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.
I was given two options. Basil…or lavender.
The kids were off with Oma and Opa and Chelsea and I were determined to spend an afternoon doing absolutely nothing. Literally, the only item on her usually-endless list of things to accomplish were the words, “take a bath.”
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.
I consider myself to be the pioneer of my children’s minds. Their mom plays a role, obviously, but as their dad I’m tasked with a few extra-fun things like introducing them to ice fishing and teaching them how to wield a drill and explaining how to keep their elbows in and head down when throwing that good ol’ fashioned night night blow. “Jump like a grasshopper and bite like a beaver,” I always say.
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!
It’s a great big world out there. And it doesn’t seem to get ANY bigger than when you visit Texas. A simple drive across the limestone and cattle-laden state seems to take days. In some cases, it actually does. If driving ‘cross Texas’ immense landscape doesn’t send home the feeling of sheer insignificance of oneself in the vastness of this world, looking up at the wide open sky just might.
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.