Mod Apron

Modern homemaking for the frugal urban mama.

Posts tagged me

Aug 29

I found my voice…

…and it’s over here.

Folks, I’ve been struggling lately. Hence the lack of posts and the disjointed subject matter. Maybe you’ve noticed.

The problem, see, is that I lost my sense of direction with this blog. Homemaking, budgeting, meal planning, recipes, kids, motherhood, family life - these topics are only a part of the deliciousness that fills my day. So then, I started Mod Glo, which I’d hoped would provide a blogging outlet for my interest in food and nutrition, and also serve as a health journal as I worked to lose the baby weight after my second child was born.

But then, quite suddenly, I reached my weight loss goal and found that I didn’t have much more to say about it all. So I turned Mod Glo into a fashion and style blog. Are you keeping up?

It all seemed very confusing. Especially to me. My writing felt disconnected and it was difficult to tell where one blog started and the other blog ended. Moreover, I had too many blogs! And then the question dawned on me, like an epiphany from the heavens: Why am I making it so complicated?

The answer was clear, and oh so simple: Consolidation is key. And inspiration struck!

My life. My loves. All my interests. They all live here now:

www.flossyblog.com

I’m not setting any parameters, themes or tones for this blog. I’m just letting the bloggy goodness flow. My weird little life in words and pictures.

Why “Flossy”?

A few days ago, I was introduced to someone and they told me I was “flossy”. I didn’t know what it meant, but it seemed like a compliment so I just smiled. But the minute I got home, I looked up the word.

Flossy. adj /ˈflôsē/ : stylish or glamorous especially at first impression

There’s something about that word. I like it. I don’t know why, but it stuck with me and I’ve been thinking about ever since. And before I even decided to start my new blog, I had the perfect name already picked out.

Mod Apron and Mod Glo will be abandoned. At least for now. But I truly hope you’ll pop on over to my new digs at flossyblog.com and follow me there. I’m looking forward to picking up where I left off, but in a more elegant - and much less complicated - locale.

xo,

Hilary


Aug 26

Me and my fella.


Aug 11

I got my hair cut this afternoon. I really like it. Whaddaya think?

I’ve never had bangs before, let alone short bangs like this. Might take some getting used to, but I’m game.

I feel so fancy!


Jul 24
Oh, coffee. I’m sorry we quarreled. 

I do love you so. Even if you are decaf.

[Photo via Instagram]

Oh, coffee. I’m sorry we quarreled.

I do love you so. Even if you are decaf.

[Photo via Instagram]


Jul 22

Change is good

Last week was a blur of disorganization, chaos and imbalance. Apologies for disappearing on you guys, I guess I just needed bit of a break; a week off to “sharpen the saw” as they say. 

I know a few of you kinda rely on my weekly meal plans for inspiration, and I’m sorry I didn’t deliver. Rest assured, I’ve got a new meal plan coming your way tomorrow morning. Stay tuned!

I’ve also been thinking about some of the features of my blog over the last few days. And I’ve decided that one of them - my weekly grocery shopping debriefing - will be discontinued. Believe it or not, it’s a lot of work, especially with 2 little kiddos afoot, to set up all my groceries for a photo and blog about the details after. I’ve kinda lost my zest for the process and I’m just not confident that anybody out there is truly benefitting from all that minutiae anyway. So, going forward, if you have any questions about my groceries, food budget, or how much I’ve spent, please don’t hesitate to email me anytime. I just don’t think I’m going to keep featuring my grocery shopping details on the blog anymore. That’s the bad news.

Here’s the good stuff:

  • My meal plans will have a new and improved design, and a much healthier direction!
  • You’ll see more recipes and food photography here, and on Mod Glo too!
  • Henry is totally walking now! My baby is now officially a toddler.
  • Hooray! We ordered a sofa* which is the first step to finally furnishing our currently empty living room. Who wants to see some homespun decorating, craft ideas and before and after room makeover pics? You do!

I’ve got lots of groovy stuff in the works. Stick around, guys! The fun is just beginning!

*Our sofa is set to arrive mid-September. We paid cash and are currently saving to purchase some more pieces for the living room. Slowly but surely, our dream house is becoming a dream home. 


Jun 28

Out of sorts

I was chatting with my mom on the phone this afternoon. I told her that without having a meal plan in place this week, I was feeling really out of sorts. Mom corrected me, advising that the actual definition of “out of sorts” is something akin to “irritated”. Huh. My whole life I thought “out of sorts” meant discombobulated.

And discombobulated I am! The first few days after mom and dad’s visit, my kitchen was overrun with leftovers and I wanted to use them up. But now, we’re down to nothing, the week’s over half-over and I have empty cupboards and no plan! I hate shopping piecemeal and having to come up with meals on the fly. It’s inefficient and expensive. But if I do a big shop now, it’ll compromise my regular Meal Plan Monday schedule. I’m so screwed!

Never start a week without a meal plan. Lesson learned, my friends. Lesson learned.

Rest assured, this week hasn’t been a total wash. You may have noticed I’ve been posting less frequently over the last few days. That’s because I’ve been spending my bloggy time on a cool little project that I’ll be unveiling tomorrow morning… So check back mañana for more deets!


Jun 20

Wordless Wednesday. My day in 9 pictures.

[Most photos via Instagram]


Jun 16
Coffee bender. It’s bad, guys. 

[Photo via Instagram]

Coffee bender. It’s bad, guys.

[Photo via Instagram]


Jun 15
My shame.
I bought some coffee yesterday for my parents’ upcoming visit. I told myself it wasn’t for me. I promised myself I wouldn’t drink a drop.
But this morning, it was the first thought to pop into my head when I woke up.
My Brain: “Pssst. There’s coffee in the house.”
Me: “F—- off, Brain. I’m, like, so over coffee.”
Brain: “No you’re not. You want some. In fact, you want some really badly. I’m gonna fix it so it’s all you can think about.”
Me: “Whatever. I’m fine. I’m a strong, independent lady who’s taking charge of my health. I’ve got my hot water with lemon and fennel. Which is awesome, btw. I don’t need…”
Brain: “Coffee.”
Me: “No.”
Brain: “COFFEE!!!”
Me: “Nooooooooooo!”
Brain: “COFFEE COFFEE COFEEE GO MAKE SOME RIGHT NOW!!!”
Me: “Okay, listen. If it’ll shut you up, maybe I’ll have just half a cup. After my lemon-fennel water.”
Brain: “WATER’S FOR CHUMPS! COFFEEEEEEE!!!”
This internal dialog continued all through my morning yoga, my shower and even while I was putting the kettle on for my HOT WATER. “This boiling water would pour so nicely into your french press instead, wouldn’t it now?” Brain said. 
Eventually, I gave in. In the end, my feeble resistance couldn’t hold a candle to the thought of that dark, sweet elixir and the glorious start to the day it provides. Devil’s brew, this.
Dennis says I’m a nicer person when I drink coffee. That comment kind of hurt my feelings but if I’m being completely honest, he’s probably not exactly wrong. I justify my coffee in a million different ways but ultimately, I know it’s terrible for me. The fact that I’m this addicted is a clear indication to me that I need to let it go. This little habit is not serving me or my body very well at all.
But oh, coffee. I just can’t quit you! 
[Photo via Instagram. Please ignore my man-hands. Yeesh.]

My shame.

I bought some coffee yesterday for my parents’ upcoming visit. I told myself it wasn’t for me. I promised myself I wouldn’t drink a drop.

But this morning, it was the first thought to pop into my head when I woke up.

My Brain: “Pssst. There’s coffee in the house.”

Me: “F—- off, Brain. I’m, like, so over coffee.”

Brain: “No you’re not. You want some. In fact, you want some really badly. I’m gonna fix it so it’s all you can think about.”

Me: “Whatever. I’m fine. I’m a strong, independent lady who’s taking charge of my health. I’ve got my hot water with lemon and fennel. Which is awesome, btw. I don’t need…”

Brain: “Coffee.”

Me: “No.”

Brain: “COFFEE!!!”

Me: “Nooooooooooo!”

Brain: “COFFEE COFFEE COFEEE GO MAKE SOME RIGHT NOW!!!”

Me: “Okay, listen. If it’ll shut you up, maybe I’ll have just half a cup. After my lemon-fennel water.”

Brain: “WATER’S FOR CHUMPS! COFFEEEEEEE!!!”

This internal dialog continued all through my morning yoga, my shower and even while I was putting the kettle on for my HOT WATER. “This boiling water would pour so nicely into your french press instead, wouldn’t it now?” Brain said.

Eventually, I gave in. In the end, my feeble resistance couldn’t hold a candle to the thought of that dark, sweet elixir and the glorious start to the day it provides. Devil’s brew, this.

Dennis says I’m a nicer person when I drink coffee. That comment kind of hurt my feelings but if I’m being completely honest, he’s probably not exactly wrong. I justify my coffee in a million different ways but ultimately, I know it’s terrible for me. The fact that I’m this addicted is a clear indication to me that I need to let it go. This little habit is not serving me or my body very well at all.

But oh, coffee. I just can’t quit you!

[Photo via Instagram. Please ignore my man-hands. Yeesh.]


Jun 12

Transplendent

My blogging has been on the back-burner lately! I have been remiss!

Not because I’ve been lazy, mind you. Quite the opposite.

It’s finally the last week of preschool (thank goodness) and there’ve been “end of year” festivities almost every day. Tomorrow, in fact, the whole class is going on a special field trip to the San Francisco Zoo and I have volunteered to be one of the class chaperones. Plus, there’s an Ice Cream Social on Thursday and an End of School concert on Friday. Oh for crappin’ out loud, can we just end the school year already please? Sheesh.

I’ve also been Spring cleaning the everlovin’ crap out of the house. The scrubbing, polishing, decluttering and reorganizing has been quite something. Perhaps “epic” is the word I’m looking for. Or possibly “transplendent”. Either way, it’s beautiful and it brings a tear to my eye just typing about it.

I’m super behind on a bunch of HOA work, and it’s really bugging me. I seriously need to get caught up. Did I mention I’m officially the Treasurer now? Yup, it’s true. Impressed? Don’t be; “Treasurer” is really just a fancy name for “Sucker Who Does All The Legwork For The Association That No One Else Wants To Do.” At least I’m organized and task-oriented by nature, which seems to help my cause immensely. My goal is to have everything done and dusted before my parents arrive on Saturday so I can really enjoy their visit.

And now that Hen is feeling better, we’ve hosted several playdates (and mommy dates), and wandered to the park or taken long sunny walks every day. I’ve been keeping the windows and doors wide open, making lemonade, doing yoga, reading books, eating homemade popsicles, listening to Cuban music and drinking lots and lots of tea. Spring has sprung, the San Fran skies are cornflower blue and we’re all buzzing around like busy little bees. People are smiling, the city is humming, and happy is in the air. Life is good great transplendent.


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