A Day at the Lake!

We were invited to join some family friends at their lake last weekend, and oh wow, I am so glad we did! I was a little (okay, a lot) nervous about bringing Everett on a boat. And I was extremely nervous about bringing him on a boat with OTHER PEOPLE, because you know, I figured he would scream his head off. I am happy that I was so wrong. He loved the boat! He got this dreamy smile on his face and let the wind whip around his cute blonde mane and his eyes would slowly close, as if he were drinking it all in. Every once in a while he would come to his senses again, widen his eyes and cry a little, but then he would sink back into his dreamy nautical slumber, and oh, it was pretty adorable. That boy. He's stolen my heart BIG TIME. I'm a goner over here.

We swam, tubed, jet skied, ate a ridiculously perfect lunch, boated over to the dock where there is an ice cream stand (and devoured some ice cream sandwiches!), and cruised like only the maritime crowd do. It was wonderful. It was snazzy. Now I'm all, "Let's just return our house and buy a LAKE HOUSE!!!"

He has his own sunglasses, but he still won't leave them on. We're working on it!

My in laws are complete babes.

That baby in that life vest and that man - I AM SO HAPPY. These two are the best thing in my life.

Playing on the water with my bff sis-in-law and my sweetheart niece. Girl time is the best time.

'Merica.

Sweet boy. He is getting so big.

In the midst of moving from our house to our new house very slowly (AKA a little bit everyday, which is turning out to be painful), we really needed to do something fun and outdoorsy. I felt so refreshed (and I'll admit, reeeeeeally sore) after playing on the water all day. While Stevie and I pretended we were kids again, tearing up the water on that jet ski, reminiscing about all the other cool places we've jet skied together (Florida! Nassau! New England!), Everett lounged comfortably in his Mimi's arms, without shrieking, and it just felt SO GOOD. I am so grateful that we had the opportunity to let loose a little bit and just enjoy the water. Thank you, Ron & Carolyn, for the most perfect day on the water!

"I am a good mom."

I am a good mom.

I keep telling myself that. Over and over. Because there are so many times that I don't feel like a good one. I feel inadequate. Too young. Too goofy. Too unsure. Too irresponsible. I'm plagued with the questions. How the heck do I discipline a kid? Is he eating the right foods? Am I playing with him enough? Is he getting enough time with other people? Is he developing at the "right" pace? Is he happy? And most importantly, does he feel loved?

Deep breath.

This kind of introspection often leads me to feeling less than. It's so silly, because I am desperately trying to do all the things that feel right in my gut. But I still feel overshadowed by all the things I'm not doing. All the causes and effects based on the choices that I believe are the right ones for our family.

For instance, I chose to stay home during Everett's first year of life because I believed that was the best choice for our family. However, I often find myself critiquing all the effects of that choice. Like, is he too clingy to me? (Answer: YES). Is he developing enough social skills? Is he well adjusted? WHY WON'T HE STAY IN THE CHURCH NURSERY??? I feel like I made this great choice to stay home with him because that's what I felt in my gut was the right thing to do, but then I question all the impacts of that particular choice. I'm sure every mom deal with this kind of turmoil. Right? A rousing chorus of "Amen, sister!" would be so appreciated right now. It's so hard to know what is THE BEST CHOICE. That elusive idea of "best" can really create some inner conflict. And focusing on the dilemma that my choices create only stunts my own personal growth. I can see now that it's been holding me up.

Welcome to my brain. It's all crazy up in here. I probably need some chocolate. And a good massage.

So I've started telling myself. Out loud. "I'm a good mom."

I keep saying it until I believe it.

Because I am. I'm a good one.

No, I'm not perfect. I make a million mistakes every day. My kid falls and hurts himself and the first thing I think is, "I'm a terrible mother!" I take him to Target and skip his nap. Ah - terrible mother, party of 1! But in fact, that's not true. Because the truth is, I am a good mom.

I am a good mom.

Can you say it about yourself? Well, that might be kind of weird if you aren't a mom. You might be an architect or a teacher or a rock star (gosh, if you're a rock star and you're reading this, well, I'm a tiny bit jealous of your life, and also, I sing back up), or a dad or a grandma or a snorkeler or a hummingbird specialist or something else. But do you say it? Can you say, "I'm a good (insert choice vocation/stage of life/dream you're currently chasing)".

I think you should say it. Like, right now.

Do it guys. SAY IT OUT LOUD.

I am a good mom. I am good at being myself and I am good at what I do everyday. I'm saying this out loud as I type it.

We are all trying so hard. Look around you. Everyone, they're trying. Even the people that you deem "lazy" are conflicted, figuring themselves out and living in their mind's own nagging narrative. Spinning like little mice on the wheel. I'm tired of feeling comparative and judged and I'm sick of judging (yes, that is one of my mistakes, I admit it) because I feel less than. I'm not less than. I'm tired of acting like I am. The truth is, I am a good mom. And I'm the best mom and the best version of myself as a person when I believe that.

I'm a good mom.

You're a good mom.

You're a good whatever-you-are.

This isn't blind optimism or a mantra in reaction to a mistake-laden pattern of behavior. It's truth. This is the truth. And I bet things start to change in my crazy mind and in my own life with this change in mindset. And I'm ready for it. Aren't you?

Happiest of Mondays to you, friends. XOXO.

Boiled Artichoke with Lemon Butter.

It's almost sinful, this artichoke with it's bit of butter. It's simple. Easy to make. Requires just a tad of patience. But it's sincerely decadent, because the flavors are so rich and yet so light. The taste of the artichoke itself is just so nom-nom-nom, merely enhanced by the tangy citrus butter. This recipe isn't complicated or unveiling some secretive sauce. It's really simple, really easy to make, and really really good. I make this as an appetizer for Stevie and myself if we're settling down to a good Friday night movie. It just feels special and different, and you know, like fancier weekend eats. I also make it for lunch, usually followed up by a salad. It's sort of messy and fun, so it's great to share with a dear friend who doesn't mind your butter-smeared cheeks.

Ingredients:

- 1 artichoke

- Juice of 1 lemon

- 2-3 tbsp. butter (I prefer Kerrygold, because whoa.)

- Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

1. First, you want to cut off the stem of the artichoke at the base. Then, if you're into following the rules, you can trim the top 1/3 of each leaf on the artichoke. Or if you're like me, you can just not.

2. Bring water to boil in a 3-qt. stock pot. Once it's reached a rolling boil, reduce heat to medium, and drop the artichoke halves in, with the insides facing down in the water. Boil for 20-30 minutes until the leaves turn bright green and the artichoke has softened.

3. Combine the squeezed juice of 1 lemon with the 2-3 tbsp of butter and melt together. I've started doing this in the microwave, but if you want to achieve a thicker glaze, you can heat it in a saucepan over the stove. That's probably what the good wives do. Wherever they are. Probably wearing pearls in their kitchen.

4. Drain the artichoke and serve with the lemon butter immediately! You just peel each leaf off, dip the innermost part of the leaf in the butter, and scrape the meat out with your teeth. It's the most delectable, buttery, hilariously messy fun feast. You are going to want to pull your hair back, because your face might somehow end up planted in the butter sauce. It's that good. Truly.

Let me know if you dare try this. You won't be sorry, friends.

How to Throw a Pirate Birthday Party.

How to Throw a Pirate Birthday Party.
We had such a blast throwing our son's first birthday party with the Pirate Pool Party theme. It was the perfect way to celebrate his vivacious life with our closest friends and family, in a way that was silly and playful. In other words, I was a dweeb and decided to make name cards for every pirate-y element of the party. I would say that it's the stay at home mom in me, but when it comes to celebrating, I just like everything to be over the top. Let me have my crafts and my recipes! LET ME!

1. The Food.
The food is obviously one of the most important elements. Since the party was early afternoon, we served lunch, which included (prepare yourself) Scalleywags (hot dogs and cheeseburgers), Fish and Chips (Goldfish crackers and potato chips), Plundered Pasta (pasta salad), Pirates Booty (duh), Veggie Planks (vegetable tray) and a fruit salad. For the drinks I went simple, with Ocean Grog (bottled water), and the Captain's Brew (beer), with juice boxes for all the kiddos.

2. The Watermelon Pirate Ship.
I came across this when I was pinteresting, and I couldn't resist giving it a try. This watermelon pirate ship was too adorable to pass up! I'll admit, the effort required was vast, and I am so grateful that my mom watched Everett the day before the party so that I could do crazy things like make a pirate ship out of fruits and vegetables (this tutorial was helpful!) But I was so proud that it turned out great! This is definitely the kind of thing you want to make a day ahead of time and then refrigerate overnight. There should be no day-of carving! The supplies needed for this (other than the fruit) were the fruit skewers (like these), some pretty straws (I found mine in the Target dollar section, but these are similar) and this pirate Lego set to really set the scene. These cute blocks were lying around the house and I decided to employ their attractiveness, as well. I also made 4 boxes of blue jello the day beforehand and cut it into squares, then surrounded the ship with "water". I'll admit, that might have been my favorite element of this little project, because it added a special effect.

3. The Cake.
The Publix Bakery has been a long-time cake provider in our family, from before our wedding up until now. My favorite dessert are the petit fors (the orange and vanilla are TO.DIE.FOR) and of course, the strawberry cake was my choice for our wedding. We decided to go with the Little Pirates cake for Everett's bash. Publix has this really special promotion for 1st birthday parties - when you buy a large cake (either 1/4 or 1/2 sheet cake), they will give a free mini cake for the baby's epic cake smash. How great is that? And they decorated his two cakes so well, I almost cried when I saw them. Thank you, Publix! You do it up right!

4. The Decor.
Balloons, streamers, and banners oh my. We posted balloons down by the mailbox and then drew a dotted line up the driveway (using black tape) to create the "treasure map" trail. A red "X marks the spot" was on the front door, where the party goers entered at their own risk :) That's where they dropped off their gift by the Captain's Loot and found their way outside to the food, drinks and poolside fun. Yes, cheesy. YES I KNOW. But the cheesy only added extra sparkle to the fun. Which I was having LOADS OF. I was on a party high the whole day. Laughing in pride at my homemade crafts-turned-decor. I also used a smattering of these, these and these free printables, all thanks to my excessive, late night nutella-induced Pinterest binging. Good times.

4. The Activities.
I am a firm believer in the fact that a birthday party IS the activity. We have a pool so everyone could "walk the plank" (the diving board) and swim to their heart's content! We also had toys out for the babies to play with and more than enough pirate "stuff" for the big kids to go around - eye patches and pirate face masks. But I'm a little bit over the top, so I also put together a photo booth (which, sadly, was never used - a good reminder that a party is enough of an activity!) I learned that when there is a pool, there is little else you need to keep kids happy and busy.

5. The Favors.
We couldn't resist putting out toy water guns and bubbles for all the kiddos to enjoy. While most of the bubbles ended up dumped in the pool (sorry, mom and dad!), I know that everyone really loved playing with these. Unfortunately, I ended up with an excessive amount of left over toy water guns. WHO LEFT THEIR PARTY PRESENT?! Come get your left overs!

6. Have SO MUCH FUN.
This was the most important part of the day. I made sure to take moments and deep breaths and just soak it all in. Not be too stressed about the details working out and just have fun. Enjoy my son and watch his expression change as he was sung to, doted upon, and loved so so well by all the wonderful people who surround him, encourage him, and have helped him grow. It is such a privilege to raise up this healthy, strong, hilarious boy and I am so lucky to be his mom and be part of his story. You only get to celebrate your son's 1st birthday ONCE. I wanted to make it count. I wanted to dress him up like a pirate. It's really too bad that he threw an enormous fit and wouldn't let me.

There's always next year.

In case you're wondering, YES, I pinterested an enormous amount to gather ideas for this party. You can see my board of ideas here. I had SO much fun planning and executing this party. I might not always put this much effort into birthday parties to come (I just re-read that sentence, and that's completely untrue), but I am so glad that Everett's birthday will always be a sweet memory for our family.

Let me know if you decide to throw a pirate-themed party! I would love to see your links and pics :)

Happening Lately.

I keep telling myself to breathe.

Create boundaries.

Say no.

Because there is a lot happening in the Hale household these days. And when I say household, I mean it, because we are in the midst of purchasing our first household.

I shared a few weeks ago about how we put an offer in on a short sale house, and we would have to wait quite a while to hear back on it. In the mean time, we decided to keep house hunting. One day we stumbled upon an amazing opportunity - our house. The one we are buying. Today.

Our brother in law knew of someone who wanted to put their house on the market, in the same neighborhood we had been looking to buy. Only this house wasn't a short sale. It wasn't even listed. But we called the owner up, went and looked at the house at 5pm on a Tuesday evening, and put in an offer later that evening.

We squealed a lot.

Then the next morning we got on a plane for NYC.

We've had a few weeks of due diligence, which included inspections and, you know, furniture dreaming. But today at 9am we are closing on our first home purchase and it feels a tiny bit magical. 8 years of marriage, 4 cities of adventure and 1 phenomenal baby later, we are actually committing to this location.

I feel the oncoming swell of moving, renovations, new furniture, new projects, new routines, new everything, and I am a bit overwhelmed. Just a bit. Actually I'm sort of immobilized by the enormity of all of it. I'm nervous about how my kid is going to react. I'm nervous about the idea of putting down roots. If you know me at all, you know I have a bit of a complex about settling down. I love love love adventure, traveling, dreaming about changing the world and the idea of settling down in the suburbs, one where I grew up, it's like, WHOA. What the heck. What. The. Heck.

And yet, I know that this house and this purchase is the right choice for our family. It's time. We have lived small for years, exploring amazing cities and constantly downsizing what we own, constantly being forced to live light. But with a 1-year old in the picture, things have changed. We are spewing with baby gear at any given moment. Need a diaper? I am never more than 6 feet away from a diaper, a pack of wipes, and at least 4 toys that probably need some disinfecting. In other words, having a little more room (and a lot more storage!) just seems to fit our new phase of life. And it's so good! I just have to keep reminding myself that I'm not 23 and goofing off in Boston or New York. I am 27, I am a mom, and I spend the majority of my time in the kitchen. Having a little more space wouldn't hurt. And this house! We love it so much, it's just the kind of place that feels like home. It's green! I'm buying a green house!

I am so excited about having a home. I'm just a bit nervous about the unknown.

Is all of this silly? This is what has been happening lately. Prayers and advice for the moving, reminiscing, slightly frazzled lass would be much appreciated!