It’s that time again. Our youngest baby is now six months old, and we’re slowly getting back into adventure mode. This time we’re doing it with 4 boys ages 6 and under. People constantly ask how we manage it, what’s in our diaper bag, aren’t I tired, and so on and so forth.
I’ve admitted to you all in the past that I’m a bit of a perfectionist. That tendency spills over into a LOT of aspects of my life and I actually make a conscious effort to limit my expectations around the cadence of day-to-day life with four small children. When it comes to shopping and products, though, I maintain my dang-near-impossible-to-please attitude. I have certain standards and I’m always on the hunt for the best.
Athleisure is all the rage right now. Anytime I hear someone mention athleisure, I think of that line at the end of Pride & Prejudice. Mr. Bennett gets good news and urges his wife, “For heaven’s sake, send them in. I’m quite at my leisure.” It’s one of those scenes I could watch ten thousand times because it never fails to make me smile. The twinkle in his eye, that feeling of belonging and peace. That’s what leisure really is, isn’t it?
My close friends and family will tell you that I am a huge pain in the butt to shop for because I’m kind of a minimalist. I like stuff, don’t get me wrong, but a gift has to meet a certain set of criteria in order for me to really put it to use in my life. I need items that are quality and that serve a purpose. With four kids, our home is simply too busy for stuff that breaks or adds clutter!
I’ve always had this vision in my mind of Joshua Tree as a warm place, both in temperature and in spirit. A place filled with tie dye and wildflowers, late night bonfires and wide-smiling travelers whose well-worn shoes skip from rock-to-rock beneath waving arms and billowing braids.
That picture in my mind was spot-on.
Last year I wrote a post offering some insights into the difficulties of blogging as a career, and a TON of people asked me to share more about the industry.
Every spring, we do a photoshoot of the boys together. We take individual shots throughout the year, of course, but it’s kind of unusual for us … Read more
Every Mother’s Day, I get myself something to help increase productivity in our home. An over-the-top vacuum, a speedy hair dryer, an Instant Pot. I have friends who view this as a sacrifice but for me, this is like buying leisure time! If I can use technology to do more of the menial day-to-day tasks, I’m freeing myself up for a manicure or a massage or time spent eating delicious bon bons on my couch. It’s my time, you guys, I do what I want!
We’ve been trying to explore more local spots this year. Everything from neighborhood cafes to tidepools are on our radar. People often email and say how much fun life looks here in San Diego and it got me thinking. Yes, San Diego is AWESOME, but fun isn’t necessarily based on location. I think it’s a matter of being determined to get our family out and about, in any way we possibly can. So I decided to round up the best outdoor play spots that can be found in just about any town!
My youngest baby is officially five months old, and rapidly becoming mobile! Ahhhh! Here are the products for crawling babies that I use to help with their development at this age.