Channeling Contessa

Last night we kicked off the weekend a little early and had a cook out with friends in the neighborhood. I made a big batch of gauc, we grilled hot dogs (secret hot dog lover right here), and hung out with their sweet pup- it was the best. I’m beginning to believe May is my favorite month of the year. Maybe it’s because April was so darn cold, but the mild temps and sunny skies really make everyday feel a little bit like a vacation.

Here are a few bits from my week…

• Kicked off the week sick in bed which prompted me to purchase the new season of Real Housewives of Orange County. So trashy, but so good. Aaaand I kind of love Heather.
• Jessica made blueberry muffin ice cream. Blueberry muffin ice cream people! There are no words.
• I purchased tickets to my 10 year high school reunion this week. 10 years? How how how did we get here?
• This bullet is just a friendly reminder to listen to the Joy the Baker podcast if you don’t already. Joy and Tracy are the best. They make me laugh endlessly, and make cleaning up the kitchen a breeze.
• Coconut oil spray- my latest Trader Joe’s product obsession. I’m thrilled to have a convenient cooking spray that isn’t whatever the hell is in Pam. Speaking of Trader Joe’s, would you guys be interested in a post about my favorite products from the store? Been thinking about that one…
• This sweet Flavor Story from Joy has me wanting to do cooking videos so so badly. Add that to my summer bucket list!
• Heart you Jon Hamm.
• I’m getting my haaaair done tomorrow. So ready to freshen up my locks, get my trusty bangs back, and get rid of this look.
• Drooling over this Mother’s Day brunch from SMP Home. That blueberry sour cream coffee cake with lemon glaze has my name written all over it.

And that about does it friends. I’ve got a weekend to get to! Happy Mother’s Day to all you mamas, and especially to mine. See you next week! xx

Rhubarb Float by the lovely Ashley of Not Without Salt

Have you guys noticed the rise of healthy, home meal-delivery services? Maybe you’ve tried one of these programs for yourself? They just recently started popping up on my radar online, and then Gwyneth featured a round-up of her favorite food delivery options on Goop last week. I (Lauren) totally get the allure. Most of us are crunched for time these days, caught in a constant cycle of busyness but also a desire to eat healthy. So enter the food delivery program that allows you to skip all the prep and the trip (or more) each week to the store. Instead you get perfectly-portioned, nutritionally-balanced ingredients delivered right to your door. Some options let you DIY, making the chef-designed meal with the exact items included; others just come ready made.

I think it’s a fabulous concept…for some people, especially those who don’t enjoy cooking. But to me, I just couldn’t do it! My mom instilled in me a love for cooking, even though it didn’t really kick in until my mid-20s. I love the research, menu creating, list making, shopping, preparing and cooking–all of it–that goes into serving an enjoyable meal. I love to taste the fruits of my labor, and especially to have others enjoy my efforts with me. Now doing the dishes afterward? That’s another story. I’d definitely be open to a service for that! A clean-up-my-cooking-mess service anyone? Yes, please. So what do YOU think about the whole home meal-delivery trend–would you or wouldn’t you?

Images: Fullosophie & Plated

We’re just five days shy of Mother’s Day! What do you guys have planned? My mom is one of my favorite people to shop for. It didn’t always used to be that way but over the years I’ve learned to really nail a gift with her, and I can’t wait for her to see what’s in store this year. But before we get to all of that, I decided to do something a little extra special. A few weeks back Joanna challenged readers to interview their parents. I immediately attached to the idea and thought an interview with my mom would be so fun- and make for perfect blog content around Mother’s day. Below are seven questions I posed to my mom all about getting pregnant, being a parent and raising kids:

Did you always know you wanted to have kids?

Yes, I always thought that I would like to have children and being an only child made me want to have at least two kids. It’s funny only children often wish they had siblings and children from big families dream of being only children. I think I would have had more children, but since I got started a bit late and Dad was older we stopped at two.  It wasn’t until Aunt Kathryn passed away that I got serious about having children.  At the time I think I was channeling her and I know she regretted not having any. Of course, Grandma was also nudging me.

Who was the first person you told when you were pregnant?

Dad was the first person I told. My first pregnancy was a surprise, not that I wasn’t intending to get pregnant, but that it happened much sooner than I expected. Dad had a show in Rome so we took the opportunity to travel to Egypt and Turkey before going to Rome.  It wasn’t unitl we got home that I realized something was up. I thought my cycle was off because of the traveling, it never occurred to me that I might be pregnant. I didn’t go through the awful periods of nausea that trouble many women.  I was lucky, most of the time I felt wonderful being pregnant.

When you first found out you were pregnant, did you hope for a boy or a girl? Be honest!

The first time, honestly, it did not matter and not to Dad either.  Because of my “advanced maternal age” I did the amniocentesis test and we opted to find out the gender. You know me, I’m not fond of surprises.  The second time I did entertain a very small and secret hope for a boy thinking it would be nice to have one of each.

Were you scared to become a mom?

I don’t think I was scared to become a mom, I think I was unprepared, but that is fairly typical of first time moms. Once you arrived I think I was nervous about some things. A newborn baby is a fragile little person so I felt super protective. Those instincts you observe in creatures on the Animal Planet suddenly become very real and personal. It’s fascinating how so many feelings like that suddenly come into play.

What’s one thing you wished you knew before becoming a mom?

Gosh, hindsight is a huge topic.  The first thing that comes to mind is how children are ever-evolving.  Sometimes it’s hard to keep up, just when you feel like you have a handle on a certain stage, kids are onto the next thing.

What’s the best part about being a mom?

Having children is an incredible journey.   As corny as it sounds, the whole process of being pregnant and giving birth gave me a sense of awe. It really put me in touch with the process of life in such a visceral way, one that I never imagined.  But I think the best thing of all is the mother/child bond. It’s the stuff of legends, I guess, but it’s really true.  It’s unconditional love.

 What’s the hardest part?

One of the most difficult parts is finding a balance in your life while raising children. The demands can be all consuming at times. I think it’s important to step away, to get some down time. Grandmothers are great subs!

I loved reading through these. My mom and I are really close, but there were definitely a few surprises in here! Like the fact that her first pregnancy was sort of a surprise and that she secretly hoped for a boy her second time around. Do you know your mom’s answers to these questions? What would she say? Ugh, moms are just the best. Huge thanks to mine for doing this!

You know those moments when life just really takes it all out of you? Well, I’m there! So I’m taking today to recoup from a weekend cold, get my to do list organized, hit the grocery store, and just give my brain and mind the full time it needs to get back to tip top condition. I’ll be back here tomorrow with a fun Mother’s Day inspired post. Til then! xx

Photo by Rachel of Elephant (I LOVE her blog)