birds in the sky, sharks in the sea

New places

2011-10-11T12:27:00.002-07:00

Why hello there. The last time I wrote in this blog it was the turn of the year. Much has changed and happened over the past few months. After many internal debates about the future of this here blog, it just sat. And sat. And sat.

I simply wanted to share the excitement, in case you were in the dark wondering whether my absence here meant that I was living a life on the streets, sleeping on sidewalks and trying to hustle my way through life with the trickery of three card monte. That is not the case, you needn't worry. I'm doing okay.

I've started a new endeavor fully focused on baking, based on the cookbook Tartine, which is written by the chefs from the Tartine Bakery in San Francisco. I'm baking every single thing from the cookbook in a year. So, please read along as I awkwardly stumble through this adventure: Tar-Tryin'

If you are on Tumblr, please follow me. Include me in your blog roll. Bookmark that page. Lie to your friends if you have to, and tell them how exciting my blog is. Actually, I hope it is exciting, so maybe you won't have to lie.

hello again, old friend

2011-01-06T18:35:00.002-08:00

Well, it's 2011 now. I am not so sure how I will get used to this. For the past million years I've either been in school where the new year was drilled into you the first week back to school in January when you'd write the wrong date on your paper then laugh and erase it, or I was the one writing the date on the board every morning as a bold reminder of the new year. I've already referred to this year as 2010 many times. I imagine I will be stuck back in 2010 forever. It was a good year for me, so out of all the years to be stuck in I guess that's a good one. But I'm not a fan of being stuck anywhere, so I guess I'll have to wake up and recite the date a few times like some obsessed compulsive person until it gets into my brain that this is indeed the year 2011.

I've been absent from my little blog, and I opened an Etsy store and immediately took an unintentional hiatus from it. Bad timing on my part, I suppose. Eh, that's life. I'm not one to make resolutions in concrete that will be devoutly followed, then feel like a bum when I trail off the path in March. I recently read an article in Vogue's January issue, an interview with Natalie Portman. I'm going to go ahead and use a quote now from Ms. Portman.

"I'm tough on myself in terms of the standards I want to live up to, but that's also part of my pleasure: knowing you are being your fullest self. Being your fullest self is a lot of work."

This resonated with me. I think I am too hard on myself for all the wrong reasons. I feel like I'm at a point where I want to know exactly what my fullest self entails. I know it involves being the mother/wife/sister/daughter/friend I desire to be, making things, baking, cooking, relying on spell check because I apparently just tried to spell "involves" with an 'e', reading, writing, (no, not 'rithmetic too), keeping in shape, and an infinite ______________ for the rest of list because I'm still figuring it all out. That alone is a long list, and will indeed take a lot of work.

So here's to being our fullest selves, being hard on ourselves for the right reasons, and learning about ourselves and the world more and more every day.

Try-cough-ski

2010-12-21T10:02:00.003-08:00

When I was in 6th grade, I was sure I was going to be playing the clarinet for the Boston Philharmonic when I was an adult. I actually have this written in a notebook that is tucked away in a closet in my parents' house. At this point I had been playing a year, so the aspiration was clearly attainable. Clearly. I would borrow my dad's CD's, and stack them up next to my fancy CD player. I would listen to Beethoven (pronounced BEET- Hovin'), Chopin (CHOPPIN'), and Tchaikovsky (TRY-COUGH-SKI) for hours. My dad gave me a CD of my own for Easter, since I had fallen in love with Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake. In my mind it was a completely normal thing for any 6th grader to be listening to classical music in her bedroom, perusing the CD jacket of "Mad About Tchaikovsky" like it was Tiger Beat magazine or something. Yeah, I was cool.

Exhibit A: Very cool, indeed.

I haven't thought about any of my dashed symphonic dreams for quite some time. That is, until this past weekend when my sis and I took in an evening show of Black Swan. All I can say is, Whoa! Listening to the music brought me back to a very optimistic, I-am-going-to-be-an-orchestra-star, warm place. Pair that with the albeit amazing, and very creepy, and very scary plot and boom - confused paranoid feelings ensue while watching. I do like the movie, and I recommend it. I could talk a lot about it, but reviewing it would be time consuming. Just wanted to share what a crazy viewing experience I had while watching it.

Oh, and I found these posters for it on some weird Internet movie poster competition site, by La Boca. I think they're nice.

This one is very nice!

And the real poster, captures the creepiness and beauty of the film quite nicely.

knock it off

2010-12-12T17:42:00.003-08:00

Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, right? I've been a busy bee trying to replicate some wonderful things I've seen here on the good ol' internet. I love a good tutorial!

I saw this wreath on the cover of Readymade (and featured here on Design*Sponge) and have wanted to make one myself for such a long time! I didn't have rope, or buttons without holes in them, or those zigzag scissors...but I think it turned out alright. It's growing on me.

I saw some tiny elves that I fell in love with over at My Paper Crane (a blog/shop by Heidi Kenney - I've mentioned her before). Who knew tall pointy hats were so difficult to make?! Maybe I was just tired, which at that point I should have set them aside and finished them later. But I was so excited! Painting fine detail when you're tired is troublesome. They turned out cute, but they could have been much cuter! I think I am going to make another batch to redeem myself!

And finally, I saw the most amazing eyeglasses case in an embroidery Flickr pool that I am a part of. Aren't these completely awesome?! What a super fun gift to make! The case isn't completed in the picture below, but you get the idea!

There are still a few more projects I'm planning on trying very soon - I'm so excited to make these fake sugar cookie ornaments tonight! And these head wraps will not only keep my ears warm, but are very cute ways to hide the awkward phase I'm currently going through with growing out my hair!

plans for the winter

2010-12-08T10:54:00.004-08:00

In my dreams the plans for my winter look something like this:

In reality, they're more like this:

We had so much fun in the snow today! Manuevering about in snowpants, a thick jacket, new boots, a hat tied around his chin, and mittens was quite an obstacle to tackle for him. Now, the obstacle for me was getting all of that on him! I just may lose 10 lbs and gain some gray hair by the end of winter from all the sweat and stress I undergo getting that kid bundled up! Still juggling so much this holiday season - new little projects and stuff for my etsy shop coming soon!

Dear Santa

2010-12-07T10:06:00.002-08:00

This would be a lovely addition to my closet.

And I even included a link for you, Santa!

snowflake garlands!

2010-12-02T10:38:00.003-08:00

Waking up yesterday to the month of December and a little blanket of snow was the catalyst I needed to get into Christmas decorating mode! I am constantly inspired by all the decorations that fill up the house of Heidi Kenney (from My Paper Crane) every holiday. My collection is growing, but I really need to hit up some thrift stores for some vintage decorations!

I did stumble on these die-cut felt snowflakes at Target last night - $1 for three of them. I got some red, white and green ones...

I cut off the loops they were on and strung them together with a needle and some crochet thread. I was affirmed in the success of my snowflake garland when Jack woke up this morning, pointed at it as we came down the stairs, and exclaimed, "Woo-hoo!" We're off to a very fun holiday season here in the Kastner house. I think I'm going to go back and get more snowflakes!

progress progress progress

2010-11-29T18:06:00.003-08:00

Hello! I'm here, just so very busy! I've been enjoying busy with three (yes, three!) Thanksgivings this year...and I made two of them! More on the details of that later!

I'm now in full on Christmas crafting mode. In retrospect, I think was a bad time of the year to launch my little etsy shop, because I haven't given as much time and love to it as I'd like. I'm juggling gifts for people, along with some amazing and very exciting things for my shop. Woo hoo! Hopefully I'll get some stuff up there in the next couple of weeks.

I have many fun things to share, but I thought I should show some fabric that just arrived on my doorstep! I designed it! I couldn't wait to take better pictures, so these will have to do for now. I'm debating what to make with them - the whole idea was some throw pillows for gifts. Can't have enough of those, right? I've got more fabric that I've created and will definitely share when it's here!

another knotch on the anniversary belt

2010-11-24T06:00:00.000-08:00

We've been married for three years now. Six years ago we were admiring each other in the Rocket Star, Dan behind the counter and me trying to get some studying done drinking a great many hazelnut lattes. Then of my best friends gave me Dan's phone number to me in my birthday card.

Fast forward six years, we have a beautiful son and are at a point where we are so very happy and content. We are both doing what we love and enjoying our family so very much.

While Stella McCartney got a lovely garden (and more!) the traditional gift for three years is leather and the modern gift is crystal/glass. And the ultra modern/lacking funds gift is a nice dinner and a trip to the movies to see "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows."

Happy Anniversary, love.

mon petit etsy boutique

2010-11-19T11:25:00.006-08:00

FINALLY! My etsy shop is up and a-runnin'. There isn't a whole lot up yet, but you can keep checking to see what's new by following the link on the left side bar - "Other places for me." I will be adding new stuff pretty frequently! Hand drawn embroidery patterns, finger puppets, painted and embroidered stuff for your walls, jewelry, more stationary....AND MORE!

Why Pookaneeme, you ask? As a kid my dad called me Pookie, which at some point manifested into Pookaneeme. (Poo - ka- knee-me). It always seemed a fitting name for my shop.

Check it out here!

to replicate or not to replicate?

2010-11-19T08:00:00.000-08:00

Perhaps I was a bit spoiled after living on California's coast, but I think I'm a bit of an aquarium snob now! I had read about the 'Musée Océanique' in Monaco, and was so excited to see what it was all about. I had heard it was amazing, and it was. There were beautiful tanks and the view out into the Mediterranean was breathtaking. (But, as aquariums go it didn't have anything on the Monterey Bay Aquarium, or the Steinhart Aquarium at the California Academy of Sciences. Just sayin')

What it did have on the aforementioned aquariums was the floor! I fell in love with the mosaics that cover the entryway into the museum. They were HUGE and incredibly beautiful! The wheels in my brain are spinning fast trying to figure out where/how I'd like to replicate this in our house!

the octopus

the crab

the ship

words words words

2010-11-18T09:00:00.000-08:00

I find this video from NPR/Radiolab completely relevant, as we are emerging into the realm of words with Jack. We are becoming very aware of what we say and how we say it.

For a few months now, Jack has been an excellent mimic of syllables and tone. We will be outside, and Blitz will be dragging his paws, trying to be outside longer. I'll say, "Blitz! Come. HERE!" Then Jack will say, "Ba! Ba. Ba!" He points at Blitz as he commands him to come here. I can't help but laugh.

His little language of jibberish is fleshing out into repeated words that are close to the real thing and repeated enough that we know what he's telling us. And Jack is even using a few real words now too, which is so exciting! In addition to 'dada' and 'mama' we've got a string of b-words: bird, ball, bowl, Blitz (more like Bit), and Bill. He also tries to say "tickle tickle" when he tickles you, but it adorably sounds like "tucka tucka."

The most exciting development in the word arena happened when we all were in the kitchen. When Jack is trying to tell us something and the process of elimination falls short, he gets frustrated. And rightly so. Who doesn't get frustrated when they aren't able to communicate clearly? I got down to his level and said, "Jack, I know you're frustrated because you want something. Could you try and use a word and tell us what you want instead of crying?" (I knew this was a total longshot, I mean I was speaking with a 15-month-old baby! Before I stood up, in an immediate response Jack, clear as a bell, said, "Water." We bursted with laughter and Dan said, "Oh! You want some water in a cup, buddy?" Jack, with a huge smile, nodded YES!

I just find language development so interesting! Before we moved to SF, I had started my Master's program in literacy and language development. It's so exciting to watch words connect with the things that surround kids every day, and for them to surprise us with how much they already know and understand.

I think you should watch this. I love homonyms.

fall making way for winter

2010-11-17T08:00:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was the first day that felt like fall was coming to an end. It was gray and chilly, and Dan swears he saw a flake of snow. Funny thing is, we're totally okay with that! It's been so long since we've been part of the winter season. I know I'll be singing a different tune in February, but I am seriously excited for the snow! I'm honestly more excited for Jack's first winter. Bundling up for sledding and snowmen, and warm hot cocoa when we come in from the cold. Catching snowflakes on our tongues and the crunch of fresh snow under your boots. Seeing your breath in the air and writing on the windows of the car. Winter from a kid's perspective is pretty amazing and I'm so excited to see it with fresh eyes.

Jack's first fall in Michigan was truly amazing! I imagine bounding through piles of snow will be just as fun as those leaves!

piles of unfinished projects...

2010-11-16T10:00:00.000-08:00

I'm making way in organizing/decorating my crafting space in our spare bedroom upstairs. This is exciting! Especially since my parents' birthday/Christmas gift this year was replacing my broken sewing machine with a new amazing Singer sewing machine. I've already been using it every night working on new stuff that I'm pretty excited about, and to share with you!

So, as I am organizing and going through boxes of crafting stuff I began a little pile of works in progress (WIPs). The little pile grew to a big pile, and I have been feeling a tremendous wave of guilt. I imagine my little WIPs gathering together on a little island, much like the Island of Misfit Toys, all cutely animated in clay, lamenting to each other how close they each are to being completed projects...

"All I need is a few more stitches," says the embroidery stitch sampler I started a year ago.

"You think that's bad, all she did was draw me on the fabric, I feel naked!" replies the Christmas ornament regaling 'Jack's 1st Christmas'.

"We all need to be crocheted together!" weep the many granny squares that will some day be a blanket for Jack.

You get the point. I am in the process of saving these little WIPs from that sad little island of being unfinished for eternity. I feel like I have crafting ADD. So, I've documented all unfinished projects, have prioritized them in alignment with holiday projects, and will feel quite accomplished once (if ever?!) that little WIP island isn't so crowded! Anyone else have a WIP island like me?

give peas a chance

2010-11-15T19:40:00.003-08:00

For the past two days I've been on a kick with stuffing sewn goodies with a nice combination of dried split peas and black-eyed peas. It all started with my feet cold as I stood at the stove making breakfast the other morning. Darn drafty doors! Seeing how I just got a new fancy wonderful sewing machine for my birthday I had a quick solution - door draft stoppers! Easiest thing to make ever - big tubes stuffed with lots and lots and lots of dried peas. (Probably made them a bit too wide, but they work well!)

And then I was working on an ornament I drew up last year to embroider, "Jackson's 1st Christmas 2009." Yeah, procrastination is a serious issue I'm dealing with on the regular. As I was sewing it to some super cute green and white striped fabric Dan suggested to stuff that with the peas too. Oh man, that husband of mine is full of bright ideas! I immediately fell in love and will be whipping up some more of these this holiday season! I'm even taking this one to the masses and putting it out there for custom orders for people! Let me know if you want one, think I'll be putting it up on Etsy!

Last but not least in my pea stuffing endeavors, I made some bean bags for Jack. I guess they're not technically BEAN bags, as they are stuffed with peas...but "pea bags" doesn't quick have a playful ring to it. I've had this pirate fabric for awhile now, and since Jack fell in love with the dried peas, I thought this would be a quick project that would get some serious love from the little guy. He spent the afternoon putting them in baskets, bowls, on his head, and anywhere else they'd fit. It was pretty cute to watch. I'm going to make a pirate game to go along with them! Keep your eyes peeled for that!

It's official. I'm obsessed. I'm now brainstorming more projects that involve dried peas.

it's really been 2 weeks since my last post?!

2010-11-14T16:55:00.002-08:00

I feel like every second of the last 2 weeks has been filled with something. I'd venture to say that probably 95% of those "somethings" have been completely amazing! Dan, and two of our greatest friends in the world, Caleb and Marci Larsen, ventured to Italy, France with a pit stop in Monaco on our European road trip.

Italy

France

Monaco

We, along with our luggage, crammed ourselves into a Fiat Panda (why don't I have a picture of this?!) and spent many hours venturing from one amazing city to another, stopping in a couple quaint villages and planning how easily we could live in the countryside drinking wine, tending our gardens and having a morning cafe at the local coffee shop. I could make the longest post right now detailing the amazing things we did and saw, but I'm going to be breaking it up over the next few months.

Taking an amazing vacation like this means being away from Jack. Whoa. There was a serious ebb and flow of missing the little man. There were many times we'd say, "Aw, I wonder what Jack's doing," and even a few times where we were so wrapped up in what we were doing where a thought about him would pop in my head and it would surprise me that I hadn't thought about him in a few hours.

Seriously, this bundle of all kinds of cute is impossible not to miss!

Most of the time, he was on the forefront of my mind. I was constantly on the hunt for little trinkets for him, clothes that I wanted for him, etc. I would see other little kids, which would give me a good dose of cuteness which would dull the ache of missing my baby. And of course, there were a few times where it hurt so bad being away from him. I felt guilty, and often wondered how he'd react when we got back. I mean, he's just barely past 1 year old, and knowing what he's thinking it a constant guessing game! Would he be mad at me for being gone so long? Would he not want to go home with us because life was fine without us? I know this sounds crazy, but they were honest to goodness concerns. The daily schedule that is so routine for us was something I missed. Mornings cuddling on the couch, conversations at lunch, the laughter, the random hugs and kisses, reading books and singing songs at bedtime...Our last night in Marseille, France was rough. We'd had a long day walking around, exploring, etc and I was exhausted and I simply couldn't ignore the ache in my heart. I just wanted to cuddle him and for him to know we still existed. I pestered my family throughout the trip to show him our picture regularly, and I called my mom that night in tears telling her I wanted to come home and once again asking her to show Jack our picture.

The few really hard moments were totally worth it. I think it was a wonderful thing for us, and for Jack, and my family as well. It was quite easy to temporarily fall back into the routine of not worrying about going to bed early in order to be ready for Jack's morning wake-up, to be totally okay with another glass of wine, to eat a meal without having to cut up/feed Jack, to carry a SMALL purse with my phone and my wallet and some lip gloss...

While Dan has gone away on business trips I've never been away from him like this! A big reason was because I've been breastfeeding and leaving for an extended period of time when I've got "the goods" on me isn't really doable. Weaning was a very natural and gradual process for us, and Jack was done nursing the week before we left. The timing was perfect. My parents and sister were so excited to share the duty of watching the little ball of energy for the 10 days we were gone. He is such a chill guy, and he was great for them. He's at the perfect age where he just goes with the flow. It was so good for his Nana, Poppy and Auntie to have so much quality time with him - especially at a point where he is just now exploding with curiosity, his jibberish language which is making more sense every day, and a true sense of exploration. They even lucked out and got to take him trick-or-treating in the spider costume I made for him, and from what I hear he was the hit of the party!

We came home, and while he did cry (from shock, perhaps) in the morning when we went in to get him, he wouldn't let me put him down for a long time. A vacation was wonderful for all of us, and we can all attest to the fact that absence truly makes the heart grow fonder, even when you didn't think it was possible.

up, up and away

2010-10-28T15:34:00.003-07:00

We're heading back to Europe in about 24 hours. Back to Milan for a handful of days, as that's where Dan's motorcycle expo is, and the catalyst in our European get-away. We're then driving the French Riviera: stopping by Monaco for a trip to the aquarium perhaps, a night in Cannes, a few nights in Marseille, then making our way back to Milan. I brushing up on Italian and French, I'm so ready! Now packing light, as I've been directed to do, is a very difficult task. I'm seeking the wise consult of others: Marie Claire, and even Rick Steves is rounding up some advice for ladies who are seeking light suitcases!

While it will be so very nice having time away from home, to lounge, be out late, drink as much vino as my little heart desires, to nap whenever I feel like it, to drink espresso late in the day with no worry of needing to fall asleep so I can get up with Jack, etc, etc, etc...I am going to really miss the little guy! I hope me missing him doesn't get in the way of having a good time! I know he's is great hands, it's just that I've never been away from him! Absence makes the heart grow fonder. That's my mantra!

CIAO! See you in a week and a half! I'll have some great pictures, I promise!

easy peasy spidey

2010-10-27T16:35:00.005-07:00

I made Jack's costume while he was napping today. His naps are just hour (he sleeps 14+ hours at night these days!), so I had to be quick and efficient! I gathered up a black sweatshirt, two pairs of girls' thick black tights, some bubble wrap, yarn, scissors and thread.

I cut off the legs of the tights, being sure to save one of the tops for later. I decided on stuffing the legs with bubble wrap because a.) it's light, b.) it makes fun noises when the legs move, and c.) that's what we had lying around the basement.

I used the tops of the tights for the spider head/hat. I gathered the top and tied it with some yarn. I cut out some round pieces of white felt and sewed on some black buttons for the eyes. The eyes were then hot-glued to the hat.

I tucked in the ends and used a needle and thread to stitch them to the seam of the sweatshirt that he'll be wearing inside-out. (There's a T-Rex on the other side)

My little spider loved all of his arms! I was thinking about attaching the arms to each other, but as it turns out I like the way they all kind of flop around as he walks.

He'll be wearing some warm black fleece plants for his first real round of Trick-or-Treating, just had to have him try it on for size! This was so easy to make and would totally work for any age!

and one from Dan's moped photo studio... (don't mind the dirty socks!)

costumes! costumes! costumes!

2010-10-24T08:15:00.002-07:00

My sister's Halloween costume party was last night, so I can finally unveil the costumes I was working on for the past few weeks! I should apologize for the pics - low lighting is not conducive to iPhone pics!

My sister was Lady Gaga. She started the night out in a shiny silver dress, a curly wig, and a mask. Very Gaga-esque! THEN, she changed into Lady Gaga's meat dress that she wore for the MTV VMA Awards.

I must say this is the coolest looking thing I have ever made! I wanted to be close to the construction of the real dress, while actually using real cuts of meat throughout the one I was making.

I couldn't be happier with the way it turned out! The T-bone headpiece and the boots are my favorite!

Going along with my sister's pop star theme, I went as Katy Perry. I also had two looks. I recreated the dress she wore in her controversial Sesame Street appearance, that was cut from the show as she was showing too much cleavage in the opinion of many parents.

Mine was far less controversial, but pretty funny, nonetheless. I did have to explain it to some people who were not completely up to par on pop culture news... They thought I was Katy Perry on her wedding day.

I also had to pay homage to her blue wig that she donned a few times, so my second look was more comfortable and a nod to my days as a California Gurl.

I also whipped up some salt and pepper costumes for my parents. Easiest costumes to make EVER! I dyed some chef hats gray, and hot glued some black dots on them, as they were the lids to the shakers. I bought some clear plastic "fabric," cut holes for their heads, and then hot glued some sparkly white and black felt pieces I cut out for the salt and pepper. Add and 'S' and a 'P' and VOILA!

Yay! Halloween is so much fun! Still not nailed down on what I'm doing for Jack's costume! haha I have a week left!

who doesn't love stationary?

2010-10-16T18:38:00.003-07:00

I am such a procrastinator! I make honest efforts to remedy this. Often. I started thinking about Halloween costumes in, I don't know, like July or something. And here I am, a week away from my sister's big Halloween party, and am almost done with 1 costume OUT OF 5 THAT I HAVE AGREED TO MAKE!

On another note along the same topic, we're heading off to Chicago for a wedding this weekend. Very excited! Classic ME style, the wedding was 4 days away and it hit - "D'oh! What are we going to get them?!" They didn't have a registry, and even said guests really didn't need to get them anything. But I wanted to! I instantly recalled the beautiful and genius work of my friend Rosanna who runs her own lovely letterpress studio, The Iron Curtain Press, out of Seattle. Being under some crunch time I decided to use a custom project as inspiration that she beautifully whipped up for Ben Gibbard and Zooey Dechanel's wedding! (as evidenced here, here and here) I put my own spin on it with stamps and paper punches. Pretty happy with the results. I guess it all boils down to the fact that I always function best in a pinch in the final stretch of time available for a project. (The part of my brain that is in charge of procrastination just said, "Resistance is FUTILE!" Weird.)

And when I was without some stamps I wanted, I improvised with an X-acto knife and some pencils.

All ready for the bride and groom!

birthday wish list

2010-10-14T06:12:00.002-07:00

While I don't expect it all of course, I love coming up with a birthday wish list every year.

I really am so in love with this Pinocchio tea-for-two pot. AH!

I need a new sewing machine.

I would LOVE a printer/scanner/fax machine!!

This Marc by Marc dress is AMAZING and I would wear it every day!

I've wanted a pair of Hunter Wellingtons for quite some time. Red? Blue? Classic black? I could go crazy and get pink?!

I love everything here from Zara! I've heard great things, and I finally got around to checking out the website yesterday!

Less than a month away! And I am one lucky girl who will be celebrating in France!

everything is piling up

2010-10-13T09:24:00.003-07:00

I've been absent. Everything is piling up. I am making Halloween costumes and decorations, planning a mini trip to Chicago and a trip to Italy/France, trying to keep up on house stuff - all in the midst of entertaining an ever-adventurous and curious little fellow. Oh, and I've had that seasonal "sickness" that I've forgetten existed, having spent the last three years in the same spring-ish/fall-ish season of San Francisco.

I really can't wait to share the costumes I've been working on. I'll share a few little decorations I've been working on though...

Note: They're not perfect, as I did them without a pattern as I watched several episodes of 'Dexter'. That show is amazing and we're almost caught up!

I love me some plaid!

getting spooky!

2010-10-04T08:02:00.003-07:00

It's crunch time! Halloween is just around the corner! I am working on top secret costumes for my sister and Jack! I want to share NOW! I am terrible at keeping trivial secrets! AH! It's killing me! I am still trying to figure out what Dan and I will be for my sister's annual costume party...hmm...

We've been Fred Flintstone and Betty Rubble having an affair

Our friends from another moped gang

A lobster and a fisherman

I had a few really great ideas that were themed for Dan, Jack and myself, but Dan and I won't be around for Halloween, and Jack won't be going to the Halloween party. Bummer!

I will share some masks I painted. I got them for less than a dollar at JoAnn's and used acrylic paint for them. I am using them for something SUPER cute! Can't share that quite yet either! Ooohh, so many secrets! Let's just say they'll make for cute greetings to friends far away!

it's happening again!

2010-10-03T16:49:00.003-07:00

In less than a month we'll be in Europe again. Dan is heading there for his 3rd annual motorcycle expo in Milan, and I am tagging along for the second time. Our great friends, Caleb and Marci, will be our travel companions. I'm already making a mental packing list of all the clothes and shoes I want to take with. I am also thinking about all of the yummy drinks we enjoyed in Italy and France.

And of course!

I'm also looking forward to simple things like:

Cute old Italian men who work at little shops like this

cliche European pics

and the age and beauty of old European cities

All this said, every time I think about this trip my heart sort of briefly stops. This will be the first time we're away from Jack for an extended period of time. I've only spent one night away from him. Ever. My family will be watching him, so I know he couldn't be in better hands, and will certainly be spoiled and loved beyond belief. I just feel like I'll be missing out. Every day is so new with him, and it will be strange not cuddling with him in the morning, eating meals with him, rocking him to sleep, stealing hugs and kisses as he wheels his trucks all over the house, etc. I know it's crazy, but I find myself occasionally wondering if he'll remember me when I come back. Or if he'll resent me for being gone for a little over a week. Dan assures me - Jack will remember us, he's not a fish. He won't resent us, he's not a cat. He's a boy and distance makes the heart grow fonder. Wise words from the husband, indeed.

Better start refreshing myself with French and Italian!

escape to Whitefish Point

2010-10-02T16:29:00.002-07:00

One morning while we were camping and I was getting things together to whip up breakfast, it started raining. Keeping a 13-month-old cooped up in a tent for an indefinite amount of time was not something we wanted to experiment with. We figured it was a great time to head to the Shipwreck Museum in Whitefish Point. That was Dan's one request for the whole trip, and I must admit I wasn't too excited to go there. I'm glad to say that I was proven wrong, and it was so worth it! It was chilly and sunny, and we got there before the crowd. It was beautiful. We captured it all with the camera on Dan's new iPhone. Very impressed with that camera, indeed.

Jack and I in front of the Lighthouse operator's home. It's now a museum now you can tour, complete with creepy life-sized replicas of the family that lived there.

Memorials on the beach for men that lost their lives on the Edmund Fitzgerald

The beach of Lake Superior

the trail that led to another part of the beach

I am a sucker for gift stores! Seriously cannot avoid them! I must say this was one of my favorite gift shop finds. Looking forward to painting it and hanging it in Jack's room! I fell in love with the box, and will definitely be keeping it for some unknown future use.

This was one of my favorite mornings ever.

Camping with a Toddler

2010-09-30T05:27:00.002-07:00

After our fun weekend on Mackinac Island, we headed north. I had wanted to camp near the Tahquamenon Falls for such a long time, and I even posted about it not so long ago. So, north we went. The leaves were just starting to turn, so driving through the U.P. was exceptionally beautiful.

Have you ever driven across the Mackinaw Bridge? It's Michigan's treasure for bridge lovers everywhere.

As far as camping with a 13-month-old little guy, I initially felt pretty confident it would work out just fine. This confidence ebbed and flowed in waves, as mothers and friends would say things like, "Oooh, you're brave," or "Like... camping?... in a tent?...with Jack?" They would try and mask looks of disbelief and/or uncertainty in our camping endeavor, which in turn made me question what we were setting out to do. I mean it's not like we were touring the world in a sailboat, or were planning on backpacking through the jungle! It was a simple 2 day/night trip in a tent at a state campground with the most amazing bathrooms (and showers!) I have ever seen in the wilderness. It was a perfect 1st-camping-trip-with-a-kid destination! I highly recommend!

I can see how it could have headed south quickly. We had a backup plan of a motel in our back pocket if we needed it. A crying baby through the night could make for some very unhappy neighbors. A baby jumping in the fire could be quite traumatic. We had none of that. The craziest thing was when Jack fell out of his little chair and bumped his little noggin. A few tears, but some sticks and dirt made for an instant return to happiness. It really did turn out amazing, fun and quite the little get-away for us Kastners. We had fun with the campfire, getting dirty and exploring the woods and waterfalls, and snuggling up in our sleeping bags that zip up together. We are already planning our spring trip!

Camping involved...

The cutest camper in the world!

New socks from Paradise, Michigan

I'm pointing at our tent! Can you see it?

planning our hike from the Lower Falls to the Upper Falls

the Lower Falls

the Upper Falls

Yes! Michigan! More to come later, along with some Halloween fun! It is OCTOBER!

IMMA BACK!

2010-09-29T06:27:00.003-07:00

Hello faithful friends! I'm back! Our little family has been on quite the whirlwind tour of Michigan over the past month! This has meant very little access to the Internet, which was nice to have a break from, quite honestly. It does feel good to be back though! I will be posting nearly every day recapping our trip (too much for just one post!), with fun things I'm doing for Halloween, personal projects I'm working on, Christmas preparations (yes, already!) and more...

So...where have we been? It all started with a 5 1/2 hour drive north to Mackinac Island. My dad runs the annual 8-mile race around the island, and this year Dan joined him for the run. For those of you not familiar with Mackinac Island, it lies between the Lower and Upper Peninsula, there are no cars or motorized vehicles on the island, you take a beautiful ferry ride over, and if you detest fudge and/or horses you should stay away.

packed in like sardines

greeted by Auntie and Nana

on the Ferry

that's the Mackinac Bridge

not a real horse

the Grand Hotel is truly grand (we didn't stay there)

and just in case you don't get your fill while you're on the island...

Tomorrow - Camping with a Toddler for Dummies and Adventures in the U.P. Part 1

sneak peek

2010-09-07T10:30:00.002-07:00

The hardest thing about starting an Etsy store is choosing what exactly to sell. I have so many ideas floating around, so I've decided to stick with just 5 or 6 things to start off with. I know I've been talking about this forever, but the time is now! I am planning to officially begin my shop on October 1st. I'm very excited!

Here is a little sneak peek of one of the items! A DIY kit that comes fully loaded to create a greeting card for your pals - comes with simple instructions, floss, a needle, the card (with the printed design, of course!) and an envelope. There will be many designs to choose from!

Woo hoo!

worth the wait!

2010-09-06T17:16:00.003-07:00

Which is worse - sending out CUTE invites a month after a party OR sending out mediocre invites in a timely manner? I'm going with the former, of course!

I wanted to send out simple notes of thanks for Jack's birthday party. (Of course they had to match the color scheme from his party.) I wanted to put my own spin on it, so I got to work in Photoshop!

I set out with a plan to make Jack his own stationary with a little 'J' on the top of the thank you card...but then I created a little cartoon graphic of my little man! Things started moving fast from there! Next came the words, and then I realized I had to go with the literal meaning on "a little thank you" put this on tiny little cards for a true little thank you.

I wasn't sure exactly how I was going to put my design on the cards. After a little googling, I decided to get a stamp made! I went with RubberStampChamp.com. I am not getting anything from them by any means, but their site was super easy to navigate, so I recommend going with them.

I opened the package and got to work. I suggest practicing with a new stamp, and playing around with colors. This stamp got a million times cuter when I stamped in black ink! (Oh, and I made a stamp for Dan too, as you can see with the orange "1977 mopeds" stamp.)

Now I just have to fill out the notes...

I am excited to have made it a stamp that we can use over and over again! I am making more now!

my motto - Do Fun Stuff

2010-09-02T07:59:00.004-07:00

My life motto has taken the shape of an album of kids' music! I am all about doing fun stuff every day!

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If you have kids, know kids, or plan to have them some day you need to know that kid music can be pretty terrible. This is probably not news to you. I really haven't gone there with Jack. We just enjoy our music with him, and he dances around. It's extremely adorable, so we have music playing all the time. His faves are Johnny Cash and the Magnetic Fields...but I foresee a problem. When he starts singing along I imagine it will be cute (at first) to hear him sing the lyrics, "I shot a man just to watch him die." Buuuut, I'm sure it would raise a few eyebrows on the playground.

In steps this album into my life, just in the nick of time! Music I want to listen to! Music Jack can sing along with without me embarrassingly explaining away! I want to hear more from these artists! And, I have fallen in love with the monster from the album cover. Like true love! I want a lifesize cutout!

And the best part of all this??? It's a charity album for Smith Magenis Syndrome (SMS). Ryan Marshall from the blog Pacing the Panic Room rallied the troops to put this first album together. (Volume 1... means there's more to come!) Ryan shares his life with his readers, including his family's journey with SMS. He's an inspirational dude, and supporting this album (and all his hard work) will directly help out his family and all that are a part of the SMS community.

Check out the album on iTunes and listen for yourself! Spread the word to all parents you know that are beating their heads against the wall listening to Kidz Bop 123. I'll bet you'll want the album even if you don't have kiddos!

we all have our weaknesses

2010-08-30T19:17:00.004-07:00

We have been such busy travelers as of late! Haven't had much time to be crafty or update the blog much. The next four weekends are booked too - Lady Gaga with my sis, Labor Day parade festivities, family trip to Mackinac Island to run the 8-mile race, a little road trip through the U.P. and back to Kalamazoo, Oktoberfest back home...I'll squeeze in some fun projects and such here though!

For today, I'll just speak on impending projects. Do you have a weakness? You hear about something, read about it, come across that something - and it must be yours? Some ladies love shoes, some love purses, some love baseball cards. For me, I love craft books. Hardcover, preferably. Spiral binding, nice! Ooohh, you have patterns and/or stencils in a cute little back pocket? - You were meant for me!

I recently looked down at the bookstore and saw this...

So hard to decide! I sat on the ground, flipping through the sturdy pages of each, marveling at all the projects I would love to make for this person or that person, thumbing through the patterns and stencils packed neatly away in the back of each...For a split second I picked them all up and headed off into the direction of the register. The logical part of my brain stepped up, and I figured since my sewing machine is in pieces, and some of those pieces are floating around somewhere at the repair shop of Sear's in South San Francisco, I should go for the ones that don't require a sewing machine...(for now!)

Stencil 101 Decor and Printing by Hand are mine! Oh yes, a houndstooth wall in the queue of projects for the ol' house! Look out!

come together, right now!

2010-08-25T07:20:00.003-07:00

Slowly, but surely, things are coming together. Everything - daily routines, house stuff, re-acclimating to Michigan-living - it's all coming together.

As far as house stuff goes, I feel like most of my energy goes into Jack's room. Having never decorated a kid's room before, I've been having so much fun. While I was very excited when the shower curtains came in the mail, I find myself very excited finding things for Jack's room. I found a ceramic semi-truck planter that I fell in love with. I smiled the whole way home after having successfully bartered with the woman at the antique shop.

Baby/kid things are cute, bright and adorable. I really don't think things like a painted alphabet or adorable wooden trucks would be appropriate decor for the living room or the bathroom. That being said, I've had certain things in mind that I've wanted (this goes for the whole house, not just Jack's room!). I spend an embarassing amount of time in the late hours of the evening perusing Etsy and other design blogs and sites for things like beautiful screen printed aplhabets, cute framed sayings like "Let's be adventurers" and kid-friendly wallpaper. Seriously. Hours of clicking through framed alphabets, just not wanting to fork over $50 for the perfect one.

Since I knew what I wanted, I figured I should just make my own. After spending time actually thinking about the design of his room, I decided on a more subtle theme - a nod to Jack's place of birth that will certainly turn into bragging rights on the playground some day. "I used to live in San Francisco, California!" then a few years later he'll be claiming, "I grew up in San Francisco," which will inevitably grow into "Oh yeah, I used to play on the Golden Gate bridge every day."

Here is a sneak peek into his room. The walls have yet to be painted the chosen color of the San Francisco fog, but I am excited about the new art on the walls.

Good Morning, Golden Gate Bridge!

and now I know my A-B-C's

To be continued...hopefully sooner than later!

it's the little things

2010-08-19T06:33:00.003-07:00

I was so excited to get a package in the mail yesterday! I felt like a kid for the past three days, with an eagle eye on the front porch waiting for the man in the brown little outfit to knock on the door!

AND IT CAME! I was so excited to get my laptop case! It was love at first sight, as it reminded me of the notebooks I used in high school and college.

I would spend hours and hours in class doodling on the front of them. I still have some that I use as journals and sketch books, so really this case and I were meant for each other.

When I took the case out of the box, it sang to me, "Make me even cuter!" You can't ignore such a plea. Out came the needle and floss! Sometimes just a few stitches can really make the difference between cute and REALLY CUTE!

...Voila! I was just going to write my name, but for me doodling is like a gravitational pull, so I couldn't resist adding to it...

And then Dan said, "Looks great. Now you just have to go somewhere with your laptop." Seeing how I use my laptop basically in the same spot on the couch or at the dining room table every day, this was pretty funny. At least I have a cute case if ever the opportunity arises to take my internetting on the road.

a day in the life

2010-08-18T07:00:00.006-07:00

Coffee and internetting during Jack's morning nap is one of my favorite times of the day. Finding solo time is quite important and necessary.

Between naps we do things like:

head over to the Nature center

eat Popsicles

hang out at the library

Then we eat dinner, often outside on the deck

Once the little dude is asleep, I work on things. I drew up an alphabet chart and I'm painting it on canvas for Jack's room.

I have nothing to complain about.

*Of course, my day also consists of changing diapers, consoling a fussy little dude on occasion, cleaning toilets, laundry, dishes, etc. I just thought I'd share photos of the highlights. Who wants to see a dirty diaper, even if it is captured on a cool iPhone camera app? Not me!

how do you spell silhouette?

2010-08-16T12:26:00.003-07:00

I have been wanting to do some silhouette project of some kind for awhile now. Hmmm...I am seeking inpiration with So September's post, as well as this one from Inchmark.

I was thinking about mixing it up by using a color, like teal.

I'm not so sure, the black looks so classic!

And I would love to stumble upon a picture of me with long hair in a bun, I think it looks amazing. Not sure I have a picture in profile view of myself with a bun just lying around though...

The goal would be something lovely for the currently bare walls of our bedroom. By the end of the week, I will have something to show!

a new juggling act

2010-08-12T19:53:00.007-07:00

It's official. My life as a crazy science teacher is on pause.

Halloween 2008 "Science Gone BAD!"

After some serious deliberation, and constantly discussing our options for the last few months, we've agreed that since me staying home with Jack is what I really want, then we're going to do what we have to in order to make it happen.

When I had Jack, I took the first semester of the school year off. While I had a long recovery, physically and even emotionally, I absolutely loved the time we had together from early on. In January when the second semester came, while it did come pretty fast on us, I was actually ready to get back in the classroom. We had it worked out where Dan was taking care of Jack during the day. It was a perfect scenario: Dan would work around Jack's naps, taking him to the moped shop between naps, and they would be home for "the exchange" - I'd come home from work, and Dan would head back to the shop for a few hours. We had what seemed like every minute of the work-week accounted for.

I quickly learned how HARD it is to be a working mom. As it was before Jack, I would always have TONS of grading and lesson planning that I HAD to do at home, there was just not enough time in the school day. After having Jack, it wasn't like the teaching profession changed at all. Now, I was trying to juggle all of that while giving Jack the focused time I wanted to give him. I was waking up so early in order to get into work super early in order to get as much done as possible before the school day began. I would have a busy busy day with no down time because I was pumping during my prep and lunch in order to maintain my milk supply and so Jack would have something to eat the next day! Sacrificing breastfeeding in order to work was not something I was willing to do. Oh, and Jack had some sleep issues where he would NOT sleep in his crib, and would only sleep if he was next to one of us. So my evenings were devoted to laying with him in our bed (which was mere INCHES away from his crib) as he fell asleep. Seeing how we lived in a tiny one-bedroom cave of an apartment with no doors, all the lights were off when Jack was asleep. I would work on school stuff for a few hours by lamplight until I couldn't keep my eyes open. I. WAS. EXHAUSTED. I would go to bed, waking up briefly every few hours to feed the little man, and then get up at 5:30 and start it all over again.

I know it's not the same story for all working moms. Some ladies need to work. I get that. It would most likely be a different story now that many variables are different - we're back in our house, Jack is sleeping like a champ (12-14 hour stretches, folks!), Dan is working from home, etc. But for me that feeling of working SO HARD to constantly feel like I was behind with everything, feeling like I wasn't able to give 100% to being a teacher AND 100% to being a mom, feeling guilty and sad that I didn't have the energy to hang out with my best friend, feeling like I didn't have any energy left to be a good wife or do dishes or laundry, wanting desperately to find the time to go for a run or to make something crafty...all that was too much for me to deal with. I felt like Jesse Spano from Saved by the Bell, when she was freaking out that there wasn't enough time to sing and study and hang out with AC Slater, and nearly OD'ed on caffeine pills. Yeah, it was that dramatic, except caffeine pills were not in the mix for me.

Now I am in the process of figuring out how to be a productive SAHM. Holla! (Stay At Home Mama, for those of you in the dark on that one!) More to come on that one later...

All of this said, it's still not an easy decision. I have loved being a teacher for the past 5 years.

I will miss having a desk. A messy desk, but a desk, nonetheless.

I loved writing the daily schedule on the board. Weird teachery thing to like, I know.

I will miss designing fun projects to learn about science, like this one on the Earth's interior. They were all very proud of their work once they all put their pieces together.

I already miss my friends who will be heading back to work on Monday! A part of me still feels like I will be heading back to school this fall. I wonder when it will really sink in.

pure michigan

2010-08-12T10:51:00.005-07:00

After spending the last three falls in the one-season wonder of San Francisco, I am very much looking forward to Michigan's fall! Don't get me wrong, I love the fog and chill of SF, but there is something about the change of seasons that is great to be a part of. I've loved all these gorgeous warm (and hot!) summer days, but I am already looking forward to the wind blowing a bit chillier, wearing pants again (oh, how I miss pants!), and watching the leaves turn colors! Who else is stoked for fall around here???

We would watch the Pure Michigan ads in California, and yearn for fall! I love that Tim Allen does the voice-overs, although I find myself waiting at the end for him to do his manly grunt thing from Home Improvement...

In September we are heading up to Mackinac Island with my family where my dad, Dan and I are going to to run the 8-mile race around the island. Perhaps that way I won't feel so bad for eating so much fudge! And since we'll be up that way, I'm thinking we'll do an extended trip to Tahquamenon Falls. I've been to the western part of the upper peninsula, but have never really spent time near the eastern side. I mean, Sufjan Stevens wrote a song about this place, so I am thinking we need to go there!

Won't it be so beautiful in the fall?! We'll camp there! Oh, I am excited!

cross this one off the list

2010-08-10T18:36:00.000-07:00

I asked Dan to describe his fondness of pickles. He responded, "I wouldn't describe it as a fondness. I would never go looking for a pickle."

Needless to say at this point, but my taste-testing judge will be a hard one to win over...

I made a lot of promises with these pickles that I've been talking about making for months now. The day has come. I used the super simple 5-minute dill pickle recipe. The photograph in the magazine was lovely, and they looked delicious. Who knows though, they could be airbrushed Styrofoam logs. Uh oh, I hope that's not the case. I did have to do some improvisation as the liquid didn't fill both containers sufficiently. Hope that's not a bad omen.

We'll see...

The cucumbers, quartered and ready for their new lives as pickles.

Now we wait. It says they'll be ready in 24 hours. We. Shall. See.

TO BE CONTINUED...

UPDATE:

THESE PICKLES WERE DELICIOUS! Crispy, crunchy, dill-y goodness! Thank you, Dear Jessica, for reminding me to post the recipe!

Since they turned out, I think you should try them too!

ALMOST HANDS-FREE PICKLES (via Real Simple)

Makes 16 spears Hands-On Time: 5 minutes!

Ingredients

* 4 Kirby cucumbers (about 1 pound), quartered lengthwise
* 3/4 cup white wine vinegar
* 1/4 small sweet onion (such as Vidalia or Walla Walla), thinly sliced
* 2 cloves garlic, smashed
* 2 tablespoons sugar
* 1 teaspoon dill seed (and I threw in some fresh dill too!)
* 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
* 1 bay leaf
* kosher salt

Directions

1. Place the cucumbers in a 1-quart jar or some other container with a tight- fitting lid.

2. In a bowl, combine the vinegar, onion, garlic, sugar, dill seed, peppercorns, bay leaf, 2 teaspoons salt, and ¾ cup hot tap water. Stir until the sugar dissolves.

3. Pour the vinegar mixture into the jar with the cucumbers, cover, and refrigerate for at least 1 day before serving. The pickles will last up to 1 week.

5-4-3-2-1

2010-08-10T07:31:00.003-07:00

FIVE...blogs I'm loving: New Dress A Day, Style-for-Style, Jamonlandia, Ohdeedoh, and Craft Magazine

FOUR...things I'm thinking about: hilltop Italian villages, my delicious vanilla latte, how good I feel after my morning run (the first run in a few weeks!), and wondering how long my little Jack will sleep during his nap right now

THREE...items I really like: this wine tote, this little framed poster, and this Marc by Marc dress

TWO...songs I've been enjoying: Home (She & Him), and Postcards from Italy (Beirut)

ONE...thing I will do today: I will check off all things on my to-do list!

Join the 5-4-3-2-1 wave and leave a link in the comments section!

...it's been a year!

2010-08-09T11:15:00.005-07:00

On Saturday Jackson Wyatt Kastner turned one!

He helped decorate for his big party. He was quite particular where the balloons went...

I decided to keep the decorations simple and the menu fitting for a summer birthday - a red, black and white BBQ! I had so much fun making all of the decorations, and Jack's grandmas helped out with the food!

Jack's hand-embroidered "I'm 1" onesie

the birthday banner

The cupcakes! I even designed the little labels!

I didn't take many pictures throughout the party, but here are Dianne and Diego - they came to celebrate with "The Sheriff" all the way from Spain!

Ask Jack to smile, and you get something like this (photo from Simon)

Jack was quite the social butterfly, mingling with all of his party guests. It was actually so entertaining to watch, seeing how little ones are quite unpredictable. I did get some snuggling in with the birthday boy though!

I can't say enough how much fun we had celebrating an amazing year with many of our closest friends and family! Everyone lives scattered all over the world, and it just felt so good to be back in our home, with so many people that we love in one place! We wish all of our west coast friends could have been here too!

And what's a 1-year-old's birthday party without seriously enjoying some cake??? (photo from Dianne)

What an amazing year! Hoping time slows down a bit, and the next year doesn't happen so fast...

SHARK WEEK BABY!

2010-08-05T16:50:00.004-07:00

I love sharks. I always have been so fascinated by birds and sharks. (hence the bloggity blog title!) Jack's 1st birthday is just a few days away! It is right and just and perfect that Jack was born during Shark Week. (You do know what Shark Week is, right???) Too bad they don't have this in his size! haha

Here's our little shark, fresh out of the tub...

HAPPY SHARK WEEK!

more painted wood, friends

2010-07-28T18:13:00.004-07:00

I am on an old wood painting kick here, folks! I feel like I'm seeing this a lot everywhere, which isn't a bad thing. I am an emphatic natural wood fan, but seeing how our house has the original wood floors and woodwork throughout the house, adding some colorful painted wood breaks it up and adds some needed excitement for their respective rooms.

Do I sound a bit defensive about painting wood? I have no idea why I feel like I have to explain myself away here about painting old dressers. I swear painting it was giving this ol' hum drum hutch a new life!

We snagged her up at the Goodwill Midnight Madness sale where everything was 1/2 off! Score!

I've had that lampshade made of slides for a handful of years, and I've always thought it would look good on a yellow table, in a yellow room, or just near something yellow...

Something yellow

Such fun! And my shower curtains came in the mail today. Never thought I would be giddy getting shower curtains in the mail! But, they are perfect and worthy of some serious excitement. Pictures soon!

trial and error

2010-07-26T16:19:00.003-07:00

Baby Mouth Experiment # 56: Sand at the beach

collage not college

2010-07-25T16:04:00.003-07:00

We've had this old window just hanging out on our front porch for quite some time. Classy, I know. We have no idea where the window once belonged, but its life under/on the porch had not been easy on her. I've had plans for that window, and finally talking turned into action this weekend.

My old window collage was so easy to make! I sanded it, threw on a fresh coat of paint, added two eyelet screws on the top, and then some wire to hang it with. I got some magnets from Michael's craft supply store, and grabbed the nearest pictures we had laying around! Voila!

It's going to be so easy to swap out the pictures whenever we feel like it!

Here's the whole wall the collage is a part of in the dining room.

magic wands and decorating

2010-07-24T06:40:00.004-07:00

We're still in the midst of getting the house in order. Finding the perfect pieces of furniture and perfect knick-knacks for every shelf. I had the unrealistic expectation to have the whole house put together before Jack's birthday party. Like I said, unrealistic. I wish I had a magic wand to paint every room the desired colors. That would just be perfect.

(I think the idea of magic wands is on my mind because I just read a post from Pacing the Panic Room with Ryan's review of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Quoting the fantastic Liz Lemon, "I WANT TO GO TO THERE!")

I just found a stack of French alphabet cards that I've had socked away for years. Trying to figure out how to display them in Jack's room...maybe picture frames? Hmmm...

And here is a sneak peek at the decorations I'm making for Jack's party...

Coming soon-ish...our "Home...again!" photo tour!

great summer days...

2010-07-21T18:03:00.002-07:00

After Jack's first swim class at the Y (which was FUN and a complete success for the little fishy) and he was down for a nap, I made a list of things I want to do/accomplish in the next few weeks. It's a long list, which is slightly overwhelming, but it felt good to anchor down some thoughts of things I want to do on a piece of paper. I physically feel more relaxed and less anxious when I make a list. Anyone else love lists like I do?

High up on my diverse list, which ranges from birthday party planning for Jack to getting to know Adobe Illustrator better, was to make some dill pickles. I have been wanting to do this for SO LONG and while perusing the August issue of Real Simple (one of my fave mags), I saw a REAL SIMPLE (ha!) recipe for dill pickles! MMMMMM!!!

Dan, Jack and I spent a couple hours this afternoon walking around the many antique shops of Kalamazoo, which is definitely one of my favorite past times. I found some fabric which I think I am going to make some kitchen curtains that cover up the lower portion of the windows.

Cute, right?

THEN, I spent some time tonight in the Vine Neighborhood Garden. SUCH AN AMAZING THING! Love at first sight! It's free for our community and one of many neighborhood gardens in Kalamazoo. You put in time planting, weeding and loving on the garden and you get healthy, fresh, pesticide-free yummies! I spent a chunk of time weeding tonight and came home with some goodies I harvested in the process. Of all the things ready to be harvested, I was SO EXCITED that there were cucumbers! I CAN MAKE MY PICKLES! Woo hoo!

Walking home, we live just a few blocks away from the garden, I was so completely happy! Enjoying the breeze of a summer evening, friendly neighbors, reflecting on a great day, loving life back in Kalamazoo, planning birthday fun for Dan (TOMORROW HE IS 33!) and Jack...I walked in the door and Dan had cleaned and rearranged the kitchen so I have counter space and the mess from the day was GONE!

LIFE IS GOOD!

incredible fake edibles

2010-07-20T10:05:00.003-07:00

I've said it before, and I'll say it again...I. LOVE. BIRTHDAYS. Not just my own, I love them all! Now as we approach Jack's 1st birthday, I am having a hard time not buying him a million things. The thing is, I don't want him to have "a million things", drowning in a sea of toys. I want things to be special and have meaning. Especially those plastic toys that make crazy noises and are simply buttons to mindlessly push over. and over. and over.

I am all about wooden toys and handcrafted treasures that stimulate the imagination. I just saw on ohdeedoh IKEA's latest addition to their fast growing kids' collection. Plush Play Food!!!!

My personal dilemma is that I've been eyeing such things on Etsy, which have been loving handcrafted by individuals, but they are so expensive there! *Sigh* These are simply amazing, and Jack doesn't know it, but they've been added to his birthday wish list!

he grows and grows

2010-07-18T10:48:00.005-07:00

So Jack is quickly approaching his 1st Birthday! Very exciting. We'll be celebrating with a party I'm currently planning. I wish all friends near and far could come, but alas, that is not the case. I put together a wee little video invitation. Those who've been begging for vids of the lad walking, here you go.

Jack's gonna be 1 on August 7!

And for a refresher of what baby Jack was like...

I see the future

2010-06-24T17:46:00.002-07:00

A few years ago I made a blog post with two videos I found on YouTube. Video #1: a video from ThunderAnt that makes me smile and laugh. Video #2: A song from St. Vincent, whom I still dearly love.

Here's where my psychic abilities come into play. For St. Vincent's new song she used ThunderAnt (Fred and Carrie) for the video. I knew they were all meant to be together.

Watch the video, it's good.

ThunderAnt

St. Vincent

ceiling fan woes...

2010-06-19T06:54:00.005-07:00

Ceiling fans. Not the biggest fan, (haha, no pun intended, but re-reading it before I posted it I find my subconscious self funny!) but I have been inspired to find cute ones.

Design*Sponge never fails with the goodies. Their round-up of amazing ceiling fans gives me hope!

Ick. Quite expensive! Nothing under $200 and my faves are upwards of $600. I have now been inspired to find a cheap one, like this one maybe? (Still more money than I'd like to fork over! Or I could always find ways to improve upon an old ugly one, like my friend Laura. She seems to be constantly revamping ugly stuff into chic and trendy stuff using glue, spray paint and elbow grease. Check out this chandelier make-over! Impressive. This just may be the budget-friendly route I need to take.

to make a house a home

2010-06-18T17:31:00.005-07:00

We're all back together. Currently 8:30, and the thunderstorm is like an old friend. (We won't be friends anymore if the basement floods!)

I am sitting in the midst of boxes upon boxes upon boxes. *deep breath* It'll get organized. It's just so hard trying to juggle a fussy little sweaty baby with a cold who only wants to snuggle and unpack these darn boxes.

I have a HUGE LIST of bloggable (that should be a word if it's not already) topics...

-home decorating ideas/inspiration/projects
-home renovations
-exciting things to do in Michigan
-baby sleep issues...
-clothes and such I'd like to spend money on
-job hunt stuffff/internal debate - to work or not to work?
-gardening/yard and patio planning
-crafting projects of all sorts

That's just the tip of the iceberg. So yes, this weekend we will be tackling these boxes whether they like it or not. The list on my phone of "things to do" is getting ridiculous. And I got the Target app for my iPhone. Whoa. Not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. I like it so far!

I fall asleep thinking of paint colors for rooms and items I am on the hunt for. Once we get things in place I am going to take before pictures of every room because this house is getting a serious face lift. It'll happen slowly, but things are a' changin' around here!

These are the roses that were, and now only sort of are, in our front yard. I wish they were as flourishing as they once were. Can't wait to plant more flowers and plan out the yard!

last night in SF

2010-06-06T22:39:00.003-07:00

It's my last night here in SF. Jack and I fly out at 7 in the morning, I am surrounded by moving boxes filling our apartment in all directions...and it still hasn't really set in that we're really leaving this city.

Dan and I are sitting on the couch putting together all the parts of SF city life we are going to miss: walking to Three Twins Ice Cream, Mythic Pizza, St. Francis Fountain, Four Barrel coffee, Little Chihuahua (the best quesadillas anywhere!), Twin Peaks, the Marin headlands, fog, Doe (my favorite little shop for all things wonderful, now called Merch), amazing people doing amazing things, Golden Produce our cute neighborhood organic grocery store), Blue Bottle, Big Lantern Chinese food, the Creatures, Duboce Park, the panhandle, Golden Gate Park, seeing double features at the AMC Van Ness, Sushi Zone, the 77 Shop, El Camino High School, and of course our dear dear friends.

SF is our second home. This isn't goodbye (I hate those), it's just see you later.

Michigan, we'll see you soon. We're exited for the art hops, farmers' market, Just Good Food, Fandango (tapas!), Saffron, thunderstorms, BBQs, Lake Michigan........

I'm with Knope!

2010-05-31T20:08:00.003-07:00

You probably already know this, but I am a total nerd for Amy Poehler. The whole cast of 'Parks and Recreation' are amazing funny talented folk. Thursday nights are my favorite night of TV. We call it Thursday Thursday around here, and will schedule things around this amazing chunk of television - Community, Parks and Rec, The Office, and 30 Rock - even though we have DVR that could record it. Now that is the MO of true fans!

Get this - I have to wait until JANUARY to see the next season of my favorite show out of the bunch! (YES! IT'S BETTER THAN THE OFFICE THESE DAYS AND I LOVE LOVE LOVE THAT SHOW!) UGH! NBC! You're blowing it!

If you haven't watched any episodes, watch them online. SO. STINKING. FUNNY!

Are you a fan too? There are blogs and petitions and twitter profiles and facebook pages all geared toward supporting such a good show. I'm on it. You should be too!

SIGN THE PETITION

JOIN THE FACEBOOK GROUP

FOLLOW THE BLOG

FRIEND THE TWITTER FAN SITE

WOW! I AM SUCH A NERRRRRD!

could I be more excited? Probably

2010-05-31T11:12:00.008-07:00

Were someone to give me lots of money or amazing food I would be more excited than I am right now. But this is pretty exciting...

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World Official Trailer from Lucas Siegel on Vimeo.

And if you're wanting more, there is another trailer here

And here is my avatar I created. Make one too!

summer ch-ch-changes

2010-05-30T18:46:00.003-07:00

Well, after some serious debate I figured I'd just do it. And I did. Well, technically my friend Bella did.

BEFORE

AFTER

I am thinking I'll even go a bit lighter blonde after see how it looks in a few weeks. I love the cut, a definite easy summer 'do. I've spent the last day looking in the mirror and debating if I like the color. It's what I wanted, but not sure how well it suits me. Eh, it's fun. I think I'll be a brunette again in the fall. For now, we'll see if my blonde ambition really means there will be more fun in my life.

the world gets bigger every day

2010-05-23T21:23:00.002-07:00

With it being the end of the school year, we are moving across the country in two weeks, I am trying to figure out my job situation for the next year, etc., we find ourselves so busy these days. I love in the midst of such chaos, we suddenly find ourselves in the middle of moments that make us want to figure out how to slow down time.

For the first time, once being put in the grass, Jack crawled around and loved it. It took us rolling around and rubbing our hands in it to convince him. Once we did that, he rubbed his hands in it and started laughing. Like ridiculously adorable laughter that made people stop on the sidewalk and watch this baby discover warm grass for the first time. It just melted my heart. I truly love being this little guy's mom.

Jack in the grass

Dan in the grass

He's amazing us every single day. He's 9.5 months and crawling like crazy. Crazy speed crawling. It's fun to watch. He insists on feeding himself and LOVES to eat just about anything - hummus on toast and cheesy baby raviolis are his faves. He climbs on anything and everything. He loves seeing himself in the mirror. He loves jumping (bouncing, really) in his crib. He cruises as he stands, bracing himself on the couch or the entertainment stand. He plays with his trucks and trains, using them as skates for his hands as he crawls around super fast. He loves being outside, especially when it's sunny and the wind blows his hair back. He's just starting to wave to other people, he's been waving at himself in the mirror for awhile now. He loves bath time so much. When the water is running he stands outside the tub, holding the edge, standing and bouncing in anticipation. Oh, and the clapping. Everything I've listed thus far is punctuated with clapping. All clapping, all the time.

AND!!! Today he said his first word!!! Da-da! We were so excited! I was nursing him before bed, he suddenly grabbed my leg and stood up and started waving toward the door. He was babbling along, and I thought I heard Da-da somewhere in there. He said it again, and again. Then Dan came in, and Jack was clapping and bouncing all over the place. Dan got in the bed and Jack basically tackled him. It was as if he was celebrating that Daddy heard him call. He just kept saying it over and over. Da-da! Da-da! He was already up past his usual bedtime, and the boy could not fall asleep. He wanted to celebrate, I think.

We celebrate new things every day around here. I love it.

to cut or not to cut...

2010-05-19T19:02:00.004-07:00

The time has come. Well, I don't know. I've been growing my hair out for about 10 months now, and I am feeling the need to chop it off. I think many of us ladies go through these cycles. I know I always am. I really wanted to grow it out longer, but I am such an impatient person! AH!

Need. To. Cut. Hair.

Other than being one of my favorite actresses, Michelle Williams is quite the beautiful lady. I don't want to be like those people who take in a picture of a celebrity and say, "Make me look like this!" BUT I kind of want to take this picture into my go-to guy here in SF and say, "Make me look like this!!!"

Yeah, I am thinking about DYING MY HAIR! I've never done it, and I think a change would be fun. I can always dye it back, right? I am feeling quite adventurous today.

Hmmm...Can a person be indecisive and impulsive all at the same time? These battling feelings are giving me a headache. I can't decide! Mama needs a Shandy!

and back we go

2010-05-18T20:02:00.003-07:00

Our little Kastner clan is heading back to the Midwest! It's bittersweet, saying goodbye to San Francisco. Sharing the past three years with our friends here has been something I am proud to say we've done. I wouldn't be the same person had we not lived here. The last three years have been HUGE for us - we got married, had amazing jobs, traveled, and welcomed our amazing baby boy into the world.

Reasons moving is okay (In no particular order...):

1. We will be dodging the next earthquake.
2. Watch TV (Awards Shows, Sports Games, Dancing with the Stars) without a three hour delay - no east coast spoilers on Facebook/Twitter etc.
3. Seasons! AUTUMN! WINTER! YAY!
4. Jack and Blitz get a yard!
5. I get a garden!
6. No more skateboards and yappy dogs RIGHT OUTSIDE our bedroom window, waking up Jack all the time!
7. No more one-bedroom cave/shoebox! We will have a HOUSE with DOORS between rooms!
8. We don't have to turn off all the lights and whisper after 6 pm! Jack gets his own room!
9. No more driving around for 30 minutes trying to find a parking spot!
10. Living in a place where mortgage there is half our rent here!

...and OF COURSE...we will be closer to our families, which is so very important to raise Jack around all of them. We miss them so much!

I could make a huge list of all the things and people we're going to miss in San Francisco. I'll save that for another post. For now, we are simply looking forward to the move. It's happening soon too! Early June, we will be in the Mitten again.

triggering lovely memories

2010-05-15T14:11:00.003-07:00

It's so funny how seeing something, hearing a song, or smelling something so familiar can trigger things you haven't thought about in so long. "That human brain is a crazy complex thing!" (That's a direct quote from one of my students as we were reviewing the many parts/functions of the brain for their test on the nervous system. Cute.)

Well, as I was shopping this week for a friend's birthday gift, I stumbled on these earrings by the company 'Viv & Ingrid'. I couldn't help but smile as a flood of memories of college and the smell of old books came rushing in.

Let me explain...

I spent the first few years of college working in the University Library. I worked at the circulation desk, worked in the "Reserves" department where I had to keep Professor's books organized and labeled so students could come and check them out for short periods of time, I had to re-shelf books (the worst job ever!), and TOO OFTEN I had to type out letters, stuff envelopes, and FILE all the letters for those students who had serious fines for late and/or lost books.

Wow. I haven't thought about this job in so long! The frustration and boredom is all coming back. My sophomore year I convinced my friend Michelle to work at the library, as she was looking for a job. We would get so incredibly bored that we would spend our shifts back in the fines/fees department using the typewriter to write each other letters back and forth. For whatever reason all the student employees had mailboxes, and the only mail we ever got were the letters we wrote back and forth to each other. Had any of our supervisors found out, they probably would have cared less. At any rate, we decided to use code names so the letters could never be traced back to us. Michelle became Vivian, and I became Ingrid. We created these characters who blossomed into a couple of ladies from the 40's who worked at the library and would gossip about their ridiculous bosses, and only cared about martinis, smoking cigarettes, red lipstick, men, and simply being fabulous. Not wanting our friend Dianne to be out of the picture, we asked her to come up with a character - she became Poppy, a socialite who didn't need to work and would visit the ladies at their job. Viv & Ingrid would often mention Poppy in the letters. For our birthdays that year, I got Michelle a cigarette case with 'Vivian' engraved on it, and she got me martini glasses and cocktail napkins. It's blowing my mind a bit to think that was almost 10 years ago!

Needless to say, seeing those earrings by that company made me laugh, and ALMOST miss those hours in the library just a bit.

so ready for this...

2010-05-14T20:42:00.003-07:00

I spend parts of my day wishing for the summer. Wishing for no more papers to grade. No more lesson planning. No more coaxing angsty teenagers to do their work. (I could go on...)

Dan and I got out for our first date night in months. (This really could be another post - 'On the Importance of Date Nights with your Husband' or 'Why is it a Surprise that Going on a Date with your Husband is Exactly What you Needed?')

Keeping it to the point, we went to Starbelly in the Castro here in SF and it was completely amazing. I'd gone there with my bff a few weeks before, and was very impressed! I love finding new restaurants! I actually ordered the same exact meal on both occasions, save the drink I ordered on my date night with the husband. I ordered a Shandy, and it changed my life. Wow. I exaggerate. Just a slight exaggeration, though. It really was amazing and swept me away to summer days on a porch, sipping a Shandy and listening to my recently whipped-up "Summer Jamzzz 2010" playlist. (At this point, it should be clear that summer vacation is a mere few weeks away.)

What's a SHANDY???

Basically...

2 parts beer (Starbelly used Drake's, and I will too!)

1 part LEMONADE!!!

Mmmmmmm!!!!

I'm going to play around with the "recipe"...fill you in on details later!

oh yeah, this one is getting cuter

2010-05-14T19:56:00.004-07:00

I know we all thought it was not possible for Jack Jack to get cuter. But it's happening every day.

lots of crawling

lots of exploring

followed by lots of chillin'

I've tried to get him to slow down in the growing department, but it's a no go. He plans on growing up too fast.

ah, an important message to share

2010-05-14T19:51:00.004-07:00

An amazing message. An adorable video. A great song by Tilly and the Wall. Spread this one around!

science-y things round-up

2010-05-09T18:42:00.004-07:00

Being a high school science teacher I feel inclined toward all things science. Total geek, I know. I'm okay with this. It's not like I am like that teacher from the "Magic School Bus" books.

I lean towards such amazing things as these...

I just finished up a unit on Viruses and Bacteria with my Biology students. I've seen these plush bacteria at different gift shops at the science museums of SF. I like putting a cute spin on things that can really wreak some havoc in the world.

And while we're talking plush, the folks at iheartguts.com making the gross squishy things inside our bodies cute and squishy. I love that heart!

I found this fabric on Spoonflower.com. Just need to figure out what I want to make with it!

Oh! I know! I can use the fabric to make a cute bag to hold these. I am in love with these blocks!

AND. THIS. NECKLACE. IS. ADORABLE! I need to convince my best friend to be a nerd! I don't think it'll take much convincing! It's so cute!

These pencils on Etsy are amazing! Being a lover of pencils and stationary, I'd totally ditch my Dixon Ticonderoga #2 soft for these little gems.

There it is. That's my dose of science-y things today. Can't wait to share my crafty science projects that are in the making!

helping out.

2010-04-09T20:07:00.006-07:00

I've been a big fan of Satsuma Press since I received a beautiful letterpress card from a friend a while back. Now following her blog, I've found out about her son Liam. Although I don't know him personally, it is clear that he is an amazing 5 year old boy. His mom provides a great explanation here.

And yeah, his Wall-E costume has to be one of my all-time faves.

Their family is in need of some help to remodel their bathroom to make it fully accessible for Liam. I wish I personally had enough money for them to make this happen, but I don't. Every little bit helps, so if you're reading this and able to help out, please, please do! Help out at We Love Liam.

and the lows

2010-03-23T20:07:00.004-07:00

Lots of students have been asking me if I like being a teacher, and more often than not the not-so-silent-but-silent undertone of their question is "Why the hell would you choose this job?!" My answer is usually "most days," but lately I am feeling like it's about a 50/50 love/hate sort of situation.

I could sum up my frustration in one sentence: I HATE that students will do anything to avoid thinking. Being my 5th year teaching high school, I've seen many students trying to get around that aspect of their education. I get that not everyone is going to be a nerd like me and WANT to learn. I get that biology isn't the most exciting class for everyone. I get that slapping students upside the head with a ruler is wrong, and something I must avoid at all costs. But there are days. Sometimes weeks, lately. Days and weeks where I want to throw in the towel and pick up some job where I can escape my frustrations and NOT THINK! hmmmm...

BUT, thinking is important. And essential. And fun. I work so hard putting together fun activities, presenting information in many different ways, showing relevant film and articles, putting together thought-provoking and interactive webquests, crafting assignments and labs that make them think and are hands on...

What about their end of the deal? When will they take accountability? The wheels are spinning out in my brain trying to conjure up ways to get students to THINK, to teach them in a way where they are no longer leaving the analysis questions blank, to change their habits in a way where their first instinct is not to look to their neighbors' papers for the answers, to not be happy with barely passing with a D, to take pride in their work, to study in a way where they don't have to do eenie-minie-moe for the majority of the test questions, to not jump so quickly to google "examples of mutualism" after I just shared definitions in their notes and pointed out examples in articles they have in front of them, and to realize how stupid it is to turn in the same work as someone else ESPECIALLY when their answer to the question "Based on annual precipitation and temperature, what biome would you like to live in next March?" is DISNEYLAND. This has escalated in such a way where it's not just a handful of students throughout the day, or a few students in each class...it's the majority of the students I see day in and day out.

Where does this start? At home...in the community...in the media...technology is in your face with answers for everything. Thinking is lost. Ugh. I used to be a great speller. I got 2nd place in the 3rd grade spelling bee! (I botched it, intentionally leaving off an 'F' in giraffe to win the 2nd place prize of a microscope.) But my point is that I now suck at spelling. I rely on spellcheck. No thinking. Oh my goodness. I am tapping into something bigger than the rant/venting session that I had set out to indulge in. (AH! I JUST SPELLED IT ENDULGE!)

deep. breath.

There are just three more days until spring break. I can make it. I am in desperate need of relaxation and recharging my patience and energy levels. Balancing life as a teacher and a mom and a wife is hard stuff. I need to fly to Michigan and hug my mom. (She did an amazing job at this tricky balancing act!) I need time to brainstorm and ready myself for the homestretch of the semester. In three days I will be basking in the love of my family and friends in Michigan. I really can't wait!

St. Patrick's Day

2010-03-16T20:27:00.004-07:00

Every time St. Patrick's Day comes around I think of my Grandpa and Grandma Hallman. I really can't believe it's been 13 years since my grandpa passed away, and 10 since Grandma lost her own battle with cancer. I miss both of them so much. They were such amazing people and I really would have loved to get for them to get to know me as an adult, meet Dan, and Jack too of course.

I have this picture in our living room, and I simply love the way my grandpa is looking at my grandma. Such a beautiful picture of two very beautiful people.

Check out the cutest leprechaun in the world!

7 months old...

2010-03-06T23:45:00.004-08:00

Our little man is seven months old. Wow. You hear it time and time again that "kids grow up so fast," but watching it unfold right in front of my eyes makes it so real, and so completely true. February, while it was a short month, was a big one for JackJack, as we lovingly call him these days. It's hard to wrap my brain around the fact that he's already seven months old. After watching the Olympics we're trying to figure out what event to devote Jack's life to, seeing how we have to start very young for him to get an early edge on the competition. Skeleton, bobsled, and luge are out. Too scary. We're thinking hockey, nordic combined, or snowboarding. Hockey is really gaining momentum in popularity, nordic combined involves shooting (and he seems like he'd be a good shot), and snowboarding would really help his popularity among peers. It's hard to choose, but we'll keep you all updated as we weigh out the pros and cons for our top 3 picks.

He is just so full of energy and personality. We see this more and more every day. Over the past month he's been sprouting his first tooth (bottom front right), which as of today is being joined by its neighbor. This past week he's been fighting off his first cold, which has been a battle for him. We've felt so terrible as he's terribly coughing and looking at us as if wondering, "Is this how life is going to be now??" Watching him experience everything for the first time makes one really appreciate life and truly see it with fresh eyes.

Check out those pearly whites poking through

He has quickly become a very mobile baby. He's got his army crawl down, so he can efficiently get across the room to whatever it is he probably shouldn't get into...shoes and steps are ever-so appealing for the little one. What really gets him moving is if he sees anything with a screen (i.e. laptops, iPhones, etc.) or a remote. We now have an old remote for him to enjoy, which he does very much. His favorite thing is to stand and bounce. It shocks people to see him do this...apparently a baby his age isn't normally doing this. He will crawl up to us on the couch, grab us, and stand up all by himself (while holding onto us, of course!). Dan loves to make obstacle courses of pillows and blankets for him to climb over, I think in an effort to slow Jack down...but that doesn't work.

Standing

obstacle course
His first month of solid foods has been a lot of fun. The boy loves his veggies, but fruit isn't too exciting yet. Pureed apples and bananas make him gag...hopefully that's not the case forever because he'll never be able to sing "I love to eat, eat eat apples and bananas" with a smile on his face. :)

I could really go on and on, we just love our little baby so much!

projects...

2010-03-05T20:52:00.004-08:00

I have a million unfinished craft projects right now. Between home and school I haven't much time to even think about them...laundry is piling up again, and I am getting behind in grading stuff...AGAIN! Ugh, don't even want to think about that on this nice and cozy Friday night as I am nestled in my favorite corner of the couch with a happily sleeping baby in his crib, husband rubbing my feet, and drinking a Blue Moon.

What I do want to think about are the creative things that are patiently waiting for me on my quaint crafting shelves..,and the projects that have just piqued my interest.

Very excited to replicate these pillows to add to our cozy couch.

And I have so much spare fabric that I am always wondering just what to do with. A project like this would be a perfect use for that fabric, and an adorable addition for Jack's room. (That is when we have a place where he has his own room...) So easy, just cut the fabric, spray mount, and frame!

nasty cold and a new friend

2010-03-01T17:10:00.003-08:00

Jack's newest friend. Meet Nutty Buddy. They became fast friends, are nap companions, exersaucer pals, and all-around chums. Nutty Buddy came at a time of need for Jack, as he met his newest enemy as well. The cold. There is nothing sadder than this little man's coughs and runny nose. He's got no clue what's hit him, he probably thinks this is how life is going to be now. Restless sleep, constant fussiness, and a cough that rattles his baby bones. Wish there was something I could do to really make it all go away, but this is just the first in a lifetime of colds. He remains a very happy camper between coughs and fits of sleep-deprived teething sniffly sadness.

you see that little tooth??

plants

2010-02-20T20:13:00.003-08:00

I never really make New Year's resolutions, but this year I seem to have made a few. Okay, a lot.

#3452 Keep house plants alive.

I've never been good at keeping plants alive. I'll currently blame it on the cave of an apartment we live in. These were my favorites, and I was doing so well. We left for a week to get married, and came back to dead/dying plants. Forgot to tell the dog sitter to water them, I guess.

Exhibit A:

I am thinking ferns. I've heard they don't need much sun. And there's one forever imprinted on my arm.

yum yum, eat it up

2010-02-20T14:15:00.004-08:00

So Jack is about three weeks into the world of solid foods. I've really been loving making the baby food. The benefits are endless...Not only is it a lot of fun and a sense of accomplishment, it's also so much cheaper than buying baby food in jars. I know what exactly is going into everything, and preparing fresh vegetables and fruit is so healthy for this little human being. If you're on your way to such endeavors, I suggest a helpful website: Wholesome Baby Food A great step-by-step manual, easy to navigate and seek answers to questions you may have.

I've been keeping a "Baby Food Diary" recording the "recipes" I've been using, when he was first introduced to the food, and his like/dislike. (So far, he likes everything!) I find it so useful, as you're supposed to wait 3-5 days to introduce new foods to see if there is any allergic reaction. I am packing my brain full these days, and I can't imagine just trying to remember when he's been introduced to what...

This dude loves to eat...

the perfect Valentine...

2010-02-14T10:47:00.004-08:00

It's Tom Haverford from Parks and Recreation. He's my favorite person on TV right now. I wish I could send this to him!

And I made some more...really, it didn't take long to do.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2010-02-13T16:53:00.005-08:00

V-Day '10!

It's our first V-day with little Jack! Love this guy SO MUCH! I can't even express the love that radiates from my heart all because of this little dude!

I know Valentine's Day is a Hallmark holiday...blah, blah, blah. I think it's a great day to celebrate with the people you love. While trying to get a little man to nap, while Dan was at work today, I tried to whip this up. Neatness I get an F! It's pretty messy, but I think it's pretty cute.

Is this thing on?

2010-02-11T19:37:00.003-08:00

Hello, my name is Emily and this is my blog. Remember me? It's almost been two months. Since Dec 12 (my last post), the hectic Christmas season came and gone, and then I was back at work. And that's exactly where I've been. Bouncing back and forth between work and home. From the moment I wake up to the moment I go to bed, I am one busy lady. Not complaining, of course. I signed up for this. It's just quite an abrupt switch from days at home with Jack, unplanned afternoons, meeting up with friends, and taking naps with an adorable baby to...up at 6 and on the go until I go to bed at 10.

Surprisingly though, it's been quite a smooth transition. Dan loves his days with Jack, and work isn't even remotely as hellish as I was preparing myself for. I actually like what I do, so that helps. There are moments, believe me, when I catch myself buried in papers to grade and wishing I was at home watching every moment of Jack growing up. But coming home to a baby who beams when I walk in the door is always very nice. He is growing so fast. His first tooth is coming in, he is scooting all over the place, laughing and babbling all the time, and eating his fill of his first solid foods of sweet potatoes and squash.

My first endeavor of making his food was fun, even though I had a mild freak out that our blender wasn't making as smooth of a consistency I wanted. The end product was perfect and Jack bounces in his highchair when food is coming his way. I love all these new milestones and moments we get to share!

Now that nighttime is more of a routine and he's sleeping better, I'll be posting more frequently.

the last 3 miles

2009-12-12T21:03:00.005-08:00

I am in the final stretch of Christmas gift making. It's like the last three miles of the half marathon I ran with my friend Emily. I need her standing next to me almost pulling me along. But that doesn't work so much in this context...I've resolved to make everything this year. I have made an exception and have purchased a few hand-made things, but I knew that I would seeing how I love to do a little Christmas shopping every year at the Bizarre Bazaar here in SF. So it's probably not the best year to make such a promise to myself, seeing how I have a new little man who'd rather cuddle and play and eat and sleep right next to me than have me do anything else that involves, well, anything else other than him. And I'm right there with him! Who could resist such a cuddle bug? He's getting cuter and bigger every day! He just fell in love with his feet, which is an adorable romance to observe. Sitting, tummy time, on his back...it now all involves finding those feet and trying (which involved many grunts) to get them to his mouth. Adorable.

Back to projects...although I can't quite divulge all the stuff that is crowding our dining room table, I can share some snippets about the advent calendar that I am making. I am using the tiny patterns that Mollie at Wild Olive posts on her blog. I should say that since I don't have a printer I've just drawn them on my own, but they're pretty darn close, if I do say so myself. This inspired me to jump into an advent calendar that can be in our family forever. We had one growing up, which I've seen in other people's homes as well.

Anyone have this?

Since it's in the works, here's a tiny sneak peak...

(That figgy pudding just melts my heart.)

The rest is going to involve a little of this and a little of that (specifically felt and ribbon...and metallic floss...ugh, that's a real peach to work with! ugh!)

It's a bit more of a complicated project than I should be devoting my time to, since I've still got SO MANY gifts to make! And next week is our last week here until we get head off to Michigan! As I am stealing away for moments that Jack is off spending time with his daddy, or napping, or happily playing with one of his favorite toys, I am off getting in a few stitches and just kicking myself for not getting all this done while I was lounging around pregnant all summer counting down until baby time!

WISH ME LUCK! Anyone else in a bit of a pickle-Christmastime-present-making-crunch? Somebody has to be a procrastinator too!!!

juggling it all...

2009-12-08T21:38:00.003-08:00

It's been one crazy week! Dan has been super busy with work, Jack has been on a sleep strike, trying to find time to get ready for Christmas (making gifts, decorating the apartment, etc.), doctor appointments, getting ready to head back to work in less than a month, etc.

And, I lost a really good friend. Robert Garrett was a Chemistry teacher at our school. He went to bed one night, and simply didn't wake up. He was healthy and happy and this was such an abrupt end. We all call him Garrett. Our science department is such a close knit group - family, really, so it's shocking to lose someone you're close with. He was also my neighbor. We'd carpool home from work sometimes, which were some of the funniest conversations we ever had. I really got to get him to open up and thus, got to know him really well. He was a guy who'd stick to his guns and I had a way of getting him to smile and un-Scrooging him! :) Dan and I would always bump into him at the grocery stpre or the video store. When he found out we were going to have a baby he was SO excited, and was the first person to give Jack baby toys when Jack was still in my belly. While I was pregnant he'd always use it to his advantage, weaseling me to the front of the food line at staff lunches/breakfasts. Seeing how I've been away all semester, it was weird not seeing him on a daily basis. He'd occasionally call to fill me in on good ol' work gossip. Man. Losing Garrett sucks. I really don't know how else to say it. I wish I'd taken pictures more often. He was a couple years shy of retiring and had grand plans ahead of him. I really can't stop thinking about it. His memorial is Thursday at Grace Cathedral here in SF. I am truly in a state of shock and denial. I think it'll be a great way to get closure, pay my respects and say goodbye to someone who I had really grown to love since moving here to SF a few years ago. I wish I would have told him exactly how I felt about him. I think he knew, I was never shy with hugs.

RIP, Garrett. Love you and miss you terribly already. I'll miss making you cake for your birthday in October, miss your gossip, your complaining, your excitement as you would always count down to your ski week in Whistler in February, riding in your Ford Explorer with your soap "air freshener", your tortoiseshell RayBans from the 80's (I know, I know, they're not "vintage" because you're not old!), smuggling wine into Elegant Evening in my purse because in your words, "No one will expect it from the pregnant lady!", you standing up eating your lunch every day, walking into work every morning and seeing you digging through the recycling because "people can't read and don't know how to recycle properly," the look on your face when Shannon and I would bring you lattes from Starbucks in the morning, the utter shock in your amazing voice when you'd say things like, "You know the kids these days are SEXTING? It's on their phones!" or "You guys heard about Twitter? They're all doing it!", your skills in front of the BBQ, your collection of tiny little toys your dad made that you had on display in your flat, looking up at the colorful pink, orange and yellow snowflakes in the windows of your flat all throughout winter when I pass your place. There are so many more memories, I could go on forever. I just want to write them all, so I can look back and remember you with such clarity and fondness. You're simply one of my favorite people and always will be.

there was a point to taking French in high school

2009-12-01T17:45:00.003-08:00

Even though many rendered taking French "useless" in high school, I have found many a great use for what I learned. I think those nay-sayers thought Spanish was a bit more practical. While I am squarely on the side of the fence that says all languages are wonderful, I think the cutest phrase I've ever known has been the French saying, Je t'aime mon petit chou. And now I've emblazoned it through the mighty craft of embroidery.

And those coffee lovers out there, who wouldn't love to drink from such a cute cup o'joe?

stitching away

2009-11-28T13:39:00.008-08:00

As I type this, I am laying in bed with Jack in an attempt to get the little man to have a solid nap. The past week or so he's been boycotting sleep for reasons he won't divulge. We think he's onto the fact that there is so much in the world to see, and he doesn't want to miss a thing. BUT, he needs sleep. So his thinking is simple (note: "his thinking" is me thinking how he probably thinks, of course): If I'm going to miss out seeing the world in order to sleep, so shall my mama. This explains why once he has nursed and seemingly fast asleep and I decide to ever-so-gracefully slip away, his precious baby hand lunges toward my chest with a deathgrip on my shirt, pulling me back to his side. If I comply with the deathgrip, he doesn't even bat an eye, just continues his peaceful slumber, dreaming of whatever babies dream of. BUT, if i choose to defy deathgrip, a battle shall ensue. It goes a little something like this: Baby whimpers. Mama hushes. Baby flails his arms. Mama pats his belly. Baby cries and cries. Mama lays down. Baby sleeps. There are moments when I win the battle and can slip away. Those moments don't last long. Usually it's the sound of the neighbor's skateboard, or the other neighbor's yappy dog who barks incessantly whenever she's outside, or firetrucks blaring down the street, or the guy passing by with the radio blasting in the shopping cart with wheels that terribly rattle...the list could go on, but those are the usual culprits ruining quiet time in the Kastner house.

It's a work in progress, figuring out this nap situation. Since he's taking 2-3 naps a day and bedtime starts around 6 or 7 when he starts to get tired, I feel like I am spending all my every days trying to get this baby to sleep. Meanwhile, I am getting so excited as I squeeze in moments here and there with my most favorite hobby - embroidery! I've been brainstorming and have begun to get serious about the Etsy shop I set up like 3 years ago! It's sitting empty, sadly, and it's about time I fill it up with all the things that have been floating around in my head!

Sneak preview of items I've been working on as I've been getting back into the swing of all things embroidery, and a few you may soon find at my Etsy shop, Pookaneeme.

(Huh? you question...Pooka-what? Pook-a-nee-me. It was my nickname as a kid. Pookie, for short)

I'll let you know when it's up and ready for action!

every color of the rainbow

my acquisition of the dining room table, where I sneak away periodically throughout the day

piles of stuff

my tool belt

venturing home

2009-11-21T11:23:00.005-08:00

Well, Jack and I ventured off to Michigan for his first trip to the Midwest. I was antsy for the weeks leading up to our visit, but since I was making the trip with Jack without Dan, I was a bit nervous as to how we'd inevitably have to get from point A to point B. As I booked the flight, I tried to figure out when would be the best time to fly with a 3 month old baby. I ended up booking a red eye, which was quite the gamble. I figured he's usually sleeping soundly at that point in the night, so he'd do the same on a plane. He was asleep in teh airport as I carried him around. Once we boarded, the bright lights and noise of passengers loading quickly woke up the little guy. I was fine with this because I was going to wake him up to feed him as we took off to help with his ears popping. As every person walked down teh aisle I was assessing my potential seat neighbor.

Internal monologue:

Oh, she looks friendly. (Keeps walking.)
Please not him. Please not him. (Sits down three rows up.)
Eh, that lady looks angry. Please don't sit down. Please don't sit down. (The row behind me.)

An older lady sits next to me and immediately says, "So why do you have your baby on this flight?" A million things ran through my mind..."Because he can't fly by himself," or "Yeah, I would have left him at home by himself, but I think that's a bad move." I explained to her that he's a great sleeper and usually sound asleep at this time and he'd hopefully sleep the whole way. She looked at me quite skeptically and put her coat on backwards, covering her face with her hood. Okay. Sweet dreams, lady.

The plane didn't start rolling for such a long time! I fed him and he seemed to be done before we even took off. FAIL! I was imagining him screaming as we took off and his ears were popping, or myself trying to force feed him and him spitting up all over me and CoatFace sitting next to me. Turns out, Jack proved to be amazing and SLEPT FOR THE ENTIRE 3 hour 44 min flight! The flight attendants weren't very helpful though. I couldn't put down the tray because Jack was sound asleep on my lap. When it came time to get a complementary drink and bag o' pretzels the flight attendant basically threw them at me. I was juggling a sleeping baby, and trying to QUIETLY open what proved to be a child-proof package of pretzels. I imagined them tearing open and spilling all over the unhelpful CoatFace. I had to abort the mission and threw the unopened bag on the ground. Sacrifice, people. Once we landed I stopped sweating. I slept a little bit on the flight, but certainly looked like a frazzled mess when I stepped off that plane. As I put Jack in the Baby Bjorn carrier he spit up all over me, and smiled. Once we got to the baggage claim there were four people there. My mom, a guy that was on the flight, a security guy and Danny Glover. Hello Mr. Glover, I am a Frazzled Mess.

AND WE WERE IN MICHIGAN! GREAT LAKES, GREAT TIMES AHEAD!

Our visit was packed full of cuddles, ooohs and aaaaahs, watching Jack roll from his tummy to his back for the first time, lots of family and friends, his first shopping session with me and Nana, gifts from Auntie Elanor, watching football with Poppy, MANY photo sessions, and Skype sessions with Daddy all the way in Milan. The time flew by so quickly. I loved all the helpful hands, people falling all over each other flighting to change his diaper, waiting at the bedroom door to see how beautiful and happy he is the moment he wakes up, going to visit everyone at their work...All the while, the weather was gorgeous! Seriously beautiful fall November weather in Michigan. I was reminded how much in love with Michigan I am. He got to meet my best friend Michelle, but the pics are on her camera! It was just so much fun introducing him to so many people that mean so much to me! I wish there had been enough time for him to meet everyone, but knocking on doors with a baby is pretty difficult to tackle between naps!

the oooohs and aaaaahs

morning cuddles with Poppy

nice to meet you, Wally Gator

cuddling with his Auntie

meeting Dayna and my Aunt Cindy

loves getting rocked to sleep with Nana

The flight back to Michigan was another success story for The Amazing Flyer Jack Wyatt! Although I did peek at the text my seat neighbor sent after asking the flight attendant if it was a full flight. It read: Sitting next to a lady and her baby. Fuck my life. She didn't really talk to me until there was an hour left of the flight and Jack had been asleep for 3 hours. Suddenly she was my best friend and telling me her life story. She said she and her boyfriend were planning on getting married and now she wanted a baby. Jack is the Ambassador of Babies, convincing unwilling women everywhere that having a baby is good idea.

SO, we landed in SF where Dan was waiting to pick us up. After 10 days without seeing Daddy, the reunion was pretty adorable!

I am counting down the days until our Christmas Michigan visit!

MMMM....yummy! quick!

2009-11-17T18:21:00.003-08:00

So I just made a super quick and tasty meal! I like documenting things I eat, and it's always nice to have quick ideas of stuff to make when you're not sure what you'd like to whip up for dinner. You could make it ever-so-quickly! It serves 2 with lots of left-overs. Or two very hungry people. Or 4 people with perfect portions. Or 6-8 people who aren't really looking for a meal, but something to wet their appetite. Enjoy!

You'll need:
-6 mini zuccini squash
-a couple handful of broccoli florets
-1 red bell pepper
-2 or 3 garlic cloves, chopped
-1/2 lb. rotini pasta
-15 oz. jar of sun dried tomato alfredo
-some freshly grated parmesan
-a bit of olive oil

It's so easy:
While the water is boiling for the pasta, put some olive oil in a pan and throw in all the veggies and garlic. Heat up the alfredo sauce. (Store-bought alfredo is what makes this so quick!) Once the pasta is done and the veggies are perfect, mix it all together and top it off with some parmesan cheese. Bon appetit!

p.s. I have a long post about the trip Jack and I just took to Michigan in the works, so stay tuned for the details!

27 revolutions around the sun

2009-11-03T11:33:00.004-08:00

I love birthdays. I remember as a kid not being able to sleep the night before my birthday, in complete anticipation of MY day. I love the birthday song, birthday cake, goodie bags at parties, wrapping paper, birthday cards. I love it all. So hip-hip-hooray! Today is my day!

This is my first birthday as a mom, and it's been a great morning hanging out with Jack. Dan went and got me fresh squeezed OJ and pancakes, making for a delicious breakfast. Friends have been pouring on the birthday wishes, and I am thankful for all those friends, near and far, that I am so lucky to have in my life. As I reflect a little on my year being 26 years old, I can say that I grew as a person in such exciting ways. First of all, I literally GREW as a person seeing how I was preggo for the majority of the last year, going from 125 lbs. to 170 lbs! (The great majority of my 27th year shall be dedicated to shrinking as a person! ha) As everyone who has a baby has said before, having a baby in your life completely shifts everything. I've never put someone's needs so completely ahead of mine. In not focusing immediately on myself all the time, I am becoming more in tune with my "self." I'm finding out what my real needs are, and choosing more wisely how I spend every moment of my day. Especially those moments I have to myself.

This moment to myself is cut short. Laundry is done and Jack is a-callin'.

First Halloween for Jack

2009-10-31T16:26:00.004-07:00

A while back I saw a "How-To" on Craftzine about how to create a beard. I was inspired to make a Halloween costume for Jack, because a baby with a beard is pretty funny. I used some hand-me-downs for the outfit, so really this costume cost $1 to make. Felt is cheap! And it really didn't take long to make either! I couldn't be happier about the results! He was quite the trooper letting us dress him up, even if it only lasted for a quick photoshoot!

AND he was a skeleton and a giraffe thanks to Auntie Elanor:

AND he slept through his first pumpkin carving party...

Get in the Halloween spirit!

2009-10-30T09:19:00.004-07:00

Witch Finger Cookies

These cookies are delicious! I saw them on "The View From the Bay" and I had to make them! It took me a few batches to get the right look because they really plump up after they've been in the oven. My first batch looked amazing going into the oven, but when they came out they looked like fingers from crazy obese witches. My second batch I overcompensated for the knuckle, so they looked kind of weird. The third batch came out just right. So, a word to those who will make these (and my future self): Make them skinnier than you think they should be, and make the knuckle barely wider than the rest of the finger!

Ingredients:
1 c. butter, softened
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. almond extract
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 3/4 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
3/4 c. whole almonds
*red food coloring (not a must)
*red frosting (not a must)

Directions:
1. In a medium bowl, combine dry ingredients (not sugar).
2. In a large bowl, beat together butter, sugar, egg, almond and vanilla extract, and then incorporate the dry ingredients.
3. Refrigerate for 30 min. and preheat your oven to 325 degrees.
4. If you have red food coloring, mix it in with some water and paint the almonds, which are going to be the finger nails!
5. You may need to lightly grease your cookie sheet, I used a nonstick sheet.
6. Roll heaping teaspoons into finger shapes. BE SURE THEY ARE NOT TOO BIG! Use a knife to make the marks in the knuckle.
7. Bake for 20 - 25 min.
8. For a truely gruesome effect, dip the ends of the fingers into red frosting!

apple crisp success!

2009-10-27T21:20:00.005-07:00

So I found a few recipes for apple crisp that I liked. I used them as a guide and put my own twist on it...Results, a serious success! I love making food - the results are are always so satisfying. (Well, most of the time!) And this time I got to use my new peeling/coring/slicing toy. Fun!

Perfect Apple Crisp

Ingredients:

Approx. 8 thinly sliced apples (I used Golden Delicious)
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 Tablespoons vanilla extract
2 Tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 cup rolled oats
1 cup Bisquick baking mix
3/4 cups sugar
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 stick (1/4 lb.) butter, melted
cinnamon (will be sprinkled on top)

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. Mix apples, brown sugar, vanilla and lemon juice. Arrange in a shallow baking dish.

3. Mix Bisquick, sugar, baking powder, oats and salt. Add egg and mix.

4. Evenly crumble mixture over apples.

5. Drizzle melted butter over topping and sprinkle with cinnamon evenly over everything.

5. Bake for 35 minutes.

6. Let cool for a few minutes, then serve with vanilla ice cream. (Breyer's Vanilla is most definitely the best!)

Meanwhile, Jack Wyatt is beginning to enjoy tummy time!

apple crisp, apple butter, apple pie...

2009-10-26T14:38:00.004-07:00

Apple Hill in Placerville, CA is quite the compound for those who are into apples. So sad my camera did not have a charged battery to capture Jack's first apple orchard excursion, but we got a few good moments on film! We went with my Aunt Linda, my cousin Ben, his wife Kathy, and their adorable kids Addie and Corbin.

So now I have this:

and a 1/2 bushel of some golden delicious magic:

...now what to make...

my dreams in a cookie!

2009-10-21T13:25:00.005-07:00

SOFT MOLASSES COOKIES

I had a hankering for those Archway Molasses cookies and then I decided to just go buy some Grandma's Molasses and make my own! I found this recipe online and then had fun making the most perfect, chewy and delicious cookies, if I do say so myself! AND they are so easy to make that I was able to whip up the dough in 5 minutes with my KitchenAid mixer with a fussy little baby strapped on to me!

Ingredients

3/4 cup shortening
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1/2 cup molasses
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon nutmeg

Directions

1 Cream together shortening and brown sugar.
2 Stir in egg and molasses and mix well.
3 Fold in dry ingredients and stir.
4 Cover and chill till firm (1-2 hours).
5 Preheat oven to 350°.
6 Roll dough into small balls and roll in white sugar.
7 Place on lightly greased cookie sheet or nonstick cookie sheet.
8 Bake at 350° for 9-10 minutes.
9 Leave on sheet one minute until set, then place on cooling rack.
10 Eat them up and/or share with your pals.

first day of jeans!

2009-10-16T12:02:00.003-07:00

Jack wore jeans for the first time today, and I must say he looks rather adorable!

Oh! And I just found this Swedish kids' clothing company called Polarn O. Pyret. Very excited about the Wind Helmet and the Outdoor Booties we'll be receiving in the mail soon!

the virtual birthday wish list

2009-10-15T19:25:00.004-07:00

As my apartment smelled more and more of mildewy grossness today as I was waiting for our building manager to come remedy the issue, while I was nursing a fussy baby who is nursing his way through a growth spurt, I decided a great use of my time would be to compile a birthday wish list. It is less than a month away!

Target has a creme brulee set on sale for $24.99

Scientists from the California Academy of Sciences, here in SF, have a book that coincides with one of their exhibits. The pictures are gorgeous and I could use it in my classroom!

After watching the HBO special on Maurice Sendak (from Spike Jonze) and "A Closer Look" which is the making of the film, I am stoked to read this book. I'd like to add it to the Kastner library.

Emily W pointed me in the direction of these Frye look-a-likes at Target.

And I would love to rock these wares from Marc by Marc...a girl can dream how to fill her closet.

This sweater AND the shoes...

And this sweater...

And this jacket would be perfect for my chilly SF walks with Jack...

That's all. ha!

black bean tortilla soup...

2009-10-14T09:56:00.005-07:00

I am all about making delicious and fresh food these days. Not that I disliked this before, but we got in a rut of quick prepared meals since we've had Jack around! Now I am having fun finding quick and easy fresh options for our happy healthy family. This one is vegan too!

BLACK BEAN TORTILLA CHIP SOUP WITH TOMATO AVOCADO SALSA

Soup:
1 small onion
1 tbsp olive oil
1 medium carrot, chopped
2 or 3 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups vegetable stock
1 large can black beans ( 19 - 25 oz.), drained
1 1/2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp salt

Garnish:
1 medium tomato
1 avocado, cubed
1/4 cup cilantro, minced
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp (or more!) lime juice
lots of tortilla chips!

This is an incredibly easy and fun thing to make...especially when it's chilly outside and your apartment is flooding!

In a medium soup pot, on medium heat, saute the onions in oil until translucent. While that's going, get the celery, carrots and garlic ready. Add them to the pot and saute for 2-3 minutes. Add the stock, beans, chili powder, oregano, and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat. Cover with lid, and simmer for 15 - 20 minutes. While the soup is simmering, get the garnish ready in a medium bowl: stir together tomatoes, avocados, cilantro, green onions, oil, and lime juice. Set aside. After the 15 - 20 minutes, use a blender/food processor to blend the soup until smooth. Be careful pouring hot soup! If needed, return the soup to the pot to reheat. Serve it with a generous amount of the garnish on top. Crumble the chips or use them to dip. I imagine grated cheese and sour cream would be delicious toppings too, if you feel so inclined.

Enjoy! This makes enough for 2 BIG bowls. Let me know if you make it!

Happy 2 Months!

2009-10-07T14:20:00.004-07:00

Jack Wyatt is 2 months today...as a present he has to get shots! :-/

UPDATE:

Jack, once again, proves he is one tough cookie. He totally flirted with our pediatrician. It was adorable to see him smile and coo and be so active with a stranger. So far, Dan and I are the only ones who've seen Jack's lively side. Everyone thinks he's quite the serious baby because he always furrows his brow as he;s taking in new things. Turns out, Jack is in the 95th percentile for his weight, meaning he weighs more than 95% of all babies his age. haha And he's in the 75th percentile for his height. Jack the bear of a baby!

The check-up proved to be nothing but good things - he's a healthy happy baby, which is so nice to hear. Then...it was onto the shots! I was SO NERVOUS! I made Dan hold him. He had to get three shots. He cried when the first one went in, and when the last one was finished he stopped crying. Amazing. I had braced for the impact of a fussy baby for the night. I was getting ready for no sleep and making plans to console an uncomfortable baby. He fell asleep in the car and had a great night sleep. Totally normal. Such a relief!

Here's to reaching many more milestones and a happy and healthy baby!

halloween planning

2009-10-05T14:42:00.003-07:00

After months of deliberating, (and since my sewing machine has been repaired after months of being busted) I know what Jack's first Halloween costume will be...

plus the "how to" for this:

which is found here at the Craftzine blog

Details to follow!

Thrasher, here we come

2009-09-23T12:15:00.003-07:00

Dan is pretty excited to get Jack into the skateboard magazine, Thrasher. A little clipping for the baby book I suppose. :)

He's so cute! I don't know which one we should send in...the first one?

1:

2:

3:

4:

5:

finding our routine

2009-09-21T12:51:00.003-07:00

So Jack is 6 weeks and 3 days old today. He's getting SO BIG! It's crazy to look at pictures and compare how much he's grown in such a quick time!

Approx 3 or 4 weeks...

6 weeks...

We spend so much time at home, seeing how he's feeding and sleeping so much. I am learning how to get things done so I don't go stir crazy. I am feeling great now, so we're starting to take walks more frequently, although the heat wave makes me want to sit in front of the fan inside. Dan and I are going to start running again this week. I am SO EXCITED! I've been craving running! It's pretty crazy how quickly the weight is coming off already! I'm usually about 125 lbs, and right before I had Jack I was up to 173 lbs. At six weeks, I'm already down to 140 lbs. Our goal is the half marathon that I ran a year and a half ago in Eureka, CA through the Avenue of the Giants. It's so gorgeous and a great goal to work towards. It's in May so we've got plenty of time to ensure we'll be ready for it. My favorite running buddy, Emily, is in on the goal too! Can't wait to bust out the jogging stroller!

The Diaper Plan

2009-09-09T12:31:00.004-07:00

We've always been planning on using cloth diapers.

A few good reasons:

1.) Save money!!! Dang! Diapers are expensive!
2.) Save the world! The way this dude runs through diapers, we'd be filling up the landfill.
3.) Comfort! I've read that diaper rashes are nonexistent with cloth diapers, and having something soft on your bum is a million times more comfortable than some plastic mess.

The original plan was to use regular diapers for the first few weeks as we get accustomed to baby life. Well, a month has passed by already and we've yet to transition. I've been researching which kind to get, and tapping into the wisdom of some cloth diaper gurus I've met while I was preggo. I'm soaking in all the tips on washing and getting into the cloth diaper groove. I've heard great things about "Thirsties" and a whole lot of wonderful things about "Fuzzibunz". (Fuzzibunz.com)

For many reasons, I've been neglecting ordering them, but turns out my procrastination could pay off and if I'm super lucky I could win some in a Fuzzibunz giveaway giveaway from Ryan, Cole and their family at http://pacingthepanicroom.blogspot.com/.

Here's to hoping we can win and save a buck or two! Fingers crossed!

the story we'll never forget, and we'll write down every moment, just in case we do

2009-08-28T22:30:00.007-07:00

Ah! It's been a month already since our little guy was born! I've been slowly typing this post for a few weeks now...

We welcomed Jackson Wyatt Kastner to the world at 1:54 am, August 7. I've been meaning to update blogland on the happenings of the birth of the little man, but I've been in a bit of a haze. Recovering well, and getting used to mommyhood. Now ready to hash out the details.

It was around 6:30 pm on Wednesday August 5th when my water broke at home. We'd had a false alarm nearly a week prior, the day my mom and sister were flying in to SF. My due date had come and gone, and five days later after much anticipating, VERY mild contractions, and pacing around I stood up from the couch to a gush of water. I was Skype-ing with my dad who was still in Michigan. I had Dan's laptop and pulled up pictures from my previous post of my pregnant belly. I stood to show my dad the pictures through the webcam when I surprisingly said, "Oh my gosh!" The chatter in the room stopped and everyone was wondering "Is this it?" (We'd already had a few "Is this it?" moments...now we were sure!) I couldn't stop laughing, which just caused the water to gush more. I wasn't feeling any contractions, so I called the hospital and they directed us to make our way in. Dan had just got back from a run, so we each took a shower and gathered up our hospital necessities. We agreed that my mom and sis would hang back and come in once we were settled and progressed enough.

Dan and I couldn't stop smiling as we drove to the hospital. I started to feel the mildest of contractions by the time we got there. I went up to the labor and delivery floor while Dan parked the car. We were shown our room, and settled in. The gave me the gown, hooked me up to an IV (which took a couple tries!), hooked up the monitors on my belly, the blood pressure band on my arm, and the heartbeat clip on my finger. (All of this would prove very annoying throughout this whole experience!!!) From what I had always heard, only 15% of women have their water break before they get to the hospital. And so when the water breaks, it means delivery is just around the corner. Mind you, this is what I HAD thought before. Dan had been saying for months that he wanted me to go into labor in the morning so we wouldn't have to go through all of this at night with no sleep. No such luck! Contractions were slow in coming. We walked laps around the small area of the L&D floor, which got boring pretty quickly. I started to get nervous as I heard women in labor, especially the woman next door who seemed to be having the most painful situation I've ever heard in person. But, we decided to stick to our plan and skip the epidural. I ate my last meal around 9 pm, which I didn't really eat the whole thing. (Turns out, this would be the last meal I'd eat until 35 hours later!)

Around midnight, the doctor decided that Pitosin, which is a medication that induces contractions, was a good option because my water had been broken for six hours and my contractions weren't very strong yet. My own contractions kicked in full effect as they gave me the Pitosin, which was quite the experience. Instantly, the contractions were SO strong. Dan set up the music and we focused on our breathing excersizes, and at first it was bearable. But far into it in the wee hours of the morning Dan was falling asleep at my side as he was talking me through contractions (I don't blame him). Around 5 am I had to wake him up when I was having one. We were both trying to sleep between them, which was hard because there was only about 3-5 minutes between them. After 6 hours of this, we were both exhausted. AND I was only dilated to 1 cm, which I had been at my last doctor's appointment days before. SO, after 12 hours, I opted for the epidural. I was pretty nervous about this because I've watched Baby Story too many times and women often have crazy headaches for weeks, and one woman couldn't walk for weeks! So when the anesthegeolist said not to move, I didn't. I remember thinking, "That wasn't that bad" right as he let me know he thought he needed to do it again because blood in the tube or some garbage that I immediately was pissed about. My feelings immediately changed to "Okay, wasn't that bad, but it's not something I want to do again right now." Dan looked like he was feeling my pain and squeezed my hands tighter. Luckily, whatever the problem was worked itself out and I didn't have to have it re-done!

Finally we were able to sleep! I could only sleep for a few hours before I was restless and excited, thinking I was progressing rapidly and would soon be welcoming our baby to the world. Nope. Not the case. We were watching my contractions and the baby's heartbeat on the monitor when all of a sudden both doctors on duty and many nurses came rushing in. They were very direct with their orders, telling Dan to move our suitcase, having me put on the oxygen mask, telling me to flip on my left side, then flip on my right side. We had no idea what was going on, something obviously was not right. After a few minutes of confusion, they were all calm and turned to us to explain the baby's heartbeat dropped suddenly, he was being "cranky". Seeing the fear in our eyes, they apologized for not being able to explain the situation before they began directing us to do everything. They all walked out, and our nurse made sure we were okay, had me keep the oxygen mask on, and then he left too. Dan and I were a bit shocked, to say the least.

My mom and sis came around lunchtime. Well, lunch for them. Ice chips and jello for me. And since I really complained about hunger, I got some disgusting chicken broth too. They didn't want to check me too often to see my progression since my water had been broken for quite some time, which is a risk for infection. The waiting was killing me. I was so hungry and tired, and sick of my arm getting squeezed too frequently from the blood pressure band. I was simply not progressing. We were all concerned about the baby since my water had been broken for so long. They assured us it was okay.

Another meal came and went. At this point I was feeling sick from being so hungry. We had another scare in the evening with Jack's heartbeat dropping. I was so emotionally drained, and this time it seemed longer that they were in there trying to resolve the problem. I was in tears when the doctors and nurses left the room. I was just so emotionally drained at this point. It was 24 hours since I stepped foot in the hospital and the end seemed so far away. We tried to watch tv, I tried to sleep, I was just getting so anxious and worried. I was concerned that my water had been broken for so long. I was thinking I was going to have to get a c-section, which at this point would have been some sort of relief, but the docs never mentioned it. We just kept waiting.

Around 8 or 9 pm I started to feel pressure and pain in my belly. They said feeling pressure was normal as the baby dropped. But it was the pain I was worried about. I kept pushing the button on the epidural machine and it would make the noise that it was sending it's liquid gold into my body, but I felt no relief. I called the nurse in and he was skeptical that the bag ran out. He checked and jumped right on the phone to the anesthesiologist, which took him an HOUR to come with the refill. He was talking on the phone about some impending surgery situation. He was fumbling with the plastic box that the bag of medicine goes in...I wanted to grab his phone and throw it against the wall so he could focus on getting rid of the pain for me. My arm was throbbing from the blood pressure cuff squeezing my arm like every half an hour throughout the day.

It was around 10 or 11 that I was dilated to a 10 (finally!) and we were just waiting for Jack to drop a bit more before I could start pushing. It's all a bit hazy here because I was feeling so sick and I was so completely tired. As midnight approached we all were shocked that we initially thought I'd have him on Aug 5, and now it was going to be Aug 7. As they were prepping the bed for delivery the nurse grabbed my left leg and directed Dan to hold my right leg up. Dan didn't argue, but I could see he was a bit shocked. Being a bit squeamish, Dan's plan was to hold my hand and "peek down there a couple times maybe", but certainly was not planning on a front row seat. I started pushing at 12:50 am. It was so hard to take a quick and deep breath through my nose between pushing because my nose was stuffed up from having the oxygen mask on all day. I ended up throwing up a bunch during the delivery, which was a frustrating and uncomfortable distraction. Watching Dan's face throughout the process and hearing his comments dripping with pure amazement, "Oh my gosh honey, I see his head!", was definitely the encouragement I needed. My mom and my sister were at my head, holding my hand and cheering me on. Our nurse John was totally amazing throughout this whole process, but his downfall was his SLOW counting. I ended up screaming "You're counting too slow!" which I felt bad about but it was really messing with my endurance. When the doctor came in she took over the counting duties, which were up to speed.

After one hour of pushing, 32 hours of labor, three shift changes of docs and nurses, many missed meals and two days after I first stepped into the hospital I suddenly found a wiggly, slimy little baby on my chest. My eyes were so swollen from the pushing that I really couldn't see him very well, especially when I started crying. After a few moments together they whisked him away and I was off to the great unknown. I never knew what exactly happened after you had a baby. I knew something about the afterbirth, but details had evaded me. Turns out, this was the most uncomfortable part of the whole process. This usually isn't the case, but I didn't stop bleeding. Now here's where you skip to the next paragraph like a "choose your own adventure" type story if you want to skip over some details. I mean you've gotten this far, so why not read on...After you have a baby your uterus contracts, which stops the bleeding. In my case, my uterus wouldn't contract which meant I continued bleeding. When this happens it means there is something blocking the uterus from contacting like it should. The doctor had to reach inside me and manually remove clots that were the problem. I was on the epidural and felt such pain. I was so out of it, I just remember the pain and asking how long it was going to take. I remember seeing my family with Jack and just wanting to hold him. I still felt so sick too. Once she was done sewing me up, (I did tear a tiny bit), they helped me walk to our postpartum room. Turns out I did have an infection from my water being broken for so long. So I had to keep the IV in my arm so they could give me antibiotics. I was oblivious to everything. I remember climbing into my bed in such pain, surrounded by my family and nurses. They gave me some pills for the pain and nausea and I fell asleep.

I woke up at 5:50 am in a dark room. To my left Dan was sleeping on a pullout bed. I look to my right, and Jack is by my side in a crib. It was like a dream. I felt no pain at all which was a far cry to how I felt when I laid down, it was so surreal. A nurse came in and asked if I was ready to feed him. She helped me get situated, and left the room. I started crying, I was so happy. Jack and I just stared at each other. That's how we spend a lot of our days now, just staring at each other.

I really couldn't be happier these days. He's growing so much, and teaching me a great deal already. More to come on "learning the ropes" soon...

pacing and keeping busy

2009-08-04T17:43:00.003-07:00

Talk about a procrastinator. Last Wednesday, at 39 weeks and 3 days, my friend Graham took some pictures of me, my belly and Dan in order to capture this moment. I really didn't document the whole pregnancy well, in photos or blog format. Ah well, I think Graham did a great job, even though I seem to always be making crazy weird faces. Here are a few of our faves.

I really didn't prep myself for the end of the line here in pregnancyland. This waiting is driving me nuts. For the past nine months I've been thinking AUGUST 2, and while I knew that the odds of having Jack exactly on the due date were slim, I always thought I'd have him earlier than later. I mean Dan and I are always early for everything, so we thought the little man would follow suit from the get go. We've tried telling Jack about toys and food, about Shark Week, about friends of ours he can be birthday buddies with (for instance, today is Barack Obama's birthday, as well as my good friend Cara)...still nothing. Hope this little guy isn't quite as stubborn as his momma!

My mom and sis have been here since Thursday, and it's like we're watching water boil, or anything equally boring. I feel something, then it turns into nothing. This has been the routine for a week. We even had a false alarm the day they were traveling across the country to get here. I thought my water was leaking. Turns out it wasn't, although they could see that I was have contractions...they just weren't strong.

So we had our doctor appointment today, and while my doctor is confident and optimistic that I'll be going into labor at any moment, we set up an induction for Sunday Aug 9. I really don't think we'll make it that far...who knows, we'll see...

tic toc goes the clock

2009-07-03T16:50:00.003-07:00

I just want to start by saying I spent 8 hours sitting on the couch today. I keep telling myself that doing so is okay...this is the last time I can do that for a really long time. I shouldn't feel guilty, but I keep thinking about all there is to do and clean to get ready for Jack.

Speaking of the little man, he's moving around so much lately. I feel him getting stronger and bigger. He stretches out across my whole belly and pushes on either side. Sometimes I have to stand up because I feel short of breath from him pushing on my lungs. I look forward to the next doctor's appointment we have on Tuesday - we get another ultrasound! We haven't seen him since we found out it was a him.

Sitting around so much I've passed the time by soaking in everything "baby" related on t.v. "Baby story" and "Bringing home baby" are on TLC every morning. I enjoy Cheerios as I watch women go through birth and the first 36 hours with their babies. Not sure if this is more of a good thing or a bad thing. I've seen the reality of the birthing process - it is never a given as to what happens vs. what you desire as laid out in a birth plan. Most of the time I find myself crying right along with the mom and dad on the show. But it also gets me a bit anxious. So many women bail on nursing their babies, which is something I am very determined to do. I understand that it's not going to be comfortable for a while, it will in fact hurt, but I've come to the conclusion that there isn't any other option.

For as nervous as some of those episodes make me feel some mornings, shows like "16 and Pregnant" on MTV and a new show on TLC called "I didn't know I was pregnant" make me feel a bit more secure and prepared as I embark on mommyhood. I'm not in high school, and labor isn't going to catch me off guard because I've known I've been pregnant for quite some time.

Of course I have concerns, which flood my brain and require me to sit down and close my eyes for a bit, but I've been trying to be calm and optimistic. A huge thing I am concerned about is meeting other moms my age who I get along with. None of my friends are on the baby train out here. San Francisco is much different than the midwest. Well, duh. Ladies out here are starting their families a bit later in life, which is completely fine and wonderful. It's just that I can't help but feel alone. Last summer when I was being a nanny I couldn't help but feel like an outsider at the parks we would frequent. Life as a new mom feels a bit like some cliche movie about high school cliques. I'm going to be like the new kid trying to fit in a world where friendships and connections are already established. I know somewhere out there in this city - all 7 miles squared of it - that there are a few moms in the same boat I'm in. We'll find each other!

Well, friends, it's the 4th of July weekend! Enjoy fireworks and BBQs and your families and friends. I miss you, Michigan!

away we go, indeed

2009-06-14T18:40:00.005-07:00

I just spent a wonderful week in Michigan with my family and friends. I spent my time there hopping around from one wonderful person to another. It all started with an extremely fun baby shower thrown by my mom and sister. I can't describe how perfect it was seeing so many people I love in one place. Not to say I don't love people in SF, it's just different. We got such adorable and fitting things for our little guy. Every day it gets more real that there is a little person growing inside me, and we're getting more and more excited to meet him.

Michigan is so green right now. I loved being so close to nature and experiencing thunderstorms. I love being able to simply be around my family. It was amazing being in the same part of the world with Dianne and Michelle. We had a good time rehashing classic college stories and catching up on each other's lives. Dianne got married in Spain and is having a second wedding celebration at her mom's in Ortonville. I have to miss it, which is so very completely sad even though I have a good reason that's kicking around in my stomach as I type. On that note, it was a bit of a bummer realizing that this visit was the only glimpse into my pregnancy for so many important people in my life. I left Michigan with such a melancholy, bittersweet feeling. I was so excited to get back to SF to see Dan and the dogs, and my nearest and dearest friends in SF, but it was so hard saying goodbye to people in Michigan this time around. I couldn't decide if I was leaving home, or heading home. I guess I've always subconciously defined "home" as the place where the people I love are, but now home is this ambiguous and confusing word to me seeing how the people who I love the most are spread all over the world these days.

Sunday Dan and I decided to hit up a matinee of Sam Mendes' new movie, "Away We Go". Dave Eggers co-wrote it, and it stars John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph - two of my faves. Alexi Murdoch does the soundtrack, which is beautiful and amazing. This couple is expecting their first baby and trying to figure out where home is and how they're going to figure out how to be parents. All around, that movie really hit it on the nose for us. It was so funny seeing our lives mirrored in this movie, to some extent. They have a cardboard window in their home (p.s. ours is fixed as of yesterday!), all the exchanges between the two characters are such familiar conversations, fears, and excitement we're going through, and they're trying to figure out just where they want to live, and meanwhile they are so very much in love.

Watch the trailer, and see this movie! (You don't have to be pregnant to enjoy it, of course.)

People's reactions to her pregnant belly in the movie are all too familiar. Here's my list of crazy things people have said to me lately:

-So, what are you, like 20 months?

-Wow, you've really dropped! (A waitress at Chili's at the airport who I've never seen before)

-Are you sure there aren't two in there?

-LADY: How far along are you?
Me: Starting my 8th month.
LADY: The worst is yet to come.
ME: (turn my head away in shock taht someone would actually say that.)
(Random lady while I was getting a manicure)

-Are you sure that's your due date?

-You're not having that baby today, right? (Old woman on the plane as I boarded)

-(an encounter with a woman in an airport restuarant. She says all this very quickly as she jumps from her table and starts touching my belly) Oh, 8 months, really? I bet you'll be early. Are you going to have a vaginal birth? I mean that's really what you need to go through. Are you having an epidural? I did. Trust me, you'll want to. You can handle it, I know you can, but just get the epidural. Okay, good luck. Have fun!

I'm sure there are more. I'll add to the list once I remember them.

So for now, it's summer and I am making a list of things to do. Naps will be frequent, I'm sure of that.

inspiration needed

2009-06-02T11:50:00.003-07:00

So I am feeling like quite the useless bump on a log lately. The energy is draining from me, once again. That burst of energy and motivation that was briefly here in my second trimester is fading away. I am feeling so anxious and guilty that I am not really doing anything creative/interesting with my time other than watching bad tv when I get home from school.

Now that summer is basically here, I have a couple projects that I am going to get started on. I'm back in the world of knitting...I pulled out my favorite little knitting book, and I am going to make a baby blanket and some booties, to get started.

The book:

AND, I found a cute idea for a mobile on the CRAFT blog. I have so much cute scrap fabric that I haven't been able to throw away...this mobile is the perfect solution!

So I'll be on the hunt to find other cute projects that can make me feel like less of a slug!

Real promise:
Baby bump pics coming very soon!

and poof! I'm 30 weeks and 3 days along!

2009-05-27T11:05:00.003-07:00

Quite the absence from blogsville. My hopes and dreams of documenting this whole process have flown away. I will be better once school is done for the summer. It is nice knowing that I won't be back to work until January.

Our little guy is about the size of a squash and loves to move around. I have to say, I feel pretty lucky with this pregnancy so far. Everything is smooth and my pregnancy...symptoms? ailments?...are pretty manageable.

It's exciting as we get ready for this little ball of life. I wonder every day what he will look like, what he'll be interested in, what his personality will be like. Will he be stubborn like me? Will he look just like his dad? We're so eager to meet him!

It's been fun registering at Target and Babies-R-Us. Stepping in the baby section is overwhelming though...what exactly we need/want is all a guessing game and I keep changing my mind about which high chair we want, what dresser/changing table would work best, what size clothes we should be registering for, etc.

I like this one from Babies-R-Us:

People have begun to give us baby clothes, strollers, little bouncy chairs, etc. We're keeping everything on a shelf in our living room until we have baby furniture. I've taken everything out to look at and refolded it several times in the last week. I just stare at a pair of cute little pants for entirely too long, off in some day dream about how the little guy that's going to wear those pants will change our lives in so many remarkable ways.

We rearranged and cleaned our apartment, which meant trashing so much stuff that we both realized we don't need. We're such packrats! I'm much happier with the layout and it seems more baby friendly. Dan put together the crib...it's from pottery barn kids. Our friend who worked as a photo assistant just GAVE it to us! Amazing! I feel so lucky to be on the receiving end of such generous friends and family!!!!

Only a week of school left! Once school is out I am flying back to Michigan to enjoy time with friends and family at a lil baby shower my mom and sis are throwing. Michigan June 7 - 13! Come and see me!

CAN'T WAIT FOR SUMMER! My body is achy and I don't want to grade stuff!!!!