Welcome to Wonderland

So In Love

2010-03-15T08:17:00.000-07:00

We survived our 1st week! It's truly unbelievable how this tiny little thing can rock your entire world! It may be the sleep deprivation or the postpartum hormones rushing out but I cannot believe how much I love this little girl! I can watch her do nothing for hours on end. Here is my favorite face to stare at. Can you blame me?

Introducing

2010-03-13T08:16:00.000-08:00

Sydney Rae! Born on March 6th at 10:56 PM after almost 37 hours of labor! She weighs 8lbs. 4oz and is 21.5 inches long. Sydney was born 1 hour and 4 minutes before my 31st birthday on March 7th. She came a day after my due date. I always said I wanted to have my 1st child at 30 and made it happen with little time to spare! I've spent the last week just looking her in amazement! I may write out the entire birth story but for now let's just say that labor was harder than I expected and motherhood so far is easier than anticipated. I just feel so blessed to have a healthy and happy little girl. Even if she's a night owl. Here are a few pics:

Oh, Sweet Nuthin'

2010-03-03T05:15:00.000-08:00

Nothing is happening! I've been walking around dilated at 2cm for 3 weeks now! At my last two weekly appointments, the Dr. said "I'd be surprised if you make it to your next appointment." Well, I've made it. OK, I'm still not officially due until Friday but I really thought she'd be early. There was a full moon and everything this weekend and nada. If she doesn't come this week, I'll be induced next Thursday. I'm really hoping it doesn't come to that. Come on, bean!

Bump Watch - Extreme Close Up

2010-02-27T02:03:00.000-08:00

39 Weeks!
I'm going to be pregnant forever. I thought the baby would be on her way by now but no, still pregnant. I'm feeling really good, baby's doing awesome, but I'm getting really impatient. Not that I'm all excited to go through L&D but I'm ready to not be pregnant anymore and to meet my little girl.

Sunday Morning

2010-02-21T06:54:00.000-08:00

This could be my last Sunday morning without a baby! I have a feeling she's coming next Sunday, February 28, which is the next full moon. I'm not due until march 5th but I'm willing her out early. I love Sunday mornings and will probably miss our quiet, selfish rituals once bean does arrive. Since becoming pregnant and therefore no longer spending Saturday nights out drinking till the wee hours of the morning, the H and I wake up early Sunday and do some version of the following:
Go to Starbucks for coffee, drive down to the beach to check the waves, take the pups for a long walk around the neighborhood, make breakfast together, then settle in on the couch with the dogs and read the paper or watch DVR'ed Saturday Night Live from the night before. Ahhh.
I also play a chill mix CD when we are cooking breakfast. My favorite song on it is Sunday Morning by the Velvet Underground. I crave the Velvet Underground music like ice cream since I've been pregnant even though I was never really into them before. So weird.
If you've never heard this song before, go grab a cup of coffee and take a listen. Then let me know what your favorite Sunday rituals are, with or without kiddies.

Sunday Morning

Bump Watch

2010-02-19T05:38:00.000-08:00

38 weeks
COTW: Ice! Seriously, I have such bad heartburn that i chew on ice all day. It sucks.
Well, I'm almost there! As of my appt last week, I'm 2 cm dilated and the baby is locked and loaded in the head down position. It can happen any time now or she can make me suffer another 2-3 weeks. I don't wanna rush her or anything but I have been eating pregnancy inducing food all week. I've made spicy Mexican burritos, fajitas and quesadillas and roasted veggie lasagna with lots of eggplant (I don't like eggplant parmesan.) I've also been eating fresh pineapple for dessert. Nothing yet.
I can't wait to meet her and to no longer waddle when I walk and have to pee every 5 minutes. I also miss shopping for normal size clothing. I have to break the habit of buying xxl tees and yoga pants. I have plenty of stuff to wear for the next few weeks of pregnancy and postpartum. I'm so tempted by all of the pretty spring stuff in stores now but who knows what size or shape I'll be when this kid pops out. I'll also be in a new role as sahm and milk machine so I'm trying to hold off for now.
Here I am in all my round glory and my xxl tunic:

The Nest

2010-02-07T11:13:00.000-08:00

Bean's room is finally done and fully stocked! Check it out!

Details:

The crib is the Olivia 3 in 1 by BabyMod from Walmart

The crib sheets are Nurseryworks "Sea Holly Rose"

The dresser and bookcase are from Ikea

The hamper is by Badger Basket from CSNBaby.com

The toy chest is an outdoor storage bench from Pier One.

The lamp is from Target. I made the lampshade and toy chest cushion cover from a fabric shower curtail that I found in the clearance section at TJ Maxx.

The paint is Benjamin Moore No VOC in Ocean Spray

The Dutailier glider is a Craiglist find (Like new! $60!)

The Sheep Mobile is home made

More homemade nursery projects here

More photos here!

Nesting

2010-02-06T06:33:00.000-08:00

I have been in a crazy nesting frenzy the last few weeks. Yesterday, I hit 36 weeks and I'm officially in my 9th and final month! Insanity. I've been buying up any and every possible thing that a baby could possibly need or want for the first 6 months of her life. I have boppys, burp cloths, butt paste, bouncers, swings, slings, etc. All her adorable little clothing and anything else that will come in contact with the baby has been washed and organized in her room. Hey, I'm a planner. I even have my hospital bag packed and ready to go even though my doc doesn't think the baby will be earlier than 39 weeks. You never know.
I've also been reading a lot. I'm finally able to face the last chapter in WTEWYE about labor and delivery. Also on my reading list is The "Happiest Baby on the Block" to lean how to sooth and comfort my crying newborn, "Baby 411" and "The Baby Book" by Dr. Sears to learn how to care for my newborn and the basics on breast feeding. I'm also reading "Babyproofing Your Marriage" to help the H and I transition into our new roles as Stay at Home Mom and Working Dad without turning on each other and becoming one of those couples.
My pregnancy cravings have been pretty much interrupted by 24/7 heartburn. I have barely gained any weight at all my 3rd trimester thanks to heartburn and this huge baby crowding my stomach. Now I don't feel so bad for indulging my every craving in my 2nd tri when I felt awesome. My weight is in the 25-35 recommended total weight gain range even though I thought it would be more like 45-55. But I still have a month to go.
Here's my huge 36th week belly in all its glory. My poor little belly button is hanging in there!

It's in the Bag

2010-01-27T07:05:00.001-08:00

Diaper Bags - to splurge or steal?

Is this an area where function should over ride fashion. Hmmmm.... I'm torn. I see how a diaper bag you can throw in the washing machine makes sense over a beautiful leather diaper bag that will probably end up covered in spit up and god knows what else. But how nice is the MBMJ bag and it's on sale!

Fashion

StorkSak Elizabeth $325 MBMJ Totally Turnlock Baby Bag $458 ONSALE $206!

In the middle

Timi and Leslie Charlie $150
Function

SkipHop Duo Delux $54 Ju-Ju-Be Be All $120

Beach(ball) Baby

2010-01-17T05:53:00.000-08:00

Q:What do you wear to an evening wedding on the beach with a belly the size of a beach ball?
A: It doesn't matter. Yes, I said it. At this point, you have ceased to exist and your friends and family only want to talk about your baby or just bypass you completely and speak to your protruding belly directly.

Here's what I wore anyway:

T-bags maxi + cardi wrap (not shown) to hide preggo arms

I went with a maxi dress b/c beach weddings are notoriously windy and nobody needs to see my maternity undies. It also allowed me to conspicuously wear flat sandals making walking on sand so much easier. Wedges would have worked too but at 33 weeks, comfort has overtaken cuteness.

This is the Alice In Wonderland Movie Post

2010-01-13T05:36:00.000-08:00

So you may have noticed by my blog that I'm a little bit obsessed with Alice in Wonderland. And wouldn't you know, Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland movie is coming out on my due date - March 5th! The world works in mysterious ways! It will be almost a year to the day when the movie (and hopefully bean) come out that I celebrated my 30th birthday with an over the top, Alice in Wonderland themed birthday party and then started my journey of actively TTC.

While on our babymoon in NYC, the H and I saw the Tim Burton exhibit at MoMA. If you are in the NY area or plan to visit the city before April 26, 2010, I highly suggest checking it out. The man is truly a mad genius and an incredible artist.
"This exhibition explores the full range of his creative work, tracing the current of his visual imagination from early childhood drawings through his mature work in film. It brings together over seven hundred examples of rarely or never-before-seen drawings, paintings, photographs, moving image works, concept art, storyboards, puppets, maquettes, costumes, and cinematic ephemera from (his) films." MoMAYou can't take pics inside the exhibit but here's one I snapped at the entrance. The H thinks it looks like a big zit but he just doesn't get modern art sometimes.

Some pretty cool AIW inspired beauty products have popped up recently. Here are a few of my favorites:
Urban Decay's Alice in Wonderland Book of Shadows (out Jan 15th)
Colors include:

Underland
Alice
Oraculum
Queen
Chessur
White Rabbit
Wonderland
Curiouser
Munchness
Mushroom
Midnight Tea Party
Vorpal
Absolem
Drink Me, Eat Me
Mad Matter
Jabberwocky

OPI's Alice In Wonderland limited edition. Available now!
Colors include: Absolutely Alice, Mad as a Hatter, Off With Her Red! and Thanks So Muchness!

Disney's White Tea Lip Balm SPF 15 from Sephora. The lip balm is just ok but the Alice In Wonderland tin is perfect for storing your red and blue pills when the balm runs out.

"Curiouser and curiouser." -Alice

Can't Stop the Rain

2010-01-12T05:16:00.000-08:00

Well as much as I tried to make a baby bash and not a "shower" (read here) you just can't stop the rain - literally! If you've read some of my previous posts, you know that I've complained about the gorgeous 80/90 weather here in SoFL, wanting to get all bundled up in boots and sweaters like the rest of the country in the winter time. Be careful for what you wish for - it may just come true! I was all stoked to wear my new T-Bags maxi d ress for my baby bash and wouldn't ya know, FL is 30 degrees and pouring down with ice cold rain! Ha ha, I wore it any way with cognac Steven Intyce boots and a grey J. Crew Sweater.
Well, it looked like a shower and played out like a shower so I guess I had my Baby Shower. It was still awesome and a great day. I received such cute stuff for bean! Here are a few pics:

I ended up opening the presents all at once while everyone ohhed and ahhhed!Here's an awesome gift idea that one of my friends made for me. She took a cardboard box and made a mini closet that she filled with baby clothes! She decorated the outside of the box and inside was a rod with outfits in sizes newborn-9 months hanging on baby hangers. So cute!My friends even made there own "games" by using the balloon decorations as pregnancy bellies!
Good times were had by all! Even the guys seemed to enjoy it!

Bump Watch

2010-01-08T05:41:00.000-08:00

32 weeks
COTW: Jelly Belly's! Seriously awesome. They satisfy like all of your pregnancy cravings at once. I'm kinda bummed that I haven't and probably won't have any truly strange food combination cravings. Do women really crave things like pickles and ice cream while pregnant? My weirdest craving is hot sauce on stuff b/c I was never really a fan of it before, but I put it on eggs and burritos, not bananas or anything strange like that. Oh well, still about about 2 months to go. Never know what will pop up.

It's not a shower, it's a party to celebrate the baby.

2010-01-03T08:55:00.000-08:00

There are two kinds of people, those who love baby showers and those who despise them. I happen to be the latter. Don't get me wrong, I love a good party but baby showers can be torture. First of all, there is usually no alcohol or just some room temp white zinfandel or even worse, a sugary punch concoction with a blob of sherbet floating around in it. Then, there are the presents. I've sat through 2+ hours of oohing and ahhhing over Diaper Genies and burp cloths, sober. But the worst part, by far, has to be the games. If the mommy-to-be makes you take a roll of toilet paper and guess how "big" she is I suggest asking for an additional roll. And don't even get me started on the most gag-inducing of all, the melted chocolate bar in the diaper game. Uggghhh.
The positive side of the shower is that as a new mom, you need a lot of stuff, and the cost of this stuff adds up fast. It's also nice to have one last bash with your family and friends before you are all consumed with your little bundle of joy. So, yes, I am having a party to celebrate the impending arrival of baby bean, but I have laid out some ground rules for my mom and bff who were nice enough to offer to host this event:
#1: Co-ed all the way. I don't wanna leave my baby daddy and male friends out. I also think having men around will limit the intimate and often uncomfortable baby talk and make the day more fun.
#2: Lots of good food and cocktails. Just because I can't drink, does not mean I have to force my guests to abstain as well. It is a party, after all.
#3: Absolutely No Cheesy Baby Games!

I'm not sure how to address the present opening issue yet. People are nice enough to buy you things and some want you to ohh and ahh over it. Maybe I'll just open them up throughout the party and make sure to thank each guest so everyone isn't held hostage at the end of the party waiting for me to open their gift.

After doing a bit of research on this subject online, I was happy to see that many other women share my views and have made very cool, modern showers that can be enjoyed by all. I really like the idea of an "activity" at the shower instead of games. This way, participation is optional, it appeases the baby shower traditionalists and the results are often fun and sometimes practical.
My favorite baby shower "activities" that I found online are:
- A onsie or bib decorating station. There is a great example of how to create your own here at rookiemoms.com.
- ABC baby book. Basically, you have a piece of paper with an alphabet letter on it and your guests draw a picture for that letter. Then the pages are bound together as an ABC book for the baby. There is a great "how to" guide here.
- Advice letters for the parents-to-be. I'm going to have this at my baby bash. I'm setting it up myself b/c if I ask my mom and bff to plan an "activity" for the party then it may be the baby game loophole they are looking for. It also kills me a bit not to be involved in the planning. I love planning parties. So here's what I'll have set up on a table:
I think it's cute and most important, optional. It will also provide me with some stuff for baby bean's scrap book that I've been meaning to get to.

I also picked out the invite that I wanted. I think the invitation sets the tone for a party. I thought this one that I found on zazzle.com was perfect in it's simplicity. Not a ducky or an umbrella in sight and no mention of the word "shower".

OK, I couldn't resist doing one more thing. I made party favor boxes for my guests that I'll fill with Jelly Belly's (my latest COTW). I got the idea from stylemepretty.com. I modified her template and added a quote from Bill Cosby that I love. I think it's only fair that I give my guests a little something to thank them for attending my baby bash.

Nursery Preview

2010-01-03T04:58:00.001-08:00

My little bean's nursery is finally coming together! Here's a sneak peek of the progress. There is still so much to do! I love the color we painted the room. It's Ocean Spray by Benjamin Moore.
There is info on the crib bedding here and wall art here.

Happy and Healthy New Year to All!

2010-01-02T11:23:00.000-08:00

Major emphasis on the healthy part. The good heath of ourselves and the people we love is something most of us take for granted until something goes wrong. I've been very lucky to feel amazing for most of my pregnancy. I felt so good that while walking on the beach the other day, jammin out w/ my ipod, I decided to try running. Perfectly fine at 4 months but at 8 months pregnant it's a whole other story. I felt OK until the next day when I had a shooting pain from my back all down to my right foot. I had a Dr.'s appointment the following day and she diagnosed me with sciatica. It may have been brought on by the run or it could just be from my growing baby's large head resting on my sciatic nerve. She said it's very common for pregnant ladies to get this after the 7th month and to do daily stretches to alleviate the pain. Always the overachiever, I ended up overstretching my sore leg and back. This royally pissed off my sciatic nerve and landing me in the hospital barely able to walk and in excruciating pain.
Ice, heat and rest for the past few days and I'm feeling a lot better. The sciatica persists and probably will for the duration of my pregnancy but the pain is minimal compared to what I went through the other day. Most importantly, they checked out the baby and she's doing perfectly fine.
Seeing the other pregnant women in the hospital with real complications hit home that I am truly blessed to have my health, and so far, a healthy baby. My New Year's Resolution is to not take my health for granted like I have in the past. I want to keep eating healthy, exercise, and for the love of god, never smoke cigarettes again (I've quit for over a year.)
So I hope you had a fabulous New Years Eve and I wish for all a healthy and happy new year to come.
Here's a quick 31 week bump pic that I snapped on my way out to a NYE party:

I'm wearing a Joie tunic (not maternity), Assets tights for preggos, Nine West boots and carrying a MBMJ convertable clutch. The jewlry is all cheap-y F21 stuff.

Beginning To See The Light

2009-12-28T07:49:00.000-08:00

Only 10 weeks left until bean makes her grand entrance into the world! I've been looking online for deals on stuff I need to add to the nursery but I haven't found anything great. My new plan is to just wait until my shower is over (it's in less than 2 weeks) and then just suck it up and buy whatever is left on my registry. I'm really excited for my shower, but more on that later.
While scouring the interwebs for after x-mas deals for bean, I happened to stumble onto Revolve.com and just happen to notice that it's an additional 30% off of the entire site until December 31st. With my baby shower and a beach wedding coming up in January, I decided to check out some dresses that may work with my bump and beyond. I also decided that I needed more easy throw on dresses for spring that I can wear while my uterus is deflating. Here is what I ordered:

T-Bags Classic Banded V Maxi Dress in Teal/Brown $65.10

Splendid Modal Lycra Strappy Tank Dress in Parsley $49.00

Michael Stars Smocked Maxi Dress in Nocturnal $38.50

T-Bags Classic Banded V Maxi Dress in Orange Print $57.40

T-Bags Classic Braided Halter Maxi Dress in Purple Peacock $69.30

LA Made Emmy Dress in Tarte $37.80

Good deals, right? I really like T-Bags dresses b/c they are loooong. I hope they work out w/my new wonky, round shape. If you want to get in on the deals just enter DJP30 at check out for an extra 30% off Revolve.com until Dec. 31st and report back on what you bought. Oh, and if you find any deals on baby stuff, please let me know that too :). Happy shopping, I'll post a full review when my order arrives.

Bump Watch

2009-12-23T06:34:00.000-08:00

29 weeks
COTW: Anything baked w/sugar! It's a dangerous time of year to be pregnant w/ a license to eat. I usually work 6 long and hectic days a week from Thanksgiving to Christmas day and find myself at my skinniest this time of year. I also am usually on some low carb diet to keep the holiday eating under control. Well, all of that is out the window being out of work and knocked up. I'm really trying to not get too big for these last 2 months and don't wanna deliver a 10 lb baby but I seemed to have left working out back in my 2nd trimester somewhere. I also feel like my 1st trimester morning sickness is coming back on, but more food aversions than nausea, so my healthy eating options are dwindling. I'm trying not to overthink it too much and enjoy this time off from work and this last stage of pregnancy.
The nursery is finally coming together! We painted it a really pretty aqua (Benjamin Moore's Ocean Spray) and all of her furniture has been put together. Now we just need all of the little things. I'm hoping to score at after Xmas sales next week so I'm holding off on buying stuff for now. I did get her crib set last week and I think it's beautiful. I decided on this set from Nurseryworks, called Sea Holly Rose:Pretty, right? I'll take some pics of the nursery progress soon.

Well, here's me and the bean. Peace.

Bump Watch

2009-12-16T11:30:00.000-08:00

28 weeks
COTW: Chick-fil-a, twizlers, and egg nog ice cream have been on rotation.

I passed my glucose test so that's good. I think I've been on a sugar binge since then, though.
Bean is getting big! I feel like my stomach doubles in size every day.
I've embraced the warmer weather and pulled out some of my clothing from spring/summer that I'm stretching to it's limits. I went to the mall today w/a friend and just couldn't bring myself to buy any more maternity clothing with less then 3 months left. It's not even the waste of $, I'm so sick of looking at ugly maternity crap and my body in it. I really am enjoying this pregnancy and am so blessed to have this baby but I really do miss my flat stomach and feeling cute in clothes. I think I just hit the 3rd trimester wall.

Well here I am:

Just for fun, I found this pic of me wearing the exact same outfit this spring right before I got pregnant:

memories.

Happy Christmakkah

2009-12-12T12:10:00.000-08:00

Well, we finally got around to decorating our tree last night. It just happened to be on the 1st night of Hanukkah (my Jewish parents would be so proud!) So we lit the menorah using birthday candles b/c I couldn't find the proper candles at Target and Walgreens, said the prayer (which the H finally learned after 11 years), and proceeded to decorate our tree. We've pretty much had the same holiday traditions since we 1st met. We light candles for all 8 days of Hanukkah and decorate the tree and open presents Christmas morning.
Here is the finished product:
Would you like to see some of our ornaments?

This pic was taken on our 1st trip to Disney World. Don't ask me why but we wore the bride and groom Mickey ears all over the park even though this was way before we got engaged. We bought the ornament at WDW years later after we were married. We love WDW! Can't wait to take the bean. The snowman was the 1st ornament that I bought for the H.

Hula Santa from our Xmas last year in the Keys.

The 20 week ultrasound pic.
Bean's 1st ornament for her collection that I'll give to her in 18 years when she (sniff) leaves me to go off to Harvard.

Bonus pic of Bell after we got back from NYC....

Babymoon in the City

2009-12-08T10:58:00.000-08:00

Just got back from our Babymoon in NYC! We had an amazing time and I'm so glad we decided to splurge on one last trip together before the baby arrives. We started our days in Manhattan at about 11 after consuming gigantic bagels and cream cheese and didn't end our days until 1 or 2 in the morning. We ate at wonderful restaurants and off street vendor carts, saw Hair on Broadway (amazing!), wandered around museums, saw the typical tourist landmarks, and shopped up and down 5th Avenue. My priorities have definitely shifted b/c I was more excited to buy baby toys at FAO Schwartz then to shop for myself on 5th Ave.
I debated on going to a tropical location and chilling out with the H for our babymoon but laying on a beach all day is not as much fun without fruity rum cocktails. Plus, I live in heat and humidity and spend most weekends at the beach. The trip was exhausting and invigorating and I think we made the right choice. I'm sure it won't be as easy to walk around the city for 14 hours straight, eat out at fancy restaurants or see a 3 hour play on our next trip back to NYC with the bean.
So now I'm home to two suitcases full of laundry and a nursery that needs a lot of work. I had my glucose test today and we have a hospital tour and baby prep class coming up. Its all going so fast. I can't believe she'll be here in 3 months!
Oh, we were lucky enough to experience the 1st snow of the season on Saturday while walking around the Village. Too bad it came down with buckets and buckets of freezing cold rain! I will no longer be complaining about our mild winter.

Bump Watch

2009-12-01T05:38:00.001-08:00

26 WEEKS
COTW: Spicy Tex Mex trail mix. An intervention is needed asap.

Whoa, Nelly! Sorry for the nude belly, no make-up and pony hair. This pic was taken late at night after we put up our, ahem, faux Xmas tree. Putting up the tree and decorating it is one of my favorite family traditions. For the past 10 years, the H, doggies and I put on our Christmas mix CD and break out the wine and video camera and make a night of it. No wine for me this year, of course, and I couldn't stay up for the tree trimming part. This made me reflect on how so much has changed already this year and how much is about to change when the little bean finally arrives in March. We are so excited about all of the new adventures and traditions to be had with her but I am sure I'll miss our selfish, unattached lives just a bit. You gotta grow up sometime and we are really ready to start a family. Sometimes I regret getting married so young but I am really happy that the H and I had so many years together, just the two of us, to spoil our fur babies and ourselves.
Anyway, the Babymoon to NYC is coming up this week and I'm stoked! Then we really need to get it together and paint the nursery, finish building all of her furniture, and attend our birth and baby CPR classes. The time it is a flyin'.....

Gobble Gobble

2009-11-30T06:05:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Here's what I wore:

Target tunic, Liz Lang skinnies, Liz Claiborne leopard heels, F21 necklace, Guess Men's gold watch, MBMJ Convertible Posh Punk clutch (not shown)

Suck it Up

2009-11-25T05:22:00.000-08:00

Assets by Sara Blakely Maternity Terrific Tights

I stumbled upon these maternity tights at Target yesterday and decided to pick them up. I was a bit uncertain b/c Assets is like Spanx and the top part is designed to suck you in - not exactly what you want when you're expecting. Since they were the only black opaque maternity tights in my size I decided to try them out. The verdict - they're pretty awesome! The top part actually feels really good on my 6 month pregnant belly and feels like a comfortable support band. The added bonus is that they suck in my thighs and butt like a pair of Spanx and the black color is very opaque. For reference, I bought a size 2, even thought I was between a 2 and 3 on the size chart, and the fit is perfect. They are only $18, which is 1/2 the price of the maternity Spanx. Now go get yourself a pair, mama!

Blast from the Past

2009-11-23T06:10:00.000-08:00

Ok, who had a Snoopy Sno Cone Machine? I did and it was definitely a favorite childhood toy for my bro and me. I love that they still have this in existence or have recreated it and that it looks exactly the same. I would have been so bummed if I stumbled across this and there was a 2009 version with the cast of Peanuts looking like Bratz dolls. But alas, it is totally retro perfect and will be on my x-mas list this year of gifts to give and receive.

It's available here on Amazon.com and it's only $19!

Bump Watch

2009-11-20T04:39:00.000-08:00

25 Weeks
COTW: Still lots of fruit and totally random other things like popcorn with tons of garlic powder. I met with a new OB in the practice rotation and he warned me that all of the fruit I've been eating has tons of sugar. Now I'm a bit worried b/c my glucose test is 3 weeks away and from what I've heard, I do not want to fail it. It probably doesn't help that the H has been bringing me home cookies every night after work as well. Now I'm stumped at what to eat. I don't eat big meals but I am hungry and snack all day and thought lots of fresh fruit would be good.

Anyway, here's what I'm wearing: American Eagle dress, BCBG cardi wrap, Foley and Corinna Jetsetter. Yes, it's hot again. No, I will not complain. I have learned to accept that because I went out and bought 3 new pairs of boots and oversized cardi's and sweaters in September, that winter will skip us down here in Hades this year. I will shop for an ugly maternity bathing suit and I will like it.

Black as night, black as coal

2009-11-19T06:51:00.000-08:00

I'll admit it, I HATE BLACK FRIDAY! It's probably from working retail/wholesale for so many years and being forced to work my usual weekends off in packed, stuffy malls at an ungodly hour, fighting for parking, and waiting 2 hours just to get my morning Starbucks. I know its a tradition for some and I love a good deal, but I just don't get how it's worth all of the hassle. The week before and the week after Thanksgiving are usually prime shopping times anyway. And then there's always Cyber Monday dealz.
Stores start their markdowns early and the same clearance prices are usually extended after the Black Friday weekend to clear out some goods to make way for December deliveries.
There are lots of great deals going on now so I thought I'd share a few with you:
The Limited $15 off, $30 off $100, $50 off $150

Ann Taylor Friends and Family 30% off your entire purchase 11/17-11/22
Gap 20% off your entire purchase now thu 1/31/10
enter code GAP20 online

Express $25 off $50 or $50 off $150 via Tex Message
Get a code worth $25 off $50 or $50 off $150 when you text EXPLUCKY to EXPRES (397737). Expires 1/7/10.

Pregnancy Uniform

2009-11-17T07:39:00.000-08:00

To say I'm stuck in a style rut would be an understatement. Maternity tops still don't fit me right because my 6 1/2 pregnant body is more of a barrel than a bump and most of my pre-preg tops are too short or tight. On top of that, it is an incredibly warm winter, even for south Florida. My dreams of cozying up in oversized sweaters with tights and boots will have to wait but it's November, so I don't feel quite right in maxi dresses with flip flops anymore.
I spent all weekend running around town in some version of the outfit below. Tissue tees and tanks bought in sizes XL and XXL worn over maternity leggings or skinny jeans, paired with flips or gladiator sandals and when the temp dipped below 80, boots. Paired with an oversized bag, men's' watch and some kind of necklace. The bigger my accessories, the smaller I feel.

I'm wearing this Pocket Tissue Tank from Target in both pics, incase you were wondering...

Bump Watch

2009-11-13T13:40:00.000-08:00

24 weeks

COTW: Fruit! The local farmer's market is back open in my area so I've stocked up on lots of fresh, organic fruit to snack on and blend into smoothies. I've been balancing out this healthiness with lots of xtra cheese pizza on the weekends.

I can't believe I'm 6 months pregnant already. The second trimester has been very kind to me and I'm really enjoying being pregnant. We booked our babymoon (last vacay before bean arrives) for the 1st week in December in NYC. The H and I have not been to New York together since he took me there for our 2 month anniversary when we were dating. I'm just hoping I won't be too big in a month and able to walk in the cold for miles and miles. Anyway, cold weather would be a nice change. The weather is back up in the 80's here in Hades.
Here's my bump and what I wore: F21 cardi, American Eagle tank, Old Navy Maternity tank, Old Navy full panel flare jeans, Havaianas, Tiffany bracelet and necklace.

Yoga Momma

2009-11-12T11:35:00.000-08:00

Hey y'all, I've been in hibernation mode making my way thru my stack of pregnancy reading below for the past week, but managed to snap a few quick pics before I ran out the door to yoga this morning. It was a beautiful morning, a breezy and overcast upper 60 something degrees, which warrants a fashionable scarf here in Hades.

I'm wearing my uber-comfy trouser style maternity sweats from the Gap, Old Navy maternity tank, ON scarf, Havaianas, and topped it off with a DKNY Pure cardi-wrap (not shown.) The gym bag is American Apparel.

And here's a close up of the bump at 24 weeks. Finally getting beyond the is she just getting fat or is she pregnant stage! Feeling great at 6 months except for some lower back pain that I'm hoping the yoga can help out with. Bean moves and kicks constantly now, which is the best part of this so far. The increased boobage is a close second.

Namaste

Baby Lit

2009-11-12T06:26:00.000-08:00

or Mommy Lit or Chick Lit for Pregnant Chicks or Chicks with Kids, whatever. There is only so much What to Expect When You're Expecting a soon-to-be-mom can read. I know my days of lying by my pool for hours of uninterrupted quiet time are numbered, so I've been enjoying reading stories, factual and fictional, about women coping with pregnancy and motherhood. I've also sprinkled in some informative pregnancy guides written by actual doctors. Here are my pregnancy book club selections thus far:
1. Women's Bodies Women's Wisdom by Christiane Northrup, MD. - My mom lent me this book b/c it has a few chapters about pregnancy, birthing options and breast vs. bottle feeding. Waring - she is very pro natural child birth and breast feeding. Extremely one sided info but she makes some good points.
2. The Expectant Father - Facts, Tips, and Advice for Dads-To-Be by Armin A. Brott - bought this for the H so he wouldn't feel left out.
3. What to Expect When you're Expecting by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel - Perfect pregnancy guide for 1st time parents. The baby/fruit comparisons are a bit hokey but I like learning about how my little bean is progressing from week to week and what fun pregnancy symptoms may pop up. My baby's the size of a banana and I can expect heartburn and hemorrhoids, yay.
4. I'm Pregnant! by Lesley Regan, MD - A week-by-week guide from conception to birth. Warning - lots of graphic irl pics and cartoon renderings. Good for freaking out your baby daddy.
5. The New Baby Name Survey by Bruce Lansky - not only does it give the basic list of baby names and their origins and meanings it provides image profiles that help you picture what other people will think of you baby's name. The name Vivian may mean full of life but Vivian is viewed as an old woman without style or flair, harsh.
6. Notes From the Underbelly bu Risa Green - fictional tale of Lara Stone who finds maternal instincts she never thought she had and discovers that expecting is nothing like she ever expected.
7. Tales From the Crib by Risa Green - follow up book where Lara discovers that the 9 months of being miserably pregnant were nothing compared to the misery once the baby showed up.
8. Chicken Soup for the Expectant Mother's Soul - 101 stories to inspire and warm the hearts of soon-to-be-mothers.
9. The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus - fun read about how the other half lives told from the perspective of the nanny for hire.
10. Knocked Up by Rebecca Eckler - brutally honest and hilarious account of Eckler dealing with unexpectedly becoming pregnant at age 30.
11. Diary of a Mad Mom-To-Be by Laura Wolf - yes, another fictional tale of a non-maternal type dealing with 1st time pregnancy, work, marriage, etc.....
12. Mommy Tracked by Whitney Gaskell - a novel about four women coping with the challenges of motherhood, men and each other.
13. Belly Laughs by Jenny McCarthy - revealing the naked truth about the tremendous joys, the excruciating pains, and inevitable disfigurement that go along w/pregnancy, Jenny tells you what you can really expect when you're expecting!
14. Baby Laughs by Jenny McCarthy - hilarious, no-holds-barred look at the joys, challenges, and humiliations of the 1st year of motherhood.
15. Momzillas by Jill Kargman - gossipy tale about Upper East Side mommies.
16. The Ten Year Nap by Meg Wolitzer - story of a group of formerly high-achieving women who forsook their careers when they had kids . Ten years later, as the book's title implies, these moms are waking up, and realizing that they are bored, directionless, worried about money, and perhaps overinvested in the lives of their husbands, their children and their friends.
17. Barrel Fever by David Sedaris - this collection of stories and essays has nothing to do with motherhood or children, Sedaris is just f-in hillarious. It's a nice break from the mommy drama.

Stella McCartney for BabyGap and GapKids

2009-11-04T05:12:00.000-08:00

Launching in stores from 2nd November 2009, Stella McCartney creates a collection for boys and girls from 0-6 months to 12 years. The collection features her signature touches - a soft color palette, familiar silhouettes and her unique mix of unexpected pieces, creating looks that stay true to Stella's unique vision, reinterpreted with GapKids' playful, child-like charm, keeping fun and practicality at the forefront of the design intent.

How cute is this! When looking for baby clothes I'm always drawn to pieces that resemble costumes more than actual clothing. I think Stella's BabyGap and GapKids collaboration is the perfect mix of childhood creativity and practicality. I like how she mixes flouncy ballet pink tutus with grey cashmere hoodies and Sgt. Pepper Band Jackets with graphic tees and skinny jeans.

My 1st maternal jolt happened 3 years ago when I was working in my store. A lady came in with her daughter and the kid was wearing a graphic tee, a pink tutu and her mom's red cowboy boots that covered her entire leg and made it extremely difficult for the kid to walk in. I loved how the little fashionista was already suffering for the sake of fashion and how her mother encouraged her child's creativity. Another one of my customers had a little girl who would wear long striped gloves on her feet as shoes. The cuteness was almost unbearable.

There are lots of great pieces in the Stella McCartney Gap collaboration for your little fashionista or fashion dude to play dress up with and still look totally rockin' this holiday season. The line is available now online and in-stores.

COTW: Carrabba's Herb Dipping Oil

2009-11-02T14:52:00.000-08:00

The H and I went to Carrabba's on Friday and I've been having dreams about that incredibly addictive herb mix that they serve with olive oil and bread. This is for sure my top craving for this week. After perusing some recipes online, I decided to try it out for myself. Here's my version:

Alice's Incredibly Addictive Herb Olive Oil Mix for Dipping Bread

Ingredients:
5-6 leaves of fresh basil or 1 tablespoon of dried basil
1 small handful of fresh Italian parsley or 1 tablespoon of dried parsley
2-3 cloves of fresh garlic
1 tablespoons dried oregano
1 tablespoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon of whole black peppercorns or 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon of sea salt
1/2 teaspoon of rosemary
1/4-1/2 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon of olive oil

Directions:
Throw all of the above ingredients into a Magic Bullet or small food processor. If you do not have either, finely chop all ingredients by hand then go buy a Magic Bullet. When you are ready to consume, add the herb mixture to a plate and pour olive oil or evoo on top. Grab a loaf of bread or a fresh baked baguette and enjoy!

After you have consumed the entire loaf of bread, remind yourself that you also consumed the following nutrients that are good for your body and baby:
Vitamins A, E, and K, Iron, Folic Acid, Potassium, Calcium, Fiber, and lots of Omega 3's and Antioxidants.

Splurge vs. Steal: Cribs

2009-11-02T05:29:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited that modern furniture design has trickled down to baby and kids furniture. My dreams of a nursery for my little bean that is fun, funky and modern and not a wash of pastels, gingham and sleigh bed cribs is coming to fruition. The mind boggles at all of the wonderful options for baby furnishings and thankfully, style can also be affordable. Here are a few of my favorite crib splurges and steals:

Splurges

Oeuf Crib Classic Walnut $920

Oeuf Robin Crib $565Netto Collection Moderne Ebony Crib $1,595
Nurseryworks Arial Crib $1,365

Morgan Convertible Crib $2,635Steals

Baby Mod Olivia 3 in 1 Crib $299
Babyletto Modo Crib $379.99
Dwell Studio for Target Convertible Crib $249.99
Modern Chic Modena 3 in 1 Crib $239Baby Mod Roxanne 3 in 1 Crib $199Now which one to choose....

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T05:08:00.000-07:00

Wallflowers

2009-10-28T06:35:00.000-07:00

So, I was watching the 3 part Andy Warhol Factory People documentary on Ovation TV this weekend and got a great idea for the baby's room. I decided to use my two favorite Warhol prints, Flowers and the Velvet Underground LP Banana, as my color inspiration. I spent the day scouring the internet and actually found a really cute crib sheet set with amazing bright colors at Target that totally compliments the colors in the prints. I think it all fits in nicely with the clean lines of the white Ikea furniture and Baby Mod crib from Walmart. Now I'm stumped on what color to paint the walls?

Halloween with Bean

2009-10-26T06:53:00.000-07:00

I LOVE Halloween! A holiday that's all about candy, friends and dressing crazy and not about huge dinners, family obligations and crowded malls - yes, sign me up. I've always favored homemade costumes to store bought plastic masks. My favorite childhood costumes were made from pillowcase dresses and face paint. This year, being 5 months pregnant, Halloween dressing presents a whole new set of challenges. I scoured the Internet to get ideas on cute costumes that highlighted my current condition and were not too obvious or typical, i.e. knocked up nun or pregnant prom queen.
Most google results for Pregnant Halloween Costumes involved painted bellies. This would not work for me for 2 reasons:
#1 I did not want to encourage belly touching and
#2 At 5 months, I lack the round hard belly needed to pull off such a look.
But I do admire the ladies who proudly flaunt their round bellies with body paint. Here are some of my favorite finds:

A popular costume among the pregnant set this year seems to be Juno. This works out great if you have short brown hair (no wig required.) Just throw on a hoodie, striped tee, skirt, jeans and sneakers and voila - Juno (bonus points if you can convince your baby daddy to be Pauly Bleeker.) Accessorize with a jug of Sunny D, 7-11 Slurpee or a hamburger phone.

After searching through my closet, I decided to be pregnant Pocahontas. I have an American Indian inspired Marciano dress that looks more costume like now with my new new curves. I paired it with my 3 layer fringe Minnetonka boots, a Lucky Jeans suede bag with feathers and added a braided leather choker and vintage ceramic lion necklace. I bought feathers from the craft store to add to my hair ($1.00) and a plastic peace pipe from a costume store ($6.00.) Pregnant Pocahontas for under $10! If you do not have suitable dress, check out this DIY costume idea from howtodothings.com- How to Make a Poc ahontas Costume.

Here's my friends costume that works out perfectly for pregnant ladies - Octomom! All you need is a long black wig and some red lipstick or big wax lips. She accessorized with 8 hospital bracelets made from fax paper with the names of Octomom's 8 babies on them. 8 plastic baby dolls make a better accessory and keep you from being mistaken for Angelina Jolie or Morticia Addams.

Happy Halloween everyone! What are you going as this year?

Bump on a Budget

2009-10-23T04:46:00.000-07:00

Maternity clothes suck! They just do. For the most part, they are ugly and unflattering. Maybe this is because I am shopping in the world of affordable mass merchants, but its a recession and I'm out of work. I "think" I may have figured out a formula to look somewhat acceptable in the mainstream world and even a tad stylish on a good day without spending the equivalent to my baby's 1st year in college on clothes.
Here's what has worked for my thus far. I am carrying like the old wives tale of having a girl - all over the place. I don't have a cute round bump, I have a wide oblong and love handles. This makes maternity pants a necessary evil. Maternity tops on the other hand look horrible on me b/c of my lack of roundness and symmetry. For now, I'm sticking with maternity bottoms and oversized non maternity tops and sweaters. Babydoll dresses also work out nicely.
Accessories are the great equalizer. For fall and winter, I'll invest in great boots and bags that I'll wear for years to come and pass on the $600 designer maternity coat.

Here are some recent outfits testing out my new formula for dressing my bump on a budget:

I'm wearing Old Navy's Full Panel Flare leg jeans in Medium wash. I actually really kinda love these and they come in short and long lengths. The full belly panel is surprisingly comfortable and can also be worn rolled down. For reference, I'm wearing a size 4 long. I paired these with an American Apparel Viscose tee, American Apparel tank bra, and Liz Claiborne leopard slingbacks.

I've been wearing these Liz Lang for Target legging capris a ton since I bought them. I recently purchased the full length version to wear thru the colder months with boots and long sweaters. They run big, I'm wearing an XS and there is plenty of room to grow. They have a full panel waist that I've been wearing rolled down b/c its still a bit big. I'm also totally digging Old Navy's Maternity Long Layering Cami's, which I'm wearing here in white. They run long and are so comfy and stretchy. They remind me of the C+C long tanks but a bit thicker cotton. Bonus, they are super cheap and come in all kinds of colors. I'll probably wear these after the baby's born if they hold up. If you are pregnant, buy these in lots of colors. I've been sleeping in them, wearing them to yoga and layering them under everything. The top is Old Navy's non maternity Plaid Tunic that I've sized up to a large and Dolce Vita patent leather sandals.

Last we have Liz Lang for Target Skinny Jeans in Dark Rinse. I wanted a pair of skinny jeans to replace my J Brands while pregnant. I'm not sure these fit the bill. While they are skinny enough on the bottom to tuck into boots, the top part is a bit big and not very flattering. The belly panel is quite comfortable but the jeans are a bit stiff. These were on sale 30% off at Target and they only had one size 4 left so I grabbed them. Since they were so inexpensive, I may keep 'em to wear with long tunics and boots this winter. I'm wearing them with an American Apparel Viscose Dolman sleeve tunic, Minnetonka 3 Layer Fringe booties, and a Target J.Crew Bubble Necklace k/o.

She's Crafty

2009-10-20T07:32:00.000-07:00

The last few weeks I've been gettin' my craft on and making stuff for baby bean's nursery. I wanted to have the nursery painted by now but it still remains my workout room and the H's surfboard storage facility. Hopefully, we'll at least have it cleared out this weekend.

Anyway, I made a few pictures that will be hung above the crib and changing table and I actually sewed two little owls. The pictures were made simply out of embroidery rings and scrap book paper. I made the stuffed owls from the same template that I made for the owl pictures and the sheep from my mobile sheep template.

Disclaimer: I have not sewn anything since I made a stuffed elephant in 6th grade Home Ec.

Summer's Maxi Dress Remixed for Fall/Winter

2009-10-19T11:59:00.000-07:00

It's finally fall here in Hades! The temps dropped from a sweltering 95 degrees to the mid fifties this weekend. To celebrate, I decided to chop up one of my summer maxi dresses and convert it into a tunic and two scarves. Here is the original:

Here is my transformation:

This is how I made the scarves:
1. Take the bottom portion of the maxi dress and cut half of it onto long fringes.
2. Cut the bottom into two pieces. Cut one loop of each piece of fabric for a traditional scarf or keep it together for a circular style.

Cast of characters:

Outfit #1: Mossimo maxi dress, F21 necklace
Outfit #2: Mossimo tunic, Liz Lang capris, Liv's sweater booties
Outfit #3: Added DKNY Pure cardi-wrap
Outfits #4-6: American Apparel dolman sleeve top, Marciano ponte riding pants, Nine West boots

I also hit the 20 week half way point and felt the baby move for the 1st time, so all in all it was a great weekend!

DIY Flensted Inspired Sheep Baby Mobile

2009-10-15T07:26:00.000-07:00

I finally finished my 1st DIY project for my little bean's nursery. I love Flensted's sheep and used this as my inspiration. Here is the Flensted mobile:

Here is what you need to make my Sheep Mobile for your nusery -
1. Poster board or heavy card stock
2. Felt or fabric
3. Hole puncher
4. Fishing line
5. Scissors
6. Fabric glue
7. Wooden embroidery ring

Here is what I did -
1. I don't like to copy anything so I used my median drawing abilities to sketch out a few sheep until I found a shape that I like that vaguely resembled Flensted's design.
2. Cut out 5 sheep using your sketch templates onto poster board or card stock.
3. Pin the sheep template onto your felt or fabric and cut out 2 body pieces for each side of the sheep and 2 faces.
4. Glue the felt to the poster board or card stock cutouts and punch a hole at the top of each sheep.
5. Separate your embroidery rings.
6. Make an x on one of the embroidery ring with the fishing line. String up 4 sheep at each corner and 1 in the middle with the fishing line, alternating lengths. Make a loop at the top of the mobile with fishing wire to hang it from a ceiling hook.

Voila!

Baby mobile facts -
1. Research has shown that they can actually help in Baby's development, and could even help prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
2. A strategically-placed mobile can also help prevent Baby's head from looking tortilla flat on the back. Hang it to the side of the crib instead of directly overhead, and Baby will turn his head to the side while he dozes off.
3. Rotate the mobile around the room in order to ensure putting weight on each side of Baby's head, and you've just substantially decreased the chances of Baby being called "old flat head" in first grade.

Body in Transition

2009-10-11T07:02:00.000-07:00

I love to shop but it is getting less and less fun as I grow larger and rounder. I'm at that wonderful in between stage of my pregnancy where my pre preg wardrobe is getting tight but I'm not quite big enough to pull off most maternity clothing, especially tops. Even though I live in a pretty big city, the B&M maternity shopping choices here are minimal. I tried perusing the selection at Motherhood Maternity at the mall and was attacked by an overly aggressive sales lady who tried to sell me everything from nursing bras to nipple cream. My conclusion is that I think I'll stick to online shopping for now. The return shipping and restocking fees suck but are worth it.

My recent online endeavor led me to Kohl's. While my entire maternity order was a complete fail, I did find two cute pieces from the LC Lauren Conrad collection. I just sized up from my pre preg size of a small to a medium in both pieces. I think both items will transition nicely with my expanding body and the changing season.

#1. LC Lauren Conrad Striped tee in Natural Heather worn with ON maternity layering tank, Anlo trouser jeans stretched to the limit, F21 gold fish necklace, Steve Madden suede fringe bag and BCBG platform wedges.

#2. LC Lauren Conrad Brushstroke Sheath Dress in Paint Grey worn with Tiffany jewelry, Foley and Corinna Jetsetter Jr. and Dolce Vita gladiators.

Gigi from Gigi's Gone Shopping was less than thrilled with the line. Read all about it here. Maybe LC should market this towards pregnant women?

Bump Watch

2009-10-09T11:48:00.000-07:00

19 weeks
COTW: Fall weather! It's over 100 degrees today in SoFla, aka Hates, where I currently reside. Normally I love our long, drawn out summers, but now that I'm pregnant, I just want to cozy up in comfy over sized sweaters. And, come on, it's October!

Looking Grey in the Rain

2009-10-09T11:18:00.000-07:00

I have three rules when it comes to buying pregnancy clothes - #1 it has to be flattering, #2 it has to be comfy and #3 since I'm on a limited budget, it has to multi-task. I've had better luck sizing up in regular tops and dresses than trying to find cute maternity clothes. I also refuse to spend a bunch of $ on clothes that I'll only wear for a few months. The only exception may be designer maternity jeans because so far I haven't found a decent pair of jeans that look good on my new rounder shape. Here is the Pleated Jersey dress from Old Navy done up 3 ways:

OOTD (outfit of the day): ON Dress, Liz Lang for Target capris, Nine West studded patent flats, Guess patent cross body bag, F21 necklaces.

OOTN (outfit of the night): ON Dress, Nine West grey suede pumps, Marc by Marc Jacob Posh Turnlock convertible clutch, Banana Republic necklace, F21 bracelet.
OOTF (outfit of the future): ON Dress and scarf, Liz Lang capris, Nine West booties

Here She Comes Now

2009-10-07T08:08:00.000-07:00

I had my 18 week ultrasound yesterday and - It's A Girl! I'm so excited and terrified by the idea of having a daughter. I think boys are easier to raise, especially from the ages of puberty to adulthood. But little girls are so much fun! I'm already looking forward to all of the cute outfits and ballet recitals!

Now that we know it's a girl, I'm going full speed ahead on the nursery decorating. I've been collecting nursery ideas from the day I found out that I was pregnant. Here are a few of my faves:

Obviously this is not a nursery, but I love the idea of using grass green accents with bright white furniture.

The soft pink walls are so pretty and how cute is the bird baby mobile! There are DIY instructions for a similar bird mobile on ohdeedoh here.

This is my favorite one. I knew that I wanted to go with a color story instead of a theme for the nursery and use modern style furniture. This room from Me and Wee does both to perfection and has great customized accents like the Ikea dresser/changing table and the wall art made from fabric and embroidery hoops. Check out her blog and details of the nursery here.

Bump Watch

2009-10-03T07:34:00.000-07:00

Here's a backlog of my growing baby bump and my COTW (cravings of the week.)

18 weeks
COTW: Pumpkin! Pumpkin Spiced lattes and pumpkin scones from Starbucks. Any combo of bread, sugar and pumpkin. Disclaimer - I only have one or two lattes on the weekend and make a decaf dupe at home during the week.
16 weeks
COTW: Cheese! Greek salad w/ feta (pasteurized, of course), extra cheese pizza, bagels with cream cheese and key lime pie cheese cake.
14 weeks
COTW: Seafood! Grilled Dolphin Sandwiches w/ lot of tarter sauce, conch fritters, and steamed clams drowning in butter with garlic bread.

12 weeks
COTW: Sweet and sour stuff! Sour patch kids, sour gummies, sour skittles, lemon slushies and lime sherbert.

9 weeks
COTW: Burgers and fries! Specifically McDonald's Big Macs and White Castle Hamburgers. Also, watermelon.

Making Baby Bean

2009-10-02T06:49:00.001-07:00

Baby bean was conceived in June during a trip to Chicago. I usually don't like cutesy nicknames like "bean" but the name seems to have stuck. During my 1st ultrasound at 6 weeks, I was so overwhelmed by everything I didn't pay attention to the tech explaining how to read the u/s picture so I thought the sac was actually the baby and the sac looked like a black bean.If you are TTC or thinking about it, I highly recommend the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler. Actually, I think every girl should be issued a copy when they hit puberty. It is amazing how much I didn't know about my body and conception at age 30. Before reading the book, I would use online ovulation calculators and ovulation predictor kits. Well, my period was so out of whack from being on birth control pills for half my life that it was nearly impossible for me to know when I ovulated until I started charting my cycle and body temps. I didn't ovulate on day 15. Sometimes it was day 10 sometimes it was day 22. Also, I think those ovulation predictor kits are a waste of time and money. I never got a positive reading, which is depressing, and made me think that I didn't ovulate and had fertility problems.

I went off of BCPs December 2007 and did nothing for a year to try or not try to get pregnant. I started using the TCOYF charting method in March and was pregnant in June. I didn't chart in June since we were traveling and this can get your cycle all messed up. The mix of not stressing and the magic of hotel sex seemed to work for us but I know how hard it is not to stress out when you want a baby and its just not happening. In July, I went to see a fertility specialist, not knowing that I was already pregnant, since I was convinced that I didn't ovulate b/c of those stupid predictor kits.

Here's a more recent pic of baby bean at 12 weeks. They grow up so fast!

All Tomorrow's Parties

2009-10-01T13:12:00.000-07:00

As you can probably tell from my blog name, I love Alice in Wonderland and used this as a theme for my friend H and my 30th birthday party. The party took place in March 2009 and took about 1 month for my 3 best friends and I to plan. We had a "Mad Hatter's Tea Party" and requested that all of our guest come wearing their "maddest" hat. I would have done a full on Alice in Wonderland costume party if it was closer to Halloween but costumes would probably be pretty hard to find in March. Here are the highlights if you want to plan your own Wonderland themed party.

How to throw an Alice in Wonderland Mad Hatter's Tea Party

Invitations - There are plenty of Wonderland themed pre-made invitations that you can send out to your guests or you can get creative and make your own. Use jargon like "Don't be late for a very important date, Alice's party starts at 8" or "Make sure you wear your Maddest Hat or it will be off with your head." I stepped it up a notch and made an e-vite video that I created in windows movie maker. You can check it out here.
Decorations - 99% of my decorations were homemade. I transformed my friend L's house inside and out for under $150 (dollar store,baby). The inside living room we made into the Queen's Rose Garden and used a red, white and black color story. I made giant playing cards out of poster board, a garland by stringing together about 4 decks of cards and I randomly placed card around the room. I made red and white roses out of tissues paper and stuck those to the wall and used red silk flowers in checkered pots. The bathroom was the rabbit hole which was just a bathroom with a strobe light in it but it looked pretty cool. The kitchen area and outside patio were Wonderland and I used bright pink, blue, yellow and green colors. Wonderland featured a stuffed caterpillar smoking a hookah, a tea set and a card board clock that read "It's Always Tea Time", colorful tissue flowers and paper lanterns, a long banquet style table, and pink flamingo lawn ornaments that I found on eBay.
Drinks - My favorite part! I like to make giant punches for parties so people are not spending time mixing drinks all night. I like to use a stand up punch dispenser b/c it will minimize spillage from your drunken guests but a good old fashion punch bowl and ladle will work too. My "Mad Hatter's Tea" was a mix of one part iced tea, one part lemonade, one part vodka and a little sprite. Float some sliced lemons and limes on top to make it pretty. I also made "red and blue pills" which were red and blue jello shots. Decorate you drink station with signs that say "drink me" and "poison."
Food - My friends handled this task. Here is what they made: tea sandwiches, Knorr's veggie dip in a bread bowl "caterpillar dip", fruit tarts "The knave of hearts stole the Queen's tarts", sweet and sour meatballs "white rabbit droppings", stuffed mushrooms "magic mushrooms", pigs in a blanket "The 3 Little Pigs" and devilled eggs "Humpty Dumpty." Instead of a birthday cake, we had cupcakes that said "take one" and "eat me."
Music - The DJ mixed current party music, 80' and 90's and trippy 60's jams. Some Alice in Wonderland themed songs are "White Rabbit" by Jefferson Starship and "Mary Jane's Last Dance" by Tom Petty. We also had the movie playing on the TV.

Cheers!

Welcome to Wonderland

2009-10-01T13:02:00.000-07:00

Hi and welcome to my first blog post. Here’s a bit about me. I’ve spent the past 10 years working in retail and wholesale visual merchandising and dabbled for a few years as a retail buyer. I was laid off in December 2008 and after unsuccessfully trying to find another job in this horrible economy, I decided to shift my thinking completely. So it began, my journey down the rabbit hole.

My husband and I got married in 2001. We always wanted to have kids but never really discussed it beyond that. We have two fur babies, a dachshund named Bella (10) and a mutt named Daisy (7), that satisfied our parental needs. That is until my 30th birthday started looming and the clock started to tick. I decided to focus on ttc after my 30th birthday, but first I was going to throw a kick ass party.