Like the Good Fräulein Says ...

Oh what a day. In early November Two Thousand Thirteen. Stopping! Don't leave. I'm stopping.

No, it's been fine. Sebastian did dump a sizeable container of cinnamon (most cruel word to repeatedly ask Julia to pronounce ... butIstilldoit) out and onto the floor at the store this morning. I didn't have the heart to tell the store manager that came to my rescue in the dairy aisle to help me clean it up that mmm actually no - they aren't triplets nor did I suggest that he might want to see about scheduling a little eye exam.

Anyway ... I'm linking up with the lovely Hallie for some favorite flavors du jour.

1. Together Box: First up we have the Together Box. It's awesome. It's a subscription service that sends a box with 3-5 family friendly activities every month. They sent one over a couple of weeks ago and it is still going strong in the toddlers' favorite toys department which is huge if you know anything about toddlers and their attention spans.

I love our box because it gets us all outside and our spirits up and our blood pumping and Julia still loves talking about going on "adbentures" with the magnifying glass, butterfly net (this was VERY popular - maybe too popular), bug catcher, and bug cage (where the kids catch leaves ... fine by me). There were also materials to make bug costumes (Julia made Theo into a lion one afternoon while Sebastian was napping) and extra suggestions for making bug related snacks which were right up the kids alley. Julia took charge and "read" the little note cards they sent to Sebastian. The creators clearly know kids and moms with little kids because the cards are attached with a sturdy binder ring. Lose-proof!!

My imagination runs about as wild as reading to the kids so a box like this was perfect for me. If you have kids or grandkids - I highly recommend shooting it over for Christmas or a birthday or just for fun. I guarantee they'll heart it to pieces.

If you use the code: camppatton you'll get 50% off your first month and the first two people to use the code will get their second box FOR FREE. So go go go go GO!!!

2. Mascara: So after asking for mascara suggestions several months ago and so many people delivering awesome recommendations I've tested and loved/liked/hated five different kinds. I can't wait to report my findings because I found one that I really love (but the search will never be over for THE ONE ... ) but I was so excited to see that Jenna had also randomly tried out a totally different five ... check it. And love her blog as much as I do because it's the best.

3. Tune-what. Okay so on Friday's post a lot of people thought I was wearing a running skirt. Wrong-o. It was a long shirt or I guess the official term might be a tunic? It's old and from Gap but after scouring countless stores online (well just Gap and Old Navy and Target but Target's website is a nightmare) I can't seem to find a duplicate and I want one in every color. It's just great to wear with leggings and skinny jeans and well ... I guess that's it but have you seen any around? I don't dare take the kids into any store other than the grocery variety and even Target isn't the most fun so ... let me know if you have and I'll love you forever and ever and make you feel niiiiiiiice and awkward.

4. For the volume impaired: And moving onto something edifying - finally. Hairspray!! I don't know what rock I've been hiding under but it's a massive boulder because I just discovered Kate's blog and her amazing voluminous hair. She's so down to earth even though her blog is huger than huge and she has awesome product recommendations. I bought the Kenra Volume Spray she suggested and it is worth every last penny. I thought hairspray was a thing of the past (I know, I'm dumb) but this stuff is so great for us flat-haired ladies. It doesn't leave the gross sticky residue but it holds the hairs up and I love it. Love. Anyway - if you suffer from volumeless hair syndrome like I do - get it.

5. Fried Faux: I love fried rice. SO much. What I don't love is wolfing down a bunch of starch right before bed (Simon's been getting home late and so we eat dinner late and I go to bed embarrassingly early) because then I wake up with sausage fingers that I can barely bend (I know, I'm weird) so I tried out this fried rice made with grated cauliflower. Even I was a little bit of a skeptic (and I made pizza crust out of almond meal last week - mistake - HUGE mistake) but it was really, really good! The key is to finely grate the cauliflower and well, that's my only tip. And I made Simon the real deal .... I'm only a little bit of a Cruella on occasion.

Wellll Julia woke up this morning and after she did her usual fire-breathing/life hating morning routine she asked what I had planned for the day and before I could answer she said, "probably just exercise and make some dinner?" so I better get hopping before I disappoint the little love.


ps! a medium ad spot justjust opened up, effwhyeye!