Posts Tagged ‘winter’

Cabin Fever Cure

Wednesday, February 26th, 2014

The annual Cabin Fever Chowder Cook-Off happened down in Mystic this weekend. It was PACKED from the second they opened at noon until we left several hours later. A couple booths ran out of chowder. It wasn’t a surprise – Saturday was the first non-cold, non-snowing, non-raining day we’ve had since before Christmas. I saw a couple people in shorts, even though the temps barely broke 50 degrees. Both my children refused their coats and ran around acting like it was summer, even as they fell into giant snow drifts that will probably never melt.

(As I sit here typing this the forecast on my TV screen is predicting snow showers in 6 of the next 7 days, but I can also see the end of February on my calendar so I am pretty sure we’re going to survive.)

Normally my family wouldn’t be super excited over a chowder cook-off (those weirdos don’t really like chowder) but I had a couple things working in my favor. First, it was at Olde Mystickee Villageeeee, which means they could eat at our favorite grilled cheese place while I stuffed cream-based seafood in my mouth. Second, our Navy friends who just moved back from Virginia were there, which means we each had a counterpart to talk to. Other people’s kids who wear out your kids are the best kids.

mini boden spring collection mini boden spring collection-2 mini boden spring collection-collage mini boden spring collection-collage2 mini boden spring collection-8

mini boden spring collection-9

Evan was OBSESSED with these juggler/comedians. Some of their jokes were a little PG-13 but they went right over the small people’s heads so I didn’t feel too guilty laughing. My kid makes the best faces when he’s happy.

mini boden spring collection-10

mini boden spring collection-11

mini boden spring collection-12

mini boden spring collection-13

After I was done with chowder and the kids had burned off a little of their cabin fever we drove over to Stonington to find a brewery our friends had heard about. Since I’m all pregnant and stuff I didn’t get to participate in the tasting part, but E assures me it’s delicious. He bought a growler (a big jug of beer) and can take it back to get it refilled. It’s called Beer’d Brewing Co, which is my favorite part. Their logo is a beard. Obviously.

While E was waiting for his jug’o’alcohol the kids ran around the GIANT indoor space. I think they use it for the farmer’s market in the mornings but as a place to run/take pictures it was equally awesome. We’re definitely going back to explore the shops and galleries in the mill again (and so E can get more beer).

Since the weather was FINALLY warm enough for something besides layers on top of layers on top of layers, I broke out the kids’ new play clothes. Boden was nice enough to send us a few things last month and I’ve been saving them for a fun outing so I could take pictures.

mini boden spring collection-collage3 mini boden spring collection-18

mini boden spring collection-19 mini boden spring collection-20 mini boden spring collection-collage4 mini boden spring collection-28 mini boden spring collection-collage5 mini boden spring collection-collage6 mini boden spring collection-37 mini boden spring collection-collage7 mini boden spring collection-38 mini boden spring collection-collage8

You have until midnight tonight to use the code 424F to get 20% off your Boden or Mini-Boden order. Tomorrow it will be 15% and Friday it will be 10%. You can also follow this link (not an affiliate link, just the discount). I ordered Evan adorable submarine swim trunks and Caroline a stripy, beachy dress. Clearly I’m ready for warmer days.

Disclaimer: Boden sent the kids the tops/bottoms in my photos but I wasn’t compensated for my post or opinions. I just can’t say no to adorable kid clothes. 

 

My Week(173) in iPhone Photos

Sunday, February 23rd, 2014

I think it snowed again this week. I mean, it probably did. It never does anything else.

Sunday:

sunday1

He’s a pro at iPading

sunday2

This is basically every Sunday around here

Monday:

monday1

Dinosaur House

monday2

Sleeping dolls in a box are kind of creepy

monday3

I have this photo from every day. Caroline requests it.

Tuesday:

tuesday1

Let it go, let it go!

tuesday2

Snow in the house because I am the coolest mom

tuesday3

Naps for everyone!

Wednesday:

wednesday1

BACK TO SCHOOL

wednesday2

I hate youuuuuuuuuuu

wednesday3

She’s finally getting real hair instead of baby hair

wednesday4

Face in the water!

Thursday:

thursday1

She insisted on helping

thursday2

Singing at the school potluck

thursday3

Twins

Friday:

friday1

Someone put herself down for a nap at 11 am

friday2

The dog hates thunderstorms, so she was helping him not be scared

friday3

DuckTales WOO OOO

Saturday:

saturday1

So much chowder at the Chowder Cook Off (that’s clam/corn/sweet potato and spicy seafood)

saturday2

SUPER EXCITED to be outside WITHOUT A COOOOOOAT

saturday3

E’s new favorite place

It was 50 degrees this weekend and I got an adequate amount of vitamin D for the first time in months. Unfortunately all the out-and-about on Saturday was a lot on my poor pregnant hips so Sunday I just lay on the couch. Well, after laundry and cleaning and a baby’s 6 months mini-session. But BESIDES that, I took a really nice nap.

My 20 week ultrasound is Monday afternoon. It will be a test of my willpower if I can still report on Tuesday morning that we don’t know if it’s a boy or a girl. Considering how my willpower fared against 20 different kinds of chowder on Saturday (very poorly) I’m not totally hopeful.

 

My Week(172) in iPhone Photos

Monday, February 17th, 2014

Today’s surprising news: I’m not dead! I was certain I was about to be dead most of the weekend, thanks to the fountain of snot both coming out of my head and totally blocking my sinuses. If you’ve ever tried to use a netti pot and had the water come out your eye balls, you know why I was convinced of certain death. Today I am both not dead and well enough to be both hungry and bored, which is my normal state.

Sunday:

sunday1

The most amusing game of duck, duck, goose I’ve ever witnessed.

sunday2

Dinosaur heaven

sunday3

Princess Anna give epic side-eye on House of Lies

Monday:

monday1

Totally obsessed with her veggiesaurus

monday2

My internet girlfriend/wife/best friend sent me a present. I did not share.

monday3

Signing his own valentine’s is HARD

Tuesday:

tuesday1

OMG THEY ACTUALLY HAD A SCHOOL DAY

tuesday2

This is the laundry chair, where I put the clean laundry. PLEASE NOTICE THE LACK OF LAUNDRY SITTING ON THE CHAIR.

tuesday3

In my next house, there will be separate tubs for children and relaxing

Wednesday:

wednesday1

Looking for Neverland

wednesday2

It’s the moooost wonderful tiiiiiiime of the yeeeeeear!!!

wednesday3

E finally got to eat his birthday cake

Thursday:

thursday1

That iPad has totally paid for itself is mornings they did this instead of wake me up

thursday2

The only family member still excited about snow

thursday3

Snow days are exhausting

Friday:

friday1

The inmates are running the asylum.

friday2

CABIN FEVER

friday3

3 year old bath toes are cuter than mine

Saturday;

saturday1

Trying to remember what a day WITHOUT snow looks like

saturday2

If I HAD to be sick and unable to get off the couch, at least I picked the weekend House of Cards was released to do it.

saturday3

Blushes judges me, but I finished season 2!

Today my goal is a) brush my hair and b) leave the house. I got (a) done at noon and I’m hoping to get (b) accomplished by going to see The Lego Movie later. Then maybe I can tackle harder things like “make dinner” or “unload the dishwasher”. I’m not pushing myself.

A Moroccan Infusion in a Connecticut Winter {Giveaway!}

Tuesday, February 11th, 2014

I know it’s not actually that stupid groundhog’s fault – an overgrown hamster can’t actually change weather patterns – but right now I’m dreaming of a groundhog skin hat to keep my head warm. I don’t actually HATE snow days. Staying home and building snowmen and watching movies isn’t the worst. My kids LIKE the snow and never seem to get cold and sending them out back to throw snow on each other always means we get an early and easy bedtime. But I am a wimp and have a strong dislike of being cold so I like the coming back inside part the best. It’s marginally warmer inside, most of the time. Unfortunately my house is ancient and has steam radiators, so running them full blast also means sapping every ounce of moisture out of the air. When we had the carpet down I couldn’t walk across a room without flinching any time I touched something. I’ve shocked myself with my iPod headphones a dozen times in the last couple weeks (I’m not even sure how that happens). And the poor ginger’s hair stands on end all day. It’s adorable, but they keep shouting “Mommy, you zapped me!”

static

This is his hair on a good day

The dry winter air is especially rough on my poor expanding baby belly. I’ve just reached the point where “popped” is the appropriate word to describe my stomach, rather than “Man, she really needs to lay off the burritos and do a few sit ups” (although those are also good ideas, considering how weak my stomach muscles are). Pregnancy always makes my skin super dry and I scramble to find something that helps. So when BlogHer offered to send me the new Suave Professionals® Moroccan Infusion skin care products I said “OMG SO ITCHY!” And then I said “Uh, I mean yes” because telling the people you work for about your dry, itchy skin is kind of gross.

suave professionals moroccan infusion

Moroccan argan oil is one of those ingredients popping up all over beauty blogs and commercials and known to be rich in nutrients and antioxidants. Suave took the same ingredients from more expensive brands and put them in their Professionals® line so women everywhere have access to premium products infused with authentic Moroccan argan oil. They sent me both the Body Lotion and the Dry Body Oil Spray and while I like them both the spray is my absolute new favorite product. It’s hard to dump oil out of a non-spray container onto your skin without making a huge mess and getting way too much, so the spray bottle is genius. It only takes a couple of squirts and the oil absorbs really quickly (I wouldn’t say INSTANTLY, but by the time I grab my clothes I can put them on without any stickiness). Once you rub it in it’s isn’t oily at all, just soft and moisturized (and not itchy!). My skin feels amazing all day and I smell like a million bucks.

Find more information about the Suave Professionals® Moroccan Infusion Body Care products at www.Facebook.com/SuaveBeauty and get tips for radiant skin, style advice from celebrity stylist Brad Goreski and enter the “Radiant Wishes” sweepstakes for a chance to win Suave Professionals® Moroccan Infusion products, a spa day or a trip to Los Angeles.

Giveaway! For a chance to win a $1000 gift card, let me know which of the Suave Professionals® Moroccan Infusion Body Care products you would most like to try.

 

Sweepstakes Rules:  No duplicate comments. You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

  1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
  2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
  3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
  4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected. The Official Rules are available here. This sweepstakes runs from 2/11/2014-2/28/2014. Be sure to visit the Suave Professionals® brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!

My Week(171) in iPhone Photos

Sunday, February 9th, 2014

Snow, snow, snow, snow! It won’t be long til we will all be there with….GODDAMN IT MORE SNOW. Like I said before, it wasn’t a horrible week but by Friday I was d o n e.  From tomorrow until the end of February my calendar has something on it almost every day (including kindergarten registration for Evan (!!) and preschool registration for Caroline (!!!!)). I’m actually excited about it, since I am no longer so exhausted I can’t function part 2 pm.

Sunday:

sunday1

My child is very attractive

sunday2

Festive leggings for Superbowl Sunday

sunday3

Saaaaaaaad football game

Monday:

monday1

No school. Shocking.

monday2

They are giving him warm hugs

monday3

Caroline loves being covered in snow because she is a weirdo

Tuesday:

tuesday1

Sparkly

tuesday2

It was like, 35 degrees, so he didn’t want to wear his coat.

tuesday3

Cheese vultures hang around the deli counter until the workers give them cheese

Wednesday:

wednesday1

She asks me to take this picture at least once a day

wednesday2

The giant couch is still the best purchase ever

wednesday3

Editing some of my favorite photos EVER

Thursday:

thursday1

Walking out my front door is RISKING YOUR LIFE

thursday2

Toes

thursday3

Caroline is obsessed with that stupid narwhal book

Friday:

friday1

Breakfast icicle

friday2

NOT COOL BABY. I’m only 17 weeks.

friday3

Mess.

Saturday:

saturday1

So excited for ballet

saturday2

More dog hugs

We watched a couple hours of men’s figure skating today and by the end both kids and injured themselves trying to do triple axles in the family room. I think I’m going to have to sign them up for the lessons I’ve been promising for weeks. Not that I DON’T want them to both become famous Olympic figure skaters so I can be the mom in those P&G commercials that make me cry every time, but ice rinks are cold. I was hoping for swimming. Or beach volleyball.