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

Floral T-shirt Dress

    It is so refreshing to finally have a consistent temperature in CT.  It's been beautiful weather, which means my wardrobe is slowly evolving to summer fashion.  I have to be honest, now that I am a mom, I find myself in flats more than ever, especially because I need to constantly run after what seems to be the fastest toddler on earth.  I have always adored the comfort of t-shirt dresses but am seriously in love with Lularoe's Carly dress because it is so soft and the prints are so adorable.  One of my friends has an amazing inventory of LuLaroe (you can shop here) so I was lucky enough to go through her insane amount of inventory to choose the perfect floral print for spring.
    I am pretty basic when it comes to prints and tend to favor florals, stripes, aztec prints without being too daring when it comes to bold prints.  However, I'd like to get a little more daring this season with prints... what's your favorite bold print?

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