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Grim

I couldn’t bear to be sitting at my computer yesterday, endlessly refreshing news sites. I went out for a run — in the rain, and in silence — and felt marginally better. I played with the kids, we ate dinner as a family, and August, feverish and miserable, slept in our bed, kicking me and Brandon all night.

This morning, the kids and I arranged our longest train track yet, and we built a forest of Playmobil trees. The forest needs a gingerbread house, according to Eleanor. I tried to recount the story of Hansel and Gretel to E a few weeks ago, and I couldn’t remember all of the details. Brandon jumped in, filling in some of my gaps, but then I remembered our old book of fairy tales (my mother’s book, given to her by her parents on her second birthday). I found it and read the story to Eleanor, verbatim, not remembering how grim(m) it was. We read it once and she has been referencing it since.

Grim

From witches and terrible stepmothers to worse, much worse, it sometimes feels like the world is filled with too much evil. There is so much goodness out there though, too. Far more goodness. For that, and for quotidian family moments, I’m grateful.

Honest Goodness

Let’s say you get the chance to talk to Jessica Alba. You’d probably talk to her about some of her movie roles, right? I talked to her about bubble bath. Specifically, how her Honest Bubble Bath (she co-founded the company) was the only one that didn’t irritate my kids’ skin.

Look, there I am (with long hair) at Alt Summit, talking to her about me giving baths to my children! She was riveted, no doubt.

Nicole Balch and Jessica Alba

Ah, but it’s true about the bubble bath. We’ve been using Honest for a good six months now. Everything they make is natural and non-toxic, and I’m happy to be working with them today to share what has worked for us when it comes to bath time.

Honest Shampoo and Conditioner

We like Honest’s shampoo and body wash, and the conditioner has helped me avoid this dreaded scenario with Eleanor. I use a little spray conditioner on her hair sometimes too, to help comb it and tame static. The whole family uses Honest’s face and body lotion, and I like to bundle everything into a monthly package to save a little, but everything is available individually too.

Sometimes I even add lotion to August’s hair to style it up a bit. He doesn’t like to be fussed over, but the result is too cute. Although, I’ve got to say that nothing beats his bedhead!

August's Bedhead

(I kind of want to figure out how to get my hair to do that.)

If you’re curious about Honest, check out their free trial. Also, Making it Lovely readers can enjoy $5 off a bundle subscription using the code Lovely$5off. Limited to first-time buyers and expires April 25, 2013.

The New Coffee/Play Table

We’ll have space for a play table in August’s room once he transitions from a crib to a bed and we’re able to take the glider and ottoman out. I was thinking about using our old coffee table, but Brandon pointed out that the whole reason we replaced it was because we were worried about its stability. Putting it in his room started to seem like a pretty bad idea, even though it would have looked cute.

I spotted a wood and sandstone coffee table that I liked at the Crate & Barrel outlet when I was there with my friend Kathryn (we met when I redesigned her bedroom), so I bought it. It’s similar to my old table, but slightly larger and a whole lot sturdier.

Playmobil Castle in a Home Library

Playmobil Castle

You like how I ‘styled’ it? It’s officially a play table now. (Funny thing about that Playmobile castle — I saw it last year at Berwyn’s Toys & Trains, and I joked to the kids that “daddy would really like that toy.” Guess who bought it?)

Playing with a Playmobil Castle

Actually, keeping the table in the library may turn out to be a better plan than moving it to August’s room. It fits the space well and looks fine, but has the added bonus of being neutral territory. If the castle was in either kid’s room, there would be more fighting over it because it’s seen as theirs, but out in the library they share it pretty well. I had to take the nesting side tables away that were next to the chair though, which I’d painted specifically for that space and liked. Too many tables, you know? Now I’m not sure if they’re coming back.

My Little Bunny Rabbit

See the two fingers held above her head? Those are the ears, of course.

(If you hover over the video, there’s an option to turn the sound on. Much giggling can be heard.)

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