a la mama

I get sad when I notice how much cuter clothing generally is for babies and toddlers. I’ll be on a groovy site, and then notice that the sizes top out at 3-4 years old (or younger). But MetroKids Gear is different–this WAHM-business makes amazingly boldly patterned cotton pants all the way up to size 10.

And even better: if you happen to be buying pants for your cloth-diapered baby or toddler, the pants are designed to accomodate that cloth diaper booty we all love so much. Win, win.

www.metrokidsgear.com

So I’ve got this thing on. I’m testing out the ShouldersBack Lite–it resembles a racer-back bra without boob cups. So, you’ve got your strap around the ribcage, a panel of fabric in the upper back area, and then thick fabric straps that attach to straps that come up on a diagonal through my underarm area. Why, you ask? Because I have not-great posture thanks to a tad bit of scoliosis. Plus, my shoulders naturally curve inward. Nice, right? Very attractive. Partly genetic, from mom AND dad, and also, I spend a lot of time on my dang laptop. So, I am aware of the whole perfect posture thing at the gym but it’s really hard to maintain it during working and living hours. This contraption has been on for all of fifteen minutes but I really like it. It makes me sit up straight, with my shoulders back, very Hepburn-ly (both A. and K.). It teaches the body to do the right thing rather gently, and also makes me engage my core muscles more. Take that, force of habit. www.shouldersback.net.

I missed blogging so much and have a lot to share. I hope I remember everything.

My Rickshaw bicycle bag with its built-in padded computer pouch is boss. It’s made in San Francisco.

I have a new bicycle. Her name is Delphine. I am so happy with her! I decided to be a big girl—I didn’t shy away from the gears thing—I bought one with 7 speeds. It’s a “comfort cruiser” but I don’t really agree with that label. It’s comfortable, but it’s definitely sporty, fast and aerodynamic. Maybe it’s labeled a comfort cruiser because my nose doesn’t brush the front fender, and the seat isn’t smaller than my hand. What’s that about? Yikes.

I rode to the train station today and the bag, although it was about 15 lbs, completely merged with my body and didn’t move. Totally comfortable and hands-free : ) Rickshaw has also partnered with Wee Generation to do a diaper bag that is basically the same as the messenger bag, but with inserts for mama paraphernalia. How awesome–after diapers are a distant memory, you have a messenger bag to cycle around town with.