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things I'm loving these days: tangible and not

12 January 2017

I'm really resisting linking to La Bouche's "Be My Lover" as a fitting but inappropriate accompaniment to this post. I'm sorry and you're welcome for even mentioning it.

Onward and most definitely upward.

I'm always catching myself wanting to text all of my friends about this or that but sometimes catch myself and think - let's just blog that, Patton. Save yourself the thumb energy. So, here we are - for better or worse.


+ we'll start with the big guns or singular gun. I hemmed and hawed about getting a Nespresso but Amazon's deal put me over the edge and I used some Christmas money to get one shortly after Christmas. It's amazing. I'm resisting throwing that in all caps but it really is that great. Keep in mind - I'm not a coffee snob (I'm more of a sugary creamer glutton) and I don't even need coffee every day but I love the Nespresso we got. I especially love that I've been able to put canned coconut milk (just make sure it's not a SOLID block) in the milk frother and it still froths beautifully. The only problem is that my kids love it too so I have to drink it fast or fasten my mug to the top of my head if I don't want to share.

+ this isn't something I'm loving but I know eventually I will. It's embarrassing how much of a life disrupting shift it's been too. I decided to move the little kids' naps to before school pickup vs. after. I KNOW. MY LIFE!! How do you keep up? The pros are that the little kids go to bed much earlier (Bosco is completely falling apart at 6:30) but the cons are that sometimes Phoebe and Theo don't nap (they just aren't tired at noon and I don't blame them) so my little sliver of quiet/cleaning/blogging time gets eaten into (yesterday Theo completely dismantled his and Sebastian's beds and Phoebe emptied the girls' dresser - drawers on the floor and all and I couldn't really be mad because they were both happy and quiet but putting their rooms back together? not fun) but ultimately - earlier bedtimes make for happier and more productive parents at night. Previously, the kids would nap till 5:30 (or 6 or later if I let them) and it was okay but bedtime got blurred and dicey and late for the nappers. How am I still typing about this? I could dedicate a whole series of posts to the subject so count your blessings, dear reader.

+ I got this hair oil in one of these boxes and was expecting the usual meh results that I get from all other hair oils (yes, all of them) but this stuff is different for some reason. I have really oily hair but get frizzy fly aways in the cooler weather and this takes care of them without weighing my hair down and it smells so good. If they bottled it up and solid it as a perfume - I would be first in line to purchase.

+ Like the rest of everyone, I'm trying to eat better in the new year and while I've browsed her site before I'm just now realizing how incredible virtually ALL of Against All Grain's recipes are. I might even have to spring for one of her books. I don't want to admit how many days in a row I've made her Asparagus Benedict. I've even got Simon and Phoebe and (believe it or not!!) Bosco hooked.

+ this article about sweet Joy. Have your tissues ready!!

+ all of your comments on Tuesday's post - some of them were so genius (making a loaf of pb+js ahead of time and freeze to thaw one or more at a time as needed) and I want to cross stitch them all and hang them on my wall. Thank you all very kindly.

+ Diego! This is a given but he's been such a fun and great addition to our family and I might be having anxiety about how he is going to do when we go to my sister's wedding (he'll be fine! I'm just crazy!) and I'll have to write a little updated post on his adjustment period but the kids are all still completely smitten and he seems happy to be a permanent Camper.

+ uno mas! And the most glamorous one of all. Diego has been pretty good about his housebroken status but there have been a few accidents and when they happen on our rugs (but look! alllll this wood and laminate flooring, D!) I've been super impressed with this stuff. Also very effective with toddler accidents - not that we know anything about those over here. Nada.

And I'll leave you on that most pleasant note. I always love hearing what you're loving too!

xoxo,

GP

21 comments:

  1. Check out Nature's Miracle for the pesky dog accidents. Natural alternative that is a favorite in our house!

    https://www.chewy.com/natures-miracle-stain-odor-remover/dp/42123?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=hg&utm_content=Nature%27s%20Miracle&utm_term=&gclid=CjwKEAiA79zDBRCgyf2FgeiY-CESJABzr0BMmlKitV-rwSXwWH-cFlDZhcljBeec4e0Mt-BMCNHVTxoC6ezw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

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  2. Thank you for linking Joy's story, incredible!

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  3. Could you please do a nap/routine type post? I have always wondered how you do it! My littles nap from 1-2 (any longer and bedtime is out) and I put them to bed at 7:30 they get up at 8. It took a looonnngg time to find the bedtime/nap time rhythm!

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    1. I second this request! I would love to read a post about your kids' nap and bedtime routines. We just had our third and getting them all to nap at the same time (or at all) is rough right now. I know we're still adjusting but sleep is always on my mind now and I love hearing how other moms do it.

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  4. Praise be to God!! Thank you for the update on Joy

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  5. I cannot wait for engagement/how we met story of your sister :)

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  6. Do you have a dog sitter yet? We've used this site and have had great luck finding awesome dog sitters! It's basically like VRBO or Airbnb for pets! Ours was cheaper than a kennel and it's nice to not have them in a yucky kennel. I think if you use this code, you can get $20 off your first use. https://www.rover.com/refer/kellies9/

    And we have all tile/wood, but if the dog EVER has an accident, it's ALWAYS on a rug! Reminds them of grass?! Maybe?!

    And I guess I should have lead with this...just saw a sweet video of Joy playing with a puzzle! So amazing and thanks be to God!

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  7. so glad to see an update on Joy, please keep us posted if there are any more.

    Would love to hear more about your nap schedules and how they have evolved. My daughter is 17 months and still on two naps but has been waking up for hours (hours!!) during the middle of the night so I think she's ready to transition down to one. No idea how to do that!

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  8. My husband got me a Nespresso for Christmas and it takes a lot of will power not to just drink coffee all day now. I'm in love with the milk frother too, I've been heating up chai tea concentrate and milk in there... So good.

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  9. My husband got me a Nespresso for Christmas and...I'm in love. So easy, so good, love being able to froth chilled milk in the afternoon for my iced-coffee pick-me-up.

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  10. Wait wait wait, you just put canned coconut milk in your frother & it's working? I've been wanting to try that but just assumed it wouldn't work... So exciting!

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  11. Whaddya mean Diego isn't coming for the wedding???

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  12. That's such great news about Joy. I know someone else who recently had a very similar near drowning incident with their 16 month old and while he survived at first, he unfortunately ended up passing away. When I heard about Joy, I did not expect her to make it. So glad to be wrong!

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  13. Oh em gee, Against All Grains is worth every Amazon Prime Penny! I have her first two cookbooks and they are amazing, put them on your Shopping List for sure!!

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  14. If you get this comment 5x...I'm sorry...Google hates me.

    But! Oh em gee Against All Grains is worth every Amazon Prime penny, add it to your Shopping List!! I have her first two cookbooks and everything I've made is yum and *relatively* easy.

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  15. Thank you for the article on Joy! So happy with her continued improvement. God is so GOOD!

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  16. Wait but I really would love a series of posts about how you juggle the multiple nap/bedtime schedules!

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  17. Currently loving The Crown on Netflix! It's dreamy with the British accents and decor and the storyline. Also, CoffeeMate makes a coconut creamer and I know your coconut oil is MUCH healthier but ... it is life changing.

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  18. Okay, it is so crazy that you posted about changing the kids naps. I tried that this week with Odette since she is the only one napping anymore. Normally she would just fall asleep during pickup and I would transfer her to her bed when we got home, but she was sleeping so long. Then staying up so late. I thought, oh I will just have her nap before pickup. NOPE! She didn't nap all week. BUT she fell asleep every night at 7. LOL so i guess it kind of worked? But I miss my little hour or two during the day...not that the other three kids aren't still around. What am I even talking about?

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  19. Our house is mostly hardwood, too... why oh why does the dog seem to only puke on the carpet??? (or on my bed... GRRR!)

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  20. thank you for the update on Joy! My littlest is almost 2 and I cannot imagine... praying for a speedy recovery.

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