Thursday, October 28, 2010

Halloween Costume = Fail

So I already shared my hatred and paranoia about Halloween, especially the costume part. And the fact that I needed to just suck it up and be festive anyway for Eli's party. So, despite my misgivings, I committed to wearing a costume. A real one, not just a witch hat and a black dress. But then it was the morning of the party. With still no costume in hand, I remembered an idea that Crista had emailed, which seemed fast, and easy, not that hard, and pretty cheap. The idea?
BP clean-up crew members. But not just any BP Clean-Up crew members. Ironic ones. How do you become an ironic BP clean up crew team, you may ask? Well, friends, the answer is in the t-shirt. We made ones that said "Working hard so Tony can get his life back". We even made a matching onesie for Tate. And smeared fake oil all over our faces. And carried Dawn liquid soap and a stuffed duck. I realize now that this costume maybe isn't that original, as a number of people have since told me they are doing the same thing, but people, this was a big deal for me. It was the first time I can remember dressing up since I was in middle school. MIDDLE SCHOOL. And I thought we looked pretty good: And so now, to bring you to the title of this post. It failed utterly. Miserably. And here are all the reasons why:
1. We are running late. I am frantically trying to smear fake oil on myself, and whip out a tube of black paint. Only once it is smeared on does Zach ask "is that non-toxic?" I look. In a word, no. And not only is it not non-toxic (meaning that it is, well, toxic), but I now have images of my face being stained black for the next week (because you know how some paint stains your skin?). Need I remind you that my face was already smeared with this stuff? This should have been my first sign that things might go awry. (On an aside- Zach told me later that had I not already been covered in it, he would have refused to put it on his face, but that he decided to go with it for my sake. Isn't that sweet? I think true love must be exposing yourself to potentially toxic paint as a sign of camaraderie because of your wife's ridiculous anxieties about Halloween costumes. Also, we did decide that for the sake of Tate's brain development, we would not put any on his face).
2. We walk up to Eli's house. Eli is running around with his friends, all costumed up. He stops to say hi, then asks what we are wearing. We ask him if he knew about the big oil spill earlier this year. Eli, being a child genius (really), replied that of course he did. So we go on to explain that we are members of the clean-up crew. To which he replies "Oh, and I guess those can be your costumes too". He didn't even know that we were wearing costumes. This was my second indication that things were going to go very, very wrong.
3. We walk into the house and into a room full of all the other adults at the party, standing around a fun Halloween treats table featuring things like brain Jell-O with gummi worms coming out. Probably 10 or 12 adults. And (get ready for it) none of them is wearing a costume. Apparently the "costume party" part of the invitation was only intended for the kids. And here I am, with toxic oil paint smeared across my paint, carrying a stuffed duck and a bottle of Dawn dishsoap, wanting to die. Seriously. I could have just crawled away.
4. We are sitting outside watching the kids play (it was a great party: they played Halloween bingo, and decorated pumpkins, and crushed a pinata). And suddenly, I am asked by at least 3 different people if the paint covering my face is non-toxic. What do I do? Lie? Tell the truth- that I am a total idiot and only thought to check after I had smeared it over my face, and then, when I realized the truth, left it on??? And had Zach put it on too? I didn't really answer, just sort of mumbled something about wanting to be sure it looked like oil.
So all this to say, I think that this whole Halloween-costume thing, which I gave a real try, is officially over. From now on, its a black dress and a witch hat, if anything at all.
(Tate is still super cute, isn't he? Also, notice how much paint is on my face compared to Zach's, who was much more moderate in his oil application.)
Halloween costume = fail.
P.S. Great big huge thanks go out to the one other adult who dressed up in a full-on Yoda costume. Ears, cape and all. I don't know your name, but you are the only reason why I didn't run crying from this party.
P.P.S. Eli, it was a great party. You rock.

Yum Yum Dish

I think any new mom can agree that losing the baby weight is a priority. I gave myself the goal of feeling good about my body again within 10 months of Tate being born. I figured it took me 10 months to grow him, and to gain all that weight. So naturally, I would give myself 10 months to lose it.
I have been working hard. First by trying to get some form of exercise in a few days a week (but seriously, moms, how do you do this?!? I get up at 5:00 am already; I get home from work around 5:30; and Tate goes to bed around 7:30. I just can't imagine leaving him to go work out for an hour. And yet, I also can't imagine dragging my tired body out of the house, to the gym, at 8:30 after dinner. Plus, when would I spend time with Zach? I just don't know how people do it all). Anyway... my exercise these days comes mainly in the form of walks with Tate.
But portion-size is something else I am trying to be very aware of. Which is why I love the idea of the Yum Yum Dish. Coincidentally invented and marketed by a new mom trying to lose the baby weight (see, I'm not the only one!!), these are small (4 oz.) bowls that help keep the snacking to a minimum. My favorite part is that they say "over" at the bottom. So you know when your snacktime is offically, well, over.

Monday, October 25, 2010

EatDrinkChic Got Married!

Have you ever seen something that you just can't forget? That just keeps wiggling in your brain? That is how I've felt ever since I saw Amy Moss' surprise wedding over on EatDrinkChic. In particular, the floral centerpiece for their buffet table was amazing. I have had dreams about. I am trying to think up a party so that I can copy it. It is so lovely.
See all the other beautiful wedding details over here.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Around Town

I have been around town lately. Here are some sights... At breakfast with Mom and Andrea... We had the most delicious lattes, almond croissant, and chouquettes...
I am loving Anthropologie's newest window display... fall leaves taped up with masking tape. Simple. Perfect.
Tate wrapped in a big-boy towel, post both with Daddy. He is so cute it makes my heart hurt.
Sunset in L.A.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Off the Charts

It's official. Tate is off the charts. He just had his 6 month check-up, weighing in at (drumroll please).... 21 lbs., 14 ounces!! He is officially above the 99th percentile in weight! Deliciously so, if I do say so myself. So many rolls to kiss!
P.S. Is it ridiculous that the fact that he is so chubby makes me happy and proud? Like "I did that! I made that healthy boy!"

Halloween

Anyone who knows me can tell you that I hate Halloween. Mostly because I hate costumes. I never seem to have a good costume idea... and I hate the idea of spending money on an outfit I am going to wear once (I mean, seriously, I don't even have enough outfits to wear to work, not to mention buying one made up of Goodwill castoffs to wear for just one night- sheesh). But now we have Tate. And it was strange, a few weeks ago, when I was walking through Target and had an irresistible pull towards some Halloween decor. I suddenly found myself thinking "Janelle, you are a mom now. And mom's decorate the house for Halloween. It is fun" in a very firm inner voice .
I have not succumbed yet, though, and until Tate is old enough to really understand, I think I will stick with my "embrace-fall-reject-Halloween" philosophy (because I really do love fall. Pumpkins and gourds and caramel apples are a staple in our home).
However. We have just been invited to a Halloween party. And not just any party- a Halloween party hosted by our friend Sara and Adam's seven year old son, Eli!! How cute is this? He is seven! And hosting a party! How could we say no?
Which brings me to my current dilemma. Because, friends, it is a costume party. Under normal circumstances, I would just not dress up. But need I remind you that this party is being hosted by a seven year old? And what kind of person would I be to not dress up at his request? So I am stuck.
I have not yet resolved my personal costume dilemma, so instead have decided to focus on Tate's. Instead of a full-blown costume, I was thinking of going with a hat. It fits my sensibilities and is still festive (right?). I was ecstatic when I found these handmade ones from sweetpeatoadtots. Adorable, right?
Brown bear. Little black lamb (or, if you prefer and have a sense of humor, black sheep...)
Roarrrrr....
I think they are so sweet (and how cute is the baby model?). Sadly for me, they are made to order so if I ordered one now, it wouldn't make it by the party.
Sigh. Back to square one.
Any ideas?

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

10/10/10

October 10, 2010 was my dad's birthday. We celebrated with cake and bowling.
Happy Birthday, Dad! For 45, you're looking pretty good (wink wink).

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Teepee

I just love these two teepee-inspired designs, don't you?
(Both available here)

Things that are nice to come home to...

1. The home lights. You know that feeling when you drive up and all the home lights are on, and it is just glowing? 2. Fall. Fall has officially arrived. Our pumpkin is starting to turn, and there is that Oregon fall smell in the air. I love this smell. On cool days, all the farms around us have burn days, and the smell of the smoke, the cool crisp air, the changing leaves... it is just feeling very fallish. 3. The last few weeks of my MBA program. Whew! What an adventure is has been over the past 2 1/2 years. I can't wait to be done and gain back my Monday nights and Saturdays. 4. The sweetest two faces anxiously awaiting my arrival. So nice to be home to Zach and Tate.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Home Again

Home again. It feels so nice to be settled. But the daily grind continues. Nevertheless, I have so many things to share! Keep en eye out- this weekend will be a busy one for O Chickadee!