Reverb 11: August

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Prompt for August: Describe an unexpected moment, activity, sighting, or conversation that touched you during July.

When I decided to participate in the Week in the Life project, I did not expect much to come of it other than seven days of blog posts, a good number of pictures, and some sort of scrapbook project. In the thick of it – taking hundreds of pictures, writing blog posts, mentally keeping track of what I was doing – I did not see myself and what I did, day in and day out.

For the most part, I am always thinking about how I don’t accomplish what I want to get done. I keep a huge task list of things I want to do: teach myself HTML to revamp my blog, meet up with friends, take the time to understand bread and make loaves from scratch, go to local fairs and craft shows and expos and events, make scrapbooks, paint the rooms in my home, craft something. Not to mention acting as Kate’s primary caretaker, managing all our household affairs, leading my mom’s club, working a more than part-time job, and dealing with whatever comes up.

I feel I never get anywhere. Or I go backwards. It always seems like two steps forward, one step back. It’s this dance I do, trying to map out my various projects knowing I can only work on them in bits and pieces here and there in fits and starts. Twenty minutes here. Five minutes there. Ten minutes here. Thirty minutes there. Hardly enough to accomplish anything within a given uninterrupted period of time.

Anyway, I get down on myself, wishing I could puzzle my schedule together in such a way to do all that I want.

So when I looked over my days in my Week in the Life project, it showed in – in black and white – all that I do accomplish within a week. (Here is Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.)

I do a lot. And I am busier now than I ever was when I worked at a traditional job full time. Reading back through my posts, I see just how much I manage to accomplish, and there is pretty much no way I could do more. Absolutely no way I could do more than I already do. How incredibly relieving!

Nothing in my world is life or death. And I need to make tough choices everyday on how I spend my time, keeping in mind my main priorities are raising a healthy, happy little girl and being a source of support to my family. They are my most important items on any list.

(What is this Reverb thing? Check it out here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.)

The Bagley family’s first vacation, part 2

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By Sunday evening, our friends arrived. (Dan and his friends spend a week at the beach together every year since their junior year of high school. Since then, wives/girlfriends/Kate also attend this year beach trip.) Some live in Northern Virginia, so we see them often. But others came from Texas, New Jersey, and New York. It was nice to reconnect – and have extra sets of eyes on Kate, so I could snap more pictures instead of playing photographer plus another set of hands to baby wrangle. (Note: our awesome photographer friend, Matt, snapped the last three pictures of Kate. Those ones where she is wearing Matt’s sunglasses are my personal favorites. Too funny!)

We spent the next couple days watching Kate run on the beach, bike riding with Kate in her trailer (a no-joke work out for the legs), playing Apples to Apples, and hanging out. All was well. Kate slept in her pack and play, delighted several groups of grandma-like ladies on the beach, and took an epic nap.

Until we received the evacuation notice.

We cut our trip short and left Thursday morning. I felt nauseated at the thought of driving back with Kate, especially given the evacuation notice. The drive to the beach and all it’s misery were still firmly implanted in my brain (and still is), so I mentally prepared myself for the worst.

In a fortunate turn of events, we experienced next to no traffic on the way back. I know, can you believe it?! It truly was a Rt. 95 Miracle. Kate geared up to fuss, but, I was able to quell most of her screams with…Pringles. Yes. Pringles. I fed Kate cheesy Pringles one by one the entire ride home. She managed to consume a good half of the container. And was completely covered in cheese dust. I will take a cheese-dust encrusted, mildly irritated child over a full-fledged screaming child any day of the week. Since I get car sick, I could not sit in the back with her (also, Belle was back there, so there was no room for me). So, I handed her Pringles and tried to comfort her in small spurts before needing to get my eyes back on the road.

So, I suppose my only travel advice besides never, ever travel with a toddler would be to bring Pringles.

The Bagley family’s first vacation, part 1

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I hinted Friday that our drive to the Outer Banks (Duck, specifically) was nothing short of, well, the most hellish ride one could imagine.

We decided to set out Friday morning (August 19) around 10 a.m., figuring that would work best with our schedule, traffic, and give us a good shot at a potentially napping baby. Well, we thought wrong.

Kate woke up on the wrong side of the crib that morning, and she proceeded to fuss and scream at us as Dan and I tried to pack up and load everything into the car. Also, while somewhat unattended, she managed to get into one of my ink pads and stamp herself as well as other items in our home. Things were not boding well.

Then, the minute we planted her in that car seat – bam! Total and complete freak out. And she proceeded to scream for the next 5 hours. Now, I do mean scream. No hyperbole here. Screaming, crying, fussing at high volume for five hours. Dan and I almost died twice.

When we finally arrived, all of us – including poor Miss Belle – were completely delirious. And exhausted. And deaf. We managed a quick trip to the local Harris Teeter for provisions and a much needed take and bake pizza, a 12 pack of Corona lites, and a gallon of birthday cake ice cream.

The next day we all rallied and headed down to the beach for Kate’s first experience with the ocean. Her first reaction was less than enthusiastic. She spent about 20 minutes screaming and crying and clinging to Dan like a second skin. Dan and I made huge fools of ourselves, splashing in the water, laughing and building sand creations to entice her to join us. That worked pretty well and soon enough she transformed from Miss Don’t Put Me Down to Miss Fearless. A little too fearless for this mama’s liking.

I am glad she ended up loving the beach because after the previous day’s heinous car ride, all I wanted to do was pack it in and head home. But, I do have to say, there was nothing vacation about this vacation. Unless you think chasing an off-balance toddler around the surf and wiping sand out of other people’s crevices is relaxing. It was fun to watch Kate experience the sand, but it definitely proved to be a lot of work for mama and dada. Can you tell I never want to travel with my toddler again?!

Come back tomorrow for one last post of vacation pictures and a story about how I survived the trip back home.

Home again, home again

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Well. What a week. Last Friday we took off for Duck, North Carolina in the Outer Banks, but cut our trip short due to the impending Irene. So, I took bunches of pictures and can’t wait to share some funny stories about Kate’s first time on the beach. Look for those next week.

However, I could not resist a little preview picture. And this thought: driving with a toddler for 5+ hours in the car is not ideal. Someone in our traveling party screamed for the entire ride down to Duck. Have you ever experienced driving in a confined space with a screaming toddler for five hours? Migraine does not even begin to describe it.

But! Fun was had by all. With a few meltdowns sprinkled in here and there. It’s not a vacation until someone is crying, right?

Today we are headed to the grocery today to restock our empty fridge. I have some fun weekend plans on tap, including the inaugural meeting of my Cooking Club and a lunch with my blogger friend (Hi, Becky!). Here’s hoping Irene doesn’t rain on my parade!

Have a great weekend – what are you up to? Bracing yourself for Irene? Hurricane parties? Traveling with a toddler?

August favorites

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1. L’Oreal Paris Studio Secrets Professional Magic Smooth Souffle Foundation: One of my favorite “guilty pleasures” involves watching lots and lots of Beauty Guru channels on YouTube. My favorite gurus share drug store makeup, which is perfect for me because expensive department store makeup is not in our budget at the moment. Darn those Pampers! Anyway, I gravitate towards any guru who uses and reviews makeup I can buy from my local CVS and Walgreens. So, when I saw a couple gurus using this new L’Oreal foundation, I decided to give it a try. It is on the higher end of the price range for drug store makeup. But, it is within the realm of appropriate for a drug store foundation. I tried the Maybelline dream smooth mouse a while back, and I was not overwhelmed with it. So I had pretty low expectations. However, one application of this foundation, and I am S-O-L-D! This stuff is awesome sauce. So light and smooth. This stuff glides on like butter over warm toast. Super smooth. The finish provides good coverage but not so much that you look like a geisha. (My color is Creamy Natural.) So, if you are in the market for a new foundation that provides enough coverage to even you out, try this one from L’Oreal. (Also, leave me a comment with your favorite YouTube Beauty Guru.)

2. Apples to Apples: OMG! This game is the best. It is super easy to play and such a fun game for a crowd. And with my group of friends, the more inappropriate, the better! We printed our friend’s names on the blank red cards, adding to the hilarity.

3. Bigelow Earl Grey Tea: I am a huge tea junkie. While I usually go for Celestial Seasonings Cinnamon Apple Spice, I have been mixing it up with Earl Grey. With a touch of honey, this tea really hits the spot in the afternoon.

4. Target basic t-shirt: I love a good t-shirt. Nothing too short or too long or too stretchy or too loose. These cheapie t’s from Target are the best. Just loose enough, just fitted enough. I picked up a bunch a couple of weeks ago when they were $5 a pop. I pair them with yoga pants when bumming around and shorts at the park. Super comfy. I am not sure how long they will last (note: I don’t put them in the dryer; I hang dry these babies), but they are good for at least a season. And at $5 a shirt, I don’t mind.

5. Erin Condren Life Planner: Clearly, this had to be an August favorite. Okay, okay, you all know I love this planner. What more can I say? Well, I started getting myself organized and plotting my schedule in my planner. I am finding I love the stickers in the back that denote things like birthdays, parties, appointments, etc… I did not realize I would find the stickers helpful, but I really really like them for quickly adding things to my schedule.

Okay, your turn – what are you loving in August?

You know exactly what I’m saying

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We finally reached that fun part of toddlerhood. Well, okay, to be fair, there are lots of un-fun parts as well. But! There are some fun things.

For instance, for several weeks now, it seems Kate learns a new word every minute. And if she cannot quite say said word, she definitely knows what I mean. How do I know this? Because she openly defies me! Duh! When I say “give that to mama” when she some how manages to unlock things we didn’t think she could get into and steals all sorts of dangerous objects like plastic bags and pill containers, I ask her to give those items to me, and she gives me this face that seems to indicate “heck no” and runs away.

Sometimes she will do things I ask. Like when I don’t feel like getting up, and I ask her to bring me the remote or my shoes. Handy, these toddlers.

So, what does she know to do and say? Well, you already know she loves to say “bad, bad, bad.” Added to the list are: no, yes, Belle, dada, mama, shh, woof, bye bye, cracker, ball. And bunches of other stuff that mean something to her but not so much to me. I usually end up saying “oh, really,” “wow,” and “of, course!” She is probably asking me for a pony, an iPhone, and a Hummer, all of which I agreed to.

Since our little repeater can use her words, Dan and I try to watch what we say. No more swearing like sailors over here! Drats! At least spelling is still over her head…for now.

Frenemies

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People ask me all the time if Belle and Kate like each other. Well, I guess the answer is yes and no.

When we first brought Kate home from the hospital, Belle could not figure out where that crying sound was coming from. She raced around the house and sniffed every inch of our home. We kept showing her Kate and indicating that that little thing in the blanket was the one making all those snorts and whimpers and squeaks.

After a while, Belle finally figured out that Kate was the culprit. And after she solved that mystery, she did not care to associate with Kate.

Until Kate started eating solid food.

Now Belle and Kate are the best of friends. At least during meal times. Kate delights in throwing food over her tray and into Belle’s waiting mouth. Often times Kate feeds Belle directly from her hand, Belle slobbers all over Kate’s palm, and Kate continues to eat with the Belle-licked hand. Whatever. It’s all part of our anti-allergy campaign.

Especially now that Kate can run/walk/motor faster than a speeding bullet, she and Belle are what I would call frenemies. They are friends when they get into mischief together, like when Kate unwraps rolls of toilet paper and feeds them square by square to Belle. They are enemies when they are both competing for my attention and getting under my legs while I try to make dinner.

Anyway, taking care of a kid and a dog is hard work. (And, no, dog care does not equate to child care. I had Belle before Kate and having Kate is about 10000000000x harder.) But I would not trade the two of them for all the tea in China as they provide endless hours of entertainment and consent to being the subjects of many of my photographs.

Mustard chicken salad for the win

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When I was pregnant with Kate, I spent four months prostrate on the couch. The only way to quell the ever present nausea was to sleep. Or watch hours upon hours of Barefoot Contessa.

I couldn’t stand the smell of most anything. When I was at work, I had to plug my nose and mouth breathe when I passed the cafeteria. And I definitely thought about stabbing my coworker’s eyes out with ball point pens for warming up super smelly burritos in the microwave.

So while I couldn’t stand the smell of food, I could watch Ina Garten tend her herb garden, truss a chicken, and throw simple yet elaborate dinner parties for her and all her cadre of accomplished, talented, and good looking gay friends. Ah, Ina, you have the life!

Anyway, while I only ate saltines for four months, I filed away a couple recipes I thought I might like once I could fathom the idea of eating again. This recipe for Mustard Chicken Salad stood out as a potential winner. I love myself some mustard. And it did not look too challenging. Plus, it had “leftovers for lunch” written all over it, so once I could hold down solid food, Dan and I tosses this dish into our regular rotation.

I forgot about it for a while, but a couple of weeks ago, I remembered it and made it again. So good. The mustard sauce is absolutely delightful. Tangy and slightly creamy. A total 10.

However, I must admit, I am in that place again, that dinner slump place. I am in desperate need of new recipes, so please some new dishes with me in the comments. Preferably something easy. I’m no Ina.

I have questions and I hope you have answers

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1. I got a pedicure for the first time last night. My mom’s group had an event at the local spa, and I got my toes done. I was hesitant because it is not something I am used to doing. And I feel super bad for the lady touching my feet. I suppose she has seen worse feet. But I always think she is going to tell all her fellow pedicurists that I have the weirdest toes. She must have realized it was my first time when she asked me what shape I wanted, and I said “nail shaped.” Anyway, I got OPI’s Pink Flamenco. What color do you like to paint your toe nails?

2. My baby sister left for her first year at college yesterday. My heart aches for her because I remember what I felt like when my parents pulled away and left me standing in a gravel parking lot outside my dorm at U.Va. I heaved and cried and snotted alone in that parking lot. I pulled myself together over the course of the next few days. But I think it took a semester before I felt settled. So, to ease her transition, I picked up a bunch of greeting cards and some fun lip glosses/lotions/other girlie stuff for a little care package I plan to send her in a couple weeks. What do you recommend sending college students? I want to send her a food item, but I worry about cookies/banana bread/muffins going bad. Do you have any suggestions? (Her school is only an hour away from where I live, so it would not have to travel too far.)

3. I have a ritual before I leave the house. I always always ALWAYS check for my wallet before I go out the door because five a few times times I have found myself in the Safeway check out line with nothing to pay for my groceries save my first born child. Turns out, Safeway isn’t into bartering. Anyway, I am in need of a new wallet. My old one is falling apart (maybe because Kate uses it as a toy). Like planners, I am fussy about wallets. It can’t be too big or too small. Any ideas?

4. I really love Wet N Wild cosmetics. When I was in middle school and high school, I remember this brand as cheap and not the best quality. Well, now, I find Wet N Wild stuff to be super affordable and pretty great quality. (Some stuff is hit or miss, but I particular love the eye shadow trios). So the other day I picked up two new lip sticks (for $0.99), and I just love them. What I don’t love is the fact that I either cannot apply lip stick or I need a lip liner. Or both. Whenever I apply lip stick, it kind of…smears. And I don’t have a clear “these are my lips” and a “this is the rest of my face” look. Suggestions?

Happy Friday! We have a fun weekend planned…and I cannot wait to show some fun pictures!

It’s a plan

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It’s here, it’s here!

You guys, I have been refreshing my FedEx tracking page ever since I found out my Erin Condren planner shipped. And it finally arrived last night! Holy moly!

Dan found the package outside our front door, and I basically accosted him. He has no idea why I wanted this planner. In fact, I am sure he thinks it’s all very silly. Boys! What do they know?! Dan never writes anything down. I never knew him to take notes in any class at college. Unlike myself who took copious notes and then came home and typed them up. I must write stuff down. That’s how it seeps into my brain.

Anyway, I am fussy about planners. I do use Google calendar and a combination of Evernote (which you can read about here), but I wanted something I could carry with me. I find most planners to be too big or too small or I did not like the design of the week/month at a glance or they fell apart. So when my blogger friend, Ashley, told me about the Erin Condren Life Planner, I decided to give it a try. (Oh, side note: if you are not following Ashely’s blog, you should start RIGHT NOW! Girlfriend takes great pictures, is super sweet, and is on top of the latest and greatest.)

And I am so glad I gave this planner a try. First, off, it is substantial. This thing is double the size I thought it would be. Which is great. And no danger of it falling apart. I love the stickers in the back to denote things like weddings, birthdays, hair appointments, etc… Oh! And I love love love that pouch in the back to keep things like stamps and appointment cards.

So, I plan to use a combination of my Life Planner and Google calendar to keep myself organized. Because, unlike Dan, nothing gets me more jazzed up than some organizing and writing things down and plan plan planning!

Okay, how about you? Do you use a paper planner? Or an online calendar? Perhaps you are a hybrid paper/electronic organizer like myself. Share with me!