Spring Fever.

I don't think I've ever been more excited for warm weather and a change of seasons. There is so much to look forward to this summer - namely, I'm getting married - and now that the calendar is telling us it's spring (though the weather hasn't been agreeing), I'm ready to switch out the winter wardrobe and cherish these longer days in the sunshine!

Some of the things I'm looking most forward to...

Fashion
white dresses. I'm always looking for a good excuse to shop for dresses, and so far being engaged has been one of the best. There's so much you can do with a white dress - dress it up with some heels or wedges and a blazer, or dress it down with gladiator sandals or girly flats and a belted waist. I'm ready for an occasion and a warmer day to wear one of these:

flowy bathing suit tops. Trapeze tops, flowy ruffles, and fringe are the perfect solution for a girl who lacks a little up top. Last summer I jumped on that train and scooped up several tops that I will definitely be wearing this season. Here are a couple of the one's waiting to be pulled out of my drawer:

by Guess

by Target

 baby legs. If only chunky adults were as endearing as chunky babes. Little Lew has got it going on in the roll department, and I can hardly wait to see those things spilling out of bubble suits and rompers. There will be plenty of pictures to come of the round one showing off some leg.

Fitness
As the weather gets warmer, working out becomes less of an obligation, and more like a means of entertainment. And while it's not so bad once you get going, I'm not even going to pretend it's fun or easy to lace up my running shoes and head out in the freezing darkness after a long work day. Aside from long runs on the greenway in Lenoir and around campus in Chapel Hill, these are some other fun ways I plan to get my exercise on.

hiking. Lenoir is located a short 30 minutes from some good hiking. It doesn't compare to the waterfalls and rocky cliffs by the ocean in California (I'm ready to go back for a visit!), but it's perfect for packing up the dogs and babies and having a Sunday afternoon stroll. Cone Manor and Hebron Colony Falls are two of my favorites.

Climbing rocks near Pepperdine in Malibu, CA

You can even hike Cone Manor 8 months pregnant

tennis. This spring and summer I'm determined to get better at tennis. Rob has tried giving me lessons and even let me play some doubles with him against people who actually wear real tennis shoes, but I've still got substantial room for improvement. I love to play, and you get to rock those workout skirts I've mentioned. Sally and I plan to get to work honing these skills in 2013.

Food
This is getting lengthy, but I can't not mention one of my favorite things about warm weather. Eating fresh foods, and eating them outside.
okra. This is one veggie that I can eat in any fashion. I typically don't go for cooked vegetables, but I'll do okra roasted, fried, pickled, or any other way it comes. I can't wait to have a home with some dirt to grow some of my own, because this stuff does not require a green thumb. Basil is another thing I can keep alive - and you can't beat homemade pesto.

outside dining & barbecues. Everything tastes better when you eat it outside in good company. Using rosemary skewers to make kabobs is one of my favorite easy grill tricks. It gives whatever you're grilling a little extra flavor, and looks pretty too.

Rosemary chicken kabobs

A shrimp boil is happening at the lake this summer!

So that's that. Just a few reasons I need the warm weather to get here and stay. Hope everyone has a happy Easter :)

Underneath your clothes, there’s an endless story.

Things are different after two babies. My need to start fresh was undeniable, and I was a fool in thinking that what I had would last much longer. Until now, my standards were clearly defined. Most importantly, it had to feel right.  I looked for the perfect blend of sex appeal and comfort. Regardless of my ideal match, sacrifices must be made when a quick fix is necessary. After all, a girl who lives in Lenoir can’t be so picky.

I freshened up and headed to a place where I was guaranteed to get it. It would be easier to leave the kids in the car, but society frowns on that. Kidnapping or freezing to death are too great a risk, you know. I handed Leighton her iPod and said a silent prayer that Lewis would sleep through the whole ordeal. I tried not to think of Chris’s desires. I was doing this for myself, and I made a decision to ignore any feelings of judgment. I was out past 9 with two babies, but I got what I needed. It was in and out in less than fifteen minutes- a quickie. 

Feeling a little cheap, I hurried to the car. My husband wasn’t waiting at home, which only helped justify my decision. I knew my sister would be there, and I prepared myself for her disappointment. Memories of similar situations surfaced, and I thought of the day that I traded my bright blue truck for a plain gray (but super practical!) mini van. I arrived home ready to defend myself: I still value my body, my relationship, my youth. Just because I’m the owner of a brand new pack of Hanes Her Way underwear doesn’t mean my inner Victoria’s Secret self is a thing of the past. Perhaps I’ve accepted the reality that I’m a mother of two who spends most days with elementary school kids and most nights with a 4 month old. Plus, after a brief 15 minutes in the Wal-Mart lingerie aisle, I’ve learned that Hanes has a variety of underappreciated yet budget conscious colors and styles. So for the five nights each week that Baby Lewis is the only boy in my bed, Hanes it is. For those other nights, I’ll splurge for the Hanky Panky.

Perks of living in a small town

One of my favorite things about growing up in a small town was that it made me feel like a big person.  And by big I mean intelligent, athletic, important, loved, and (clearly) confident. I have friends I've known since preschool who helped to make my most formative years pleasant and memorable, and parents who convinced me that I was the best around even if I was far from it. I got a quick ego check as a freshman in college, when I realized that I actually wasn't that smart, fast, or successful relative to the thousands of competitive, over-achieving people who had also been led to believe that they were the best - and I think lots of them really were.

While I gained valuable perspective and learned to accept and even cherish being average, I never mind a little small-town confidence-booster. This past weekend Sal and I ran a Leprechaun Leap. It was just a 5K, but we got pretty into it. We realize that our times wouldn't have gotten us anything in a big city race, but we'll hold onto our medals and let ourselves feel like all-stars until we enter one of those...

We're also into ridiculously competitive men:

I've done my share of Lenoir-bashin' when it comes to trying to find a good place to eat, go out, or host a wedding, but as far as I'm concerned, this tiny town was the most ideal spot to grow up - and, some great things are happening here thanks to good citizens' revitalization efforts. I think confidence is one of the most important qualities that can be fostered in kids from an early age, and I'm so grateful for the experiences I've had here. They kept me from getting swallowed up or overwhelmed in a competitive atmosphere. 

I wanna know:

Do you want to raise kids in a city or a small town? I definitely want my kids to be involved in the community wherever we end up - with Rob being in business school, I'm not sure where that will be but I'm thinking probably a city.

How do you feel about running in skirts? I was totally against it and may have called Sal an old lady when she fell for the trend a few years ago. I recently had a change of heart and now I'm all about it.  

and I'll leave you with the most adorable baby leprechauns of all...

Baby Lewis loves Saint Patricks Day

When Classic Baby Meets Styles We Love

One of my favorite things about having a toddler is being able to dress her like a toddler.  In a time when third grade students can tell me about things that I didn't learn until I met Keisha and her squiggle pen, my goal is to cherish an unavoidably short era of innocence.  Maintaining a proper balance between 'let them be kids' and 'tween scream' is a top priority when I make wardrobe decisions.  Specifically, anything with cartoon characters or over used sayings can stay on whatever bargain rack I'm probably shopping.  Case in point: It's called terrible twos for a reason.  While 'princess of the world' may seem like the perfect descriptor for your toddler, my guess is that most fellow shoppers or restaurant patrons would disagree.  Since the verdict is still out, let's keep it off the clothing.  

 Luckily, there are plenty of ways to find baby fashion scores without breaking the bank.  You don't have to frequent Matilda Jane Trunk shows or wear out the pages of your mini Boden catalog to have the trendiest kid on the block.  Here are some of my favorite ways to mix it up with shorty style:

1.  Although I am always partial to a baby in a freshly pressed outfit complete with a peter pan collar and smocking, those outfits are not the most practical for play.  Instead, combine a few classic pieces with every day essentials.  My suggestion is to take the consignment option for statement pieces and shop retail for basic budget items.

2.  Shop consignment.  Find the best resale stores in your area and be selective.  More than likely you will find at least one brand name piece with little wear that can become the statement piece in your child's next photo op.  In a town like Lenoir, we are limited on great consignment options. You would be amazed by the treasures that I (ahem, my mom) have unearthed at Goodwill!

3.  As much as I love consignment clothing, shop for every day essentials at a regular retail store.  Leggings, onesies, and base layers suffer the most wear and tear.  Choosing the second hand option for these items often results in a washed out look.  Instead, hit up places like Old Navy and Baby Gap during their seasonal sales.  My favorites are the Old Navy jeggings for girls. You will be better off spending the extra dollar to keep an outfit fresh.

4.  For siblings, choose a theme and let them dress the part.  The matching outfits that we all know and love are not the only way to show a sibling bond.  Lei's barn yard tunic is completed by Lew's cow applique onesie.

5.  Knee socks.  You can never go wrong with knee socks on baby/toddler legs.  Pair them with a short dress and bloomers for girls or a shortall for boys and it's a hit every time!

6. Hair Bows.  Need I say more?

Boots- Baby Gap; Knee Socks- Gymboree
Jeggings- Old Navy; Tunic- Molly&Millie;
Hair Bow- Once Upon a Child

Onesie with felt cow applique made by Katie.  Isn't she creative?

What are your favorite toddler looks?

Falling Hurts.

In true "no excuses" form, KT and I headed out for a jog about 11:30 a few nights ago.  Babies sleeping, school work finished, (relatively) healthy dinner eaten- I'll admit, I was feeling pretty accomplished.  Then it hit me.  More accurately, I hit it.  The pavement.  Zebra tights and all with no amount of grace. I haven't had a good old fashioned splat on the pavement in a while, but let me just say- it hurts.  I'm not sure whether my pride or my knees/elbows/stomach/palms, etc were more damaged.  In that moment, I was flooded with moments of falls past.  From slipping on Jacqueline's deck while trying to do a cheerleading kick in middle school to scampering up after tripping on the bricks as a freshman at UNC (It's practically a rite of passage), I was reminded of just how vulnerable a fall can make you feel.

As an adult, those physical falls happen less frequently (unless you have a crazy sister who pushes you to work out in the dark, cold night).  It's the emotional falls that we must be prepared to face- -those that sneak up on you when you're running along in the dark.  They come in the form of a disappointment at work, a fight with a lover, an unfortunate tragedy, financial duress, or the simple demands of the grown up world.  My advice: Try not to take yourself too seriously.  Instead, be serious about your love for others.  You will be surprised how many people will be in your corner when you do fall.  And in time, you will.  So strap on your kneepads, it's part of being alive!

Multi-purpose dressing

Most game days in Chapel Hill you can pass as being school-spirited as long as you wear some shade of blue. This is more true for football games, but I've definitely worn teal and navy to basketball games, too (bad fan, I know). This past Saturday, UNC played Dook, my girlfriends and I were reuniting for the big game, and I decided only Carolina Blue was acceptable attire given that this games a big deal. Typically for the dook game I'd just wear a t-shirt to show my allegiance...but we had plans to go over to our fave boys' from college place and to make things more complicated, we were going out later in the evening and I'm not trying to look like a slum on one of my few nights out on the town. Turns out, no one was concerned with what anyone was wearing and about two minutes into the game I was ready to lose my baby blue and forget there was a basketball game on.

Anyway, I decided to go with an old favorite, add the appropriate shade of blue with a sweater, and then make it a little more 40-some-degree weather appropriate with these dolce vita boots and an infinity scarf. Casual enough for basketball-watching, and put together enough to go out in.
Being a novice at blogging, this is the best picture I can provide.

Even captured the scarf there in the corner.

Can't go wrong with this simple dress from American Apparel. Actually I take that back, once I put it on for church and Sally told me it's slightly see through at the bottom + a little short. But as long as I don't stand spread eagle the see through thing isn't an issue. Plus, God already knows what's under there - just kidding, I didn't wear it to church. But I've worn it almost everywhere else:

last day of class, ever

hiking?!

and even after getting engaged - see, so versatile.

veggie burgers + lessons in the kitchen

About a year or so ago, Sally and I decided we needed to be documenting our attempts at making things. We always start off with high aspirations, a two hour Walmart trip to gather supplies, and sometimes a bottle of wine - for when we're really trying to get those creative juices flowing. Food, art, home decor...it doesn't really matter what we're making, it usually begins something like that. Unfortunately, a lot of times those crafts that we begin with such vigor don't get finished...or the baked goods intended for girls weekends or co-workers get fed to the two-year-old because they look like she actually made them. We've got random creative disasters and half-way-finished projects stashed away all over the place, and photographs of some kitchen experiments in an iPhoto album that I named 'blog' and planned on showing off sharing as soon as we became bloggers.

We've also had some creative successes, which are worth sharing at some point as well, but my almost success in the kitchen last night inspired me to get our 'what I tried to make / what I actually made' section of the blog going - and share a yummy, easy, AND healthy recipe.

Unfortunately, I didn't take a single picture to document, but I followed this recipe by Andie of Can You Stay For Dinner with only a few small changes and the addition of a veggie topping, and mine actually turned out looking just how it was supposed to. So just envision this:

photo by Andie

QuinoaVeggie Burgers with Avocado Topping
adapted from Can You Stay For Dinner

• 1/2 cup uncooked quinoa
• 1 carrot, diced
• 3 tbs onions, diced
• 2 cloves garlic
• 15 oz can of black beans
• 1/4 cup dried breadcrumbs
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1 tbsp ground cumin
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• cheddar cheese (optional)

Topping

• 1 avocado, cubed
• 1 cucumber, diced
• 1 medium tomato, diced 
• 1 orange sweet pepper, diced
• ~3 tbs. tzatziki 

Burger Patties
In a small pot, bring 3/4 cup water to a boil. Add quinoa, cover, and reduce heat to low. Cook approximately 12-14 minutes or until liquid is absorbed, and set aside.

In a food processor, pulse carrot until finely chopped. Add cooked quinoa, onion, garlic, beans, breadcrumbs, egg, cumin, salt, and pepper. I accidentally threw the oil in on this step but I think it was a happy accident because it helped it all stay together without being fragile or hard to flip; pulse until combined but still a little chunky.

Form mixture into 4-6 patties. In a large nonstick skillet, heat a little oil over medium; cook burgers until browned, about 6-8 minutes per side. Melt cheddar cheese on top before removing from heat.

Acocado Topping
Combine the diced avocado, cucumber, tomato and pepper in a serving bowl. Spoon in tzatziki and stir until thoroughly mixed. This can be served as a topping or a side salad.

serves 4-6

Yum! These were delicious - Mom grilled turkey burgers for the boys in case they weren't feeling the veggie patties, but those were left untouched on the platter because these were man-friendly, too! Turkey chili may or may not have been added to the top of theirs, but hey, this goes down as a success in the kitchen.

Of course, my domestic efforts rarely go off without a hitch. Before we sat down to eat, I washed most of the dishes and cleaned off some counter space. When rinsing plates after we were through, the sink wouldn't drain. Turns out, you shouldn't put avocado peels down the disposal. Fortunately, I live with my parents and my dad's a really handy guy who was able to take apart something under the sink and get it going again. You win some, you lose some.

I'm giving us a mark under the 'what I tried to make column' on this one, but stay tuned to see some pretty hilarious attempts at being crafty and domestic that didn't turn out so well.

Hello blogging world...

We are happy to be here!  After many failed attempts to come up with a blog that would instantly bring in loads of followers, free things, and fame, we decided to accept defeat and fill our space with topics TBD...After all, how are we supposed to ever get this thing up and running if our brilliant ideas never make it beyond our brainstorming jog sessions?!  So we plan to document our multigenerational living adventure (more to come later) as we raise mini people, plan a wedding, support our shopping addictions in a place where the entire mall is comprised of a book store and vacant space, and become more domestically-inclined before we head out on our own.  Cheers!!!