Basshole

While reviewing my Instagram feed this evening, I came across this, from Mindy Kaling (love her):  Bass <3 Rachel Antonoff.  ?!?!?!  I feel like I knew about this but thoughts about this fantastic collab must have gotten lost in the depths of my busy mommy-student mind.  Check out the collection:  I want about 8 pairs.

The Most

A lovely friend of mine just gave birth to a new little girl.  Her family is very special to ours, one reason being that she has a son very close to Henry's age.  Another child isn't on the table for me right at the moment, but in the future, yes.  Yes, yes, yes.  I love Henry so much, and...how do I explain this?  Cerebrally, I know that when you have another child, your love and care just explodes.  It expands.  As the mother of an only-child, emotionally, I don't know what it feels like to love anything as much as I love H.  It's something that I imagine magically happens when you have another kid.  Mothers have described it to me, and this post kinda helps better that understanding.  I'm so happy for my friend and all the love her family is sharing right now.

To the future.

Summer Hair

I ombre'd my hair earlier this summer.  I had doubted that I could pull off such a bold style seeing as my hair is super black.  But summer is a time for risks since I see about a quarter of the people I normally do, so I figured if not now, when.  And I'm glad I did.  The first iteration was a little too red for my taste, and got brassy pretty quickly.  Still, I liked the style.

Club Monaco dolman top

I [heart] Ronson chambray shorts (You can't tell but they are high-waisted and fantastic.  I have no business wearing shorts these short but again...if not now, when

Keds

Rebecca Minkoff 3-zip mini

I'm kinda obsessed with my hair now.  It's basically blonde on the tips.  Check it out:

Derek Lam for DesignNation dress

Cole Haan bag

Nine West Shoes

Stella & Dot Lilith fringe necklace

As far as I can tell, ombre hair is ideal for those of us too lazy/poor/busy to bother with roots.  I'll probably dye it back to normal at some point in the fall but for now, I'm enjoying the new look.

Powerful

I've nursed Henry in public many times.  But I've also felt obligated to do it in awkward places, like the backseat of my car, and yes, bathroom stalls.  I've done the latter because I felt more comfortable there than the alternative - because I didn't enjoy the weird, condemning, and otherwise judgy looks I'd received in the past from complete strangers.  Breastfeeding is beautiful and beneficial.  I don't ever breastfeed in public now, because Henry only nurses in the morning and at night (yes, I practice extended breastfeeding - a whole other controversial conversation, but if you want to, bring it.  The positive evidence is there). When I see ladies doing it in public, I smile inside, and if I catch their eye, I smile at them.  This brave lady pretty much says it all.

Happy Fourth!

I love apple crumble but hate how it falls apart.  Most recipes don't suggest any crust to hold the dessert together, which I think it silly.  I made this apple crumble pie today using some pre-made crust I had lying around.  I used a combo of white sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg to coat the apples, and brown sugar, and flour for the topping.  I also used a ludicrous amount of butter.  Can't wait to dig in.

Animal House

Henry owns a ridiculous number of stuffed animals -- mostly due to being a Mardi Gras throw magnet. Free toys are fine and all, but it takes some creativity to store them all.  I was inspired to make Henry's animal keeper by one of my favorite snacks:

I painted four wooden crates and attached them with a heavy duty staple gun.  I also used the gun to attach stretched elastic vertically to create "bars".  Henry can help his friends escape from their crate as he wishes.  We're working on getting him to put them back.