Hoop Isolation Learn Along: Take One

mmK so I have a great fear of video cameras that I'm trying to get over. It's so terrible that it didn't occur to me that I should take videos of Tristan for his first few weeks - like, I just erased their existence from my brain. But my love of hooping is stronger than my fear of videos and I really, really, really hope to get more moms into hooping (and indie polishes).

I'd been hooping for many years but I only knew the tricks I taught myself and I'm a lone-hooper - it also wasn't as popular at festivals and parties as it is now (like, not at all really) so there weren't all these great tutorials to get me to the next level.

Plus I like to hoop to clear my head. It's my peaceful time. Sometimes I'll listen to music, but mostly just silence and thoughts. It's so relaxing - and it's great exercise. So anyway, these tricks are possible to do indoors if I use Tristan's hoop (smaller and lighter). There is no excuse to skip practicing; since I need a focal point I can do it while watching Tristan play or an episode of Buffy.

Tristan is highly amused and can't wait to try. I swirl it around him and he laughs in delight. Let's face it, if you have kids, you're going to have hoops at some point! Join me in the Mama Hooper Revolution!

Here is the isolating trick I've been working on. I do it every day with both hands and will continue until I think it's perfect. I failed to learn to hoop in both directions so when I go outside I force myself to go clockwise even though I look super ridiculous. So first tip: always learn everything both ways! This was taken last Friday so I'll make sure to do another and keep tabs on week to week progress.

I know, I know, it's out of this world dorky - but it's so fun, I don't care! The point of this trick is to make it look like the hoop is hovering in the same spot - isolated. It takes a lot of strength and endurance which I'm building slowly. ...and for the record I am right handed.

When you go online you can find so many magical hoop videos that it looks intimidating. I want to bring you along on my adventure from awkward to [hopefully] awesome because anyone can do this!

My hoops are handmade by TetonHoops - each unique and covered in fabric instead of tape.

The Urban Flowerpot Blog Journal

...so I can journal about journaling about journaling!

I keep track of life via two wipey boards - one on the fridge (for appointments and such) and the other is a picture frame holding a watercolor Tristan and I did together (for my blog). However, in the middle of an insurance claim dispute I realized there is still a place in this world for paper. I can't look back; I've wiped it all away. So I invested in a desk calendar and dolled up one of my notebooks.

I just can't get into digital calendars. I don't know if I'll ever get there. I still like having pretty colored pens, stickers, and the pictures (I get the Tokidoki desk calendar each year - late).

Now for my blog-journal I decoupaged stickers onto a note book and used glitter skull stickers in the corners. I LOVE IT. I can evolve on past ideas, doodle, brainstorm and carry my cute metal pencil case around with me like a dork.

Blogging a lot to keep track of: craft ideas I want to try, thoughts to explore, experiments, topics - and not just for this one - I run the Facebook page for Preemie Resources, too. I need to keep my personalities under separate tabs to keep myself straight...hahh, just kidding! Not about the tabs, but about the multiple personalities. 

This is one of the little things that helps me conquer writer's block...
...what are your tricks?

Inside the World of Indie Nail Polish

...where did you get that polish? It's so unique!

Where does nail polish come from? The drugstore? Sephora? Ulta, Sally, some salon? WRONG! OK, not completely (OK, not at all, you can get polishes at all those places) and until very recently that's all I knew. But you cannot get INDIE POLISHES there! Nobody told me there were magical little elves making unique polishes and pedaling them online at Etsy and BigCartel shops.

My obsession all began with a hashtag: #indiepolish

Then my BFF Lirpa and I had to have some of our own.

We stalked a few pages on Instagram, decided Wicked Polish was to be Our First, and here's how it all went down................................

Indie Polish: Wicked Polish (screen shots of her IG account and my shopping experience)

From left to right here is a photo collage of how buying indie nail polish works.

• BANG! Instagram announcement! This is known as a RESTOCK!
• Next sit by your computer at the time listed hitting refresh like it's a rock concert (mind your time zones!)
• THERE THEY ARE! add them to your cart as fast as you can! Do not dawdle. Know what you want days before this moment and have a back-up plan if you can't get your first choice. CHECK OUT! Pay, get receipt, done. Now you can breathe again.
• Relax and watch your polish being made via Instagram updates.
• This was the hardest part: WAITING. It was killer. I thought they'd never come...but when they did they were packaged well and she included candy! For the record she whipped up that polish the next day and sent it out STAT. It was fast, but it was like waiting for Christmas, you know? Elves, Christmas, polishes...
• Stabbed By a Unicorn (Lirpa's) and Fairy Blood Splatter (mine) together...they were our first choices.  ...and we were lucky. They sold out in minutes. Exploded Pixie dust lasted a few minutes longer.
• NAIL DATE! This is when Lirpa and I have girl time and chatter while Tristan naps. We both used a neon yellow as our base color. Twinsies. It's that brand called Spoiled which is actually Wet n Wild.
• Lirpa went out later and discovered hers is UV/blacklight sensitive! Fun! There was a time in my life where that would have been valuable information.

There is no lacking in creativity out there. I'm blown away by these nail polish elves. There are ones that glow in the dark, under UV, are body-heat/thermal sensitive, big glitter, little glitter, no glitter, have jelly consistencies, matte, opaque, and I saw one seller make a custom blend for a bride and her bridesmaids! I really love it all and think these will eventually become more readily available. Mainstream colors are fun and easy (and all I have other than my one bottle of Wicked Polish) but for the same price you can support a starving nail artist elf who makes polishes in her home with magic and includes candy.

Can't shake a stick at that now can you?

You just have to know where to look. I highly suggest following all_about_indies on Instagram because she posts every sale she finds (and don't we all love special deals?). But you can explore Etsy and BigCartel to your heart's content. It's very exciting and I hope that if you didn't know about indie polishes before that you will love them now, too.

This wonderful blogger even put together an alphabetical LIST for people like us! 

It's the little things in life sometimes.

If you aren't already following me on Instagram I can be found here celebrating little things...

Update and disclaimer: I was not solicited or compensated for this review in any way. I did, however, get a SHOUT OUT after my polish elf read it. Has Revlon ever done that for you? Doubt it! Try indies. They're good peeps. ...and if you DO want me to review your indie polish feel free to contact me at suburbancollision at gmail.com

It warms my heart when my dorky nonsense can brighten another's day!

Mother's Day 3.0 - Zappin' it to Yah!

POW: Third Mother's Day!

My boys gave me a fantastic day - low key and full of snugs. I got to sleep in and then when I opened my eyes they were both there handing me a protein shake in a wine glass; straw included. It was so cute! I got Tristan dressed in my favorite outfit (Depeche Mode shirt - still fits!) and then got dolled up in my new King Fog shirt (it's amazing) and put my King Skull ring on from last Mother's day. Along with my Origami Owl necklace I was decked in mama-bling. Brandon sported a white tee and jeans; classic handsomeness. 

I knew what Tristan wanted to do. I mean, he left his big wheels by my bed the night before and while I was sleeping in he'd moved it in front of the door to the apartment. Hint, hint, right? Last night a storm blew through town and lowered the humidity so it was pretty perfect. Bright sun, puffy clouds, cool but not cold. If there was a soundtrack it would have been by The Orb...remember Little Puffy Clouds? Love it.

Family photo antics.

Here's the rest in bullet points of awesomeness:

• pink shiny card addressed to BABE
• time to play Limbo
• naptime for all!
• crafted zombies with Buffy on in the background
• hooped even though it was windy
• special Thai food delivery dinner
• I read
• ice cream
• now I'm going to watch Doctor Who and give myself a pedicure 

...and because I had a preemie this was my third mother's day. My first was in NICU and second was moonpie FUN!.

Big Wheel Super Hero!

Don't Call Me a Short Order Cook...

I made Mac & Cheese Deluxe (brand specific) for MONTHS.
Then, when I took him to see Santa there was a giant noodle there to mock me.

or a caterer. I am a mom to a picky eater - and chances increase that you'll have one too, the more you scoff at the idea. Motherhood has been teaching me some big lessons such as never say never (NEVER!) and if you've judged a mom before having kids it's likely you'll find yourself in the same situation tenfold.

Go ahead. Try it. I dare you.

I didn't believe picky eaters existed. I also thought not liking the crusts on bread was a learned behavior.

I listened to all the hardcore breastfeeders and baby-led-weaners say that baby's palate would be mature and used to so many flavors that they wouldn't be picky eaters.

WRONG AGAIN.

With toddlers the topic of food comes up everywhere. Newsletters, message boards, playgrounds, it's the new STTN (sleep through the night). And it has brought me to tears of frustration more than once.

I see stars when other moms make comments like well, I refuse to be a short order cook.

???!??!!

If you think that's what I am because there are only five things at on any given week that my child will actually consume................well, maybe that makes me one but cut the condescending tone. You'd be banging your head against the wall, too, if you were in my shoes. However, I'm not flipping burgers or searing up something special on the side (don't I wish!!!) but rather handing him something on that week's OK-to-eat list.

Picky eaters and food aversions are a real thing - and a real problem for many parents. It's stressful. Oh, it is so stressful. He used to eat whatever we put in front of him when we did BLW. He is still breastfed so he's still exposed to whatever I eat to some degree. He isn't just eating a little and shoving his veggies aside. I found petrified string cheese the other day when I was cleaning...a full stick! I'd remembered being excited that he'd eaten it because his appetite while sick had decreased even more. But no...

What's a mom to do? We can't shove the food into their bellies. I offer him whatever I am having and so does my husband, and at dinner he joins us. But he will also have something available that he will eat. While I can't force him to eat I'll run a finger of flavor over his lips. He'll shake his head and gag usually. What has worked (even the tiniest bit) is just leaving him alone.

He sometimes sneaks his tastes in when we aren't looking. Sometimes even a whole bite! It's a very big deal.

I started writing about his picky eating one year ago last week in my journal. One YEAR. I know it won't last forever (he finally got the hang of STTN at 22 months!) but it's been a very.long.time.

If you meet a mom of a picky eater it's better to lend a shoulder rather than make comments about how she is probably catering to the problem. Our kids all have quirks. I'll listen to your woes of battling toddler constipation or aggressive behavior without a peep. Promise, cross my heart.

This week in picky eating Tristan will eat

• wheat bread
• peanut butter & honey sandwiches
• string cheese (Giant brand only)
• turkey sausage
• few bites of oranges or strawberries
• craisins, maybe
• bubbles

One confession, though:

He really loves pizza.

...but we save this trick for special occasions like he-was-sick-for-a-week-and-didn't-eat.

Under the Magnolia Tree

We love to hang out under the magnolia tree - especially when it's in bloom, and if you've ever known a magnolia tree you'll know that it doesn't last long. Last year it bloomed on a Sunday in March so I guess it's a little late this year. Or it was early last year. We'll see what happens in '14.

This weekend Brandon had finals, but we still make sure to get out and do something as a family.  It's so important, especially with Brandon working double full time.

Anyway, I thought it would be fun to do a little then & now. 11 months apart if you want to be super specific.

Papa & son under the magnolia tree.

Me & him under the magnolia tree.

...is there a special place you like to go with your family?

Exclusive: Tour My First Apartment

Memory Lane: the evolution of my decor-style.

Oh, that feeling when you finally have your own apartment! Although when you live in a major city you definitely still have a roommate and chances are you had to find that person on the internet. Yikes. I got this place (which was right in the heart of Central Sq, Cambridge) in '97 though a friend of a friend.

When these photos were taken I'd finally made the switch to the larger bedroom. My roommate worked at Million Year Picnic; comic nerd. That was a good enough reference.

I was pretty settled at this point - I mean, I'd even painted the lighting fixtures. I didn't budge for years; roommates came and went. The decor was mostly curb-finds or things left at this amazing little second hand shop called Justin Thyme - they didn't accept drop offs; they were picky. So the owners helped me furnish for free when they'd find things at their doorstep. I'd just refinish it. I was really ambitious back then and poured my heart and soul into decorating. I still do.

The curtains, fabrics and almost everything was picked off the floor at Dollar a Pound/The Garment District back when it was a hot mess. But so much fun! I loved that place then. I don't think people had heard of Ikea yet. Getting a tapestry from Urban Outfitters was The Thing To Do.

Not pictured: cats on the mantle from The Gargoyle Store on Newbury St. Who remembers that haunting shop? Hope. The store. I gathered little treasures from there, too. Nag Champa burned nonstop.

The ficus tree lived with me for a long time and was the beginning of my first container garden. Things thrived here! I'd picked each light cover out from a pile at that artsy shop on Mass Ave by Porter Sq called Joie de Vive. There was a flamingo, cactus, trailer, butterfly, and all sorts of random. No two alike.

I made my own fairy wings and had Powerpuff Girl decals on my window...and a tassel garland (Garment District). It all makes me smile. I'm glad I took pictures of my apartments over the years...so yeah, more to come eventually!