fixated on fall.

We're well into October, baby L's first fall, and it's making me think, i want him to KNOW true fall. I want him to experience leaves changing colors. Leaves falling. Diving into piles of said leaves. Pumpkin patches! Heck, growing your own pumpkins... jacket weather. Apple picking. Hot apple cider. Hay rides!

Ah, some day... for now, we'll just take him to Oktoberfest, on semi-cool 78 degree evening walks, dress him in a Halloween costume that doesn't make him overheat. Surround him in baby pumpkins and Indian corn imported from some place else... ;-) There will be changing leaves and chilly weather falls for Liam, I vow right now to make that happen, as it did for me as a child. But for now, baby L is the cutest, most fabulous little pumpkin a girl could ask for... What are your fall traditions? How do you immerse yourself in the season? Both here in South Florida and elsewhere. Do tell... In the mean time, Happy Autumn!

LOVE.

so blessed to have L.

so blessed to have amazing friends.

a cherished elementary school friend had this made for me to commemorate my own mom & celebrate the blessing that is being L's mom.

thank you, tori.

i adore it.

defining myself.

WOW. where do i begin? i have never been one to consider my work or career what made me, me. i have LOVED LOVED LOVED the fact that life handed me the opportunity to write for a living. and not only pay the bills by writing, but by writing about fashion. for the last almost 12years i was blessed. big time. day in day out clothes and trends and collections and style filled up my mondays through fridays, that's love, kids. but then there was liam. not me being pregnant with liam. but him actually being here, that made me see that my passion for fashion and having the funds to partake of all things wearable on an all to regular basis fade out to a degree i didn't think possible. HE was LOVE. real, tangible, overflowing, infinite love.

being liam's mom is utter madness. it. is. the hardest. effing. thing. ever. yes, yes, everybody says that. they all do. and if you know me, get me, you know hard just isn't one of my strengths. i want little part in it. i dig effortless. i love when things come naturally and they just work. holy hell. NOT the case with this. and yet, i have never tried so hard. never been so selfless. never sacrificed so much. and all of this without

a second thought. there are moments i want to freak the EFF out and i am (freaking out hard) internally. but they pass, they have to. and L helps them pass, just by smiling. babbling. kicking his feet to the tune of his mobile. i am a head over heels smitten mommy. and i am that before i am a fashion writer. suddenly and very clearly. and with that said, i've made the massive decision to leave my fab job to be with baby L. which goesback to me, defining myself. redefining, realigning.

it's a bold new world and i'm navigating it without a clue, stumbling, growing, crying, teaching, laughing, sweating and brimming with a brilliant newfound pride. i am liam's mom. i am still and forever a writer. i am figuring this all out. onward...

p.s. i'm still involved with fashion. baby boy fashion. and today, after madly digging through all his duds, L & i realized we were over his present wardrobe, wishing we could go shopping... ;-) trust, i know he'll be growing into the next size ANY second now.

my little natural born futboler

yeah, i'm proud.

that's some fancy footwork for a 9-weeker, no? i vow to cultivate this. it all began a few weeks ago when i marveled at how vigorously L kicked his feet while listening to/watching his bach-playing mobile. then, at kindermusik class last friday, his response to miss angela's colorful jingle balls heightened my awareness of his "talent". so, today i found him an infant soccer ball and well, future world cup star is born. yeah, that's right.

Fruit & Nut Quinoa Salad

#LOVE is...

Did I mention I have amazing loveys surrounding me, oftentimes making me delicious fare, which not only delights me, but keeps L healthy? Love my loveys. The recipe below was made by a dear former co-worker, Debbie (Yep, I resigned from my full time job just yesterday to stay at home with my little angel baby). This recipe can be enjoyed 1-handed! ;-)

This recipe is a bit more ambitious than my bowl recipes previously posted but, it lasts a few days and is crazy good for you! What is QUINOA you ask? Click here.

Fruit & Nut Quinoa Salad

Ingredients:

1 cup quinoa
2 cups vegetable broth (or water)
¼ cup sliced almonds or your favorite nut
¼ cup dried cranberries or raisins
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
4-6 oz of crumbled feta (depending how much you LOVE feta!)
¾ cup red grapes cut in half
One avocado chopped into large chunks
Juice from 1 fresh lime (squeeze some on the avocado to help keep
green & the rest in the salad)
¾ cup white balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt, pepper, & cayenne pepper to taste

Instructions:
Rinse and drain quinoa (you must rinse to remove surface residue). Toast quinoa in bottom of hot empty pan (about 5 minutes or until
grain is dry again). Add 2 cups broth or water and bring to a boil.
Cover, and simmer for about 15 minutes until all liquid is absorbed. Let cool.

In a small bowl, combine lime juice, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper, & cayenne. Gently toss with cooled quinoa and remaining
ingredients. Serve chilled or at room temperature. Eat alone, over green salad, in lettuce wraps or endive leaves.


FYI… I honestly don’t get overly hung up on the measurements (except
for the liquid to quinoa it should always be 2 to 1). Other than that it’s all to taste so tweak as you like!

-Debbie

Thank you, Debbie!

Enjoy, world!

eeeek, i'm singing! pop in your ear buds, pop on your head phones, or just cover those poor ears of yours, 'cuz it's on. i continue to surprise myself. twinkle twinkle & you are my sunshine are shining faves, but i can only hear myself repeat them so much. so i'm trying to add "tracks" to my own little "baby L playlist". so here's what i've got, help me out & 'fess up! what did you/do you sing to your wee ones? see below for my list thus far, #YAY! lyrics included...

p.s. thanks to a friend of the german's, elmo has my back. did you know you can get personalized CDs made for your kiddies? the way elmo says "liam" delights me!

itsy bitsy spider

The itsy-bitsy spider
Climbed up the water spout
Down came the rain
And washed the spider out
Out came the sun
And dried up all the rain
And the itsy-bitsy spider
Climbed up the spout again

i'm a little teapot

I'm a little teapot,

Short and stout,

Here is my handle (one hand on hip),

Here is my spout (other arm out with elbow and wrist bent),

When I get all steamed up,

Hear me shout,

Tip me over and pour me out!

you are my sunshine

You Are My Sunshine
My only sunshine.
You make me happy
When skies are grey.
You'll never know, dear,
How much I love you.
Please don't take my sunshine away

twinkle twinkle little star

Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are. Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky. Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are!

head and shoulders knees and toes

Head and shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes, Head and shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes, And eyes and ears and mouth and nose, Head and shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes.

B-I-N-G-O

There was a farmer had a dog, And Bingo was his name-o. B-I-N-G-O! B-I-N-G-O! B-I-N-G-O! And Bingo was his name-o! There was a farmer had a dog, And Bingo was his name-o. (Clap)-I-N-G-O! (Clap)-I-N-G-O! (Clap)-I-N-G-O! And Bingo was his name-o! There was a farmer had a dog, And Bingo was his name-o. (Clap, clap)-N-G-O! (Clap, clap)-N-G-O! (Clap, clap)-N-G-O! And Bingo was his name-o! There was a farmer had a dog, And Bingo was his name-o. (Clap, clap, clap)-G-O! (Clap, clap, clap)-G-O! (Clap, clap, clap)-G-O! And Bingo was his name-o! There was a farmer had a dog, And Bingo was his name-o. (Clap, clap, clap, clap)-O! (Clap, clap, clap, clap)-O! (Clap, clap, clap, clap)-O! And Bingo was his name-o! There was a farmer had a dog, And Bingo was his name-o. (Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap) (Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap) (Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap) And Bingo was his name-o!

Holy sh!t. A Monday just isn't a Monday without a dramatic and gross event. This is the 3rd Monday in a row liam has had an outfit change before 10am. Today I had a good feeling I was going to escape the Monday morning extreme bodily fluid curse, but alas, I was sooo wrong. Today, it ejected out of his little star pants with a a roar! On to his shirt, my tunic, my leggings and even soaking through to my underwear. Yep, we were both naked in the living room in seconds. Can you believe I was laughing the whole time? Cleaning up this stinky horror! Who am I?

i'll tell you who, the girl who gets to cuddle with this heavenly little monster in between all the chaos.

that = love.

happy monday...