>> Saturday, July 2, 2011

Homemade Finger Paint

Made some finger paint for Quinn yesterday! Super easy. You'll neeeeeed:

1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup cornstarch
food coloring

That's it!

Mix the water and cornstarch in a small pot until well mixed. Turn on the burner, to medium, keep stirring until it thickens up to whatever consistency you're looking for. Note though, it'll thicken up a little more as it cools.

Transfer the 'paint' to whatever containers you'll be using and add the food coloring.

Done!





And since it's just water and cornstarch,
it's ok if your kiddo decides to do this:





Enjoy!





Read more...

Just the Ladies

>> Sunday, June 26, 2011



Oatmeal pancakes, blueberries, coconut milk and kisses.
A handful of Cheerios at Target to keep your hands in business.

For lunch, spinach couscous cups,
Banana and cheese, you gobble up.

At nap time we snuggled and snoozed together.
Under a cool breeze and simple weather.

A concoction we created, for your afternoon snack.
So yummy and delicious, in our cheeks we packed.

Outside we go for the rest of the day,
You play, play, and play, shed tears when we don't stay.

We eat together your favorite fish,
Carrots, tomatoes, oh what a dish.

Books and puzzles to wind our day down,
A bath and PJ's, goodnight to our town.

You drift to sleep, while twiddling your ear,
Right outside your window, are 2 mama deer.


Read more...

Rocks and Dirt

>> Wednesday, June 22, 2011



Went camping with friends and kiddos this past weekend and had an awesome, awesome time. Quinn was definitely in her element, getting to be outside for the majority of her days. Chasing balls, chasing bubbles, chasing boys... ;)

Finnian and Jonathan, two little men who were Quinn's playmates for the weekend, were the perfect pals.

Didn't realize how few photos I took while we were there. You'd think I'd saddle up and max out the card being armed with a new toy. But alas... Have no fears, friend and fellow photographer connoisseur Megan took some great photos of our weekend, which can be seen HERE!
(thanks Megan!!)



Can't wait to go back!

Read more...

Dat-Dee Day

>> Sunday, June 19, 2011



Read more...

>> Friday, June 3, 2011

Mongos

See these little puppies? I am still craving them after being back from Panama for a handful of days. Freshly picked from a backyard tree, these mangoes are so juicy, SO flavorful. I mean, look at those colors?! And I love how they look so "dirty" and imperfect.

Got to eat these, along with star fruit and guava from a family's backyard. Delicious!!

I had such a great time down in Panama. Got to play in a brass quintet for the national music festival held each year in Panama City, coached youngin's as they plowed through Rachmaninoff and Rossini, and visited/played a mini concert at an orphanage. Definitely made me turn my dials back a bit and realize what opportunity and love I have back home.




It's winter down in Panama. Don't let the 90 degree temps fool you.

Had a fantastic time down in mango land. New people, new ideas, new music, new foods. But am thrilled to be back home to Joe and Quinn. Missed them teeeeerribly!!








Grubbin's


Read more...

Pig-Tailin'

>> Wednesday, May 11, 2011


The weather is warming up and her hair is just long enough to sport the piggies. : )

Read more...

The Dance and Sacrifice Worked

>> Tuesday, April 26, 2011









Got up to a balmy 83 degrees today.

As soon as Joe got home from work, we packed our bags, plopped Quinn in the stroller and walked a 15 minute jaunt to the Hudson River. Spread a picnic blanket my mom made when I when Quinn's age, ate ourselves silly and had a grand ol' time.

Can't wait for more of this.

Read more...

>> Saturday, April 23, 2011




Rainy, chilly afternoon. Quinn's napping. Joe's at a gig. Making cookies for a potluck. Listening to "This American Life"

Ahhhhhh. : )

Read more...

Is it summer yet?

>> Thursday, April 21, 2011




We keep getting warm fronts coming in, teasing us of at least spring to arrive. Then the pendulum swings the other way....

But, have no fear! I've been sacrificing goats in the back yard, burning incense, doing dances. Warmer weather should be here soon.

And to prepare, I whipped up a cute little summer dress for Quinn. Seriously easy. And to make the deal even better, I made it out of 2 men's t-shirts I scored from GoodWill. Yeehaw! I coooould have made it out of one t-shirt, but the contrasting yellow yolk around the neck? Yes. It was a must.

Got the tutorial from MADE.

http://www.dana-made-it.com/2008/07/warhol-dress-pattern.html

Can't wait to make a few more for her.

Read more...



Someone's been wanting to feed THEMSELVES lately.

Read more...

Oh My.

>> Wednesday, March 30, 2011





Friend and fellow foodie, Megan, opened the doors to her kitchen and showed me how to make these little lovelies. I love love love macarons, and would unleash my gluttony for them whenever I went down to the city.....buy buy buying and consume consume consuming like a true American.

But worry no more!

Now I can make them in my own kitchen.....

Let the gluttony commence!!

Read more...

Scribbles

>> Thursday, March 24, 2011






Read more...

Big Bertha

>> Monday, March 21, 2011


Finished the "Rollie Pollie" beanbag chair I found through MADE the other night! Definitely the most grande thing my craftiness has had to tackle. Trying to sew shut the beanbag insert, full of said insert.....was a body contorting adventure.

Such a fantastic place for Quinn to sit/lounge/jump onto/snuggle, right? Too bad she's pretty much afraid of the thing. Squirms and starts crying when I try to put her on it. Crazy girl.

Don't let the size intimidate! It was a definitely a beginner-worthy project. Even got to get my feet wet with zipper sewing. Muah hah haaah.

And, hopefully your kid will enjoy it more than mine. : )





Read more...

1 Year

>> Monday, March 14, 2011

1 Year!

It's official, she's one. ONE.

Her birthday morning, she woke up chitty chatty, talking and entertaining herself while Joe and I smiled at each other as we listened to her through the monitor. Joe went and said his "good mOORning!" and brought the Q into bed with us. The normally excited and wanting crawl around Quinn simply laid down and cuddled, just like the morning she was born.

Best cuddle session ever.

Presents soon ensued. Quinn was alllll about the tissue paper.



Then we ate ourselves silly with cardamom cupcakes smothered with cream cheeeeese. Q, loves, cheese. Joe is ecstatic.

A little lunch, then a little nap. Then Joe and Quinn came down to West Point to come listen to friend Sarah and my's recital. Played an original composition written just for Quinn by great friend Mike Reifenberg (they're expecting their first in 2 weeks!) in celebration of her birthday. It was so awesome. SO awesome. Trust me. : )

Post recital, we went out for dinner to the local burger shop Woodys. Ohhhh, the chocolate malts they make.....they are divine. And they're REAL. Like, a REAL malt. MALT I say. When you go to a burger joint, order a malt, and they give you a shake..... this is traumatic. I mean, this is America. This is where malts were born. Please people, know your malt rights.

I digress.

Quinn had a great day as did Joe and I. Can't believe a year has already gone by. Sad to see her baby-ness slowly fade, but at the same time very excited to see her grow, develop and blossom into the person she is becoming.

Happy Birthday Quinn!

















Read more...

Help

>> Friday, March 4, 2011


I worked as a camp counselor at a music camp in Michigan the summer of my freshman year. I learned camp songs, sat and ate every meal with energetic middle schoolers, slept in a cabin full of giggly girls, watched a kid totally loose his lunch while playing basketball, played tug of war in a picturesque muddy pit.

Three months flew by, and camp was over.

Carter was a fellow camp counselor. We sat around the campfire together, we sang songs together, we corralled our kiddos together. She, along with a great number of other counselors, we all still keep in touch.

Carter, her husband Micah (a fanTAStic photographer), and their little lady Campbell need your help. They're adopting their next kiddo and it ain't cheap. Like, it-ain't-cheap-it's-going-to-cost-$31,955-it-ain't-cheap. BUT, you my friends can help. If you're in the market to buy ANYthing from Amazon.com, you can help.

Just follow the link below, it'll take you to Amazon.com, find what you're looking for, purchase it, and 4% of your purchase will automatically go to their adoption fund. Easy peasy.

Click HERE

Seriously. Easy.

And just to let you know, there's no confirmation or "you've just donated to the Bell Family Adoption Fund" message that will pop up. The link is legit, your donation will be sent. I promise.


The Bell family would be eternally grateful.

As would a little orphan.



Read more...

>> Tuesday, March 1, 2011



Finally finished Quinn's Pixie Hat. : ) Plenty of knit projects I have started ultimately end up laying to rest at the "half-done and forgotten about knitted goods cemetery". Seriously, the gravestone are numerous.

Got the pattern via the blog Sew Liberated, which found the actual pattern, (for free!) here, at Ravelry.

I made a 7"-ish i-chord instead of the buttoned chin strap so I could easily tie the hat instead of wrestling Quinn to button her in.




Read more...

11 Months

>> Thursday, February 17, 2011

A milestone sorta put the 11 month photo shoot and blog post on hold. Our sincerest of apologies! Mopey days were upon us as the mercury rose and Quinn's little body battled it's first fever. It lasted a good 3 and a half days. 'Twas a long 3 and a half days...BUT, Quinn was the cuddliest and best koala impersonator around. Here's the sad little chap in full fever mode:


And now here she be trying her best to be her chipper, silly self:



And now a picture we took today.





So after the fever debacle, Quinn broke out into a rash. Fever for 3~4 days, then sudden appearance of rash? Roseola my friends. We're thankful Quinn wasn't the 10-15% of babies who suffer seizures from the virus.

But anywho, in the broad spectrum of things, Quinn is doing GREAT. She's such a happy kiddo. Her willingness to communicate with her little hands is truly amazing to us right now. Her vocab continues to grow and is now signing 'more', 'all done', 'eat', 'bath', 'book', and 'milk'.

She's eating mainly finger foods and favors anything powdered or containing cheese. Joe glows in delight in this and is already eagerly cultivating her cheese palette.

I need to give her more fish, rice, and soy sauce.

Quinn turns ONE in 3 weeks....

ONE.

I repeat.

ONE.

ONE!

(mamma faints, cue dimming of lights, curtains close)

Read more...

>> Wednesday, February 2, 2011

So, enjoy with me a new milestone of Quinn's.

We've been doing some sign language with her since she was aroooound 8 months or so. I'm sure to her, obnoxiously getting in her face, wide eyed, flashing hand gestures that seem so obscene, is what it equated to. But, in the name of Oregon Trail, we blazed on and forged the river instead of deciding to float.

Started out with "eat" "more" "all done". We're all about eating in this household....getting her to watch us while at the dinner table for lunches and dinners was easiest.

After 2 months of a one way street in communication, Quinn has decided to return fire.

Didn't capture "eat", but "more" and "all done" are definitely there, with a bonus of waving "hi/bye" to Joe in the kitchen.

Warning....the video is a bit long, and can seem a bit boring and stagnant to those not so glossy eye enamored with Quinn. : )




Read more...

>> Saturday, January 22, 2011


Snow Day Bed Head.

Read more...

10 Months

>> Sunday, January 16, 2011



On the prowl you are. Curious little paws opening drawers, closing drawers, opening drawers, closing drawers.

Hunchback of Notre Dame style crawler until you get close to anything you can pull up on. Then you can maneuver from ottoman, to couch, to media stand, to wall, to bookcase, to kitchen island....

Peek-A-Boo is still hilarious. You laugh your hardest when daddy pretends to chase you.

Feeding yourself like a mad woman these days. Your absolute favorite and fail safe is plain ol' yogurt or cheese, runner up being noodles.......sprinkled with parmesan.

Still rockin' five solid teeth, number six has been poking through for a while.

Chatty and a mimicker. You're an ace at "Bababa" "Dadada" "Mamama" and recently added "Gagaga".

You soak in and study any kind of book that has pictures of real animals.


Really? It's only 2 months until your first Birthday.....

Read more...