What I Am Loving

What a blissful start to a new year!  So many good things to enjoy, eat and look forward to!  Here's a few things that I am loving now...

This sugar-that-I-use-as-a-jar-for-homemade-jam bowl.  (Only $4.95 at Crate and Barrel!  No, that's not a typo!) To save room, I made homemade jam and froze it in flat ziplock bags.  When I thaw it, I just pour it into this cute bowl that comes with its own spoon.  Do you know how much I love that?  It reminds me of my grandparents which makes it all the sweeter.

My favorite $5 to spend all year.  My new planner/best friend.

This little antique silver plate that a sweet friend gave me to keep all my pretties together.  How darling is that (the friend and the plate)?

Drooled over this soap pump at Target for the longest time.  Now it's at home with me, thanks to a birthday gift card.

Chunky pearl bracelet I whipped up from a $3.99 strand of beads at Michaels.  Classic.

Pretty plates.  Not just for eating on.

White hydrangeas.  Love how serene they are!

Salted caramel cheesecake.  Possibly my favorite dessert ever. 

Making paper snowflakes with my kids.  Because now they match the back yard.

Snow completely cripples Seattle, so we're enjoying some cozy time at home.  Playing in the snow and them coming inside to warm vanilla steamers.

Why can't January be pretty?  I made a simple bunting by cutting scalloped circles in half and sewing them together on my sewing machine.  It makes it look like a party in here.

May you have the loveliest year yet!

Potty Dance

Okay, friends.  I am now in a little bit of weird place where my son is now 6, which is apparently an age at which people begin to frown on him using the ladies room with me.  But, consider the alternative--him using the men's bathroom by himself.  I'm not a paranoid crazy person, convinced that every bathroom is crawling with pedophiles lurking in every corner just waiting to harm my child while I'm outside.   Okay, maybe just a teensy bit, but, hey, read enough news articles and it will happen to you too.

J came home from work with tales of a co-worker's young daughter being 'bothered' by a strange guy while she was in the bathroom with her daddy while they were at the Cheesecake Factory in Bellevue.  Did you hear me?  At the Cheesecake Factory.  In Bellevue.  With her daddy!!  Because, hello, if that's not safe...

So we were at the store.  Sammy was about to wet his pants, and as I pull the cart with all my kids towards the ladies room, a mom comes out and says "Oh, there's a big line in there."  Sammy looks desperate, so against everything in me, I say "Okay, just use the boys bathroom."  He runs in there, and 3 seconds later a man walks in.  I panic, but think "He's probably a perfectly nice man.  Don't be ridiculous." and then 1 second later I think, "Forget it.  That's my kid in there."  I go to the door and prop it open with my foot. "Hey, Buddy, are you done yet?  No?  Okay, well I'm right here.  Do you need any help?  Are you sure?  I'm right here if you need anything."  I kept the door propped open until he came out.

But, he is getting old enough that it's kind of weird that he's using the girls bathroom. On the other hand, he can use the girls bathroom with me til he's 16 if it means I can keep him safe.  He can't always hold it, I can't put him in a pull up (just in case), so....

What's a mama to do?