Today I’m trying out a new feature on the blog. It may become a regular feature if it becomes wildly popular, leading Nolan, Brian and me to riches beyond our imagining. I find it’s better to set up lower expectations, though, and so just becoming moderately wealthy would be reward enough for us. Like high/upper middle class wealthy at LEAST. That will cut it. I’d like some fancy home renovations, all I’m sayin’.
Ok, here’s the idea: Every Friday (or most Fridays, because I have a commitment issue here), I will post about 5 things that I’ve enjoyed this week. The category of “things” is loose (see above sentence on commitment issues). It could be products I’ve found for Nolan, a good book, an activity, a person, whatever. Who knows where the wind will take us folks. So, without further ado…
The Friday Five
1. Munchkin White Hot Inflatable Duck Tub
Ok, this thing is the man. I mean the duck. It’s the Howard The Duck of inflatable tubs. For the past month or so it’s been super hard to bathe Nolan in his infant tub (we had been using the Fisher-Price Precious Planet Whale of a Tub
As Nolan’s gotten bigger and more, ahem, “active” it’s been harder for me to manage him during baths. I think he might have gotten so inspired at swim lessons that he wants to practice his breast stroke while I’m more interested in cleaning the table scraps from behind his ears. Sometimes we are not on the same page, Nolie and me.
But then along came the duck tub and turned things around for us, as only an inflated duck can do. Because it’s inflated Nolan can bounce right off the sides with no repercussions. He can sit up straight and read his books. Now, at ten months, this thing has been a lifesaver.
We’re training Nolan early-on to multi-task in the bathroom. For now he’s reading in the tub, but someday he’ll be checking his emails on the toilet like the rest of us.
2. The Timer
This one really got me: It’s a post by Leslie Kendall Dye of the blog Hungry Little Animal called “The Timer“, and it looks at how our dreams for the future are an important piece of enjoying the present. I can put it on this list even though it’s not a humor piece because remember, there are no rules to this list. It’s anarchy over here on my laptop. Plus, the post is beautifully written and it captured a feeling that rings true for this particular time in my life, and I suspect in the lives of many people who read this blog.
“Time has a way of expanding and contracting while you watch your child grow. When we lie in the dark after her nap, after she summons me for that afternoon cuddle, time expands and I exhale in the darkness.” – Leslie Kendall Dye
3. Rehab Addict
This is a show about a hot lady, Nicole Curtis, who takes horribly run down houses, mostly in Detroit, and restores them to their former glory. I know TV uses fancy tricks like “editing”, but from what I can tell Nicole Curtis does much of the restoration herself. She is a total hot badass. And, I mean, the tagline pretty much sums things up:
“Nicole gives condemned houses a second chance on Rehab Addict — and she looks great doing it!”
Nicole Curtis, who I think we can all agree looks a bit like Nicole Eggert from “Charles in Charge.”
This makes me want to have my own tagline. Something like: “Liz births babies like nobody’s business on her hit show A Mothership Down– and she looks great doing it!”
I’m especially taken with Nicole Curtis, but I’ve been really into home design shows in general. Last year Brian and I moved into an 1890’s Victorian house in need of some work. We’ve done a lot in the past year, but now we’re considering some signifiant renovations to the first floor and backyard, which excites me greatly. You see, I am of the mind that anything is possible in home design. I can see a dilapidated mobile home and easily imagine transforming it into a glorious Colonial. Brian does not quite see things the same way, because he takes into account items like “measurements” and “finances” and “gravity” when planning our projects.
Brian and Nolan, hard at work.
As you can see, Nolan and Brian are working hard to craft a design for our yard. You know that they are working hard because there is graph paper on the table, and also a measuring tape on standby. This is how designers work, people. They measure the shit out of things.
If you’re planning your own renovation, or just like to look at hot ladies doing manual labor, check out Rehab Addict.
4. Nursery Gallery Walls
This is an adorable way to decorate a nursery, or an office, or a bathroom (not a bathroom, actually). It’s simple and kind of haphazard looking, which I like. I did it in Nolan’s room.
Inspiration photo from Pinterest
I was very happy with the result in Nolan’s room, although, as Brian likes to say, “If those walls could talk, they would say ‘ouch’.” That Brian, he likes some gentle comedy.
Nolan’s room
Nolan’s ever expanding girth is pushing the limits on his infant carseat (we’ve been using the Chicco Key Fit 30
But, since Nolan doesn’t appear to be getting any smaller, we sucked it up and bought a new lightweight stroller, the UppaBaby G-Lite.
Here’s Nolan testing it out. He started to eat the strap immediately, which is his version of a dog peeing on a tree to mark his territory.
Anyway, the stroller, while not good for hard core walks, is definitely handy for errands. I still use baby carriers for Nolan but let’s be honest, sometimes you don’t want your baby directly up in your grill.
And that concludes this first ever edition of The Friday Five. I will be watching my bank account closely this weekend to see if I have become very rich from this post. Oh, and please – if you have any items that you think are hidden treasures that you want to unhide and share with the rest of us, leave it in the comments!
Another great one, Liz! I’ve said it before and I’m sure I’ll say it again…LOVE the pictures of Nolan! So freaking adorable!!
Thanks Joanne! Strangely, as Nolan’s mother, I don’t mind if you tell me that you think he’s adorable 🙂
Great list! Question about the duck tub – my little Maggie is 8 months old and she is definitely outgrowing her infant tub (the Fisher Price rainforest something or other). Do you leave the duck inflated all the time? How is it with mold/mildew/dampness? Do you have to dry it out completely in between baths? Sorry that’s a more than 1 question. Ha ha. I am just not ready to fill the whole bathtub yet – but the infant tub isn’t really working either! Thanks!! (and VERY cute little boy you have there! How old is he?)
Hi Kristi! We have been leaving the tub inflated, and it seems to dry out just fine. That being said, we only started using it this week, so I’m not sure if there will be an issue with mildew or anything with longer use. So far so good! I really love it, baths have been MUCH easier since we made the switch! Oh, and Nolan is 10 months 🙂
We have been using inflatable tubs for a few years. As I mentioned to you before, he is 3 and still fits well in there. (His name is Nolan). I hang mine on a hook in the bathroom and wash it down periodically. Seems to last quite awhile, but does need to be replaced over time.
Nolan is adorable and his hair is awesome!
Ooh I need to get a hook for my duck, that would be nicer than just having him sit in the tub. Nobody wants a sitting duck…
This is great Liz! And I can totally relate… I’m still grieving the loss of our infant carrier, especially living in a 3rd floor condo. There seems to be no such thing as a “quick” errand anymore. We also have the duck tub and Natalia loves to “give Duckie a bath” while I bathe her. And I have become very familiar with HGTV through 12+ months of breastfeeding. Good work!
Thanks Nicole! Oh man, a 3rd floor condo with a baby is ridiculously hard!!! I feel for you. My back feels for you.
Great post! I love Rehab Addict! That girl is so badass and I love how she always just randomly has stuff stashed away in her storage unit… I always laugh when she’s all “I have the perfect sink/door/floorboard scraps for this exact situation!” good stuff 🙂
Yes, she is super well prepared at all times AND hot! I know I keep saying she’s hot, but really, she is. Who looks like that AND can use power tools so well!?
You should clearly try to cut a deal with HGTV during your remodel… You can call it “Baby Home Makeover” or something and they can use their “camera tricks” to film Nolan doing the majority of the work… You’d obviously have to get a hair and makeup crew to keep his mane camera-ready though…
This is the best thing I’ve heard all day. Now THAT is a money maker. This will propel me to the riches I so desire. If (when!) this happens, I’ll give you a cut.
On my list of things? This post! Love it. And yes umbrella strollers are the shizz. Weird thing my mum does: calls it an “umbroller stroller”. It sort of gives me the chills each time she says it.
my mom says that too!!!! (and dungarees and cream rinse and splash back (the tiles on your kitchen walls))
i hope I am one of your favorite things one week, Liz.
Courtney, I bet you will be one of my favorite things some week. That seems likely. And I love “splash back”. I mean, the water does splash back!
Umbroller Stroller? That’s catchy! I might start using that and seeing if we can get it to catch on….Glad you liked the post!
Rehab addict moved to Detroit? I could have sworn she was in Minneapolis in the past. There are plenty of fixers in Detroit, that’s for sure. And I agree that she looks like Nicole from Baywatch (or as I fondly remember, Charles in Charge).
Nicole has definitely gotten some super cheap fixers in Detroit, but maybe she doubles in Minneapolis too? I love her and kind of want to be her. But I don’t really want to move to Detroit. Every time I think of Detroit I think of Goonies, and Chunk saying “Detroit? That’s the murder capital of the US!” I don’t really know if it’s the murder capital, and I’m paraphrasing Chunk, but it really got into my head. Haha
Weird question but what paint color did you use for Nolan’s nursery? Side note- I never thought I would be envious of a less then 12 month old’s hair 🙂
Emily, the paint color is called Grey Cashmere by Benjamin Moore. The photo doesn’t really do it justice, but it’s a super nice color! It’s kind of grey/glue/green and really pretty for either a boy or girl’s room. We get a lot of compliments on the color actually….
Could you PLEASE PLEASE come do my walls? I have said to my husband for months and months and years, I want to do something creative with photos and mementos, frames and walls and cataloguey stuff, but I am not CREATIVE. Seriously, do you have a rate? We need some help over here.
Also that kid is too much, he got way more than his share of the cute…
Thanks Leslie! You don’t need to be creative, just copy the Pinterest example and substitute your own photos! Also, colorful postcards are cheap and you can frame them and it looks really cute in a nursery….you can do it!!
Side note: Rehab Addict is the ONLY show my husband will watch with me on HGTV. I wonder why?????? ha ha ha!
Haha I love it.
Umm…if those walls could have talked before they were freshly painted and plastered with lovely frames, they would have said, “Look away…we’re hideous.” Bri…this comment was posted in your honor. Lizzie, good work on this one. I appreciate the random assortment of “loves.”
Thanks Sue Sue. I think Griffy has a good shot at making the Friday Five if he continues to be so adorable.