These are some of the things that I have recently come to love.
Avocados-- Seriously, how have I just become obsessed? An avocado makes anything taste amazing, they have replaced mayonnaise and salad dressing in my diet and become a daily staple. A few tricks I've picked up to feed my obsession; they stop ripening when you put them in the fridge, once you cut it in half, it won't brown if you leave the core in and they are part of the "clean fifteen" so it's not necessary to buy organic.
The Library-- It's been a long time since I've had a library card and I was a little rusty on using the system. Or maybe it's that the system has drastically changed in the last 15 years. Either way, now that I've figured it out, we've been going weekly. I find the books I want to read on amazon, search for them through the library website, put a hold on them and they are right there with my name on them when I'm ready to pick up. How great is that? I have pretty much every book we own memorized and reading them over and over kind of makes me want to gouge out my eyeballs. So it's perfect having some new material. Plus, there a list of books I've been wanting to read, so our new found proficiency with the library system has inspired me to get off of social media and read more! Thank you, Seattle Public Library!
iRoomba-- When Wes was born I was prepared to let my housework standards slide a little. I knew there was no way to vacuum every day, as I find necessary, while caring for two tiny humans. I was on Facebook while breastfeeding in the middle of the night and saw a friends post about the iRoomba vacuum cleaner. I thought they were worthless but her claim that they actually work was enough to convince me. From facebook to amazon, purchase complete at 4 am. Bam. And let me tell you, this little gadget has been a lifesaver. The boys and I leave in the morning and the carpets aren't coated in dog hair when we get home. Can I get an amen?! I don't vacuum by hand, really ever. Roomba works daily and the housekeepers come every two weeks. Therefore, I haven't had to relax my standards. I can be a good mom and have a clean house. Hallelujah. I love you, iRoomba.
Acure Organics-- There are my new go to face products. When Wes was about a month old my sister-in-law, Kelsi, sent me a package. It was one of the nicest gifts I've gotten in a long time, totally unexpected and really kind. Included were a few of her favorite beauty products with a little note saying she thought I could use a few things for myself during this season of life. I loved the Acure exfoliating wash she sent and proceeded to purchase their entire line of products. They are affordable, effective and organic. Love!
Pimp Your Mat Pilates-- Finding a way to exercise was another huge challenge in the transition from one to two kids. There is less time for everything. I was still walking a lot but since I started Pilates 6 years ago, my body doesn't feel right without it. A friend has been telling me about a subscription based Pilates website for years and I finally decided to check it out. Best. Thing. Ever. I love the instructor, who posts a new 30 minute work out every three days. She is classically trained and the workouts are awesome. Finding 30 minutes three times a week is totally doable. As soon as I worked Pilates back into my routine my back stopped hurting and I started to feel human again.
Lemons-- Along with avocado, I have started consuming lemons every day. In the morning I have a cup of hot lemon water in lieu of coffee. It's a great detox for the body and wonderful for the digestive system. It took a little getting used to but now it's as much of a ritual as coffee once was.
Stitch Fix-- What a brillant idea! Someone shops for you and sends you clothes. If you like them you buy them, if you don't you send them back. It's like Christmas morning every time a new box comes. Around March I had a little meltdown over having nothing to wear. I was pregnant last spring, so I didn't have anything from last year, I was too fat for most of my regular clothes and passed the grace period of continuing to wear maternity clothes. The problem is, there is no time to shop. If I have the boys with me, which I pretty much always do, Wes is in the ergo and Owen is running around. Not the easiest way to try things on at the Gap. I had heard of Stitch Fix before and honestly thought it sounded kind of stupid. But when a friend suggested it in response to my problem, I couldn't wait to try it. And I love it! So far I've received three boxes with five items each and I've only kept two things but it's been enough to get me though. My next box comes this week and I have a good feeling about it. How did people survive without the internet?
