What I Wore Wednesday, and Thursday, and Friday, and.........

(I don't know why I posted this on this blog.  It is more in line, content wise, with my other blog, Lilly and the Brothers, but I guess I wasn't thinking clearly at 5 am when I began writing.  For more of my life as a mom, head over there)

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If you read blogs much, you have surely stumbled across a What I Wore Wednesday post.

If you haven't, allow me to explain what it is.

The idea behind WIWW is to give some fashion accountability to a mom who is spending her day running around after kids and might end up spending day after day in her comfy pair of sweats.

It's a chance to add some style to the mommy days, even if those days consist of swimming lessons, school drop-offs and play ground dates.

It's a chance to think about your own outfits and not just your kids outfits.

At least that is my understanding of it.

Now this is not a fashion blog.  (in case you haven't figured that out yet.  ha)

If I get out the door in a cute (read: not mom) pair of jeans, something besides a tee-shirt, a cardigan and some ballet flats, I feel like I have made an effort.

If I manage to add in a cute, maybe even funky necklace, my uber sale Anthropologie jacket, and a craft fair pin, I have pretty much achieved super model status.

I'm speaking in terms of outfits, of course.

I am just not a high fashion girl.

I like clothes as much as the next person, but truthfully, I'd rather shop for home decor, or read Bon Appetite than read Vouge.

So taking part in WIWW has never been my thing.

I really don't have much to offer in the style department.

In fact, I once wrote a post about my whole struggle with getting out the door looking halfway decent, plucked eyebrows and all--you can read it here.

But when I read my friend Katie's WIWW post (applause for her bravery to do it for reals) I couldn't help but think how funny it would be for me to do a WIWW post now.

Now as in, 7 and a half months pregnant.

I wear basically the same thing every day.

And when I'm home, I wear sweats.

A lot.

It ain't pretty, it ain't sexy and it ain't inspiring.

But if you've ever been 7 months pregnant and running after the other kids in your life, you'll get this.

If you haven't, then just stop reading now because this will scare the poop out of you.  You don't want to know what your future may hold.

Here goes.

Day 1: Taking the kids to swimming lessons.

Top: Gap Maternity--on its 3rd pregnancy.  Horizontal stripes=bad idea

Jeans: Gap Maternity--on their 3rd pregnancy (more about them in a minute)

Shoes: You can't see them, but they are yellow Converse, scored on clearance at Target for $10.  

Guess not that many size 9s want to wear yellow converse.

But they are slip-on.  At this moment in time, I am ALL OVER the slip-ons.

The jeans.  
Like I said, they are on their 3rd pregnancy.
And that cute elastic band, pink floral instead of ugly blue nylon, is totally ripped.
Nice.

Ripped on both sides.  See?
Really nice.
But these pants are comfortable and they still fit well.  I am not buying a new pair of jeans at this point.
I just can't.  As is so often the case with me and clothes, practicality wins.
So I still wear them--a lot-- and cover up the rips with a belly band.  (did you non-preggos look at that link?  sooo cute, right? i know you wish you had one.) It works since the pants start to fall down after a while anyway.
How's that for some hot pregnancy style?
Don't. Be. Jealous.

Here's another thing about WIWW posts: how do these people get good pictures of themselves?
I stink at it.
I asked James to take some, and usually he's pretty good.
That day he was not at the top of his game.
But you can kind of see my shoes.  And Lil looks cute in her swim cover-up.

Next up, Friday night date night.
Date night?  Dressed like that?
Listen people, I don't have a lot to work with.
Cute, sassy, flirty, isn't in my vocabulary at the moment.
I feel like a house boat.
I am not the pregnant girl who can wear skinny jeans and I try very hard not to despise the ones that do.
Details.
Top: Hand me down from a previously pregnant friend.  3rd time around.
Scarf: H & M kids department.
Jeans: Ummm, same as above.  
Shoes: Red Converse. clearance at Target for $7!  
Again, I guess that not many size 9s want to wear bright red Converse tennis shoes, but hey, why not add a little clown to my look now and then?
I actually really love these shoes even if they do look ridiculous.

Easter Sunday.
This is the killer, folks.  
I didn't manage to get in a shot of me solo, so you'll have to see a family shot.
And yes, I am wearing jeans.  To church.
On EASTER.
For the record, they are not the jeans with rips.
But still.
I hate to wear jeans to church.
But again, I couldn't bring myself to buy an outfit that I would wear once just for Easter Sunday.
So I wore my new tee shirt (it's embellished!--thanks Mom!) a cardigan (remember that's my go-to style) and some jeans.
I Eastered it up with that bright cardigan for a pop of color, a necklace from Target, funky earrings from a craft fair and some funky shoes that you can't see.  (ok.  full disclosure.  they were flip flops.  but they are leather and my feet are getting too swollen for ballet flats now.)
Next year, I promise to wear a skirt.

Last day.  
And that brings up another question regarding the WIWW posts: how do these people manage to find the time to take a picture of themselves before they walk out the door?
I am usually applying a dab of makeup as I am getting everything packed in the car, running back in for my coffee and giving myself a quick glance in the mirror before I head back outside to kids already strapped into the car.
And sometimes I am going out without a morning shower, or I forgot to brush my teeth, put on deodorant or put in earrings.  (but the dishes are done!)
I don't have much time for a photo shoot.
I think I am not very organized.


And if I wait to take the picture until after I come home from wherever I've been, with my 3 kids, I look like a train wreck.
See?

Jean capris: Target Maternity--2nd pregnancy
Tank top: Old Navy--not maternity AND size medium.  Heck yeah!
Hat: to cover the fact that I left the house with wet hair.
Shoes: none because they were too sandy and wet to wear in the house.
To be fair, we had spent the morning hiking and wading through a creek.

Climbing over and under branches, trees and rocks.

It was great fun, but yeah, not so great for the "I'm an all put together Mom" look that I think I am supposed to be going for.

If you are a WIWW poster, don't be offended by this post.  
I am not making fun of you in the least.
And maybe in a year when I get out of nursing bras and my "still fat" jeans, I will look to you for inspiration.
But for now, I can't help poking a little fun at myself and the reality of what 7.5 months pregnant looks like in my life.
I hope you can laugh along with me.
Because sometimes, just getting something on before you walk out the door is a victory.




Happy Wednesday friends.
Tomorrow, the artisan bread post.  I promise.
Love from,
Greta


Hopefully she won't be offended by my joking tone, but I am linking up to Pleated Poppy's WIWW post.  After all, this is my first WIWW so I am milking it. Go here to see people who wear jeans without rips in them.

The Clock is Ticking

55 days.

I am trying not to feel panicky.

It still seems like ages before this baby will arrive, but then I'll open up our front closet and look at this and I feel the heart palpitations begin.

Not really.

OK, maybe a little bit.

I just organized this closet 3 months ago.  

A basket for my shoes, Aaron's shoes and one for the kids.

But "people" began to ignore which basket was for which shoe, and then James' baseball stuff got tossed in there and the dust bunnies moved back in and soon it looked like this again.
And I know if I don't do something about it now, June 20th will roll around and I'll have no more time to think of organizing closets.
EVER AGAIN.
Not really.
OK, maybe a little bit.


And so, as I listen to the clock tick and feel each kick of this sweet little baby who is quickly running out of room, I am stemming the rising tide of panic and I am conquering one project at a time.
Yesterday I tackled the closet.


I got a little help from a couple of builders I know.
They even shared their tools.

Honestly, I despise reading, and trying to figure out directions for something even so simple as a shoe shelf from The Container Store.  (all organizing products were on sale last week.  FYI, a pregnant lady should not go into The Container Store when organizing products are on sale.)
I find these little building projects annoying and rather a waste of my time.  
Like jigsaw puzzles.  BORING.
Really there are just things I like doing better, like baking, and I know I can just hand the job over to Aaron.
But James made me persevere.
"Come on Mommy, we can figure it out together.  We just have to keep trying."
Why do they always have to throw your words back in your face like that?
Rude.

So we did.
And they hammered in tiny nails and screwed in screws and truly were a help to me.

When we finished, we were all pretty proud of the shelf we built.
Although, James was disappointed that he did not get to use either his saw or drill.
But still.  Success!

Lilly helped me organize all the shoes, baseball stuff went in the red basket, the dust bunnies were kicked out and I felt my heart rate slowing down.

From this:

To this:

Yeah, I know it isn't all cuted out.  I'd love to paint the inside of the closet a bright color, to hang some art, and make all very blog worthy.
But at this point I'll settle for organized.
I only have 55 days after all, and at least that many more projects.  
Or something like that.


So, for those of you who've walked in these shoes, what are your secrets for preparing your home and life for baby?  I know I've done it 3 times before, but I'm never against learning something new.


Before I go, let me tell you to be sure to swing by tomorrow for a great post.  
I am entering previously uncharted territory and it is sure to make you laugh. 
I laughed at myself quite a bit while prepping for it.
Until then.
Love from,
Greta


PS. James wanted me to take a picture of him at least pretending to saw.
So I did.
And William, well, that boy is just pure entertainment.

This and That

Today I will be recovering from a very, very full weekend.

Really a wonderful weekend.  But quite a lot crammed into 2 days.

Besides Easter, we celebrated my boy turning 7.  

There were cupcakes to be made, a friend's birthday party, a baseball game, a drive to Fallbrook, 2 more birthday celebrations with cousins (we've got a stack of 3 birthdays in a row in April), church, egg hunts, and time with family.

Whew.  I'm beat.

On Friday the kids and I took it easy.  I knew we'd all be exhausted by the end of the weekend.
We stayed home and, amongst other things, we dyed eggs.
After we were done, the kids and I picked out our favorite eggs.
Guess which ones I liked?
I find these colors everywhere--separately and even in this combination.
It's all over our house.  (see here)
It's pretty close to the colors we want for the exterior of our house.  (see here)
It's even in the eggs the kids dye.
What colors are you drawn to?


Now I'm off to battle with the laundry and 3 kids who had far too much sugar this weekend and far too little sleep.  Like I said, I'm beat.
I leave you with a little crafty inspiration from a blog I like to look at often.
Since many of her creations involve sewing and knitting, I mostly just look and dream.
But this one involves modge podge and fabric.  
I can do that.
And since there are only 56 days until my due date, I suppose I should start thinking about baby's corner.
This might be a pretty sweet addition--uh, start.  Isn't it adorable?


Wishing you a happy week.
Love from,
Greta

Meet Our Swordfish--New Art for the Living Room

The big, green wall in our living room has been empty since we moved in almost 2 years ago.

It's been waiting for just the right piece of art.

Which would seem like no big deal since I am married to an artist whose paintings grace other walls around the house.

But in much the same way that doctor's children are said to often be sick or the cobbler's children to be without shoes, so our wall went without art.

I'm not judging him--the man has a full time job, 3 kids to spend time with, a wife and a fixer-upper house with a lot of fixing up that needs to be done.

His plate is full.

But a couple of weeks ago he finally finished Sam.

And now Sam lives above our couch and we really, really like him.

Yes, Sam is a big, turquoise swordfish.
He looks beautiful against our bright green wall.  (notice a trend here with the color palette in our home?)
When Aaron hung him up, he asked me, "is it too weird for the house?"
Weird yes.
Too weird?  For us?  Definitely not!  

Besides loving the color, the way he left the wood grain to show through on the lettering, the font style he used and yes, even the shape, I love this painting because it reminds me so much of my husband.
It encapsulates so many things he loves.
1.  He has wanted a giant fish to hang on our wall for a long time.  You know the kind that fishermen get on the big trip to Hawaii or Mexico and hang it as a trophy for all to see for all time.  Like this.  (I admit to liking this waaaaay better than that)
2.  He loves typography and this one he made is really cool.
3.  He loves vintage signs.
4.  He loves vintage tiki bar stuff.


Our Sam was inspired by this vintage sign.

It is from a real tiki bar in Sunset Beach, CA.  It is right on PCH and has been there since the 1960s.  To anyone who is a tiki buff, this place is kind of a shrine.  Here is one of the original menus.

A few years ago, it was slated to be torn down and turned into condos.  Aaron made sure to get photos of the sign with hopes of doing a painting of it someday.

Somehow it was saved, but it is Sam's no longer.  They did keep the sign, but now it says "Don's".  We like the original and so... Sam was born.

(if you like the vintage tiki bar atmosphere and Hawaiian style food, you can still go to Sam's/Don's for a tropical beverage or a meal.  Get info here)

Here are some close ups of Aaron's mad skills with Sam the Swordfish.
He cut him out of a big piece of birch with a jig saw.
He did all the lettering freehand.  Can you say perfection?  
Perhaps he missed his  calling as a surgeon cause the man has a steady hand.
He left the wood grain to show through as Sam's eye and the lettering.
I like Sam's cheerful smile.

He mounted Sam on wood strips, painted to match the wall of course, so he would stand out from the wall and have more of a presence.

And a presence he does, indeed, have.

Like so many of the things in our home, we go with what we love.

And that even means hanging a giant, wooden swordfish in our living room.

Welcome home, Sam!

Love from,

Greta

PS.  Linking up to Life Made Lovely today.  Take a look.  There are sure to be lots of great Easter craft ideas if our swordfish isn't your thing.

Baked it: Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day

The results are in.

I will be buying this book after I return my copy to the library.

The bread is good people.

And there are many, many more recipes that I want to try.

I only made a half batch because I wasn't sure how it would be.
We decimated the 2 loaves at dinner.
So tomorrow I will make a full recipe.
And I'll be back to give you all the details.
But right now I am too tired because I just posted the world's longest entry on our amazing hike to a waterfall last week.  

But lots of you were interested in this bread and I want you to try it.

Because it was easy and oh so good.

Check back for the details.

Love from,

Greta

Found Them: Vintage Lamps for the Kitchen

As promised: the lamps!

We were ready to wait patiently until we found just the right ones.  That's what you have to do when you are looking for vintage things at affordable prices.  It can take a while.
But we found them much sooner than anticipated at one of our favorite stores, The Vintage Collective, on 4th Street in Long Beach.

Could the color be more perfect?  
Yes, they came that way and we haven't done a thing to them.
I think it was meant to be.
I like them from underneath too.  Kind of ship like.

They need to be cleaned, re-wired and have their arms shortened.
But it's OK.  They're old.
Otherwise they are in perfect shape.  
I really love them.


One of the best things about them is that we scored 3--just the number we needed.  
There were only 2 in the store.  We really needed 3, or just 1 to put over the table and use some other lamps for the rest of the kitchen.
So we asked them to take down 1.
Aaron said, "we really wish there were 3.  3 would be perfect in our kitchen."
"I think I have more in my other store," he said.
He did. 
Kismet.

Aaron thought I'd think they were too much--or maybe too wild.
Apparently he doesn't know how much his aesthetic has infected me.
I loved them right away.
Truly, they were meant for our kitchen.

And why, you ask, do you need new light fixtures anyway?  Aren't the old ones good enough.
Uh, no.
Most decidedly not.
These bad boys have got to go.
They sort of kill the whole kitchen remodel.
They are on their way out.

And, to add one more cool part to the lamp story, we got a great deal.  
If you've ever looked at lamps, you know how pricey they can be.
Even these lamps--basic as can be are $40 at IKEA.  
We like them though, and have them several places in our house.
We figured to save $ we'd get one "cool" lamp for over the table--a centerpiece--and the rest would be the relatively inexpensive and basic IKEA lamps.
We got our lamps for $50 each!  That is almost an IKEA price. 
But infinitely cooler.
We were pretty stoked, let me tell you.

So there you go--the lamps.
Hopefully I get to show you a picture of them installed soon.  
Last night I took on the mammoth task of cleaning out the closet that allows access to the attic so that the wiring can be reached.  
That is why there was no blog post today.  I was up late.  That closet was full of junk
Yowsa.


I am glad we were able to go vintage with all 3 of the light fixtures instead of just one.  It is such a fun treat to find just what you are looking for, at a price you can afford.  When does that ever happen?


Aaron finished our front door and new screen door this weekend.
And I have bread to talk about.
There are pictures to share and stories of our neighbor's disapproval of our turquoise front door.
See you soon!
Love from,
Greta

New Discovery: Banana Bread + Nutella = Fantastic

It's Friday and that means you should think about baking something yummy for the weekend.

What?  

You know I'm right.

So bake up a batch of the World's Best Banana Bread and spread it with this:

NUTELLA 
If you don't know Nutella, it is time for you to get acquainted.  
I first met Nutella in France when I was 18.  It was love at first bite.
Is it any wonder the French don't like peanut butter? 
I mean, who would, when you could have Nutella instead?
We Americans have wised up and you can find Nutella anywhere now: the grocery store, Target and probably even Walmart.  (can't verify this since Walmarts here are an abomination.  but I have heard that is not the case in other parts of the country)
We had Nutella left over from camping this weekend.  (it will take your s'mores to a whole new level)
And since I'm pregnant, and I like to make myself as miserable as possible at my ever more frequent doctor visits,  I decided to try out some Nutella on the banana bread I made this morning.

Oh sweet mama it is good!
Give it a try.
You'll thank me.


Right now my kitchen smells divine--all yeasty. I am trying out the bread from this book and I'll let you know how it turns out.  
I am really hoping it is wonderful so that we can have fresh bread around here all the time.
We love really good fresh bread.  
Because we're bread snobs--or connoisseurs--depends on how you look at it.
And also because, I really need those extra calories.


Have a wonderful weekend.  
I hope it involves fresh baked something--even if that means donuts from the donut shop
Love from,
Greta

Making Lunch WIth Love

Every morning I send my husband off to work with his lunch packed in his vintage, metal lunch box.

He found it at the flea market a year or so ago, and he'd much rather use it than some soft-sided, nylon cooler bag.

That's his way.  Aesthetics matter to this man.

(he also has a thing for vintage thermoses and has quite a collection of them)

This week as I was packing his lunch, I thought about how many posts I read about doing special things for our kids, our friends, our fellow blogging buddies and the world in general.

But unless it is Valentines Day, I can't recall that many posts about special things we can do for the men in our lives.

That's messed up.

Maybe lunch isn't your man's thing.  But my man loves a home made lunch.

He'd much rather have home made than buy a burrito off the lunch truck or even grab a ($6) sandwich from Starbucks.

So I make his lunch for him.  Almost every day.

Can he make his own?

Of course.

But that's not really the point.

I can take out the trash cans.  But I don't like to.

So Aaron always does.

And I am sure, if Aaron were to pack his own lunch, he'd be always be eating pb and js  or getting lunch off the truck.  He just isn't a lunch maker.

Besides, I like to do it for him.

His favorite lunch is a salad. 
(I always think of this Seinfeld episode when I eat just a salad)

I make him one each morning, loaded with veggies and a few treats like: feta cheese, Kalmata olives, sunflower seeds, dried cranberries, or avocado from our tree.

I make some dang good salads--they are one of my specialties.

And since Aaron has a problem with hoarding Tupperware, I stopped packing his lunches in plastic containers and switched to these glass, Pyrex containers.  

I have quite a few of them since I always keep an eye out for them at estate sales, garage sales and thrift stores.  As long as you don't buy them in sets, they are affordable.

Not only are they more aesthetically pleasing than a Rubbermaid container, Aaron also knows he'll get on my bad side if he leaves them in his truck for weeks (yes weeks--i told you he was a hoarder) at a time before bringing them in to be washed.

They work like a charm.

Making him a fresh salad for lunch really doesn't take much time.  Maybe 10 minutes--tops.

But there are mornings when everyone is starving and clamoring for my attention and I still want my coffee and I just need a couple extra minutes to get those carrots chopped.

Enter the love notes.

We don't do it every day.  

But at least a few times a week, the boys and I slip notes, cards or drawings into Aaron's lunch box to tell him how very much we love him.

I love to surprise him that way.

I haven't been doing it for long and I wonder why I never thought about it before.

I'm glad I do now.

The notes are not long.  Sometimes all I can manage is an "i love you."

The boys are more elaborate, and often give him drawings or sweet little notes.

This actually works in my favor because instead of sitting at the table asking for breakfast while I'm chopping lettuce, they are busy drawing pictures for daddy.  

It's a win-win.

And so, as he heads off to work, I can hand him his lunch box, his steaming cup (or thermos) of coffee and he can know in one more way that he is loved.

That he is appreciated.

That we are thinking of him all day long.

It's just a little thing really.

But I think that it's the little things that are often the nicest.

Besides, I have to fill that lunch box for him.

It goes so perfectly with his vintage ties.

I think I am going to try my hand at 5 minute artisan bread today.

Maybe it will make it into Aaron's lunch box tomorrow.

I'll let you know.

Love from,

Greta


PS. I have to give credit to my mom for teaching me how to love my man in this way.  She always went out of her way to pack my dad a nice lunch because she knew that was something that was important to him in the middle of a long work day.  Much like Aaron, my dad would rather have a homemade sandwich than stop in at McDonalds for a Big Mac.  In fact, I think both of them would rather starve than stop for a Big Mac.
We all show love to our men in different ways, but in my family, a home made lunch is a sure fire way to say, "you matter to me."
Thanks Mom!