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Daily Life

A much needed 3 day weekend

Posted on August 31, 2018

What are everyone’s plans for the 3 day weekend?! I’m so ready, you guys. This has been a really rough with the kids for me. Isabelle is at the age where she wants things but doesn’t know enough words so she’s constantly screaming and clawing at me because she’s upset I don’t know what she wants.

“Can you please get out of the car? It’s time to get out of the car. Let’s get out of the car now. Get out of the car, NOW. Okay I’m going to count to 3 and then I’m going to remove your body from the car.” 

K has really struggled with listening this week too. Everything I ask her starts out like “Can you please get out of the car? It’s time to get out of the car. Let’s get out of the car now. Get out of the car, NOW. Okay I’m going to count to 3 and then I’m going to remove your body from the car.” *Tantrum of the century ensues*… And rinse and repeat for every thing I ask all day. I’m exhausted. I’m spent. Having one of those weeks I wish I could run away! I’m so ready for a 3 day weekend and for Jason to be able to help with the girls. What is everyone else doing this weekend? Any fun plans?

Daily Life

Pagl Cubes Construction Set

Posted on August 29, 2018

Where to even begin with these amazing Pagl Cubes?! The biggest thing for me is that storage is easy! As much as I love living in sunny Southern California, it means we have a smaller living space and have never been able to have large toys before! These cubes come in a box small enough to fit in the closet (65x45cm) and they come “unassembled” – think an open egg carton. Assembling is super easy – think a closed egg carton – and then you can start stacking!

These cubes come in a box small enough to fit in the closet (65x45cm) and they come “unassembled” – think an open egg carton. Assembling is super easy – think a closed egg carton.

My 3 year old had no problems assembling them by herself and figuring out how to build with them. The cubes fit into each other so they are sturdier when stacked. When you are done playing with them, you can open the cubes, re-stack in the open position, and store them for later! The cubes are made out of 100% eco-friendly and safe materials. There is zero plastic waste and they are so non-toxic that your kid could take a bite (I think Isabelle may have!)

The cubes are made out of 100% eco-friendly and safe materials. There is zero plastic waste and they are non-toxic.

We loved the add-ons like the roof, door, and window so we could build a house together (even though K cubed in the window – her architect skills are a work in progress!) The box comes with 111 cubes so there is a ton to work with. This would be a perfect Christmas gift for any toddler or kid (And it’s almost September so Christmas is coming!!) Shop here!

Daily Life

Isabelle is in a big girl Graco carseat!!

Posted on August 27, 2018

Where has the time gone?!  It seems like yesterday that Isabelle was a tiny little baby.  (Well, she’s still pretty tiny – but not so much a baby anymore!) Now that she’s older, she’s not a fan of lying down in a carseat.  She notices that big sis is sitting up, and she wants to see stuff too!

Now that she’s older, she’s not a fan of lying down in a carseat anymore. 

We wanted a carseat for her that would sit her up, but would still be rear-facing.  We also wanted something that we could switch to front-facing after she is at least 2 years old.  Then we wanted some add-ons like cup holders (because food is our only trick to keep her awake on long midday rides! All moms know that one short car nap can ruin afternoon nap time!)

Food is our only trick to keep her awake on long midday rides!

We decided on the Graco Extend2Fit Platinum Convertible Carseat to fulfill all of these needs (gifted to us by Graco.)  Actually, we have been a Graco family since Day 1.  Our infant carseat, infant stroller, jogging stroller, toddler carseat, high chair, and pack n play, are all Graco.  If I had to guess, I would say I put about 2,000 miles on that jogging stroller before it was broken in the cargo hold during a flight…  I think I could have easily put another 1,000 on it.  (When you have a baby with colic, you surprise yourself with how many hours per day you can spend walking!)

We decided on the Graco Extend2Fit Platinum Convertible Carseat to fulfill all of these needs. 

So, back to this new carseat!  I was really surprised at how easy everything was.  It came in one piece so there was no assembly required.  To install it, you simply click one strap into each lower anchor in your car’s seat bight (the space between the back rest cushion and cushion you sit on – I totally had to google the name for all these car parts!) Once you are latched in, you pull a lever to automatically tighten the straps so you don’t need to put your weight on it and tighten manually.  There was no base to mess with, and adjusting everything was easy too.  To adjust the strap height, you pull a lever at the top and slide up.  This also adjusts the head cushion.

The Extend2Fit extension panel provides an extra 5 inches of additional leg room, which accommodates taller kids or so you can keep your little rear-facing past age 2 if you want.

To recline, (because you need to recline somewhat for rear-facing carseats), there is another lever on the side.  It is clearly labeled which positions are acceptable for front-facing vs rear-facing.  And there’s even a little bubble indicator on the side of the carseat that lets you know if you chose the correct position. The Extend2Fit extension panel provides an extra 5 inches of additional leg room, which accommodates taller kids, or so you can keep your little rear-facing past age 2 if you want.

The Extend2Fit Platinum Convertible Carseat is designed for rear-facing infants from 4-50 lbs, and front-facing toddlers from 22-65 lbs.  At the rate Isabelle is growing, she will be in this carseat until at least 8 years old!  To shop this carseat for yourself, click here!

Daily Life

When You Realize Your Kids Are Just Like You…

Posted on August 16, 2018

The face you make while you decide if your floral arrangement is complete or not…. When I lived in Michigan, finding flowers in our yard to put into a vase was one of my favorite things to do in the summer. Some flowers only bloom for small windows of time, so it was extra special to clip some of those for an arrangement. Lilacs were always my favorite. It seemed like they only bloomed for a couple weeks, though it may have actually been longer.

 Sometimes I catch myself trying to correct K on things I do myself and I can’t help but laugh. 

K had a really good time wandering around the yard finding flowers to put into the vase. I think she even added in some shrubbery! It’s so bizarre when you see pieces of yourself in your kids. Personality-wise, I mean, (because looks-wise, they are all Jason!) Sometimes I catch myself trying to correct K on things I do myself and I can’t help but laugh. Yesterday I heard her getting upset while she was stacking some toys and they kept falling. I had to let her know that this is how gravity works, and there was nothing she could do to fight it. Some things will never balance on each other. It’s a fact of life.

Yesterday I heard her getting upset while she was stacking some toys and they kept falling. I had to let her know that this is how gravity works…

But then I thought about all the times I get mad at gravity.  Does anyone else do this? You are carrying a stack of items you stacked poorly and they fall, or a dish falls off of the drying rack because you stacked it poorly? And you want to be mad, but it’s kind of your own fault (and also gravity’s fault, obviously! Not taking all the blame here!) Every once in a while I see these little pieces of myself, some are good and some are bad. But for the bad, I have to remind myself that I feel the same way! And I also remind myself that I can take the opportunity to reflect, and acknowledge how dumb it is to get mad at gravity. I don’t think it’s going anywhere.

Daily Life

My Red Carpet Facial with Olga Lorencin

Posted on August 13, 2018

This past weekend, I had the honor of getting the famous Red Carpet Facial with Olga Lorencin.  I had heard of her Red Carpet Facial in a Box that all the celebs use, but I was especially excited to get this facial from Olga herself, in person.

I had heard of her Red Carpet Facial in a Box that all the celebs use (and if you use code PARENTDAZE you can get 20% off!!)

The first thing I noticed is that Olga looks amazing!  She told me she had been doing facials for 30 years, but she doesn’t look old enough to have been working that long.  Definitely a good sign for someone I’m about to trust with my skin.  Her salon was gorgeous and situated adjacent to Rodeo Drive.  And I was offered orange-infused water.  I felt fancy just walking in there.

I felt fancy just walking in there.  

Chatting with Olga was like visiting a long-lost friend.  It’s always a little awkward going to a new spa for the first time.  What if you don’t vibe well?  Will the conversation be awkward?  This was not the case at all.  Olga was warm and welcoming.

She also noticed things about my skin immediately.  She was like the skin-whisperer.  She could tell by touching my face that I grind my teeth, and also said that overall my skin was pretty good.  She advised me to not use scrubs on my face because they weren’t a good fit for my skin type.  (Who knew?! I had been using scrubs for a while!)

Olga was like the skin-whisperer

The facial itself was such a great experience.  I think Olga probably applied 15 different products, one at a time.  She rubbed them into my face, neck, and chest, and put something on my hands as well.  The whole process took maybe an hour.  It was relaxing, it was oh-so-fancy, and oh yes – one step had a bit of a sting, but only for about 30 seconds.

Olga told me that skin is like an onion.  You have the rough patches on the outside, but underneath is new, fresh skin.  You cannot take a short cut to get to that fresh skin, so when you do these facials, a little bit peels off each time.  After a few weeks of regular use, you will have brighter and more youthful looking skin.

Olga told me that skin is like an onion.  You have the rough patches on the outside, but underneath is new, fresh skin.

When the facial was over, Olga sent me home with a cleanser, toner, moisturizer, and eye cream.  Watching her walk through her inventory was like watching Gordon Ramsay in the kitchen.  “This cleanser, not that toner, let’s do this toner.  And this eye cream, and use around the eyes and lips twice a day.”  She also sent me home with the Red Carpet Facial in a Box to use twice a week to start, and then once a week after that.  (And I’ll obviously be hiding it from my boyfriend who loves to use my skin care products but doesn’t have a single wrinkle or any sign of sun damage.  So jealous!)

If you are local, I would definitely advise getting the Red Carpet Facial from Olga.  But if you are not, check out the Red Carpet Facial in a Box.  The cost is $109 but it has 14-16 treatments in it.   It’s a great value for such an amazing product AND if you use code PARENTDAZE, you will get 20% off.   (Seriously, google it.  The reviews are amazing and it will have you glowing!)

Daily Life

Lowering My Expectations

Posted on August 10, 2018

I may not do everything perfectly, but when I see my kid barefoot in the grass making clover chains (with some help, of course), I know I’m doing something right. It’s funny because the girls and I are all our best selves when we’re outside, and especially if we’re outside being active. Sometimes I get frustrated with K when she gets bored and restless and starts acting out. I have to remind myself that I don’t like sitting inside for hours either! The world is ours to explore. It’s why we pay the big bucks to live in a teeny tiny apartment in Southern California.

Sometimes I get frustrated with K when she gets bored and restless and starts acting out. I have to remind myself that I don’t like sitting inside for hours either!

We may not have seasons (which I do miss sometimes – especially when it’s in the 90s around Halloween…), but I love being near the beach, the mountains, the redwoods…. We can see snow, hike through a canyon in the desert, and take a stroll down Rodeo Drive all in a day. I try to instill in my kids that life is for living outdoors. Yes, we watch some tv, but we also try to go somewhere every day that we can.

There are trees to climb and hills to roll down and of course, boo boos to bandage later because my girls both have skinned knees constantly.

It doesn’t have to be expensive. Kids this age are so easily entertained with the world around them. Bringing binoculars or a magnifying glass outside can keep them occupied for hours. There are trees to climb and hills to roll down and of course, boo boos to bandage later because my girls both have skinned knees constantly. But I think they’re happy. And most of the time, I’m happy too. So today instead of worrying around my messy apartment and the closet I still need to clean out and my never ending to-do list, I’m going to choose to be at peace. I’m definitely doing something right.

Daily Life

World Breastfeeding Week

Posted on August 8, 2018

I planned on taking a cute photo of Isabelle and I alone for World Breastfeeding Week… Of course, nothing ever goes as planned with 2 littles, but this is a more accurate representation of my current breastfeeding situation. I am proud to say that this week marks 28 months of exclusive breastfeeding between Katie and Isabelle. I am especially proud considering that when I was pregnant with Katie, I didn’t plan on breastfeeding at all. I said that I would at least try it, and I’m so glad I did.

This week marks 28 months of exclusive breastfeeding between Katie and Isabelle.

It hasn’t been without challenges. The beginning with both girls was incredibly painful and difficult. I had problems pumping, and it’s a lot of pressure when you are the sole provider of sustenance for your baby. When they are fussy you feel responsible. Was it something I ate? Am I producing enough milk? You also worry about keeping your supply up when you are away from your baby.

When they are fussy you feel responsible. Was it something I ate? Am I producing enough milk?

When Jason and I hiked San Jacinto, I was away from Isabelle for over 24 hours so I had to take breaks to hand express behind trees! But you do what you gotta do! It’s been a long journey filled with stress, reward, wonderful bonding, and sometimes tears. Happy World Breastfeeding Week to all the nursing mamas out there. If you are just starting out, know that every day gets a little easier! Here is a link to one of the first blog posts I wrote – 11 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me About Breastfeeding

11 things I wish someone had told me about breastfeeding

Daily Life

Isabelle is becoming her own person

Posted on August 1, 2018

This little lady is getting such a big personality and and even bigger attitude. She’s at the age where she wants things but doesn’t know enough words to articulate herself so she screams at the top of her lungs when she doesn’t get what she wants. I remember K doing the same thing around this age and it lasted over a year. We’re crossing our fingers IB will outgrow it sooner than that!

She doesn’t know enough words to articulate herself so she screams at the top of her lungs when she doesn’t get what she wants.

Isabelle also has the confidence of an Olympian lately, but isn’t that steady on her feet yet. Her constant climbing means lots of bumps and bruises. I think her short stature is giving her a complex. She wants to keep up with Katie so bad but she’s tiny! She wants to ride the scooter but her legs are too short to push, she wants to grab things off the counters but she’s way too short to reach them, and lately she wants to sit at the table and not in the high chair but she isn’t tall enough to reach her food! The struggle!

She wants to ride the scooter but her legs are too short to push, she wants to grab things off the counters but she’s way too short to reach them…

But watching her at this age is so much fun. She is so inquisitive and I love seeing how proud of herself she is when she learns new things. Oh, how I wish I could freeze her at this age!

Daily Life

Who does a chore/behavior chart?

Posted on July 27, 2018

Let’s talk chore/behavior/sticker charts. Who does them and how do you do yours? Katie is almost 3.5 so we want something that makes sense to her. What rewards does everyone use? Toys? Money? I think that K knows she’s supposed to like money, although I don’t think she completely understands its value.

What rewards does everyone use? Toys? Money?

And how often for rewards? It would be weird to tell K she doesn’t get her reward Friday for something she did on Monday, but I also don’t want to be giving her a reward every day. And then what behaviors or chores do you use? We want enough that it will improve her behavior like listening, going to bed when it’s bed time, picking up toys, etc., but just saying “listening” is so vague. Does it mean listening to everything every single time? Because that seems like a recipe for failure.

Just saying “listening” is so vague. Does it mean listening to everything every single time?

I need suggestions! Interested to hear how everyone else is doing this, what worked and didn’t work, and if you noticed an improvement in behavior because of it.

Daily Life

Realizing how alike my kids are

Posted on July 18, 2018
Play time with the girls

When I got pregnant with Isabelle, everyone told me how siblings are so different from each other. It made me a little sad because I love Katie so much, how could I love her opposite? But also, I thought, maybe I wouldn’t mind a quiet baby who thumbs through books independently while I’m cooking dinner and doesn’t stomp through the living room like Godzilla (not pointing any fingers…)

I love Katie so much, how could I love her opposite?

In some ways, Isabelle is different. She likes to be held more, she sleeps when she’s tired no matter where she is, and she’s also a lot smaller so she can’t get into nearly as much stuff as K could at this age. (Throwback to the time K got into a reed diffuser and I had to call poison control.) But the similarities end there. Every day, Isabelle gets a little louder, a little more daring, and tries just a little harder to keep up with Katie.

Every day, Isabelle gets a little louder, a little more daring, and tries just a little harder to keep up with Katie.

Today she did her first “hike” on her own 2 feet. We took her on the quarter mile trail to see how she would do. (And see how much patience Mom had trying to keep her on the trail the whole time…) She thought she was the coolest! She loved chasing lizards and running after Katie, and of course trying to hang upside-down like Katie… (Any guesses on how old I’ll be before my first heart attack?…) Watching the girls have fun together was such a joy and I can’t wait until Isabelle is old enough to listen better and can all go on longer hikes. I’m so lucky to have 2 little ladies who love adventure as much as I do.