Letters to the Bean

Dear Josiah James,

the happy gene didn't skip you. no sir. that's for sure.

morning. noon. and night you flash those gummy grins and shimmy-shake those chubby legs.

and with every wriggle and giggle,

I feel our bond grow deeper and stronger.

Like krazy glue strong.

You know.

When you accidentally get a tiny drop of it on your finger and spend the next month trying to peel it off.

It's that strong.

Not that I want to peel you off.

Quite the opposite, in fact.

Don't worry. I'll teach you all about krazy glue someday.

I can teach you lots of things.

Dad comes home from work and asks us what we did all day...

"snuggle."

so, basically what you're saying is it was a good day?

I think we all know the answer to that question.

Then he steals you away for the night.

Male bonding.

You know.

When excitement can only be expressed with squeals as he soars you through the air like a mini-superman baby.

He's that strong.

Don't worry. He'll teach you all about guy stuff someday.

He can teach you lots of things.

...

Basically, what we're trying to say is that we love you.

but I think we all knew that.

happy 3 months baby bean

xoxo

{Bon Bon}

My Favorite Tea Party Guest

Grandma Betty Jean

In recent years, the memories had certainly begun to fade. Faces and places of the past were growing continually dim as each day ticked onward.

And those closest to her,

{Five children. Twenty-One grandchildren.

an ever multiplying brood of great-grandchildren}

were lovingly frustrated jumbled thoughts and names.

So, we remember for her.

The years spent by her husband's side.

while polio stealthily stole him away.

The prayerful days spent raising five children.

And nights,

as baby #5 rode his motorcycle around town.

ahem. Dad.

Hundreds of homemade chocolate chip cookies and handwritten letters always arriving just in time for birthdays and for just because.

A woman of faith, grace, wit, and patience.

now reunited to her husband's side.

and so much more.

...

in loving remembrance today

xoxo

{Bon Bon}

Whim Wham Weekend #25

sugary and savory crepes

1st rum&coke since feb. 2011

undisclosed amount of birthday cake oreos

+

sporadic snow flurries

discovered {this} new holiday

we made baby bean laugh

baby bean made us laugh

a lot of laughter was laughed

all the nutella crepes and rum&cokes and birthday cake oreos in the world

aren't even half as sweet as those ha ha ha's.

What made your weekend sweet?

xoxo

{Bon Bon}

PSA 2012

a friendly blogger-hood reminder

...


for the love of everything holy and pinterest,
please turn off the new captcha.

if we don't put our foot down, when will it end?
I envision, years from now, our children trying to leave their "love it!" and "follow me, and I'll follow you!" comments on blogs around the world,
only to be met with the brand new 100 piece puzzle captcha.

that, my fellow bloggericans, is a world I don't want to see.


show word verification for comments?
turn that "yes" into "no"
and
that frown upside down


Vote Baby Bean 2047!


xoxo

{Bon Bon}

Favorite Things: Bon Bon Edition

Here's my little love list of things I'm currently, well... loving.

1) Sahale Pomegranate Cashews
-hands down, no contest, above and beyond, etc etc etc, my most favorite snack. i usually have a bag of these sweet and salty beauties in my purse, and if you catch me in a good mood, i just might share one or two... or one, with you.
2) Moroccanoil Hydrating Styling Cream
-i've never been a huge hair product junkie, but this is something i will splurge on time and time again. smells incredible and works perfectly to tame my wild and wavy bedhead.
3) Ecote Canvas Rucksack
-oh hey cute backpack/diaper bag. yep. dual purposes. why it's great as a diaper bag? urban-chic and easy to lug around. plus, the menfolk doth not protest too much to carrying it.
4) Wet n Wild Mega Last Lip Color {shade: coral-ine}
-this just might be the perfect dupe for NARS Heat Wave. and a whole pile of pennies cheaper.
5) Essie nail polish {shade: to buy or not to buy}
-that darn Essie. gets me every time. loving the new collection and loving my strong post-natal nails i've got going on. paint on dear friends!
6) TMOOH sweatshirt
-cozy and cute. a sweatshirt i definitely don't mind being caught in while out and about.
7) Ribbon hair ties
-if you're like me, then you always have an extra hair tie around your wrist. and these are almost too adorable to ever want to take off your wrist. not a super strength hair tie, but perfect for relaxed ponytails/braids/buns.
8) Hudson jeans {gwen wide leg}
-crazy comfortable and, when paired with heels, they're a sure-fire way to make your legs appear miles long. hubba hubba.





Any life-altering crazy-good things you've been enjoying lately?
Do tell!

...especially anything food related.
you know me.

xoxo

{Bon Bon}

Favorite Things: Baby Edition

{3 months of living and loving with our baby}


1) Fisher Price Papasan Cradle Swing
-we are borrowing this monstrosity/miniature disneyland ride from some friends; the minimalist in me doesn't like piles of baby stuff everywhere, but the desire in me to be a normal functioning human being who can take showers and do stuff with two free hands, does like this very very much!
2) Boppy
-classic must-have. perfect for breastfeeding and also for little bebes to recline in. bought mine at a garage sale for $3.
3) Sleep Sheep
-soothing sounds for everyone. early on when Baby Bean hated hated haaaaaated his diaper changes, I'd turn this on and it was like Frank Sinatra himself was crooning sweet notes of love at 2AM.
4) NoseFrida the Snotsucker
-ooooooh the things parents will do for their children. and oooooooh the things the Swedes will invent. I'm semi-intrigued about {this} device too. for now, we'll stick with gripe water.
5) Baltic Amber teething necklace
-adorable and homeopathic. I'm a sucker.
6) Calendula Cream
-knocked out a bout of baby acne overnight. smells great, lasts forever, and keeps skin soft and perfect. We love their shampoo and body wash too.
7) FuzziBunz
-scored an incredible deal on our cloth diapering set, {here}.
8) BabyLegs
-keeps chubby little legs warm and free to kick kick kick, while providing easy access for diaper changes.
9) Lulu Wrap
-snuggles for baby and mama all the live long day. win-win situation for everyone.




Stay tuned for Favorite Things: *Mama Edition


*ahem, that's super cool rockstar mama edition, mind you.


xoxo

{Bon Bon}

Blog to Eat or Eat to Blog

Blogging Tip #18
Unplug and Unwind

Take a few days here and there and power dooooooown.
Turn it off (the laptop/iphone) and Turn it on (life in general).



Us city mice are out in the country this week, house sitting for my parents.
Instead of the usual hustle and bustle of pedestrians, construction, bus routes and street youths...(New Girl reference, anyone? anyone?)
we're enjoying cozy mornings, afternoons, and evenings. peace and quiet.
except for the rooster commandeering the chickens on the farm across the road.
and the sheep that get herded over here for their afternoon snack of grass clippings on the front lawn.
it's peace and quiet. and the occasional cock-a-doodle-doo.

{This} and {This} happened last time we ruled the roost here.

Thanks to the past 3 months with Baby Bean though, I'm definitely better at the whole feeding-those-who-can't-feed-themselves thing.

xoxo

{Bon Bon}

Mushy

"I will love you as a drawer loves a secret compartment, and as a secret compartment loves a secret, and as a secret loves to make a person gasp, and as a gasping person loves a glass of brandy to calm their nerves, and as a glass of brandy loves to shatter on the floor, and as the noise of glass shattering loves to make someone else gasp, and as someone else gasping loves a nearby desk to lean against, even if leaning against it presses a lever that loves to open a drawer and reveal a secret compartment. I will love you until all such compartments are discovered and opened, and until all the secrets have gone gasping into the world. I will love you until all the codes and hearts have been broken and until every anagram and egg has been unscrambled."

{via}

xoxo

{Bon Bon}

Whim Wham Weekend #24

1. catnaps in sunlit filled bedrooms.
2. {this} stila makeup palette. also doubles as a dinner plate. it's ginormous!
3. fresh Portland air. nothing compares.
4. testing the mental capacity of a 10 week old baby. rocked his world.
5. coffee and cribbage. we're such old fogies. and by golly, I like it.
6. i'm having waaaaaay too much fun dressing Baby Bean. elbow.patches. totally happened this weekend. {these} might be happening soon too. try and stop me. just try.

not pictured: two birthday parties...
I was too busy eating and feeding. Basically, doing amazing human life things. no big deal.



xoxo

{Bon Bon}

awkward and...

On the rare occasion that a day passes by without an awkward moment or two nestled somewhere in between the hours, I think to myself, "ah. yes. so that's what ordinary feels like."

But, I like un-ordinary.
I find the joy and humor and light and positive in it.
It's a good thing too. Because un-ordinary frequently strolls along, knocks on my door, and it's all, wham-bam-thank you ma'am.

Take yesterday, for example.

*Accidentally taking the elevator to the staff only level at the hospital. Sadly, this wouldn't be the 1st or 2nd time doing this. So many stares. so much silence.
*The nurse calls out my name, and what would you know, there are two Bonnie(s) in the waiting room today. Me and a 97 year old...who insists it's her Bonnie-name being called. But that's entirely impossible, unless she miraculously gave birth 9 weeks ago and is the Here-for a post-natal checkup-Bonnie.
*Mini-panic attack as the nurse wheels into my room, what appears to be a tray filled with tools meant for a heart transplant. I thought I was getting new birth control, not undergoing major surgery.
*2nd mini-panic attack as my midwife proclaims, "You did an un-medicated birth. This'll be a piece of cake." ...too soon, Kath. too soon.
*Leaky boobs. during my appointment. while wearing a hospital gown. 'nough said.
*Baby Bean pooped his pants. literally. as the sweet nurses were oohing and ahhing all over him, he went all over them.
*Wiggly baby has semi-discovered his hands. And I semi-realized this when he flailed the nursing cover off and flashed me to the lunch rush hour of Panera.
*Mooning a family of four in the Trader Joe's parking lot, while I was clambering in the backseat with the carseat. darn you, stretched out skinny jeans. maybe I should've bought maternity clothes.


And that, my friends, was all in a day's work.
have mercy.

xoxo

{Bon Bon}

ShoutOut: ciaobella

Time to meet and greet the lovely Sara from {ciaobella}
I knew she was a girl after my own heart/stomach after reading {this} post

She's feisty, fun and quirky. Triple threat.
And she's hosting a {giveaway}
Whaaaaa? She's a giver too?
Goodness. What more could you ask for in a blogger-bella?


Here's what the blogger-bella herself has to say:

Dearest BonBon Lovers,
I write to you from Madison, Wisconsin while sitting upon my over-sized red couch in my purple grippy socks. Can you catch the visual? I have a love affair with ankle sweatpants and singing at the top of my lungs to Benny & the Jets. Things that tug on my heart strings are generally pretty simple and can be found on pinterest. Sigh. Pinterest had me at hello. I love anything yellow or covered in lace. My boyfriend is pretty much the best thing since sliced bread and my parents are legit saints. I less than three them. <3
On that note, kick up your feet and don't be shy. I'd like to extend a "formal" invite to my blog, www.ciaobellasara.blogspot.com

. Be prepared to witness numerous photos of me picking my nose and an occasional giggle. Ciao!!

...


So, if you like giveaways,
cough*cute gray cable knitted headband*cough giveaways.
And fun people,
cough*sara*cough,

Then check her blog out {here} and leave some love!



xoxo

{Bon Bon}

LoveDrunk

An unusually sunny February afternoon overlooking the Willamette Valley, not too long ago
(two years long ago to be precise)
nervously holding hands and fizzy glasses brimming with bubbly,
we celebrated his question and my answer.

These are the photos we'll be sharing with our children and grandchildren someday.

He'll say he wasn't nervous. I'll say he got me tipsy.

And we'll still be holding hands
and celebrating.

xoxo

{Bon Bon}


P.S. All photos were taken by my incredible brother-in-law
Check him out {here}

ShoutOut: Fashonify

{via}

Let's face it. We're all human. We all put our pants on one leg at a time.
And we all make mistakes.

Mistakes in your wardrobe though?
{Like, picking out the wrong pair of pants to put your legs through?}

Time to kick em' to the curb.
{Fashonify} is here to beat up any clothing and accessory faux pas in your life.

"Fashonify is your democratic stylist, changing the way you think about fashion advice. We are a growing network of fashion lovers, banded together to share wisdom and guidance with those in need of a little fashion advice. Unsure what to wear to your first corporate holiday bash? Wavering on how to style for a big interview? Maybe you just need a little nudge towards that perfect ensem for school today. Everyone at some point needs a little push in the right direction when it comes to fashion, but who has the cash to splurge on a personal stylist? Not us!"


The Dealio

Create account. Upload photo. Get feedback.
badabingbadaboom

{And for those of you feeling all Rachel Zoe-ish}
Give feedback. Earn points. Get paid.
ba.na.nas.


{shoulda.coulda.woulda}

Example:
If I had uploaded this photo on Fashonify,
Someone would have given me feedback like, "Ok, the romper trend is booming and super cute. However, you are 5'10, trying to squeeze into a generic F21 size, small enough to give your 10 year old cousin that same exact wedgie.

Probably with nicer wording,
but the same saving grace.

Lesson learned.


Check Fashonify out {here} and have fun!

xoxo

{Bon Bon}

Whim Wham Weekend #23

{Baby Bean visiting his Departure family}

Saturday Highlights

*Sunshine streaming through the window
*The sun, out and about in Portland, during the month of February? One question pops up in the minds of about 87% of the city's population:
Do I walk/run/bike/skip/dance/segway/skateboard/rollerblade today?

*We chose walking. and eating.


Brunch {here}
Drinks {here}
More drinks {here}
Entertainment {here}
Big Amazingly Delicious Midnight Snack-Dinner {here}


Sunday Highlights
*Lounging in bed until noon
*Trader Joe's run for SuperBowl snacks
*Football {commercials}, food, and friends all day long
*Dreaming about the next time I can eat that Big Amazingly Delicious Midnight Snack-Dinner

{also known as the Farm Burger.
with a side of mini sliders. and carrot cake}


And the one question popping up in my mind today:
Do I recoup from my food coma in bed or on the couch?



xoxo

{Bon Bon}

Afternoons

While Baby Bean takes a nap, it usually means
*time for me to race around like a chicken with it's head cut off.

{*a chicken who has about 90 minutes to do things again with two free hands}

Oh the possibilities.


Like: Clean the Bathroom and Stop to Take a Picture to See if the Lady at Sephora Truly Helped you Pick out the Right Shade of Foundation for the Winter.

Oh priorities.

Then my cutest priority woke up.

And my hands {heart} are full again.


xoxo

{Bon Bon}

Green is My Favorite Color

Daniel decided to go green this week. Or should I say, "drink green." For breakfast, lunch, and dinner, oh my.
We loaded up our fridge with spinach, kale, cilantro, celery, cucumbers, avocados and the like. And shoot dang, these smoothies are giving Jamba Juice a run for their money.
{except the carrot one I invented that magically transformed into applesauce}


{Note: I would join in the all-green festivities if I wasn't such a ravenous {breastfeeding} carnivore, who occasionally can be spotted in the kitchen at 4AM with a chocolate chip scone in one hand and a turkey sandwich in the other}

So, in my effort to be supportive and encouraging and fake-ishly super healthy,

I made these...

And now you're wondering what the big deal is.
And what does healthy have to do with it.

They look like brownies.
They taste like brownies.

oh yeah,

andddddd they have blackbeansandspinachandavocado mixed in.

ding ding ding.

there's the health!


We've gobbled up almost an entire pan in the past two days.
It's ok though.
Cause they're healthy?

My favorite is having someone take a few bites before I tell them what's inside.

But, as my father-in-law pointed out, "The Help" has made people a bit wary about eating something with surprise ingredients.

"Eat my beans" just doesn't quite have the same wow factor.


Seriously though. eat these.

xoxo

{Bon Bon}

Black Bean Brownies

1 15-ounce can unsalted black beans

2 large eggs

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract

1/2 tablespoon instant coffee

Pinch salt

{I like to add spinach and avocado}

Preheat the oven to 350°F and coat an 8×8-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.

Combine all ingredients in a blender and pulse until completely smooth. Pour the batter into the pan and bake until the top and sides of brownies are set, although the insides will still be a bit soft, about 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool then slice into 16 brownies. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

I'm Like Mary Poppins

Welcome to the inside of my bag!

Top Left: J.Crew keychain/NUK pacifier/Target dayplanner/Nordstrom wallet/Magazine necklace from Rwanda/Benefit Benetint lip balm

Top Right: Fuego sunglasses/F21 flower headband/Sephora compact mirror/Yojiya Oshiroigami face powder paper/Stila Convertible Color in Gerbera

Bottom Left: iPhone w/Uncommon case/leopard print cosmetic bag, gift from a friend/Goody Ouchless hair elastics

Bottom Right: MyChelle Dermaceuticals Fruit Enzyme Mist/Bath&Body Works hand sanitizer/Tide To Go pen/Burt's Bees chapstick/Gum/Lunabar in White Chocolate Macadamia/LipFusion lip plumper/Lancome Juicy Tube in Spring Fling/Kiehl's Lip Balm #1


and let's be honest, I've always got a whole lotta this going on in there.
And if I'm really really honest, then I'll admit I had a diaper in the mix too.
Plus about seven more pacifiers.
mama mia!

xoxo

{Bon Bon}