A Yankee in Texas

Before we had children, Mr. Husband and I loved to travel. We weren't avid globetrotters, but we made a few trips together to visit family or attend out-of-town weddings, both by plane and car. (Most notably, we drove from  eastern Massachusetts to Toronto, with just one stop each way in upstate New York. If you like looking at farms A LOT, I highly recommend this drive.) After we had children, and most especially after B was old enough that we needed to buy his own plane ticket, our trips have gotten fewer and fewer. We'd been talking about visiting close friends (a married couple with three beautiful children) from college who had moved to Texas, but hesitated at the expense and inconvenience. Then we had the ingenious idea to take turns visiting.

more {mis}adventures in domesticity

A year or so ago, I purchased this book:

And this weekend, I finally decided to actually make one of the projects. (Like the INFJ that I am, I spend a lot of time reading instructional books and thinking about doing the projects before I get around to the actual doing.) Instead of starting at the very beginning (for as we know, I have some experience sewing. For what it's worth.) I skipped to the middle of the second chapter, which had instructions for zippered pillow covers. I'd had it in the back of my head to refresh our living room with some throw pillows, but was always taken aback at the price of pillow forms. It finally occurred to me that I could just make my own. I found this tutorial, printed off some Joann's coupons, and set off to Walmart and Joann's for supplies with the children in tow on Friday. (We also made a second trip to Joann's on Saturday, because I am a masochist.)

a beach vacation with kids

Last year, we spent a four-day-three-night vacation in a cottage by the beach the last weekend of August. We had gorgeous weather and survived travel with a two year old and a baby. This year, we stayed at the same beach, but a different (and cheaper) cottage, during Labor Day weekend, and had less agreeable weather. Not only did we survive travel, but we still managed to have a lovely time. There are probably a thousand and one more helpful blog posts about travelling with kids, so I won't make this entirely into a "tips for travel" post, but rather a "this is what worked for us" post.

Once Upon a Mattress

And once upon a box spring. I may out-boring myself with this post. You've been warned.

So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, adieu...

Up until this weekend, Mr. Husband (who is 6'1") and I were sharing a full size mattress.