thursday tidbits

i come before you today weary, in need of a shower (or a severe hand washing at least) and never having spent so much time within the confines of one bathroom before, even during four years spent at the #2 party school in the nation and being quite overserved at times.  it has been potty training boot camp around here, and woah - this s&*# is for the birds, pun intended.  the good news is that the accidents are becoming fewer, and the less urine i have to clean up the better (is this ever not the case?).  i was talking to a girlfriend who has two boys yesterday, and she said that with her 2nd son, she actually googled "potty trainer," someone who would come to your house and train your kid for you.  she only found one and they weren't in business anymore.  yeah, no kidding!  WHO would want that job?

if only it were this cute...

a bright spot to the week: i ran by the babygap at lenox square yesterday to get - what else - more big boy underpants - and y'all.  they had an entire wall of DVF for babygap marked down to ridiculous prices.  i was dying!!  they are pretty much sold out online, so i was shocked to see so much inventory at such fab prices.  of course i had to get rinne a little something...

i mean, are you kidding me?!

did i tell you guys that i've been eating sort of paleo?  i really love it and i really do feel better, more energetic and more...spry.  if you don't know what it is, it's a food movement that advocates fresh, "real" food - nothing processed, no grains/breads/legumes, sugar or dairy.  i know, it sounds like a lot of nos - but i do allow room for cheating because there are some things that are non-negotiable.  i HAVE TO have cream in my coffee in the morning and every so often, i simply must ingest chips and salsa.  anyway, one of the areas i find is a little difficult is finding things to snack on between meals.  a lot of people do kale chips, which i made once before and they were gross - too chewy and not chip-like at all.  however - i found a fail-proof recipe and am now a convert.  they are SO good and super easy:

- take a bunch of kale and DO NOT wash it.  well, i guess you could wash it a day or two before and then just dry it really, really well.  but i buy organic kale and then don't wash it...and yes i'm still alive.
- tear it up into pieces and lay them out in one layer on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
- toss with a little olive oil.
- bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes.
- sprinkle salt on the chips and devour.  delish!

my clients think of the coolest things.  a etsy client whose family just moved to chicago (with their two small children) commissioned me to create some "playdate cards" that she could use to give out at the playground, preschool, library, etc. to connect with other parents.  how neat!  we also did coordinating notecards so her children can properly thank the hosts of the ensuing playdates, right?  i do love a good children's stationery suite.

hope you all have had a good week, or at least one that wasn't nearly as messy as mine :)

xoxo