Lately this little boy is making me laugh more than ever before. The things that come out of his mouth, the games he invents in his head…3 years old is too much fun!
Time and place: 11:02am, sitting at my kitchen counter. Although you wouldn’t know it from his demeanor, Lincoln came down with a cold + fluid in his ears after his first full week of school last week (’tis the season!) so I’m getting in a little extra work while he’s snoozing upstairs. That said, how in the world do kids still have so much energy when they’re sick?!
Celebrating: IGE Shop launch! A couple weeks ago I launched an IGE Shop on the site with links to all my favorite products in one spot. Right now there’s four categories – Cookbooks, Kids, Kitchen, and Lifestyle – which you can narrow down using the “Categories” checkboxes in the left hand column. I really hope this is helpful. So far it has been for me in recommending specific products to those who email or comment to ask – I can just go right to the shop vs hunting down old posts or digging around online. Let me know if you have any specific product questions and I’ll get my go-tos up there!
Loving: Birkenstocks. Ben got me a pair of Birkenstocks for my birthday and I’ve been living in them lately. I never got a pair in high school during the height of their 90s heyday and always felt a little left out – sweet, sweet footwear redemption! Ahem. Anyway, they’re perfect for my expanding feet, especially when I’m on them cooking/toddler wrangling all day. It’s all about the soft footbed, man.
Hating: colds. I can’t believe it only took Lincoln one week to catch a bug at school, but last time he was sick my SIL introduced us to Zarbee’s Children’s Nighttime Cough Syrup (found at HyVee, Target, etc.) and it’s…magical. ? I’ve been pairing it with lavender essential oil diffusing via humidifier in his room, plus rubbing a coconut oil + eucalyptus oil + lavender oil balm on his chest and back. Join me and my Birkenstocks on the crunchy side, won’t you? ?
Drinking: Golden Milk. Within hours of Lincoln showing his first cold symptoms I started sneezing too, so I’ve been sipping hot water + lemon juice + local honey to soothe my throat and nose the past couple of nights. It works SO well! Prior to that though, I’d been drinking hot Golden Milk on repeat. This delicious drink recipe is like an easy, homemade chai and I love that it not only tastes good, but it’s doing good too. I use unsweetened almond milk, because that’s what we have in the house for Lincoln, but think unsweetened vanilla almond milk would really send this recipe over the top.
Craving: New York City. Lately I haven’t been able to get a trip to New York City out of my head – I’m itching to get back! It’s been over a year since I last set foot in the big apple and nothing sounds better than a dose of that one of a kind energy right now. Where are you dying to go at the moment?
Awaiting: Baby. We officially scheduled baby boy’s c-section and it’s very cool/strange to say he’ll be here “next month” (I feel like I’ve been pregnant for 10 years!) Going from 0-1 baby was more difficult than we could have ever imagined and I’m hoping going from 1-2 isn’t such an enormous shock. It probably will be, but at least I know what to expect in terms of taking care of an infant. Regardless, it’s happening…bring it on!
Wearing: Leggings. Having said the above, I’ve officially moved onto the leggings and mumus-only portion of my pregnancy. No restrictive waistbands, no jeans – the comfier the clothing, the better. I only had to buy two new pieces of maternity wear this time around, and am currently trying really hard to resist buying these adorable leggings!
Using: Rebecca Bloom Arts Growth Ruler. I bought this growth ruler last month, just before Lincoln’s birthday, and can totally picture myself looking back at how tiny my children once were and sobbing when I’m 80…or you know, five minutes from now. #trainwreck FYI I got the “dark” colored ruler, and it’s really beautiful + hung very easily. Adorable toddler not included! ?
Snacking: Cheese + Mushrooms. Is there a better combo than herby sauteed mushrooms and creamy garlic & herb cheese topping a crunchy cracker? This savory snack is the most recent I made in partnership with The Laughing Cow, and it is ridiiiiiiclously yummy.
Anticipating: HyVee Twitter Chat. Don’t forget to join me and Hy-Vee on Twitter tomorrow, Thursday, 9/15 from 3-4pm CT for our Family Meal Time Twitter Chat! Use #HyVeeFamilyMeals for a chance to win a $250 Hy-Vee gift card. Cha. Ching!
Watching: Crock Pot White Chicken Chili. I’m not sure if it’s the dip in temperature or the fact that it’s perfect game-day food, but my Crock Pot White Chicken Chili has been going gangbusters on Pinterest lately. We love this easy and delicious recipe at our house!
Craving: Death by Chocolate Cake. CAN YOU EVEN with this masterpiece from Crumb Kitchen? Ridiculous!
How do I love Birks? Let me count the ways! Birkenstocks are the only thing I wear late spring, all summer and fall into late October! 20 different pairs in assorted styles and colors. We were in Germany this summer and I found a couple pairs I “needed”! Foot doctor said they are the best things for your feet.
I believe it – I wear them on our hardwood floors during marathon cooking sessions for the blog and the difference between them and any other shoes is definitely noticeable!
Love your blog so much!!! Could you post your recipe for Golden Milk. It sounds wonderful and will cold and flu season coming it would be great to have.
Hi Theresa! If you click the green “Golden Milk” link it will take you directly to Ali’s recipe, which is what I’ve been drinking!
Our son is a couple months younger than Lincoln and our daughter just turned 5 months. Going from 1-2 was soooo much easier than 0-1. A couple of things I had to relearn (juggling naps and getting out of the house with 2) but overall a much easier adjustment than I anticipated. You’ll do great!
Thank you so much for the moral support, Melissa! The 5+ naps a day at the beginning is going to be tough, but we’ll pull through!
love those black/gray tennis shoes. do you mind sharing what brand or where purchased from. Thanks!
Hi Audrey! Those are the Old Navy model’s shoes! :)
They look similar to the Brooks brand “lifestyle” line of sneakers… like their non-running shoes. Not sure if that’s it but at least you may find something similar!
I just went to NYC- I couldn’t get it out of my head for awhile and just had to go!!!
Good for you!!! It’s the kind of craving that sticks with you until you finally cave!
Totally with you on dying to go to NYC! I spent half the summer there last year and have been missing it every day since. Lucky for me, my husband has to go there for a meeting at the end of the month, so I’m tagging along for some solo city exploring. Can’t wait!
Congratulations on almost reaching the finish line with baby #2! I’ve been reading your blog for ages and I can’t believe how big Lincoln has gotten (also makes me feel so old)! It seems like you just announced you were pregnant with him a year ago!
Tell me about it!! Have a blast on your trip – I was there solo last time too. Kind of a bummer at first but I ended up having a great time!
I love when leggings weather approaches. I could live in those things, and I haven’t been pregnant for 11 years now! Speaking of which, they have such cool maternity clothes now. My selection was lame. Pregnancy looks great on you!!
That was a benefit of my kids going to daycare. It was like they were wearing armor and never got sick when school rolled around. But as babies, ear infections all the time!
Ooh I’ve made your white chicken chili before – time to bring it back into the rotation! Chili season is upon us!
So excited it’s finally here!!
Hi – Love your blog and I love that you live in Des Moines! My husband is from Des Moines and most of his family still lives there in Waukee & West Des Moines…you’re tid-bits about great spots to visit is fun for me to share with them.
Sorry to hear that school has brought illness…at our house too. I have started to dabble with essential oils in the humidifier but not mixing with coconut oil or for other uses. Any suggestions for mixing with oil or recommendations on quality essential oils to buy? Thanks!
I actually only mix Lincoln’s with coconut oil because he’s so young – I rub the oils directly on my skin but would mix with a carrier oil if I had sensitive skin!
Everyone’s experience is obviously different, but child #2 was light years easier to adjust to for us. For me, I didn’t have as much anxiety about what to expect. I was able to enjoy it more. Congrats and I hope things go well.
That’s exactly what I’m hoping for – I also think knowing that *everything* is a phase will help me stress a whole lot less.
YES! Totally agree with Lisa. Going from 0-1 was unbelievably difficult…but 1-2 was RIDICULOUSLY easier. And you TOTALLY have better perspective, which helps A LOT. My 1 year old is currently in the whiny stage, but you have the knowledge the 2nd time that it really does pass in a blink. WORLDS different.
Hi Kristen, I enjoy your blog your blog very much. I just wanted to suggest that you mark on your growth ruler the height of your little one, soon to be ones, in marker and the height of you and your husband too. We did it on the door frame to our family room, and I get a glimpse of it every now and then it makes me smile, now that both of my kids are grown, they like looking at it too when they visit, they still stand up against it and measure yet again! We also added the date and noted the height and if there was an event like graduation. Good memories abound. Thanks for all the great information.
We marked his height and the date with a sharpie, but that’s a fun idea to add Ben’s + my height, too! Something for the kids to literally look forward to reaching! ;)
What brand/type of GF crackers are you using with the cheese/mushroom yumminess????
Those are Breton GF crackers – they come in a few flavors and I really like them with cheeseboards, etc! http://www.darefoods.com/ca_en/product/Breton-Gluten-Free-Original-with-Flax/112
Thanks bunches!
The back-to-school colds don’t stop! I NEVER get sick, but during my orientation week of college 2 years ago, I got sick. What a way to start college. Then I realized everyone around me was sick, too. Lame. Last year, I managed to head it off by sleeping a little more and taking Airborne (probably just a placebo effect, but whatever). I’ll be doing the same thing this week as I head back and help the freshmen get situated!
Yes – stay healthy, this is the pits!
RC essential oil is my go to for coughs! It’s like magic when I put in the diffuser. No more coughing!
My SIL has recommended that one before though I’ve never tried it – will have to get a bottle in my next order!
Yum, I made your white chicken chili just last week! It’s a great “transition chili” because it’s lighter than your signature one, but still delish and spicy!
Yes, you’re so right! We made a few times this summer when it wasn’t blazing hot too!
Kristen, my husband and I just did a recent trip to NYC, (two week ago actually), we had a wonderful time. Walked, Saw and Ate so much. It was a our first time there and we were really impressed with everything about the city and are already trying to figure out when we can go back and experience it again. Hope you have find the time to go and enjoy the wonderful city again. :)
That is so great, Amanda, and what a wonderful time of year to go, too! Hope it was the first of many trips to NYC. :)