What Kinsey Wore Wednesday

I'm one of those moms who lives vicariously through my daughter's wardrobe.  Is it too much to ask for adult versions of kid's clothes?  I want cute printed leggings, tunic tops and Velcro sneakers!  If only I could fit into kid's sizes.  Sigh.  (That would even save me money!  Double sigh)

GapKids is totally hitting it out of the park with their second collaboration with Diane von Furstenberg.  It is available online and in stores April 25th.  I won't miss it because unlike the adult designs, I can afford these : ).

 Kinsey playing in Grandma's backyard.

I find  great pleasure in dressing my daughter; picking out her clothes is something I really enjoy doing, going shopping for her is just as exciting! I rarely buy full outfits, usually I just pick up separates and mix and match them into her existing collection.  This outfit is a rag tag bunch of labels but all the colors I picked up from her t- shirt (Foofa from Yo Gabba Gabba, Old Navy.)  The socks and leggings were also from Old Navy.  The shoes were a gift from her Great grandma and similar styles can be found here.  I absolutely adore cardigans and more styles can be seen here.  I couldn't get a great full body shot (she's an active toddler after all) but I'll work on it for next time!

  

 

Doozy of a day

Today has been a doozy! I'm just thankful I survived. No joke. Started off bright and early getting ready to drop my Lovely off at Grandma's before work; getting her settled in her car seat, had to wipe breakfast off her face, arranged her blankie. Jumped in ready to go.  Buckled up. Started the car. Drove down the street. Almost had a heart attack. I had forgotten to buckle her into her seat! Her response, "that was a close one Mommy." At least she's not scarred for life.

Second whopper: not even fifteen minutes later. I lock my keys in the car at Grandma's house! I kid you not. I couldn't even call my work, the phone and purse were locked up too. This may be the only circumstance when having all your information at you finger tips (ie the smart phone) does NO good. This is also another case where technology saved me; I facebooked a co worker and the boss to tell of the mishap (gotta love tagging).

All things in perspective, I guess it could have been worse. But for two really random and kinda scary things to happen back to back like that blows my mind. Am I losing my marbles?

As the Business Manager said, "Maybe you're pregnant." HAHA. (But don't think it didn't cross my mind. That was some serious baby brain!) This simultaneously delights and frightens me. Are we ready for a second yet?! **update to follow :) **

Care to share any wacky baby brain (or non BB related) stories? It would definitely cheer me up. Much obliged!

 

Play with me Mommy

I have a new favorite phrase. It's like music to my ears. It makes my heart beat with joy and floods me with all sorts of feel-good endorphins (and it doesn't require a trip to the gym. Bonus? I'd say so.) It is up there with my other favorites including, "Will you be my wife?" and "you're having a girl". What makes this phrase amazing? My newly 2-year-old daughter says it with a light in her eyes and a smile on her face, "Play with me mommy!" It gets me every time.

As a Preschool Teacher I prepare and facilitate a room that is conducive to play. Read: I get paid to play! (I am so blessed.) Play is an essential part of healthy social and emotional and physical development and as parents we are the very first playmates our children have. 

Something as easy as playing (and "playing" encompasses pretty much everything when your'e a child) really is important. Just Google "benefits of play" and numerous articles extolling the virtues of play are all just a click away.

Play is silly, creative, inspired. There is no right or wrong. Life lessons and questions about the world are discovered during play. Gender doesn't dictate play. It is open-ended and continuous. Play is genuine, authentic, personal. And seriously, who doesn't like to play?!

My daughter's been really into playing in the dirt pit that we call the backyard. She digs, throws dirt, pours it on her hair. She rolls in it, crawls in it, runs around like there's ants in her pants (and in this case, I wouldn't be surprised if there actually were ants in there.) To me its an eye sore and something I'm working hard to remedy but to her it's an endless source of discovery and joy. This is where she collects roly polies. Plays with her dinosaurs. Imagines she's rescuing Squacky and CowBella (Pajanimals) from the volcano. Her imagination has no bounds and she blows me away with her exclamations. So, see even the dirt heap out back has play potential!

The thing that tickles me the most when my baby asks me to play is that she is actively seeking out my company. She wants to be around me as much as I love being with her. Talk about a symbiotic relationship at its finest! And though I draw the line at rolling in the dirt there really isn't much I wouldn't do for her and for one of her world-brightening smiles. Well, ok, maybe just a little rolling in the dirt will be fine.

{Now it's time for this Mommy to get playing!}

What's your favorite thing to play with your kiddo?  Please share!

Linking up with Erin.

 

You are Beautiful

A few weeks ago I was in the worst mood. EVER.  It clung to me like smoke.  It made me feel awful.  I basically reeked of bad mojo.  

*Rewind.*  

Let me start at the beginning.  I was feeling sorry for myself.  I had just gotten three new students in the span of three weeks.  I was feeling stressed; some of these little honeys were brand-spanking new to preschool and that can mean a few different things.  All of them meaning extra work for me to get them on board.  

Don't get me wrong, that IS my job after all. But like I said, I was feeling sorry for myself.  And that led to complaining about it. To everyone. Man, I was horrible (and I still feel a little guilty about it.  Sorry co- workers!)  But the more the feelings started to fester, the more I realized I needed to do something about it; the attitude, the air pollution, the self- inflicted misery. 

So I turned to God.  And He showed up (as always) and began to change my strategies.  I made more of an effort to enjoy the small victories in my class; some one cleaned up after themselves without being asked. Princess shared a toy with a new friend. I started to soak in the Word and fill my heart with God's promises. This one in particular really put things in perspective: The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 1 Timothy 1:5 ESV.  

And then God really delivered.  It was in the form of a CD (Endless Years) my husband burned for me: Will Reagen and United Pursuit's Colorful.  This song made me cry, laugh, feel joy and love.  I'm sure I looked like a maniac bumping it in my car because you know it was on repeat x30.  It completely changed my life.  Gone was the foul mood.  (And just in time for Easter too!)

Here are the lyrics.  Just soak in the truths of these gorgeous words.

You are beautiful in all of Your ways
You are colorful in the way that You've saved me
In the way that You've given me life

From the heights of heaven
To the seas below
You came to tear down the doors
Of our imprisoned souls
You lift the weight of the world
Give the world what our heart's longing for
We see the mercy of
Undeserving love
We see Your perfect heart
As You remake us, God
We see You as You are
Not as we've made You to be
You're the maker of
All of our hopes and dreams

You are beautiful in all of Your ways
You are colorful in the way that You've saved me
In the way that You've given me life

We give You everything
We give You all our love
We love You, beautiful King
You are what our heart's longing for

Savior, Father, Maker, God of
New and sovereign life, restarted
Remaking, changing desperate hearts
Of sons and daughters from the Father

We give You everything
We give You all our love
We love You, beautiful King
You are what our heart's longing for

Now tell me you don't feel 100% alive and inspired?! God is good! And in times when the world is telling you, 'you are not enough'; God will always tell you, 'you are beautiful.' Can I get a "Amen"?!

How do you get out of funks? Music? Books? Gab fests? What has God done in your life lately? I'd love to be inspired by your words of wisdom!

{Happy Easter Peeps!}

 

Dinner for one

About twice a week or so the Hubby works late and I get to slack in my dinner preparations.  As in cereal for dinner. I can't complain; I think cereal is good any time and didn't it used to be its own food group back in the day, with grains? (C'mon, you know you remember when!)
But I got creative the other night (and dare I say a little gourmet?) and whipped up a tasty little salad all of which the ingredients I had on hand. Feeling completely full and satisfied, I figured I'd share the fruits (vegetables) of my labor:

Field greens salad with gorgonzola, asparagus and fried eggs:
Field greens- we shop at Whole Foods Market and they have a great selection of pre washed and ready to eat lettuce mixes
4 stalks asparagus- I had these left over from a previous meal. Originally I had roasted them in the oven with olive oil, salt and pepper so all I did to bring em back to life was saute them for a few minutes
Avocado halved and diced
Gorganzola cheese crumbled
Crutons
Fried eggs- I used 2
Choice of salad dressing- I used Caesar- love it.

It was so good! My 2 year old was even bumming bites! And what's great about a salad is anything goes. Seriously. If I hadn't been lazy, I'd have chopped a tomato and threw it into the mix too. Get creative. Be adventurous. Your mouth (and belly) will thank you.
Here's the gratuitous food shot:
(You're welcome)