Yesterday I walked downtown to the new Petite MarieBette. The space is gorgeous, and the baked goods just as yummy as ever. I have loved the Rose Hill Drive location for a long time, but parking can be such a pain over there, so I am thrilled to be able to walk! I had their Valentine’s Day hot chocolate – filled with berries and passionfruit mixed with a rich chocolate! And those marshamallows – gaaaaah.
And I brought a kale salad home for lunch which I topped with Plenty Mexican chicken salad.
My Valentines
Sweet brothers. And Birch looks huge here! Also: those pants – that’s what he looks like everyday after coming home from the kindergarten playground. *eye roll*
Mr. Mazen did a wonderful job writing all of his classmates’ names on their valentines.
Update: Treadmill Has Been Purchased!
I did it! I spent a long time yesterday researching treadmills, and took all of your comments and messages into consideration and bought…..the NordicTrack C 990.
Selling points
- Under $1000 (barely!!)
- iFit compatible (I really wanted one with a little touch screen and I’m going to do a trial of iFit since I love using Aaptiv (which is audio only) so much.)
- FREE any-room delivery and assembly!! I will be sure to update you all how this goes. Yay for Amazon having this on sale for the day!
I almost went with the less expensive NordicTrack T 6.5 S after chatting with my friend Runnergirl on Instagram who has it and loves it, but I also spent a LOT of time on this site and she has the 990 as a Best Buy and her reasons it beats the 6.5 S were all very convincing to spend just a little bit more money.
I sure hope it’s awesome!
The Horizon one is going to go back on Craigslist as “free to anyone who will bring two strong people to haul it away.” It’s honestly still good for walking and slow jogging if you can get over the stops (when the incline decides to work) so if any locals want it for free – lemme know!
Update: Crib Naps
Mazen has been helping me out with Birch’s naps, which are now taking place in his crib!
I moved the monitor and white noise to the nursery for daytime naps. He doesn’t seem to notice that he’s not in the bassinet. I really can’t imagine when he’s going to sleep downstairs at night (I want him within arms reach forever – sob!) but I thought I should have him getting used to the crib. I wouldn’t want to have a one year old standing in his crib on night one and it not being a familiar space, ya know? At least when they day comes for him to do nights in his room, he’ll be familiar with his crib from naps.
Update: Cloud Cam As A Baby Monitor
Now that I’m using it in the nursery, I am really loving our Amazon Cloud Cam as a monitor. I keep a tab open on my computer when I’m working, the app on the iPad when I’m exercising or in the kitchen, and the Echo Spot on when I’m upstairs. I imagine when the day comes that B sleeps in his nursery all night I’ll use the Echo at night too. The only downside to this is I lose it as a clock, but that seems like a small loss. I have gotten out our Motorola video monitor several times and it’s just so annoying to have to carry around the parent unit in comparison to just logging into an app with my phone or on the computer while I work. I can let our babysitter use the iPad too. I really didn’t know how the Cloud Cam would do as a monitor, but I can say now that I like it a lot!
Mazen and I have started reading to B too. I think it’s adorable how he actually looks at the books already. It’s never too soon to start reading to your kids I suppose. We’re really liking the Merlin suit too. It has been a great transition out of the swaddle. I do hope to end up with sleep sacks in the next month or so, but I’m not quite ready to go through a few days of no naps to get there. Maybe one weekend soon when I have more hands on deck!
After a week of shorter stretches, Birch did a 10 hour stretch on Wednesday night!! WOO HOO!
Update: Pockets Are Amazing
After wearing leggings for so long, I’m in jeans half the time now. Do you know why that is awesome? POCKETS! The lack of pockets is the one major drawback to leggings, and I am finding myself thinking “Gosh these pockets are so convenient” when I wear my jeans!
Another update: I am losing all of my hair. It’s falling out worse than Gussie’s! I remember this happening with Mazen and having to have my shower drain snaked eventually, so I hope it doesn’t cause any drain problems in this house.
Update: KERF Design
You might notice a slight blog re-design in the next couple of days. I’m working to make KERF more user friendly for those of you who read both every day and sporadically. As it rolls out, I welcome your feedback as always (politely of course) and I can hopefully make some tweaks as necessary. The short of it is I’m aiming to have the three most recent posts at the top and the older posts underneath so there is a lot less scrolling and you can more easily see all the posts I’ve published in a week. Crossing fingers it all looks good in the end!
I have had the NordicTrack 990 for over 5 years and I love it! I use it at least 5 days/week and do long runs on it frequently (especially during the cold winter months in MN). It has well over 6000 miles on it and it still works great. I did get the extended warranty and it includes yearly maintenance. The only thing they have had to fix is the belt because it was fraying.
I’m glad you love it! I am holding my breath for the person today who writes “I have it and hate it” but after all the anxiety I had over buying one, I’m sure there is someone who hates every model so I just had to go with one! That sucks about the belt, but hopefully that’s an easy fix and you’re putting some major mileage on it! I will need to get up with the maintenance routine…
You should be reading to them from day one! Read at least 15 minutes once a day…if not more. It fosters a love of reading early on and is great for language development.
Your hair always looks so shiney and amazing.
What shampoo and conditioner do you use?
Thank you! Currently Alba Botanica in Plumeria, which smells amazing!
By any chance have you ever tried a line of shampoos called Renpure?
I am looking into possibly trying sulfate free shampoo due to lots of scalp problems. Looking for one that is super affordable for me and my twin daughters.
I haven’t…
Tried Renpure over the weekend. Not that great IMO.
Just got a kind called OGX about to try.
The Alba botanica looks nice but couldn’t find it at the store so got the OGX.
I like the OGX brand a lot too – the blue one!
Love the reading! Great for both boys 🙂 And I am obsessed with leggings with pockets. I got my first ones – Nike running tights – last spring. On Kauai of all places. I’ve never looked back!
This is the future lol
Ooh, would love to see reviews of your new treadmill! I’ve always wanted one to put at home, unfortunately it won’t fit in 300 sq ft space (and I live with two other people!)
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Are you using the sleep suite at night too, or just for naps for now? A friend of mine let me borrow hers and it is just sitting in the nursery right now. We need to transition out of the swaddle but I am TERRIFIED, haha!
For both! It’s been a wonderful transition
Just a note – when I watched the oatmeal video you mentioned that possibly it was the gluten coming out of the oats that was making it creamy – oats are gluten free (but often are cross contaminated with other grains in the processing from field to processing). What is making the oatmeal creamy is the release of starch when the cell walls are disrupted from the cooking and stirring process. Looks like a delicious way to make oatmeal though!
Do you mean the one from 2008 or so? I was probably misinformed and meant the starch as you say. Maybe 11 years later it’s time for an updated video 🙂
it was the one embedded into today’s post. I usually never watch the videos since my browser doesn’t like to show them, but today I happened to use a different browser and so I did see this one. It may have been an old one – maybe a new one is in order! 🙂
My 2008 videos do show there 🙂
Kath, I LOVE this type of blog post! How cool is it to get little updates that have been useful and meaningful to you! I’ve been reading your blog for years and love this type of post! I start my days with my coffee and reading your blog post that morning before my chaotic day begins! Have a beautiful weekend!!
<3
Love your blog as always! In regards to the hair loss, I encourage you to research the benefits of collagen. I started adding a teaspoon to my hot tea every morning and the difference is REMARKABLE! My hair loss was out of control but the added collagen has made all the difference.
I think it’s all hormonal from pregnancy and breastfeeding. Does collegen prevent hormonal changes?
I do not know the answer to that. My issue was hormone related but not due to pregnancy.
You can buy a rubber “strainer”that fits over the drain of your tub/shower which catches your hair so it doesn’t clog up the drain. Lots cheaper than a plumber.
Truth! I should be proactive and get it.
I don’t normally comment, but i have this drain cover and it works amazingly well! I have long hair that sheds a lot and this somehow catches it all so none actually goes down the drain. It’s also super easy to remove your hair from and clean. Highly recommend so you don’t have to snake the drain
LEKEYE Shower Drain Hair Catcher/Strainer/Stainless Steel and Silicone https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06W2MPGZV/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_IwUACbQQ9WD7N
Thank you!
Can’t wait to see the new design! I have no problems with the current one, but hey, we’re with ya everyday so an occasional “refresh” is always cool.
This post reminded me of how my oldest used to come home from kindergarten looking like a chimney sweep! Even his feet would need scrubbing (heaven only knows how the dirt got through his shoes and socks)! Glad he got lots of fresh air and exercise!!
Haha! Mazen came home with soaked socks on Monday!
Before reading I thought the first photo was pork chops in some type of marinade! Got a little excited for a new recipe 🙂
Boys (and I’m sure girls too) are so hard on their pants at that age. My son doesn’t like to wear jeans and the ‘sweat’ pants don’t seem to last as long.
I’ve seen other blog with a comments button/link on the top by the heading of the article and it’s nice to be able to select that and jump down to the comments without scrolling sometimes. Looking forward to the new design.
That is great feedback! Would you comment before you read then or returning to comment? Why would you be at the top? (Thinking out loud here)
Mostly used for “returning to comment”. Or to catch up on new comments on a post where there’s a lot of discussion going on in the comments section.
Noted!!
I read the post in Feedly and then if I want to read comments or write one I click over to the web page and it’s then nice to ‘jump to comments’ instead of scrolling down all the way.
Great point as well!
I’m not sure if this counts as true feedback, but would you consider doing occasional “day in the life” posts? It’s so interesting to see how other moms spend their days!
Sure – I haven’t done one in ages. I’ll do one next week.
That hot chocolate looks AMAZING!
Hi Kath,
We’re the same height and share roughly the same body composition and I love the way the jeans fit you. I’m always on the hunt for jeans that fit me well. Would you mind sharing what brand and style they are and where I might be able to find them? Thanks! 🙂
They are Level 99 jeans from Stitch Fix! This is the brand, but I’m not sure which cut they are. Giovanni I think?
Awesome, thank you! <3
Thanks for the treadmill pre-review – you must do a follow up once you’ve used it! For 11 years I’ve been using a NordicTrack I bought slightly used. It’s been awesome, but now when the fan is on high the belt speed varies a lot. I’ve just been keeping it on low and getting sweaty!
Excited for the blog re-design 🙂 Also – I love that top you are wearing in the last picture…where is it from? And YES to pockets *praise hands* haha
It’s by Boob Design – a nursing top! The front panel flips up.
I love the green top in your last photo. Where is it from?
It’s by Boob Design – a nursing top!
Feedback on upcoming design changes: I really appreciate that I can scroll through your top post without needing to actually click through. I Jon it gets you double the clicks or page views if you do that, but I just tend to stop reading. Many of your peers have done so (Anne, Tina, Monica) and I ended up just giving up after a while
I LOVE the rugs you have in your home. Any chance you could do a little tour and note where they’re from?? I love your blog… read it every day
The big one under the couch is this chunky wool and jute one from Pottery Barn. It’s really soft and hides dirt and Gus hair so well. The smaller seagrass one under the dining room table and entry way were once Karen’s – she had a huuuuge one and had them cut down to smaller pieces when she moved.
Thank you so much!
The Valentine’s Day hot chocolate looks incredible! Definitely a great way to celebrate the holiday!