Makeup & Beauty Monday: Skin Perfecting Serum Foundation

Back to work in January after five months of maternity leave. Nanny for the baby, preschool for my older son. Preschool just announced they’re extending winter break and everyone needs to get tested, which means I have no care for him my first three days back. My husband and I are both work from home. I expect those days to be incredibly light for me- do I tell my manager about the care issue or just try to slide under the radar?

I realized this morning that after 8 months, I have stopped enjoying my kids. What I mean is, it used to be that we had smaller amounts of time together, so we did Quality Things. Now, we are just all so sick of eachother that we watch TV or do art separately or I yell at them and tell them to go play in the playroom and don’t bother me until dinner.

Has anyone done any kind of project/craft/whatever with kids recently that was enjoyable for everyone? Mine are 2.5, almost 5 and 7. Bonus if the output is giftable as I’m seriously struggling with extended fam that has everything (except in person christmas, which is the only thing they want) this year.

At my direction, DH and the kids built a birdhouse as a christmas gift and it was a fun project. The kids all got to help design and build it and then they painted it. (sorry, grandma!!). I ordered stuff to make cocoa bombs but it’s all backordered and not hear yet. We are decorating cookies later this week. Maybe 15-30 min time max as the wheels seem to fall off after that long if it’s a project with all 3. Nobody naps anymore either.

Does anyone care to comment on what it is like to raise children in the DMV? DH and I are considering a move there in the next few years because we love the area, and we have two small children. I know it is expensive, so we would probably wait until our oldest is in elementary school. How hard is it to get into decent daycares and aftercare programs? Do the schools do highly inconvenient things like release kids at noon once every week (like our current school district does)? Any and all opinions very much welcome!

Similar to the boots questions, I could use some warm layer suggestions. My daughter’s school keeps the windows open this winter and it’s in the 30s and windy in NYC this week. I got a bunch of uniqlo heat tech leggings for her, and we do layers like turtlenecks under everything, but looking for more ideas. Like where can I buy actual leg warmers for a 5 year old? Etsy has lots of options but most are acrylic or cotton and for looks only. I’m thinking I should be looking at ski shops or something similar but would love specific recommendations. Thanks!

How many people think life will look drastically different by summer 2021? Wondering if there will be enough vaccines for the majority of us to feel comfortable eating at restaurants, traveling, going into large crowded offices etc. Been so disappointed by the lack of response to date that I’m not sure how this vaccine rollout will go in 2021

for those of you who’ve made the decision to send your kid to a highly academic ‘pressure cooker’ type of private (e.g. the Horace Manns of NYC, Harvard Westlake of LA, St Johns of Houston, Sidwell of DC, etc.) or public (e.g. Scarsdale and many of the NYC suburbs, etc.) – why did you make the decision? how do you feel about it? or if you yourself attended one of those schools as a kids – thoughts?

For something positive to start the week, what’s your kid’s most lovable trait?
My 3.5 year old is the best at compliments/noticing little things. We went for a walk in the woods this am and he stopped in front of a tree and said ‘that’s a lovely tree!’ and when we got back from our walk, he said what a nice walk it was. He also complimented the vegan cheese and salami sandwich I made him for lunch and told me I was the ‘bestest cuddler in the whole world’. He really reminds me to pay attention and appreciate the little things.