A Very Happy 'Birfday' to You!

Birthday blessings to my dear husband Mike today! He is 34 years young, and doesn't look a day over 33! ;-) Viv took this occasion to paint Daddy a picture of his favorite team, the Red Sox! Of course, there also appears to be a green sock, but she claims that is a mustache. We love you Mike!

Very Pinteresting...

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Dilly-Dallying

We're in full-swing dilly bean mode here at the Olmstead Homestead. By "we" I mean Mike, the Master Chef of the family. He's been wanting to try this for a few years now, and this was the year! They are ah-mayyy-zing! Just the right amount of garlic with a hint of jalapeno.

I would like to make some labels- any ideas name ideas? My suggestion of 'Big Mike's House of Dill' was sadly rejected.

Bratpack

Hello Friends,
Long-time-no-write, I know! Life, as we know it, sometimes has a way of shaking things up a bit. I can tell you  that many changes have occured since my dear Kiki or I have written here last. Some good changes, some sad but full of promise.
First of all, I accomplished next to nothing on my Summer Bucket List I posted months ago. I did drink copious amounts of iced tea, and got in a few books and BBQs, but that is where my checklist was folded into a paper airplane and flown into the recycling basket.
The biggest news of all is that both Kiki and I and our families have moved! I'll get to my story later, but first I have to confess to the fact that I was not wholly ready for the announcement that my BFF, My Soul Sister, my Partner in Crime and Fashion was moving to a different CONTINENT. Okay, I exaggerate- south of the Mason-Dixon Line does not constitute as a different continent, but I would be lying if I said it didn't feel that way at the time of said announcement!
On one hand, I was SO excited for my best friend and her amazing family to have this opportunity, and proud of them for having the courage to go! On the other hand,  I felt like I was grieving and selfishly wanted things to stay the same forever. But that is not what friends do... or at least not what friends- real friends  act upon. True friends, the kind that become family, act with love, support, and the knowledge that nothing really needs to change.
Any old who... as of late I have become not only very sentimental, but quite gut-wrenchingly aware of the fact that I am  blessed to have so many amazing people in my life. You've heard all about my hubs and darling daughter, but I'd like to take a minute to talk about the other loves of my life-  my bratpack.
It is very rare in this life, that we find a friend (let alone several) that you share such a bond with, that there are literally no words to properly describe it.   I won't even try, except to say that I assume it is somewhat comparable to the Blind Melon's tap-dancing bee finally finding finding her fellow bees (only with less wearing of tutus... maybe).

Yes, I know you probably have this stuck in your head now, and you're welcome ;-)

Cheers and thanks to friends who complete us! My family and I are so blessed to have you! <3

More later about my family's move!

" Every object, every being, is a jar full of delight."- Rumi

I've been asked, on more than a few occasions how I manage to be so happy everyday, not to mention  so happy on Monday mornings. I would like to say that being happy comes as naturally as breathing, but that is both untrue and borderline obnoxious. It took me a long time to realize that happiness isn't something that falls in our laps, nor can we expect to find it in places we go looking for it. Happiness, for me, has meant rejoicing in the small things. The sun on my face; laughing with my husband until my stomach aches; the sound of my daughter singing from her room in the morning; iced tea and flip-flop days.... little things to celebrate each day.

I had the opportunity today to take the afternoon off of work and spend it with my daughter. Not to go all Anne Shirley on you all, but sometimes a dandelion is the most perfect of posies ;-) Love her little face so much!

working mama, and worth it...

Disclosure: I do not take sides on the working mom vs. stay at home mom argument. To each their own. I, however, am a working mom. It's what I am good at and it's how I contribute and show my strengths best to my daughters. I won't criticize you -in fact I only offer my support. So I expect the same. Okay, so it has been a long time since I have posted and this is a much, much needed therapy session and I believe it will help me keep my perspective. Lots has changed since the last time I shared, that's the past and right now my family is still in a bit of a transition mode with only our third week of daycare under our belts, the (what I like to call) "daycare-germ-infectation" has well taken over and we have each had our share of the bug; mostly my poor charli-bear who looks like one of those snotty little kids I used to snark at parents for- in my pre-parenting, albeit-know it all years-lol seriously her nose will.not.stop. I can only carry so many damn tissues! okay moving on... So work is absolutely nuts! And B and I have been trying our best to come up with the best option for who has the (1) car and what days you do drop off and I do pick up, yadda yadda yadda. Any working parent knows exactly what I mean but keep in mind this is a new beast for us, the earlier referenced temp-live in dcp aka: my mom, has since moved out and about 2 hrs away so we are new to this wide world of daycare chaos. Granted it has given us (ahem, me) a valid reason to implement even more structure, a few more lists, and a master whiteboard calendar, complete with identified meal selections planned 2 weeks in advance to avoid randomized shopping trips. Seriously we don't have time for these anymore! Don't get me wrong we aren't the Von-trapps or anything and there is always room for fun (I'm a mom not a drill sargeant) and chaos still seems to seep in every.single.day. but this kind of structure is necessary for the Fowler baby-farm. But all of this combined with the fact that I am going to be traveling for 23 days out of the office to do data extraction(another beast I have never done before)-AND am in the mode of a whole new learning curve...in the medical model and this is absolutely terrifying for me...TERRIFYING. I usually keep CCC when it comes to work but I think my colleagues and my kiddos can sense I'm a little nervous and on edge these days. oh, and did I mention these new life changes have since forced me to start an intensive job search, yeah another time, another post, but you get the pic...oi vey. TO my point...taking into account all of the above and fast forward to yesterday am; it was my day to do drop off and me and my little ladies were heading across town (bc of course finding "affordable" trustworthy daycare has to be a 20 min drive) Charli was babbling away, Madster screeching out to connect with the town hounds, and I, consuming my copious amounts of Island Coconut coffee, without prompt the following conversation arises: Madz: Mommy are you going to work?" Me: Yes, hunny. After I drop you girls off at Ms. Lori's I'm going to work. Madz: Is Daddy at work? Me: Yep, he's working today too and then later, after you play and have your nap, Daddy will pick you up. Madz: Oh, okay. Mommy... Me: Yes. Madz: When I grow up can I be a mommy, and go to my office. Me: ABSOLUTELY! You can do be whatever you want to be and mommy is a working mommy; it's how she takes care of you. Just like Daddy works too. Madz: Okay, mommy. When I grow up I'll be a mommy with my work-office just like you do. :::::MELT:::::

Mama mia...

Worried about what to get dear old mom for mother's day now that the Association for Toxic Odor Control finally banned... er...since the store was out of the gi-NOR-mous bottles of perfume you usually buy her? Not to say Mother's Day is about gifts, but if you're looking for a trinket to show your appreciation, look no further! Here's a list (I told you we love lists) of things that I think would be just lovely :)

1. A Photo Book! How cute is that? These look fabulous and are easy to make on sites like Shutterfly, Picaboo, Kodak Gallery, etc. Some photography stores will do them as well.
(source: Shutterfly)

  2. Unique Mommy Jewelry

Sites like etsy have endless amounts of unique and customizable jewelry. I'm certainly not knocking "traditional" mom jewelry, but sometimes it's fun to go outside the box! Here are a few examples that have caught my eye:

I'm really digging this ring from CrystalBlue07 on Etsy! I've also seen similar items with children's names or birthdays in bracelet and necklace form too. Love, Must get. Coughhintcough

Uhh maaah gaaaawd! Yes, this IS a customized necklace made from a child's artwork. This is by Etsy seller Miavanbeek. Honestly, I'm tearing up just looking at this. I can't even handle how sweet it is!

I've seen a few variations on the mama-bird style jewelry, but thought this one by Etsy seller MenuetDesigns was just cute as a button! 

3. Go semi-homemade! If you have a digital camera you're ready to go one this one! You can easily turn any photo to black and white at a print-it-yourself photo kiosk! You can get mat board custom-cut at a frame shop to match any picture frame of your liking, but many chain stores sell adorable pre-cut multi-photo matted frames as well.                        (source: oxforddesigngroup)

4. Book a photo session! Is there a mom on earth that wouldn't appreciate a fantastic family portrait like this stunning one from Times Infinity Photography? And right now is the perfect season to book a session with a local photog for some awesome (and fun!) outside shots!

So tell me, what do you have planned for the various moms in your life? :)

**for the record, I was not paid or other compensated by any of the sellers mentioned above. They are all things I found on my own and am lusting after.**