Currently Obsessed

I am deep in cabin fever/wintertime dullness/complete loss of creativity. I need a change in schedule here, which is happening tomorrow with my parents coming for a visit, the little man's first birthday, and an unexpected vacay to the warm sun. I may not be writing as frequently during this time, but when I do find something great to share I promise to get on it. Writing for all of you is honestly what helps spur my creativity, but during this February slump it is hard to come up with anything fun. 

When things become pretty Groundhog Day-ish, I feel like I get obsessed with certain things and stick to them. It could be a food, or tv show, a new blog, or a beauty routine, but I see myself obsessed with a few things right now I thought I would share. 

ModelCo Fibre Lashxtend Mascara 

This mascara came in my Birchbox a few months back and I LOVE it. I like to curl my lashes and then brush on a few light coats during the day. It is light and looks so natural, yet it mimics the effect of false lashes. The perfect daytime mascara. It has little fibers that stick to the ends of your lashes and extends them. Genius. 

Creamy Macaroni & Cheese

I had a childhood love of Velveeta shells and cheese. I wanted to find a recipe that was closer to from scratch then from a box. This recipe is by no means healthier or even that much better (It includes a can of cheddar cheese soup, still processed), but the fact that I know what goes in it, makes me feel better. It is creamy and delicious. I have made it a few times and it is perfect on a cold day. 

Buttermilk Pancakes

The little guy can eat pancakes now, which is a great excuse to start the day with syrup. This recipe from Matha Stewart is perfection. I have it on heavy rotation. 

Downton Abbey

Duh. If you are not watching this show, get on it. If you are into TV "binges" this is the perfect way to spend a cold weekend. 

And I hate to admit this, but I still watch the Bachelor. Have seen every season, have watched all the tears, all the "journeys," wasted hours and hours of my time, but I cannot help to love this show and Chris Harrison. 

This is Sean, the 407th Bachelor. He is looking for his wife and is not afraid to tell everyone, then dump her "After the Final Rose" airs. 

Check out Melissa's weekly recaps on her blog, Fonty Fest. They are hilarious and so right on. 

Speaking of sites to visit, Sous Style is one of the newest on my Bookmark list. 

Home. Cooking. Rad interviews. A little of everything and totally worth the time suck. 

Lastly, the sweet treat you need to get a bag of and keep at your desk this week. 

Watermelon Sour Patch Kids

And that pretty much sums up my life right now. Food and entertainment. Do you need anything more? 

Have a happy week. xo

Erin 

A Few Things

My Dad is coming for a visit this weekend and I am so excited. Always fun to have grandpa around and a reason to cook lots of yummy stuff. 

I see a trip to the pumpkin patch in our future. Even though an eight month old could care less. 

I made a version of this soup last night that I will post about next week. I used white beans instead of potatoes. yum

I am such a sucker for off the shoulder dresses. Crushing on this Louis Vuitton look from Paris fashion week on Poppy Delevingne. 

via: Vogue.com

 A DKNY version ($335) is classic, this ASOS one is hot ($49), and this ASOS dress is flirty ($26). 

I am loving this spread on Because I'm Addicted of design firm The Apartment. White walls and lots of color. 

Obsessed with searching for coffee tables and console choices for the living room. This modern peekaboo piece is fun. 

Still not sure of your presidential choice? This site helps you make your decision. 

Tator tot breakfast casserole? Yes, please. 

I hope you have a lovely Fall weekend. 

xo

Erin  

Not on the Registry

Even though it has only been six months since the babe came, it might as well be a lifetime. Those first few weeks and months of having a newborn have slid from my memory quickly. Not the great parts, like first baths, tiny finger grips, and locking eyes for what seemed like hours, but the hard parts like the complete and utter exhaustion, the hardships of nursing, and the baby blues. When you are in it for the first time, it can feel like your life will never resemble what it was before baby. Then as the weeks go on and the baby grows with you as a new mom, you start to get it. Each week, just a little more. We are still adjusting, but it sort of feels like life has settled into our new normal. 

With so many friends in the trenches of newborn-dom or about to embark on them, I wanted to share what resources seemed to help me the most through those first couple months. The internet is a deep dark place filled with crazy people, but somehow during that 3am feeding you will listen to any one's advice or story. Funny since they could be living in scowler and misrepresenting their entire experience. 

A few things that I found the most helpful are not registry items or keepsakes that are jammed in your house right now. They are simple resources to help you through and keep you sane. 

The Similac Strong Moms iPhone app was my favorite tool right from the start. You can keep track of everything. Diaper changes, nursing (length, side, amount, etc.) sleeping, bottle feedings, and growth. Once you start entering, it then helps to predict your baby's schedule. I tend to like data, so it was nice to see patterns emerge a bit (even if they were that your baby only sleeps during the day) and it gave me something to reference each day. 

I mentioned this book in my registry post, but I can not stress enough how helpful Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Dr. Weissbluth has been. He started out with no more than two hours of sleep at a time. I followed the book exactly (even CIO) and he started sleeping twelve hours a night at about three months. Some of that is biological, but a lot of it was following the science behind sleeping and this book is a great guide. 

The Babycenter site and apps were so helpful during pregnancy. You can also download their My Baby app to follow along with tips and information based on the birth date. You can also join the Birth Club for that month on the app and follow along with other moms who are right there with you. This can be another breeding ground for crazy, but I liked seeing posts from other new moms with the same questions and problems. Just knowing that someone out there was going through the same things was a relief. 

Other new moms was by far my favorite resource and outlet. No one is as great as someone who is going through the same life experiences that you are. I was lucky enough to have three friends with newborns at the same time. I also connected with old friends from college through Facebook who I might not have gotten close with again otherwise. 

If you are in newborn-land right now or about to be, know that it is a crazy amazing time. You will struggle with some it and at the same time relish in it. Those sweet moments of your tiny baby getting used to the world does not last long. Enjoy, reach out, and know that life will settle into something "normal" once again. 

xo
Erin