Things to Do - Cherish This Day, The Stories We Tell, & Random Links

This week was full of soccer practice and homework. How was your week?

Don't forget to check out the group posts today on Cherish This Day & The Stories We Tell

RANDOM LINKS:

* Julie Blackmon continues to amaze and amuse me.

* I really want to visit this local "secret".

* NPR's SXSW playlist.

* It's amazing how creative this guy can be with a pen cap. And a fortune cookie. And pieces of popcorn.

* This book sounds good. And I really want to see this movie.

* Have you seen these wedding photos? I now dream of visiting Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats (link via A Cup of Jo).

* This Washington Post travel article is making me dream of Rio - secluded beaches, mountain hikes = wonderfulness. And after I check out Rio, I really want to see these hanging flower garden art displays in Japan. And then I'll stop by Kansas because this roadtrip of randomness looks awesome (who doesn't love really big rocks and crazy statues)?

* I read an article describing Enchanted Forest as a coloring book for adults. I think I might buy myself a copy (serenity now). Maybe I can convince all three kids to work on it with me.

Things to Do - Grandma's House (including The Stories We Tell, Cherish This Day & Random Links)

One of my goals for 2015 is to take more photos of the kids with their grandparents. Dan's parents and my mom are such a big part of our lives, but I rarely photograph the moments the kids spend with them (probably because I'm so happy to let the grandparents take over the children while I zone out/sleep/read my book on the couch). Anyways, here are some photos of our recent trip to Richmond.

If you have a chance, don't forget to check out Cherish This Day & The Stories We Tell, both of which have amazing group posts today.

RANDOM LINKS:

* The Best Feminist Books for Young Readers.

* These are my absolute favorite sweatshirts in the world (and they're super cheap).

* This list is making me really want to vacation in Philly this summer.

* Female Supreme Court Justice legos.









Grandma Margie's art studio always brings the fun. In case you're wondering, T's wearing his homemade Santa Clause mask, with a beard, of course.





Coco was welcomed on a trial basis, during which she broke out of her crate, ate a full vacuum cleaner bag (off of the vacuum cleaner), and trashed the laundry room. F**cking dog.



The kids hoped that writing a schedule for Coco might improve her behavior.







F made mashed potatoes, Grandma Margie taught the youngest two kids to knit, and Dan debated politics with his dad.



The kids learned how to play spades, Dan could not be happier.







And, somewhat miraculously, my children all got along (for the most part).

HAPPY WEEKEND EVERYONE!!

Things to Do - The Stories We Tell & Random Links

Happy New Years everyone!! I planned on posting all week, but then lazy conquered, especially with this stupid broken foot, I don't seem to have motivation to do much of anything these days.

Oh well, we had a fantastic NYE and Christmas. I hope you all did too. If you have a chance, click on over and check out our "lights" post on The Stories We Tell (and if you're looking for photography inspiration/guidance, as always, I highly recommend Colie James' fantastic lifestyle photography workshop).

My image (posted above) was taken at the Hirshhorn, we all loved both their current exhibits (with kids) - Days of Endless Time (esp. the fantastic shadow room) and At the Hub of Things.

Have a great weekend!


RANDOM LINKS:

* 2014's iconic feminist moments.

* I made this recipe for the kids last night, so so good.

* 20 best movies of 2014 from the AV Club.

* 100 best documentaries on Netflix.

* The annual Goop detox. I'm too lazy this month, but maybe in February? (On the same note, Bon Appetit's Food Lover's Cleanse looks really yummy).

* Bone Music: How Banned Western Music in the Soviet Union Was Printed on Repurposed X-Ray Records.

Things to Do - My Baby Girl Turned 8 (and Had Her Ears Pierced).

For the last two years or so, P has wanted her ears pierced (as in "really really really wanted"). But we made her wait until her 8th birthday and now she couldn't be happier ("the best birthday ever", or so I'm told).

If you have a second, click on over to the Stories We Tell to see the whole event unfold.

HAPPY WEDNESDAY EVERYONE!!

Things to Do - Cherish This Day, The Stories We Tell, and Random Links

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

This week for Cherish This Day & The Stories We Tell we're posting costume photos. Since I still don't have pictures of the kids in this year's Halloween assembles, I went through my archives for some old favorites. Doesn't T look so little?

Now click on over to Cherish This Day & The Stories We Tell to see this week's photos - lots of fabulousness today (and, yes, according to Urban dictionary fabulousness is a word; albeit a debatable one).

RANDOM LINKS:

* If you live in the DC area and are looking for something fun to do tonight, this Chinese acrobat performance looks amazing. There will be candy, toys, a photo booth with props, and children are encouraged to attend in costume. Also, the venue is offering half-price tickets for all children up to grade 12 on Halloween night.

* Room 3201 - I love this series of photos.

* These gluten-free, vegan donuts look yummy (really).

* "Adelaide, born in Brazil in 1921, bore sixteen children, fourteen of whom lived into adulthood," Ellyn Ruddick-Sunstein explained on Feature Shoot. "After the bankruptcy of her husband’s grocery business, she supported her children by selling cakes. In her old age, it has become difficult to walk, and she no longer practices yoga. Her days are spent sewing and reading. She enjoys crossword puzzles."

* Each one just gets better and better.

Things to Do - The Stories We Tell & Random Links

I bought the kids No Stress Chess last week and T wants to play it all the time.

Have you ever tried to play chess against a kindergartner (even this simplified version)? It is basically like playing against yourself and trying to decide whether nice mommy ("oh, you captured my king? How brilliant of you. I never saw that coming.") or mean mommy should win ("Do you even know what strategy is? Of course I beat you."). The whole experience is exhausting. Though now T keeps asking friends over to "play" chess with him. This seemed like even more work, but by "play" chess he means consolidate a ton of stuffed animals in a corner to discuss how best to fight the king.

Happy Friday! Click on over to The Stories We Tell to see how everyone else photographed "toys" this month.

RANDOM LINKS:

* All of these fancy oatmeal recipes look delicious.

* 25 of the Most Unusual and Dangerous Journeys to School in the World.

* Let's Make Fun of Anthropologie Furniture. YES!! (thanks for the link, Melissa!)

* The Best Movies of 2014 So Far.

* I loved this post - from the Peggy Olsen montage to the unrealistic stock photos. Thank you, Cup of Jo!

* This 7 day cleanse actually looks sort of yummy.

* 18 Green Artists. Fantastic. Especially the oldest living things in the world.

* A list of common misconceptions. Prepare to have your world rocked.

* DIY Fruit Rind Air Fresheners. These look easy and cute.

* Lena makes me laugh.

* For photographers, this app looks cool (has anyone tried it yet?). And these DIY filters look fun to try as well.

Places to Go - Hiking/Playing at Potomac Overlook National Park (Arlington, VA) (plus Cherish This Day, The Stories We Tell, and Random Links)

Sorry for the incredibly long post title, it is the last Friday before school starts, so I crammed a lot in.

Anyways, last week, I took the kids hiking at Potomac Overlook (previously reviewed here). We actually made it all the way to the overlook (it's real! it's real!), but the kids had the most fun playing in the water and rock hunting. Sometimes I forget how the simplest pleasures really are the best - a warm (though not hot) day, wet feet, rocks that glisten in the stream, following a path with no clear understanding of where it leads. And as much as I love/like/accept Great Wolf Lodge, the wolf ears really needed some time to roam free in the wild . . .

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE!! Don't forget to click through to Cherish This Day & The Stories We Tell for some wonderful summertime inspiration.

RANDOM LINKS:

* A Coloring Book for Adults. Hysterical.

* I want to read this.

* Women listening to men in western art history. FUNNY. (thank you Cup of Jo for the link)!

* A night at the museum - how fun does this sound?

* Global parenting habits that haven't caught on in the US.

* Nicely stated.

* Cabin Porn - I cannot stop browsing (link courtesy of Mother).

Things to Do - Soccer After Dinner (and a new project)

I've written a fair amount on this blog about Colie James' excellent online photography workshop - Telling Stories With Lifestyle Photography. After the class ended, Colie created a blog for all the alumni to document our own stories, click on over here to check it out and to see more photos of the kids playing soccer with Dan after dinner.

HAPPY WEDNESDAY EVERYONE!