Wean Green and Ramblings

Have I mentioned I'm not that into plastic? I'm not intense about it (we definitely have plenty of well-loved toys that are plastic!), but when I was writing regular blog posts for The Honest Company, I learned a lot about toxins and how to prevent using them regularly in our home. I was also able to learn about new brands that are affordable and make pretty products... and even if plastic is cheaper, I'd rather invest in a few sturdy products that are safer. My motto is that the less we have in our home, the more we use the things we have. It kind of works across the board for us- in our wardrobes, our groceries, and in dishes.  

The favorite products for us right now are by Wean Green. They create tempered glass dishes that are 5x stronger than a basic glass, and they are PERFECT for taking on our city adventures. We always have snacks handy. The lids snap and don't fall off, thankfully (anyone else had situations in their diaper bags with lids falling off containers? Ack!).

Is it weird that I think these would be kind of perfect to add to Christmas stockings? I'm the type of mom that gives their kids practical things in their stockings... don't judge. My girls have thus far loved finding new silverware and socks in their stockings, so if practicality works, by all means! Or you can just get them next time you're due for new kids' dishes. I'm getting the square lunch version next. Maybe for Sophie's 5th birthday? HA, I'm kidding. We do get our kids toys too, sometimes. ;) 

In other news, today we stayed home for the first time in about two weeks straight. I thought it would be this amazing, welcome change in pace... it was good, but gosh, I was getting stir crazy. Am I suddenly one of those people that needs to be out and about every single day? This will not bode well for rainy season that's coming right up. Speaking of rainy season: Sophie said she likes it best. "Really?" we said, "Yes!! Umbrellas and puddles!" Of course. Rain. 

Really though, I thought I was up for an endless Indian summer around here, but it got a bit chilly today... and I liked it.  I bought apple cider from Trader Joe's tonight and it was perfectly crisp and so right. I also bought leeks and pancetta from Trader Joe's. Who knew they go amazingly together (sautee them with garlic, salt, pepper for the perfect side dish)? Sophie and I were raving. Those samples get us every time, seriously. Also of note: the line at TJ's tonight was insanity. Longest everrrr. Sophie said we might never get through it, and I agreed... but we did get through it and we did get our leeks and pancetta and cider and other crucial things, and we're home and cozy now. As it should be. 

Happy Monday, friends. We made it!! 

xo.  

ps. Wean Green products were provided generously for review. All opinions are our own, 100%.  

Cupcakes!

SO much to say, so little time. I've been home only about a total of five daylight hours this week... okay, okay, I exaggerate a little. Seriously though, I've had so much fun this week, and I want to share a few pics from the good time I had last night.  

There's a place in Seattle called Trophy Cupcakes, and the amazing owner of the business recently wrote the most beautiful book! She came to San Francisco to teach us tips on decorating cupcakes (I have a LONG way to go on my skills... notice that I didn't include pics of my own cupcakes, haha!). I got to go on my own without anyone to watch, which was a welcome mini break in itself, and I enjoyed it even more than expected! I love hearing back stories from real life success in starting businesses, and Jennifer is a delightful lady. I actually never ever buy cookbooks because I don't use them, but I want this one. I'll be dreaming of that buttermilk frosting... 

As I said, so little time! We're headed to the rodeo, yeehaw! Happy Friday! I'll hopefully get a chance to post this weekend and share everything else!!  

xo

Monday Morning Apple Pie

Good morning!! Weekend is over, and we're starting this week fresh with a little video, brought to you by Sophie. I love when she gets in this mode of "here's how you do it," and she tries to use her professional tone to teach.

She was SUPER excited to host her own video to "tell all the people how to make an apple pie." 

IMG 1708 from Kate Brightbill on Vimeo.

This is the pie we kept. We gave two away, and shared two with our dear friends, who saw this video and hopefully didn't mind that their piece was likely touched, patted, and sampled lovingly by our four-year-old. 

Happy Monday! I have a good feeling about this week. It's starting to feel like fall!!!  

xo,

Kate

Ps. For the recipe, see THIS post. Ours looks a little different, but they taste the same... and that is, amazing.

Troublemaker Twos

All is quiet in my home except faint music playing in the girls' bedroom to soothe them to sleep.  

It feels oh so good. I'm wearing my coziest sweatpants and softest tee and it's one of those "moments." You know them... the ones where all feels exactly as it should. The ones where you feel accomplished and wiped out, but satisfied.  

Two years old. They aren't called the terrible two's for nothing, though I deem that phrase a bit harsh for these angelic, hopeful, emotional two-year-old faces that have looked up at me with big, blue, full eyes.  

Two means emotions cannot yet be articulated, but they are felt and otherwise expressed to the fullest. Two means pitter-pattering footsteps that run everywhere, and walk nowhere. It means a lot of spilled milk and a lot of stained clothing.   

The word "no" plays a big part in two-years-old. The stomping of feet, the boneless collapses, and uncontrollable tears are learned.  

The first time I went through the second year, I cried endless tears and threw my hands up in hopelessness on more than one occasion. I thought my child was simply going to be a bad kid, because she didn't mind any disciplines or any of my words. When I look at her at four-years-old, I now see that "this too {this unnerving stage of two} shall pass." My child is not forever going to test my consistency on discipline. 

If I wish away two-years-old, with all its tantrums and patience testing, I will find myself longing for this.  

Longing for the unabashed displays of affection and showers of love. For the twinkly eyes of mischief and feet that run and explore and grow way too fast. For the tears that express exactly how my darling feels without reservation. For the moments that a kiss can make the whole world feel better. For the charming way they say nanananana rather than banana.  

When all is quiet, it feels good. Peaceful moments are rare and treasured these days. This moment feels right.

I'll take these moments and savor them once in awhile.... but most of the time, I'll take two. I'll take two with all its highs and all its lows. With its full heart and unwavering trust and all its love.

so many xoxo's to my girls.  

That Was Fun: ReMake

Brit & Co. hosted their very first workshop and crafting fair this past weekend in San Francisco. I wasn't able to make the first day of the two-day workshop, so I missed hearing some of my favorite creatives share their inspiration, but I was able to drop by the second day to see artisans share their work. 

I love going to this type of thing. People create amazing things every day and sell them here and there- online generally- and events like this bring art to life. The best part is meeting the makers and chatting with them about where they're from, how they've made their pieces, and how they started their businesses. So many entrepreneurs!

A few pictures of some loveliness: 

Chewing the Cud || Viola is sweet and makes incredible textiles! Her site is gorgeous too.

Ross Lab || These beauties stack and each come with a perfect little bamboo spoons!

Yield || the bag unzips to become a picnic blanket! genius for my lifestyle.

Legos || Creating is for everyone! (kids too!)

Tops || Creators also teach letterpress classes in the city!

Thank you Brit & Co. for inspiring creativity and hosting such a lovely event!!  

Throwback Thursday

Thursday already? The week is flying, and I'm having my sixth day with this pesky cold lingering. I had an afternoon of feeling absolutely healthy on Tuesday, so I cleaned my home to perfection, and then woke Wednesday feeling sick again. Serves me right. I get "in trouble" every time I'm sick for not really taking care of myself. It's too hard to just sit still! 

ANYWAY, because this week is basically over, and thoroughly uneventful, not to mention- not very stylish- I'm just going to take advantage of Throwback Thursday with this gem-of-a-memorable-trip:

We used to travel a LOT. Sophie went to about 13 states before she turned two, and this trip was a favorite. Brian had business trips to NYC two years in a row (I wish that was an annual thing still!) and Sophie and I joined him. 

It was perfection. We stayed for two nights down by Wall Street where he had meetings. Sophie and I had a breakfast bagel date (NYC has way better bagels than us), and walked around the business district one of the days, and adventured to Soho in the rain the other day. Brian and I got to spend the next couple days together up near central park... exploring and shopping.

I'm a pretty independent traveler. I love cities, and I love pretending it's my life to live in wherever it is that I'm visiting. I like searching for spots locals love.  I have this weird aversion to ultra-hyped places, and I think it's because I want to find the next best thing myself... like, I didn't go to Bi-Rite (in SF) for ice cream for years because I thought "eh, how good can it really be? Everyone just goes there because it's hyped"... and I was totally dead wrong because it actually IS that good. I can admit this is a weird thing about me, but hey- today can be true confessions Thursday too.

NYC and Boston have been my favorite cities ever to visit, but Chicago didn't get a fair shake because I was last there in 1st grade. 

I don't like the act of getting to a destination with toddlers, but I love having a toddler AT said destination. From all of our travel when Sophie was a toddler, I had enough bad flights to decide I would do my best to stay off planes until Maggie is 3 years old. One day I'll tell you about epic flights alone with a baby. 

I have about a million pictures from that week three years ago, but no one wants to look through a million pictures, so here are a handful for ya! Back tomorrow! xo

 Ps. Mini Sophie looks a whole lot like Maggie, in my opinion. ;)