Diaper Bag Adventures

2009-08-09T14:32:00.001-07:00

Monday is Open House Day

2009-02-23T10:37:00.001-08:00

We "open our doors" on a weekly basis to give you a peek into our studio. To share our inspirations, aspirations, projects, accomplishments, insights from fellow entrepreneurs and coffee break musings so that we can connect with you when we're on-line.

Please visited us at our new address noted below. We would appreciate it if you'd subscribe to new our blog on your way out!

We look forward to seeing you there on Mondays.

STUDIO www.thumbprinttradingcards.com
SHOP www.thumbprintcards.etsy.com
BLOG www.thumbprinttradingcards.blogspot.com
MAIL info[at]thumbprinttradingcards[dot]com

A Walk in the Park

2009-02-19T15:25:00.000-08:00

This photo, which was taken at the Seattle Art Museum's Outdoor Sculpture Garden, will remind me of the day Nicholas walked between JD and I while holding our hands.

I used to daydream about this milestone and it was a dream come true.

Thumbprint Trading Cards | Updates

2009-02-12T11:08:00.000-08:00

Belated Happy New Year! I spent January working on several changes to Thumbprint Trading Cards.

There have been a few clarifications (on our website and on our Etsy shop) regarding our policies. We have also dusted and rearrange our store front.

Have a look!

Winter White Holiday Season

2008-12-27T19:36:00.000-08:00

It is unusual for Seattle to receive this much snow. The first few days were gorgeous and it even kept my husband house bound for a bit, which my son and I loved. But then it snowed and snowed some more.

By the end of a week long stretch, we were less concerned about holiday packages arriving in the mail and instead keeping our fingers crossed that the snow shovel would finally arrive despite payment for overnight shipping.

Holiday Gift Giving

2008-12-16T18:24:00.000-08:00

My husband and I will be very busy in the kitchen this December. We have decided to gift delicious treats to our family and friends.

Our favorite is chocolate dipped dried apricots. Dark chocolate dipped fruit will be finished with fleur de del while milk chocolate dipped fruit will be garnished with candied ginger.

Featured Artist at Art on the Ridge

2008-12-01T17:30:00.000-08:00

Through the month of December Thumbprint Trading Cards is a featured artist at Art on the Ridge, which is a gallery and studio in Seattle's Phinney Ridge neighborhood.

For the holiday season we have packaged our social appointment and note cards with a matching key fob card holder. They make the perfect stocking stuffer and holiday gifts for co-workers and teachers.

You can learn more about Art on the Ridge by visiting their website.

Thumbprint Trading Cards | Third Friday Art Opening

2008-11-20T11:59:00.000-08:00

Thumbprint Trading Cards had so much fun being off-line last week that we're doing it again at this week's Third Friday Art Opening in Phinney Ridge, Seattle! On Friday, November 21st from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM I will be joined by Seattle-area Crafters and Musicians at Art on the Ridge's Holiday Craft Fair.

Art on the Ridge is a gallery for Northwest Artists. They host new shows the third Friday of each month featuring different artists with a common theme. Art on the Ridge continues to make the art available for purchase in the gallery and on-linw for the month following the show.

We hope to see you there!

3rd Friday Art Opening is held at Phinney Neighborhood Association - 6532 Phinney Avenue North
Art on the Ridge Gallery is located at 9050 Phinney Avenue North

A Festive Affair

2008-11-18T11:38:00.000-08:00

Our off-line debut was a festive affair! What could be better than being in the company of other local artists, fantastic patrons and live musicians all in an award winning store? Thank you for hosting us, Festivities!

Thumbprint Trading Cards | In-Store Event

2008-11-07T20:03:00.000-08:00

Mark your calendar for Friday, November 14th from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM!

Thumbprint Trading Cards is participating in our first ever in-store shopping event and trunk show at Festivities in Edmonds, Washington. Festivities, known for their home furnishings, antiques, home accessories and fine gifts, has been voted among the top five places to shop in Western Washington by King 5 News & Evening Magazine. Congratulations, Ladies!

In anticipation of our off-line debut, I have expanded our assortment of Playdate Appointment Cards to include limited edition note cards and appointment cards focused on making sure your next meal is topped off with a healthy does of friendship. Also available will be our charming holiday gift sets containing a Gift Certificate, one set of 18 Appointment or Note Cards and one Felt Key fob Cardholder.

Between the live jazz, wine, champagne and food [not to mention the award winning store, amazing artists and vendors], this is sure to be a terrific way to unwind.

Now doesn't that sound like a great mix of fun, shopping and socializing? It's right up our alley!

[Festivities is located at 111 Main Street, #101, Edmonds, WA 98020. For additional questions about the event, you may contact the store at 425.712.0342.]

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T21:01:00.000-07:00

Apple Pie

2008-10-26T12:54:00.000-07:00

Just a few miles from Downtown Seattle is South 47 Farms. Their big draw on the weekend before Halloween is an offering of carving and cooking pumpkins. We went to the farm for another fall item, though - apples. From their modest apple orchard we were fortunate enough to pick to our hearts' content and gathered enough to bake one pie and then some.

Refrigerated pastry dough and apples in hand, I asked my Mother-in-law for her apple pie filling recipe. Thanks to the hard work of my husband and Father-in-law, we ate the most delicious apple pie I've ever tasted. It was so delectable, in fact, that I am sharing the filling recipe with you.

Happy baking and bon apple-tite!

Apple Pie

Ingredients:
• About 7 cups of apples, peeled, cored, quartered, and sliced into 1/4" pieces (enough to make a big mound in your pie tin)
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1/8 - 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg to taste
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon (any more would be overpowering)
• Good pinch of salt
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice (leave this out if you use very tart apples, like Gold Rush or Northern Spy)
• 2 tablespoons of butter, cubed
• Pre-made two-piece pie crust, so you'll have a top crust (or you can make your own crust if you like. Show-off.)

Tools:
• Pie tin or pie plate
• Measuring cup and measuring spoons
• Very large mixing bowl
• Baking sheet (to go on the lower rack of the oven to catch any drips from the pie)

Preparation:
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees and put the baking sheet on the bottom rack.
• Place the sliced apples in the pie plate to check that you have enough for a good mound.
• Transfer the apples to the mixing bowl and toss them with everything except the butter and the crust.
• Arrange one of the two crust pieces into the bottom of the pie plate, starting from the center and then pressing down so that it makes it evenly to the corners.
• Pour the filling into the crust-lined pie plate.
• Sprinkle the cubed butter all over the top of the filling.
• Arrange the other crust piece on top of the filling, crimp the pastry together around the edge, and cut a bunch of little vents in the top crust.
• Place the pie on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 45 – 50 minutes or until crust is golden brown.
• IMPORTANT - let cool to room temperature for 4 hours. I know. If you don't, though, all the juice will run out and the pie will fall apart. If you wait, though, the filling will reabsorb the juices, and you'll get beautiful solid slices. Your patience will be rewarded.

Product Review | Cool Mom Picks

2008-10-19T14:36:00.000-07:00

Our latest product review comes from Cool Mom Picks Associate Editor Julie Marsh.

"Much more than mere mommy cards, these two-inch square cards incorporate custom photos along with contact information--ideal for those of us who need a visual memory cue now and then. Designer/mom Chris Guillot consults extensively with each client to lovingly custom design cards that reflect exactly what you want--you, your kids, or even your business. The result: elegant calling cards that make a fabulous impression…"

To read the full product review, please visit Cool Mom Picks.

Product Review | Superdumb Supervillain

2008-10-15T21:32:00.000-07:00

Our latest product review comes from superdumb supervillain.

"Thumbprint Trading Cards are a great conversation starter, for sure. Chris Guillot started the company after her son was born and she realized she needed to make mom friends. Thumbprint Trading Cards are sort of like mommy cards, but they have a unique 2" x 2" square format with rounded edges and a glossy, varnished look that set them apart from traditional business cards. You personalize them with your own photo and text, so they work as calling cards, business cards, gift tags, whatever you need them to be! Chris is more than happy to work with you to create something you will be thrilled to hand out."

Read the full product review at superdumb supervillain and enter to win a free set of Playdate Appointment Cards and a Key fob Cardholder in Black.

Happy First Birthday, Nicholas!

2008-10-12T11:19:00.000-07:00

On the big day, we popped into Dad's office for a birthday lunch. Nicholas' first run-in with a cupcake wasn't successful [i.e. didn't end up all over his face]. That night we attended our bi-monthly PEPS meeting and he had a grand time playing with his buddies.

Later in the week, Nicholas got his first haircut. This decision about when to have his hair cut was hotly debated between my husband and me. I won't say who won that debate but I will say that Nicholas is stylin' a new do and had fun getting his hair cut. To celebrate this milestone and my own birthday, Nicholas had a second run-in with a cupcake. On his hands, all over his face, in his mouth, in his belly, up his nose. It was pure delight.

The week ended with Nicholas' party-turned-biggest-playdate-yet at Gymboree Play and Music and, you guessed it, another cupcake. Now I've lived the sentiment: to spoil a baby rotten.

So what now? Well, every bit of cupcake he shoved into his mouth proved to me that he is capable of eating chunky food. So believe you me, his veggies, proteins, fruits and breads will be in chunks from now on. The jig is up, Bubba! You're a big boy now.

The Sound of Silence

2008-09-24T09:33:00.000-07:00

It has been five months since I wrote Sleepless in Seattle, describing the sleep challenges that we [Baby, Mom and Dad] were having. April seems like ages ago and, in the life of my nearly one-year-old baby, it was. May and early June were huge challenges. He was waking several times between 9:00 PM and 6:00 AM. July was tough too. During those three months we were traveling a lot, we hosted guests on several occasions, and the little man got sick a couple of times to boot.

By mid-July [around nine months old] he started sleeping through the night. We traveled to the East Coast and during that trip he actually began to sleep pretty decently. When we returned home, it took him a few days to transition back to Pacific Time, but even that process went pretty smoothly.

Here are some of the things that helped us [all three of us] get through these last five months:

· The transitional object a.k.a. lovey [Nicholas' is a tiny square piece of fleece with knotted fringe edges] stays in the crib. It's there when we put him down and we put it in his arms if he doesn't grab it right away. Otherwise, we were misplacing it.

· We have a pacifier baby on our hands. We keep several lined up near the crib so that, if he starts fussing in the middle of the night, we can just stagger into the nursery and hand him a pacifier. This saves us the hassle of searching for it and keeps two of us [the baby and the sleep walking adult] from getting too wound up.

· When we travel or have guests stay at our house, we recognize that our little one doesn't respond easily to his night time routine so we take a little more time to hold him before he is put in his crib. It feels like a small step backward but it helps him unwind and relax.

Now with his twelve-month birthday around his corner, I'm waiting for the sleep disruptions to occur for the two weeks before and two weeks after his birthday. As usual, we'll see.

Product Review | Pink with Sparkles

2008-09-13T07:07:00.000-07:00

Our latest review comes from Pink With Sparkles creator, blogger and Mama Princess extraordinaire – Dawn Gardner.

"Setting up a playdate on the fly has just gotten simpler. Now every mommy & tot duo you meet will be blowin' up your cell to holla at you.

Every mama knows it's no easy feat to find the perfect playmates for your kidlets. You need to be prepared in a pinch to not let a potential pal disappear without throwing her your digits. Thumbprint Trading Cards has a simple solution for setting up playdates at your crib or theirs…"

To read the full product review, please visit Pink with Sparkles.

Thumbprint Trading Cards | Temporary E-mail Workaround

2008-09-03T23:25:00.001-07:00

Dear Thumbprint Trading Cards Customers and Visitors,

It has come to my attention that several messages to info@thumbprinttradingcards.com have bounced back their senders. I apologize for any inconveniences this has caused. I am currently investigating and working on an e-mail/IT solution.

In the meantime, I am posting a temporary e-mail workaround in the event that you are the recipient of a returned message. I will post here again once this issue is resolved.

You can send me an e-mail [a.k.a. conversation] through my webstore. I will be checking my conversations for any incoming mail.

Again, I apologize for any inconveniences and thank you for your patience.

Sincerely,
Chris Guillot

Credits

2008-09-03T18:20:00.001-07:00

You know that part of a magazine that talks about the photo session that led to the front cover? It discusses what the model was wearing upon arrival to the set, what he or she had for lunch and listened to while working. It provides the name of the styling team: wardrobe, hair and makeup. Do you know what I'm talking about?

Well that has never happened to me. No one has wanted to know what I wore on set or what is in my iTunes library. Since I only wear make-up when I'm getting dolled up, there's no need to provide credit there. I have self-love and I have self-confidence but I'm just a regular gal. You know what I mean?

But there are times when my eyebrows look so good that if I was in a magazine and there was a section talking about my styling, my aesthetician, Kate Thorbeck, would be credited. Kate is the owner of Surya Spa in Magnolia. I met Kate many moons ago when she fixed my poor brows that had been ruined by a horrible, horrible, horrible waxing experience.

After a recent visit to see Kate, I decided to create an occasion to credit Kate for my excellent eyebrows.

Eyebrows: Kate Thorbeck, Surya Spa
Photo: Emerald England, Emerald England Photography and Graphic Design, LLC

[While this photo was taken a year ago, it's the closet thing experience I've had to a "fashion" photo shoot.]

Website Re-launch! In 3-2-1. Blast off!

2008-08-28T21:24:00.000-07:00

I am extremely thrilled to announce the website re-launch of Thumbprint Trading Cards at www.thumbprinttradingcards.com. Thumbprint Trading Cards help you put a face with a name in a high-impact, no-technology-required kind of way. As a double-sided calling card or business card, it makes exchanging contact information on the fly simple.

Our website soft launch was in May 2008. This re-launch brings with it e-commerce capabilities, an extensive FAQ and additions to our portfolio.

For those of you who are new to Thumbprint Trading Cards or who are good friends of the company, please visit our site!

Ink Colors and Fonts for Thumbprint Trading Cards

2008-08-26T14:36:00.001-07:00

Welcome to our Ink Color and Font Menu! If you haven't visited Diaper Bag Adventures before, I'm glad you're here. If you have time, please have a look around.

Ink Colors: Due to variations in computer monitors, the appearance of ink colors may vary slightly.

Fonts: Fonts will be properly sized to ensure that text is legible.

If you would like to have a closer look at our ink color and font menu, please e-mail [info@thumbprinttradingcards.com] us with your mailing address and we'll pop one in the mail to you as soon as possible!

Copyright 2007 - 2008 Thumbprint Trading Cards. All rights reserved.

What's In My Diaper Bag?

2008-08-22T10:22:00.000-07:00

A few weeks before Nicholas was born, I put together my diaper bag. I knew that I wouldn't want to think about getting it together for our first outing which would be our first trip to the pediatrician's office. When I was done with that, I put together the identical contents for my husband in a bag that had a more masculine feel. When I was done with that, I put together a super duper emergency diaper bag that would reside in the car trunk.

I put together the second diaper bag because I was being considerate. What if JD didn't want to carry my feminine diaper bag while the two of them went on a special father-son outing? I put together the third diaper bag because I was watching too much Jon & Kate Plus 8 and that's what they have in the back of their 10-passenger van.

Almost one year later, the inside of my diaper bag looks really different. It's not that I was carrying the wrong things but now I'm carrying fewer things. I would highly recommend packing one diaper bag before bringing baby home but I would recommend an edited list of things. The second and third diaper bag I would hold off on. [Note from JD - I got over it and just carry the main diaper bag. Turns out that carrying my son is enough of a cue of my manhood that a diaper bag doesn't even register as anything embarrassing.]

My original diaper bag included

· diapers

· changing mat

· baby wipes

· grocery bags for trash

· bleach wipes [for questionable surfaces]

· hand sanitizer

· all-purpose baby ointment

· diaper rash cream

· hand lotion

· disposable latex gloves

· baby outfit

· baby hat, gloves and socks

· receiving blanket

· disposable camera

· mini stuffed animal

· baby rattle

I would instead recommend

· diapers

· changing mat

· baby wipes

· bag for dirty diapers [disposable or re-usable and washable]

· hand sanitizer

· baby ointment or cream

· baby outfit

· receiving blanket

· nursing drape or bottle/formula

· extra pacifier [if using]

Why would I get the rid of the rest?

· Bleach wipes [you can baby wipe questionable surfaces and your baby isn't coordinated enough to move off the changing mat and grab things]

· All-purpose baby ointment AND Diaper rash cream [I'd carry a small container of only one and I'm a huge fan of the ointment because it's also great for those little bitty nail scratches or chapped skin]

· Hand lotion [because I just let my hand get a little dry]

· Disposable latex gloves [you can baby wipe then hand sanitize or wash any poopy disaster. Also, you might want to avoid them if you have latex allergy concerns]

· Baby hat, gloves and socks [I never lost them and they never needed to be changed]

· Disposable camera [the normal camera was always around]

· Mini stuffed animal and baby rattle [Nicholas didn't really focus on toys for several months]

As you and your baby grow together, you'll figure out what you need and don't need in the bag. If you do decide to put together an emergency diaper bag for the trunk, don't forgot to rotate diapers and clothes for growing babies and seasonal changes.

A Big Hug and Two Thumbs Up for Jenny GG Photography

2008-08-17T22:04:00.000-07:00

As I work on making the content of www.thumbrinttradingcards.com more robust, I would be remiss not to reflect on the journey of our site soft-launch.

We wouldn't have been able to launch Thumbprint Trading Cards 1.0 if it were not for the talented and gracious Jenny GG. She lent us her photography skills so we could showcase our services and products. As I have come to know her, I am ever more impressed with her focus [pun intended] and feel inspired by her business growth.

Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I'll stop writing now. Her work speaks for itself. You can visit Jenny GG at www.jennyggphotography.com.

The Beater Phone

2008-08-12T20:59:00.000-07:00

My cell phone died on me today. The causes are known – biting, licking and falling on the ground. When I went to visit my neighborhood cell phone provider, I learned that I was caught in a loop. My phone was no longer under warranty, I was not eligible to re-new my contract to get a free phone and I wasn't eligible for a discount on a full-price phone. What?!?

At first, I thought I'd just use my previous cell phone, but then I remembered that I had given it to my dad when he was stuck in a similar contract situation. I had boxed up that beloved phone in its original packaging and mailed it to him.

That's when I remembered Goldie. Goldie is a gold-toned Nokia I purchased on-line a while back. I loved her right off the bat even though I got horrible service in my condo building and in my work loft. It was so bad that, shortly after she arrived, I boxed her up and stashed her away.

I found her this afternoon. She's all charged up and ready to go, and seems to get a few bars of service in the new townhouse. So far, so good.

Cupcakes are Yummy!

2008-08-06T14:41:00.000-07:00

I did not grow up a huge fan of cupcakes, nor did I dislike them. They just weren't part of my family's dessert repertoire.

When I moved to Ballard in 2006 and discovered Cupcake Royale on NW Market Street, I had to institute a rule: one cupcake per week. While it's much easier to impose some self control, I'm still a sucka'!

I tend to go with what I know – lavender frosted chocolate cupcake or lemon frosted vanilla cupcake. Then I saw the seasonal Skagit Valley Farm Strawberry frosted cupcakes. Are you kidding me with the locally grown, real strawberries [organic no less] in the icing? I'm all about it!

And as if that wasn't enough pure pleasure, I found myself inside the Wallingford Center this same week. I had to take a peek at Trophy Cupcakes and Party. Not only were their cupcakes gorgeous, the ambiance was a treat. I tried their Red Velvet Cupcake. Never has red velvet cake tasted of chocolate to me like that cupcake did.

Cupcakes are yummy indeed!

Oh! Oh! Self-control, where are you?

BandaBibs Rock!

2008-07-23T19:12:00.000-07:00

We've ended up with a lot of bibs. A lot of drool bibs. But here's the thing. Monkey isn't a drooler so he doesn't wear a bib unless some type of foodage is involved. As a result, I don't particularly "style his outfits" with a bib as part of the get up.

Well, I didn't until I laid eyes on a dark denim bandana bib by BandaBib.

There are a lot of people out there writing great things about this product. I encourage you to Google BandaBib and ready all those nice comments.

Me? I'm just going to show you how cute it looks on my cutie.

Accessorizing a baby boy has just gotten a whole lot easier. Thank you, BandaBib!

Now please stay seated for Monkey's rockin' drum solo.

Sand Dunes of South Carolina

2008-07-14T21:42:00.000-07:00

My name is Christine and I'm a beach snob. At least I was until recently. I liked my beach straight up with a twist of Pacific Ocean. To me, there was nothing like the Beach Cities of Los Angeles or any and all Hawaiian beaches.

This was all about to change when my Mother-in-Law started planning a big family trip to South Carolina. Now that her and her siblings' kids had kids, wasn't it time to reinstitute the annual Packer/Guillot Beach Trip? I was ready for a beach trip since I hadn't properly laid still on a towel for ages, but would I think the Atlantic and her beaches could rival those of my beloved Pacific?

They can! The ocean is warm, the sand soft, plenty of shells to collect and enough honor among beach-goers that you could put your chairs and umbrella out in the morning and not have to worry about them getting stolen.

We fit fifteen adults and four children in a two story home with eight bedrooms, four bathrooms, two kitchens, nearly a dozen porch rocking chairs, a carport that fit four cars with room for another three in the driveway and… wait for it… the beach in our backyard. Bless the front row and the smart family members that found this rental through Dunes Realty.

I relaxed, enjoyed great company, connected with extended family members, took Nicholas on his first proper vacation, played in the water and even had time to burn through most of my latest book. I loved it! The most relaxing end to the trip was that my husband sat next to Nicholas in his car seat for all three legs of our flight home. I savored every last bite of that vacation.

We’re already planning our beach trip for next summer.

The Second 40 Weeks

2008-07-06T14:33:00.000-07:00

Our baby is nine months old. I can't believe a second set of 40 weeks have already passed. He has been ex utero as long as he was in utero.

I have to thank the lovely and talented Emerald England who has helped my husband and I capture these memories through lovely photography.

Please check out her beautiful work at www.emeraldengland.com.

Home Sweet Home

2008-06-19T13:15:00.000-07:00

Home Sweet Home. In our case - Home Sweet Townhome.

Never has this sentiment had more meaning to me. After back-to-back trips to LA, a nasty stomach bug, an emergency trip to Ikea for a crib since the little man outgrew the portable play yard my parents bought him, nursing after nursing in the middle of the night, and a huge setback in his napping and sleeping schedule, it was great to be back home.

The house was as I left it. Clean towels covering the furniture just in case of more intestinal distress.

I knew it would take Nicholas some time to readjust to life back on the ranch. But he just won't. Lots of nursing. Waking up two or three times in the middle of the night. Growth spurt. Big time.

My infant sleep research tells me that two weeks before and two weeks after his nine month birthday will be particularly tough on his sleep. My research also recommends that we plan trips around this schedule. Well… that's out of our hands.

So I'm looking at a little over three weeks left in this nine month milestone/sleep disruption process. Then I'm in the clear.

But what will happen after three weeks? I'll let you know.

The Facts of Life

2008-06-07T23:38:00.000-07:00

Nicholas and I flew back to California less than a week after our return.

My grandmother spent her last days with her family around her. She passed away in the comfort of her son and daughter-in-law's home.

It was peaceful.

Sqeaky Clean

2008-06-03T21:45:00.000-07:00

Recently our household was sick. The kind of sick that requires a special trip to the grocery store for sick people staples and a big thank you to the laundry gods for having included an in-home washer and dryer in our rental townhouse.

When I woke up on Saturday morning, I decided to edit our AM routine and take my son and I to my favorite pancake restaurant for breakfast. I would nosh on tasty delights while I fed him sweet potatoes (the yellow kind). This would be different from most Saturday mornings, but my husband was at a work event and I was really looking forward to being back in Seattle after a week long visit with my parents.

Best laid plan put together, I was ready to nurse my son and then head out the door. Problem was, a bug in his tummy had a different idea.

That day my son had three baths. That day I wore three different outfits. One of which was an outfit repeat that went through the wash and then had to go through the wash again. After having to take both of our slip covers off the sofa, we decided just to lay big towels on the thing. It was a day that involved more hand washing and hand sanitizer than when my son was born. My husband and I were desperately trying to keep contamination at bay.

Unfortunately, we caught it, in case you're wondering. In this process, I learned a little about disinfecting nonporous toys. Washing alone or wiping alone with a bleach wipe isn't enough to clean that super cute giraffe or plastic car keys.

Thanks to the Metro King County website, I now know that you need to do both. Because while those plastic toys may reside in the living room play area and not get a whiff of dirt or grime on them, they are certainly covered with dried on saliva and bleach won't do its job unless the surface is clean, clean, clean.

So here are the words we lived by when we were clean those toys - first scrub, then sanitize.

M-I-C… See you real soon!

2008-05-18T12:52:00.000-07:00

Nicholas and I took a trip to Southern California to visit with my parents. It was our first airplane trip on our own. It was his first trip to meet Grandma and Grandpa. It was going to be our first taste of summer weather for 2008.

The only things on our agenda were 1) to visit with his maternal Great Grandmother, 2) to introduce him to a swimming pool and 3) to have him meet Goofy and his Pals.

Bubba met his great grandmother. Though he won't remember their introduction, I will and I'll remind him all about it. He flashed her his million dollar smile. He patted her hand. He sang to her. All while she was lying asleep in her hospital bed. It was a bittersweet visit.

The swimming pool thing never happened. I'm still not sure how we didn't fit it in but we didn't.

My parents live in the OC. On my sister's suggestion we had a weekend brunch at Goofy's Kitchen in the Disneyland Hotel. There's a lot of things I can say about this experience but the only one I'll write about is Bubba's delight with meeting the Disney characters. Before our party was seated, we took a picture with Goofy all done up in a chef's outfit in front of a cartoon kitchen backdrop. The baby was fascinated with Goofy's whiskers. It was cute and I was grateful that he wasn't trying to put the whiskers in his mouth. While we were seated at our table, various characters came around with a special greeting for him and there was dancing with the characters at the buffet area.

With validated parking, it was the perfect amount of Disney-to-cost ratio for a person who naps every three hours. I guess that song was right because we'll be back.

Hot Child, Summer in the City

2008-05-17T16:06:00.000-07:00

Finally! It's hot. Damn hot! For those of you reading who aren't from Seattle, cut me some slack. I will gladly take 80 degrees in May.

I'm a nursing Mom and though I am comfortable with the idea of having a moderate amount of coffee blended blah blah or a sweet sexy saucy cocktail, that's not what I'm in the mood for. Those things keep me feeling icky and sticky on days like today. I'm also the type that prefers ice cream in the winter. For me it's ice water and a homemade smoothie.

There are lots of smoothie recipes available but I want to share my tried and true recipe from my days working at a café and book store in Southern California (which has since gone out of business for reasons unrelated to the quality of their smoothies).

Make-It-Yourself Smoothie:
1 Cup liquid (i.e. juice, watered down juice, lemonade, or milk)

¼ Cup to ½ Cup protein (i.e. plain yogurt, vanilla yogurt, Greek yogurt or peanut butter) – OR –
1 serving of your favorite protein powder

1 – 2 Servings of fresh of frozen fruit

½ Cup of ice if you want that extra crunch

Here are my favorite combinations:
· Lactose Free Milk – Peanut Butter – Banana
· Pear Juice – Greek Yogurt – Frozen Mangos
· Pomegranate Juice –Protein Powder – Frozen Berries – Ice
· Lemonade – Protein Powder –Strawberries – Ice

Do you make and freeze your baby's food? You can also try using some of his fruit.

Bottoms up, you Hottie!

Whose Bag Is It Anyway?

2008-05-16T17:25:00.000-07:00

My memory is hit-or-miss. When it comes to remembering what I learned in high school Chemistry, it's a miss. But when it comes to almost anything shopping related, it's a hit. A big hit.

I remember shopping for our smart diaper bag which we bought after the baby was born. I reviewed my options with my husband in mind. What would he want to carry? What is the most practical bag? We settled on a black nylon messenger bag with a really cool convertible strap system. The most important part about this statement is the word "We." We purchased this bag.

Flash forward in time several months. My husband, baby and I were invited to a baby shower in honor of great friends who were expecting baby number two. All three of us were over-stimulated by the two-year old kids running around, playing with toys, and talking VERY LOUDLY. At some point during the party I went to grab something from my diaper bag. Hmm… that's funny. I have the same bag as someone else. Wait… that's not it! On my third attempt, I identified the correct bag.

Flash forward in time several more months. As we were leaving the pediatrician's office I was telling my husband about how I felt like a Mom through-and-through at that moment. The description was something like this – "I'm sleepy. I'm wearing what could be considered by some to be pajamas. My hair's out of control and my purse is busting at the seams." My dear sweet husband shared a laugh with me and pointed out, "It's not a purse. It's a diaper bag."

Flash back one day, one week, one month… you get the picture. "We" don't use the diaper bag. I use the diaper bag and my husband holds it if I ask him to.

My husband's words were like bad song lyrics I couldn't get out of my head.

Well, I have finally decided to change the station, and guess what? I love this new song! ... Figuratively, of course.

Armed with a gift card I received as a Christmas gift, I have now purchased what should only be described as a purse. A roomy purse with a beautiful canvas body and leather trim. This bag is for me. It holds my things (although it still has room for the baby's things). This bag is to be worn by me, not my stroller. Yippee!

So now the baby is sleeping through the night, I am wearing super cute dark denim shorts instead of workout capris, I style my hair every other day and now I have a purse not a diaper bag. Progress, hah cha!!

Wading Around

2008-04-29T22:21:00.000-07:00

I have an interesting relationship with the weather. For as long as I can remember, talking about it hasn’t been small talk for me. My grade school journals often included entries that read, “It feels warm, like 75 degrees. The sky is bright blue and the clouds are high and fluffy.”

I’m often asked how I deal with Seattle Weather since I grew up a California Girl. The answer is that I am patient. Yes, the winter days are short. Tiny. Miniature. I wait for the summer days which are simply divine.

I am patient. I’ve been patient. Very patient… Where is the warm weather already?

In anticipation of my baby’s first summer, I’ve stocked up on gear. He has infant friendly sunscreen, a super floppy lightweight hat and the cutest darn swim trunks with a built in swim diaper.

Now I’m waiting. I wait to wade. While I wait, I have learned that Seattle Parks and Recreation boasts a whopping thirty wading pools!

From mid-May through late August, these water wonders will be open when the temperature is forecasted to be 70 degrees or warmer. The advantage to these community pools is that high public use consumes a substantially lesser amount of water versus neighbors filling commercially purchased pools or running the sprinklers in their own yards.

Sleepless in Seattle

2008-04-22T17:24:00.000-07:00

I don’t consider myself an insomniac. In college I was able to sleep-on-demand. I took full advantage of the fifty minutes between my classes: nap for twenty minutes, hit the cafeteria for a bite to eat then jet off to my next class. That’s a skill right there.

Easy sleeping is not in my son’s bag of tricks. Like Father, Like Son.

In my quest to help my son catch more Zzz’s, I attended Let’s Talk About Sleep at the Community Birth and Family Center in the Eastlake neighborhood. This two-hour seminar was facilitated by Ann Keppler RN, MN, co-author of Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn.

I learned about how infants sleep in different parts of the world, SIDS and safe sleeping environments, transitional objects, things that disrupt sleep, recommended amounts of sleep by age, etc.

My husband and I are going to begin incorporating a transitional object into my son’s daily routine. I hope it provide our sleepy one with comfort in our absence.

I’m keeping my fingers crossed for more sleeping in Seattle.

How Momma Got Her Groove Back

2008-04-20T14:46:00.000-07:00

In my heyday, I frequented dance clubs. I danced my way from Boston to Washington DC and from San Francisco to Chicago. My love for dancing to a good tune didn’t start there.

When I was a kid, my parents would invite their friends over for house parties. With a spread of tasty food and beverages, Motown on the record player and Members Only jackets on the Dads, kids and parents would dance on the burnt orange carpet until the kids’ bedtimes rolled around.

So much has happened since my last dance. I got married, started a family and my bedtime happens during double-digit hours instead of the single-digit ones. Now my dancing is limited to wedding receptions and the goofy dancing I do around the house to keep my son entertained

The idea of going to a dance club in Belltown makes me cringe. Not only am I out of touch with current music and bring the average age up a couple of years but I’m pretty sure my moves are dated.

Where oh where can I get my dance on? I’ll tell you where - Baby Loves Disco. Baby Loves Disco is an afternoon dance party for parents and kids (aged six months to seven years). Clubs across the country and around the world are transformed into a family friendly atmosphere of dancing, playing and snacking on healthy food.

We danced to disco, twirled under the bubbles, made music with the egg shakers, took a break in the quiet room to read a book and received great gifts at the door. The best part was that this Momma got her groove back. Hurray! Whoo Hoo! Ha Cha!