tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91430280684448046162024-03-13T14:47:10.012-07:00Stay at Home-istaStaying at home with a flare for design, food and a focus on family.Jessica @ Stay at Home-istahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12982756540681513061noreply@blogger.comBlogger436125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143028068444804616.post-58117120280941738582015-06-19T07:00:00.000-07:002015-06-19T07:00:04.032-07:00Low-key First Birthday PartyAdorable baby #4 sometimes gets the most attention....<br />
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I forgot the "1st birthday" onesie and had my mom bring it to me. Then this was the best picture I could get. Oh well.<br />
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When it came to his first birthday party, we were already going to be at our vacation house, and it was during the Jewish holiday of Passover, so no normal cake/cupcakes to be had. Also, he's a *baby*, so he doesn't actually have friends. So we decided to celebrate while we were away. We threw the easiest birthday ever. The big kids voted, and they settle don pottery painting. Each kid made a mug, and together we made a platter as a family with each of our handprints on it.<br />
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For the treat, we had ice cream, and then we were done.<br />
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Big kids called it "the best birthday party ever", and our three-year old, of the <a href="http://www.stayathomeista.com/2014/11/frozen-birthday-party.html" target="_blank">Frozen birthday party </a>fame, declared that she *might* be willing to give u her Mary Poppins birthday party (still month away) for a more intimate family party. Yes, yes please.<br />
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And now that school is out and I'm going to be totally out of routine, I feel like I've caught you all up on our celebrations. I might check in over the summer, otherwise I'll see you in the fall!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Jessica</span></div>
Jessica @ Stay at Home-istahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12982756540681513061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143028068444804616.post-37812476692346161312015-06-17T07:00:00.000-07:002015-06-17T07:00:03.831-07:00Pirate Birthday PartyOur son turned 6 in May, and he is finally through with the endless rotation of <a href="http://www.stayathomeista.com/2013/06/a-fireman-birthday-party-at-fire-station.html" target="_blank">Firetruck Birthday</a> and <a href="http://www.stayathomeista.com/2012/05/construction-truck-party.html" target="_blank">Construction Birthday</a>!<br />
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With 4 kids now, I'm all about low-key, easy, and anything that is either ordered from Amazon or can be made the day-of. I ordered a "pirate party pack" off Amazon, (how could I live without Amazon Prime?), 24 wooden treasure chests and jewels from Oriental Trading, then topped a few store-bought cupcakes with chocolate "pirate jewels" and the flags from the pirate pack.<br />
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The cupcakes were my favorite thing ever!<br />
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Super easy to make, and thankfully, the cupcake selection at the grocery store was blue that day, so they even looked kind of like water. When we ran out of pirate flags I just stuck a few stray coins in... Then we put them on the pirate ship and added some pirate booty and called the snacks done.<br />
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I hired an awesome entertainer to be a pirate but it turns out that two dozen 6 year olds do NOT want to sit and listen to a pirate story:( So they pretty much went wild while I freaked out and tried really hard not to show how upset I was. After a mad-cap pirate dance party they settled down a bit, then she made pirate swords (cue crazy-going), and then I actually kicked them out. Not literally, since that would involve actual kicking, but I opened the front door and said, "thank you all so much for coming, buh-bye".<br />
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In the moment I nixed the piƱata since I thought giving the kids a wooden bat was a bad idea, so after everyone left I let my three big ones do it on their own, pirate tattoos and candy for all!!!<br />
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Thanks Matey!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Jessica</span></div>
<br />Jessica @ Stay at Home-istahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12982756540681513061noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143028068444804616.post-8292088832784587492015-06-15T07:00:00.000-07:002015-06-15T10:33:16.636-07:00I'm still here!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Oh my goodness, it's been forever. You know, "real" life got in the way, and then I just got out of the blogging habit. Recently a few in-person friends asked me about it, so I thought I'd do a quick post to show you what's new.<br />
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Sooooo, nothing much new on the home side. We got some new sheets for our master bedroom (I swear I have a serious issue finding sheets that we both like, these are from West Elm), so right now it looks like this:<br />
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We also hung up some art that I got at Minted, in a set of mirrored frames from West Elm.<br />
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The baby is 1!<br />
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The kids are growing like crazy and right this very minute I'm writing a post about the 1st birthday for baby #4 (think low expectations), and the pirate party we did for my 6 year old. Here's a peek.<br />
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Miss you all!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Jessica</span></div>
Jessica @ Stay at Home-istahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12982756540681513061noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143028068444804616.post-16902772528072552142015-01-28T11:30:00.001-08:002015-01-28T11:30:27.011-08:003 Days Naked- a three year old with the fluMy three year old go the flu-like bug that's been going around. Oy, it's just beyond awful. I had it last week but in kids instead of just aches and pains, it has been a full 6 days of fever *plus* a cough and cold.<br />
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After one day home with a fever, she took off all her clothes and declared, "I need to be naked. Clothes don't feel good on my body". And so passed 36 hours...<br />
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We finally wrangled her into clothes with the inducement of seeing her grandparents, so she wore clothes for about 4 hours on Sunday, then took them off and went back to all natural:)<br />
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Monday morning, she declared it, "a naked day". Totally fine, I just kept hoping that even though she's potty trained, that she wouldn't have an accident while napping on our leather living room couch in the middle of the day.<br />
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Yesterday, she went to Ikea wearing shoes, socks, underwear and a raincoat...<br />
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Then finally, finally, this morning, she got fully dressed and agreed to go to preschool. Also, she wanted to "go to the place with all the beautiful things and the toothbrushes" (the dentist).<br />
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I'm hoping that when I pick her up from preschool in half an hour that she has remained clothed!Jessica @ Stay at Home-istahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12982756540681513061noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143028068444804616.post-12441569710589908112014-12-08T05:30:00.000-08:002014-12-08T05:30:01.315-08:00What to Do With Leftover Baby FoodIt's possible, that like baby Yoyo, your child made a very quick transition from the pureed baby food....<br />
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to what we call "people food".<br />
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So, before I knew it, I was left with tons and tons of purees that my baby won't touch, preferring instead, scrambled eggs, avocados, turkey bacon (he loves to suck on anything salty), beans and rice, chicken...<br />
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I've written before about what to do with the glass baby food jars. With our third child, I was having an eco-friendly moment and turned the glass jars into <a href="http://www.stayathomeista.com/2012/06/knock-off-mason-jar-sippers-tutorial.html" target="_blank">mason jar sippers</a>, <a href="http://www.stayathomeista.com/2012/05/mothers-day-craft-baby-food-jar-vases.html" target="_blank">gilded vases</a>, painted votives...<br />
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Alas, with the 4th baby came not only a return to plastic containers of baby food, but also any crafting desire I had before is now gone. Cooking and baking are still high up on my list of things that I don't delegate (see how I decide, refuse, and delegate here).<br />
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My favorite recipes to make with baby food:<br />
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Banana Bread<br />
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Carrot cake (yummy, smooth, no weird textural issues)<br />
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Spagetti sauce (there is possibly nothing else to do with leftover green beans, just throw a little in)<br />
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<br />Jessica @ Stay at Home-istahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12982756540681513061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143028068444804616.post-25246245406455658352014-12-03T06:00:00.000-08:002014-12-03T06:00:05.922-08:00Mothering Boys<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The biggest difference between mothering girls and boys?</div>
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Boys need MUCH more active time. Run them, before school, after school, before bedtime... Like a dog except that they can talk:)</div>
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Boys eat MUCH more food. Possibly a generalization, however, when I pack lunches, my 5 year old boy will eat almost twice as much food as my 7 year old daughter, and then he will eat her leftovers in the car on the way home from school. I can't even begin to imagine what life will be like with 2 teenage boys under my roof.</div>
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Boys are so LOUD.</div>
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Boys are noise covered in dirt. A true statement, but also misses the sweetness, and usual lack of manipulation that I've noticed in the other gender (cough-girls-cough).</div>
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What have you noticed?</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Jessica</span></div>
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<br />Jessica @ Stay at Home-istahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12982756540681513061noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143028068444804616.post-6695251794937038932014-11-24T06:30:00.000-08:002014-11-24T06:30:03.924-08:00Frozen Birthday Party<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yes, I totally gave in to the craze, drank the frozen kool-aid, and threw our 3 year old a themed birthday party. I even hired 2 princesses to come and sing with the kids. Sometimes, it's just easier to give in to the desires of the third child, than to pretend that she doesn't watch TV and craft a wholesome birthday party.</div>
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I sourced table decor from my house, so vases in blue and white, a silver branch candelabra, pinecones, an owl... anything that felt winter-frozen-blue-white-maybe-it-goes.</div>
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We pushed the 2 dining tables together, and had kids attempt to "build a snowman" out of pretzel rods and marshmallows. They also had waffles and fruit.</div>
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Of course, I made us take a family photo...</div>
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A shot of the food...</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0q-KqvHoVQo/VGTigmAJ1CI/AAAAAAAANoQ/4LyGlzP65Vs/s1600/DSC_6280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Snowman parts, Olaf's nose, snow, Sven snacks for a Frozen birthday party" border="0" height="428" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0q-KqvHoVQo/VGTigmAJ1CI/AAAAAAAANoQ/4LyGlzP65Vs/s640/DSC_6280.JPG" title="Snowman parts, Olaf's nose, snow, Sven snacks for a Frozen birthday party" width="640" /></a></div>
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Watching the movie an hour before the party to refresh the older two. They aren't addicted like the 3 year old, so they needed a reminder about the song lyrics.</div>
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Snowman parts.</div>
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"Snow" was popcorn, carrots were Olaf's noses, and "Sven snacks" were Chex mix and pastel M&M's.</div>
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Princess Elsa singing Let it Go.</div>
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Our 3 year old in heaven!</div>
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Both princesses together.</div>
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My sister made 2 cakes, which was amazing and generous and kind and lovely and thematically appropriate!</div>
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Our happy girls watching Princess Anna:)</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Jessica</span></div>
<br />Jessica @ Stay at Home-istahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12982756540681513061noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143028068444804616.post-47222787323471757542014-11-20T08:25:00.000-08:002014-11-20T08:25:14.026-08:00How to Recover from an "Off" DayTuesday was just an off day for me. I'm open to the idea that it was this because it started off with the horrific news from Israel, but usually I am able to compartmentalize sad/tragic news (lots of experience with this over the summer and the war) and it doesn't make me upset and fussy like a baby for an entire day. My brilliant friend Nicki wrote about the attacks and her response <a href="http://www.kveller.com/blog/parenting/what-the-gruesome-images-from-the-jerusalem-terror-attack-taught-me-about-hope/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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So, faced with the reality that I was going to be basically useless on a day when I had tons of things to do, I decided to take action, and to do everything in my power to shake off the icky-ness.<br />
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<li>I snuggled with the two little kids.</li>
<li>I ate breakfast, and fueled my body with yogurt, almond butter, and blueberries.</li>
<li>I put on my workout clothes to set myself up for success.</li>
<li>I did 30 Day Shred, level 3, a for-sure-to-sweat exercise video that got my heart pumping</li>
<li>I allowed myself to surf the internet aimlessly, and put fantasy clothes (sequin ball gown) in my online shopping cart, without actually buying anything</li>
<li>I turned up some happy music (Beyonce, Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams) and danced around my kitchen while making dinner *way* ahead of time, so that the evening wouldn't be rushed.</li>
<li>I baked some oatmeal-chocolate chip cookies to put in kid lunches as treats</li>
<li>I picked up my preschooler and we sang Frozen songs in the car on the way home</li>
<li>I took a walk with a girlfriend (seeing friends and socializing is very healthy for you)</li>
<li>I picked up my kindergartner, took him to speech class, and read a really funny book during the wait (Andy Cohen's new one)</li>
<li>I held hands with above-mentioned kindergartner and we skipped, jumped and hopped our way to the car...</li>
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After all of that, I still had a kid dentist appointment for the 3 big ones, we ate dinner as a family, I put the baby to bed, snuggled and talked with the 2nd grader, then went to bed myself at 8:30.<br />
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Sometimes we just have those days. And this week, I felt good knowing that I was doing everything in my power to make the day better, and instead of curling up in a ball (maybe with unhealthy food), I stayed healthy, and strong, and set a good example for my kids about what to do when we don't feel our best.<br />
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Any other tips I might have missed? Since winter and sick-days are approaching, I'm sure that I'll have other days where I need new pick-me-up ideas.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Jessica</span></div>
Jessica @ Stay at Home-istahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12982756540681513061noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143028068444804616.post-32439612785430281982014-11-19T06:30:00.000-08:002014-11-19T06:30:02.216-08:00Stitch Fix ReviewSince we were in the "country" this summer at the vacation house, and I was quickly getting to small for my clothes (not out-growing, but the opposite, what is that? de-growing?), I decided to fully embrace anything that could arrive via USPS, UPS or FedEx (see my <a href="http://www.stayathomeista.com/2014/11/an-honest-review-of-blue-apron.html" target="_blank">honest review of Blue Apron here</a>).<br />
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Other than an almost-breakdown over missing the Nordstrom Anniversary sale (solved with online shopping, and returning 2/3 of what I ordered, kids shoes are tricky!), I stuck mostly to Amazon Prime. Until I was blog surfing one day while the baby napped and I discovered <a href="https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/3952532" target="_blank">Stitch Fix</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7dIZlVLW4FI/VDL45y7iphI/AAAAAAAANVI/VZoYSqdgt5s/s1600/photo%2B3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="My first stitch fix #stitchfix" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7dIZlVLW4FI/VDL45y7iphI/AAAAAAAANVI/VZoYSqdgt5s/s1600/photo%2B3.JPG" height="400" title="My first stitch fix #stitchfix" width="300" /></a></div>
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Plenty of other bloggers have described this way better than I can, but here's the gist of it:</div>
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<li>You go online and fill out a style profile. You include your size, things you like and love, links to your Pinterest clothing board, even a special note.</li>
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<li>You pay a $20 refundable styling fee. If you buy anything at all, they refund you this fee.</li>
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<li>Your stylist (mine is Christina and I love her), choses 5 items and sends them to you in a box, all pretty and packaged, and it arrives on a day that you have chosen.</li>
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<li>You try on everything in the box, keep what you like, return (in an enclosed postage paid bag) anything that you don't love, then you "checkout" online.</li>
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<li>The checkout process includes giving tons of feedback about what you loved, what didn't work, and most importably, *why* you like things (or don't).</li>
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My first <a href="https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/3952532" target="_blank">Stitch Fix</a> gave me these awesome green jeans, this Splendid top, and another tank that I kept. 2 pieces I sent back.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4OxKCyceeCM/VDL47NSBoYI/AAAAAAAANVY/GSFgkvmXUis/s1600/photo%2B5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="My first stitch fix #stitchfix" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4OxKCyceeCM/VDL47NSBoYI/AAAAAAAANVY/GSFgkvmXUis/s1600/photo%2B5.JPG" height="400" title="My first stitch fix #stitchfix" width="265" /></a></div>
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My second box arrived in September, just in time for the Jewish High Holidays, and I kept all 5 items! Oh, if you keep all 5, then they give you a 25% discount on everything.</div>
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Here's the step-by-step. </div>
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The box arrives, and I get all excited and tingly, and race upstairs to my bedroom to have a fashion show for the baby.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AsnOchIyCsE/VDL_9-XJjII/AAAAAAAANcA/r456voXSitM/s1600/DSC_6083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="It's like an early Christmas with Stitch Fix" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AsnOchIyCsE/VDL_9-XJjII/AAAAAAAANcA/r456voXSitM/s1600/DSC_6083.JPG" height="267" title="It's like an early Christmas with Stitch Fix" width="400" /></a></div>
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Everything is packaged nicely.</div>
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Inside, there is a printout with each piece, and 2 styling ideas for how to wear them.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K3mGakZzZQE/VDMAAv0VJsI/AAAAAAAANcQ/f7YiusN8lE0/s1600/DSC_6087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="clothes that come to you! Why I love Stitch Fix " border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K3mGakZzZQE/VDMAAv0VJsI/AAAAAAAANcQ/f7YiusN8lE0/s1600/DSC_6087.JPG" height="267" title="clothes that come to you! Why I love Stitch Fix " width="400" /></a></div>
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These were the 5 items that I kept. From left to right: a cropped sweater, a lace top, hot pink blouse, pony-print dress, and a skirt.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RzyuJEJ93w0/VDMACBgowaI/AAAAAAAANcY/BGGyjv9Zn7A/s1600/DSC_6093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="clothes that come to you! Why I love Stitch Fix " border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RzyuJEJ93w0/VDMACBgowaI/AAAAAAAANcY/BGGyjv9Zn7A/s1600/DSC_6093.JPG" height="267" title="clothes that come to you! Why I love Stitch Fix " width="400" /></a></div>
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Me in the blouse and a skirt I already own from Boden.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GNOpM6r42XE/VDMAEItPXrI/AAAAAAAANco/xSxKMM8yYSI/s1600/DSC_6101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Stitch Fix" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GNOpM6r42XE/VDMAEItPXrI/AAAAAAAANco/xSxKMM8yYSI/s1600/DSC_6101.JPG" height="400" title="Stitch Fix" width="266" /></a></div>
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The pony-print dress.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DwbvCPNcqKY/VDMAHD8-mII/AAAAAAAANc4/417w9k2TCgM/s1600/DSC_6109.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img alt="pony-print dress from Stitch Fix" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DwbvCPNcqKY/VDMAHD8-mII/AAAAAAAANc4/417w9k2TCgM/s1600/DSC_6109.JPG" height="400" title="pony-print dress from Stitch Fix" width="267" /></a></div>
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I just got my third box last week, and kept 3 of the 5, still a success. I know that "normal" people go to stores to shop, but I'm more than happy to have someone else chose items for me and then to have them magically arrive at my house!</div>
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If you want to try <a href="https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/3952532" target="_blank">Stitch Fix</a>, and you click on the links here, I'll get a small referral fee. I already got a few just by posting on Facebook, which was a total happy surprise, and just shows that non-blog people can take advantage of their friend networks too:)</div>
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Happy Shopping!</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Jessica</span></div>
<br />Jessica @ Stay at Home-istahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12982756540681513061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143028068444804616.post-90874251314351479472014-11-17T06:30:00.000-08:002014-11-17T06:30:00.394-08:00Dining Room Update- 2 Tables<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OnOUmhr8bD4/VDL75-5ud9I/AAAAAAAANYU/931cdHfyKwI/s1600/DSC_6024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OnOUmhr8bD4/VDL75-5ud9I/AAAAAAAANYU/931cdHfyKwI/s1600/DSC_6024.JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here is our dining room set for Rosh Hashanah dinner (the Jewish New Year). We pushed both tables together and it was the perfect fit for 12 of us. As you can see, we only bought white chairs, and only 8 of them, so we had to fill in with some black ones. Not ideal, but the layout works so wonderfully day-to-day that I'm willing to overlook a few design issues for now:)</div>
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A few more pictures to show you how it's working:<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ta0yOm3pbYM/VGThRLghJxI/AAAAAAAANho/PsBtzFN6sQ8/s1600/DSC_6130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Using two tables in a dining room." border="0" height="428" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ta0yOm3pbYM/VGThRLghJxI/AAAAAAAANho/PsBtzFN6sQ8/s640/DSC_6130.JPG" title="Using two tables in a dining room." width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BzJwftPsxsI/VGThSegz--I/AAAAAAAANhw/kSJVByyF4E8/s1600/DSC_6131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="2 West Elm walnut mid-century tables in a dining room" border="0" height="428" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BzJwftPsxsI/VGThSegz--I/AAAAAAAANhw/kSJVByyF4E8/s640/DSC_6131.JPG" title="2 West Elm walnut mid-century tables in a dining room" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pYaT6LoPnR0/VGThYd_F-rI/AAAAAAAANiQ/d3WPsRS2Gc0/s1600/DSC_6137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pYaT6LoPnR0/VGThYd_F-rI/AAAAAAAANiQ/d3WPsRS2Gc0/s640/DSC_6137.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D2Drn090gHY/VGTieS5QWyI/AAAAAAAANoA/1QLd_ZkEhWY/s1600/DSC_6278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="pushing 2 dining tables together to form a larger square table" border="0" height="428" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D2Drn090gHY/VGTieS5QWyI/AAAAAAAANoA/1QLd_ZkEhWY/s640/DSC_6278.JPG" title="pushing 2 dining tables together to form a larger square table" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CGiFrqxTJl8/VGTiq2YPBuI/AAAAAAAANpI/q4k9O89dt9I/s1600/DSC_6288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="pushing 2 dining tables together to form a larger square table" border="0" height="427" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CGiFrqxTJl8/VGTiq2YPBuI/AAAAAAAANpI/q4k9O89dt9I/s640/DSC_6288.JPG" title="pushing 2 dining tables together to form a larger square table" width="640" /></a></div>
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The last 2 were from our 3 year old's Frozen birthday party!</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Jessica</span></div>
<br />Jessica @ Stay at Home-istahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12982756540681513061noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143028068444804616.post-53365726021785980752014-11-12T06:00:00.000-08:002014-11-12T06:00:01.850-08:00An Honest Review of Blue Apron<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I adore having things delivered.</div>
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There might be nothing in this world I refer to staying at home and having things brought to me. I've always been a homebody, and my love for creating a home has just nestled nicely in with my natural tendencies towards being *inside* and looking at a lovely view *outside*. (After 10 years my husband understands this, but still isn't of the same mindset. Hence he rides bikes outside, and I do exercise videos inside)</div>
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Anyway, I have an unending love for Amazon Prime (<a href="http://www.stayathomeista.com/2013/02/how-to-save-10-hours-week.html" target="_blank">I wrote about how I think it saves me hours a week here</a>), so this summer, while we were at the vacation house I decided to try <a href="http://blueapron.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Blue Apron</a>. They deliver a box to your door every week with ingredients for 3 meals. Everything is all perfectly portioned, with photo step-by-step instructions. Since we were "in the woods", grocery shopping was not very refined, and this was a chance to spice things up a bit.</div>
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Little did I know how spicy it would be. </div>
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Even with our stove and oven being out for 5 weeks (I know, I know, but "in the woods" there are very few repair people), I managed to make the meals Blue Apron sent.</div>
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<i>An aside- This is not a sponsored post, I paid for everything, just wanted to let you know my thoughts.</i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZWgW7py168A/VFwOgAljHxI/AAAAAAAANgw/OKL6s3WKHWY/s1600/blue%2Bapron%2Bphoto.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZWgW7py168A/VFwOgAljHxI/AAAAAAAANgw/OKL6s3WKHWY/s1600/blue%2Bapron%2Bphoto.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Sorry for the iphone photo, but everything tastes great. The downside, which I alluded to earlier, is that it is WAY too spicy for my kids. So in the end, I wind up seasoning and spicing half of everything, and the leaving the rest plain. The above was salmon crusted with rice flakes, kale with garlic, and miso-mashed potatoes which were a huge hit, even the baby likes them!<br />
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The other major drawback is that while the food is pre-portioned (1 tomato, 3 stalks of celery...) it is not pre-cut. So each meal takes about 45 minutes to prepare, but most of that is hands-on time. Not ideal for the baby stage that I'm currently in. I'm used to <a href="http://www.stayathomeista.com/2013/07/dinner-solutions-for-busy-mom.html" target="_blank">hands-off dinners</a>, so to find 45 minutes to chop, slice, dice, marinate, sautƩ, broil, sear, toss and garnish is a tough call most weeknights.<br />
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The recipes are delicious, and give me tons of ideas. My kids adored a Vietnamese Shaking Beef (<a href="http://www.blueapron.com/recipes/vietnamese-style-shaking-beef-with-plum-lime-jasmine-rice" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">recipe here</a>).<br />
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So inspired by the shaking beef success, I made it again and served it to guests. I paired it with corn ravioli in a miso-ginger broth, lime rice, and we ended with poached pears and ice cream. You can find <a href="http://www.stayathomeista.com/2013/04/poached-pears.html" target="_blank">my recipe for poached pears here.</a><br />
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Any new convenience deliveries you are using?<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Jessica</span></div>
Jessica @ Stay at Home-istahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12982756540681513061noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143028068444804616.post-87143077922146942582014-11-10T06:30:00.000-08:002014-11-10T06:30:03.806-08:00Moodboard ThanksgivingIt's getting to be that time of year, so I decided to make a mood board of all my Thanksgiving ideas this year.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VDd-bxQ2xh8/VDMkmfRjkJI/AAAAAAAANdc/vZx02Vf7_Q4/s1600/Slide1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Thanksgiving inspiration" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VDd-bxQ2xh8/VDMkmfRjkJI/AAAAAAAANdc/vZx02Vf7_Q4/s1600/Slide1.jpg" height="480" title="Thanksgiving inspiration" width="640" /></a></div>
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The recipe-side will probably come to fruition, the decorating side, might be a wee bit overly ambitious:) Time will tell...<br />
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<a href="http://therunawayspoon.com/blog/2011/10/bacon-blanketed-herb-roasted-turkey/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bacon-wrapped Turkey</a><br />
<a href="http://www.bhg.com/christmas/recipes/holiday-side-dishes/?socsrc=bhgpin111812&page=18#page=25" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sweet Potatoes</a><br />
<a href="http://centercutcook.com/perfect-turkey-gravy/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Perfect Gravy</a><br />
<a href="http://www.barefootcontessa.com/recipes.aspx?RecipeID=888&S=0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pumpkin Pie</a><br />
<a href="http://www.everydaymaven.com/2014/grain-free-peanut-butter-cookies-with-maple-bacon/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Peanut Butter Cookies with Maple Bacon</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.designmegillah.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">string lights outside</a>, <a href="http://stylebyemilyhenderson.com/blog/my-super-easy-holiday-cocktail-party/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">holiday party design by Emily Henderson</a><br />
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It will be a kosher Thanksgiving at our house, so it will be beef bacon (no pork), plus I'll add a few more "green things" to quote my kids. Maybe green beans, or brussels sprouts, or a salad... But sometimes they only get in the way!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Jessica</span></div>
Jessica @ Stay at Home-istahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12982756540681513061noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143028068444804616.post-14777879966015019242014-11-05T05:30:00.000-08:002014-11-05T05:30:02.405-08:00Books I've Read this Year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z92y-54zFNo/T47b2WZHuFI/AAAAAAAADSU/FV1Ongo41Dg/s640/DSC_7168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z92y-54zFNo/T47b2WZHuFI/AAAAAAAADSU/FV1Ongo41Dg/s640/DSC_7168.JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
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I'm nothing if not a reader, so I thought it would be fun to list the books I've read so far in 2014. I'll start with the ones I've read most recently then end with the list of the <a href="http://www.stayathomeista.com/2014/03/books-i-read-while-on-bedrest.html" target="_blank">30 books I read while on bed rest for 6 weeks</a>.<br />
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<b>Fiction:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>The Marriage of Chani Kaufman, by Eve Harris<br />
The Language of Flowers, by Vanessa Diffenbaugh<br />
The Sense of an Ending, by Julian Barnes<br />
My Life in Loubies, by Erica Negi<br />
Visible City, by Tova Mirvis<br />
The Outside World, by Tova Mirvis<br />
Social Lives, by Wendy Walker<br />
The Perfect Manhattan, by Leanne Shear and Tracey Tobmey<br />
Delicious, by Ruth Reichl<br />
The Goldfinch, by Donna Tartt<br />
What Alice Forgot, by Liane Moriarty<br />
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<b>Romance:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>A Winter's Tale, By Stephanie Laurens<br />
Taming of the Duke, by Eloisa James<br />
Loving Rose, by Stephanie Laurens<br />
On the Way to the Wedding, by Julia Quinn<br />
When he was Wicked, by Julia Quinn<br />
It's in his Kiss, by Julia Quinn<br />
To Sir Philip, with Love, by Julia Quinn<br />
Romancing Mister Bridgerton, by Julia Quinn<br />
An Offer from a Gentleman, by Julia Quinn<br />
The Viscount who Loved Me, by Julia Quinn<br />
The Duke and I, by Julia Quinn (the above 8 were all me re-reading a beloved series)<br />
The Escape, by Mary Balogh<br />
Storming the Castle, by Eloisa James<br />
Three Nights with Lady X, by Eloisa James<br />
A Duke of Her Own, by Eloisa James<br />
The Brazen Trilogy, by Elizabeth Boyle<br />
Have You Any Rogues?, by Elizabeth Boyle<br />
And The Miss Ran Away with the Rake, by Elizabeth Boyle<br />
Along Came a Duke, by Elizabeth Boyle<br />
The Masterful Mr. Montague, by Stephanie Laurens<br />
Otherwise Engaged, by Amanda Quick<br />
If Wishes Were Earls, by Elizabeth Boyle<br />
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<b>Non-Fiction:</b><br />
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At Home, by Bill Bryson<br />
Save the Date, by Jen Doll<br />
Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography<br />
Not That Kind of Girl, by Lena Dunham<br />
All The Money in the Worls, by Laura Vanderkam<br />
I'll Drink to That, by Betty Halbreich<br />
Secrets of Happy Families, by Bruce Feiler<br />
Looking for Class, by Bruce Feiler<br />
Smart Money, Smart Kids, by Dave Ramsey & Rachel Cruz<br />
Un-Shopping, by Debbie Roe<br />
What the Most Successful People Do at Work, by Laura Vanderkam<br />
What the Most Successful People Do on the Weekend, by Laura Vanderkam<br />
What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast, by Laura Vanderkam<br />
On Becoming Baby Wise, by Gary Ezzo M.D. and Robert Ruckman M.D.<br />
Growing up Duggar, by the Duggar Girls<br />
Total Money Makeover, by Dave Ramsey<br />
Super Freakanomics, by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner<br />
Hell is Other Parents, by Deborah Copaken Kogan<br />
Overwhelmed: Work, Love and Play When No One Has the Time, by Brigid Schulte<br />
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<b>Health/Diet/Fitness (see also <a href="http://www.stayathomeista.com/2014/10/how-i-lost-baby-weight-in-105-weeks.html" target="_blank">How I Lost the Baby Weight</a> then <a href="http://www.stayathomeista.com/2014/10/getting-to-wedding-weight.html" target="_blank">got to Wedding Weight</a>):</b><br />
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Slim By Design, by Brian Wansink Ph.D.<br />
The End of Overeating, by David A Kessler, M.D.<br />
The Everygirl's Guide to Diet and Fitness, by Maria Menounos<br />
Thin Side Out, by Josie Spinaldi<br />
Skinny Thinking, by Laura Katleman-Prue<br />
Mindless Eating, by Brian Wansink Ph.D.<br />
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While on Bed Rest:<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">Hunger Games Trilogy, by Suzanne Collins</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">Real Food for Mother and Baby, by Nina Planck</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">The Husband's Secret, by Liane Moriarty</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">The Divergent Trilogy, by Veronica Roth</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">One Perfect Rose, by Mary Jo Putney</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">Sleepless Nights, by Sarah Bilston</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">Bed Rest, by Sarah Bilston</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">The Trouble with Virtue, by Stephanie Laurens</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">Everything is Perfect When You are a Liar, by Kelly Oxford</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">Melting Ice, by Stephanie Laurens</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">And Then She Fell, by Stephanie Laurens</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">The Taming of Ryder Cavanaugh,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">I Shouldn't be Telling you This, by Kate White</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">The Peculiar Case of Lord Finsbury's Diamonds, by Stephanie Laurens</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">All Through the Night, by Connie Brockway</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">Getting to 50/50</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">This is Where I Leave You, by Jonathan Tropper</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">Dad is Fat, by Jim Gaffigan</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">French Women Don't Get Fat, by Mireille Guiliano</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">The Interestings, by Meg Wolitzer</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">French Kids Eat Everything, by Karen Le Billon</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">Spelling it Like it is, by Tori Spelling</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">Happier at Home, by Gretchen Rubin</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">Flawless, by Tilly Bagshawe</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">The Devil Wears Kilts, by Suzanne Enoch</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">No Good Duke Goes Unpunished, by Sarah MacLean</span><br />
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Totals-<br />
Fiction: 22<br />
Romance: 32<br />
Non-Fiction: 28<br />
Health: 6<br />
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So far that's 88. So to hit my goal of 100 books this year I need to read another 12 before the end of the year, I think it's doable:)<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Jessica</span></div>
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<br />Jessica @ Stay at Home-istahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12982756540681513061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143028068444804616.post-86765123657538319492014-11-03T06:30:00.000-08:002014-11-03T06:30:04.612-08:00How to Make School Lunch without Losing Your Mind<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Now that school has been in session a few months, the newness of packing lunches has worn off, and the (potential) drudgery has set in.</div>
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I would love to be a school lunch wizard like local blogger <a href="http://wendolonia.com/blog/" target="_blank">Wendolonia</a>, who photographs he two sons' lunches each day. She does crazy-amazing things with bento boxes, alphabet punches, and edible markers.</div>
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Instead, I'm just trying to make my mornings run more smoothly, and try to remember who needs to ear a PE shirt, and who has art today (which means clothes that can get really messy). So, in my juggling act with 4 kids, I aim to make lunches for the week ahead of time on Sunday, and put them in the fridge all ready to go for the week.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rhr1yjWs9CE/VDL4_IBGDYI/AAAAAAAANWI/_tOb0O10Eeg/s1600/photo%2B1-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rhr1yjWs9CE/VDL4_IBGDYI/AAAAAAAANWI/_tOb0O10Eeg/s1600/photo%2B1-002.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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I use these super simple containers for the lunches, with occasional silicon cupcake molds for dividing the main compartment, and plastic ball jars (see my post here) for snacks.</div>
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My go-to lunches?</div>
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<ul>
<li>PB&J sandwiches</li>
<li>Apples with peanut butter</li>
<li>Smoked Salmon roll-ups in a whole wheat tortilla (for one kid)</li>
<li>Leftover pancakes with pb&j</li>
<li>waffles with cream cheese and strawberries</li>
<li>apple "sandwiches" with peanut butter and raisins</li>
<li>carrots and hummus</li>
<li>mini-pita pizzas</li>
<li>overnight oatmeal</li>
<li>homemade granola</li>
<li>trail mix (<a href="http://www.stayathomeista.com/2013/09/healthy-homemade-trail-mix.html" target="_blank">we make our own</a>)</li>
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I also adore baking, so we usually make one or two batches of muffins (or really anything that is cooked in a muffin pan) for weekly snacks. Some recipes are totally made up, some are from 100 Days of Real Food (either <a href="http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/" target="_blank">the blog</a> or the book), or from <a href="http://www.stayathomeista.com/2013/01/the-gifts-i-bought-myself-in-2012.html" target="_blank">my favorite cookbooks</a>.</div>
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<ul>
<li>Chocolate avocado banana muffins (made up with help from the 3 year old)</li>
<li>Gluten Free Apple Spice Muffins</li>
<li>Chocolate Zucchini Muffins</li>
<li>Pumpkin Spice Muffins</li>
<li>Banana Raisin Muffins</li>
<li>Oatmeal chocolate chip muffins (or cookies)</li>
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Tips:</div>
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<ul>
<li>Adding some cocoa powder or chocolate chips to *anything* makes it more appealing</li>
<li>vary the size, mini muffins or regular size</li>
<li>try to keep fruit and veggies small and cut up so kids can eat them easier</li>
<li>let your kids help you decide which items will be for lunch this week</li>
<li>almost any baked good can be frozen, then defrosted overnight in the fridge</li>
<li>mini-pizzas can be frozen (after baking), and defrost in the fridge. My kids will eat them cold!</li>
<li>vary the fruits each week (or every day)</li>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-be6T13EbXbk/VDL5BQ9qDJI/AAAAAAAANWg/aYsTGXIg0Xo/s1600/photo%2B5-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-be6T13EbXbk/VDL5BQ9qDJI/AAAAAAAANWg/aYsTGXIg0Xo/s1600/photo%2B5-002.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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I've written about <a href="http://www.stayathomeista.com/2012/09/one-week-in-kindergarten-lunches.html" target="_blank">a week of kindergarten lunches</a>, <a href="http://www.stayathomeista.com/2013/08/my-favorite-school-lunches.html" target="_blank">what I learned after 1 year of lunch packing</a>, <a href="http://www.stayathomeista.com/2012/12/packing-no-waste-lunch.html" target="_blank">how to pack a zero waste lunch</a>, and you can also check out <a href="http://www.stayathomeista.com/2013/09/school-year-slump.html" target="_blank">what I packed the first week of school</a> in first grade. So clearly, this is something I've spent lot of time thinking about!</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Jessica</span></div>
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Products that make lunch-packing easier. As always, these affiliate links are only for products that I've already purchased and loved!</div>
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</iframe>Jessica @ Stay at Home-istahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12982756540681513061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143028068444804616.post-24250047511224686622014-10-30T08:42:00.000-07:002014-10-30T08:42:00.103-07:00What to do with leftover half and half #tbtEvery Friday my dad picks up my preschooler and takes her to the park for lunch and playing. I know, I'm super lucky. Believe me, you do't even want to hear about what the other 3 local grand parents do, they are all amazing:) Anyhoo, my dad brings half and half for my daughter to drink (just go with it), and we often have some left over in our fridge.<br />
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Recently, as the weather has been turned a bit cooler, and I'm nursing the baby only during the day (he sleeps at night), I've revisited one of my favorite cocktails, the Brandy Alexander. I first discovered it at the Bar at La Terrasse, a great restaurant in West Philly, when I was in college, and Ive brought it back as a special occasion drink. It fills both the dessert and drink categories, so take that into account when planning when to have it!<br />
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After getting back to my wedding weight (I posted about it yesterday), I certainly only have this as a special occasion drink. And as a mom, that usually means a day when the preschooler refused to wear a costume to the Halloween party, the baby is snotty, the kindergartener left his library book at home, and the second grader had really hard questions about life that she only thought of 5 minutes *after* bedtime:)<br />
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Find my original post and recipe for a <a href="http://www.stayathomeista.com/2013/01/winter-cocktail-brandy-alexander.html" target="_blank">Brandy Alexander cocktail here.</a><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-48v8aa0-aJk/ULeKgej55GI/AAAAAAAAInQ/TjmAaf-Oyx4/s640/DSC_2044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="recipe for a brandy alexander cocktail" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-48v8aa0-aJk/ULeKgej55GI/AAAAAAAAInQ/TjmAaf-Oyx4/s640/DSC_2044.JPG" height="428" title="recipe for a brandy alexander cocktail" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Jessica @ Stay at Home-istahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12982756540681513061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143028068444804616.post-72966573217826828882014-10-29T05:30:00.000-07:002014-10-29T05:30:03.635-07:00Getting to Wedding WeightAs I mentioned last week, <a href="http://www.stayathomeista.com/2014/10/how-i-lost-baby-weight-in-105-weeks.html" target="_blank">I lost the baby weight in less than 3 months</a>. This was the first time that has happened, and the weight just kept coming off. Not as fast, but slowly and steadily, and in the 4 months that followed, I've lost another 22 pounds, which puts me a few pounds *under* my wedding weight!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4OxKCyceeCM/VDL47NSBoYI/AAAAAAAANVY/GSFgkvmXUis/s1600/photo%2B5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How I lost the baby weight and made it to wedding weight! 72 pounds in 7 months!" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4OxKCyceeCM/VDL47NSBoYI/AAAAAAAANVY/GSFgkvmXUis/s1600/photo%2B5.JPG" height="640" title="How I lost the baby weight and made it to wedding weight! 72 pounds in 7 months!" width="424" /></a></div>
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Big pause while I jump around the room.... (then realize that I'm not wearing any makeup in that photo). Here's another version of me, last weekend at a Halloween party.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MjLs7aLNews/VE6CEviwgpI/AAAAAAAANgg/gnfTZN7T7Yo/s1600/Halloween2014photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MjLs7aLNews/VE6CEviwgpI/AAAAAAAANgg/gnfTZN7T7Yo/s1600/Halloween2014photo.JPG" height="640" width="424" /></a></div>
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I am so so happy, and proud, and excited, and trilled, and surprised and even a little bit scared that I might gain some of it back.<br />
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The most shocking part of this whole thing, has been how much I've really changed my lifestyle. So much so that now unhealthy foods actually make me sick. OK, I'm feeling a little sick/shameful just writing that, but it's true. 1 slice of pizza can do me in. Enough with the TMI:)<br />
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I got married at the same weight that I had been for most of college and graduate school, and I stayed that weight for the first year of our marriage before I gained 10 pounds with Clomid, a fertility drug. After that, I never went below my "pre-first-baby" weight again.<br />
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Last summer, knowing/hoping that we would get pregnant with #4 soon, I declared it my "summer of fun". For me that meant eating and drinking and eating and snacking and watching TV and eating and baking... So I started the last pregnancy about 10 pounds higher than my usual being-a-mom weight. With the fourth and final baby here, I'm super motivated to get back to the old normal, and I want to be fit and strong and happy and healthy for the future.<br />
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Is this topic even remotely interesting to anyone reading? It's taken up a ton of my brain space for the past 7 months, but as I get better at making better choices it's taking less and less thinking time, but I'd still like to write it all down for sometime this winter when I inevitably just want to eat fried things and drink hot drinks with alcohol in them every day:)<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Jessica</span></div>
Jessica @ Stay at Home-istahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12982756540681513061noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143028068444804616.post-60644687038304846602014-10-27T06:00:00.000-07:002014-10-27T06:00:01.143-07:00Safari Nursery<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Spq1fw4kp2Y/VCxNu3bOipI/AAAAAAAANTU/fRYHjsKsXGY/s1600/Slide1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Safari Themed Nursery from StayatHomeista" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Spq1fw4kp2Y/VCxNu3bOipI/AAAAAAAANTU/fRYHjsKsXGY/s1600/Slide1.jpg" height="480" title="Safari Themed Nursery from StayatHomeista" width="640" /></a></div>
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What? I'm posting a mood board for a mythical baby and I haven't even showed you MY baby's nursery? Yes, I know. I will rectify that eventually, although, spoiler alert, it's pretty much the same as the room was when it belonged to my daughter (<a href="http://www.stayathomeista.com/2012/05/baby-nursery.html" target="_blank">pink and teal nursery</a>), except that I swapped out the pink bedding for my son's old crib bedding (best seen here in the <a href="http://www.stayathomeista.com/2012/02/double-sheeting-crib.html" target="_blank">post about double sheeting a crib</a>), and changed the diaper changed to orange.<br />
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Here's what I would do for a gender-neutral nursery. Plus, I'm in love with the wallpaper:)<br />
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<ul>
<li>Anthropologie had a ton of great items including the <a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/home-wallpaper/31177405.jsp#/" target="_blank">Gilded Giraffe Wallpaper</a>, <a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/home-wallpaper/970123.jsp#/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Giraffe bust</a> and <a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/31380967.jsp?cm_vc=SEARCH_RESULTS#/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Giraffe pillow</a> (they also have a zebra one!)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.homedecorators.com/P/Animal_Hamper/410/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Elephant Hamper</a> </li>
<li>I would arrange these <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/70282383/kids-art-for-children-kids-decor-jungle?ref=shop_home_active_4" target="_blank">modern safari prints</a> in a corner as shown above (<a href="http://pawleysislandposh.blogspot.com/2014/08/love-it-or-leave-it-gallery-walls.html" target="_blank">image from here</a>)</li>
<li>A <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/201061724/boppy-cover-gray-deer?ref=sr_gallery_4&ga_ref=error_page_redirect&ga_filters=woodland+cover&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery" target="_blank">Boppy cover in deer </a>(you know I love a good deer head!)</li>
<li>Crib Bedding - <a href="http://www.serenaandlily.com/Baby/Baby-Event-Ben-Collection" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the Ben Collection from Serena and Lily</a></li>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Jessica</span></div>
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No affiliate links were used in this post, I just like to create fantasy rooms for mythical babies:)Jessica @ Stay at Home-istahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12982756540681513061noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143028068444804616.post-26448623700208962992014-10-24T06:00:00.000-07:002014-10-24T06:00:05.026-07:00How I Survive Without Coffee <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-diOjJntDbTU/VEBcqzUfoVI/AAAAAAAANfI/glcpAoHGNkQ/s1600/DSC_6121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ceremonie tea" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-diOjJntDbTU/VEBcqzUfoVI/AAAAAAAANfI/glcpAoHGNkQ/s1600/DSC_6121.JPG" height="640" title="Ceremonie tea" width="428" /></a></div>
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I have made it through high school, college, architecture school, and now having 4 children all without having coffee. I wish there was a good reason, some moral outrage against the coffee industry, or a health reason, but honestly, I just never liked the taste and by the time I realized that I "should" drink it, it was too late.<br />
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I do love the ritual of coffee, so to duplicate that calm feeling (and give me a *little* caffeine boost), I drink tea instead.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_a5IyqAlHZ0/VEBcwl0sy-I/AAAAAAAANfw/13XkIjxZV5c/s1600/DSC_6128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_a5IyqAlHZ0/VEBcwl0sy-I/AAAAAAAANfw/13XkIjxZV5c/s1600/DSC_6128.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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My new favorite, is the Earl Grey Lavender from Ceremonie Tea. It's my go-to morning tea, perfect with a splash of milk.<br />
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A good friend of mine now works for Ceremonie, and when he asked if I'd like a free box to sample, I jumped at the chance. Here are my favorite things:<br />
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<li>The packaging is elegant and pretty enough to be left out</li>
<li>They have a bento-box-esque display tray that makes offering company tea an elegant experience</li>
<li>I adore the minicubes. Each person can have their own touching all the other bags.</li>
<li>The flavors are inventive and yummy, Ginger peach? Lemongrass & Verbena?</li>
<li>They come in pretty pyramid sachets which just makes me feel fancy:)</li>
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I'm also using tea as a key part of my weight loss strategy. (<a href="http://www.stayathomeista.com/2014/10/how-i-lost-baby-weight-in-105-weeks.html" target="_blank">You can read about how I lost almost 50 pounds of baby weight in less than three months here</a>). After dinner, instead of putting the kids to bed, pouring a glass of wine, and then giving in to food cravings that only exist because of said glass of wine, I drink tea instead. I've even gotten my 7 year old on the tea-after-dinner wagon, and we make a few cups, sit on the couch, read, talk and actually connect, all without me having random cravings for a bowl of chocolate chips, almonds, ice cream... you get the idea. At night, I go for the non-caffeinated tea, so Moroccan Mint is my fave.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2o9EzGD70eo/VEBcuXqTTMI/AAAAAAAANfg/1O7d4Cb6D3E/s1600/DSC_6126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ceremonie tea" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2o9EzGD70eo/VEBcuXqTTMI/AAAAAAAANfg/1O7d4Cb6D3E/s1600/DSC_6126.JPG" height="640" title="Ceremonie tea" width="426" /></a></div>
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If you are local, you can find it at Oakland Kosher. Friends farther afield can find Ceremonie Tea online at <a href="http://www.abesmarket.com/store/ceremonietea" target="_blank">Abe's Market</a> or more info at <a href="http://ceremonietea.com/">CeremonieTea.com</a><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QiezfxBbgGk/VEBciVMNlkI/AAAAAAAANeQ/i7hKTiyrVzU/s1600/DSC_6114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ceremonie tea" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QiezfxBbgGk/VEBciVMNlkI/AAAAAAAANeQ/i7hKTiyrVzU/s1600/DSC_6114.JPG" height="428" title="Ceremonie tea" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Jessica</span></div>
Jessica @ Stay at Home-istahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12982756540681513061noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143028068444804616.post-35469831448464370532014-10-22T05:30:00.001-07:002014-10-22T05:30:00.487-07:00How I lost the baby weight in 10.5 weeksQuestioning whether I should even write this post, but in the spirit of the blog being for me (and for you only in as much as you enjoy it and chose to read it), here goes. This is how, after having baby #4 (!!!), I lost the 49.5 pounds of pregnancy weight that I gained, and I lost it in only 10.5 weeks.<br />
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It is very important to be precise here, since weight gain and loss can feel very precise. 49.5 pounds sounds a heck of a lot better in my head than 50 pounds, and 10.5 weeks sounds better than 11 weeks:)<br />
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The three main things I did were:<br />
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1. Weight Watchers<br />
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2. Exercising 5-6 days a week<br />
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3. Reading books, magazines and blogs about fitness and weight loss to keep me motivated.<br />
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Before: 3 days before giving birth... After: 10.5 weeks later...(sorry I don't have one of only me)<br />
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<b>Weight Watchers-</b><br />
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I have used Weight Watchers before, so I know that the system works for me. I need to write down everything that I eat, and have no food "off limits" in order to see results. Of course, as I get more fit, I wind up making better food choices anyway, since it feels better, but coming right off having a baby, I needed to know that I could eat anything, but I had to track it (write it down online or in the app).<br />
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I did the online version of the plan, since I knew the basics, and who can get to a meeting with a newborn? Not I. I read the blogs on the site, used the app to track my food but also my water intake, and overall just shifted the amount that I was eating. Plus, no more nausea really helps me chose to eat veggies, rather than anything that I think won't hurt coming back up:)<br />
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<b>Exercise-</b><br />
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I started a few days after giving birth with simple breathing exercises to strengthen my abs. I used a video from <a href="http://fit2b.us/start-here/" target="_blank">Fit2B</a> (not an affiliate link) and just worked my way up. My husband and I started walking each day, first for 5 minutes, then for 10, then 15. Maybe I was up to 30 minutes of slow walking by 2 weeks postpartum, so nothing crazy, just moving my body outside. Sometimes I would walk on our treadmill at home too.<br />
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The real game changer was starting doing Jillian Michaels (you know her from the Biggest Loser) DVDs at home. I started with
30 Day Shred, Level 1, and I couldn't even get through the whole thing for a few weeks! I just kept at it, doing a few more reps each day, resting less, then adding in Level 2 once I felt stronger. By the 11 week mark when I had lost all of the weight, I was doing all 3 levels of 30 Day Shred, plus level 1 of 6 Week 6 Pack. (It took another 2 months before I could do level 2 of 6 Week 6 Pack without stopping)!<br />
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The DVD's were perfect for after having a baby since they are short (22 minutes to 40 minutes), and I could pause to go nurse/change a diaper etc then come back to them and pick up where I left off. The stress of getting to a class at a specific time was just too much for me in that newborn stage, you never know when the baby will be hungry or have a diaper blowout...<br />
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<b>Staying Motivated-</b><br />
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I read the following books (usually while nursing)!<br />
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Slim By Design, by Brian Wansink Ph.D.<br />
The End of Overeating, by David A Kessler, M.D.<br />
The Everygirl's Guide to Diet and Fitness, by Maria Menounos<br />
Thin Side Out, by Josie Spinaldi<br />
Skinny Thinking, by Laura Katleman-Prue<br />
Mindless Eating, by Brian Wansink Ph.D.<br />
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Each one gave me a little push to make positive changes. from reorganizing my refrigerator so the fruits and veggies are at eye level and the junk is in the crisper, to always leaving a bite on my plate, each one helped me to make tiny changes, usually 1 change per week.<br />
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I also rewarded myself whenever I went to the grocery store and *didn't* buy a donut (my pregnancy craving this round). I would buy as many health and fitness magazines as I wanted. Whether or not I did the workouts or cooked the food, I was motivated to keep on track, keep going, and just the act of tearing out an ab workout served to motivate me a little bit each day.<br />
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Oh- and I kept losing weight! That might be the craziest part of this. Instead of just stopping or plateauing at my pre-baby weight, I kept losing, another 23 pounds, getting back to my wedding weight (technically 2 pounds less)! I'll write another post with those tips to stay motivated (and pics!) soon.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Jessica</span></div>
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Here's a link to the workout I did. You can find lots for free if you are an Amazon Prime member, or I bought this one for less than $10. (affiliate link, but I bought it and love it, so you know it's good)<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=ss_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=stayathomeist-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B00127RAJY&asins=B00127RAJY&linkId=E6U7UX6AZE7QH6JX&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe>Jessica @ Stay at Home-istahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12982756540681513061noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143028068444804616.post-56808342865848502772014-10-20T06:30:00.000-07:002014-10-20T06:30:03.068-07:00Master Bedroom Tweaking<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QD1xO0p6nA0/VCblWn5B90I/AAAAAAAANS8/-QPoQWCbVbw/s1600/Slide1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QD1xO0p6nA0/VCblWn5B90I/AAAAAAAANS8/-QPoQWCbVbw/s1600/Slide1.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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For some reason, my master bedroom has never fully lived up to my expectations I think it might just be too gray, too dark, something, but I am blessed with a husband who actually cares about the aesthetics of our house, and he is adamant that we keep the wall color. And the gray roman shades. And the gray velvet curtains... So I'm imagining a few tweaks to make it a little more cheerful. </div>
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I'd like to add bedside lamps in a larger scale. These navy ones from Target look good (<a href="http://www.target.com/p/table-lamp-safavieh-navy-white/-/A-15690983#prodSlot=medium_2_5" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">similar ones here</a>), although I'm also open to <a href="http://www.westelm.com/products/clear-disc-table-lamp-small-w1128/?pkey=e%7Cclear%2Bdisc%2Btable%2Blamp%2B-%2Bsmall%7C1%7Cbest%7C4294967160%7C1%7C24%7C%7C1&cm_src=PRODUCTSEARCH||Category-_-Lighting-_-NoMerchRules" target="_blank">these clear disc ones</a> from West Elm.</div>
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I'm loving the collage wall from <a href="http://www.younghouselove.com/2014/06/photo-finish/" target="_blank">Young House Love</a>. I'm happy with our existing yellow prints from Little Brown Pen of Paris in a yellow color story, but maybe if I brought in more photos of our family, the wall would fill in nicely.</div>
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I've already pulled the trigger on these <a href="http://www.westelm.com/products/gallery-in-a-box-frame-set-mirror-w802/?pkey=e%7Cmirror%2Bframe%7C6%7Cbest%7C0%7C1%7C24%7C%7C2&cm_src=PRODUCTSEARCH||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_-NoMerchRules" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">mirror collage frames from West Elm</a>. Plus the 4 prints from Minted: <a href="http://www.minted.com/product/wall-art-prints/MIN-JR8-GNA/bricks?org=photo" target="_blank">& Bricks</a>, <a href="http://www.minted.com/product/wall-art-prints/MIN-K8G-GNA/golden-mums?org=photo" target="_blank">Golden Mums</a>, <a href="http://www.minted.com/product/wall-art-prints/MIN-LH9-GNA/sun-drop?org=photo" target="_blank">Sundrop</a>, and <a href="http://www.minted.com/product/wall-art-prints/MIN-216-GNA/hexagon-cluster?org=photo" target="_blank">Hexagon Cluster</a>.</div>
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The corner with the chaise (from Wisteria) could use a little pop of color. Maybe a side table, a lamp, a throw and a new pillow?</div>
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Any other ideas for me? I'm not sure how much I will actually implement, but it's always fun to dream!</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Jessica</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">No affiliate links were used in this post, just fyi:)</span></div>
<br />Jessica @ Stay at Home-istahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12982756540681513061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143028068444804616.post-43366859345445355592014-10-16T08:37:00.000-07:002014-10-16T08:37:00.125-07:00Owl Cupcakes #tbtAs i mentioned in my original Throwback Thursday post, I'm embracing some of my favorite posts from years past, just in case you missed them the first time around:)<br />
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I've made these Owl Cupcakes each year for Halloween, fun, easy, the kids can do it themselves... Nothing better than that:)<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4rp-k70sqvo/UIyNQB-vDvI/AAAAAAAAIA8/GG5yRDU12cc/s640/DSC_1581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Owl cupcakes with oreo and m&m eyes" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4rp-k70sqvo/UIyNQB-vDvI/AAAAAAAAIA8/GG5yRDU12cc/s640/DSC_1581.JPG" height="428" title="Owl cupcakes with oreo and m&m eyes" width="640" /></a></div>
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Find my original post with more pics and instructions (in case you need them) <a href="http://www.stayathomeista.com/2012/10/owl-cupcakes.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
<br />Jessica @ Stay at Home-istahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12982756540681513061noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143028068444804616.post-34960337698862176902014-10-13T06:30:00.000-07:002014-10-13T06:30:00.863-07:00Collage Wall in a Boy's Bedroom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yebKXNKYJk0/VCbls3T8J6I/AAAAAAAANTE/e7TqJubSwH0/s1600/Slide1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="boy bedroom inspiration with decals, collage wall, cardboard animal head, and a nautical mirror" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yebKXNKYJk0/VCbls3T8J6I/AAAAAAAANTE/e7TqJubSwH0/s1600/Slide1.jpg" height="480" title="boy bedroom inspiration with decals, collage wall, cardboard animal head, and a nautical mirror" width="640" /></a></div>
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So this is what I'm thinking about for our 5 year old son's room.</div>
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Existing/Keeping:</div>
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bed - the Catalina in Navy from Pottery Barn Kids</div>
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sheeting - construction themed from Target</div>
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orange nightstand - DIY (<a href="http://www.stayathomeista.com/2012/05/nightstand-switcheroo.html" target="_blank">I spray painted an old wood side table</a>)</div>
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wall color - Marlborough Blue from Benjamin Moore</div>
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New:</div>
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nautical mirror from Pottery Barn Kids</div>
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Cardboard Elephant Head</div>
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Artwork Collage including his own paintings, and anything else extra lying around the house</div>
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Decals - he wants orange polka dots (similar to in <a href="http://www.stayathomeista.com/2014/04/polka-dot-big-girl-bedroom-reveal.html" target="_blank">our daughter's room</a>)</div>
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He was feeling left out of the great bedroom upgrade, so I decided that he needed a quick refresh. We did <a href="http://www.stayathomeista.com/2012/04/little-boys-bedroom-end-of-nursery-era.html" target="_blank">his room originally</a> when he was two, so it's been 3 years, and about time for a little mini-update. </div>
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I'm often thinking these things through with the help of <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/stayathomeista" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>, so come check me out there, updates and final photos to come!</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Jessica</span></div>
<br />Jessica @ Stay at Home-istahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12982756540681513061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143028068444804616.post-73043287325572563972014-10-09T05:30:00.000-07:002014-10-09T05:30:01.360-07:00Happy 6 months!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3eU56VNgoi0/VDMA7_MwWyI/AAAAAAAANdI/BvBNJMGl8G0/s1600/DSC_6071-MIX.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3eU56VNgoi0/VDMA7_MwWyI/AAAAAAAANdI/BvBNJMGl8G0/s1600/DSC_6071-MIX.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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Baby #4 (Yoyo by nickname) is 6 months old! I'm so, so happy that we added him to our family. He is a pleasure to have as a baby, mellow, easygoing, and very happy. Plus his ears stick out just a bit, which alternately make shim look like an elf, and reminds me of my grandfather for whom he was named.</div>
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He has blonde hair and blue eyes. He loves to eat baby food, and happy pulls my fingers into his mouth to chew on. He also enjoys chewing on any food that might be on my fingers: bread, green beans, orange segments, hummus... He will even chew on the Baby Bjorn, teething much?</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qbIqgsGOhj4/VDL49Ing9QI/AAAAAAAANV0/6IGxMWHBzVA/s1600/photo%2B3-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qbIqgsGOhj4/VDL49Ing9QI/AAAAAAAANV0/6IGxMWHBzVA/s1600/photo%2B3-001.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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While he won't take a bottle or a sippy cup yet (which means that I'm always within 2-3 hours of nursing him), he has slowly started taking a little water from a sippy, so I'm hopeful that I can wean him around 10 months, so that my husband and I can go away alone!</div>
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Yoyo can't yet sit up, but that might be our fault, with 4 kids, we sometimes forget to let him practice that skill:) But he loves the swing!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_t0Z-sypoS0/VDL48aM0haI/AAAAAAAANVo/4PTwTxbU2Eg/s1600/photo%2B2-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_t0Z-sypoS0/VDL48aM0haI/AAAAAAAANVo/4PTwTxbU2Eg/s1600/photo%2B2-001.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<br />Jessica @ Stay at Home-istahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12982756540681513061noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143028068444804616.post-58370390855394754452014-10-08T06:00:00.000-07:002014-10-08T09:19:33.561-07:00How to Know When There is Too Much TV?Quick ways to know when the TV watching has gone overboard:<br />
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<li>My almost 3- year old wants a "purple horse that flies, just like Sophia" for her birthday</li>
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<li>When, "What does Elsa eat in her ice castle"? is a legitimate conversation topic with your spouse</li>
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<li>When you justify your tummy pooch by thinking that if Caillou's mommy has one, then it must be normal.</li>
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<li>When you mumble channel numbers in your sleep, "289 for Disney Junior..."</li>
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<li>When you are getting dressed to go out and find yourself humming the Jake and the Neverland Pirates theme song</li>
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<li>When playing with miniature horses and the two year old names them: Elsa, Anna, Sofia, Dora, Cinderella...</li>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pW3XK5Hvfy8/UswuxmPDhEI/AAAAAAAAL0k/XFtPxNz2y6c/s1600/DSC_4670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pW3XK5Hvfy8/UswuxmPDhEI/AAAAAAAAL0k/XFtPxNz2y6c/s1600/DSC_4670.JPG" height="640" width="428" /></a></div>
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And yet, with four kids, heck even when I had three kids, I'm much more willing to let them watch TV than I was before.<br />
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Our first watched no TV at all until she was 2, and since she had a 4 month old brother at the time, it was only on airplanes or long car rides. The second one started watching on airplanes and in the car (rides longer than 2 hours count for me) when he was 18 months. He adored shows, which was helpful on 6 hour cross-country flights when our first wouldn't sleep or watch shows, and would only cry or vomit. Fun times:)<br />
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When we had our third, I was willing to let the older two watch TV as a special treat during the week or on weekends. So maybe 22 minutes in the morning if the baby was fussy and I was on my own. Or an hour on the weekend during nap time so I could have a minute to myself.<br />
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Continue on to pregnancy with number 4, and all rules were out the window. Six weeks of bed rest and I was happy to let any of them watch as much TV as they could outside of meals, school, and sleeping. Total this was maybe 30 minutes to 2 hours a day, depending on how much help I had.<br />
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We've scaled back since the baby was born and I'm back on my feet as a fully functional parent:) TV is a treat during the week, maybe 2-3 days a week they get half an hour, probably in the morning if we are done with breakfast early, all bags and lunches packed, clothes and shoes on, sunscreen on...<br />
Weekends offer maybe an hour a day for them, although that first child just isn't that into it. Maybe we restricted it too much when she was younger and now she won't watch?<br />
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What's your TV/screen time policy?<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Jessica</span></div>
Jessica @ Stay at Home-istahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12982756540681513061noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143028068444804616.post-84800482081207255132014-10-06T06:30:00.000-07:002014-10-06T06:30:00.839-07:00A Mid-Century Dining Room UpdateIt's been at least 4 years that we've had this Bjursta table from Ikea, and it has served out family well, but it's time for an upgrade. Nothing crazy, we still have 4 kids under 8, so spills and sticky messes area twice-daily occurrence.<br />
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Here's my master plan:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9gtan6iWDNE/VCbixGLwD2I/AAAAAAAANSw/69bSiXnC40E/s1600/Slide1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="StayatHomeista double table dining room with Eames chairs and #westelm tables" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9gtan6iWDNE/VCbixGLwD2I/AAAAAAAANSw/69bSiXnC40E/s1600/Slide1.jpg" height="480" title="StayatHomeista double table dining room with Eames chairs and #westelm tables" width="640" /></a></div>
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The main changes are switching to 2 tables and swapping out the chairs for something wipeable. Here's the rundown of <a href="http://www.stayathomeista.com/2012/03/dining-room.html" target="_blank">our dining room before</a>. We are keeping the striped rug (Flor tiles) for now, and the <a href="http://www.stayathomeista.com/2012/08/diy-linen-and-paper-wall-art.html" target="_blank">linen and paper artwork.</a><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hk3THhGh6Cc/UIyNKsRon5I/AAAAAAAAH_c/KuDjmLnFxvY/s640/DSC_1556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hk3THhGh6Cc/UIyNKsRon5I/AAAAAAAAH_c/KuDjmLnFxvY/s640/DSC_1556.JPG" height="640" width="428" /></a></div>
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Now that we think our family is complete with 4 kids, I'd like to have a table where we fit perfectly as a family of 6. We don't have a breakfast room (or a table in the kitchen at all), so the dining room is where we eat breakfast together everyday at 7am, and dinner together each night at 5pm (small children eat early). Lunch for the baby and preschooler is eaten at the kitchen counter, or out at a park or with grandparents.<br />
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So, with the idea of a smaller table, but not wanting to lose the functionality of the large table, I started thinking about having a pair of tables. These <a href="http://www.westelm.com/products/parker-expandable-dining-table-g830/?pkey=cdining-tables&cm_src=dining-tables||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_--_-" target="_blank">West Elm Expandable Mid-century</a> tables fit the bill. We can push them together into an almost-square when we entertain, which easily seats 12 (3 per side), or extend each table and push them together to seat 14-18 (big square versus end-to-end).<br />
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The chairs, Becca linen stripe from Overstock, were very comfortable, but got super dirty over the last 3 years of constant use. Even though I <a href="http://www.stayathomeista.com/2012/04/protecting-linen-purse.html" target="_blank">stain-treated them</a>, after 2 years they started to look a tiny bit dingy, and by this summer I couldn't take it anymore. It might also have something to do with our tastes shifting to a more modern, or mid-century modern aesthetic. In "fantasy life" we adore this table and formal chairs, but real life and little kids prevent us from spending over $10,000 on a table alone!<br />
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We went for the knockoff chairs from <a href="http://www.emoderndecor.com/set-of-4-eames-style-dsw-molded-white-plastic-dining-shell-chair-with-wood-eiffel-legs.html#.VCbkIy6wKbQ" target="_blank">EModernDecor</a>, since again, almost $400 per chair for the real version seemed excessive, and the $75 versions work well for us. Each time we buy things that need assembly, my husband and I look at each other and ask, "when will be be grown-up enough to stop buying furniture that needs to be put together"? But then we just do it all over again, since for 8 chairs, the cost saving was over $2500!<br />
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Since I'm getting back into the blogging swing of things, I'll have to snap a picture and post the results soon!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Jessica</span></div>
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No affiliate links in this post, just letting you know where to find things:)Jessica @ Stay at Home-istahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12982756540681513061noreply@blogger.com2