Scenes from today 11.13.2011

Today I never changed out of my pajamas and we just lounged all day long.  I did leave the house once to get the paper which gets delivered about 10 feet from our front door.  I absolutely loved the entire day.  I had planned to go do lots of errands, but I didn't do a thing.  It was wonderful.

I think the hustle during the week of getting myself and the girls up, dressed, and fed by 7:45am to get to school by 8 has me totally exhausted by the time the weekend rolls around.  And Sunday just feels like a day of rest.  The girls love coming up with new games around the house, and B and I luxuriate in our free moments to read the Sunday New York Times.

So, here are moments from today (all taken with my iphone):

this was at 6:45 this morning - a nice, quiet time for a bath

my morning - coffee and the paper (and my camera nearby)

a vase I made in pottery class 

(with some fake flower pens I made too!)

never put my boots away last night

afternoon lounging

I hope your day was as relaxing as mine.  It was probably more productive than mine...

Stool Boom! aka Stools for the Kitchen

After over a year of living without stools in our kitchen, we are ready to take the plunge.  The only real requirement is that they have a back so that one of our precious little ladies doesn't lean back and fall on her head.  It would be lovely if we could find something adjustable because isn't it uncomfortable when you are sitting in a chair that feels too high or low for the table (or as in this case, counter) in front of you?

Here are my top choices after a little internet research:

The Modern Windsor Bar and Counter Stool from West Elm

$358 for 2

pros: decent price, nice design

cons: perhaps too simple?

The Spin Barstools from Crate & Barrel

$92.65 on sale (barstool price)

pros: love the price, love the design, adjustable

cons: no back (boo!)

The Delta Barstool from Crate & Barrel

$126.65 (without the cushion)

pros: nice design,  back support/comfortable

cons: I see these everywhere

The Gubi Barstool from Design Within Reach

$695

pros: stunning design!

cons: price

The Kant Stool by Karim Rashid

$260

I bet you won't see these at every house on your block!

pros: love the fun design and colors

cons: no back

The Kong Counter Stool from Design Within Reach

$1,710! (the polished version is over $3,000)

pros: design

cons: price!!!

The Magino Bar Stool by Karim Rashid

$500 (yikes!)

pros: design - I love that it is clear

cons: price, no back

I think one of the stools from Crate & Barrel or the West Elm stool will win out because of price and practicality.  With two girls, ages 5 and 2, I think I have to stick to my guns and buy stools with a back.  I do prefer most of the back-less designs, but my girls' safety comes first!  What a good mom I am...

SAHM Burnout?

For those of you who don't know what SAHM stands for, it is the acronym for "stay at home mom."  And I am not really sure if it is burnout from being a stay at home mom that I am feeling, or if I am just in a strange place in my life at the moment.

I'm living somewhere that I am not sure is for me - far from the hometown that I love (NYC!), far from fantastic friends, far from family, far from SoulCycle (yes, that is included in this list).  The daily grind and monotony of our days has me dreaming of work and what I will do when I do go back to work one day.  (I haven't had a job in five years - since P was born! - which should make finding one an interesting challenge when the girls are both in school all day.)

I never really gave serious thought to my career before we had children, always knowing that having kids was a top priority for me.  It still is a top priority (or I wouldn't still be a stay at home mom!) and I absolutely adore my children, but I wonder about me.  What happened to me as an individual?  What are my passions and interests, apart from my family?  I would not change the last five years, but I really do feel that I lost myself along the way.

It has been quite an interesting year and a half since we moved here to Richmond from New York.  I have realized a lot about myself, including major fears that I have that made me be a passive presence instead of an active participant in my own life.

I want to wake up every morning and feel excited and energized about the day ahead.  I want to feel motivated and inspired.  I want to love my surroundings and feel the joy in all of the wonderful things around me.  I will get there, I am confident of that, but I have a ways to go.

10.28.11 New Camera!

After much research, I decided to stick with Nikon and went with the D5100 (it was an early Christmas/Hannukah gift, so I am feeling incredibly lucky to have been given such a lovely gift!).  I have had it now for only a few hours, but I am having so much fun playing with it.  Here are some scenes from the last few hours:

my first photo with my new camera!

playing with my Lensbaby Composer

I am going to have so much fun this weekend - I hope you do too!

10.27.2011 Scenes

I didn't take enough photos today so the pickings were slim.  And I still have to get in the habit of bringing my real Nikon around with me - the iPhone is just so darn compact and handy!

Hope you had a lovely day.

10.26.2011 Scenes

I am taking a Digital Photography class and our first class met this morning, so while I will continue to post my photographs here, I may start posting some that I took with my real camera!  I love my iPhone, but it's time to get crazy.

Anyway, here are three moments from today:

Nighty night, sweet friends.

10.25.2011 Scenes from today

my first three cups from my Intro to the Wheel pottery class!

Hope you had a lovely Tuesday.