a sunday afternoon

A weekend day in photos.

Nothing out of the ordinary or particularly exciting here, yet the afternoon was perfect in its simplicity.

If you've ever had one of those days where it takes you until 3pm to get out of the apartment (laundry! dishes! more laundry!), then you know it's especially wonderful when you are finally able to break free, get some fresh air in your lungs and watch your rapidly growing little girl have a thoroughly enjoyable time at the playground.

Have a great week, everyone!

day at the museum


I will be the first to admit I'm a little bit addicted to my phone, which is funny as I've never been a big phone talker (I much prefer chatting face to face, if possible). No, I love my phone for all the other communication goodies it possesses... like being able to check my email, Facebook and Twitter accounts from anywhere. Having internet capability makes it so easy to look up any information I need, especially if I'm out and about and need to look up an address or find a store's website.

Most of all, though, I love taking pictures at a moment's notice. With two little kiddies at home, I'm constantly using my phone for its camera capability. It is SO easy to grab and start snapping photos, and the picture quality is surprisingly good. Nothing is easier and more convenient to use when we're out on the town, as seen in the photos below, on a recent trip to the American Museum of Natural History (Toddler S is knee deep in the dinosaur phase right now). I'm currently obsessed with the photo filter program Instagram, which is another handy dandy reason for taking pictures on my phone (I'm using the "Nashville" filter below).

During the work week, when I can steal a moment or two to myself, I love to look at the photos I've taken on my phone.  As I scroll through, each one brings up a different memory and a quick smile that I'm usually in need of at that moment. Basically, there's a chronicle of my life ready to be perused whenever I like, and really, how special is that? Enjoy!

Headed downtown...



We're here!



Paleontologist in training? The Discovery Room is awesome for budding naturalists



Dinosaur Train is great, but nothing beats holding a dinosaur bone (well, bone reproduction) 



Boo!



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Compensation was provided by US Cellular via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of US Cellular.

starting the day off right

Here's the thing, I'm not a morning person. I'm not proud to disclose this to all of Internet Land, but there you have it. I have always looooooved my sleep. There was a time, not so long ago, when I thought rising before 11am on the weekend was early.  Eesh!  Even I have trouble admitting that one.

Sleeping in came to a dramatic crashing halt with the arrival of one Sweet Little Gal and is only a fleeting memory now that SLG #2 has made us a family of four. And that's okay. Actually, it's great -- my children inspire me to make the most of every morning before I head off to work, and every moment with them on the weekend. Which means getting up early, bleary-eyed or not.

One little thing I've found that helps get the day off right is stretching. I start with my feet before I even get out of bed and am stretching my arms and legs as I head to the shower. Believe or not, it actually helps wake me up and get me going in the morning. Nothing, however, beats the weekend, when both girls get in bed with us. Husband might disagree on the comfort level as he's nearly always pushed to the edge, but I love it when we're all snuggled there together. Throw in a little coffee, some breakfast and music -- which often leads to an impromptu dance party -- and you have a completely perfect way to start the day.


My snuggle bunnies

What's your ideal way to start the day? Is there something you do (like stretching) or eat, etc. that leads you to a healthy and productive day? Quaker Oatmeal and Glam want to know! Please join me for a discussion at 4PM PST (7PM EST for us East Coasters) on Thursday, February 9th. The topic will be: “Starting the day off right: What small wins can you accomplish as part of your morning routine to help start your day right?”

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2/23: Future Wins- What morning small wins will help contribute to a successful future?
3/8:   Healthy Rewards- What small steps in the morning do you take to keep healthy?

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You can join the conversation here, or from the widget below!

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Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Quaker via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Quaker.

big apple books: the super adventures of sophie & the city

The Super Adventures of Sophie and the City
by Kelly Florio Kasouf

All Sophie wants to do is spend a day with her daddy. She follows him to work one day, and in the process sets out on a spectacular adventure while roaming the floors of what is clearly the Conde Nast building. From the designer closets of Vogue to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Sophie encounters fashion's elite, from a Fairy Fashion Godfather (bearing a remarkable resemblence to Isaac Mizrahi) to Diane von Furstenburg, who shares what inspires her collections. I might have even spied Anna Wintour in an elevator. Illustrations by Judit García-Talavera create a New York City experience full of color and whimsy.

Kasouf's book clearly has the mini fashionista in mind, and while I suspect Sophie's wardrobe would put my own to shame, I must say I enjoyed going on this journey with her. Because for all the glitz and glam that Sophie enjoys along the way, she never loses sight of what's most important -- spending time with her family.

If you'd like to explore more of Sophie's world, check out her Ipad app -- so neat!