Pre-Thanksgiving funk and other randoms

I have been so spoiled the last few days it's ridiculous.

Well, I suppose maybe I should preface that by explaining that my husband finally came home after the world's longest 11 day trip (Tuesday) and my body promptly gave out.  The cold I'd been fighting for the entire duration of his trip caught up with me the same day he came home (seriously?  Bodies are amazing!  Thank GOD I made it through that trip without getting sick, we all would have died!  He got home and literally within five hours I was full-on, no-holds-barred sick.  Go figure.).  I spent yesterday in bed running a fever.  

BUT.  Compared to chasing after my energetic two all alone?  It was heaven on earth.  Thanks, hubby!

I'm in a strange funk this year, which is super out of character for me, since October and December bookend my absolute favorite hundred days of the year.  I have all these projects to do, but none of them seem to be getting done.  It's like I have to actually tackle them to make them happen... weird, right?

So this is a completely random collection of things I've either a) attempted, b) been thinking about or c) plan to do.  Soon.  Ish.  Unless I have another cup of cocoa.  

1) The Thankful Tree.

via

Not a new idea, I know, but I love it.  I'm longing for a different way to recount our family's gratitude this year.  Probably because I'm the Thanksgiving Grinch and I'm finding the 30 days of thankfulness Facebook thing totally cliche.  I told you!  F-u-n-K!  

2) Thanksgiving Prep.  We are hosting Thanksgiving this year!  I have to confess, I am kind of ridiculously excited.  It has been at least two years since we hosted the holiday meal, and I have to brush up on my hostess skills.  You, too?  You might want to check out this handy little helper.  

3) Let's talk about these giant carts at Target.

People, I hate them.  Loathe.  And I rarely loathe anything when it comes to Tarjay.  But I can't drive this stupid cart, and when I try I bump into things and force other customers to report DUI shopper to that cop guy at the front.  Of course, to children they look like superawesomefuntime, resulting in my three year old begging to ride and melting down when mommy explains that there's this thing called child protective services, and they are likely to come to our door if mommy has to drive this monstrosity.

4) Is it just me, or does Starbucks completely rule the holiday season?

I set my internal celebrating clock by them.  When does the pumpkin spice latte come out?  On the first official day of fall!  Of course, we might also read: what's the first official day of fall?  When the PSL comes out!  I had my first Eggnog latte today, therefore I dub today the official start of the holiday season.  I know there are those who begin celebrating Christmas on November 1 (I'm looking at you, every retail establishment in the country), but I've been intentionally holding off.  UNTIL NOW.  Game.on.

5) I made the most delicious pumpkin cookies for Halloween.  

Seriously, they were to die.  And totally fat free if by fat free you mean containing approximately three sticks of butter.  We packed them up and took them to a few of our neighbors, but only after eating a clean dozen on our own.  The best example of worth it! calories I've tasted in a long time.

6) Love those "family rules" signs.  I'm contemplating making our own - perhaps a New Year project?  

... but how to boil down the thing your family stands for to a handful of words?  What would your family's be?

7) This year, both Food Network and Hocus Pocus celebrate their 20th anniversaries!  Just because it's fun to highlight things that make us feel old... 

Incidentally, not as old as Sarah Jessica Parker or Bette Midler, but still.

One of my all time favorite movies, since this is soooo my generation.  I also had a crush on Zach, in case you were wondering, because he was, like, all that and a bag of chips.

Have a great weekend, everybody!

Best of the net: Fall Home tour faves

Have you ever had one of those moments where the stars aligned, the light of Heaven shown down and you were in total, complete bliss?

I'm a geek - GEEK - for fall/Halloween/Christmas home decor. I'm the girl who subscribed to Better Homes and Gardens magazine instead of People at the age of 18.  Yes, they delivered it to my dorm room, thank you for asking. I wait every year for mid-September when two amazing things happen: 1) PSL, 2) 100 Days of Holidays e-mails from BHG.com.

(Sidenote: I'm still a little on the fence about Pinterest, even though it should probably be right up my alley. Sometimes I love it. Sometimes the crazy amounts of creativity all in one place makes my head feel like it might explode. Plus, all my seemingly-creative ideas seem to slide through a sieve once I get on Pinterest and see that someone else has already done it better than I could have. WHAT'S IN YOUR WATER, Pinterest people? I want some!  Rant over.)

This year, BHG went one step further and hooked up with some amazing and talented bloggers to creat the Finding Fall Home Tour. You guys? It's like Christmas morning, calorie free ice cream, a full night's sleep and fireworks all rolled into one. With a pumpkin spice latte on the side.

So today, a crazy-talented roundup of a few of my faves from the tour. You can see the whole thing by checking out Finding Home. Grab your coffee and a cozy spot to sit, because you'll want to stay a while.

via Finding Home

via Jeanne Oliver

via The Yellow Cape Cod (Drool.)

via Thislewood Farms (Double drool.)

via Shabby Creek Cottage

via The Old Painted Cottage 

via Jennifer Rizzo

via All Things Heart and Home

RIGHT?  Aren't you in the mood to go out and buy some mums, pumpkins and burlap?!  Nothing's better than a little inspiration on your computer screen.  No - not even a PSL.  (Well, we'll call it a tie.)

Have an inspired day!

The Award goes to...

When I was little {okay, maybe not as little as you'd want me to be given what I'm about to admit}, I used to practice my Acceptance Speech. You know, just in case I ever won an Oscar. Or a Tony. Or a Grammy. Or a Nobel Prize, although I'm not entirely sure they let you make a speech there since they're all super smart/nerdy scientist-peace-enthusiast types. Mostly I practiced it in the shower, or in front of the mirror with my hairbrush as my microphone.  It may also have involved what I like to call the Halle Berry, where I get all choked up, overuse the phrase "oh my God!" and gush about how totally unexpected it is.

Please, tell me I'm not the only narcissist who did this?

And, although my attire is much less glam than I had imagined it would be, given that I'm still in my jammies and sipping coffee, I FINALLY GET TO GIVE MY SPEECH!!!

I was nominated for a LIEBSTER award, and I'm totally geekin' out about it!  Wahoo!!!  OhmyGod, this is so unexpected!

First, I would like to thank the Academy.  Because that's tradition, and it makes it sound like I'm super humble and never imagined I would actually win.

I also want to give shout outs to Darcy of The Ruffled Stitch and Sarah at Church Street Designs for the nomination.  You gals?  You're pretty wicked awesome.

In return, I am nominating the extraordinary talents of the lovely ladies at these sites:

• Sara at Brainstorm In Bloom - awesome elementary-age resources, tips and tricks from a classroom teacher who's been there. 
• Andrea at Unschool the Teacher - creativity and practicality all rolled into one neat little package!  Resources for toddlers and pre-K with a twist (they're awesome!)
• Kimberly at Quirky Cool Blog - for edgy takes on upcycling that are as do-able as they are clever.  Love.
• Tricia at Raising Humans - stories of down-to-earth motherhood that we can all relate to, told with vivid heart.
• Tonya at Pails of Paint - because I'm super jealous of her mad skills.
• My lovely friend Cindy - because she's a funny, fab mom to two incredibly adorable little girls.  Seriously, how cute are they?!

Compiled from the lists made by the two lovely bloggers who nominated me, here are my "get to know me" questions:

1. What made you want to start blogging?

     I was that kid who always had a notebook under her arm in which to jot random thoughts, back when the internet was new and I had to walk to school barefoot and uphill both ways.  I can't keep anything in my brain for more than about five minutes, so blogging was initially an opportunity to remember those precious moments with my littles.  Now that I'm home full time, it's an chance to connect, a creative outlet, and opportunity to share my triumphs and challenges and hear those of others in return.

2. What is something you have learned lately?

     I am on a crazy journey.  After a very eye-opening trip to our pediatrician, I'm no longer buying my bread - I'm making it!  I'm learning about natural family planning.  I'm learning how not to kill the plants growing in my backyard.  I'm learning how to sew.  Giving up my day job has opened up all kinds of doors to a bunch of hippie stuff I'd never imagined I would dabble in, go figure. 

3. If you could travel anywhere, where would it be?

     Paris.  Seriously, Paris.  I'm dying to go to Paris, so if you know anyone who can hook me up, send them my way.  I'd Carrie Bradshaw it up in Paris.

4. Favorite season and why?

     Fall.  I could list about 30 reasons, but I'll stop after Pumpkin Spice Latte.  'Nough said.

5.  If you had to live in a decade other than the current one, what would you choose?  

     I love this question.  I'm convinced I belong in the 1940's.  Or perhaps in England as a member of Downton Abbey circa 1919.  Except I'd probably suck at both because a) I'm a girl and b) I have opinions.  I hear that didn't work out for lots of people at those times.

6. Cheesecake or normal cake?

     Um, seriously, does this even require an answer?  CHEESECAKE!  For sure.

7. If all jobs paid the same, what would you choose to do?

     I am so lucky, because in this arena, all my dreams have come true.  I was a teacher, now I get to stay home full time.  Right?  It doesn't get any better!  But I like to think that in a past life I was a party planner or designer of some sort.  

8. Do you follow directions/recipes/instructions or wing it?

     I'm a follower.  I follow rules, instructions, directions, etc, but not recipes because I'm a wild, crazy rebel in the kitchen.  

9. Are you more of an early bird or a night owl?

     I wish, wish, wish I wasn't, but I am absolutely a night owl.  One who always has to get up early on account of the tiny terrorists who live with me and demand I wake up to love, feed and care for them.  They're really getting in the way of my snoozing, by the way.  

10. The beach or the mountains?

     The mountains.  The beach.  I can't decide and would love either.  Give me mountains on the beach.  In Paris.  I'm game.  

  11. Name one of your pet peeves.

     People with those COEXIST stickers on their cars.  Because, inevitably, those people drive like the biggest DBs in the universe.  Seriously - people are fighting legitimate wars over legitimate, lifechanging and life-threatening issues.  You can't even share the road.  Get over yourself.  (and don't hate me if you have one of those on the back of your car, I'm sure you're an excellent driver)

Some quid pro quo once you've been nominated:

1} You must link back to the person who nominated you.

2} You must answer the 11 questions given to you by your nominator.

3} You must pick other bloggers, each with under 200 subscribers, to be nominated for the award.

4} You must come up with 11 questions for your nominees to answer.

5} You must go their blogs and notify them of their nomination.

These questions are to you:

1. Which fictional character do you most identify with?

2. What song would you pick as the soundtrack of your life?

3. Name your favorite childhood toy.

4. Explain why you blog in 15 words or less.

5. What is the most unusual thing to happen to you while on vacation?

6. Chocolate or vanilla?

7. Thing (food or otherwise) you crave most often?

8. You are a closet _______ fan. 

9. Movie you can't help but cry while watching.

10. What accomplishment are you most proud of?

11. If I could be in a room with anyone throughout history, I would choose ____________ because...

Thanks again for reading!  I'm glad you're here!!!

The Brits know how to write 'em and other randoms

My favorite thing about blogging is that it connects you with people that either a) you haven't seen in years and don't actually have real-life access to or b) with fabulous strangers you've never met.  For the price of admission - exactly one click of the mouse (or for those of you who are all fancy and living in the 21st century, a swipe of the finger) - you get to live inside the voice/mind/world of what feels like a dear friend.  When, in reality, you might not even know them.  And hopefully, they're not completely nuts... otherwise the price of admission is one intensive therapy session.

So today, let's sit on the front porch and have a little tete a tete as if we really were good friends.

This porch, because it's to die and we're already in fantasy land:

Up first: Downton Abbey.  Because, for reals, I heart this show and if they don't stop messing with my characters I'm going to seriously lose my crap on them.  They will be getting a very strongly worded e-mail and I will not being adhering to proper Downton decorum; the kind for which Cousin Violet would give me her most stern and disapproving look.  Season 3 was not kind to me in my fragile postpartum mental state. 

 

 

And also... when does season 4 start???

In other news, my sweet baby has decided to fall asleep on me every night as I put him to bed.  I know you're all, yeah so?  He's a baby, it's what they do but it's not what my baby has done - like ever except the Fourth of July - since he was about three months old.  He gets all snuggly and cute and when I ask him if he wants to go to bed he melts into me and coos.  I'm quite sure he thinks he's playing me to make me avoid putting him down, but in reality it's totally me who's playing him.  I love, love, love the snuggles. 

I haven't yet been able to park in my garage.  Well, maybe like 12 times in almost a year.  First it was because we were storing stuff in there after the move.  Ever since, we've had projects running so frequently that it has just never happened.  Casey promised me that I can park in the garage, so long as I stop coming up with projects for the house.  Hah, fat chance.  Much more likely that I'll be scraping ice off my windshield.

Speaking of projects, how awesome is this wreath?

You'll be seeing a similar design in my house, as I'm currently super inspired by it and fully intend to steal it.  And, it doesn't get any easier in the wreath making department.  Here's how she did it.  Drool.

We're smack-dab in the middle of remodeling our guest bath.  Actually, we're almost done, which will bring our total of projects completed to a whopping one.  We're really great at starting projects - in fact, we've started nearly all the projects I was hoping to do this year.  ....Of course, we're like 60% finished with most of them, but who's keeping score?  {I'm gonna go ahead and blame the kids.  Mostly because they can't defend themselves.}

Here's how it looked when we moved in:

I know.  Score, right?  If you were going to come over to my house, I'd close this door and be super creepy about trying to distract you from the room, which of course would make you be all, what's behind this door? and then I'd body check you to keep you from discovering our nasty mess.  And then, if you're anything like me, you'd begin to suspect a way more dramatic secret than the one I was actually concealing, like maybe a hole where I keep people and ask them to put lotion on their skin. 

So, to recap, that's why we had to remodel: because I don't want to get a silence of the lambs reputation. 

I'd close by asking if you've read any good books recently.  I'm in dire need of a really really deliciously good book, particularly for the days Casey's working.  {To distract me from my night terrors.} 

So that's that.  I hope you enjoyed our little chat!  Feel free to continue the conversation in the comments section.  I'm a really good listener, too...

Things I'm loving: almost-5 month edition

I'm not exactly a newbie on the baby front. I'm no pro, but I like the confidence that comes with the second-time around. 

So, for the record or the moms to come, here are a few tips from the non-pro:

Read to the baby.  Read the same book frequently (I've had The Cat and the Hat memorized for almost 3 years.  Boo-yah.), and read a book that rhymes.  Babies need lots and lots of repetition to learn words, and rhyming words allow Tiny to begin to anticipate sounds.  This, friends, is how language is built.  I'm currently loving this one, but Dr. Seuss or Goodnight, Moon are always good bets.

Invest in a solid monitor.  And, if you're paranoid, a heart monitor too.  This would have made my life soooo much easier the first time around.

Learn the 5 S's.  Harvey Karp is a genius.  I'm happy to tell you that both of my babies have been the happiest on the block.  Okay, so Logan is giving us lots of opportunities to practice because he likes his milk straight from the tap and every two hours, but seriously, they work.

When you bathe your newborn, place a warm rag over his body to keep him warm (and keep him from turning on his own waterworks).  Truly, one of the best tips I can offer, and so ridiculously simple.  Thank you forever, nurse at the hospital.  Also, holding a slippery newborn doesn't have to give you a heart attack.

Swaddle, regardless of what Junior thinks.  Casey prefers the easy ones even though he's better at the baby burrito than I am; I think these are tops.

Hand-me-downs rule, and if you're not lucky enough to be on the recieving end, find a good consignment store and visit often.  While we're at it, always invest in one size larger than you think you'll need.  Too big is never a big deal, and they grow into it fast.  Sometimes they wear 9 month clothing before they're 5 months, for example.

Get tough stains out with Dreft spray.  All things California Baby are okay in my book.  Babyganics makes great products for on-the-go and alcohol-free sanitizing.

My boobies are loving two new nursing bras.  For the girl who spent her entire life as an A or B cup, I'm rather pleased to be a 34 D these days.  Even if it comes with a side of muffin tops.

Beware the germs at restaurants and the grocery store.

The two things I use most often?  Moby and the exersaucer.  Whoever invented these two fabulous gizmos deserves a medal.  Go right now and add them to your registry, I'll wait.  You won't be sorry.
 

 

It's cliche and really only works if you're a first-timer, but nap when Baby naps. Don't feel bad about co-sleeping (we call that Attachment Parenting, in case you're wondering). Talk, sing, and smile often. Reflect and seek other's opinions in equal proportion, and then don't second guess your own decisions. Trust your instincts. Enjoy every phase.

Love the crap out of them, because before long, they look like this:

And, in the words of another blogger... for the love of all that is holy, don't watch the zombies  before bed or you'll never sleep.

Big Fat Thanks

So at the risk of getting all sappy and revealing just what a big crybaby I am (as if you didn't already know...), I have to take a moment to tell you all thanks.  Great, big, weepy thanks. 

Comments, e-mails, facebook messages.  You're awesome. 

I'll spare you the details of my doctors appointment and other fun things that come with the after.  Instead, I'll tell you that I'm fine, that getting on after all of this is easier the second time around, and that the best news to come from the doc is that we don't have to wait three months to try again.  In fact, once things go back to normal, we're in the clear.

So... that particular chapter is over.  But the story?  It continues.

And I feel awfully lucky to have so many out there in the great big unknown of the internet rooting for me.  Have no doubt, I'll happily get my pom poms if I can ever return the favor. 

Behind the Scenes

I totally stole this idea from another blogger (thanks, Cindy!). Even though I love to blog, and I try very hard to be honest in my blogs, there are many things you don't see behind the scenes.

So, today, my blog is dedicated to all the things that I haven't written for various reasons; a "behind the scenes" look at my life behind the blog.

What you don't see in my blogging is...

Someone who, even two and half months later is not physically recovered from my c-section.

Someone who could very easily slip into the role of mother, disregarding all the other hats I should be wearing.

Someone who is addicted to TV. Even when I have no idea what's on and I'm not even watching it, the TV is always on in our house.

Someone who is filled with fear, so much that it keeps me awake at night.

Someone who has immense guilt over that fear.

Someone who is afraid that I've become too accustomed to being happy. I no longer think I could handle tragedy and come out sane on the other side the way I did when I was younger.

Someone who has cried more in the last year - from happiness, from frustration, from fear, from the gravity of the beautiful life I have been charged with, but mostly from happiness - than ever before in my life (and that's saying something!).

Someone who has always loved her body, but HATES how everything is just bigger these days.

Someone who has extremely conservative values when it comes to my child.

Someone who loves going to church, but doesn't go regularly.

Someone who always tries to do the right thing, expects others to do the same, and is disappointed when they don't.

Someone who is surprised by how great a toll having a baby takes on a marriage, even when the marriage is strong. (And I hate to think of what would have happened without a strong marriage!)

Someone who is struggling to find a balance in my new life.

Someone who isn't always patient, especially with the people who love me.

Somone who has a very hard time living in the moment.

Someone who desperately craves time with my husband.

Someone who loves to take naps!

Someone who re-reads and re-watches favorite books and movies dozens of times.

Someone who spends too much money at Starbucks.

Just a few of the things that make up my life, but that I don't always talk about.