JB and I drove up to Boothbay Harbor, Maine from my parents’ house in New Jersey this past weekend to attend our friends’ destination wedding. Not only was it my first time in Maine, it was actually the first time both of us were away from Levi simultaneously since he was born. There may have been a tiny lump in my throat as we waved goodbye, but knowing that he would be safe and happy with my parents allowed us to relax and enjoy some much-needed alone time.

The last time I slept in a cabin was when I was 19 and a counselor at the sleep-away camp I had also attended as a child. The simple design of the lodges and cabanas at the Linekin Bay Resort, where the wedding was held, brought back memories. Structurally, our room was not much different from the cabins of my childhood (minus the graffiti on the walls!), but the amenities were a bit nicer than metal camp cots and open clothing cubbies.

Although the bride and groom made sure to explain that the accommodations were rustic, I suppose JB and I thought it would be more like staying at a resort and less like camping. Once we managed our expectations (and killed some large creepy crawlies), we grew to enjoy the simple charm of Linekin Bay.

At the recommendation of our friends, we brought bathing suits but didn’t take a kayak or sailboat out on the water. We didn’t even take a dip in the pool. Instead, we drove down to Freeport, Maine the morning of the wedding to visit the massive L.L. Bean flagship store.

We may love the sun, fresh air, and water, but shopping at L.L. Bean is about as outdoorsy as we get.

Our goal over the weekend was to eat lobster at every meal, and I had just enjoyed my first lobster roll Friday night. Shopping bags in tow, JB and I stopped for a quick lunch at Sprague’s Lobster in Wiscasset on our way back to Boothbay Harbor for the wedding. Although Red’s Eats across the street had a longer line, we thought it was quaint that Sprague’s was on a pier with picnic tables that gave it character. (Later we learned that the locals actually prefer Sprague’s.)

We shared a lobster roll and a cup of seafood chowder — both were ridiculously good. I’m not even sure there was any butter or mayo on the lobster roll. Just huge chunks of lobster meat. (There was also a lobster bake at the wedding that evening, but nothing can really compare to the fresh flavors of a simply prepared lobster roll!)

Tomorrow I’ll share some photos from the wedding. Nearly all of the details were D.I.Y. and just wait until you see what was for dessert!

P.S. – I’m excited to be attending Alt Summit in NYC on Thursday. Alt SLC was such a wonderfully exhausting experience in January, so I’m curious how a one-day event will compare. Let me know if you’ll also be there — I’d love to meet you in person!

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Always curious about how other moms manage, I’m launching a new series today called AM/PM that will chronicle “a day in the life” of busy mothers, from stay-at-home moms to moms who work full time outside of the home. This column will hopefully provide insight into how all different types of moms balance their responsibilities, while offering reassurance to those of us who constantly feel like we’re dropping the ball (or multiple balls).

My first interview is with Lauren, a wife, mother, stylist, and blogger at The Little Things We Do living in Portland, Oregon. I’m not sure when I first stumbled upon Lauren’s blog, but one of the things I noticed was how much she does. The girl is always writing, as well as working on cool projects that take her to places like Disneyland and the Radio Disney Music Awards. She also has an adorable daughter whose style I envy. (Yes, I envy a toddler’s style.)

If you’ve ever thought to yourself, “I don’t know how she does it” about another mom, read on!

Q. How old is your daughter and what is her name?

A. Fern – 15 months

Q. What’s your occupation? Do you have the same job that you did before becoming a mom?

A. I am a full-time mama + a blogger at Babble and Disney Baby + a freelance wardrobe/prop stylist. Before becoming a mom, I was a Preschool Teacher and blogged part-time.

Q. Walk us through a typical work day… What time do you and your daughter wake up?

A. I wake up at 5:45 and my daughter usually wakes up between 8:00 and 9:00 depending on the day.

Q. What does your morning look like?

A. I wake up with my husband before he leaves for work. I make him a lunch and he makes me a mocha. Then I settle in to write for an hour or two until Fern wakes up. It’s a great time for me to get things done. After Fern wakes up we snuggle in bed for a bit and then get up, get dressed and share breakfast (usually eggs + spinach or a smoothie). After breakfast we squeeze in our outings for the day. We usually have play dates with friends at least once a week and on the other days we’ll go to the park, grocery shopping, or to the gym where Fern hangs out in the childcare. Some days we just do more focused activities at home, but getting out of the house really helps to break up the day and makes me focus on Fern since when I’m out I don’t have the computer sitting there distracting me.

Q. What time do you eat lunch?

A. Around 12:30, though often it’s on the go since we spend our morning running around and don’t usually get back until right before nap time at 1:30.

Q. What does your afternoon look like?

A. After Fern goes down for her nap I blog some more. Sometimes I’ll sit and have my own lunch at this time – usually around 2:00 — if I didn’t have anything to eat with her earlier. But usually this is the time when I can get any extra things on my to-do or to-blog list done that I didn’t finish in the morning. Fern doesn’t usually wake up from her nap until around 4:00 or 4:30, so we don’t do a whole lot together in the afternoons. We kind of just lay low. Play in the yard or do some puzzles, fit in some after nap snuggles. My husband gets home from work around 5:00 so we hang out and catch up on our days before dinner and other odds and ends that need tying up.

Q. What time do you eat dinner?

A. Fern eats dinner around 6:00 most nights. Some nights if I was prepared enough to cook something in the crock pot or if I started a meal earlier, then we all eat together as a family (usually 3-4 times a week). On other nights, I sit with her while my husband is working on some project or another (most recently he was spending part of his evenings building a chicken coop, and tonight he is coding my blog…always a project going!) and then we eat dinner together after she goes to bed around 8:00.

Q. What does your evening look like?

A. Fern is usually asleep by 8:00, so we’ll have dinner after that if we didn’t earlier, or we’ll cuddle up on the couch and catch up on TV shows together. I try not to blog in the evenings.

Q. What time do you go to bed?

A. We usually go to bed between 10:00 and 10:30 and we always go at the same time. It’s our rule.

Q. What do you most look forward to doing on the weekends?

A. I look most forward to Saturday mornings, because we’re all together with nothing in particular to do. Our Saturdays are always pretty full, but the mornings are perfectly leisurely and we don’t generally do anything of substance before 10:00. We also instituted “French Toast Saturdays” which is one of my favorite things.

Q. How do you de-stress when you’re feeling overwhelmed?

A. I turn off my computer and read a magazine. It may seem counterintuitive since I’m still taking in media, but for me, there’s just something about feeling the pages and seeing the physical images that calms me down. Also, getting out of the house. When you work from home, your home becomes a little less relaxing than it once was…it’s just kind of the nature of the beast. Home is where you work, so it can be hard to separate. I like to get out and do things to help me disconnect from the digital world and really focus on my friends and family without feeling tied to technology.

Q. What is your dream job?

A. I am living my dream job right now. I never knew it was my dream until it was here sort of by happenstance, but it’s so perfect for me. It allows me to be creative and have variety in my day, but above all it allows me to be home with my daughter and I cherish that above all.

*****

Thanks, Lauren, for participating in my new series! Friends, be sure to visit Lauren’s blog, The Little Things We Do, and stay up-to-date with all of her projects by following along on Twitter.

the post AM/PM: A day in the life of Lauren from The Little Things We Do appeared first on Bunny and Dolly © 2013

Summer is the season for playing in the park, building sandcastles on the beach, and swimming in the community pool. However, summer is also the peak season for thunderstorms. Click here to read my post on The Neighborhood about how to keep yourself and your family safe when thunder roars and lightning strikes.

Have a happy weekend!

the post When thunder roars, stay indoors appeared first on Bunny and Dolly © 2013

In a recent issue of GQ, a soon-to-be dad asked The Style Guy, Glenn O’Brien, for stylish yet functional diaper bag recommendations, and he suggested a classic trout bag by the UK bagmaker Brady. Originally designed in 1928 as a fishing bag, the Ariel trout bag is made of waterproof canvas and leather and can be fitted with an optional rubber lining for toting dirty diapers — or for a quick trip the lake, I suppose.

The trout bag is timeless. It’s also iconic. Costume designer Jacqueline West went to Brady when she was dressing Ben Affleck for “Argo,” and Brady created a special edition Westmorland day bag based on their 70s design for Affleck to carry in the film. I actually prefer that version — slightly rugged and vintage inspired — to the more tailored Ariel.

However, neither bag is cheap, and I don’t know too many dads who’d be willing to spend a couple hundred dollars on a bag they’d only occasionally carry. A mom’s diaper bag usually doubles as her purse, so it makes sense to spend a little more money on an accessory that’s always her shoulder. Dads, on the other hand, usually only carry their diaper bags when they’re on solo parenting duty — and how often is that, really?

Personally, I like the sleek and unobtrusive messenger bag style of Skip Hop’s Dash diaper bag in black. It’s what JB carried when Levi was a baby (well, the grey one), and it was just roomy enough for a couple of diapers, a package of wipes, some burp cloths, and toys. I wouldn’t recommend it as a diaper bag/purse for women because of its smaller size, though.

Need a last-minute Father’s Day gift? Why not surprise the daddy in your life with a diaper bag of his very own?

ONE // TWO // THREE

P.S. – A unisex diaper bag that moms and dads can share, plus how to pack a diaper bag.

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Today Levi turns 23 months old. Next month he’ll be two.

I’m having mixed emotions about this upcoming milestone.

It’s been incredible to watch Levi’s developments (he’s changed so much this past month!). He’s becoming a really goofy, loving, cool kid, and I love being able to interact more and more with him.

However, now that he’s a kid — a big kid! — it’s getting harder and harder to remember what he was like as an infant. Sure, I have (thousands of) photos I can view and blog posts I can read about that time in our life together. But I’m finding that with each new developmental stage we reach, I forget a little bit about what happened during the previous phase. It’s like I’m so consumed with the milestones he’s currently reaching that even the recent past seems ages ago.

Do you know what I mean?

At 23 months old, Levi…

…refers to his cousin as “my baby Max”

…is fascinated with cleaning supplies like brooms, vacuums, and the Swiffer and instructs us to “vacuum floor!” with the DustBuster (he once asked JB to vacuum dirt on the driveway)

…knows that ABC are the first letters of the alphabet and tries to sing the alphabet song

…loves to dance

…enjoys my singing voice (he’s the only one!) and frequently requests songs like “Itsy Bitsy Spider” and “Little Bunny Foo Foo”

…is finding his own voice and sings in his crib before falling asleep and after waking up

…has been mildly cranky lately and taking extra long naps (sometimes almost 3.5 – 4 hours)

…thinks rhyming words are funny

…remember passages from books (I said “thunder” to JB, and Levi responded with “boom boom!” from the book Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You?)

…uses words I don’t think I’ve said to him before like “bubblegum”

…refers to the dog as “doggie” but knows that his name is Briscoe (“Bit-go”)

…says yells goodbye to everything — people, the dog, the garage, cars, his toys, etc.

…excitedly says, “More whee!” when he wants to go down the slide again

…has a renewed interest in his toy cars and trucks after watching an episode of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood during which the children were racing cars

…builds tall towers with his Megabloks and tries to “fix” things with a wooden knife from his kitchen set

…asks to watch either Daniel Tiger (“tiger tv!”) or SuperWhy! when we let him have television time

…can walk down the stairs while holding a grown-up’s hand and the wall

…is getting much better at climbing onto the sofa and ottoman (he’s can also lift his leg very high, and I’m worried he might start trying to escape from his crib soon)

…asks to sleep with a blanket rather than his HALO SleepSack

…has added meatballs to his approved list of foods

…knows that trains say “chugga chugga choo-choo” and makes that noise when playing with his toy train

…grabs my forearm and pulls it in towards his face for a hug

He’s the best.

P.S. – Last month’s developmental milestones and a look back at Levi’s first year!

the post This is 23 Months Old appeared first on Bunny and Dolly © 2013

Packing for a recent beach vacation, I came to the sad realization that I hate all of my summer clothing. Unfortunately, my dissatisfaction was not a new feeling; I typically feel bummed about my wardrobe at the start of each new season.

Rather than splurging on a closetful worth of clothing when the thermometer jumps, I seek out ways to incorporate a couple of new trends into last year’s wardrobe. This summer I have my eye on three sizzling styles…

Click here to continue reading this post on Lifetime Moms!

P.S. – Five spring trends I’m still wearing.

the post Summer style appeared first on Bunny and Dolly © 2013

I love to collaborate. When I worked in the publicity department of a major publishing house, one of my favorite activities was brainstorming campaigns with my team. Not only was it fun to spend time together as a group, but working with other creatives pushed me to think further outside the box. Bouncing ideas off each other felt, at times, electrifying, especially when we knew we were on to something big.

That’s why I’m really excited to announce a new collaboration with Lisa from Elembee. I can’t reveal too much about our secret project now, but we’ll be sharing a sneak peek of our services next week in New York City!

If you’re interested in chatting about ways to improve your blog’s content and design, we want to work with you! Lisa and I have time to meet with three bloggers on Tuesday, June 18th, so if you’re interested in a free 30-minute consultation, please email us at hello@blogauditorium.com. Let us know why you want to work with us and what time you would be available on the 18th. (We’re looking to schedule afternoon/early evening appointments, mostly like near Union Square or Chelsea; however, we can be somewhat flexible.)

Let’s meet!

the post Let’s meet! appeared first on Bunny and Dolly © 2013

Although we can’t find our original list, he and I are pretty sure we’ve crossed off all of the major projects we had hoped to tackle. Is the house finished? Of course not! The guest room/office, for example, is a mish-mash of furniture, but at least it’s finally painted. In fact, in the four-and-a-half years we’ve lived here, we’ve painted every room except for the downstairs powder room and our master bathroom/closet.

Despite the improvements we’ve made, I’m always on the lookout for inspiring interiors. You know, for when we (eventually) move back to the East coast and have a new house to decorate. (Or for when the low-to-mid-range pieces we bought start showing significant wear and tear.)

Here are some rooms I’m currently loving…

ORLANDO’S LIVING ROOM // A blue velvet sofa is high on my wish list for my future home; it looks both tailored and cozy. And isn’t that gallery wall perfection?

HANNA’S HOME OFFICE // Her style leans more traditional than mine, but I wouldn’t mind if my desk looked as lovely. Plus, that grey pin board? Need it!

THE REINDORF DINING ROOM // On the flip side, Orlando and Nicola’s taste is, overall, too minimalist and eclectic for me, but I need to find a way to incorporate an indoor picnic bench with neon accents into my life.

DASH WAGNER’S NURSERY // Look at all that natural light! Combined with white walls, light furniture, and minimal decor, this nursery feels bright and airy. I tried to layer patterns in Levi’s nursery, but I’d consider going in this direction the next time around.

P.S. – We’re currently giving our basement a modest makeover, plus my nursery inspiration board.

the post Currently… appeared first on Bunny and Dolly © 2013

I knew my Ohio-born husband spoke funny, and now I have proof.

Joshua Katz, a Ph. D student in statistics at North Carolina State University, just published a group of awesome visualizations of a linguistic survey, and JB and I had quite a laugh quizzing each other on “correct” pronunciations. For example, he insists that Mary/merry/marry all sound the same, but being from NJ, I pronounce them all differently: Mairy, mehrry, and maaarry (like cat).

According the map above, however, I’m in the minority.

“Caramel” is another word that my husband (and two-thirds of the United States) mispronounces. He drops the middle “a” and just calls it “car-ml.” That sounds so absurd to me!

Are there any pronunciations that you and your spouse disagree on?

P.S. – As you can see here, they call is “pop” in Omaha, but I refuse to call a carbonated beverage anything but “soda!” 

via Business Insider

the post You say “car-ml,” I say “carra-mel” appeared first on Bunny and Dolly © 2013

We enjoyed lunch with Daddy at the Offutt Appreciation Day picnic.

We stopped at Starbucks on an overcast Saturday morning…

…on our way to the Village Pointe Farmer’s Market.

We found something old and something new.

We went to cupcake happy hour and shared three miniature treats between three people at Jones Bros. Cupcakes.

We dressed up like Bono in colored sunglasses.

We went to the ER when I cut my finger with a serrated knife (no stitches! just Dermabond!)…

…and then tried to forget about the incident with a chocolate glazed doughnut and breakfast sandwich.

We discovered a fantastic neighborhood playground that’s basically a giant sandbox.

This weekend we are leading the Walking for Wendy team at the PurpleStride Omaha event (it’s not too late to donate!) on Saturday and attending a 2nd birthday party on Sunday.

Speaking of birthday parties, Levi turns two in almost a month, and I have yet to plan his special day. We did it up for his 1st birthday with a music teacher, water activities, and lunch in our backyard, but I’m leaning towards something simpler this year. Possibly even something indoors since it tends to be sweltering in July. Any ideas?

P.S. – Check out my Instagram profile for even more iPhone photos!

the post Friday Rewind appeared first on Bunny and Dolly © 2013