Skip*Hop has been producing adorable and functional baby favorites for a while now (I previously posted about this great storage bin). I've always been rather fond of their wipes case, and their palette plate, but right now I'm falling for this little blue owl! This backpack has been around for a while...
The tableware line was just released this week.
And these faux-leather weighted bookends were immediately wish-listed!! :)
Spotted this confetti inspired nail color from Deborah Lippmann, and I have to admit that I'm quite smitten. I usually steer clear of any sort of gild when it comes to nail color - stick with solid high gloss or mattes. But this one has got me on the glitter train! Trying to decide if this party in a bottle would end up coming off a bit more trashy than trendy...? I mean I'm only in my 20's - I think I can easily pull this off... way too fun to pass up attempting!
A few weeks ago I posted a picture of a chai tea latte in my For the Love of Winter post, and got some questions as to what "that foamy tea" was.
Chai (or, Masala Chai) is a sweet and aromatic black tea originating from India. It's traditionally made of Assam or Darjeeling tea, spiced with star anise, black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, fennel and ginger. Today, chai tea is consumed worldwide primarily for the taste, but the spices used in chai tea, as well as the brewed tea itself, have long been used in Eastern medicine; believed to be a powerfully natural anti-oxidant, stress reliever, mood elevator, immune and circulatory system stimulant and breath freshener. This stuff really delivers! I lived on Chai Tea lattes during my pregnancy with Freida when I opted to forgo coffee consumption. It lent me a fair amount of caffeine to get me through those pregnancy days, and now I really enjoy using it in the evenings when I'm in the mood of a "coffee break" sans late-night jitters.
You can use Organic Chai Tea bags, or you can go with the Original Oregon Chai Tea Latte boxed beverage. The boxed version is super delicious, but loaded with sugar. If you use the tea bags you can add a teaspoon of honey or even some calorie free sweetener. A "chai tea latte" is basically made up of 1 part chai tea, 1 part steamed/frothed milk. You can use any kind of milk you want, just froth it until it is hot and foamy.
Even Freida enjoys taking little sips of this sweet and spicy foam.
(I'm sure she likes to fantasize she's finally allowed to drink some coffee...)
I'm still grappling with the concept of mothers getting sick... can't seem to come to terms with the fact that this is a normal part of life. At the moment I have only one little tot to care for, and yet my experience during these past few sick days have forced me into complete and utter fear of what goes on when mothers of multiple children come down with the flu! The feeling of climbing out of bed to collect my early-rising cheerful child while feeling like I've been hit by a bus is downright dreadful. Watching her as she tries and tries again to engage me in playtime has been painful. "Dance Mommy! Common Mommy, dance with me!", "Sing with me Mommy! Twinkle, twinkle - your turn Mommy!" etc. At least I know she's got some form of advancing leadership skills!
It's just the idea of a sick "nurturer" that has me thinking it's a twisted concept. Not having the option to "call in sick", or "take the day off" just has a way of making things feel impossible. Even with the amount of help a working husband is able to provide (thank you so much, love!!), it's the everyday tasks that have got me down. Simply put, I don't believe mothers should be allowed to go out-of-commission. It totally bites!
On a happier note, there are some things about living with this viral cough and cold that have been absolutely delicious: living day-in day-out in thermal leggings and my husbands cotton-knit crew neck sweaters, consuming cup after cup of steaming TM teas with spoonfuls of honey and fresh lemon, and my new favorite part of our daily routine; joining Freida in her bath! I'm so jealous she gets to do it every evening - now I too go to bed smelling of french lavender and chamomile bubble bath... I guess being sick brings out some of the simplest pleasures in life - in those moments, lying in a warm tub full of bubbles with my precious little girl in our small and cozy apartment, I honestly can't think of anything better! Except maybe feeling well... :)
This week I introduced Freida to one of the most classic female childhood characters - more practical than Cinderella, and less mischievous than Madeline - this little girl is quite the toddler role model: Prudence, from Once Upon a Potty. I learnt about the potty from Prudence when I was about the same age, and I fondly remember those tight black curls and rosy red cheeks; she lovingly taught me about my body and about its' functions.
The author, Alona Frankel, fled post-war Poland and settled in Israel where she wrote this book for her son, Michael. Once Upon a Potty was first published in 1975, and gained international popularity and recognition with the release of the English publication in 1980. She has now sold more than 4 Million copies!!
Charming, straightforward, and humorous; this classic book is a surefire way to ensure your child develops a love for this new and possibly high-stress stage in life. Keeps things smart and simple, and even has a way of making Pee-Pee and Poo-Poo almost beautiful.
P.S. I think it is so funny that her name is Prudence when she is so very far from prude! :)
