The kind of mom who...

This post is sponsored by Basic Invite: makers of stationary, announcements, and flat-out adorable kids birthday invitations. 

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 Me, pre-kids: 

"Someday, I'm going to be the kind of mom who..."

...sews matching taffeta Christmas gowns for my daughters."
...makes wholesome, adorable lunches full of healthy options and those cute little heart-shaped toothpicks."
...teaches my kids Spanish, and guitar, and maybe even Spanish guitar."

*cut to: me, six years and three babies later...*

"Someday I'm going to be the kind of mom who...

...wears matching clean socks."
...sets out the right number of forks for each meal. (how many kids do we have again?!)"
...doesn't hide the 'good ice cream' under the frozen broccoli in attempt to avoid having to share."

Funny how things change, huh?

I used to think I was going to be all kinds of a mom...An organized mom, a patient mom, a crafty mom (and not in the devious sense), a mom who found her zen, a mom who doesn't yell things like "I'm not going to say it again, DON'T LICK ALEXA" (the Amazon assistant, not a real human. Though I'm not sure which is worse...)

Yeah, I had all kinds of lofty parenthood predictions for myself. Some were pure crazy (I've seen movies that lasted longer than my foray into cloth-diapering), most were well-intentioned (I did manage to sew matching holiday outfits...but may have cancelled out the adorable-ness when I invoked the fear of God to make the kids actually wear them), and a few of them ended up being not too far off.

On my success list? 

• I always thought I'd be the type of mother who saved (too many) of my kids special mementos and masterpieces. One glance around my basement will tell you that one came true. (I didn't exactly picture myself downing in the hoards of my own sentimentality, but that is slowly becoming a very likely possibility. But what a way to go!) 

• I dreamed I would be the kind of mother who adored reading books, and doing crafts, and playing board games with my kids. Yep, yep, yep, those are some of my favorite activities. (I mean, if we're being totally honest, those things rank below eating nachos and watching reality TV, but we're talking about parenting activities here...)

• And I knew I'd be the kind of mother who just loses all reason when it comes to my children's birthday celebrations. Uhhh...Accurate. (Exhibit A: #bowdenbdays)

It's- DUH- impossible to truly know what type of parent (or spouse, or boss...or anything) you're going to be until you ARE it, but that doesn't seem to stop us from imagining anyway, does it? Thankfully, I didn't make too many grandiose/embarrassingly naive statements in my younger days that I'm regretting now. I didn't have much of a clue on life as a mom, but I think I was at least wise enough to know that making a bunch of "I'll never..." proclamations was a bad idea. (it's not that I didn't think them...I just-mercifully-didn't always say them). 

But while I'm thankful I don't have an endless laundry list of expectations for myself to point back to (and lament on), I don't think having some lofty dreams of who we want to be is a bad thing. It's helpful to orient around a goal, and keep focused on living with intention. It doesn't all have to be huge stuff, or perfect stuff, it just has to be the stuff that matters to me.

Examples?

I still want to be the kind of mom who diligently documents all my kids milestones. So even though things may have gotten a little hazy around month #2 of kid #2, I'm slogging through old medical forms and consulting the growth curve details to fill in the gaps. My cutesy wooden growth chart is going to have to be carved retroactively, but it turns out I'm the kind of mom who truly believes in (/embodies) the spirit of "better late than never".

And I'm an awesome texer, emailer, DM'er, and Voxer, but really struggle with sending mail of the old-fashioned variety. I manage to send family postcards most Christmases, but thank you notes are a rarity (what's the word for a never-ity?) and party invites tend to be sent between GIF jokes on a group-thread. Classy. But I do love the formality of a real, printed missive and really want to be the kind of person who makes it a priority to connect with loved ones in non-virtual ways from time to time.
  

Enter: Basic Invite.
If "being the kind of person who sends more snail-mail" is on your list too, then you need to know about Basic Invite. They have it all: photo holiday cards, baby announcements, cute birthday invitations and about a zillion other offerings in between.

A little bit about what makes Basic Invite, basically awesome:

Nearly unlimited colors: For each element on your card, there are over 180 color options to select from fensuring you get everything exactly how you want it. And as the kind of person who stood in the ribbon aisle for nearly an hour debating the merits of “lemongrass” vs. “lime” for our wedding invitations, I can tell you this is PRETTY important).

Custom samples: You can order a printed sample of the invitation before placing your final order, so you can check the print and paper quality before you commit. Will I ever be the kind of person who has my act together in advance enough to take advantage of this route? Of course not...but that doesn't stop me from wanting to have the option anyway.

Address Capturing and Printing: Get this...they will address cards for you. Praise hands! Because we are all the kind of people who love getting mail, but hate the effort of actually sending it. No excuses when someone else does the hard part for you!

Pretty much, Basic Invite makes it easy to be the kind of party-throwing, thank you-sending, hob-knobbing, Holiday-rocking, person you always dreamed you would be.

And because we all want to be the kind of person who shops smart….here’s the deal hook up:

Right now Basic Invite is offering 15% off with coupon code: 15FF51. So head on over there, browse their selection of party invitations online and start making good on some of those "someday" promises. 

So if you need me, I'll be staying up too late:
...writing punny, sticker-laden lunchbox notes  
...buying alllllll the Halloween themed art supplies for surprise "crafternoons"
...printing some honest-to-goodness cards and actually sending them (!) to people I love

Because I'll apparently never be the kind of mom who manages to go to bed at a reasonable hour but I am the kind of mom who believes in making ordinary things as special as possible.
 

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What about you? What kind of mom did you think you would be? What are the someday wishes you're still holding out hope you'll become?

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The Year of the Bird

Today is my birthday. Which of course, means I'm pondering the meaning of life, and other gigantic questions like when the heck did I get so OLD? And uncool?

At this stage of my life, I don't even pretend to be cool. I (still) barely how to use Snapchat, I won't rock highwaisted pants with a crop top, and...well, I don't really even know about enough cool things to make a compelling list of the things I don't do. But- I do occasionally hear slang from the whippersnappers (aka: my teenage nieces, and a few adorably young-professional friends) and have picked up a couple things here and there. 

So, have you heard of a Jordan Year? 

I'll save you the trip to Urban Dictionary and explain: 
The 23rd and best year of your life. Named in reference to Michael Jordan, superhero basketball player, whose jersey number is 23.

Well...clearly that ship has sailed for me. Womp, womp. Guess it's all downhill from here. Actually...guess it was all downhill from 10 years ago? Even wompier womp. It's a shame no one told me that I peaked (or maybe, was supposed to have peaked). If I had known at the time that I was having a Jordan Year...I could have, I don't know, made it a Jordan Year. Just dominating life all over the place, making a name for myself, solidifying a legacy.

(for what it's worth, 23 actually wasn't bad...during my Jordan Year, I completed my thesis in fashion design, graduated summa cum laude, got several job offers, accepted a position in a brand new field, moved to a new city, upgraded to a two bedroom apartment, made some new best friends, celebrated my second wedding anniversary, won my Fantasy Football League, and started this blog. So, yeah, as the kids say: NBD.) 

So maybe I had a Jordan Year after all, without knowing it? But rather than basking in former glory (fear not- there is sooooo much sarcasm to be read there), or wallowing in dreams never realized, it got me thinking about my birthday number this year: 33.

And immediately I thought of an iconic basketball player who donned that number: Number 33, Larry Bird.

As a kid growing up in the 80's/90's I watched a good bit of NBA (thanks, Daddy!), and even played my fair share of Jordan vs. Bird on my SEGA, so Bird is a pretty familiar figure for me. And while he may not get quite the attention given to Air Jordan, he's still a legacy in his own right. (I mean...he did guest star in Space Jam!)

So if my Jordan year has come and gone, taking with it the opportunity to be the best ever, what is it 33 going to be about? Well...maybe it can be my Bird Year.

Because here's the deal...there might be some debate around who's the best to ever play the game, but there is no disputing that Larry Bird was incredible (and could rock short-shorts and tall-socks like nobody's business). But here's the thing I didn't know: Bird is the only man to be named an MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year in the NBA.

 That's a pretty sweet trifecta...

And that got me encouraged. Because let's be real. I'm no Michael Jordan. I mean...in so, so, so many obvious ways...but really, I'm not the absolute best at much. Or...anything. Don't get me wrong; I'm good at a lot of things. I'm even great at some things. But I'm not the tip-top, mic-drop BEST. EVER.

So a Jordan Year, while a fun idea, seems preeeeeetty much impossible.
But a Bird Year? Being really, really great, at a whole bunch of things? Being individually awesome, but also known for leading others? Being so solid in so many ways that the sum is even bigger than its parts? That feels like something worth chasing.

I'm not going to be the best mom this year. (Or ever. Even if that was a real thing). And I'm not going to be the best client service associate (and if I was, I'd want a snappier title for my trophy). Or wife. Or friend. Or.....you get it. Nothing. But I can be a pretty dang good one of each. Like, the absolute best I can be at each of them. And then when it all adds up, I could be the only person to be named the top of my game in that specific combo of things...

I could be the only person to ever earn the title of Piper's Best Story Reader, Blondest Worship Singer at North Church, and Funniest Bachelor Commentator on Our Couch.

Or maybe: Miller's Favorite Snuggler, Most Committed to Finishing a Quilt in Under Three Years, and Best Grapefruit Cocktail Mixologist in the 'Burbs.

Ok...maybe my categories need some work. And yes, I realize that Bird didn't need silly qualifiers with all of his titles. He was actually certifiably wonderful at quite a few things. But you know what? So am I. And I've got all year to keep dreaming, keep doing, keep being awesome things.

Yep. I'm pretty sure 33...my Bird Year...is gonna be an All-Star year.

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Rings Over Rio

One month ago, my littlest baby turned one...and a few days after that...we partied. Big time.

I love a party (duh), and I love my babies (DUH)...so you know I can't resist throwing a party for my baby! But honestly...for a while I couldn't figure out the theme, and couldn't quite muster the energy (or time) to get the planning going. I even thought maybe we'd just skip it this time (he'd never know, and never care, right?!) But I would know, and I would care, so I shook off my lameness and dove into making things happen. 

Soon, an idea started to gel, and my vision started to take shape- I decided to go with Brazilian Olympics theme. Pretty standard on the baby party circuit, right? Ok, even I wasn't quite sure what that theme meant...but I figured this was a once in a lifetime opportunity (his birthday will be at least around the same time as the Olympics every four years...but the Games are not likely returning to South America any time soon...) so I might as well go for it, no matter how weird it sounded. I pictured 80% South American Carnival type fest, with a layer of patriotic sportiness thrown in. I was skeptical I could bring my half-baked vision to life, but I pinned my heart out, went on a party supply shopping spree (with my co-planner/enabler/mom) and it started to take shape. Once the garlands, backdrops and tiny ducks started rolling in, I started to get pretty pumped. Then I found basically the worlds most perfect e-card invite...and we were in business.

The only problem was the sliiiiiiight detail that my knowledge of Brazil was...a little lacking. 

Fortunately, my cousins are half-Brazilian, so I texted one of them to help me out: 

Sounds good to me! 

I wanted to keep things as simple as possible (ok... mostly I wanted things to be as cute as possible, as festive as possible, and as fun as possible, but after that, simple was definitely on the list) so I decided we'd keep the party short, not coordinate any organized games (babies don't really do organized anything) and keep the menu easy to manage. I prepped as much as I could in advance, and then took the Friday off work so I could bake and decorate without kids running around un-doing all my doing.

And somehow, just like always, everything worked out. I spent entirely too much time and money on the whole thing, but how often does your baby turn one?! That's what I thought. All costs- emotional and physical- are justified. But I never stress-cried, and only got relatively sassy with Dustin (vs. all out party-zilla...a role I may have played in the past). I bit off more than I could chew, as per usual, but with my mom's amazing talent for all things party (and endless patience to help me with grunt work), and increasingly lower expectations for myself (and a wee bit of perspective that this is a party for a one year old after all...) it all turned out beautiful- AND enjoyable. 

Click through for full details- and basically a flipbook of pictures. 

For the food we did a nacho bar (I know...so Brazilian), Olympic fruit rings, and red white and blue chips. I underestimated how much people would eat (it was 3:30-5...I figured- how hungry could people be?) so we probably could have doubled up on the amount we served, but no one complained/starved. Plus I think snacks like that might be something that no amount ever seems like enough (does anyone know when to stop eating nachos? Teach me your ways.) so it really was fine in the end.

I made the pineapple vases (Instructions: slice off the top and carve out the inside, being careful not to slice your hand off/mash the fruit beyond repair. Stick a plastic cup inside to hold the water), and my mom arranged all the flowers. I was pretty much obsessed, and kept even the coke bottles up for at least a week. (note: pineapple vases are not meant to be kept longer than about 24 hours. Do as I say, not as I do, unless you want sticky counters and a fruit fly invasion).

My plan for the party was pretty much...invite people over...send them outside. Which was flawless. Except for the forecast, which called for rain almost exclusively during the party hours. So I balanced some optimism with some realism, and set things up outside, but only used decor that could survive getting wet. Lo and behold, it did rain...hard...for about a half hour right in the middle of the party. But there was still plenty of sun to kick things off, and it cleared up in time to do smash cake on the deck, so I consider it a win. 

I didn't plan any games (like I said...not really one year olds' strong suit) but the maraca making station (Easter eggs, rice, spoons and washi tape) was a big hit, and the favors were in high demand. (you would have thought they were actual gold medals with the way the kids were coveting them). Other than that we just set up the bounce house, threw out a few toys, and let the kids go to town. 

So we played and ate, and ran inside to escape the rain, and played and ate some more, and then headed back outside for the Closing Ceremonies: The Cake Smash. 

Now, I have a bit of a dicey history with cake making, but I'm nothing if not dedicated, so I was committed to making a (simple) Olympic cake for the occasion. And I'll spare you the day long process and just brag about the end product(s):

I know they're not exactly Food Network worthy...but I was pretty pumped about them...and the guest of honor pretty much couldn't contain himself.

 And once it was time, this guy delivered pretty much everything you could want in a cake smash session. He did the skeptical-faced song-tolerating, with some icing tastes mixed in:

 He pawed at it:

And eventually just went for it:

He had quite the audience of adoring fan-girls, and he hammed it up big time. I was worried he might get a little overwhelmed by it all, but he ate it up (the attention, figuratively, and the cake, literally).

By the end, he hand a mound of frosting and crumbs on his tray...on his face...in his hair...And he was loving every minute of it (Until we had to hose off the deck...and him). 

Don't worry, eventually other people got cake too (not all off of the birthday boy's fingers...though I wasn't complaining!) ...and the bash wrapped up with far too many presents, and a few more photo-ops. 

It was a wild day, and our favorite little boy soaked up all of the love and attention- and sugar- we could possibly heap on him. I know he'll never remember a bit of it, and even if he did, he would likely never care about the majority of the details. But I hope somewhere in his heart, he eventually sees that yes, his mom is a very specific breed of crazy when it comes to this party planning stuff..but mostly I'm crazy for him. I'd buy all the striped straws, blow up all the balloons, nearly-ruin all the cakes, and theme alllllllll the things to show him how much he's worth. He's gold medal status...on this day, and every other.  

Happy, happy first Birthday, Miller bug.

Or should I say: Parabéns!

Sources:

Miller's outfit: Etsy

Party decor: Party City (balloons and clips, backdrop, balloons, cups) Oriental Trading (flower garland, napkins, plates, ducks and punch-ball favors), Hobby Lobby (faux leaves, napkins, plates, straws), Target (medal favors) and JoAnn (parrot napkins, fabric table runner). 

Balloon garland: followed this tutorial

Flag garland: DIY, using this version as a basis

Fin's and Piper's Dresses and my shirt: Kohl's

P.s. Check out Piper'sand Fin's first birthdays too!

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