We got a new camera, and it is AWESOME

• Kevin and I have been pretty terrible about getting grown-up stuff done since Clare was born, but this site should help. I like checklists, even if they’re for boring things like living wills and powers of attorney!
• I’m sort of tentatively thinking of having Clare’s 1st birthday party be rainbow-themed, and these cupcakes would complement that nicely. Except I think I might want to do doughnuts instead of cake? We’ll see.
• Note to self: next time it’s time to update your computer desktop wallpaper, change it to this. I’ve got some other nebula on my desktop here at work, and I’m not quite ready to switch it yet. APOD is a fucking goldmine for wallpaper.
• My getaway house in the Wisconsin woods (someday, someday) is going to have lots of natural light and wide, wide plank floors. Yes.
• I think my office is missing a mobile. Don’t you?
• I’m kind of obsessed with Raspberry Pi computers, and somebody used one to keep track of their beers on tap at home. We could DEFINITELY use this.
• It’s a little late to make it for St. Patty’s Day, but I would love to make this Jar of Luck to add a little greenery to my home office. Or anywhere in the house, really.
• I’m so impatient for Clare to get older so she can play with cool things like this felt board over at A Life Sustained. Such a great idea!
• Stuffed cheese buns? YES PLEASE!

My current spring-y trench coat from Target

This coat is cute, and it still works, I guess. I kinda want something bright and new for spring, though. Especially something in coral…

Soia & Kyo’s Martha in coral

Or maybe something a little slumpy and army-ish:

Penfield Summer Anorak

This guy by Vans from Zappos is pretty cute, although I can’t testify as to the quality of anything from Vans anymore:

Vans Anchor jacket in charcoal heather

I generally like DKNY stuff, and this is cute, but it might be too boxy on my big-bootied frame:

DKNY plaid

Then again, there’s always this one from Target (again):

Target’s French terry in coral

I don’t know if I should try for something shorter, or go with a long trench like last time. Or just, you know, stick with what I’ve already got and skulk about it. Probably the last thing, but it’s nice to think about.

I went back to work after a 12-week maternity leave, and thankfully, I work for a very, very progressive department that is supportive of me pumping at work. I didn’t really tell people about the problems I had with breastfeeding at the beginning, but my boss understood how important it was to me to keep my breastfeeding relationship with my daughter going. My employer even makes a point of having a brazillion lactation rooms spread all over campus, and the building in which I work has one right downstairs in the basement, which features a comfy chair and a hospital-grade pump. SCORE.

We already had bottles worked out, since we’d been having to supplement with formula and I’d been pumping during my maternity leave to feed her every day. Originally, I’d bought a bunch of BPA-free plastic bottles to use, until I read something about how they were substituting BPA with BPS, which is mostly unstudied and may be even more dangerous than BPA. YIKES. So, I promptly ordered some glass bottles from Lifefactory, which you can see in action below. They were a little expensive, but the glass gives me peace of mind, and the silicone sleeves that come with them are great for non-slippiness and for cushioning the fall in case we drop them. Plus, they’re cute, amirite?

When I first went back to work, I was hauling my milk home in Medela Pump & Save bags. These were pretty convenient and didn’t take up much space in my purse, but even though they’re recyclable, I just couldn’t stop feeling guilty about increasing the demand for plastic, especially since I was going through, like, 10 bags a week. So I picked up some Medela 8oz milk bottles without the nipples, and I just carry those back and forth every day, cleaning them at home in between. They’re handy, and I’ll be able to keep reusing them until I stop pumping at work, whenever that may be.

So, since I started back at work, I’ve been merrily pumping along, but something was missing. I work on the 2nd floor of the building, and the lactation room is in the basement, and I had been using a grocery bag to carry my collection of stuff between the two places, feeling like an unfancy bag lady. Finally, after pumping for 4 months at work (god, I can’t believe it’s been that long), I decided I needed something pretty to carry my stuff around in. Enter ETSY!

Newly arrived, with a photobomb by Cosmo

I found this lovely little bag  from the seller lovejill on Etsy after doing a search for wristlet clutches. I gambled a little on the size, since it’s hard to estimate how much room the parts will actually take up, but it ended up being PERFECT. It even has a little pocket inside that’s the right size for my cell phone (which I bring to pass the time while pumping) and a few bucks in case I want to hit the vending machine or the cafe on the way back upstairs.

The view inside

The bag measures 8″ x 13″, and is big enough to accommodate the pump arm, flange, and a storage bottle. It’s also big enough that it looks like a legit purse, but not so big that I look like I’m carrying luggage around. Also, HELLO! It’s cute! And really well-made.

In situ

So, that takes care of me pumping at work. One thing that I’ve had to contend with is the simple fact that working moms who pump during the day can often experience supply dips, since they’re not getting as much of the the hormonal/biological stimulation to produce breastmilk as those who are will their babies all day and feed on-demand. I’m able to do a few things to combat this. First of all, I usually try to get into “nursing vacation” mode at least one day of every weekend. Maybe not for the whole day (but sometimes yeah!), but spending lengthy amounts of time on the weekend where we do skin-to-skin, spend a lot of time snuggling, and where I basically offer her the breast as often as possible, really helps me keep my supply up. My production Monday mornings is pretty awesome after I’ve been able to do this over the weekend.

Another way I work to keep my supply up is by consuming galactologues, several of which are found in the lactation cookies my friend Alicia makes for her business Rosie’s Best. It doesn’t hurt that they’re delicious. When I’ve got a batch of these in the cupboard, I usually eat 2-3 per day and can see a boost.

Seriously, they’re tasty

Okay, for those of you here for the cold, hard facts, here you go:

• I pump 4 times per day currently. I generally feed my daughter around 6:30, get her to daycare by 7:30, and then my first pumping session is at 9:30. I pump every two hours on the odd half-hour, so 9:30am, 11:30am, 1:30pm, and 3:30pm. Then I pick her up at about 5:30pm and feed her right when we get home.
• I generally pump between 12-16oz per day. Usually, my biggest pump is first thing in the morning, and then I get about 3oz per pump for the rest of the day.
• I only use 4oz bottles with the slowest-flow nipples possible for her at daycare. So, I send three 4oz bottles and one 2oz bottle with her. The 4oz bottles are her main “meals”, and then the 2oz is used if she needs a top-up during the day, or if she’s starving at 5pm and they know I’m coming soon. We had some milk-amount issues with the daycare about a month ago, which I’ll probably talk about in another post, but since those were resolved we’ve stayed at this amount, and she’ll probably get this amount at daycare until she stops getting breastmilk at daycare. Now that those issues have been resolved, probably 4 out of 5 days per week, she doesn’t even drink the 2oz bottle.
• This is a good resource for figuring out how much your baby needs at daycare every day.
• When I first started pumping at work, I’d pump about 10 minutes per side. Nowadays, I know what I’m producing, and have cut it down to about 5-7 minutes per side.
• I don’t have a huge freezer stash, but I haven’t had to use what I have yet, either. I’ve got about 50oz in my freezer, and so far I’ve given one 5oz bag to daycare as a backup and have had to bust out my first “about to get to be 5 months old” bag to start cycling through the old milk. I’m able to squirrel away about 5oz a week, though, which makes me feel more comfortable in case something happens where I’m not able to nurse her. Obviously, she’ll go through it quickly if we have to use it, but still.
• Like I mentioned above, I pass the time at the pump with my phone. My favorite thing to do is watch videos from my favorite beauty gurus on YouTube. I mostly try to ignore what I’m producing while I pump, because it can stress me out, which can hamper let-down.
• Speaking of let-down, if it feels like it’s taking a while (which then starts stressing me out), I’ve got a batch of photos and videos of Clare on my phone that I’ll watch, which can really speed things up.
• I’ve got an iPhone, and I use an app called Milk Maid to track my pumping output. I find it handy because it’s got a timer on it, so I can keep track of how long I’ve been pumping on each side. It also lets me record my output, and then I can look at graphs over time to see trends. It satisfies my nerdy need for data.

Do you have any questions? Any stories to relate or suggestions? Let me know!

♥

“Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, 
and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth 
seeking the successive autumns.” 
-   George Eliot

1. I’ve been gently daydreaming about building another HTPC machine (especially now that we’re giving up cable next week!), except unlike my last foray into this realm, I think I want to build a media server to stash in the basement, and then have set-top boxes at the tvs in the house to stream from the server. I’m going to be watching this entry for ideas on DVD rippers.
2. I am in love with the homemade cocktail mixers that Whitney over at the Ugly Green Chair made to pass out as holiday gifts. Want to steallll!
3. I also want to make some of this sleep salve. Another great idea for next year’s gift baskets.
4. Don’t these homemade paper crackers look wonderful? I need to send away to Ferm Living for some wallpaper samples so I can make these for various festive occasions.
5. Anna over at Door Sixteen wrote about her skincare routine, and so much of what she said rang true for me. I’m still dealing with acne in my 30s (even though I got a wonderful respite while pregnant), and I need to start doing what I can to take care of my skin more effectively.
6. These Stephen Wildish posters are fucking awesome, and I WANT THEM ALLLLL. Ahem.
7. Soooo, I’m making my first foray into using woven wraps, and I used holiday money to order this lovely little item. This is apparently a huge mama-subculture that I didn’t even know existed until very recently. I don’t know if I’ll get into the community, but I’m definitely looking forward to carrying my bambina around in something this beautiful (and RED). Time to start watching YouTube videos on different carries!
8. Since my friend Amanda introduced me to this quinoa salad recipe a few weeks ago, I’ve made it twice. TWICE! That’s a record in our house since C was born! It’s so refreshing and filling, I’m sure I’ll make it many more times this winter (especially since it reminds me of summer, with the citrus and corn).
9. Homemade Magic Shell? Don’t mind if I do!
10. Handmade sprinkles for cakes and DOUGHNUTS? You’re killin’ me, Smalls! Yeah, I’m gonna make these, too, for a little doughnut-themed shindig we’re hosting next month.

♥ ♥ ♥

Okay, I’m still on the search for a good pair of glasses. I think I finally decided on the Sims frames from Warby Parker, but HEY, I’ve got more flex spending account money left after I buy those. I might as well buy MORE!

Whitney over at the Ugly Green Chair recently posted about getting some glasses from Fetch Eyewear, and upon reading that they also do home try-on, I had to check them out. I love the fact that they donate all of their profits to animal rescue, too! They totally know their target audience there. Their glasses are also only $125, which is slightly more expensive than Warby Parker, but they also seem to have a larger selection and many more color options.

Gretta in Mahogany

Felix in Onyx

Darby in Cameo Fade

Pepper in Cranberry Matte (I might like these better in Opal)

Tracy in Bittersweet

Sadie in Berber Crush

These frames felt much like the Warby Parker ones: well-made, substantial without being too heavy, and fitting my face well. I’ve had a run of bad luck with other online glasses sellers, with them selling me frames that are wayyyy too big for my head (and I’ve got a pretty big head!). I think the last ones, Sadie in Berber Crush, are the clear winners here. So, Sadie and Sims it is!

Gifts for Her

1. Knitted lace shawl from Alma’s Knit Shop
2. Raven bleach hoodie by The Whatnot Stand
3. Jersey scarf by Susan Shinnick
4. Beach stone necklace from BABEjewelry
5. Bunting necklace by DizzyRhinoDesigns
6. Wooded layered necklace from E Halsch

Gifts for Him

1. Custom guitar picks from E. Ria Designs
2. Grow hoodie from Hartley’s Kitchen
3. Gardener’s grit soap from Books By Wende
4. United We Cycle print from Kari Andersen Design
5. TARDIS linocut by HelloMyNameIsRyan
6. Custom skateboard decks from Band of Outsiders

Gifts for Kids

1. Crocheted flip-flops by Sweet Lace Shop
2. Bicycle t-shirt from Night Owl Bliss
3. Cardinal mask from Seth Brenneman
4. Blue piranha hand puppet from PuppetsnChains
5. Crocheted booties by Sweet Lace Shop
6. Ragdoll from GracieStitches

Gifts for Pets

1. Custom pet portraits from Home Ec Workshop
2. Cherry blossom cat collar from Shortcake Designs
3. Braided dog toy by The Sara Initiative
4. Catnip food from Too Bad Mice
5. Houndstooth dog harness from So Belle Pets
6. Dog collars from Klise Dogs

For the Home

1. Knit coasters from Alma’s Knit Shop
2. Make Stuff linocut from HelloMyNameIsRyan
3. Concrete headphone sculpture by Blind Bicyclist
4. Knit backgammon game from Alma’s Knit Shop
5. Mourning dove linocut by Frank Simon
6. Prairie placemats by Susan Shinnick

For Your Coworkers

1. Cowl scarf from Good&Happy Knits
2. Iowa print by DizzyRhinoDesigns
3. Coin purse from GracieStitches
4. Business card wallet from Veronica Made
5. Hollyhock mug by Lime Kiln Farm
6. Reuseable coffee cuff from Shortcake Designs

White Elephant

1. Indigo buntings print from Claudia McGehee
2. Barn owl watercolor by Britt Hill Gallery
3. Fly notebook by Night Owl Bliss
4. Author trading cards from Wolftown
5. Handbound photo album by Vault 13 Studio
6. Wool bird socks from J Meggers

Another great local gift for all of the categories on this list is delicious granola made by my friend Alicia at Rosie’s Best! She’s my baby/breastfeeding guru, runs a fabulous slow-food blog at Culinary Bliss, and she makes a mean lactation cookie, too!

Apparently, I was really feeling the “put a bird on it” vibe. Do you know of some local artisans who should be patronized this year? I’m hoping to make it out to White Rabbit to check out some more goods that aren’t available from Etsy, but just in case I don’t get to it, I’ve got a lot of great ideas here!

Via SpecialKRB on Flickr

My heart is aching for those affected by Hurricane Sandy, but being landlocked in Iowa and having a new baby, I unfortunately can’t pick up and fly out to the east coast to help out in the relief efforts (even though my background as an AmeriCorps alum ensures that that’s my kneejerk urge whenever things like this happen). Since I’m stuck here, I tried to find other ways I could help out.

Thanks to Anna at Door Sixteen, I was directed to this post on Sweet Fine Day, which gives a view on the destruction that got lost in the uproar over the elections (yay Obama, by the way!). At the bottom of the post is a list of local organizations and efforts that are directly benefiting those affected by the disaster, which is apparently the way to go about helping them the fastest, since Red Cross funds aren’t necessarily getting to where they’re needed quickly enough. From there, I donated via the Occupy Sandy Amazon wishlist, using my Prime membership to make sure things got delivered quickly. I also contributed to the NYC Food Truck Association, which is currently out in full-force, feeding Sandy victims for free.

I’m sad I can’t be there in person to help out with the efforts, but I’m happy to do some small part to send things that are needed and spread the word about the awesome things that are going on.

Help out if you can!

Via Patrick Moberg

Please go do your civic duty today and vote, if you haven’t already. If you need more information, visit Gotta Vote.

1. First, I apply Eucerin Daily Protection SPF 15 Moisturizer right when I step out of the shower. I love wearing a facial moisturizer every day to stop skin damage, and I especially love how well this goes on and melts into my skin. It never feels heavy, and completely disappears under makeup. Perfect, I say.
2. Once I’m ready to “do my face”, I use Maybelline’s Instant Age Rewind undereye concealer. Some people might be skeeved by using the little self-applicating sponge over and over again without a way to clean it, but honestly, I only use it on clean, dry skin, so I’m not very worried about it. The sponge makes it easy to apply, and it’s got a nice smooth and creamy formula that doesn’t make my undereye area all papery. The flip-side to that is that it’s not super pigmented, so its coverage isn’t quite up to par with heavier-duty concealers. I’d say it’s a fair trade, though.
3. Next, I apply the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind “foundation”. I put that in quotes because honestly, it’s almost more like a tinted moisturizer. Again, built-in sponge applicator, and again, not as pigmented as its regular counterpart. It’s almost like it has silicone in it, it’s so creamy and easy to spread around. I basically just smear it on the various regions of my face and then spread it around with my fingers. Super easy and quick to apply.
4. The next item is the fanciest part of my daily routine: NARS blush in Orgasm. People say that this is the shade of blush that works for everybody’s skin tone, and they’re entirely right. I love this shit. It’s the perfect peachy-pink color, and it has little flecks of sparkle that’ll light you up without making you look like a raver kid. I apply this with a regular Sonia Kashuk blush brush.
5. I’m still looking for “that mascara of my dreams”, but for now I’m using Covergirl’s LashBlast Volume waterproof mascara, based upon the endorsement of a YouTube beauty guru I follow. So far, I’m liking it but not LOVING it. The applicator wand is pretty nice, and the way it’s shaped means that I don’t accidentally poke the bridge of my nose and get mascara all over it. I’m still on the lookout, though. Gimme your suggestions.
6. Lastly, if I remember before jetting out the door, MOROCCAN OIL. My bestie JoAnn, stylist of the gods, got me turned on to this stuff. I pour about a dime-sized pool of it into the palm of my hand, rub my hands together to spread it around, and then run my fingers through my hair to very lightly apply. Any oil left on my hands after applying, I just rub it onto any dry spots on my skin. This stuff is the perfect product for me, to keep my flyaway hair from getting all frazzley and gross, and it makes my wavy hair look nice without being weighted down. Plus, it smells soooo good. Sort of an herby floral scent, very understated. Whenever I remember to wear it, I always yell at myself that I don’t remember it more often. It’s magical.

Eventually, I know that Clare will be a little lower-maintenance, and I’ll be able to incorporate cuter stuff into my routine (real foundation! eye shadow! eyeliner!), but for now, this is working just fine. Keeping my routine short means that I get extra time to snuggle with her in the morning before I have to leave for work, and for now, I’ll take it!

What does your makeup routine look like?