually involves something along the lines of getting a pizza and beer and playing a board game while listening to some good music.

Here's what's going on with us:

1. M is getting 3 new teeth! 3! That makes a grand total of 5. He is getting so big!
2. Our good friends welcomed their baby girl on Monday. We got to go visit them in the hospital -- she is so tiny and sweet. Can't wait for her and M to grow up together.
3. We celebrated our dating anniversary on Thursday. We have officially been a couple for an entire decade.
4. We've been making baby food purees like mad. So far, bananas, sweet potatoes, apples, and carrots have been big hits at our house.
5. We've been running and working out more -- trying to get our post-baby bodies back. It feels good to get moving again, but man, it's tough. Especially after having taken about a year off.

Have a great weekend, everyone! Hope your Valentine's Day is special (and Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad!)

Grownup sleep uniform:

Confession: I am 30 years old and still sleeping in old pajama pants and t-shirts from college. They're comfortable but frumpy and gross. So, I finally decided to update my sleep uniform to something a little more grownup. Yes, I'm aware it took me way too long to get to this point. Yes, I'm a little embarrassed to admit this.

But here comes the fun part: shopping! I wanted something that is loose and comfortable (like my grungy pjs of old) while looking mature and put together. I wanted it to be something that I wouldn't be totally embarrassed by if I had to leave the house while wearing it. It had to be something that, later on, wouldn't embarrass my kids either. 

Of course, I immediately turned to Everlane, one of my favorite sources for comfortable shirts. They have so many great options and are reasonably priced. I have been a fan of theirs for years (see here).

I'm loving:

1. The Cotton Tank ($18)
2. The Cotton Drop-Shoulder Tee ($22)
3. The Ryan Long Sleeve ($30)

I love these three different styles so I'm covered no matter the season. Don't they just scream "snuggle up with a tea and a good book"? So comfortable. Plus, I love Everlane's belief in radical transparency. They believe in being honest about every step of their manufacturing process, the factories that make their products, and the real cost of production. I appreciate a clothing company's dedication to doing what's right and I'm proud to support them. 

I'm thinking of pairing them with these:

Such an improvement, right? Look at me all grown up. Funny, it took updating my sleepwear, not getting married, buying a house, or having a kid, to feel like grownup.

New reads:

This week I'm reading The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe. It's about a doctoral candidate at Harvard named Connie, who in an attempt to find an original source for her dissertation, stumbles across a woman named Deliverance Dane and what seems to be a book of "recipes". Deliverance Dane lived in Salem, Massachusetts during the witch trials and was caught up in the whole witch hunt thing and somewhere along the way, her book disappeared. Connie begins her search for the missing book, learns about herself and her family's past, and fights against those that seek to harm her. There's adventure, mystery, romance, and even historical aspects to the story.

While I enjoyed the story, it seemed a little predictable to me. I found it very similar to the All Souls Trilogy by Diana Harkness, and to be honest, I liked those better. I did enjoy the historical parts, though. And I found it interesting that the author, Katherine Howe, is a descendant of two different woman who were accused of witchcraft during the Salem witch trials. So, in a way, it seemed a little autobiographical. Or, at least like she used parts of her own life to create her story.

It is a fast read and I'd recommend it to anyone that likes stories with a twinge of supernatural, historical fiction, or mystery.

Happy weekend:

[photo]

Happy Friday! What are you doing this weekend? Anything fun? We still have painting to do (boo). I came down with a stomach bug last weekend and then M got it so we didn't do much of anything except nap and cuddle. Not a bad way to spend a weekend but not great for productivity. So, I'm looking forward to following through with all the plans I had last weekend.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

New rug:

We've lived in our house almost a year now and I have hardly done anything to decorate it and make it really feel like home. I have good intentions, I just get busy and forget. Sure we've picked up a new piece of furniture here and there and painted a few rooms but so far, none of the finishing touches have made it into our home. No pictures on the wall. No curtains. No rugs. Terrible, I know. So, I decided to change that.

Say a great big welcome to our new office rug! I've got big plans for making this space warm and inviting since we spend so much time in there as a family watching tv and playing. We still haven't shared the progress in this room, so look for that soon.

Can't wait to see our house finally come together a little bit more!