ohdeardrea

Birthday Weekend

2012-03-13T10:02:00.000-04:00

Well, the past few days have been a complete success. I really had a wonderful birthday. Really really. It started off thursday night with a lady date. Dinner, then drinks, then dancing. Lots and lots of dancing. Without a babysitter, I was unable to work Friday. I had mixed emotions about this. One: I was pissed. Two: I was happy to be able to relax in the morning, after going out the previous night. Friday was a planned zoo day... but didn't really work out. Both of the other mamas bailed for different reasons, a proclaimed: "hangover day". I woke up with a sore throat and stuffed nostrils from the bar.... oh how my body hates the smoke (please change your laws, florida), but other than that I felt pretty good and very happy :) Marlowe and I made up for the postponed zoo day by taking a long, long walk around town. Instead of the stroller, we held hands and took the long way around the neighborhood. Afterwards, we came back and had lunch... and after that? Marlowe's gift to me: a three and a half hour nap! Glorious! Friday evening I made pizza dough for the first time ever. I was very impressed by how well it turned out. I was expected a big red fail mark on the pizza, but no, it was mighty delicious. Saturday became the new zoo day with one of our bailing mama friends :) It was Marlowe's third time... and favorite time. Jaw dropped and pointing every step of the way. Woofed at the deer and chased the birds. Afterwards: nap for the kiddos and relax time for mama. Perfect weather, lots of sunshine, iced coffee, and lunch, all while the babies napped. What else could two mamas want? Saturday night I had a planned babysitter with the grandparents. Exhausted beyond belief, I debated on staying home... I thought, at the very most, I wouldn't make it past ten. Instead? Sushi, followed by band watching, then heading downtown to one of my favorite spots, then dancing, lots and lots of dancing.. dancing until the lights slowly brightened and the music softened. Then? A 5 am diner meal. Wow, what a good way to into a new year! Sunday was my actual birthday. I spent the day organizing the house, cleaning the porch, eating biscuits and gravy, laying on the couch, and ended the evening coloring with Marlowe. The best birthday (week) I've ever had. Usually (almost always) hating my birthday, I would have been content sitting at home, forgetting this day of the year even exists, but no, everything seemed to easily fall into place, just as it should have. It was perfect and more than I ever expected.... the first birthday (week) I've ever really loved and enjoyed.

>> THURSDAY <<

a concerned look while three way chatting, during nap time, in order to figure out fancy, but rain and wind friendly outfits // a pained food face // mezze platter // secret spot with four beautiful ladies. // a blurry cheezin' too hard // dancing dancing.

>> FRIDAY <<

mom life // the most beautiful baby in her most glorious nap // p-i-z-z-a. gimmie pizza.

>> SATURDAY<<

emily and lily // coordinating is for the birds... or is it? // deer/woof-woof watching // she didn't want to be a bird // but couldn't stop looking for birds

pointing // pointing // pointing // pointing

The face, it never stopped // &another gift from Marlowe: learning how to climb into her seat. Makes two-door car life with a toddler much easier.

*knowing* I'll be home at 1030... refusing to get dressed, but putting on red lipstick to make my un-washed bun in hair and canadian tuxedo look a tad bit nicer. Oops // Sushi dinner // Empty 5 am diner life.

>>SUNDAY<<

messiest and milkiest biscuits and gravy // the end to a good week.

Thank you so so so so much for all your birthday wishes! Between here, twitter, and instagam, (and non internet life too of course), my day was FILLED with so much birthday love. Thank you guys for making my day even more special :)

I'm 27 Today.

2012-03-12T00:09:00.003-04:00

(the midnight hour that became my birthday)

In the past 27 years, I've learned a lot. I've battled many of my own demons. I overcame hard times. I've achieved many things. I've lived and experienced. I've had some losses, but I've gained so much more. I've made friends. And I've lost friends. I've reconnected. And I've grown closer. I've made enemies, and have been lucky enough to gather many more people, who I not only love, but love me in return. I gave to many, and have been given so much more. I'm not perfect and I never will be, but I love myself for who I am, the woman I've grown to be, and the woman I'm becoming with each passing day. Not everyone loves me, and thats okay, not everyone has to. Some will judge, assume, and disdain, without ever really knowing me for who am. And maybe, some will know me not only on the surface, but inside-out, and still never like me, but that will have to be okay. I am living for myself, my daughter, my friends, my family, my loved ones, for everyone I've ever cared about. I am happy, really, truly happy. The negatives around me are minimal, petty, and easily combed over and picked through. Whats leftover is something to smile about. I'm 27 today and I can say, for the first time ever: I am the happiest I have ever been. I'm looking forward to this year, and every year after that. I'm 27 today.

Today someone searched: "make the most out of life" and found me. This puts a smile on my face and and brings me joy.

Things On Toast

2012-03-09T13:30:00.000-05:00

diced cucumber, onion, green onion, cherry tomatoes, radish, and avocado. with fresh chopped basil, oregano, and thyme. marinated in olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper. over olive oil and fresh rubbed garlic.

I had a more than enjoyable birthday celebration with some really lovely ladies last night. I can't wait for the weekend. It's supposed to rain on my actual birthday (sunday), but if it doesn't we're going on a safari adventure! Happy weekend everyone!

Tuesdays

2012-03-07T19:39:00.003-05:00

As many of you (might, maybe) know: I don't own a TV. I had one in my home when I first moved in here, but it was never even connected to anything, it just sat there like a worthless eye-sore. I got rid of it. I've always preferred living in a TV free home. That being said, I do have a few guilty pleasures... you know, some of those really girly or trashy TV shows. I watch about four hours of TV a week... on the internet. Yesterday (or was it the day before?), I put on one of my favorite guilty pleasures: Desperate Housewives. The intro/narrator started and an image of a tired mom relaxing without her kids was shown (Lynette). The narrator goes on to say that Lynette had quickly realized the bonus of separating with her spouse: child sharing: three whole days a week where she was able to do things she enjoyed without having to tending to her children's needs 24/7. I giggled to myself and thought: "How true".
This is me. Well, sort of. I have less kids and I have one day a week, guaranteed to myself: Tuesdays. Every Tuesday that comes along, I have a little lump in my throat, I feel a bit of sadness, and every second that goes by I feel like I am forgetting or missing something, but I will say: I do enjoy my little break. Every single day a week. Twenty-four hours a day. I am the only one responsible for Marlowe. I don't really get a break. I mean, I leave for a few hours a day to go to work (um... but thats work), but as soon as I get home: it's back to go go go, alone with Marlowe.
I do like Tuesdays. I like waking up with her, pulling her into my bed for an hour or so in the morning. (I hate saying goodbye). I go to work. I actually get to go to the gym. I come home. I shower with no little hands poking through the curtain. I eat a small meal to myself: anything I want--- I don't have to worry about how healthy it is, how messy it is, how kid friendly it is: ANYTHING I WANT. And then I have hours to do as little or as much as I want. More often then not, I take a moment to respond to emails, blog, and sometimes, maybe, search around on the internet for nothing. Then, if I'd like, I can go to dinner with friends, eat as slow as I want, stay as long as I want (well, as long as I'm home by 9), and just: enjoy and not worry. Then before I know it: it's 9 pm. Marlowe is back at my door and back in my arms. We eat snacks, read books, do puzzles, and spend an hour together before it's time for bed again.
About a month after I became a single mama again, time-sharing began again. I knew I would have to make the absolute best of it. No sitting around. No being sad. But using and taking advantage of those hours (12 of them) a week I had to myself. I most recently (the past two tuesdays) even went shopping! I know, we all know: I hate shopping. But I discovered a tip to make it more enjoyable: have a beer first and stay for no more then half an hour. Even if I end up returning half the stuff, it makes shopping tolerable for sure, and almost-kind of enjoyable. Anyway, I digress. I like my me time. I like not having to be the only one responsible. I like and need that moment to relax. I need that time to re-charge, at the end of the day, it makes me a better mom.

I do however, find it funny how mom-mode never really shuts off though. Just yesterday, I caught myself asking Jerry if he could see the doggie outside the window. Heh.

Small Talk

2012-03-06T10:05:00.001-05:00

(Marlowe with Adoration. Kristina's daughter from Altogether Beautiful)

Marlowe isn't exactly what I would call a "talker". She'll be one and a half years old in just a few short weeks, but she still won't mutter more than a handful of words (hardly a handful, honestly). Don't get me wrong, she gets her point across, just without words. I'm completely certain that if she really wanted to talk, she could and would. But she doesn't. Honestly, behind this screen, I'm not really a talker either (her dad too), more times than not, I've heard that at first glance, I come across mean or intimidating, but the reality is: I'm shy and quiet. I'm working on it, no really, I am. Not only do I pay more attention to my *bitch face*, but also, my general shyness has improved tenfolds since having a kid. My mom always jokingly (jokingly, right mom?) worried that I would NEVER talk to Marlowe and she would be some sort of mute. That's not the case. We chat a lot. I mean, I'll admitedily say: I won't ever sing to the girl because I wouldn't want to scare or traumatize her, but we do talk quite often and we read (not exaggerating) at least 30 books a day. I've had one person question why I'm not more worried about her developmental standing when it comes to speaking. I was... um... a bit offended? Babies and kids don't all learn the same things at the same time. I mean, how creepy, unoriginal, and boring would that be if every kid learned to say "mama" at the same age and day. We all learn things differently, at our own pace, and that doesn't make one advancement better or worse than another. Yeah, I mean she doesn't open her mouth to say more, but she communicates really well, she is incredibly smart, and she is excelling in so many other areas. I mean, the girl decided to start walking 3 days after her ten month birthday, she can now pick out just about any animal you ask her about (whether it be in a book, a puzzle, or bin of finger puppets), she can find (or put back) any item in the house you ask her to find (when she wants), and (very scarily) she knows how to pick up my iPhone, slide it to unlock it, go to youtube, and start playing baby einstein videos (you've gotta have good coordination for that!), among a million other things. We looked into the baby sign language thing, but after testing out a few videos, I don't think it's for us (I would like her to study ASL in the future, but right now doesn't seem to be the time). We do just fine without the baby sign language and I am certain that in due time, she will be blabbering full sentences. It'll be like this whole "MOM. I DON'T WANT TO TALK" thing never happened.

Words she says now: "bye", "dd-dd- bed" (as in telling Jerry to "go to bed!"), "bird", "woof" (do animal sounds count as a words?), "moo", and for a short while she said "m-milk". Lately she has been making more noises that seem like she might be trying to say something, but it's really hard to tell. Like "Jerry"... sounds more like "Rer-ry", but she is often patting him when she says it, so I think it counts.

When I went to visit the psychic (remember that story? geez. She was even *kind of* right about a second pregnancy-- crazy) she had told me Marlowe was a clairvoyant or a "crystal child". I googled clairvoyant, but didn't find much other than the definition. Then (months later) a few days after posting that ridiculous psychic story, I came across a few sites about "crystal children". A lot of it was (and is) pretty out there and mystical and what not, but I continued to read more and found that Marlowe was creepily close to matching up with every single trait listed. Honestly, this has nothing to do with anything, I think I'm only bringing it up because it's close to midnight and I'm hitting that delirious stage of the night... but really, she fits the list:

• Are usually born in 1995 or later
• Possess large eyes with an intense stare
• Have magnetic personalities
• Are highly affectionate
• Start talking late in childhood
• Are very musically oriented, and may sing before talking
• Use telepathy and self-invented sign language to communicate
• Are even-tempered, sweet, and loving
• Are forgiving of others
• Are highly sensitive and empathetic
• Are very much connected to nature and animals
• Exhibit healing abilities
• Are quite interested in crystals and rocks
• Often discuss angels, spirit guides, and past-life memories
• Are extremely artistic and creative
• Prefer vegetarian meals and juices to "regular food"
• May be fearless explorers and climbers, with an amazing sense of balance

Besides the whole "discussing angels and past lives" thing she matches each one REALLY well. Especially the affection, music, and animal traits. I mean, really, really well. So yeah, I don't know much about this "crystal children" thing. For all I know, it's some sort of weird coincidence (probably is, remember, I don't delve much into mystical things), but either way: whatever. I don't mind my kid being late to the talking game. She's got it down everywhere else. And in her own time and speed, she will be caught up in talking too.... or maybe not. She is definitely an observer, and watching her now, I highly doubt she will be shy. But who knows, maybe she will always be the quiet, "weird" kid in the corner drawing and creating away, just taking everything in. That's okay too. She's a smart girl and I'm pretty certain she will always excel in being awesome.

What about you guys? Do you worry about your children fitting into a certain range? When did your kiddos (or babies) start talking? How many words can they say now? Are they talk-talk-talkitive? Are you? :)

Happy Tuesday!

What Marlowe Eats

2012-03-04T23:03:00.000-05:00

It's been a while, right? Well, due to not having a camera, this set is going to be a few older pictures from when my camera worked and... you guessed it: cell phone photos. I finally took the long trip out to the camera store and of course, without noticing (or checking) I had let my battery die down... so they weren't actually able to look at it. Fail. Also, they said I would most likely have to send it in to panasonic anyway, since they work mostly with canon and whatever else. Bummer. One day I'll do it. But yeah, anyways, Marlowe eating... I've got a feeling there is some teeth pushing through because meal time (and lots of other time) has been a bit more whiny. Sits, eats, screams, whines, eats more. It's a long process. Also, I've decided to only give her fruit before noon now (most of the time), because she will refuse food and run to the kitchen screaming and pointing for bananas. So now, the morning is loaded with mini waffles, dry cereal, apples, bananas, and whatever other organic fruit is in season. And the rest of the day has a few snacks, mostly meals, and a snack before bedtime. Okay! Onto the photos!

red quinoa, pearl couscous with peas and corn, cooked kale, avocado slices.

vegetable spring rolls deconstructed.

vegetable tofu scramble and avocado/ tomato on toast.

garam masala sweet potato (nope, still no dice on the sweet potato, even with garam masala), sliced avocado, cooked kale, and a chickpea patty.

red quinoa, and from Whole Foods: honey tofu stick, broccoli, and confetti rice.

vegetable and black bean brown rice, avocado // bbq "chicken", mashed potatoes, baked beans, green beans with corn.

baked eggplant parm *which may or may not have had a few ting's smashed up for half the breading ;) but hey! I ran out of panko :) over red sauce, mashed potatoes // avocado and grilled cheese! YAH!

These are older from my "help me I'm hormonal and nauseous days.

I've made it a thing to pick up a small box of pre-made food from Whole Foods every time I go. After hiking out there with a little one, it's nice to have a dinner break for the night.

random selections at Whole Foods // frozen pizza (gross. I had a craving. But yes, it's vegan)

black bean burger (similar to the chickpea patty), avocado // blueberry pancakes, orange slices, smoked paprika potatoes.

ps. I made a plantain and yuca stew tonight I plan on sharing... soon soon soon!

Beautiful Photos: Jones Photography

2012-03-02T17:03:00.000-05:00

It's been an incredibly trying day over here trying to deal with child-sharing and lack of child support. INCREDIBLY TRYING. Let me tell you, I am going to throw my hands up in the air and rejoice on the date of my would-have-been-wedding. REJOICE. Okay, I am a bit extra angry today (I have good reason to be), and to be honest, sometimes I do feel a bit bummed at the *idea* of everything being lost and gone. You know, the idea of a beautiful wedding and one happy family... but (now) I know the reality of what my life would have been and I know Marlowe and I are much better off this way--- without all the problems (or with a lot less problems anyway). The problems aren't here present in my home, everyday--- and thats reason enough to be happy and grateful. But speaking of weddings, and rejoicing, and just being happy and grateful... I wanted to share with you some really, truly beautiful photos taken by some amazing people: The Jones. They had contacted me about photographing the wedding and after peeking onto their site I was really happy the universe had brought them my way. Well, I'm bummed I wont be working with these awesome people, but I thought I should share some of their photos, because the beauty in them is enough to put a little calm in anyones day, no matter how trying it may or may not be :)

And I promised if they were in ever in Florida they should come by so I can prepare a large feast for them :)

(My favorite. I have a soft spot for Nepal)

You can check out their site HERE or scroll through their blog of beautiful photos HERE.

Also, if you're on instagram, they are obviously great people to follow there! paigefjones and michaeljones7 :)

On some other notes...

I'm still convinced the universe is on my side. There is an organic cafe, two blocks from my house, that has been "opening soon" for about six months. They finally posted a menu on their door so I decided to run by and check it out today.... WELL, I had a bit of a hard time figuring out the menu, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to have vegan pizza two blocks from my house! TWO BLOCKS. VEGAN PIZZA. The fat kid in me is so freakin' happy. Seriously, the universe was just like "Sorry about the crappy things you're dealing with today, here is some fat kid happiness!". Thank you, universe!

Also, I want to say THANK YOU so much to all the people who voted for me for Apartment Therapy's The Homies. Ohdeardrea wont be making it to the finales, I think we are at least 40 away? I don't know, I haven't checked recently, but we're pretty far off. Either way: Thank you so much! Regardless of making it to the finales or not, it's such a good feeling just to be up there and see the votes coming in, so thank you!

If you haven't checked out our March sponsors yet, I suggest you do. There is some really awesome blogs up there. (Be sure to give a little extra love to Petite Biet, because I (again) forgot to add her up them on time. woops.) And if you didn't noticed the discount codes, they are still there, plus I added another one. Now by using the code "OHDEAR" you can receive:
20% off Green Your Air
20% off Barley & Birch
20% off Vintageshoelove
and free domestic shipping at Up a Tree Cup a Tea
Hooray!

Well, it's my dads birthday and M should be home any second now so I'm off to get ready! I can't wait to stuff my face with delicious foods with my family tonight!

Happy weekend everyone! &Thanks again for everything!

Homies!

2012-02-29T22:30:00.006-05:00

HEY! So... I just found out M and I (ohdeardrea!) has been nominated for "best family blog" over on Apartment Therapy! Umm... awesome? YES. We would LOVE (love love love love) if you could head over that way and send us a vote! I know... we (I) hate the voting thing, and if you're not registered for Apartment Therapy, then you have to sign up... (err pain, I know) but still... this is kind of a big thing ;) AND I think we can all agree... no matter what ups and downs there have been around here... M and I make a pretty damn good family of two :)

Honestly, I remember when I had more time to sit and read blogs (pregnancy/nursing), I would scroll through Apartment Therapy constantly (probably more than I'd like to admit) and one day I saw the post announcing the Homie Awards. I saw many blogs I loved and found many new blogs to love. I thought: "Wow. How awesome would it be to make it on that list one day?" Well, here we are... months and months later, on a very late thursday night... and I have found my way back to the internet after putting a very tired baby to bed. Out of the blue, and very much to my surprise, I have noticed that ohdeadrea has in fact been nominated for The Homies. What a trip. The whole take off of this blog has been a really incredibly trip.
Thank you guys.
If you could be ever-so-kind and take a minute from your time to support ohdeardrea with a vote, if would be VERY much appreciated :) :)

Voting ends Friday night... and you only need to vote ONCE. Just CLICK HERE, scroll down, and find us! (we're a bit on the lower end right now! I JUST opened my computer to find this amazing news! Eeep!)

Things On Toast

2012-02-29T09:06:00.000-05:00

Happy leap year day?

avocado, cucumber, green onion, olive oil, thai ginger salt, with lime and salted lime sprouts.

**still no working camera

Meet Our February Sponsors!

2012-02-28T10:33:00.000-05:00

Hey guys! Happy almost end of the month! Like always, we've got a great line up of blogs and shops for you to check out! Give them extra love.
ps. Discount ends tomorrow so make sure you get your orders in! Receive an additional 10% your order at Up a Tree Cup a Tea by using code: "WINTER10"

The Vintage Souls

Yes, I chose a picture of heart shaped pancakes to introduce you to Brooke's The Vintage Souls blog. I would love more than anything for Brooke to come to my home, make me pancakes, and share her thoughts, ideas, and words of wisdom. Be sure to check out Brookes: blog, vintage shop, and follow her on twitter too!

My Remedy

My Remedy shop! Eco-friendly clothing, handcrafted jewelry, and custom design! Be sure to check out the blog, their facebook, and the twitter too!

Dear Little Lady

Dear Little Lady blog brought to you by Nicolle. I feel like I've written about her a lot lately, but she totally deserves it. So much so that I'm gonna tell you to go check out this working, breastfeeding, babywearing mama's blog and maybe even send her a vote on topbabyblogs too? ;)

Desert Gypsy Mama

Katie: beautiful mama and soul. Blogger, artist, vintage shop owner, and free thinker. Ever feel like you're lacking imagination in your life? Just check out Desert Gypsy Mama to be inspired. Even simple posts like these are good for the content soul.

Fabulous Stationary

Find all your stationary needs +more at Fabulous Stationary! They even offer organic/recycled options for the earth-friendly types :) Business cards galore! And best of all: the dollar section! You can't beat that :)

Up A Tree Cup A Tea

A shop of cute goods made from repurposed and vintage materials. We've got a fair share of Up A Tree Cup Of Tea items around here.... our personal favorites and *must haves* are: itty bitty hair clips, alexandra fabric rosettes, each and every one of the fabric circle scarves, especially this one.

Use code "ohdear" at checkout for free domestic shipping!

Soul Singing Liv

A blog with real family love and heart. Be sure to follow along with Olivia's family blog, for a glimpse into a home filled with amazing people.

This Little Blog Of Mine

That image alone should make you want to check out This Little Blog of mine^^. Vegan family blog ran by an amazing photographer. Want to drool over food? Check out THIS post. Be sure to check out her photography site and facebook ;)

Corner Blog

Blog of Tiffanie. A mom, architect, artist, and someone I've shared secrets with. Be sure to explore her creative work and see the rest of her blog for even more goodness.

A Sprouting Acorn

A Sprouting Acorn Blog, brought to you to you by two mothers (and best friends): Michelle and Andrea. Great for inspiration from two different mama's living on opposite sides of the country. RECIPES, diy's, and earth friendly tips and toys :)

Milk Friendly

Breast-feeding based mama blog, with great tips, tricks, and resources for nursing moms. Maryam is a super ma and super babe. being awesomely pregnant in Hawaii, eating tropical fruit and coconut pancakes like it's her job. Find Milk Friendly on twitter and facebook too.

ps! She just announced the sex of the little baby she's got brewing in her body! Girl or boy?!

Barley & Birch
Organic, earth friendly, adorable clothing for kiddos and babies. We love EVERYTHING about Barley & Birch and promise you will too.
Use code "ohdear" at checkout for an additional 20% off!

And don't forget to donate to the Ride For Kids and enter the giveaway too! Even if you haven't personally been affected by loved ones fighting through brain cancer, I'm sure we can all imagine how truly difficult and sad it must be for the child and their families involved. I know I could never ever imagine watching my own child suffering. Please donate to the kids and families in need.... because even 5$ helps. You know, one drink at starbucks, a quarter of a lunch out, five things at the dollar bin at Target, that extra beer at the bar... maybe just skip that little extra thing one time and give it to a really good cause?

Help Support The Ride For Kids! {GIVEAWAY}

2012-02-27T00:04:00.005-05:00

How about a little incentive to get more donations to a good cause... because sometimes if you give a little, you get a little (or a lot), right? Right. Well, I figured we should set up a little thing where each five dollars you donate to the ride for kids/pediatric brain tumor foundation (read more info HERE) gets you one entry to win this really spectacular giveaway worth over 200$

That's right: It's giveaway time ;)

PRIZES:
The winner of this giveaway will receive three organic shirts of their choice from Barley and Birch, two organic, handprinted shirts from Eric's new soon-to-be (nameless) shop (he owns this pretty awesome printshop where him and his partner create some really amazing designs and shirts), the itty bitty clip set and a headband from Up a Tree Cup a Tea, and a free month (or two) sponsorship space on this blog here (you know, ohdeardrea)!

TO ENTER:
As mentioned, each five dollars you donate to The Ride For Kids gets you one chance to win. All you have to do is go to the donate page, decide your amount, and make your donation. Then come back here and leave ONE comment for EACH five dollars you donate. Makes sense, right? Lets say you donate five dollars, then you leave one comment. If you donate fifteen dollars, then you come back and leave three separate comments. Fifty dollars? Ten separate comments for ten chances to win! Easy enough, right? Just be sure you leave your name and email address with your comment(s). This way, not only can I reach you, but I can also link your donation and your comment to keep things fair.

End Date:
This charity giveaway will be open until the day of the actual ride (second week of April). That's a long time right? Well, I want to be sure to collect as much as possible since this is such a really important cause. A lot of us are moms here and most of us are lucky enough to never have to experience anything even half as scary as watching our child suffer through a brain tumor, but unfortunately, there are many moms/families out there who aren't so lucky... and that donation, however big or small it may be, can really affect their life in a positive way. So let's help out, donate, and possibly win some really awesome stuff, okay?

More Info:
You can read more about The Ride For Kids HERE.
100% of the proceeds for The Ride For Kids goes to The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.

A Big Thank You To:
Barley & Birch
ID Ink
Up A Tree Cup a Tea

More:
If you have any more questions or want to help out in anyway just send an email my way: ohdeardrea@gmail.com

**forgive me if this doesn't make a lot of sense. It's been a looong (but good) weekend. It was street painting festival weekend here which means my front yard turns into a massive valet parking zone and the streets get covered with people and chalk. You can see pictures from last year HERE and HERE. Anyway, thanks for your support and don't forget to share the word! There may or may not (may may may) be more prizes added the more people donate. ;)

Ride For Kids

2012-02-24T07:49:00.005-05:00

(my dad and little brother, christopher, a few years ago)

I like to poke fun at my dad for his motorcycle riding, mostly because if you look at him he doesn't scream motorcyclist... unless of course you are looking at a picture of him from his youth/teenage years, then you understand: it all kinda makes sense. It kinda just fits him.
Well, my dad and his motorcycle team? gang? group? club? Um, team... (besides my love for motorcycle boots, I obviously do not fit into this world) The Southern Cruisers, are taking part in The South Florida Ride For Kids. The Ride For Kids, is like any other great charity event... like a "Walk For..." or a race of some sort but with HUNDREDS (or thousands?) of motorcycles parading down the street. I'm really proud of my dad and the efforts he puts in to this cause. I know him, and his team, donate A LOT of money and time. This year, with the help of the internet (you guys), I'm trying to help out and raise as much money as I can to also help donate and support this event.
So what exactly is The Ride For Kids and where does the money go to? Well, The Ride For Kids supports The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to The PBTF, to aid in medical research, to find a cause and cure for brain tumors, to help families affected, and even, for college scholarships of brain tumor survivors. Yeah, it's a pretty good cause.
I would love (so so much) if you could take a second and spare any amount, even five dollars, to donate to the Ride For Kids. It would mean so much to me, my dad's team, and most importantly: children, families, and survivors, of brain tumors.

For whatever reason, the widget wont work on this post.... but you can find a donate widget on the top right side of my blog, up until the day of the event, to donate there. Or CLICK HERE to find the donate page :)

And of course, here's a video if you'd like to learn even more about the event and program:

Thank you guys. Every little bit helps, please donate, and share.

Happy Friday :)

Let's Talk About Potty Training, Shall We?

2012-02-23T09:18:00.002-05:00

I know yesterday was kind of a heavier post, and I really want to say thank you for all your kind comments and messages. Marlowe and I are seriously, seriously doing great. I keep saying to myself: "My life has gotten 200% better since we are on our own again. That's a pretty big increase". Yep.

Thank you again. Let's keep the good times going and talk about: poop ;)

As far of this motherhood thing is concerned, I'd say I've been pretty comfortable. I mean, I look back at old photos now, and I can see the fear in my eyes, haha, but whatever. I may or may not have mentioned, I never really held a baby until Marlowe. Maybe my little brother? Maybe not? I don't even remember. Actually, looking back, there was this one time that my friends shoved their daughter into my arms, but she was probably about a year old, so she could hold her own a bit more than a newborn. I went into this whole thing thinking: I've got this. It's common sense and trial and error, right? Sure. I figured out teething, sickness, breast-feeding, introducing new food, healthy eating, and much much more, with little to no help. It all kind of just came naturally. Now, there's potty training. Well, soon? Or now? I'm not sure. Soon, let's go with soon.
I have a few basic idea of how it's going to work. I know it's going to be messier than not. It will also probably bring a few laughs.... sad, sad, laughs. And knowing Marlowe, it's either going to be incredibly easy (as easy as it can be) or be incredibly challenging, but not somewhere in between. (But maybe easier since she seems to be progressing in anything more physical/motor and leaving everything else for later). Part of me wishes I had practiced EC (elimination communication) with her when she was a bit younger, but on top of everything else that needs to happen around here, it just seemed like something that would take up even more time that I don't have.
I've decided, I'm going to kind of, um, do what I always do: wing it. (Fake it 'til you make it? Party-hardy?) I'm going to practice my own mild (late) version of EC and watch her like a hawk... every time she begins that poop face, or slightly squats: it's off to the toilet we go! It's been going pretty well so far, I mean, it's difficult because I'm not here with her for the beginning/middle part of the day and she's not here all of Tuesday, but otherwise: so far so good, I guess. We've (slowly) lazily at it for maybe two weeks now. We've had one successful (large) poop (baby pictured above, poop not, unless you want to see the poop, because I obviously took a picture of that too), one decent pee, a few tinkles, and another very successful poop and pee yesterday morning. (As I'm typing I'm realizing the intense #momlife going on here as I tell you about each successful poop my daughter had. errr). I'd say that's not too bad, right? Maybe... she is only 17 months old or so?
I mean, when do people begin potty training anyway? I really have no idea. I'm content starting now, and working slowly to the big girl status goal. In the morning's we sit together and wait a few minutes-- when she wants. We've also got a few potty books next to her toilet for her reading pleasure. Also, when we take off the diaper she looks at it and says "byebye!"... thats good, right? Sure, I think so, and if not, then its at least pretty darn adorable.
So tell me: when did you begin potty training your little ones? Or when do you plan on starting? Do you practice EC? Did you use candy bribes? Fun charts? Clapping? Songs? Were their butts diaper free? Was it messy? Was it easy or a disaster? What are the best tips you've heard? What do you plan on doing? I want to know! Let's talk about poop.

Parting Gifts // The Universe

2012-02-21T21:35:00.008-05:00

I've been posting and mentioning quite frequently about how tired I've been. Life is good, but I'm tired. Well, when I tell you that I've been tired, I mean: REALLY tired, not just "oh, single mama life is hard and days are long" but physically struggling to stay awake at points. Along with my exhaustion I've been feeling... well, nauseous, having lots of headaches, and you know, lucid dreams among other things too. Not too long ago I wrote a post about the separation of Alex and I and how I would be living single mama life again. I ended the post saying: "It's my time". I was so ready and so confident that life was going in a certain way and it would be easier without all the heavy problems Alex brought to my home, but it turns out: I was wrong (sort of). Well, the next day, I found out... maybe it wasn't actually my time, my time would be on hold, again. It turned out, that again, Alex had left me a small parting gift with his decision to leave. The day after my post, the day before I started work on the food truck, I found out I was pregnant, again.
Before I even stood up, the test read positive. My head was filled with a million different emotions and my heart raced a bit, but I didn't panic and I didn't cry. Now what? I decided I should finish getting Marlowe dressed and go about my day as planned.

You can imagine this story is pretty long (really, really long) so I'm going to cut it and let you click the link if you'd like to choose to continue reading....

So yeah, here I was... single again, raising Marlowe alone again, and pregnant. My emotions were torn and bounced back and forth between the positives and the negatives of my situation. I so badly wanted a sibling for Marlowe. I so badly wanted to raise another child, and to have a growing family... but I no way thought that this is how it would be again. Part of me was upset, slightly bothered, and annoyed, knowing that: AGAIN I would be going through a pregnancy alone... that I would now, not only be raising one child alone, but two children, by myself. All while Alex would be living his life, with zero responsibility, for himself, just like he always has. That no matter what would happen, that I would be at every single doctors visit, in the labor room, up all night long, and exhausted to no end during the day, with a toddler, and a newborn, without a partner, without someone I could love and trust by my side. I would again be missing the joy of sharing a pregnancy and child-raising with a loved one... I would be fighting to parent alone. My mind continued to jump further into more thoughts of good and bad. Yes, it would no longer be my time, again, my life would be on hold, but there would be another baby. A baby to love, a brother or sister for Marlowe. Marlowe would not be alone. I thought, well now, on holidays and her birthday, and on the weekly visits with her father, she wouldn't be alone when having to be dragged back and forth. The idea of her having someone by her side brought me relief... and not just someone, but a sibling by the same mother and father. I also thought about the fact that, without this pregnancy now, who knows when I would be ready to have children again, maybe a decade from now? When I'm 35? 40? When Marlowe is much, much older, missing out on someone to grow up with? Well, that's not how I would want life to be either. I thought about how physically and mentally exhausted I would be. Raising two on my own means less attention for both kids--- attention they deserve, attention I could give, but at what cost? But, then I would think about the fact that there are MANY women who are in this situation, with less help, and more children, who not only manage, but thrive, giving their children really wonderful lives. I thought about the fact that any problems I had now with Alex, wouldn't really change. I mean, what difference would it make? If I had to deal with all the crap of co-parenting with one kid, then two would be no different... it's a struggle either way. But then, I would grow angry thinking about Alex as a father. Thinking about how I would honestly feel like a bad person if I brought another child in this world with Alex as their father. Harsh, but true. It's already nearly impossible for me to get a weekly schedule out of him... so much time and energy trying to find out what day he will see Marlowe next. If he doesn't want to (or can't) make more time now, if he continue to lie about EVERYTHING and doesn't help with childcare, and/or help provide enough money now, he isn't going to do it later. If the pressure of being a father to one kid is already too much work for him, then two will surely be too much for him to handle. My heart was torn between wanting another child versus feeling guilt for having another child by the same, unstable man. But then I would think: I am young and I can do this. So what if I'm exhausted, low on money, and raising another newborn? I've done it once before, and I did it well, and I could (and can) do it again-- this time with two. I've heard many times in the past few weeks: "The universe won't give you anything you can't handle". Well, I knew I could handle this. Many thoughts and questions, but no tears, little fear, and moving forward.
A few days later: I told Alex. He filled the phone with questions. Every few sentences he would question: "Why are you so calm? Why aren't you freaking out?". I would respond: "Alex. I've been here. I freaked out before. I now know that freaking out isn't going to change this situation. I am fine and calm because and I can do this, I've done this once before. I was alone then, just like I am now, and nothing is going to change that, so why am I going to freak out?". Just like the first time, he viewed the situation as something to fear, as a financial burden, and not as a pregnancy or a baby-- after all: it would REALLY only affect my daily life. We very briefly discussed it a few times, and then decided: we would not talk about it anymore, because no matter how Alex felt or what he wanted, nothing was going to change.
The first time I became pregnant, I did not have health insurance. Until I was able to acquire health insurance (medicaid), my family helped me pay out of pocket for the first doctors visit. (For those of you who don't know how the medicaid system works: it can take weeks upon weeks to be approved for medicaid. I had very little income--- I had left Miami and was living with my brother and sister in law for most of my pregnancy until I could find a (more than) affordable place of my own... I was approved for just about everything the medicaid system could offer me, but it still took weeks until everything was qualified, approved, and put into system. And even after you are approved, the whole system is shoddy at best). This time around, I had no idea how far along I could be, I figured it could be anywhere from 2 weeks to 8 weeks--- thats a pretty big range in the world pregnancy. Even knowing very well each pregnancy is different, I tried to base things on how strong my symptoms were--- but really, between breast-feeding and weaning, I knew everything within my body was sensitive and off. I decided to wait, tell very little people, and about two weeks after finding out I was pregnant, I decided to schedule an appointment at Planned Parenthood (No insurance, remember?). I called, I scheduled, they give me rates, and told me about price adjustments for people who qualify. A friend came with me, she kept me company, we discussed dinner plans. I told her (about a million times) I wanted a feast with mass amounts of delicious food--- but mostly: I just wanted to stop being nauseous. I never actually threw up with morning sickness--- I did ONCE when I was pregnant with Marlowe-- but only after I ate cheese (real cheese, I never realized how lactose intolerant I really was until a few years ago)--- but I do (and did) waiver between wanting to run to the bathroom and wanting to eat every disgusting thing in site.
We wait. Nothing seems real. A million thoughts run through my head and I find myself wondering if I am possibly dreaming. After an hour or two I am called into the office. I disrobe. I lay down. And I wait for the ultrasound tech. She comes in and we proceed. I lay there... waiting and staring... and confused. She has a weird look on her face and like hers, my eyebrows also start to scrunch down with confusion. I ask her what is going on. I honestly forget exactly how she put it, but basically: there is no baby. I ask: "what?" and she begins to explain that my gestational sack is empty. A "blighted ovum". I am confused and I have no idea what this means. She turns the screen closer to me and moves the ultrasound wand around to show me all the angles. My mind darts back to my first ultrasound with Marlowe. The screen looks so familiar.... but there is no little bean where a baby should be. I tell her: I don't understand, "but I took a test and it was positive and I have all the symptoms?". She tells me that if I took a test it would be positive, because I have all the pregnancy hormones in me. I ask her how common this is. She tells me: "I see this a few times a month". I lay there in shock. I question everything and I tell her: "I don't know if this is wrong to think and say, but I feel a bit of relief."
I ask her more questions. Is she sure? Can she tell how far along I am and is it possible that a baby could grow and I will be pregnant? How would she be able to tell if there is no possible future baby? By measuring the sack? What happens next? She tells me: "Does seven weeks seem right?" Absolutely: five days after I had fully weaned Marlowe, a few days off from a night I had calculated as a possibility. She goes on to tell me more about my situation. Somewhere along the way, after I got pregnant, something happened, and a baby did not grow. The hormones were in me, and my gestational sack and uterus would continue to grow and eventually I would miscarry. I could wait for my body to miscarry naturally or I could choose to have a D&C. Knowing: I do not have insurance, the (small) risk of complications, a hospital bill would be incredibly pricey, and especially knowing: I'm the only one there to watch Marlowe 24/7 and (I imagine) a miscarriage would be an emotionally and physically uncomfortable thing to go through: I decide to stay and have the D&C. I go back in the waiting room. Five more hours pass. I am searching the internet for every bit of information I can find. I want medical terminology. I want statistics. I want possible complications of D&C. I want to know if maybe it would be better to wait for a natural miscarriage. I want to know how long I would have to wait. I want to know the side effects of my procedure--- physical, yes, but mostly: emotionally. How will my hormones be affected? Emotionally, will it be the same as a natural miscarriage? Will I become depressed? How long will it last? How long will I feel "pregnant"? Why did this happen? Is there really no baby? There is no baby.
I am called in. I've decided what pain methods and such I will allow. I decide benedryl and an anti-anxeity pill. I don't want an IV. I want to be conscious and aware of what is going on. I ask the doctor even more questions. He tells me: it's quite common and most women don't know, they will miscarry before they are even aware they are pregnant. This all makes sense.

Almost instantly: the pregnancy symptoms slow and I being feel better. Physically and emotionally: there is a calm. I felt (and feel) a bit of disbelief about the whole thing. Still, I feel so many mixed emotions. I think back to that saying I kept hearing and I wonder "Did the universe know it wasn't my time?". I feel relief and part of me feels guilt. There are so many families out there trying to conceive that would be devastated in this situation, but I.... well, I don't know. I feel a calm and think: as much as I would have wanted a second child, a sibling for Marlowe, things are ~~probably~~ better off this way. Marlowe happened. I became pregnant, I was scared, alone, tossed back and forth, but I knew: there was no way I could go through with an abortion or adoption. And here we are. Marlowe is here. No blighted ovum, no miscarriage, no complications what-so-ever, she is here and the most important thing in my world.
Yes, I allowed Alex back in our lives, I took a risk on someone undeserving of it, but he is and always will be her father. I wanted a family for her and I made the jump. Yes, he proved again that he was not able to fill the family role that I wanted and Marlowe needed, and he again let us down, but I needed to take that risk--- for her and for me. I now know what I didn't want to believe. I am now (more than) ready to move forward and continue with the beautiful life I share with my daughter, raising her alone. I wake up everyday and I feel grateful for the life I've lived and my lessons learned. Things were hard, very hard for a while-- with never ending lies, a new break up, the end of a family, raising one child, and pregnant with another, alone. Struggling to stay awake, finding new work, but struggling not to let my morning sickness get the best of me on the overly hot, smoke filled truck, coming home and doing everything I did the night before, but with even more exhaustion. (Not whining, ranting, or complaining-- it is what it is, nothing that anyone else wouldn't be able to handle, it's life). But through it all-- I continued to move forward and smile everyday, and complain about nothing--- other than, well, being nauseous. I came to a huge realization over the past year, months, and especially in the past few weeks: I am stronger than I ever realized. I am not looking for anything or anyone. I am just living--- Living a life I love, raising a beautiful and incredibly happy daughter, and I am happy. I am really, truly happy. I am proud of the mother I am. And I am proud of the person I am.
I know this story is a lot to share, it's not a story about a perfect life or an ideal situation. I debated whether or not I would write publicly about this experience, or just let it be another thing that stays behind the scenes of this blog. A few days after posting about having "a story to share", I was catching up on many of the blogs I've missed over the past few weeks and found this quote on a cup of jo, in a post she had shared about being authentic:

"It seems to me that being authentic is being brave enough or just candid enough to be honest about what you are experiencing or who you are, whether it is popular are not. A person gives a gift to other people when they say, 'This is what happened to me or this is how I truly feel, no matter what the popular belief is about what I should feel.' Whenever you are honest, you are speaking for a thousand silent people who don't have the voice to say what they really feel or are really experiencing. So, if you ever talk about [the thing you went through], you will touch a million hearts. Because you are speaking for more than just yourself. You are never alone in what you are feeling. I love you."

It reminded me again why I write, why I share my life stories (as complicated or as imperfect as they may be), and why I feel the need to be so overly honest about everything around me. I have a few reasons for sharing my story. My main reason is so you know where I am at, where my head is, and how I am doing. That life happens, goods and bads, and unexpected situations. The world isn't going to stop turning, changing, and throwing unexpected curve-balls, so the best thing I (and we all) can do is to just be happy-- with ourselves (and all of life's ups and downs), to be honest, to breathe in and breathe out, and keep living.
Somewhat unrelated, but I also wanted to share this story because of all the craziness surrounding Planned Parenthood in the past few months with funds being pulled by Susan G. Komen, the largest private breast cancer research group in the country.. and everything else that always goes on there. Whether you are pro-choice or pro-life I think we all need to be aware of the good Planned Parenthood is able to do for ALL women, but especially the women in need and women lacking health insurance--- which I don't have numbers or statistic in front of me, but I think we can all agree: the numbers for people lacking health insurance and proper care in this nation (and in TOO many parts of this world) are high. If it weren't for Planned Parenthood, I might still be sitting here today, suffering with all the physical and emotional symptoms of a pregnancy--- with no baby-- just waiting for a miscarriage to happen sometime in the near future. I am grateful for Planned Parenthood. With them, I was able to: get the help I needed at an affordable price, with no health insurance. And now, I can sit here today: feeling much, much better (great even), feeling happy, raising my daughter, and no longer wanting to gag at the sight of mushrooms or peppers.

Sponsor Ohdeardrea In March!

2012-02-20T09:00:00.006-05:00

Hello friends! The end of the month is approaching... and it's that time again: Time to book March sponsor spaces! March is a great time to reserve a sponsor spot! Why? Well, one: Marlowe has a half birthday coming up and you better believe I want to do SOMETHING special for her. Also: It's my birthday! I'll be a big bad 27 years old this year... even though I already spent this whole past year accidentally telling people I was 27, but whatever. In general, life has been fantastic lately, and I don't doubt that it will just continue to get better and better and bring us (and you) more and more... more food, recipes, photos, and fun.

If you'd like to sponsor this little blog of mine, you can check out the info page for a few more details, or just go ahead and email me!

Thanks! ;)

Diet Water - Recipe {Sweet Potato and Kale Soup With Lemon Greens}

2012-02-19T18:00:00.004-05:00

Yay food time! So, as mentioned in my last post, my camera took a crap this week. Every time I turn it on it tells me to turn it off and try again, but then it doesn't let me turn it off. Brilliant, right? I actually got about half way through this recipe before it gave out. Luckily, I have a picture of the finished product from a while ago so this post isn't a total fail. And this recipe is incredibly simple and requires little ingredients and little skill.... in my book: thats a winning recipe. Also, for a somewhat related/somewhat unrelated side note: A lot of people ask me if there are any foods M doesn't like... Sweet potato. Definitely: sweet potato. She's never liked it... and I don't blame her. I really only like it in soup form. I also discovered this week: she doesn't like pesto... that was actually a shocker! I thought she would devour the pesto pasta right up. Oh well... more for me.

Anyway... onto the soup!

Soup Ingredients:

olive oil

Sweet potato

yellow onion

celery

carrots

garlic

herbs (oregano and thyme work well)

spices (red chili flake, smoked salt, pepper, chili powder, smoked paprika-- hot and/or sweet, and a dash of cumin)

optional, but recommend: kale

optional: liquid smoke

Dice: one onion, 2 carrots, 2 celery.

Heat up pot (med/med high heat). Pour in generous amount of olive oil. Add chili flake. Add diced veggies. Saute.

Once everything has been sauteed down pretty well: add as little or as much garlic as you would like. I have a garlic problem (and I don't care who knows it) so I add about four or five cloves. Saute. DO NOT BURN.

Add peeled and chopped sweet potato. It doesn't really matter the size since you will be pureeing the soup anyway... Add generous amounts of spices and fresh herbs. Stir/blend.

Add stock or water. Enough to cover. Bring to simmer. Simmer until sweet potato pieces are soft. Turn off heat and puree soup. I use an immersion blender, but obviously: any blender will work fine. I've just found that with my overly clumsy and messy self, everything works a little more smoothly in the kitchen when I don't have to transfer hot (or any) liquids. If you don't have a blender you could always use a food processor, then strain the soup through a fine mesh strainer to make it extra silky smooth. Add more liquid (if needed) to reach your desired consistency. Bring soup back to simmer, season to taste (I like extra pepper and extra smokiness), and (if you'd like) add chopped pieces of kale. Allow to simmer another five to ten minutes.

To pair with the soup: greens and bread!

For the greens: In a bowl, toss greens (arugula or mixed greens work well... anything not overly bulky and heavy) with a fair amount of lemon, a tiny bit of olive oil, course sea salt, and pepper.

Bread: Slice loaf of sourdough. Brush olive oil on bread. Toast or grill bread. Pull out of oven, toaster, grill, whatever, and rub a clove of garlic over warm bread. Salt and pepper.

Top soup with greens and bread.... and ENJOY!

Pictures Of Recently Enjoyed Things

2012-02-16T23:23:00.002-05:00

A Marlowe heavy edition of Pictures Of Recently Enjoyed Things. I'd also like to call this: "my camera is busted (for now) so enjoy these recent iphone pictures I took" post. ;) Yep.

because sometimes you just need a huge watermelon after sweating your morning away on a truck.

one M's favorite parts of the day. mine too ;)

little friends.

bird watcher.

spring roll night. {mushrooms, green onions, cauliflower, noodles, carrots, cucumbers, sprouts, cilantro, radish, and tofu} I definitely over did it.

a visit to the record store.

yellow.

morning snacks on jingles head.

super mama. I deserve a good pat on the back for all I am able to accomplish in the morning before I am off to work. I've always got to make sure M has a good to decent lunch made while I'm gone. oh glorious chickpea patties, you are god in this house.

post nap face. (hairclip c/o: up a tree cup a tea)

&a sweet little video my brother made:

&&&

I just want to say thank you thank you thank you again for having us be number one on topbabyblogs. We were slipping for a bit yesterday, but are back on the top. I'm still in awe of your support. (**edit: haha. We're number two again! I should have double checked before posting! Woops! Still incredibly grateful! Obviously.)

Thank you friends! Happy Friday and have a wonderful weekend!

What Simply Is

2012-02-16T00:02:00.003-05:00

I have a story to share with you in the next few days. I enjoy this place: the place where I write and the place where I share. I share openly because I am content with who I am and the life I live. While I am not perfect, I do not live with regret. I believe in truth and I believe in honesty. If I cannot be honest, then I know I am living a life I am not proud of. I am proud of the mother I am. I am proud of the person I am. And I am proud of the life I share with my daughter and everyone who surrounds us. Thank you for coming here and peeking into my home as I document and share my life.

(photo credit)

Things On Toast

2012-02-15T08:31:00.000-05:00

Pink easter egg radishes, tofutti cream cheese, sea salt, pepper, on a plate, on a dirty bookshelf.

Hope everyone had a lovely day yesterday! ;)

Just Because..

2012-02-14T00:18:00.000-05:00

Just because it's valentines day... (well... midnight of the night before and I'm deliriously tired, but still up..... ) here's a card for you lovely people ;)

And of course, like last year, I am still giggling endlessly at someecards ;)

All of last years cards still hold true. You can see them: HERE.

I don't know what all you lovers out there plan on doing for Valentine's day, but Im perfectly content doing as little as possible! After all, it is tuesday, and that's Alex's day to watch Marlowe. Relax mode: on. ;) Happy Valentines day!

The Past Few Days

2012-02-12T23:49:00.003-05:00

The past few days have been quite enjoyable! With the help of my parents and their expert grandchild watching skills I was able to head down to Miami for a concert... not just one night, but two (Thee Oh Sees! Quintron! King Khan &The Shrines! The Togas! &more!)!!! Not overnight or anything, but you know... drive south, drive north, repeat next day. I recommended we eat at Gigi's before the concert, everyone agreed, their stomachs were pleased.... and we even ended up there the second night for a midnight snack ;) I was incredibly pleased to meet up with an old Miami friend the second night. It was pouring rain, and so incredibly crowded, but such a good time.

Eric came by a lot this weekend to hang out with M and I. He's using me for my cooking, I know, but I don't blame him. ;) (I'm only kidding of course). We visited Stitch Rock so Eric could drop off some new shirts to sell. We ate hot dogs (veggie dog for M and I) at PS561. I wanted to make a few fun purchases, but Marlowe, for whatever reason, had a whole different agenda planned for the day and was on a stubborn, stubborn little rampage. The only thing she wanted was to climb up and down and up and down the stairs. She screamed (SCREAMED) if she wasn't holding my hand to climb up and down. I just kept thinking, "I wonder if this is what mothers feel like when their kids throw tantrums in public?" I know she's at a tricky age where she knows what she wants to do, but doesn't really understand a lot. Meltdowns and tantrums will just have to be expected at times, but man, how not fun is that? Today was much easier. Eric and I were on a mission for bike parts for my trike, then we took the little lady to lunch, and then spent the day at my house so Eric could play with Marlowe and I could experiment with my new mixer.... and create a disaster of a mess, of course.

sleepies from stair climbing. &yes, I wore this shirt multiple days. The venue was smoke free and I have no shame.

*Minor public tantrum aside, Marlowe has been amazing lately. She is more fun each day. I love her growing up. She's pretty awesome. Motherhood just gets better and better. I'm a lucky mama.... until she's old enough to start dating.. then I dunno, I'm scared. But thats a long way away.

How was everyone else's weekend? Good I hope! It's been chilly and on and off rainy, but oh so nice! Happy Monday everyone... or 15 minutes to Monday, on a Sunday night ;)

Nice Gifts From Nice People

2012-02-10T21:21:00.003-05:00

I just wanted to share some of the recent gifts Marlowe and I have received that have been making me especially happy lately ;) ;) ;)

Salt! An extra nice gift I received from Mallory today! UPS came and I had no idea what it was or who it was from, but it was extra exciting to start unwrapping amazing little jars of salt.

Books! Sarah actually wrote and illustrated these amazingly beautiful books. Marlowe is especially fond of Batty.

Kristen is so amazingly sweet and sent me a bunch of vegan LUSH products :) This stuff seriously still has me excited to shower everyday... even two weeks after receiving it :)

Our love will never fade print from the very artistic Miss Igs.

*** I actually received this print forever ago as a sweet engagement gift. I was in the process of making that "Love is Here" piece as a banner for the wedding... and wanted to wait to snap a picture until the banner was done. I put A LOT of work, love, and time in that banner. More time than I'd like to admit, but I never finished it, obviously. There's no need or hurry now. But either way, one day I will. Love is still here.

Vintage rain shoes! Perfect for the hot Florida rain days-- no boots needed ;) c/o vintageshoelove

And lastly, I opened my inbox a few weeks ago to find a Modcloth gift certificate from the seriously-more-than-thoughtful, Nicolle. Of course I went for new shade and an organizer for all my crap :)

Thank you thank you thank you again to you lovely, thoughtful ladies. And happy weekend to everyone! It's going to be a cozy one for Marlowe and I. Lots of rain, cuddles, cooking, and maybe a craft show. ;)

Pictures Of Recently Enjoyed Things

2012-02-08T15:30:00.002-05:00

her, always her.

(this image is about a month and a half old. but you know, I still enjoy it.)

grilled avocado.

the one week of cold we had.

new red shoes, bought off a mobile boutique truck.

french onion-ish soup.

morning dance parties.

I'm sitting on the couch with my mother. marlowe wanders off. I hear typing. not banging, or clanging, but typing. I look over into my bedroom to find that Marlowe has climbed on the bed, pulled the computer on her lap, and put herself to work. if you ever wanted to imagine what I look like while I blog, it's like this, but I'm larger.

meat free: banh xeo

an empty curbside.

super bowl, not puppy bowl.

her, always her.

I hope everyone is having an awesome week! It's been pretty nice over here. I've got a few events to look forward to in the next few days. Also, my brand new pistachio mixerarrived today! I can't wait to attempt some baking and I am definitely going to try these vegan marshmallows that Elizabeth had posted. ALSO! I finally found a baby bike seatthat fits on my tricycle! I can't wait to trike around town with that little girl!

I'm gearing up to do a pretty big vegan beauty and body-care post in the next week or so. Since working on the truck, I appreciate extra beauty time more and more each day. Speaking of beauty time, M is sleeping and I think I'm going to take this moment to blow dry my hair for the first time in months :) I've got dinner and music plans tonight and I am excitttttted! <3<3

&seriously, thank you thank you thank you again, for making us number one on topbabyblogs! I love you guys and this community.

Things On Toast

2012-02-07T11:00:00.001-05:00

avocado, cherry tomatoes, olive oil, salt. // avocado, cucumber, chili oil, salt.

Pops

2012-02-05T23:58:00.002-05:00

My sister had sent Marlowe a Zokufor Christmas. It was a huge joy to open up the package and start drooling about popsicles. I opened the box, put the parts away, put the pop-maker in the freezer, and left it there.... for about 2 months. (In case you don't know... a zoku is a quick pop maker. Pour filling in. Sit and stare are it for seven minutes. SEVEN! That's it and popsicles are ready!). Popsicle fail. Why I didn't use this brilliant machine (made for impatient people) sooner, is beyond me. I obviously needed to work on my popsicle making planning. Well, for the past two weeks I've had the biggest cravings for anything cold. COLD COLD COLD: Salads, gazpacho, ice cream (with a warm gooey brownie--- okay, not so cold, but the ice cream would make up for it-- in my head at least), and POPSICLES. I decided this week was the week. It needed to happen. Then I realized I had no idea what I was doing. I had lost the instructions--- which I'm pretty sure included some recipes. Woops. Then, I remembered Shervin and Emily posting on Instagram how sometimes they just pour juice right into the molds and BAM instant treat. I thought: *easy enough*... and well, it totally was. For me, a mixture of: water, lemonade, sliced strawberries and blueberries. For Marlowe: water, apple juice, bananas (ew), and smashed blueberries. BAM popsicle. I don't know if it is possible, but I think I have now become addicted to popsicle making. The mold has to refreeze for 24 hours before you can make more, but that's probably a good thing, it prevents me from overdosing on popsicles.

piggy wasn't happy with just one. I let her have a few nibbles, and took mine back. sharing is caring.

Today I made one of watermelon juice, lemonade, and chopped cucumber and two of strawberry (almond milk) yogurt, apple juice, and bananas (ew). You better believe I am looking forward to eating that tomorrow after work :)

If there are any of you who are a bit more skilled in the art of popsicle making (zoku owners or not), please, please throw your suggestions and advice at me. I am a novice in the fabulous world of instant popsicles and would love (a million more) recipe ideas!

Also, another question for zoku owners, is it possible to make two batches from one machine freezing? Or is it not cold enough at that point? Also, if any of you have gotten completely crafty and made the striped, patterned, or filled ones, I would LOVE to see them!

***OH MAN. PS. Thank you thank you thank you for all of you who voted for ohdeardrea on topbabyblogs. We are currently number one! A year and a half ago I never would have imagined that could happen! Thank you for making this happen! I very obviously couldn't have done it without your support! :) ***

Play Ball!

2012-02-03T16:00:00.007-05:00

I'm loving this beautiful Florida weather. I love sticking my head outside the truck to feel a nice cool breeze. I love being able to make it home early enough (I'm usually home by 2:30) to spend some much needed time outside with Marlowe. When I come home she's usually napping, I throw my things down, jump in the shower, scrub scrub scrub the smoke and grease off me, get dressed (well, half dressed), and depending on the time and what's in the fridge I either: cook dinner or (preferably) prop my feet up on the coffee table and relax while I wait for M to wake up from her nap. She wakes up, we give big hugs, and then it's playtime-- lots and lots of playtime. Or actually, more days than not: it's story time, which is great and all, but how many times can someone read "Are You My Mother?" before going completely insane? "How could I be your mother?" said the cow. "I am a cow." sigh. So yeah, I'm loving this beautiful weather and so is Marlowe. On the days when I am too tired for a walk to the park, it's nice to be able to just play ball on the deck :) Here's a little peek into our beautiful weather days...

hi mama!

plop down, put on shoes.

points to outside.

(please note the mess to the left and that the stroller is out! I'm getting much better at these things! There has even been a book under the ottoman for two days! Yes, I've been counting how long I can let it sit there. TWO DAYS. I'm also getting better at not vacuuming everyday. woot.)

is it playtime now?

YES!

yay!

I never want it to get hot again. Ever. This weather is perfect :)

ps: There's that smock dress, again! I'm thinking I might host another giveaway offering one to a reader. I know it's not warm enough in most places around the world (yet), but they are great for layering anytime of the year... and it has been freakishly warm in most of the U.S this week. BUT, I'm thinking I might switch it up a bit and host the giveaway on the ohdeardrea Facebook for the first time ever. Whatdaya think? Ya' into it? :) I know I don't post on Facebook very often, but if you do follow along then you know a giveaway for one of my mobiles just finished on another blog! Don't miss out next time! ;)

pps: Thank you ever so much for all your votes from yesterday's post. We made it up to number three! Thank you so much! Here and there, a few people mentioned that I should post a banner at the end of each post for a reminder... but that defeats the whole not spamming you idea! If you don't remember to vote daily, that's okay! I still love you!
&: Yes, she's wearing a disposable. We still use cloth, but I don't make my babysitters use the cloth if they don't want to.

Asking For It (Again): I Can't Quit You.

2012-02-02T15:30:00.006-05:00

So... it was about half a year ago that I wrote THIS POST. And of course, I meant every word I said, but now, I feel slightly different about the whole thing... more laid back... less anxious? It's good! Without the anxiety there's less of a negative feeling associated with the whole thing (topbabyblogs). But still, like I've said before, I in NO WAY want to spam you with topbabyblogs. Zip Zero NADA-- no spamming. Sure, I started off this entry with a beyond adorable image of my kid, cause I mean, look at it! That is beyond cute! But really, the idea of posting heartfelt images or exciting (or even really sad) news and then tainting the post with a huge VOTE FOR ME banner, is (still) kinda blegh. It ruins the real meaning of the post and makes the whole thing... a bit... commercial... a showcase? I dunno, something. Less meaningful, for sure.
While, I wont win a prize, make the news, or have anything really tangible to show from it, I do enjoy being ranked on topbabyblogs, I like a lot of the traffic it brings... and even more importantly: the new readers (and friends) I gain from it. When I first became pregnant, I really had no idea there was a whole world of baby blogs out there. Topbabyblogs was a nice resource--- a jumping off point where I was able to find a lot of the blogs I read today. And I hope that by being ranked: other moms (and of course: non moms) will find my blog too. Considering how BIG the world wide web is, there really isn't a whole lot of single-mama blogs out there. I mean come on--- raising a child with a partner is hard and time consuming enough--- so to do it alone and blog about it--- well, it's kinda ridiculous. But I do it, and I enjoy it, so... I'm hoping that through the efforts of topbabyblogs and more importantly-- through the votes of my readers--- we will continue to: grow, connect, relate, and gain from each other.
Like I've promised in the past, I will only ask ONE TIME for your vote (today! today is the day!). If you enjoy this blog (or even if you still hate it, but keeping coming back for more--- cause you know--- maybe you can't quit it) then I would really appreciate your vote today, and once a day--- everyday. Or of course, whenever you see fit (that's everyday, right? hehe).

You can click the tiny banner above to vote or you'll see the brown vote button <--- somewhere over there, on the left, where it always is. I'd love a vote from you today (and everyday) and like always: I appreciate every vote (and comment, tweet, and email!) I receive from each of you, more than you know. Thanks for joining M and I in this (sometimes roller-coaster) happy, little, life of ours and thank you kindly for your support! :)

love,
drea & marlowe

ps! Did you see my original post? OH MY GOODNESS! M was an itty bitty cutie pie!
& the little yellow smock dress above? you can purchase similar ones: HERE. And I could be wrong, but I heard a rumor that there was more coming to the shop in the near future :)
oh! &! I'll totally be back with even more adorable pictures of M very soon... as soon as she lets me and as soon I find the time... which should be soon since my momma flies in tonight to give me a much needed hand! squee! <3

What Marlowe Eats

2012-01-31T19:35:00.001-05:00

I call this the "mama is tremendously tired and always forgets to take photos and honestly doesn't even know what I've been feeding my kid lately, but it's been, you know, relatively healthy" post.

pasta in vegetable sauce (peppers, mushrooms, onion, and carrots, sauteed with herbs and mixed with a table spoon of tomato paste... fancy)

plantains and things on toast. I don't know what I was thinking... that little girl can't really eat big raw greens with the teeth she has.

garlic mashed potatoes, roasted brussels sprouts, roasted maple carrots, and baked smoked maple tempeh.... (shhh. pretty sure she didn't eat the carrots)

things on toast. toffuti cream cheese, caramelized carrots, and raisins.

leftover veggie pasta, cooked kale, steamed tofu.

chickpea patties (seriously these things are great for freezing and such a lifesaver), white rice, avocado.

multigrain cereal o's, blueberries, mini blueberry waffles, and a banana.

tomato soup with rice and veggies (peas, carrots, broccoli, mushroom, and onion)

tofu scramble and avocado.

junk food day. leftover garlic mashed potatoes, gardein "chicken", and peas and corn.

Psst. By the way... I'm going to attempt to post at least one recipe next week. Have any preferences? Have you seen any photos that I've shared, but want/need the recipe? Let me know. I'm thinking maybe a soup since it's still kind of soup weather (most everywhere else anyway!) Or I might make my second attempt at steamed buns soon. Interested?

Things On Toast

2012-01-30T16:00:00.000-05:00

left: tofutti cream cheese, easter egg radishes caramelized in sugar, vinegar, rosemary, and sea salt.

right: butter, raw sliced easter egg radishes, sea salt.

Sponsor Highlight {Dear Little Lady}

2012-01-29T19:46:00.000-05:00

I think we can all agree: genuinely good people are pretty hard to come by these days. It's sad, but it's just the way things are... luckily, from time to come you can still come across the rare loving, selfless breeds. A good example of these genuinely nice, really, really loving and caring people are: Nicolle and Brian from Dear Little Lady. Okay, I'll admit, maybe I'm a little more sensitive to the loving family thing lately, but jeez wiz, I get a little emotional when scrolling through Nicolle's blog. There is so much love in their family, it just makes my heart so happy.

Husband, Brian was actually the one who contacted me about purchasing a sponsor spot for Nicolle for Christmas. How incredibly sweet was that? It's so nice to find thoughtful and loving, family men out there! Then there are always sweet words and comments from Nicolle. AND then, the other day, out of the blue, I received a very unexpected pick me up gift from Nicolle, to help cheer me up with all the icky life things going on over here. The kindness doesn't stop, it's like, they just have so much love in their life, and want to keep sharing it with the people around them. How I see it: you get good karma for even knowing them :)

If the niceness alone doesn't pull you into this loving family blog, then there are so many other things that will:
1. Love love love.
2. Audrey: a little miss handsome baby girl ;)
3. Nicolle's adorable outfits: she even makes me want to put on skirts more often... and leaves me envious that she can pull off a jean jacket. It's a hard thing to pull off, if you ask me.
4. Working mom: exclusively breast-fed baby! (you go girl!)
5. Baby-wearing: too cute.
6. Reading about all the overly sweet things Brian does for mama and baby <3

A few words from Nicolle:

"A little about us...we are pretty low key for the most part aka boring :) I breastfeed and babywear...super proud that I have been able to keep Audrey formula free even while working full time. We believe in living as natural and organically as possible. We also believe in raising our daughter with simple values and teaching her that less can be more...praying she won't feel the need to be glued to a iPad, tv, or cell phone or want all these other material things I see kids with. Reason #139 why we keep a tv free household. My husband and I are complete opposites in every way (except for raising our baby)..he is the "bad boy", I am the "good girl" and 11 years later we still come back for more. We know life isn't perfect and don't strive for that...constantly learning along the way and always striving to grow more and more..."

So if you're ready to bring a little more cheeriness, love, and wholesome &simple family living into your life, then please head over to Dear Little Lady and say 'hi' to Nicolle and fam. They are just so amazing. I feel lucky to *know* such loving people, and I promise you will too.

xoxo

Little Artist Girl

2012-01-26T13:00:00.014-05:00

This post thrills me so much. I am so in love with the idea of Marlowe drawing, painting, making, and creating. The other day, while Marlowe was napping, I rolled some kitchen parchment paper onto the coffee table, taped it down, and then oh so patiently waited for her to wake up. I was so incredibly eager to see what would happen when I let her have at it with a brand new box of crayons. Well, she loved it---- really, really loved it. I need to plan to buy some proper drawing paper soon, the parchment paper is a bit waxy for little drawing hands... and maybe, possibly... I should buy her a little easel too :) I worry for my white walls, but I'm pretty sure any mishaps will be worth it in the end.

I often wonder if Marlowe is lefty or not. Like me, she seems to be quite ambidextrous. She eats with her right hand, but more often than not, her left hand seems to take over with everything else. I'm not sure at what age or stage I'll really be able to know for sure... maybe soon or maybe in a few years? No idea. One of my furthest memories back is: me sitting with my dad at our kitchen table and him showing me how to draw and write... I must have been 3 or 4 years old or so. It was so long ago and I have no idea if I could really do much of anything (drawing-wise) at that point, but I'm sure both my parents must have known: I was lefty. When will I know about Marlowe? Does it even matter yet if I know? Probably not. Either way, I'm really, really looking forward to even more creative days to come.

*psst. by the way... since I posted a photo of Eric last week on instagram and twitter I got about 70 (million) comments/tweets saying: "#teameric" and telling me how wonderful Eric is. Well, since I'm certain I'll have a few questions here too, I should mention: we are not together and will not be together ;) Eric is still a great friend to me and beyond wonderful to M. We still hang out from time to time, but thats it. No romance, just friends ;) #teamfriendswithareallyawesomeandcaringguy

**pssst again: Marlowe's adorable rosette c/o: upatreecupatea

Things On Toast

2012-01-25T15:14:00.000-05:00

sun-dried tomatoes, grilled baby artichokes, olive oil, sea salt.

Truckin' Work

2012-01-24T18:18:00.003-05:00

Hey guys! If you follow me on twitter or instagram, then you already this post is a bit of old news and you already know a bit of what I'm up to on... but incase you don't... here's a little update for you :) Michelle and I have been toying with the idea of starting our own small business in the future. For the past few months, it's mostly been fun ideas and daydreams (I am guilty of being the BIGGEST daydreamer EVER), but because of the current events and changes that are going on in both our lives... we've been working on more ways to turn our dreams into a possible reality. Because if not now, then when? Life is short and I'm tired of sitting and waiting on other people. It's my time, remember? ;) As mentioned, the universe has decided to throw some opportunities in my direction... Not too long ago, I went up to the main foodtruck in our area (a spot we eat at once in a while and this time too) to poke and pry with questions I had. I got answers. I walked away. I laughed with friends. Well, it turns out the women in the window was also the chef and owner of the truck and within a few minutes (or seconds): I was offered a job at Curbside Gourmet to "test out the foodtruck world". Bam. Thank you, universe. Thank you Chef MB. ;)

So yeah, I've been spending a few days being the newest member of the foodtruckin' world over at Curbside Gourmet. It's been pretty great. I spend my mornings prepping food for the day in the kitchen and spend my afternoons in the foodtruck window serving customers. The owner is great, the two chefs are great, the food (okay, I'm living off fries... the truck isn't vegan, but the food is fresh and great) is great, and the customers are even great too. I'm pretty pleased to have this opportunity to just kinda show up in front of me.... very pleased actually. Not only am I making the extra income I need, but also: I'm doing something I enjoy and I feel incredibly lucky to only have to spend a very few short hours away from M each day. --->Wake up. Work. Come home to a napping Marlowe. I shower. I make dinner. I make lunch for her for the next day. Dinner. Bath time. Books books books. Play play play. Bedtime. Clean house. Blog (when internet is working). ---> The end of a good day.

I've been figuring out scheduling babysitting and whatnot as best as I can. I never really had to do it before since I'm so used to spending 24/7 with M. It's not exactly fun or easy, but it's been working out and she seems pretty content with my friends and family... which is great cause it's super important to me to have M as happy as can be when I'm away... even if she's napping for a quarter of it. And sometimes if I'm really lucky I have a cranky, french fry eating babycakes visiting me ;)

In case you're a bit more curious about the truck... you can check out their site: HERE or you can follow them on twitter to peek in on daily specials and find out where we'll be ;)

January Sponsor Links

2012-01-23T11:55:00.000-05:00

Hey guys! Happy monday! I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend. The weather was beautiful here. We had a pretty mellow and relaxing weekend. Marlowe had her first full on coloring adventure and enjoyed about 15 hours of book reading on my lap. I hope you check out each of sponsors, each of the women behind the blog or shop are incredible and I am so lucky to have them supporting this blog. I hope you show them your support too :) I'll be back tomorrow with a small update about current work/food happenings!

Barefoot and Vintage

Vintage shop brought to your by beautiful (red-headed) mama, Paige.

some of my favorite items: this shirt, cardigan, cropped jacket, skirt, and romper!

A Sprouting Acorn

A Sprouting Acorn Blog, brought to you to you by two mothers (and best friends): Michelle and Andrea. This blog is great. I kinda want to be friends with both these ladies, you know... if they weren't miles and miles away. It's got a little bit of everything: RECIPES, diy's, and earth friendly tips and toys :)

Milk Friendly

Breast-feeding based mama blog, with great tips, tricks, and resources for nursing moms. Blogger, Maryam is a mama of two beautiful boys... with another on the way! And and and and.. get this: they are totally living the dream and just moved their entire (growing) family to Hawaii :) Find Milk Friendly on twitter and facebook too.

Tibault and Toad

Mama/Family blog of Noel Elizabeth, mama to Indigo Lily :) Living in Chicago and cooking delicious looking foods (that make me question being vegan), gardening, and sharing tidbits of other beautiful life things :)

Desert Gypsy Mama

Katie: beautiful mama and soul. Blogger, artist, vintage shop owner, and free thinker. Be sure to stop by Desert Gypsy Mama for powerful creative inspiration and much more.

Soul Singing Liv

Probably one of the sweetest families you will ever read about. I know I've said it before, but you can feel the love and kindness spewing out of this blog. Be sure to follow along with Olivia's family blog, it's always a sweet uplifter.

This Little Blog Of Mine

That image alone should make you want to check out This Little Blog of mine^^. Beautiful vegan family sharing their life and joy with little T. Jenna is a stay at home mom, but also an incredible photographer. Be sure to check out her photography site and facebook ;)

Up A Tree Cup A Tea

Use code "ohdear" at checkout for free domestic shipping!

Corner Blog

Blog of Tiffanie. Mother, housewife, licensed architect, and dancer. You just saw her guest post/room tour HERE, but be sure to explore the rest of her blog for even more creative goodness.

Barley & Birch

Organic, earth friendly, adorable clothing for kiddos and babies. We love EVERYTHING about Barley & Birch and promise you will too.

Use code "ohdear" at checkout for an additional 20% off!

Again, happy monday!

Guest Post - Corner Blog {Room Tour}

2012-01-20T15:55:00.005-05:00

Hey guys! Life has been crazy around here. Lots of curve balls and things.... nothing I can't handle though. Seriously, I don't like to boast, but I really feel like a super mama... and papa. I've got a few more minutes to myself before the kiddo wakes up and then it's go go go time again, but in the meantime, I thought I would leave with you a guest post from one of my wonderful sponsors, Tiffanie over at Corner Blog. She's a pretty awesome woman with some really amazing talents. Her works has even been featured on Ohdeedoh/Apartment Therapy a few times :) If you haven't checked out her blog already, please make sure you do. Today she'll be sharing with you a tour of one of the rooms she designed in her home. It's beautifully done and is great inspiration for smaller homes with kiddos. Have a wonderful weekend everyone and don't forget to stop by and check out Corner Blog :)

Hi there! My name is Tiffanie. I'm a reader, sponsor and big fan of Ohdeardrea. I'm also an architect, dancer, and mother of two gorgeous children (if I do say so myself) living in the center of San Francisco, and I have a blog called "corner blog". I love to write about the little projects I create for and with the kids, our life in San Francisco, some of my old and new artwork, and how lucky we are to all be here, together, right now.

One of the little projects I worked on recently was renovating my daughter's bedroom. The room was featured at Apartment Therapy, but I'd love to give you a quick personal tour of it myself. We rent a flat in an old Victorian building, so we were limited in what we could do. I did manage to rip out the old, gnarly carpet and replace it myself (with a six-month-old baby strapped to my back, I might add)!

Here's what happened:

Our daughter Stella was a champion breastfeeder and co-sleeper. When she finally weaned herself at 31 months, we transitioned her out of our bed and into her own bed in our room. When Stella was almost four, her brother Oliver came along. Our bedroom became WAY too crowded, and at the same time her father started a job out of the home and didn't need his office/studio anymore. So I embarked on the renovation. The goal was to give Stella a room to call her own, while maintaining a decent work area for her dad, a sound designer, producer and engineer, who works from home once a week. And if we ever needed to use the desk at night, I wanted to protect Stella from the glare of the computer.

Here's the final product:

To see the rest of the gorgeous space....

Here's her kitchen:

Building Stella's kitchen was really fun. She had been accumulating these pieces since she was a about two-and-a-half, and they were all hanging out in our living room. I was so happy to get them out of our living space. I built the counter out of her dad's old keyboard tray, cantilevered off the top of an old crate. I found the vintage Coca Cola crate on Etsy, which holds all of her cups and little trinkets for the kitchen. After this photo was taken I installed a little curtain below the red stove to cover up the storage area.

An Ikea kitchen storage unit mounted under the stove (and above mentioned curtain):

The stuff we store:

The stuff we cook!:

Stella is six now, and we still love playing in that kitchen. I must admit, half the reason her kitchen is so robust is to encourage me to get in there and play. I love this sort of thing!

Moving on, the way I was able to separate Stella's bed and playspace from her dad's workspace was to build a crate divider. I found several vintage fruit crates on Etsy and attached them together (and cabled them to the ceiling, etc. etc.) so that they will not topple in a quake. They are in between her dad's desk and her bed. All but one of the crates are open on the desk side, used as bookshelves, but one opening faces Stella's bed, so she can keep photos and knickknacks and such nearby while in bed. Natural light comes over the top of the crates to the desk area, while protecting Stella from computer glare at night.

Office on the left/bedroom on the right:

Dad's side, painted in a darker tone to delineate it a little more:

Stella's side:

We removed and stored the ugly mirrored closet doors over in the office area and hung this birch tree tapestry over the closet. Stella's small dresser and all of dad's hanging clothes are in that closet. I found that mid-century looking pendent lamp at Goodwill for, like, eight bucks. Yay!

What else? The space under Stella's bed is now a great little library, pretend camper, and where Oliver will sleep when he finally weans and leaves our bed!

No, it's never this clean. I overstaged:

Oliver in a hedgehog costume. I just guaranteed Drea thousands more hits to her blog. You don't know how much traffic I get from people googling "hedgehog costume". Strange!

The view from below the bed.

Which brings me to one of my favorite parts of Stella's room: the tree! Pretty much the day I started thinking about hanging a tree in her room, one walked right past me! Her preschool was removing a tree from the back play garden as I was dropping Stella off one morning, and I grabbed it. It's so beautiful. I had these wonderful red bird lights I had purchased at Ikea years ago and finally they found a great home.

The tree:

Here are some other nice things from about the room:

A banner from The Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park, from an exhibit showing during the time of Stella's birth. I collect these banners, by the way (see here).

Depression-era dresser, for Oliver and dad's clothes.

The view from her window.

Collections in jars.

The last photos I want to share with you are the "before" photos, meaning before we did the work, and also before Oliver gets in there and rips it up. He can put that room in a state of utter disrepair in a matter of minutes!

Before, when Stella and her dad used to share the space:

Before, during the transition out of the room:

Before Oliver:

Aaaand, after!

Thank you so much for reading! I loved sharing this post here, I'm pretty pleased with how the room turned out. You can see the Apartment Therapy article here, and I hope to see you again over at corner blog! Thank you, Drea, for letting me share this on your wonderful blog!

Sponsor Ohdeardrea In February!

2012-01-19T10:00:00.001-05:00

It's going to be February, right? Jeez. I don't even know what to think about that nonsense! Either way, it's a great time for sponsorship. Our readership has grown a lot in a short amount of time. In the month of September (2011) we had an average of 71,000 page views. Last month? 91,000. It's a great time to jump on board and be a part of this blog (and really awesome, loving community). I'm really not sure what's in store for the future... not for February... or even next week... but things are changing around here and only getting better. Actually, while you read this post, I'll be off testing out a new little adventure I'm jumping into... which hopefully will be the jump start to an even BIGGER adventure in the next few weeks and months. So vague, I know. I'll give you one hint: its food related ;) Cause you know... if I can't afford to stay at home with my babycakes anymore... then I might as well be living a dream and doing something I love. ;) I'll give a few more details soon! If you'd like to sponsor us next month, please contact me at anytime! And of course, if you have questions, I've got answers :)

*Our extra large spot is booked throughout April, but if you are interested in reserving a space for a later month please let me know.

Large sponsor package: These sponsor spots will rotate a few times during the month to give all sponsors fair exposure. Our large size package will include a group post featuring all large sponsors of that month. The large space is 35$ and is sized at 180 x 150.

Small sponsor package: These spots will also rotate a few times during the month. This option does not include a post, but is a great way to gain exposure at a really low cost. The small space is 20$ and sized at 180 x 75.

** we offer discounted rates for sponsors purchasing multiple month spaces.

**All sponsors are eligible to host a giveaway. There are a few requirements for giveaways, as we like to keep them to a minimum on the ohdeardrea blog.

Diet Water - Recipe {Bean Stew With Biscuits}

2012-01-18T10:20:00.004-05:00

Finally! Sheesh. White bean stew with biscuits. Asked for many times. And waited for even longer. Sorry. ;) Instead of calling it a white bean stew I went ahead and changed it to a bean stew. The main reason I did this was because I didn't want to leave my house (It's hard and not worth it, alone with a baby, when you only need a few items) to buy white beans. I used garbanzo beans instead which were just as equally delicious, if not more delicious. Feel free to use whatever bean you feel fitting or you prefer. I wouldn't recommend straying to far from the vegetablse listed, I mean, you can, and while some other vegetables would work, many others might just be weird. When I orginally attempted this, I used the recipe from: Veganomicon it came out... um, okay. I don't know. Every step of the way I questioned the recipe and was like "this seems backwards. Why am I doing this? Next time I'm making my own". So yeah, thats what I did. The basic idea was adapted from the book, but the cooking set up, directions, seasoning (and maybe the ingredients?) are different. I also used a completely different biscuit recipe than the one found in Veganomicon. I wanted a biscuit with more flavor and buttery goodness. Because there are the two parts to this recipe, you will have to multi-task quite a bit. You need to be pretty good at cooking with a baby (if you have one) or asking a friend to help is always nice :) This is a really hearty and filling meal, great for cold days, or days where you just need a little extra comfort and loving inside your gut. I hope you enjoy it as much as Marlowe and I do :)

Ingredients:

-Onion: small chopped. Half.

-Two Carrots. I small chopped one for the mirepoix and chopped the other into larger pieces for stew heartiness.

-Celery: One or two. (Very) small chopped

-Mushrooms: (optional, but totally recommend. They give the soup more heartiness and an earthy flavor). I had four left in my fridge.... so thats what I used.

-Two Small Potatoes: cut to match the size of your bean (or slightly larger)

-Garlic: diced and sliced, whatever you prefer. Doesn't have to look pretty, just makes the soup (and everything) better.

-Green Onion (or leeks): chopped.

-Beans: White, garbanzo, or whatever you have or like, just don't do anything like black beans, cause that would be weird.

-Peas (I always have frozen. It's a staple item in my freezer)

-Butter or Oil. I used a little of both.... I ran out of both this day. (reoccurring theme, right?) I use Earth Balance Vegan butter. You can find it at most grocery stores, it's not a specialty item or anything, but it is delicious.

-Vegetable Stock (or other stock or water)

-Herbs. Lots of them. Fresh is better. Dried is fine. Thyme, oregano, basil, rosemary, and whatever else might be growing in your garden. I left out my spearmint.

-Flour: A few tablespoons.

-Salt & Pepper

-Nutritional Yeast (optional)

(And I think I even threw in a bit of cumin, cause I can't help but do it, quote Modern Family, and giggle.)

For the biscuits: I followed THIS RECIPE, until the last step. Super easy, delicious too.

Prep everything. Wash and drain garbanzos, clean and chop all the veggies, and grab some herbs.

And onion, green onion, mushrooms, celery, and the small cut batch of carrots to a well buttered or oiled, heated pot. Saute and allow everything to cook down and caramelize a bit.

Once everything has cooked down a bit and onions are translucent: add larger carrots. Stir.

Add garlic. Stir.

Add herbs. I added a little more than double the amount pictured.

Add potatoes. Stir. Salt and Pepper. Turn the heat to medium low and let everything cook for a while, stirring occasionally. You really want the flavors to blend together, all while allowing your potatoes to soften (not completely, but a bit). This might be a good time to start your biscuits, if you haven't already done it.

Make sure your veggies have a bit of moisture. They should still have some left from the oils and the mushrooms. If not, don't be afraid to add a bit more oil or butter. Add about one and a half to two tablespoons of flour and blend well, into the vegetables. You are going to have some browning on the bottom of the pot, but this will come off later and give some extra flavor to the stew.

Bring heat back up to medium/medium high and slowly start adding stock to your pot. Maybe a quarter cup at a time (at first). You want the stock to simmer on the bottom so that the brown goodness cooks off the bottom while you stir it in. Add more stock, stir, and scrape the bottom more. Add enough stock to cover vegetables. Add beans. Bring to simmer and allow to cook until potatoes are fully soft. (Work on your biscuits!) Taste and season. Feel free to add more herbs, spices, or nutritional yeast, and of course: salt and pepper. Add peas. Turn off heat. And stir. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

So.... you've been working on your biscuit dough right? I mean, at this point your kitchen should either be spotlessly clean and you're like *oh crap, I forgot the biscuits!* or your kitchen should be a mess and you've got a big lump of dough in front of you. Instead of rolling, cutting, and all that jazz, you just pull chucks off the dough and roll them into one and a half inch balls. (For reference: I've got small hands.)

Plop (nicely place) your biscuit circles on top of the stew. The stew should be thick enough so that biscuits mostly sit on top with little sinking.

Place the whole pot into pre-heated oven for 15 to 20 minutes. Depending on the size of your biscuits and oven you've got (I've got a crappy one, that gets and stays incredibly hot from the bricks in it) it will take different lengths of time. You want the biscuits to be firm to the touch and slightly browning.

Once the biscuits were done, I actually pulled the whole pot out of the oven and Michelle and I drove it over to my brothers house (without the lid on) for my sister-in-laws *I'm making you dinner for your birthday dinner* This is optional, but, once I arrived to my brothers, I brushed a bit more melted Earth Balance on the biscuits and placed the pot under the broiler for a few minutes for optimum browning.

Serve and enjoy :)

ps. Maybe you've noticed, I've been trying to keep up with reply comments lately. It's been working well, for now. Feel free to leave questions in the comments. And as far as emails.... you can imagine, my inbox is pretty full... I'm working on it ;)

pps. if you notice the stew isn't thick enough to place the biscuits comfortably on top you can always add a mixture of flour/water and cook for longer. The more flour, the thicker it will be <3

Things (Almost) On Toast

2012-01-17T09:00:00.001-05:00

fried sweet plantains, tofutti cream cheese, baby heirloom tomato, greens, and lemon dressing salad.

You Change When You Want To // You Change When You Need To

2012-01-16T12:17:00.007-05:00

I think it is safe to say a lot of people were hopeful, but not expecting a lot when Alex came back into the picture. In general, people want to believe that there is good in all people... that people make mistakes, they grow, they change, they learn, and they are capable of becoming better people. Me, my family, my friends, and my readers hoped for the best, but he left once, twice, multiple times before, so what would stop him from leaving again? Well... nothing. He didn't want to be the bad guy anymore. He was the bad guy when he left me during my pregnancy. He was the bad guy when he was popping in and out of my life. He was the bad guy when I was raising my daughter alone... he didn't want to be that guy anymore... so one would think the simple solution to this would be to... you know... change? Stop? Something? I don't know... but in my eyes, leaving again doesn't seem like the solution to becoming the good guy. It makes you not only a bad guy again, but an even worse guy.
He had an opportunity that not many men would have. Not only did I allow him back in my life after all the harm he had cause me and our daughter, but my family and I embraced him with open arms, forgiving all his past mistakes. We were all ready to move forward and believed he was ready too. The only thing expected of him was the promises he made. He had a second chance, the second chance he asked for-- the chance to be the man he promised he could be. Instead of taking the opportunity to right his wrong and fix the family he had broken, he chose to take advantage of his second (undeserving opportunity) and continue to lie to everyone. It angers me how simple a family for us could have been. I moved past the previous pain, I let go of past anger, and I moved forward, knowing it would have been the only way for us to work. All we expected in return was an honest man. So simple and so painfully wasted. I guess when he told me and my family he was offering: "My love, true undying love, the willingness to make it work, to take any measure necessary to stay a team, to fight together, to parent together, to raise our daughter together, to support, to encourage, to support, and to bring back together the family we started so long ago"... he forgot to leave a disclaimer mentioning his efforts would only last four months. I wanted to believe it was for real this time, that he would fight and not run, but like every time before, it was just words and just for show.
But this isn't a victim/villain story. I'm not a victim. I had a choice. I knew his past and I still chose to believe that he wanted a life and a family with me. He was offering me and my daughter a life that we not only deserve, but that I wanted. I wanted to believe it was real. While, I wouldn't have made my choice if I had known his efforts would be so incredibly short-lived, I don't regret my choice. I needed to try. Yes, he was undeserving, but I needed to know I was doing everything possible to give my daughter a life she deserved. Again, I am here knowing I have no regrets. I am a good mother, a good woman, and a good partner. I stayed when others would have left, I fought through his family, and I fought through his lies. And I stayed through my insecurity. Through the pain, I stayed for my family--- for our family. And he left, for himself... breaking not only a promise to me, but to his own daughter.
Many of my readers of reached out to me, telling me my writing had changed when Alex came into the picture--- that there was tension behind my words. I think they are correct. I lived in fear and insecurity. I knew Alex lied... he always lied. The very first day I stepped into his home, 4 years ago, he lied to me. I hoped his time in New York had done some good. I hoped he had seen the error in his ways. That he was no longer one to hide behind lies or run whenever a problem, responsibility, or real life was in front of him. I hoped and believed his efforts to have me and Marlowe back in his life, as a family, were a starting point to prove not only his personal growth, but also, his readiness to be a real parter, a father, and also, a man. I was undoubtably wrong. In his little time back in our lives and in my home, his lies were not only consistent, but growing. As happy as I was with my daughter, my friends, and my family, I was also living a life I did not enjoy. I spent my days fearful that he was going to leave, again. I spent my time wondering what words of his were true. I spent my nights questioning how much he could really care about me, my daughter, our happiness, and our home, when he spent so much time causing pain with his lies.
I came home from our Miami staycation feeling renewed... I felt that our time spent away from everything would set a new mood in our home. The next day, nothing had changed. The next night, I uncovered more lies. A secret "friendship" that he had been hiding for weeks.... a way to escape. Instead of taking action, fixing wrongs, and facing the real problems at home, he spent his time at work, laughing, being friendly, and using all his free time, communicating with a new friend. The hurt inside me was unbearable. So many times I wanted to leave because of the lies. So many times I wanted to leave because of all the problems Alex brought into the household, but I stayed. I always stayed. I stayed for my love for Alex. I stayed for my daughter. And I stayed for the idea of our life and family together. Anyone else would have left for a multitude of reasons, on a million different occasions, but I stayed and I fought for our home.
Each day was a new opportunity to create change, to create a better future, to and to fix and move past the wrongs of the previous days. Instead of moving in the right direction, Alex checked out. The next morning, things got worse. More lies uncovered and a heated argument. Alex had a choice--- he always had a choice: Stop the lies, stop creating problems, and move forward... or... do what he's done so many times before in the past: run and avoid. He went to work and didn't come home. A relationship takes work. A home takes work. A child takes work. A family takes work--- and not just a little work, but a lot--- a never-ending amount. Why would he choose responsibility when it's so much easier to be a child, living at home, answering and caring to and for no one, with zero commitments other than work? He chose the only thing he has ever cared for the only thing he has ever worked for or protected: himself. He went out until 5 am with the bartender friend and didn't come home. This was two weeks ago. How he feels that it is okay to pick up and leave with a daughter at home is beyond me. I could never fathom this. I could never do this. This home, this life, my daughter is my responsibility. I don't get to break my commitments. I don't have a choice to pick up and leave. He shouldn't allow himself to have that choice either, but like he's proven so many times before: he likes to play the bad guy. He chooses that role. Even with his attempts to hide behind his lies, he still lives and breathes that role. To his family, to me, and to his daughter: He makes his choices--- he chooses to be the bad guy and instead of putting in a real effort, he is chooses to disappoint.
I break down and cry from time to time. I feel numb often and I feel pain even more. I feel anger at times, resentment in others, but overall it's a feeling of sadness. I mourn the loss of our future together. I mourn the loss of one home for Marlowe. I mourn the loss of the man I loved, the man hiding under the lies. These feelings will come and go for a while, it is a process--- one that I have been through before.

Change doesn't just happen. Change happens because of want and desire, but more often than not: change happens out of need. Alex didn't want to change, and he certainly didn't feel the need to change. Not for his friends, work, family... not for me, our family, and not for our daughter. You won't be hearing much about Alex on here anymore. He's been in and he's been out. He's proven unstable, unnecessary, and to be a bad guy. In time, the blog will be more of the positive and inspirational place it once was before. All in all, life is changing, again. Not because I wanted it to, but because it needs to. With Alex gone, and with the expenses that come along with a growing child, I'm looking for new ways of income. I'm sad to think I won't be able to spend my days, at home, raising my daughter, but I am happy to know that I have big plans to do the things I love and I am able to create opportunities I've always wanted. I've had a few big plans working through my head in the past couple months, and now because of these (and other) changes.... I not only want them to happen, but need them to happen. While the waves of sadness will continue to hit me from time to time, I am still hopeful and thankful of the positive things the universe is not only placing in front of me, but throwing directly at me. This wont be my first time being a single mom. Marlowe and I have lived this life before, and will live it again, but I am certain: it will only get better this time around. It's my time.

Oh, The Places You'll Go

2012-01-11T23:09:00.003-05:00

My dad came by the other day to see how I was doing. He said, "I've got a video for you". It made me more emotional than I'd like to ever admit a video filmed at Burning Man could make me.

Thanks dad. Thanks for somehow finding the perfect video to help me get in the right mood to (once again) get through someone else's incompetent shit. Love you.

A Story

2012-01-10T11:20:00.009-05:00

I've been going back and forth on the idea of titling this post "mystical shit" or not. It feels right to title it that way, but the word shit can be quite offensive, especially being that this blog more often than not focuses on parenting/baby-mom life. Either way, I've got a story to tell you. On my engagement post, I mentioned maybe, in the future, sharing a particularly weird day I had with you. Well, the future is now.

I'm not sure how many (if any) of you believe in psychics, or palm reading, or any of that other stuff. I know there are a lot of people who are into the idea of other worlds, seeing the future through cards, and other... you know, mystical things. For me, I really don't know what to believe. I'm not really a religious person. I support religion, but I don't think about it much. I'm not sure if I would call myself a spiritual person or not. I don't meditate and I don't often find myself feeling an overall connectedness to the earth, I mean sometimes I do, but it all seems a bit.... crunchy. I question if things happen for a reason, or if they just happen. Only recently has my mind wandered to places and topics of past lives and traveling souls. Even saying that, sounds so silly to me. For me, I focus mainly on the idea of the connectedness with oneself. Really getting past the surface to uncover ones unconscious mind... because only once we really know ourselves can we be the good (or bad) people we need to be in this world. Many thoughts I have relate to the idea of analytical psychology and the power of the unconscious. We have so much power deep within us, most of which will never be uncovered. I know myself pretty well... I know my good and I know my bad. Everyday I work on myself, wanting to know more, be better, and be stronger-- the more I figure out myself, the better I am able to handle the world around me. Currently (okay, actually: always) I find myself needing to work on patience, but thats unrelated to this story. What does any of this really have to do with anything? I don't know... it seems silly... a long rambling, crazy sounding intro into an even crazier story I have to tell. It's just that, I know myself pretty well, but I find myself struggling with these ideas lately.... knowing what is real and what is not.

I went back and forth about the idea of visiting a psychic during my pregnancy (before I was showing) to see if they would tell me anything about a baby in the future. It would be my own personal joke or entertainment to see if they could come even a little bit close to the idea of an upcoming baby. I never actually went. I'm not sure how the idea came up again, but it was discussed between some friends and I, and we figured, well, why not? My friend Kristine (not really a believer in the mystics either) had mentioned she went once before in high school. The psychic, Ann, told her that she saw some numbers that would be significant for her. Ann gave Kristine her SAT scores, the exact results Kristine had received in the mail that very morning. Weird. We decided to make an appointment to see Ann.

Kristine went into the room first. She met me outside with the most stunned look on her face. Upon entering the room, even before sitting, Ann says to her: "There is so much energy around your lungs. I'm not sure why but there is a strong energy coming off of them". Well, Kristine is my friend who had a double lung transplant a few years ago. Weird.
It was my turn next, I went in the room and sat down. Ann asks me what I would like to focus on. I tell her, "I'm not sure, just life in general, love, family, relationships". She asks if I would like to know more about anyone and to give her names. I tell her: "Alex". The first thing she says is, "He is always back and forth with you, isn't he? He comes in your life and then he leaves you again." Um, yes, obviously. She goes on to tell me more... "He goes through phases and cycles. At times he's really up, and fighting to be with you, confident and so sure of what he wants... but then, there is the other side... his darker side. When his darker side comes out he closes himself to the world around him, he is no longer sure about what he wants, he causes hurt and feels hurt, and he pushes you away. He is unsteady. And he is moody." She asks: "He has a Jewish mother, doesn't he?" Yes, he does. She tells me how he loves me. There is no question of that. She tells me I love him too, and there is an attraction to him, but it is more than that: there is a connection there between us, there always has been. And it's not just now, but Alex and I, we have been fighting for lifetimes to be together. Every lifetime for us, we have struggled and fought to be together, but there is always a crisis, an obstacle, something standing in our way. She says this will continue for us. She tells me, we can be together now and stay together. We can be incredibly happy together, but ONLY IF he gets help. If he doesn't get help, he will continue to be back and forth and we will live a life of misery, again. She goes onto ask: "Is he trying to be with you now? Because if he isn't, he will be very soon. Just wait for it, he's about to be on a upswing. This one is going to be a big attempt". She tells me: There will be an engagement. It will be soon. She sees, "A baby. A boy, with dark curly hair, big brown eyes, and dark, very long eyelashes." She goes on to remind me again of his cycles, they will be there. We can be very happy together, but only if he can move past this. Okay.

I ask about Eric. She tells me, "Eric is as steady as the day is long, but you don't love him the way you want to. There isn't a question about whether you should be with Eric or Alex, you love Alex. But there will be a choice. There will be a third person. Someone new will come into your life and knock you off your feet. You will have immediate feelings for him, they will be very strong like the feelings you have for Alex. You will struggle to choose between the two.

I leave with more questions. How was everything so accurate and so exact? Yes he's been trying, but a big attempt? That's not Alex. An engagement? Alex would never propose to me so soon. He only started trying to prove himself again so recently. Would we really be together? Would he get help? Could the cycles really stop? They've been so constant in the past. The only constant---- besides the love. A baby? Does she mean Marlowe and her brown hair, dark brown eyes, and the longest eyelashes in existence? Or does she see another baby? A baby with curlier hair, that would look even more like Alex. Another guy? Impossible. I don't meet anyone here. I don't have the freedom to leave the house without a baby. I am home, responsible for my daughter 24/7. And Eric? She said so little. She cut to the point and dropped it instantly. Did I give off some vibes? How did she know? Did I keep a straight face? Of course I did. No emotions. No fidgeting. I sat steady in a chair with nothing to lead her with, right? And then the biggest question: Why am I questioning any of this? Am I believing a psychic? Questioning psychic claims? This is crazy, isn't it? I tell myself: well, we will see what happens. I go to lunch.

After lunch, I drive home. As I am pulling up to my house I receive a phone call from Alex he tells me, "Go check your mail, there is a letter waiting for you". I go inside and open my email. It's the letter. It's something he's never done before. His big attempt. A letter to my whole family telling them he was going to prove to them and fight through everything to be with me again. He was sorry for his past mistakes and he was ready to right his wrongs. He had serious intentions with me and he would show us. A week later, I go up to Massachusetts. He surprises me. He proposes.

Here I am today, almost 5 months later, and another downward cycle is upon us. It is bringing pain to all parties involved. And once again I am left to question everything. Alex and I know very well that our relationship has problems. Him with the lies, and me, with my reaction to the lies. There is fear and there is insecurity in this home. One insecure and fearful of being truthful, the other living in fear and insecurity of what lie there will be to uncover next. It can't be stable this way. Alex and I met at counseling today, it was the first time in days we saw each other or even really talked. After the appointment, we briefly discussed our relationship and what we would do. We talked about our reality, our fantasy, and our feelings. We love each other, we always have. We discussed how we would feel choosing to not be together, he tells me he has and will always love me. He makes the motion of a tie or bond between our chests and says "I'm handcuffed to you". At first, I felt offended by his choice of words. "Handcuffed". I would have preferred "tied", "bonded", "connected", or anything else with a lesser negative connotation. But then, the more I thought about it, the more I agreed. "Handcuffed" fits, because very often it does feel like a punishment for us to love each other so much. Unable to make it work and neither one of us able to let go. There is an undeniable connection between us. Despite everything, it's been constant and long lasting.... a force that keeps us coming back to one another. There is something tangible and visible to the eye that will be bonding us for life, our daughter, but there has been a bond between us, since the day we met, long before her existence. So now, as crazy as I feel and as crazy as it sounds, I find myself wondering about things such as souls and past and future lives. I wonder if there is even more to uncover or if this path and this lifetime is only what is in front of us in the here and now. Is there more? Or is it just mystical *shit*? Has it really been lifetimes that Alex and I have been fighting to be together? I don't know, but more often than not, it feels that way.

What do you believe? Is there more? Have you had a similar experience? Do you believe in past and future lives? In fate and destiny? Does everything happen for a reason? Do you even bother to question it? Do you believe only what is tangible? Do you believe in a set a path for yourself? Do you choose your own path or is it chosen for you? Are there spirits? Have you been to a psychic? Was it a joke? Have you had your palm read? Do you read cards? Astrology? Signs? Do you believe in the power of the unconscious? Or is it all just mystical *shit* to you?

For me, I don't know, but my mom is in town and so I am on my way out tonight. I'm going to take every opportunity to enjoy some time with my friends, because I know that soon these times will be few and far between, when it is me: with zero freedom, the only one responsible around the clock, raising my daughter alone, again.

Cheers friends, tell me what you believe.

I'm Alive

2012-01-08T23:04:00.001-05:00

Things are still upside down around here... but I'm doing what I can to keep this home as stable as possible for little M. I wish I could say more about what's going on... but really, even I'm in the dark about everything. I haven't seen or even really spoken to Alex in days... but it's pretty clear that both Marlowe and I have been thrown off beat. I just keep reciting mantras to myself throughout the day, trying to keep my head and heart clear... because falling apart is not an option when I've got this little girl to raise. It's also been a HUGE help to have my mom in town... she's been very much needed for the moments I'm struggling to do it by myself. Who knows what's in store for M and I, but for now, I am trying to take it one day at a time.

My mom insisted we drive out west to the polo ground for opening day. It was nice to spend today in fresh air and sunshine. Marlowe had a blast, I cleared my head a bit, my mom relived moments of 20 some years ago with a tiny me on the field, and Michelle was a grumpy (but pretty) mess of a hangover. I spent 100% of the time chasing down a baby that refused to be held. Marlowe met (and chased) a million and a half dogs (okay, maybe 15) and ran around waving at everyone. Marlowe was photographed a million times (ok, again, not a million) and will even have her picture printed in the newspaper! She's such a hit, really, she's the best thing ever, even when refusing to be held ;)

Tonight has been hard. Marlowe's sleep has been thrown off once again. And I am just exhausted, physically, but mostly emotionally. I'm practicing my patience in all directions.

Breathe in. Breathe out. Fresh air is good for the soul.

almost a photo of M and I. She was a screamer and scratcher every time she was picked up. Like a nasty little adorable kitten.

skydiver // polo // air

babes, my mama and my baby.

polo // my mom went paparazzi on me.

paparazzi style mama life.

And.... she's up again. Goodnight folks. It's gonna be a longgg night.

2012-01-06T15:24:00.004-05:00

Helplessly watching someone destroying their life, family, and every meaningful relationship around them, is painful. Very painful. I need a moment to get myself together.

I'll be back soon.

*it's not me. I'm busy picking up someone else's broken pieces.

What Marlowe Eats

2012-01-05T16:21:00.001-05:00

breakfast. always consisting of: some of kind of grain and one of two types of fruits... it varies depending on season. We're back in strawberry season here in Florida (woot!). It's quick and easy and then about an hour later we'll do a bit more... either toast or an organic frozen waffle.

things on toast... with avocado, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber. side of strawberries.

(yes, she has a new thing with pulling one arm out of her shirts. She wants to be in the 80's.)

more toast: sweet plantain, avocado, cilantro.

two kinds of soup... sweet potato, corn, and kale chowder and a french onion-esque soup.

I've been asked about Marlowe's utensil usage... for the most part we rely on hands for meal time, but she has been asking (pointing and grabbing) for spoons more. She does fairly well, but obviously still does better with her hands. With soups I tend to give her all the chunks out of soups and keep the broth to a minimal. Sometimes she gets bread with the soup and she is all about the dipping.

french toast, pineapple.

chickpea patty, avocado with lime, steamed peas, and steamed broccoli with nutritional yeast.

an example of leftover usage. looks gross, but didn't taste bad and was devoured by Marlowe. Cooked kale, cooked into tomato, sun-dried tomato, onion sauce, with an artichoke ravioli.

cooked kale with a black bean and salsa quesadilla.

more spinach pies.

Things On Toast

2012-01-04T11:00:00.001-05:00

fried sweet plantains, hungarian wax peppers, cucumber, cilantro, lime, and homemade chili oil.

Staycation (Two)

2012-01-03T11:52:00.003-05:00

Happy New Year!

We had a much, much needed staycation over the past day and a half. On our last (first) staycation, we stayed local, this time around we headed an hour south to South Beach. My mom was gracious enough to gift Alex and I a one night hotel stay for Christmas. She also stayed at my home to baby and doggy sit while we went away. It was so needed. We stayed at the Breakwater Hotel. It was seriously amazing. The room was amazing and the service was so incredibly helpful and friendly. We aren't really 'south beach' people (I did live there for a while, but once I left, I pretty much never went back), so we spent most of our time sleeping, watching tv, or in the design distract in search of delicious food. Alex slept much of the time, while I happily relaxed with him snuggled up on me. We spent our first evening in the hotel room. Alex slept and I enjoyed a marathon of Portlandia. After, we headed out for pizza, came back to the hotel (where I had left my ID... so weird being carded!), and then headed out to a reggae bar. We spent much of our second day walking around... even though I had clumsily twisted my ankle the night before... it was a bit rough, but stubbornness will get you far ;) We found tacos and mexican coke (vacation guilty pleasure) for breakfast and then made our way to the beach. We finished our night with a movie and of course: more food. Both of us left incredibly happy, full, in love, and a bit more relaxed.

metro organic bistro // south beach living

our ocean drive, hotel. it was blocked off the first day due to new years and was a bit of a crazy show on the streets!

ps. extra bonus? The products in the room were all vegan!

harry's pizzeria.

monday morning.

waiting on breakfast.

making our way back to the beach.

my cowl from up a tree cup a tea: doubled as a champagne holder.

60's vintage suit = winning.

last stop: gigi's = extra delicious. we ordered enough food for about three to four people. gluttons.

And now... back to the daily (finally chilly) grind! Happy day, friends :)

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T12:21:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year, friends! I hope your morning is as equally easy and fuzzy :) We spent last night at Alex's resturant. It was our third year celebrating New Years together. It seems to be our tradition for Alex to get out a few minutes before midnight, just in time for a kiss and to share some champagne with Clayton (Alex's buddy-- the chef) and Gabi. And I could be wrong, but I'm pretty certain he has worn the same black sweater every year :) This year we upgraded to a better champagne and a better whiskey. And we never made it to our second location... just lots of kisses and dancing where we were.

I'm currently sitting here in my jammies, with the doors open, and the funniest babbling baby, waiting for Alex to get home.... so we can go on an even mini-er vacation. We decided if we can't travel for four days, then we would head down to miami for the night and lay on the beach sleeping for as long as we possibly can. I should probably start packing some swimsuits and snuggly sleepwear :)
I hope everyone had a wonderful night-- cozy at home, or out on the town :)

Happy New Years! Rabbit Rabbit.

*yes, thats a 90+ year old woman, being held up, to dance on a chair :) I want to be that awesome when I'm older... but I still wont be dancing on chairs, bars, or stages, no matter what my age :)

Snippets Of Christmas

2011-12-28T23:00:00.032-05:00

Soooo... christmas happened. It was quick and painless, and this year I had a place to put my blame for my 'holiday whatever's'. We didn't really have much planned around here. The 24th is actually Michelle's birthday, so she came by, I made us lunch, and we sat around and finished our last minute Christmas gifts together while Marlowe napped. Alex, was of course scheduled to work all of Christmas eve so I brought Michelle to my brothers house for our family get together (we usually get together on the eve, not the day). My sister-in-law, Nicole cooked a wonderful (all from scratch) meal for everyone and was wonderful enough to make sure anything that could be vegan (not meat) was vegan! They use almond milk and vegan butter at their house anyway, but still, I know she went out of her way to make sure it was Marlowe and Drea friendly. Alex came home late that night (like always) and he prepped pizza dough for the morning. He had been told that day that he would no longer have Christmas off and would have to come into work the next day. We were all bummed. Our first Christmas as a family (and one of Alex's only days off that week) was cut short.... and then... even shorter when he found out he would have to go into work hours earlier than we had anticipated. We still made the best of the time we had together... We sat in the living room together while Marlowe and Alex opened gifts. Alex made us pizza, and Michelle came by with even more gifts for all of us to open. After Alex left to work, Laura joined us to spend a non christmas-y, christmas together. We took a walk to Michelle's house in the hot december, Florida sun. We drank iced coffees and listened to the most ridiculous gift Marlowe received: a keyboard cat from my friend, Anita. We walked back home and I dressed Marlowe and I up to go out that evening. It was decided that I would have to make the best out of our situation and if Alex couldn't be with his family on Christmas, then his family would have to go to him. So that's what we did. Marlowe, myself, and my family went out to eat at his restaurant for Christmas dinner, and like always, we made sure to get the booth near Alex, so Marlowe could see a little more of him. I wasn't surprised to find the restaurant was empty and unnecessarily open on Christmas.... on one hand it was upsetting to have him miss his one day off that week to be at an empty place... and on the other hand it was good to have Alex, able to come and sit with us every so often, and come home a little earlier: at 10 pm. We sat around with that damn keyboard cat and then Alex put Marlowe to bed so we could sit and relax together for a few moments before ending the day. And that was Christmas.

outside. christmas eve day. making an extra special christmas gift for daddy and some other family members too. Yes, outside. I had to turn my AC back on for two days. I was pissed.

last minute present makers.

christmas eve at my brother and sister-in-law's home.

some of many presents, for Alex.

christmas eve night, insisting to prep the pizza dough for tomorrow // christmas pizza.

wanting to wear red // christmas morning excitement!

michelle comes by with: more gifts and three amazing hand knit stockings (filled).

marlowe's favorite person, her uncle chris // christmas night, home from work with a keyboard cat.

christmas day coffee.

The good news of Alex being forced to work? A promise of four days off next week and a mini (much needed) vacation for the two of us, while my mom visits from Massachusetts and babysits Marlowe. We're still not set on our destination, but I've been looking forward to this time together for weeks.

EDIT: Like many of my posts, I had written this entry and scheduled to post it at a later time. There will not be four days off like promised... or three... just his regular schedule, leaving us without time for a vacation together.

Weaning Is Terrible... And So Is Everything Else.

2011-12-27T22:46:00.002-05:00

That's it. We're done. Marlowe has been successfully weaned. "Successfully"... right well... really, that sucked. If I'm going to be honest on this blog of mine, then I'm going to tell you: I've been miserable the past month. Yes a whole month: miserable. Before and right after I had Marlowe I was so incredibly worried about postpartum depression. I knew if anyone was at risk to sink into a deep dark place, it was me. Alone, scared, no sleep, raising a baby... yeah, well, (you know the story) I got past those scary postpartum months with no depression and (what I think is) minimal side effects. Sure, occasionally I wanted to cry (things were tough at times), and I felt incredibly depressed every time I nursed her... what's the name of the "calming hormone" released while breast-feeding? Oxytocin? Increasing that hormone sucked for me. Every time I fed her, I felt like a depressed crying zombie. Well, over time my body (hormones) normalized a bit more, and nursing didn't affect my mood as much, it just: took up a lot of time (remember, I've got a kid that nursed 15+ times a day), hurt my body and breasts (kicking, pinching, summersaults, jazz hands), and left me a slave to my baby (no sleep, no long outings, pumping, etc). Wow, I'm scaring new, pregnant moms, huh? I swear most babies aren't nursing overeating, pain inducing, gymnasts. Yeah, well despite my nursing depression and everything else, breast-feeding was totally (totally) worth it. Here we are at 15 months and my baby has been 100% formula free, loaded with breast milk nutrients, incredibly healthy, and the best eater in all the land. (Go team!)
Weaning was incredibly difficult.... for me. Even offering one less feeding a day affected my body and mood. I felt the shift when we cut out night feedings. And I felt an even bigger (HUGE) shift when we went down to one feeding a day. I was slowly, but instantly, sad all the time. And you know what I did? I kept playing it off. I played the tough guy, kept patting myself on the back, and telling myself how great I was doing. I wanted so badly do believe I was going to fight through my hormones, like I had before, and come out with a weaned baby, no side effects, and most importantly: no depression. Pft. FAIL. There were a few days that we managed to skip our morning feedings and by 3 pm, I thought I was going to die. No, thats an exaggeration. But really? I felt like I had been drugged. I can't even begin to tell you how easily my body is affected by hormones. You know how everyone thinks pregnant woman are crazy and hormonal? I felt the most normal I had felt in years, while being pregnant, and off the pill. The last week of weaning was the worst. THE WORST. At every moment of the day I felt like I had the worst hangover of my life and would go back and forth with the idea up throwing up everywhere, all while having the sharpest stinging headache I had ever felt. All the while, I kept telling myself "well these side effects are the pits, but at least I'm not emotional". Heh, liar.
So yeah, I was sad. Not every second or minute, but probably almost everyday: I would have long moments of sadness and tears (I am not a crier). Marlowe made me laugh and smile (a lot) and my friends (when I saw them) usually made me happy, but still, I felt depressed. I was saddened by the fact that Alex was/is never around and the "family" I so desperately wanted felt again: like it was just Marlowe and I. I wanted (needed) the situation to get better and each day it didn't, I got more sad. And instead of just accepting that this is just the way this family will have to be, I closed off. I pushed away family, I pulled more away from friends, and I closed out Alex. Instead of telling anyone about my internal struggles with breast-feeding and weaning, I found it easier to disperse the blame to other areas in my life. This obviously didn't go very well. I pride myself so much in being honest and straightforward and yet, I found myself in my own form of dishonesty, with denial. Bah. Worst part is? My pride kept me from really realizing this. I didn't feel supported or understood, but then again, why would I if no one knew how I was really feeling? Once I accepted the fact that I wasn't as strong as I wanted to believe and my hormones were indeed creating a depression, I felt better. Admitting there is a problem is the first step, right?
So yeah, Marlowe is officially off the boob and has been for a little over a week. My body is slowly starting to normalize and my mood is slowly starting to shift back to a setting of normalcy. Marlowe is doing fantastic. She has adjusted better than I could have imagined. And everything else? Well, it still sometimes sucks. There are problems or issues that will be constant. Alex still works too much. I would still like some more family time. I would like to feel more support from my partner (but thats hard when I've been closing him out for a while). I don't feel endless amounts of love like I would like to (and sometimes, I struggle to find and feel the love at all). Sometimes I'd like more praise or reassurance... or to be told I look nice or am doing a great job. Alex's family will never like me or be happy with (or even accept) our relationship. I'm having a hard time keeping up with everything else around me, while raising a child. And of course, I still don't get a moment break to myself... but that is life. At least now that I have admitted to myself that my hormones, did in fact get the best of me, I feel better and I'm ready to (keep) moving forward. Things will never be perfect, ever. But, the good news is: I've got a good head on my shoulders, and a good grasp on reality, my emotions, and my body. I just need to always be honest with myself and sometimes tell myself: "Hey tough guy, it's okay to be weak. Stop being stubborn, and go ask for a hug."

The best news?

The transition from breast-feeding to not, has not only brought a bit more room and freedom for Marlowe and I, but has also created a better, more comfortable (and snuggly) bond between us. Our uncomfortable (for me) nursing times has turned into the best sleeping cuddle sessions a mom could want.

And honestly, part of me liked not being on the internet. Not blogging, not reading other blogs, not responding to emails... or even opening my email... it's been nice. It's 10:43 pm and my plan was to read and respond to my overabundance of emails tonight.... it didn't happen. I'm behind, and not going to let it bother me. I have my large sponsor space booked until May... other than that, I'm slacking. Next month? Less sponsors (which is actually a bonus for the sponsors that will be up... more individual focus on them), less work, less blogging, and (hopefully) more focus.

Things On Toast

2011-12-27T11:09:00.000-05:00

The time I couldn't decide.

(clockwise from top)

1. cream cheese (tofutti brand), sun-dried tomatoes, green onions.

2. cream cheese (tofutti brand), cucumbers, pickled onions, black pepper

3. avocado, cucumber, mixed greens, olive oil, lemon, salt, pepper.

*we will return with your regularly scheduled blogging very shortly.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T12:57:00.001-05:00

I've been missing in action lately. Just dropping in for a quick hello and merry holidays! :)

taken by my wonderful brother, mark.

Merry happy holidays.

Giving (Away)

2011-12-21T23:08:00.003-05:00

I've had two (huge) boxes of things sitting in Marlowe's room for-ev-er... or about four months, but it feels like forever. I like to organize and cleanse my house every couple of months and make a big trip to goodwill. Seriously, it's one of the best feelings for me. But this batch of Marlowe's things had been sitting there (for-ev-er) and made it through about two cleanses, untouched. I kept telling myself I would do a "shop marlowe's closet" or make the hike up to Jupiter (about thirty minutes north) to a children's consignment shop. It made sense because so many of the items were in great condition and many had never even been worn.
This past sunday the box of things made it from Marlowe's room to the front door. Today, I felt almost human again and decided I wanted to do a bit more. If you didn't know (I'm pretty sure you don't, except maybe if you've been following my whining on twitter), I'm pretty much done weaning Marlowe. We're on day four of no breastfeeding and my body is pissed about it and revolting in all ways. I've been miserable for days now... it has not been pleasant. (But we're doing it! And Marlowe has been FANTASTIC! So yeah, anyway... I didn't feel like I had been run over by a train today and I wanted to do something good. I separated all of Marlowe's items (pjs, dresses, t-shirts, and so on) and started making care packages. All together I was able to make seven little bundles of goods, each one containing (at least): one pj, two dresses, two shirts, one pair of pants, one pair of shoes, one hat, and pacifier and/or a toy of some sort. I was also able to make two bundles for "big girls" with dolls/teddy-bears, a book, and hair bows. I wrapped them each up in brown tissue paper and red yarn and placed them on the shelf above a sleeping, clueless, Marlowe. Tomorrow they will not be going to goodwill, or online, or to any store for extra money, but instead: to a women's shelter. I am happy to be able to do a little more this holiday season and I hope these packages bring a little joy to a woman (and baby) in need.

1. packages, artwork in progress, and a new beautiful poster c/o miss igs
2. sorting, folding, stacking.
3. wait what is that? a baby that naps, during the day? yes! the past few weeks we've been able to figure out a schedule that includes: nap time, a no cry bedtime, an early (but not unreasonably early) morning wake up, and no nursing... except for one, in the morning. It's been fabulous.

More than anything, I'm really looking forward to the day when Marlowe will be able to understand, take part, and share joy in giving.

Things On Toast

2011-12-20T14:00:00.000-05:00

I was hesitant on this one, but alex convinced me to try it cause it might taste good... and I'm glad I attempted this. It was delicious.

cream cheese (tofutti brand), cucumber, sun-dried tomatoes, green onion, sea salt, pepper.

Cooking With A Baby

2011-12-19T11:53:00.001-05:00

I am no way an expert in this field. I have one kiddo. count them: one... not two... not three in diapers. one. There are days where I am able to make really great, big, and healthy meals while other days are near impossible. But over the past year and a few months I've managed to find ways to make healthy daily meals a bit more attainable, and more often than not, I do it by myself.

Here are my tips to make cooking with a little one easier:

Make bigger meals. Sounds a little crazy right? But spending an extra 5 minutes to chop more vegetables or and prep more ingredients to make a bigger meal is key. Bigger meals mean more leftovers. And leftovers are god in this house. Without leftovers we wouldn't be able to eat half as well as we currently do. We eat last night's leftovers for lunch, almost every day. This means, most days I really only have to accomplish making one real meal. So yes, leftovers, biggest and best trick for our household.

Get creative. Leftovers get boring, right? No one wants to eat exactly the same thing three days in a row. This won't work for all meals, but it can for many of them. So lets say you made a huge pot of black bean soup... it was delicious for dinner... and delicious for lunch, but now you still have soup leftover and you're not sure what to do... why not reduce the soup even more and make a really good base for a taco dish. Mashed potatoes? Shepard's pie! Chili? Chili nachos or burgers or hot dogs with sweet potato fries. Curry? Indian avocado burritos! Tomato soup? Reduce the soup and use it as a vegetable tomato sauce base. And on and on and on...

Time management. Be efficient. This is going to be a little too ocd for some people.. but there are certain things I must accomplish in a day or certain ways for me to get a task done to keep my anxiety level down. (ahem, vacuum) When I am in the kitchen I try to use my time as wisely as possible. For example: if I am throwing something in the microwave for thirty seconds, this means I have thirty whole seconds to grab all my ingredients out the fridge or all my spices I need out of the cabinet. A little extreme, right? But those thirty seconds here and there really make a difference and add up to minutes. And as all moms know... three minutes is a world of difference for a child/baby. A baby can go from perfectly content to a screaming ball of dramatics in 1.5 minutes. Use your time wisely and challenge yourself to do more. Without being careless and losing a finger, chop more vegetables in between stirring, puree soups while stirring, have vegetable steaming while doing everything else.

A clean kitchen. This goes hand in hand with being efficient. A clean kitchen is 100% easier to cook in than a messy one. It's a pain and takes up more time when you have to stop what you are doing because you need to clean a dish that has been sitting at the bottom of the sink. Sometimes, not (having) using a bath actually makes my life a bit easier, because I am able to clean dishes in the small side sink, clean countertops, or organize spices, while M plays in the bath. This doesn't work all days, 25% of the time she wants to grab for everything and climb out. (I understand I am very lucky with this ratio. She loves the bath). Anyway, a baby will interrupt you enough while cooking, you don't need a mess to get in your way too.

More multi-tasking, planning ahead, and creative thinking. Again, this takes thought and some time planning, and doesn't work for everything... Late at night, I grille vegetables while Marlowe is in the bath. Roasting is another great (and easier) option. It usually happens after supper time and I'm not going to eat the vegetables that night anyway, but they make great meals for the next day... or great items to store for later to put on sandwiches, salads, or toast ;) Other ideas are crock pot meals. After a kiddo goes to sleep, chop and prep items and put in the crock-pot that night or put in the fridge for the morning to have it simmering all day for dinner.

Get a friend (or a partner). Having someone over to entertain your kid is a great way to make cooking easier. If you're alone 14 hours a day and don't have the option of a partner there to help cook or be there for kiddo play time, then invite a friend. It's a win/win for both of you (but only if they like kids). They entertain your kids. You get to cook. They get to enjoy a great meal. And usually, they offer to help you clean up after. This is a great option if you hate my leftovers tip ;)

Turn it on. Turn it off. Come back to it. Great meals don't happen all at once around here, not usually anyway. Sometimes you just have to do it in stages. Sometimes you can choose to prep everything now and cook later. Chop things in the morning, leave them in the fridge, and cook in the evening. Or sometimes you have no choice and you just have to stop in the middle of everything and tend to a cranky child... that's totally fine! Just turn off the stove, make your kid happy (or feed them a few grapes to hold them over until dinner time), and come back to it! If things are boiling or in the oven, just set a timer and come back! There are very few meals that will greatly suffer because you stopped cooking for ten minutes and came back to it later.

A small safe (messy) place. My place is small enough where I can let Marlowe wander throughout my whole house and not have to worry. You can stand at one end and see the other end. I just let her roam and play. Sure, she makes a mess, but I'd rather be able to cook a good meal, and clean up some toys later, than not cook or eat at all. Don't have a teeny tiny home? Make a play area full of toys and entertainment near you. More times than not the child is going to want to be near your side, in the kitchen, anyway.

Let them explore. I have one cabinet locked in the kitchen. The rest are all free for Marlowe to explore. Anything not baby safe is up high and out of reach, the rest is down below. Her favorite "toys" to pull out are the juicer pitcher, the coffee maker, and the lids to the pots. Being able to open and close all the cabinets is a huge entertainer for her. If she wasn't able to go through and curiously pull out a few items, she would be bored out of her mind when she entered the kitchen and would throw a fit and look to me for entertainment.

Hand them a spoon..... or anything else. Simple enough. Your baby strolls in and is looking for entertainment, hand them something new. A wooden spoon, a cup, a can of beans, whatever. Unless they have passed the point of grumpiness and have hit full fledged anger, a new item... is just that: new! It's fascinating and exciting to them! (Of course this won't always work. This has worked for a while, and works for this current stage. I'm sure a spoon wont entertain a two year old).

Grapes and other snacks. Every mom knows that snacks is one of the best ways to have a kid sit still. One step further, is to hold the snacks yourself. Hand them a few things every once in a while instead of giving them all the snacks at once. I don't know why this works here, but it does.

If all else fails: hold a baby or strap on a baby carrier and put that baby on your back. Just use caution, ya know?

Obviously not every one of my tips will work for every parent and child, each kid and need level is different and each cooking situation is different. Not all my tips will even work for me on all days. No matter how you do it, it's a bit of a challenge, especially by yourself, but it's not impossible. Healthy, wholesome eating, (and all the cooking that comes a long with it) is possible with a baby!

Have any more tips that work for you in your household? Any tips you learned a long the way? I would love to hear more suggestions! I think we all would! Please feel free to leave any other ideas in the comments or do your own post on your own personal tips to cooking with a baby, and link it back here. I'd love to try your tips and share them with other mamas (and fathers too)!

Sponsor Ohdeardrea In The New Year!

2011-12-15T20:05:00.011-05:00

As mentioned, we're changing sponsoring options a little bit in the new year. Nothing terribly drastic... just adding a little more, taking away a little bit, and hardly tweaking. The biggest difference is that we will now be offering an XL option for sponsorship!

Extra large sponsor package: There will only be one XL space available per month. This spot will sit above all other spaces and unlike our other sizes, this package will have it's very own featured solo post! Our XL space is 45$ for the month and sized at 180 x 200. (this spot has been purchased for the month of January, but feel free to email me about reserving future months!)

** we offer discounted rates for sponsors purchasing multiple month spaces.

**All sponsors are eligible to host a giveaway. There are a few requirements for giveaways, as we like to keep them to a minimum on the ohdeardrea blog.

January is a great month for sponsorship. From the excitement of the wedding just four months away (holy crap) and all the planning involved, to the beautiful Florida weather, to even more cooking and recipes, and so so much more, there really is a lot to look forward to. A new year brings new and renewed energy and will also bring new energy to this blog. I'm also excited to announce, this will actually be the first month ohdeardrea will be sponsoring other blogs, bringing new readers to ohdeardrea and helping to further support our own sponsors.

We offer sponsorship opportunities to everyone: large and small companies, other blogs, websites and etsy shops, but we are careful to only select sponsors that are a good fit for the blog and readers of ohdeardrea. Making sure a good match is key, as I want to be true to not only myself and what this blog stands for, but also, to my sponsors to be able to further ensure proper exposure to a fitting audience.

Another great idea: buy a sponsor space as a gift for someone you love! Last month Brian contacted me to buy a sponsor space as a christmas gift for his wife's blog! How sweet is that? Hello most thoughtful husband EVER!

If you've got some questions or would like to jump on board and be part of ohdeardrea, then email me and let's make something happen!

ohdeardrea@gmail.com

ps! The winner of the Rock Me giveaway!

Congratulations m ♥ j!

&thank you everyone for entering!

Have a great weekend everyone!

EDIT: I totally forgot to mention how much amazing feedback I've been getting from my current and previous sponsors. I am so incredibly pleased (giddy, really) to hear such amazing things from the sponsors I care so deeply about! So glad this *sponsoring ohdeardrea thing* is working out for you guys! ;) Thanks for the thanks, but I should be thanking you guys! <3