The Mom Stays in the Picture

about two weeks ago i saw this article posted on facebook

and i cringed with guilt

Allison Tate's words struck a nerve with me

in it, she talks about the importance of us as moms always hiding behind the camera. to avoid being in the picture. i'll admit that the temptation is great and i would much rather see pictures of my daughter, or my daughter and husband together, without me in the photo. i was guilty of this when i was pregnant and i have such regret now that i have very few pictures to show her of her long ass time in my belly.

so i vowed to do a better job starting right that minute.

 

 

this has not been an easy habit to get in

but i'm trying!

 

 



boo y'all

i got a lot of questions about this pillow

 

which i, of course, took as an excuse to post a gratuitous amount of SG pictures

*while also breaking you off some knowledge*

the pillow can be purchased here

(looks like the shop is closed until the weekend)

Trader Joe's Tuesday

PUMPKINPALOOZA: PART 1

 

i'm going to try and get better about using my actual camera for pictures. especially food pictures.

the problem is, i get so excited and tear into everything before you can say

 "honey, where's the camera charger?"

anyhoo

pumpkin is everywhere right now, and TJ's is no exception!

full disclosure? i hate pumpkin spice lattes. like, yuck
but i'm finding i do like some pumpkin stuff

 

(left to right)

 

1.pumpkin spice chai latte i got this as a gift for my sister but i can tell you that all the gals at the sample counter loved it and i think it's safe to say it will appeal to the masses of PSL lovers

2. organic pumpkin puree i used this for overnight oats. i don't eat overnight oats and i never will but Samma and CJ absolutely love them. i load them with flaxseed, chia seeds, coconut oil, and i usually use TJ's honey flavored greek yogurt. this time i used pumpkin flavored greek yogurt.

3. pumpkin macarons these were not terrible, but... i didn't love them. i took a box to a friends house and her sons (6&2) loved them. as an added bonus they are gluten free.

4. pumpkin flavored greek yogurt generally speaking, i don't care for greek yogurt. i do like the plain kind as a substitute for sour cream. i mean, seriously, why does anyone even use sour cream anymore? but this? this pumpkin kind? it tastes like pumpkin pie filling. and that, i like. this is what i used for the overnight oats but i've also been known to take the lid off, sprinkle chia seeds on top, add an elmo spoon and pass it off as breakfast to my toddler. she loves yogurt.
5. pumpkin cream cheese this is something i'd normally never try but thanks to my favorite person on earth the sample lady, i got to try a shmear of this on a waffle (made from the pumpkin pancake and waffle mix) and it was BEYOND delicious. i used the wheat-free frozen waffles and went through a tub of this stuff in less than a week. it almost tastes like pumpkin pie. but better.

(peeking from behind the pumpkinpalooza pile are the halloween joe joe's)



#skeletonpajamaparty

tonight i'm joining the tichenor family for a skeleton pajama party!

 

this idea was way too cute to pass up!

 

it was impossible to pick just one picture

 and almost impossible to narrow it down to these two!

 



Pumpkin Patch

last year our visit to the pumpkin patch was short and sweet

i got some adorable pictures and we went on about our day

it was a simpler time...

 

 

 

 

what a difference a year makes

 

 

i am dreading her teenage and college years because this girl likes to party!

as soon as we parked she could see the rides and kids she started clapping and yelling "yayyyy"

and within seconds of entering the pumpkin patch this was my view...

they need to add "toddler wrangling" as an activity on My Fitness Pal because if chasing after this kid isn't interval training, i don't know what is. she immediately ran to the train and stood on the rails watching it go around the track. so her daddy dutifully took off to get train tickets for her

the crazy thing is that she is tall enough to go on all these rides

by herself

clearly, they haven't met my child. she got herself out of the train seatbelt three times, in five minutes

and she's 20 months old so it's not exactly like i can reason with her

there will be an age where i can reason with her, right?

we had so many tears when the swing ride was over that we had to leave.

with a quickness

peace out, pumpkin patch!

see you next week year

 

(as always, her adorable bloomer set is from sheshe )

 

 

 

 

 

 



Friday Five

i have no idea how it's friday already

days with a 20 month old just go faster than any day should go

fall is finally in the air! we even had a good old fashioned rainstorm last night

(in california a rainstorm is anything more than 5 drops of rain)

i busted out SG's fall wardrobe and spent the day in my new lululemon pants

 

 

leggings

 

Cross Town pant 

 

i'm obsessed with these new lululemon leggings. the snaps are perfection! i have been feeling a little sorry for myself because i missed out on a pair of zipper bottom wunder unders but i think i might even like these a little better...

 

 

 

baby boots

 

 

Bow riding boots

 

every time i went to add these boots (in the caramel color) to my online cart they kept selling out. so, of course, this made me desperate to have them!  i finally tracked down a pair at the gap kids near CJ's work and he was sweet enough to be there when they opened this morning to get them for SG. i can't wait until he gets home with them so we can play dress up with all her fall dresses and leggings

 

 

 

lunch

 

 

Trader Joe's ham&cheese tarte

i'm guessing these are the reason for my recent weight loss plateau

pilates and pizza are pretty much a wash, no?

 

 

 

monogrammed sweatshirt

 

 

Holly Go Design Co

 

because my toddler isn't the only one who can have cute monogrammed clothes!

 i just ordered this for myself in charcoal and i cannot wait for it to arrive

thanks to Meredith for telling me about her sisters new shop!!

 

 

faux glow

 

 

i am obsessed with this self tanner. it's simply the best at home spray tan i have ever used.