northern life
I didn’t realize the depth of my unmet need for outdoor adventure until I hastily concocted a winter tent camping trip over lunch one day with a co-worker. While I love exploring with my family, I read Pacific Crest Trail and Appalachian Trail thru-hiking memoirs all winter, and I am consumed by a longing to hike to […]
When Beatrice was little, people said to us all of the time, “She’ll sleep well tonight!” And we always laughed, but inside we thought, “Nope, she’s going to sleep the same as she does every night, because she’s always this active.” Since then I love to ask other parents what comment they hear most […]
Like we often do, because great minds think alike, Jen and I decided independently to get standing desks this year. If you’ve read any of the research, they are calling sitting the new smoking, and saying that even if you exercise regularly you cannot overcome the adverse affects of sitting at your work all day. I’ve […]
Forget filling your car with hand warmers and signal flares, true winter survival is about keeping your spirits up and your eyes on the prize (i.e. spring). Here’s a foolproof recipe to help you survive winter a.k.a. enjoy our fourth season. First, get comfortable. Head to your favorite pharmacy/co-op/Amazon and fill your cart with Vitamin D, a […]
This photo is sweet, peaceful, and beautiful. It is my favorite photo of my son Owen while in the NICU, because he looks like a baby, not a baby bird. He isn’t in pain, or hungry, or lonely. He’s sleeping, like a newborn should. But the photo is misleading, too. You can’t tell how small he […]
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I think I’ve said a few times here that I love creating traditions for my family and my kids. The Christmas season is like the candy store of kid traditions, the ultimate celebration of expectation and surprise. Kids need order and stability in their lives, which is probably why they love traditions so much. My younger son, especially, […]
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Here’s when I feel best: When I’m home with my sons and they are happy to see the first snow, jumping up and down at the window, putting on their coats and boots over their pjs. When they come in cold and rosy, warming up their bellies with hot chocolate and pumpkin muffins. When I […]
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Jen’s makeup routine was in a rut before becoming a stay-at-home-mom, and that status change hardly improved matters. Breanne needs to look like the professional she is and feel great in five minutes flat, since her toddler and soon-to-be newborn don’t exactly leave a lot of time for fussy routines. So when we were invited […]
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It took me little longer to wrap up our Polarn O. Pyret review than I thought, but here’s the scoop on the Cozy Bunting Bag. What I like best about this piece is how soft it is (it’s that high quality, super soft fleece), how easy it is to put on (three snaps up the front), […]
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I like holidays and I’m always ready to dive in and make them fun for kids and thus, very involved for me. But Halloween was never my favorite. I thought Halloween decorations were either gross or silly and could not imagine why I’d spend any time or money on them. And then I had a […]
{Continue reading…}When I was preparing for our first baby, I froze a couple of meals, stocked up the pantry, and crossed that item off the list. There — I was ready, right? I had no idea what I was in for — the meals prepared and eaten one-handed, the desire for the fastest, easiest meal possible, […]
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Cloth diapers for a newborn are one thing, but what about using cloth diapers for toddlers? Are we still happy or is it starting to stink? Here’s a follow-up to my original how-to post on cloth diapers. Back when cloth diapers were all there were – “Baby Show” c. 1938. How are the diapers holding […]
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