Nursery Inspirations July 17, 2010

At the Lindsey households we are preparing two nurseries for the arrival of our little guy. I have picked up some items over the last couple months that are serving as my inspiration pieces for each nursery. A lot of my inspiration comes from the beautiful and creative crafts on Etsy. Here are a couple shots of all the items and fabric I have collected. As we get the rooms set up I will continue to post more pictures.

Both Nurseries will have dark brown and white furniture and this brown and white crib bedding from Target.

Toledo nursery will have green and blue accents.

Toledo's Nursery Inspirations

Toledo Nursery Inspirations

Columbus nursery will have orange accents.

Columbus Nursery Inspirations

Notice the owls sneaking their way into my theme? I just cannot get enough of those cutie patuties. I just love owls and luckily, I’m seeing owl stuff popping up everywhere. Yea!

I will post more pictures when the nursery is done. We are hoping to finish the Toledo nursery over the next couple weeks. The Columbus nursery will not be finished until September.

I’m getting that need to nest and with the nurseries not being done, I keep going into the closet and touching and looking at the new baby clothes I have bought. I touch the clothes 3 or 4 times a day. I need help.

Here is where I bought everything.

Toledo Picture 1:
Braemore fabric collection from fabric.com
Fabric from Ikea (Canton, MI store)
Ceramic owl from SHINE (new Vintage goods store at Polaris mall, sister store is NEST at Easton). Here is a recent article about SHINE.

Toledo Picture 2:
Bird Pillow – handmade from this Etsy store
Fabric from Jo-Ann and Hobby Lobby
Owl ceramic dish from SHINE

Columbus Nursery Picture:
Print titled “Best time of the Day” from Etsy Artist ZukZuk
Vintage Orange vase from Etsy store AuntieLindasAttic
Copper owl piggy bank from SHINE
Vintage plate and cup set – was in my little brother’s nursery. Repurposed!
Grapes – Vintage from SHINE.
Fabric is from Ikea (it is actually a duvet cover)

Cute Picture of the Day July 7, 2010

Sorry for the lack of updates in the past couple weeks. I have been busy planning two nurseries! More to come on that soon….

Meanwhile, a few weeks back Jackson got together with his cousin, Matthew. They were eating ice cream for a treat and they both…at the same time…. lifted their bowl to their mouths to polish off every last drop. I luckily had my camera nearby and snapped a shot just in time!

Hope you are enjoying your summer!

Urban Living June 4, 2010

As many of you know, Michael already owned a beautiful condo in downtown Toledo when I met him. We still have the condo, along with a residence in Columbus. We debated selling the condo and moving to a more family friendly neighborhood in a suburb of Toledo. We didn’t and I don’t regret it at all. This was decision validated a couple weeks ago when I saw Jackson fishing off our balcony. Below are a couple pictures.
This weekend we are going to teach him how to ride his bike without training wheels. See, kids can be normal and still have fun living in a downtown urban setting. And I argue that it is forcing creativity out of Jackson.

Canning Dilemna June 3, 2010

I’m so excited to get back into canning. It has been years since I canned anything. I’m starting with something easy, strawberry jam. Strawberries are almost in season up here in Toledo, the local nursery told me we can come pick next week! So I started looking at canners and accessories. I no longer own any canning items, lost those in the divorce. So, I look online for the best deals and discover that I cannot use your typical canner like this one pictured: 

Cheapest and typical canner

　 

In our Toledo kitchen we have one of those glass/ceramic top stoves. Apparently you have to use a flat bottomed vat, and of course those cost $80. Whereas the typical black canner pictured above cost about $20. So then I found a genius solution that other ceramic stove owners came up with. Using an outdoor burner like this: 

　 

Outdoor Burner

I loved this idea! When you are canning, it is typically during the hot summer months. The last thing you want to do is stand in your kitchen over a VERY large vat of boiling water processing jam. With this outdoor burner you can do your processing outside! the hose hooks it up to your propane tank on your grill, making it the most green option too! The only downside is the initial investment will be as much as buying the stupid flat bottomed vat. 

The cheapest option is to buy the typical black canner and take all my strawberries that I am picking in Toledo home to Columbus next weekend and can them there where I have a gas stove. 

Any suggestions? Should I make a larger initial investment so I can can at either household? Or save some money and strictly can in Columbus? 

Here are the options: 

1) Typical black canner with accessories (can only be used in Columbus) 

Pros: Cheap! 

Cons: Can only be used in Columbus house, canning inside 

Initial Investment: $60 

2) Stainless Steel flat bottomed canner with accessories (can be used at both houses) 

Pros: Can be used at both houses 

Cons: Expensive, canning inside 

Initial Investment: $120 

3) Outdoor burner, accessories (can 

Pros: Can be used at both houses, greenest option 

Cons: Expensive, canning outside (what if it is raining on the day I need to can?) 

Initial Investment: $90 

I need your vote!! Please leave a comment with your choice. 

Michael Lindsey’s vote will count twice.  

Yup, I’m Pregnant June 3, 2010

It happened overnight this past weekend. The thing I have been dreading the most. The absolute worst part of pregnancy…… not being able to sleep on my back.

If you are a back sleeper like me, then you sleep on your back 75% of the night, the rest of the night you sleep on your sides. Well, one night I was sleeping like a baby on my back, the very next night the baby is literally crushing me and I cannot breathe when I lay on my back. So, now I sleep on my side. And predominately my left side. If I try the right side, sometimes I’m ok, sometimes I cannot breathe. Now begins FIVE months of this. Side sleeping brings me neck pains and restless nights. This is what pregnancy is all about. Yea! Love being pregnant!
Thinking of the positive…. did I mention we are finding out if it is a boy or girl next Friday June 11th?!! Focus on the positive….

Getting Comfortable June 1, 2010

Sorry for the delay everyone!  We have been super busy moving me into my new place in Muirfield.  I triple heart love my new place!  I have so much room now.  Jackson loves the new place too.  I can tell he does…. not because he tells me, and not because when we are out running errands or we are anywhere that is NOT the new home he asks “can we go to our new house now?”, no I can tell he loves this new place because he runs. He comes home and runs around the new place. He just runs and runs. That’s my Jackson.

Huge props go out to my in-laws, Linda & Joe and Karen & Bill! Thank you so much for helping with with unpacking of the POD and cleaning. My new place is so clean, I just hope I can keep it as clean as it is now. Let me just tell you how these ladies clean homes. When they offered to clean the foyer floor I said “ok, let me go get you the mop”.
Karen replies, “I don’t use a mop”.
Confused, I say, “I have a great mop and it will make the job easier!”
Karen says, “no we don’t use mops we get on our knees and scrubs floors.”
I look at my mother-in-law who is shaking her head in agreement.
“Alrighty” I reply. Who am I to argue that logic? And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how my floors were cleaned. Two wonderful women were on their knees scrubbing my floors shiny clean. Gotta love that!

So, after spending a whole week getting settled in my new place, I am back in Toledo for almost two weeks. Feeling a little uneasy being here and still feeling like it is “Mike’s place” and not “Ours”, I decided to take on a mini project. I re-decorated the master bedroom to make it more feminine and comfortable. Now mind you, my husband actually did a great job decorating his place. However, the bedroom was, well…. it just wasn’t exciting and a room you wanted to show people. In fact, we usually closed the door when guests were over. Check out the before picture of our bedroom:

Our Bedroom BEFORE

Now, this is what our bedroom looks like now:

Our Bedroom AFTER

It turned out so lovely and I just adore it. I’m still looking for a print for the wall. But I figure that won’t happen overnight.

I also did a minor drawer reorganization in the kitchen and created a spice cabinet. More pictures to come of the spice cabinet endeavor.

Just a little rant …. Can I just tell how how freakin expensive it is to have two homes? Just think of everything in just your kitchen that you use often and you couldn’t live without. Include food, spices, tupperware, your favorite pans, dishes, mugs….well hopefully you are getting a picture. Well, imagine the cost of having TWO of ALL those items. Ugh, it is A LOT and I am trying to make these purchases logically while not breaking the bank either. So, anyway, more to come on that.
Now the rest of the week will be spent getting ready for Jackson’s 5th Birthday party this weekend. It is a Spiderman themed party for my little wall climber. And sticking with my tradition I will be making a Spiderman birthday cake. I was very close to buying one this year. But I decided instead I will stick with my tradition and instead of venturing into the land of 3-D Spidey cakes, I will stick with a simple Spidey design. Look out for pics of the party next week!

Chefs can initiate change in our schools May 17, 2010

Anyone know a chef who cares about our community and wants to see a change in the food served at our schools?  Check this out http://www.letsmove.gov/blog/announcingchefsmoveschools.html

I cannot believe what I’m reading.  I have been so impressed with this Let’s Move campaign that Michelle Obama started.  However, I tend to remain pessimistic after watching the Jamie Oliver Food Revolution series, and what trouble he had working with cafeteria employees.  I just hope this new initiative brings change.  Because this small change could be amazing for our obese youth.

Update! May 11, 2010

Sorry I have been out of touch.  We moved all my worldly possesions into a box and put it into storage.  Ever see those PODS parked in someone’s driveway?  They are genius.  Anyway, it is kinda depressing knowing your entire life fits into a box.

I am “living” with my husband in Toledo for a few weeks. This is really weird.  I am actually living with my husband.  To you, normal people, this may seem, well, normal.  But to Michael and I it is weird.  Michael and I started are relationship in two cities.  And with Jackson, we don’t see a time in our short term future where we will live in the same city.  Before you feel sorry for me, think about it.  I only see my husband on weekends when he is not working.  When he is available for projects.  When he is available to help and clean and do all those wonderful husbandly things we count on our men for.  It is actually quite nice.   Especially since Michael is very clean and loves to clean the house. 

So, the other new thing around our house is that I quit my job!  Michael told me recently that I retired. I’m going with that.  Quitting my job will enable a lot more family time especially when the baby comes.  We changed our custody arrangement so we have Jackson for a full week now before trading.  We still do a 50/50 split.  This will be fantastic for our summers.  This will allow lots more time in Toledo to visit all our loved ones up there.  Especially the ones with pools. 

So, with all the new time that I will spend in Toledo, I am now working on making Michael’s kitchen more comfortable for me.  In other words, I am buying stuff for his kitchen.  I was hoping to have enough kitchen stuff to bring some to his place, however I don’t own two sets of measuring cups and expensive pots and pans, etc.  So, we are trying to stock two kitchens and not spend tons of money.  So far, IKEA has been my savior for those little purchases.  However my list is slowly growing again with new items I just discovered we still need to buy. 

I am moving into a newer larger place in Dublin in two weeks.  I am very excited to have more room for Jackson to do his running.  Jackson likes to run, he will run in circles, run back and forth, run in a rectangle shape, just run run run.  He kinda reminds me of Forrest Gump in that way.

Tomorrow Michael and I will celebrate our 1st Wedding Anniversary.  We get to pretend that we are normal because we will be waking up together and go to sleep together despite the fact that our anniversary is on a Wednesday.  Yea! 

That’s all for now….as if that wasn’t enough.   I will have lots of postings with how we unpack and organize two homes, etc.  Keep checking back or you can subscribe for updates to my site, it is on your right….over there –>>

Snacks are Mini Meals April 13, 2010

Maryann Tomovich Jacobsen, MS, RD writes a blog about children’s eating habits on Raise Healthy Eaters.  If you have children, and they eat food, then this is a must read blog! 

She recently wrote a post about children and snacking Is Your Kid a “Good” or “Bad” Snacker?.  I have found that I am doing great with planning healthy meals for Jackson, but I often forget about the other two meals of the day – the snacks!  Maryann says you should treat snacks as mini-meals. 

Calling it a mini-meal turned on a lightbulb for me – Of course it is a mini-meal!  Kids only have 3 meals and two mini-meals per day, so if we give them junk food for their mini meals, we are losing valuable opportunities to get healthy options in their bellies.  

 Calling it a snack said to me “just get something in them to tie them over until dinner”.  However, calling it a mini-meal made helps to make the snack sound more important to me.  It may even make me feel guilty if I let him have those fruit snacks instead of a healthier option.  Who says a little guilt is a bad thing?

Lying to our Children April 8, 2010

My friend Laura recently realized she was lied to by her mother when she was young. Laura used to find her crayon drawings in the garbage can. Her mother told her the reason why she threw them away was because a spider walked on it. Another friend Jessica’s mother told her that if she picks her nose her nose will get bigger. These moms were obviously trying to protect their children with their innocent lies. Protection is a common reason for lying to our children. In my mind, that makes it ok to lie.

What about when Jessica herself became a mother and told her son the reason bad guys are mean is because they did not take a nap? Or when her son was afraid of ghosts in his room they told him that when they built the house Daddy ghost proofed the room? I like to call these lies just plain Creative. As parents, we have to be creative to maintain the harmony in our household. Life is just plain easier when we can throw in a few innocent lies.

But sometimes I wonder how our lies affect our children? Do we tell them impulsively without any thoughts of the consequences? What are the consequences?

We were lied to in elementary school. It wasn’t until college that I learned that Christopher Columbus did NOT discover America. Why do our schools lie about this? Do we really think our children lack the emotional maturity to understand the truth?

I do not lie to Jackson very much. HA! Let me re-type that. I like to think I don’t lie very much. As I write this, I will probably tell him a lie later today. I like to think I tell half-truths because they are more age appropriate for a 4 year old. Yeah, that’s it.

“We cannot get a cat, Mommy is allergic.”

Although I am allergic, that is not a lie. However, the primary reason we are not getting a cat is that I.do.not.want.one. There is a part of me that feels like I’m crushing his youth by lying to him. That I’m holding him back from life experiences. Am I also holding him back from forming free thoughts? On the other hand, maybe I am encouraging him to question the world in search of the truth.
Regardless of our reasons for lying to our children, we, as parents, should not beat ourselves up over it. I have to think it is a part of childhood to be told innocent lies by our parents. I mean, at one point in our lives we all believed in Santa Claus, correct?