Hello, November!

Fall is in full swing and I am loving the added layers.  Although summer is my fave temperature season.. fall is my favorite fashion season!  I love layers, booties, ponchos, trenches... and everything fall.  Bring it on!


Some updates on my life... Gavin loved trick-or-treating and is an all-around amazing toddler.  Gsh, I love this age!    And like every proud mama, I'm sharing his face for the world to see... :)

Happy November, y'all!

Ever After,

Jamie

National Burger Month: Burger + Beer Pairing with Plan b

    I can never turn down a good burger so National Burger Month is only a really good excuse to enjoy an amazing burger at Plan B in Simsbury.  To celebrate of this festive month, each of Plan B's locations are doing From April 26 to May 7, 10% of each location’s burger and beer pairing will be donated to their chosen charity.
     Simsbury's b location had this amazing Pear-Fect Burger made with all natural beef, glazed with bourbon and goat cheese and bourbon poached pears and arugula. The beer pairing was Lagunitas Lil Sumptin' Sumptin' and it was deliciously refreshing.  I cannot wait to hop over to more locations to try more pairings.   and Gavin enjoyed the kid's menu and we even got to sit outside since Sunday was in the 80's.  To learn more about Plan b's fun beer and burger pairing visit here. 

Ever After,

Jamie

Gavin's Playroom Reveal

Before Gavin, we had the "fun" room connected to our living room which was where all the adults gathered at family parties mixing cocktails and sitting at the bar.  Needless to say, once Gavin came along, the bar became more of a hazard than anything so I really wanted to create a space that Gavin can have fun and Mom and Dad could have their living room back! 

       My vision with Gavin's playroom was to keep the cost down so I looked around the house for items that I could use in his playroom.  I decided to keep the original color in the room the same to save labor and cost as well.  Since the color was a golden tan, I chose décor that was rustic and would work with the paint color.

      As I was going through some things in the basement, I found an old coffee table that was just collecting dust and thought, this could be the perfect chalkboard table. It was so easy to do and basically cost nothing.  I found some black chalkboard paint at Walmart, painted two coats and let it try for a few days before Gavin went to town on it.  He absolutely loves it!

    For storage, I made a trip to Target and picked up two of these 6-cube organizers in white. They were a lifesaver for all the scattered toys that we did not have a home for.  I mixed and matched the fabric bins with solid and print and decided on these solid tan bins along with some fun prints to add some texture to the room.

    Gavin's play kitchen is his absolute favorite.  I found it on sale on Amazon and there were a few color options from KidKraft.  I stocked him up with play food and he loves playing kitchen.  Who says men can't cook?!

    

 

Ever After,

Jamie

Why I Feed my Kid McDonald’s and Organic Quinoa in the Same Day

When I browse the aisles of the grocery store, my intent is so pure for feeding my almost two-year-old son the most fresh, organic, and healthy foods I can stock up on.  I literally feel like Supermom as I toss some grass-fed, hormone-free organic chicken in my grocery cart alongside a plethora of peas, carrots, and broccoli.  For snack, I think to myself, Gavin will have fresh apple slices and bananas.  Nothing frozen.  Nothing processed. Nothing store-bought.  Only the best for my little boy because I am a modern-day Mom that knows better than to feed my child junk.

Fast-forward to 5:30pm.  I get stuck in New Haven traffic on my way home from work.  I pull into daycare as I fumble for the third copy of the door code they gave me (I got seriously side-eyed because I lost it twice) to get into the building.  Paint-covered Gavin is ecstatic to see Mommy and I quickly check his folder to take home any precious artwork he did for the day.  As I buckle him up in his car seat, I get a text from my husband that he is working late and needs me to pick up dog food because we ran out.  Gavin is excited about this trip as he pets (harasses) the furry creatures in the aisles of Petco as I try to keep him from taking every last item off the shelf.

  Its 6:15 now and I know Gavin must be starving.  I think to myself, I can cook that hormone-free chicken.  After working 9 hours and commuting two, the not-so-Supermom finds herself at the drive-through at good ol’ Mickey D’s.  “I’ll take a kid’s happy meal with apple slices.”  Hey, at least he will get the apple slices I think to myself and feel slightly less guilty.  Organic quinoa tomorrow.

I am constantly in the pursuit of putting my son’s health and well-being first and sometimes find myself taking shortcuts that leave me ashamed as if I’d ruined all the months of healthy eating with one happy meal.  Kind of like that feeling when you ate healthy all day and then just stuff a cupcake down after the gym.  Ohhh, the guilt. But then I take a step back and know that life gets in the way of your “perfect plan” and sometimes, you just gotta have a Happy Meal (or that cupcake).  

The truth is, it’s okay to use McDonald’s french fries as your rescue when you can’t be Supermom every day.  It’s okay to use your iPhone as a way to distract your child on an airplane or in a restaurant every once in a while.  It’s okay to let them watch more TV than Dr. Sears recommends for childhood development.  It’s okay, gasp, for your 2 year old to eat goldfish off the floor.  It’s okay.  They will be okay. It’s okay to be a part-time Supermom. 

Ever After,

Jamie

What's in my Diaper Bag

    At Gavin's first Dr.'s appointment at 2 days old, we had the ultimate first-time-parent fail. We forgot the diaper bag.  And yes, he pooped.  Luckily, the APRN had an extra diaper and consoled us by saying we were not the first ones to forget the diaper bag.  Ryan and I were so nervous about buckling the car-seat correctly and getting Gavin safely there, that we completely blanked.  Needless to say, we learned our lesson very quickly.
   Now I am on the other end of the spectrum- I like to be fully prepared.  With a 9-month old, you never know how many back-up onesies you'll need or extra snacks for a hangry baby.  My essentials list might be a little overkill for some, but sometimes we are on the go all day and I like to be prepared so we don't have to stop home.
Diaper Bag Essentials:

• Diapers & Wipes... and lots of extras!  I like Honest Company diapers and Target brand.  
• I always have a warm hat and sweatshirt or coat for baby. Even if it's nice out, it might get windy or a little chilly at night.  I always pack an extra blanket in the diaper bag and the car just in case!
• Teething toys.. I usually have a variety since Gavin gets bored easily.  Gavin doesn't take a paci so I stock up on lovies, teethers, and light up hand-held toys.
• Nursing cover.  I like the lightweight muslin material ones because Gavin hates being covered up and at least these are breathable.
• Extra bibs.  I am obsessed with the Aden and Anais handkerchief ones.
• Diaper cream- I use California Baby or Angel Baby.
• Extra socks.  Gavin tends to lose them a lot.  
• Baby puffs.  Gavin loves to pick up snacks and eat them more for the challenge than the food (plus he drops half of them) so I pack some in an empty baby jar so I have some to keep him busy on the go.
• Baby food jars- I buy Babies r Us Organic brand babyfood when they are on sale.  I also bring a banana and spoon to go because I can scrape out bites for him right from the banana with no mess.
• Now that the warmer weather is here, I will be packing sunscreen and bug spray.  Be careful with these though and make sure you get deet-free bugspray and mineral-based (zinc-oxide) sunscreen.
• Infant Motrin or Tylenol.  Teething, fevers, pain.. you never know!  I always pack some in case of emergency.
• Pajamas.  Sometimes we unexpectedly stay out a little later than planned so I always like to have PJs so that we can dress Gavin for bed and if he falls asleep on the ride home, it is much easier to put him to bed.

What's in your diaper bag?

Ever After,

Jamie