Always a Northerner

The Announcement

2012-01-05T09:27:00.003-05:00

There is finally a good reason for my absence...

I'm pregnant! I hit 12 weeks today and have seen our baby six times (silver lining of recurrent pregnancy loss?) and felt ready to share our exciting news. I'm still anxious that something could go wrong, but I'm trying to stay positive and just trust that I will carry this baby to term. I'm not going to lie though...it is hard. Please pray, cross your fingers, sprinkle fairy dust, or whatever strikes your fancy that this is it!

Weekend Getaway

2011-11-19T14:04:00.007-05:00

Last weekend we went down to the city for an overnight getaway. I bought tickets to the Rangers game because neither of us had ever been to Madison Square Garden and I thought it would be a fun little trip. It was an awesome game and the Rangers ended up scoring a bunch of times in the 3rd period to win the game.

The next morning we grabbed crepes and warm drinks from the mini stores in Bryant Park and had breakfast right in the middle of the city. It was a crisp, but beautiful morning.

I tried Nutella for the first time! OMG I can't believe I have been missing out for so long. I immediately bought a jar when we returned home.

We stopped at Woodbury Commons on the way home and we both picked up a few new things for our wardrobes. Definitely a great weekend!

The Bar

2011-11-06T18:44:00.003-05:00

We've been so busy this week that I haven't had a chance to share the good news with everyone. AJ passed the bar! I am so proud of him and also so relieved that we don't have to deal with a high stakes exam ever again.

We had a bunch of things going on this week, and they all turned into celebrations. Everything was so fun!

Champagne the day we found out...

Jeff Dunham with one of our friends on Thursday...

Dinner and a hockey game with a group of friends on Friday night...

A dinner/dance with my family last night...

Today we had lunch with my family, then came home and watched football all afternoon. It was SO necessary to just relax after being out almost every night this week!

A Big Blue Wall and New Bathroom!

2011-10-30T20:18:00.010-04:00

We had another successful weekend with home improvement projects. This weekend we painted the accent wall in our living room/hallway and did a makeover in our master bath!

When we first bought our house, the living room accent wall was bright green. I wanted to change it because I didn't like the color. Because it was so bright, I also wanted to do something more neutral. When we went to the paint store, I picked out a beige-gray color, but when we put it on the wall, it actually looked more pinkish-purple than neutral at all. I pretty much hated it as soon as we painted it. I thought it might grow on me, but it never did. AJ also felt that our whole house was too beige, so we decided to do something bold and paint the wall blue.

Here are the two previous colors...

And the new blue color....

It is very blue, but I think it goes well with our furniture and decor. Now I need to add some wall art in the living room. Any ideas on what to do?

We also put in a new master bath vanity set. Our sink was way too small and we needed more storage. We plan to re-use the mirror and vanity in another bathroom, but that is a project for another day. Here is the before...

And here is after...

I love, love, love the new set and think it really makes the master bath more sophisticated. I am so proud of my husband for doing this all on his own! He is becoming so handy. I need to patch the holes left by the bolts that were holding the old mirror and touch up the paint in a few places, but our bathroom is pretty much done!

The kitchen is coming along...

2011-10-25T16:42:00.004-04:00

The last two weekends have been productive on the house project front. We painted our kitchen one weekend and bought a new table and chairs this past weekend. We still need to paint the pantry white, do a few touch ups on the walls, and figure out our wall art situation, but it is finally starting to come together.

The colors are a tad off because I took these pictures at dusk, but you get the idea. What do you think? I am liking the white cabinets with the dark wood table and light wood floors. AJ wants to eventually upgrade the countertops and get a stainless dishwasher, but those just aren't in the budget right now. I think for now, it all works.

And yes, there are dirty dishes in the sink and our stove is filthy. But hey, that's life!

I'm fine. Really!

2011-10-21T14:35:00.002-04:00

A few people have asked me how I am doing, so I figured I'd share with everyone.

Last month was hard. TTC + hormones + fear of failure + plus fear of success and then failure = me being crazy and dramatic

However, once I found out I wasn't pregnant (well maybe the next day), I felt like my old self again. The last couple days have been fun. We've been out with friends every night this week and AJ and I have reverted back to our normal selves. We are having fun, being silly and enjoying each other's company. That doesn't mean I don't want a baby anymore, or that I am not sad at times, but just that the whole mood in our house has changed.

I'm really wondering if the hormones are a big part of why I was feeling so nuts. I wanted to cry almost every day (and did most days....including in my boss's office) and just felt like crap in general. I am supposed to take them three times a day a few days after I ovulate, which means I am constantly thinking about getting pregnant/having a baby during that two week wait. I am wondering if I waited until the end of the two weeks to begin taking them, if it would help my sanity. I am supposed to take them to help me stay pregnant if I am pregnant, but would skipping the first two weeks really make that huge of a difference? (Perhaps even less than two weeks, since we all know I will probably start testing sooner than test day...and if I test positive I will obviously take them.) If I can't sustain a pregnancy during weeks 3 and 4, then I am guessing there is bigger issue than something that can be treated with progesterone. Thoughts?

I am also supposed to take baby aspirin once a day, which I will continue to do, since that is much less intrusive and is supposed to help with implantation.

I guess I should talk to my doctor about all of this.

Anyway, that is how I am feeling these days!

P.S. I appologize that all I blog about recently is getting pregnant and everything that surrounds it, but hey....that's my life right now. Oh and I hope you like TMI!

The Little Things

2011-10-19T19:01:00.001-04:00

Hi Mrs. Mxxxx! You have beautiful blue eyes!

Said with great enthusiasm this afternoon, by a 1st grader with autism.

It seriously made my day.

One year ago

2011-10-18T17:28:00.001-04:00

One year ago I had my first miscarriage. It feels like it was just yesterday, but then looking back on all that has happened in the last year....it feels like it happened so long ago. The more that I think about it, it definitely feels like forever ago.

I'm not really sure how I feel today. It's kind of a blah feeling. Like, this sucks. I lost my first baby a year ago and I still don't have one. I'm a little sad, angry, and jealous too....but mostly just blah. I haven't cried, but I feel like I could if I let myself wallow. I don't want to though. I want to stop being so damn negative.

So in honor of my baby, I will lift my head up and smile because that's what I need on this day. A little happiness.

You can't always bat 1000

2011-10-14T16:57:00.003-04:00

That's what my husband said to me this morning. I wanted to smack him.

I got pregnant last August on our first try. I got pregnant on accident in April because we were careless. (We weren't supposed to be trying before the bar, and even though we knew I was ovulating, we just didn't care. I thought... What the hell? What's the worst that could happen? Ohhh naive self. You were so fun.)

I didn't think I would get pregnant either time. But I did. And neither pregnancy ended well. So, now I am a basket case.

This was the first month we started trying again and today was the official test day. Even though I knew this morning's test would probably be negative since every test I took over the last four days was negative (what? you don't do that too?), I was crushed when I saw it.

But, AJ is right...you can't always bat 1000.

Fall Fun

2011-10-10T19:54:00.008-04:00

Happy Monday! Isn't Monday so much better when it is a holiday?

We had beautiful weather here in Upstate this weekend. Despite the unseasonably warm temperatures, it still looks like fall up here. I took some pretty pictures of the leaves because they are just starting to change. We also took a trip to the local pumpkin place and picked up pumpkins, mums, cider, and donuts. I decorated the house, including the mantle. It's a little heavy on the orange, but this way I can leave it up through November. I just need to switch out the witch with something Thanksgiving themed. Shouldn't be too hard for this decorating novice.

It was a really great weekend! I am feeling refreshed and ready for the week ahead. Hope you are feeling the same way!

A Bare Fireplace

2011-10-03T19:56:00.001-04:00

It is officially cold here. Well maybe not that cold, but it feels freezing to me. And I know it's only going to get worse. You'd think that spending my first 20 years up north would have prepared me for this, but those 5 years down south really thinned my blood. Or something like that.

We have a beautiful fireplace in our living room and although I didn't want the cold to arrive, I couldn't wait to use it. When we tried to fire it up yesterday, of course it didn't work. If there is one thing I've learned in this home ownership adventure, it's that nothing is as it seems. The gas insert was installed in 1993 (yes, they saved EVERY manual and date stamped each one) and obviously it needed to be replaced a lonnnnng time ago. Probably something we should have figured out before signing those papers.

Oh well, you know I was able to find a deal!

Yesterday we headed out to Lowes (Home Depot was ruined in the flood) and picked out a new one for $175, marked down by a manager because the box was a tad dented. Score!

AJ hooked it up when we got home and it works great!

My only problem now is that my mantle is bare. I had to move the picture frames that were previously up there because they were blocking the vent.

Doesn't it look so sad now? I need some fall inspiration! Suggestions??

(Also, the left wall is off white and the right wall is a gray-eige color....silly iPhone)

Advice?

2011-10-02T17:31:00.001-04:00

Last week was a tough one. Our marriage was really tested and there were moments that I just wanted to throw in the towel. Not really, but I'm sure you know what I mean. Sometimes I think my life would be so much easier if we just gave up on trying to have a baby. It is so stressful and I hate that it has become something that we fight over. There are times when it kind of rules our life. We have to chart my temps, I have to take multiple medications, and we have to time everything based on my cycle. Ugh. The lack of spontaneity is definitely a mood killer. Any advice from others on how to deal?

Here's hoping we have a better week!

The Backyard Project

2011-09-22T17:42:00.002-04:00

Before finishing our kitchen, we decided that our sagging and nasty deck should be replaced too. I don't have a picture of the old deck because it was covered in snow when we bought the house. I didn't take a before picture either, but believe me when I say it was bad.

Anyway, when the guy started ripping it out he found out that our hot tub room, which is an addition, was built on the deck and was the only thing supporting the room. Awesome. Our simple deck project quickly turned into a much bigger project. He had to build supports, jack up the room, and put the supports in place. During the process the drywall cracked and the door out to the deck broke. The door was gross too, so replacing that wasn't a huge deal. I was planning to paint it, but replacing it worked too. We are planning to repair the drywall when we install new, bigger windows in the hot tub room, but we're still saving our pennies for that project.

Back to the deck/backyard project... It's almost complete now. Just in time for winter ;)

Today AJ ripped out a randomly placed bush and a dead tree.

Now we need to fill in dirt (which is surprisingly expensive) and have the deck guy come back and install some stairs. After that we want to lay a patio and plant grass, but we'll probably have to wait until spring to do that. It's almost snow season!

The Home Improvement Snowball Effect

2011-09-22T17:34:00.005-04:00

It all started when our kitchen faucet snapped in half. We stopped at Lowes to pick out a new one, and the next thing you know we have changed pretty much the entire kitchen.

This is what our kitchen used to look like (realtor photo):

Since then we have replaced the faucet, painted the cabinets white (using Rust-Oleum Kitchen Transformations), bought new hardware, installed under the counter lights, and replaced the light fixture over the sink. After painting the cabinets we realized the ivory wall color doesn't look so hot, so now we need to paint the kitchen walls too.
Here are some pictures of the work in progress:

The cabinets are back on, but we still have to paint the walls, touch up the ceiling where the previous light fixture was hanging (yuck, do you see that?!), and paint the pantry white. Did I mention we started this project at the end of July? Oh yes. Luckily, we finished all that stuff in early August, but the rest that needs to be done has been on our to-do list for two months.

Any paint color suggestions?

Where have I been?

2011-09-16T16:44:00.001-04:00

Let's just get right to the elephant in the room. No, I'm not pregnant. I didn't take a long blogging break for any particular reason. After we moved up to NY, I started my new job (did I mention I got hired full time after 3 weeks of working per diem), we got settled into the new house, and life just got really busy. We had a lot of fun times with friends and family, we tackled a few home improvement projects, and AJ took the bar. He played golf for a few weeks and then decided to start working at the firm a couple weeks ahead of his original post Labor Day start date. Both of us working (my job is a 12 month position so I work over the summer) plus trying to maintain a house is a lot more work than we anticipated. Not in a bad way, but in a "it keeps us busy" kind of way.

Nothing particularly noteworthy happened this summer, but it was a lot of fun. It definitely will be remembered. I had a "last hurrah mentality" and drank/ate my way through the summer. I'm not going to lie, it was pretty awesome. We've fallen into a great group of friends here and have re-connected with some high school and college friends that are still in the area. This is such a relief because I was really worried that we would be lonely and that we wouldn't have any friends.

Now that summer is over and school is back in session, I plan to cut back on drinking, reform my eating habits, and exercise regularly so that we can start trying to have a baby again. We got all our infertility/recurrent miscarriage test results back in July and nothing was abnormal, so I just need to work on my mental health (I am very easily stressed and my not-so-new job is pretty stressful) and really pray that the third time's the charm.

That's pretty much it for now. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Hi

2011-09-15T21:02:00.001-04:00

Hi,

I miss blogging. I'm going to try and make a comeback (for the 3735 time).

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

As you can see, I have to blog from my iPhone, because my MacBook has kicked the can. We'll see how it goes.....

Back in NY

2011-06-18T20:08:00.004-04:00

A lot has happened since I last stopped by this little blog of mine. I returned to Maryland for a couple weeks, we went to the Kenny and ZBB concert, we celebrated my birthday last weekend, we had a consultation with the fertility doctor, I was offered job #2, we had blood work done for our fertility workup, I signed papers with the district for the per diem job, I decided to gamble and did not accept job #2, I left my job in MD, I finally moved back to NY, and I started working per diem. Despite all that craziness, life is starting to settle down. I am so happy to be back in New York, living in our new home, and working in a great district. I feel so much more relaxed already!

Job #1

2011-06-06T13:24:00.005-04:00

Well, I didn't get the first job. The assistant superintendent called me this morning to let me know. She said I interviewed really well and that the team was impressed, but that the applicant pool was very strong and they decided to go with a different candidate. I still feel like poo, but her kind words did make me feel a bit better. I'm sure she said that to everyone, but I do feel like the interviews went well, so there really must have been someone a little better than me. Oh well.

Although I didn't get the full time position, she did ask me to do per diem work starting next week. This is actually a pretty sweet deal, because most of the positions in other districts in the area do not start until after Labor Day, so I can work as a substitute psych*ologist all summer and can continue to look for a full time position for the fall. Also, since it is a sub position, I can decline work if I want, which means we can officially plan a post-bar trip for August. We were hoping we would be able to spend a week or two in Pinehurst, and it looks like that will happen after all. When one door closes another one opens, right? I'm just trying to take it all in stride and be happy that I will soon be home with my husband and puppy!

Moving Weekend (And Before and After) Recap

2011-05-31T21:55:00.003-04:00

Sometimes life is so crazy there is no time for blogging. It is sad, because the crazy times are usually the ones when I have the most to write about. Somehow that always falls by the wayside.

A brief recap is all I can muster right now, so here is what I have been up to for the last couple weeks....

I flew to NY on the 17th and had an interview on the 18th. I flew back after the interview, finished out the work week, and spent our last weekend in DC hanging with friends. On Friday night we had margaritas with Miss Mindless, the speech therapist at my school, and their husbands. On Saturday we had dinner in Annapolis with our close group of friends. On Sunday we visited a few wineries in Virginia.

Last week was spent packing up our house and getting our life in DC wrapped up. My mom drove down that Monday and was a huge help in getting our house packed. She and I then drove up to NY on Thursday night because I had an interview at 8:15 on Friday morning. That interview was a call back for the district I interviewed with the previous week. It actually ended up being two interviews; one with an administrative committee and one with the superintendent. I then drove about an hour away to another interview for a position in a different district. To say I was tired when I returned home is an understatement. AJ drove up to NY in our car that afternoon and arrived in NY at dinner time. Our moving truck arrived a few hours later. We spent the weekend unpacking and organizing our house. It's not completely done, but we've made a good dent in the boxes and the house is starting to look like our home. Oh, and did I mention that AJ started studying for the bar last week? Needless to say, life has been CRAZY.

Today I drove down to Maryland and am staying with our friends for the remainder of the school year. I'm so lucky that I have great friends that will let me crash for three weeks. I would not survive if I had to stay in a hotel or sublet an apartment for a month. I obviously wish I was back at home with my husband and dog, but being with friends is better than being alone right now.

AJ is coming down on Friday and we are going to the Kenny Chesney and Zac Brown Band concert on Saturday. Next weekend is my birthday and then the weekend after that I will be home for good and hopefully will be able to take a moment and just relax!

Stickers

2011-05-19T13:20:00.001-04:00

When I test a student, especially a young one, I always reward them with stickers. This afternoon I tested a kindergartener and gave him one of my huge badge stickers that says "I did my best!" because he worked really hard for over an hour. That is like eternity for a 6 year old. When I brought him back to his classroom and he walked through the door, there was a collective "wooooooah" from his classmates when they saw his sticker. He then told me he was never taking the sticker off. It was so fricken cute.

Wouldn't it be awesome if stickers still made us feel that special? Ahhh, to be a kid again.

Quick Update

2011-05-18T18:33:00.001-04:00

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

The interview went really well today. I felt like I answered all the questions well and that I was able to tie my answers into my experience. I definitely gave real life examples/answers instead of book answers. The chair of the committee told me that they are planning to do call back interviews next week. She also asked about my availability next week and mentioned that they wanted to be accommodating since I'm still living in DC. I think that's a good sign! She said there are two or three other candidates they'd like to call back though, so I'm still nervous.

I have many other things I want to write about, but I am so exhausted and am going to hop into bed as soon as I eat dinner. Interviewing AND traveling tires this girl out!

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Let's take a ride on my emotional roller coaster, shall we?

2011-05-16T20:23:00.008-04:00

We closed on our house on Friday, May 6th. Getting the keys and stepping foot in our house was very exciting. We spent the weekend completing projects and made a lot of progress on the house. I cannot WAIT to move in for good.

I attended Mother's Day brunch last Sunday, and I am really glad that I did. It was difficult at the time, but the few pangs I felt were totally worth it. I was able to spend time with my grandmother, which ended up being very important, because she passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday at the age of 77. After brunch she (and the rest of my family) came over to our new house and we gave her the grand tour. She was so happy for us and called all seven of her sisters afterward. They all told me about her calls at her wake on Friday. Her death was very shocking and I miss her so much already. She was the most wonderful, caring lady and a joy to everyone that knew her. We did not take any pictures at Mother's Day brunch and I am so upset about that. I can't remember the last time our picture was taken. Here she is with my grandfather, father, and brother on my wedding day and one of AJ and me with all of my grandparents:

After attending my grandmother's funeral on Saturday, AJ and I drove back to DC so that we could attend his law school graduation on Sunday. It was very difficult to leave NY and switch emotional gears, but we did, and we enjoyed the day as best we could. I am so proud of my husband and all that he has accomplished in the last three years.

While we were in NY, I received phone calls for two interviews in two different school districts in NY. I am flying back to NY tomorrow night for my first interview on Wednesday morning. I am really hoping to land this job. It is in the town next to where we will be living and in the same town as AJ's law firm. The other interview is next Friday, also known as moving day in this household. We haven't quite figured out how we are going to fanangle that, but somehow we will make it work. Best case scenario...I land the first job and don't even need to interview in the other district. Fingers and toes crossed!

So that is my life in a nutshell. You understand why I haven't posted in a while now, right?

Thoughts About Mother's Day

2011-05-04T07:20:00.001-04:00

Yesterday my mom asked me if we'd like to go to brunch at the country club on Sunday since we'll still be in town. I said yes, not realizing that it is the Mother's Day brunch. (I've been a tad aloof lately. Perhaps it's my brain's way of protecting me...) Later this evening, once I figured out that it was the Mother's Day brunch, I started freaking out. I get a lump in my throat just thinking about it right now. I've been to this brunch many times and I know what it entails. At the end of the meal, the servers bring flowers to all of the mothers at the table. It's a nice gesture...until you desperately want the flowers and you know you aren't getting any. Needless to say, I'm afraid I'm going to start crying and/or need to excuse myself.

As I sat thinking about the brunch all night, I tried analyzing what I'm so upset about. Yes, I'm grieving my losses, but I'm also upset that I'm not yet a mother when I know that I was supposed to be one sometime this week.

This brings up an interesting point that I saw mentioned on the Miscarriage Memories facebook page. Do you consider yourself a mother if you have miscarried? The majority of people that responded to the post said yes, it doesn't matter that your baby (or babies) died before birth, you're a mother if you have miscarried. My immediate thought is no, I'm not a mother. However, when I spoke of my first miscarriage (I haven't had much of a chance to speak of my second miscarriage or both) I often used the phrase "my baby". Don't you have to be a mother to have a baby? My babies aren't here in my arms, but they did at one time exist.

I'm not about to tell our server at the club that I am a mother, but maybe Mother's Day wouldn't be so hard for me if I thought of myself as a mother.

It's Almost Closing Day

2011-05-03T10:18:00.004-04:00

There is nothing like a good cry. Or the blog/twitter world. Your comments, tweets, emails, and texts have lifted me up like you wouldn't believe. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I don't know why this is happening to us, but I have to believe there is a plan for our family and someday it will all make sense.

Let's talk about something more exciting, shall we? We are tentatively scheduled to close on Friday afternoon. We are just waiting for the bank to choose a location for the closing. Ahh! I can't believe it is finally here. I am excited and nervous and still a little apprehensive (even though I know deep down that we will fill those rooms someday). I just want to sign the papers and have the keys in my hand!

The weather on Saturday is supposed to be beautiful, so we are planning to start tackling our to-do list right away. Here are the things on our to-do list for the weekend:

Paint the green wall in the living room
Paint the pink bedroom
Paint the wood trim and window frame in the living room
Power wash the siding
Spray paint the shutters
Paint the front door

We still have not decided on paint colors for the living room wall or pink bedroom, but we have some ideas so I will share them later today or tomorrow. I would love some input!

As for the door, does anyone have suggestions on tackling this project? Types of paint, best process, etc.? I am not sure what kind of door it is (wood or metal), so I probably need to figure that out before I decide what paint to use.

Sinking in

2011-05-01T23:09:00.001-04:00

It's starting to sink in. I was definitely in shock the past two days. Now I'm really starting to breakdown. I got into bed tonight and just cried and cried. Why is this happening to me? I'm young, I'm healthy, and I'm a good person. The whole situation just is cruel and unfair.

Also, I'm freaking out about the house. Should we really be buying a three bedroom house if we might not be able to fill it? All I can think of are the two bedrooms that are supposed to be for our children.

I hate that I am being so dramatic, but I can't help how I feel right now.

It happened again.

2011-04-29T15:17:00.006-04:00

I miscarried this morning.

I didn't even know I was pregnant this time. We weren't trying, but we weren't being careful either. I took a HPT two weeks ago since I thought there was a chance I might be pregnant, but it was negative, and I got what I thought was my period a couple days later. Then my parents came to visit, we got distracted by everything with the new house, and I got emotionally wrapped up in my first miscarriage. I never gave being pregnant a second thought.

This morning, when I realized that what I was experiencing seemed suspiciously like a miscarriage, I took another pregnancy test and it was positive. I then proceeded to have a mental breakdown because I was shocked, confused, and overcome with grief. Once I calmed down, we called my doctor and told her what was happening. We all knew it wasn't looking good, so she told us to go to the ER to have everything checked out. They confirmed my suspicions. I was six weeks pregnant and was miscarrying.

It all happened so fast. I woke up super early to watch the Royal Wedding and had a pretty normal morning until I went to get in the shower. The next thing I know, I am sitting in the same perinatal office where I found out I was going to miscarry the first time. I hate that place. I am never going back there ever.

Everything is very different this time around. I didn't have a chance to get attached to the idea of being pregnant, having a baby, etc. I am sad and upset, but I am mostly overcome with anxiety because there is a greater possibility that there is something "wrong" with one or both of us. Hopefully we can now get some testing done and figure out what to do next.

In the mean time, this sucks.

Feeling Better

2011-04-27T18:41:00.001-04:00

Thank you all for your kind words yesterday. I am feeling much better today and am hopeful that I'll experience a good balance of grief and acceptance these next two weeks. I don't want to wallow in sorrow, but I also don't want to completely disregard my feelings. I'm just praying I don't have any more meltdowns!

On a happier note, our land survey was completed today so we should be able to officially schedule our closing! I got really excited last night and started packing a bin with all the stuff we will need to stay in the house next weekend. A set of sheets, towels, and cleaning supplies are ready to go! We aren't moving out of out current place until the end of May, so we bought an air mattress to sleep on for the few days we are in NY. We also hope that our sectional will be ready and that it can be delivered while we are up there. If not, we'll survive, but it would be great if we had something to sit on!

In other exciting news, my NY certification finally went through! There still aren't any jobs in any of the school districts surrounding our new town (with the exception of a .4 position), but hopefully something will pop up by August. At least I can now be seriously considered without any caveats! I did apply to the .4 position though. If I was offered the position I would take it, but I'd obviously prefer a full time job.

Ahh, life. Why must everything always be completed? I'm just trying to remind myself that everything happens for a reason and it will all work out in the end. Wise (and cheesy) words to live by.

Talk about a 180

2011-04-26T12:06:00.001-04:00

All the happiness I felt yesterday has gone flying out the window. It is only noon and I already want to go home, crawl into bed, and cry. Nothing particularly awful has happened, but a bunch of little things have...

I forgot my keys to my office, then I couldn't even use my office because another person was in there testing kids, then I got a rejection email for a job I really wanted, then I found out I have a meeting this afternoon that I was not notified about, and then I dropped an m&m on my white jeans. Why is it so hard holding in tears at work? Ugh.

I have been feeling especially sensitive the last couple days. I think it is because my due date is next week and I can't help but be emotional about everything again. I was hoping that the pending closing and excitement of buying a house would overshadow my due date, but in reality it is just giving me another thing to stress about. I know it is normal to experience grief again, but I still don't like it. Grumble, grumble.

Happy Monday!

2011-04-25T09:21:00.003-04:00

Happy Monday, friends! There is nothing like a day off to make a Monday more enjoyable.

Spring break ended up being pretty busy, so I am very happy that I have an extra day off today. I had to work Monday through Thursday to get a few non-instructional days in, so it really has been more of a spring break long weekend than a true spring break. Better than nothing though! My mom came down last Monday to help us start packing and then my dad flew down on Friday, so we have had a full house for what seems like forever. I love my parents, but it is tough hosting people for an extended period of time. I can't wait until we live in the same town so that we can see them more frequently for shorter periods of time.

This weekend we celebrated AJ finishing law school. He had his last final on Friday afternoon! I can't believe law school is over...it hasn't really sunken in yet. These three years were stressful for both of us, but we survived. I am so proud of him for not only doing well in school, but also for finding a great home/school/work balance. I never really felt like a law school widow and I am so grateful for that! Now the countdown to the bar begins. Ahhhhhh!

DIY Kitchen Cabinet Makeover?

2011-04-21T19:54:00.013-04:00

Besides painting, the other big project we want to take on in our new house is the kitchen. The cabinets are nice quality, but the two toned wood just doesn't work for me. The gold hardware also has to go, but that is an easy fix.

We were thinking about stripping, sanding, and painting or re-staining the cabinets, but then I stumbled across Rust-Oleum Cabinet Transformations, which requires no stripping, sanding, or priming. Has anyone used this product? It sounds like a great way to go about changing your cabinets without spending a ton of money on replacing them. It also seems easier than figuring out how to do the whole painting/staining process on our own.

We want to make the cabinets darker. These are the two colors we like:

We are planning to glaze everything, so the colors really aren't that different in terms of darkness. However, Espresso seems to have more red undertones than Kona.

The Rust-Oleum website has a virtual tool that allows you to change the cabinet colors and countertop colors (they also have a DIY kit for that), so I tried the two cabinet colors with the countertop color that is closest to our countertops.

We are obviously more inclined to choose Kona because that is our dog's name. That is a good way to choose your cabinet color, right??

Our first new piece for the house!

2011-04-11T22:31:00.002-04:00

This past weekend we were back in NY. I had an interview at a non-profit on Friday, so we stayed for the weekend and tried to get some things done before the big move. The weekend was jam packed with activities....most notably furniture shopping!

We spent quite a bit of time roaming around the furniture store contemplating formal versus casual furniture. In the end we decided to go with something casual and comfortable because it fits the house style and our personalities. We chose this sectional (but decided against the ginormous ottoman):

In this darker brown color:

You can't really tell how dark the fabric is in this picture, but it really is a lot darker than the fabric on the sectional. Because we ordered a different color and are having the chaise and love seat parts reversed, it will take a few weeks to get it delivered, which actually works out perfectly with our closing and moving date. Yay! Now we need to choose a coffee table and end tables, as well as paint colors and an accent chair. I also plan to jazz up the sectional with patterned pillows and a blanket or two. Color suggestions?

Paint

2011-03-31T15:59:00.005-04:00

Well we are finally in the part of the process where I feel pretty confident that this whole house buying thing is actually happening. The inspection is done, the repairs have been made, and now we are counting down to the closing! Ahhh! Now that all that stuff has been taken care of, I can start focusing on the more important things (at least in my book).....decorating and painting!

There are two rooms in the house that need paint. The living room has a lime green accent wall and one of the bedrooms is baby pink. I love pink and green, but I do not like them as paint colors.We want to keep the accent wall in the living room, but we will probably play it safe and do a color from the beige family. The question is, should we pick furniture or paint first? We are planning on getting a new living room set, but likely won't buy it until after we move. Ideally I would like to paint before we move in. Is that the wrong way to go though?

As for the pink bedroom....we are hoping to use this as a nursery some day and I would prefer to not paint twice. I am not sure what color we will use, but I also want it to be neutral. Boring?

What are your favorite design/decorating blogs? I need to add them to my reader!

Our First Home

2011-03-14T11:28:00.001-04:00

More details to come!

House Hunting

2011-03-08T09:33:00.004-05:00

I'm still sick. I am so sick of being sick that I don't even want to talk about it. So instead, let's talk about some exciting news!

While we were in Grand Cayman we had to turn off email and internet on our phones so that we didn't incur a million dollars in roaming fees (or whatever they are called these days). When we landed back in the states, we turned everything back on. One of the emails AJ recieved was from our landlord asking us if we could move out at the end of May. Our initial reaction was to freak out, but we talked about our options and adjusted our time line. I think it is all going to work out.

The most exciting part? We are heading back to NY this weekend to look at houses! We have been browsing online, sending my parents to open houses, and have my mom and our real estate agent looking at houses today so that we only have to look at the best on Saturday. So far there are two that we are really interested in seeing. Hopefully we will find something we love!

Any house hunting or house buying tips?

Gaga & Tom and Lorenzo

2011-02-28T19:47:00.006-05:00

Thanks for all your well wishes. I am still feeling under the weather, so when I returned home from work today, I immediately crawled back into bed. Here is my current view:

All three of us in bed, in our double back-up sheets, Bert & Ernie blankets, playing on our laptops, hoping and praying for this sickness to leave our home. Yes, I have infected my husband. I feel so bad.

Almost as bad as I feel for blaring Lady Gaga songs on You Tube all evening. I stumbled upon the LadyGagaVEVO YouTube site (because it has the Born This Way video) and the next thing I know it is two hours later and I have watched ALL of her videos. I never really considered myself a Gaga fan, but I think I am now. She is such a freak show and I can't look away. LOVE. In case you havent seen her new video, here it is:

Another website I stumbled across since coming down with the flu/cold from hell.... Tom and Lorenzo. Someone in my twitter feed retweeted them yesterday, so I started following their tweets before the Oscars, and then I clicked through to their website, and yada, yada, yada, I'm now obsessed. They had great pictures and gave amazing and hilarious commentary last night. On their blog, they post pictures and commentary for all the awards shows and other various events. I lost another couple of hours looking through their archives. Check them out. Actually, I'll get you started with some stuff from last night:

2011 Oscars Red Carpet Part 1
Vanity Fair Oscar Party Part 1

Hope you enjoy these two sites as much as I did!

Cough Cough, Sneeze Sneeze

2011-02-27T18:25:00.004-05:00

Our lovely vacation ended on a low note....we sat next to a sick person on the plane from Miami to DC. This flight also happened to be delayed on the tarmac because of bad weather so we got an extra hour of exposure to his germs. Ugh! I've been flat in bed since Thursday night thanks to our seatmate. I feel a bit better today and my fever broke yesterday, but I sound like I've been chain smoking for 58 years and am still so stuffed up that it is making me dizzy. I am hoping I continue to feel better!

AJ is off playing hockey so I have the remote all to myself. I am switching back and forth between red carpet coverage and a Snapped marathon. My current medicine is a snuggly puppy, a mango peach salsa Yankee candle that is tricking me into thinking it is almost summer, and some tea with honey. I have been taking DayQuil regularly until today...this morning I decided I needed to give my body a break. I am such a freak about taking medicine. AJ basically has to force it down my throat. Any homeopathic remedies out there??

That is all my foggy brain can muster tonight. Hope you all had a great weekend!

Heaven

2011-02-23T17:47:00.004-05:00

We had a great time on vacation. A long weekend getaway was just what we needed. I feel rested and relaxed and am ready to power through the last couple weeks of winter.

Grand Cayman is BEAUTIFUL and it felt very safe, so I would definitely recommend it to anyone planning a Caribbean vacation. Our hotel was nice (the Westin), but if you can spurge, definitely try and stay at the Ritz!

The water at Seven Mile Beach is so calm and clear, it was like swimming in a pool.

Here is my favorite picture from the trip:

We took this at 6 something in the morning while the sun was rising. I love that we just rolled out of bed. It feels real, as opposed to when I am all made up and straightened!

Sun and Sand

2011-02-18T07:08:00.000-05:00

And we're off to Grand Cayman! See you in a few days!

Photo from here.

Veg Update

2011-02-17T10:51:00.003-05:00

We have reached the end of our veg experiment, and I am happy to report that it went really well. We ate a plant based diet almost exclusively!

We did indulge in the "paris exemption" a few times, which is the acceptance of flexibility on special occasions...like when you are out to eat or don't have veggie options available. I think we opted for meat 3 or 4 times, which is pretty amazing considering we used to eat it, on average, once or twice a day. We also ate seafood 2 or 3 times throughout the experiment.

I have to say that I really enjoyed trying new recipes and learning how to incorporate vegetables as the main dish. It was also pretty informative to see that buying vegetables is not more expensive than buying meat. We also bought a lot of quinoa, lentils, and rice, and I found that you can make hearty, affordable dishes if you put in the effort.

Now that the experiment is over, we are going to buy meat again, but I am going to continue making vegetarian meals....in fact I am planning to do more vegetarian meals than meat meals each week. I think I would call that a success!

Veg Experiment

2011-02-01T12:36:00.005-05:00

When you have to recap your weekend on Tuesday, it means it was a good one. One of my friends and her boyfriend came down for the weekend and we had entirely too much fun eating, drinking, and staying up late.

However, we overindulged so much that AJ and I have decided that we need to get ourselves back on a track to healthiness. Alcohol and junk food are not what I need to be filling my body with if I want to try for another baby someday soon. We have been itching to dabble in vegetarianism since we watched Food, Inc. a few months ago (and after reading Jenn Lives Well), but we have been lacking in motivation and initiative. We finally have both!

We leave for Grand Cayman in 18 days. Between now and then we are cutting out almost all meat and alcohol. I say most meat because we have a few Healthy Choice frozen meals in our freezer that we need to eat so that we can free up space. I know frozen meals aren't the healthiest option out there, but they make bringing my lunch to work a million times easier. (Sidebar: Have you tried the Healthy Choice kind? My favorite are Chicken Parmigiana and Roast Turkey. They are so much better than Lean Cuisine or Weight Watchers frozen meals. They actually look and taste like real food. They are a tad more expensive then the other brands, but I have found that they are well worth the extra dollar or two.) We are planning to eat those for lunch this week and then it is onto a no meat meal plan. I think this will be good because it will allows us to wean ourselves off meat during the first week.

I have a few recipes I plan to use throughout our veg experiment:

Quinoa with Spinach and Tomatoes
http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=2001925

Rigatoni with Eggplant
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/trenette-with-eggplant-and-basil-pesto-recipe/index.html

Quinoa Stuffed Red Bell Peppers http://www.shape.com/healthy_eating/recipes/quinoa_stuffed_red_bell_peppers_recipe

Ratatouille
http://www.thedcladies.com/2010/03/ratatouille-from-moosewood.html

After vacation we plan to asses how we feel and at that point determine what kinds of meats (if any) we want to reintroduce into our diet. Have you tried something like this before? Any other recipes, thoughts, and/or tips for me??

Cleaning Spree

2011-01-27T15:06:00.007-05:00

As you've probably heard, DC was hit with some pretty serious snow last night. It wasn't as epic as the Dec '09 or Feb '10 snowfall, but it was enough for a snow day. I would have loved to stay in bed and watch Intervention or The First 48 all day, but I got my booty out of bed and went on a cleaning spree. I despise cleaning, so our house was in need of some TLC.

I started by dusting our living and dining rooms. I don't know what it is about old houses (ours was built in 1890), but they collect dust like CRAZY. I should do some serious dusting every day, but I just don't. I have no good excuse other than it is too much dusting to keep up with. I then vacuumed our bedroom, which basically entails sucking up all the dust bunnies that have accumulated between furniture and in the corners. I love having hardwood floors, but again...the dust! Okay, enough about that.

I also stripped the beds and started a marathon laundry session. I am even washing the down comforters today. Do you wash and dry your comforters at home? Last year I tried taking them to the dry cleaner, but they wanted $129 for two queen comforters. Umm no. I put tennis balls in the dryer with each comforter and the feathers separate pretty well.

I then decided that it was time to organize the linen closet in our bathroom. I forgot to take a before picture, but believe me...it was in disarray. Here are some after shots:

The top shelf holds extra stuff that I've stocked up on, the second shelf holds our towels, the third shelf holds all our hair products and tools (and a few extra Clinique make-up items I wouldn't be able to see, and then would likely forget about, if they were on the top shelf), the fourth shelf holds bath and body products, face products, and dental hygiene items. The bottom has wire racks that hold a lot of miscellaneous stuff, and our old towels. I love being organized! (Interesting isn't it? I like being organized, but don't like cleaning. Hmm.)

Speaking of towels, how do my towels get bleached? I don't use bleach!

I did use proactiv for a couple months and know that it can stain towels, but this is the guest towel for the half bath. It did not come into contact with proactiv! Does this happen to other people? We go through towels so quickly because they get stained and I don't want to use them anymore. I would love some tips on prevention!

Now...as you can probably tell, my cleaning issue is that I never attack a whole room. I dusted the living room, but didn't vacuum. Same for the dining room. I vacuumed our bedroom, but didn't dust. I organized the bathroom, but didn't clean it. I didn't even start tackling the guest bedroom (besides the bedding) or the kitchen. I don't know why I do this. Maybe this is why I hate cleaning so much. It's like it is never ending because I basically still have to clean the whole house, even though I did finish a few tasks. It would be so much easier to just clean one room at a time. Maybe I will force myself to do that next time....

Weird or Frugal?

2011-01-24T14:33:00.004-05:00

We all do weird things, right?

One of my weird habits involves my make-up. One day a long, long time ago (probably early college) I ran out of foundation. I had been squeezing out the last bit for days, and I finally squeezed it dry. Or so I thought.

I couldn't get to the store to buy any more (I think I was mid application, actually), so I decided to cut off the top of the foundation tube to see if there was a little bit left inside. Guess what I found? TONS of foundation. Like, enough to last me a couple months. I was shocked. So now, I cut up my foundation tube until I actually use all the foundation inside. As you can see in the photo below, I have learned to cut my foundation tube in increments. I cut close to the top, use the foundation stuck to the sides of the top, and then cut a little further down, etc.

Yes, this is weird. And yes, I look like a pauper when I whip out my sandwich bag that holds the cut up tube (can't let it dry out!). But I save so much money by using all the foundation. I only go through about 2-3 tubes a year, as opposed to the 5-6 I went through previously.

Look at how much foundation is still in the bottom! I have been cutting this tube for about two months now. Granted, I don't use this foundation every day (I have a heavier foundation I use when my face needs some extra coverage and some days I don't use any foundation), but I use it probably 20 days a month.

Does anyone else do this? Please tell me I'm not alone here.

Alive

2011-01-18T11:24:00.005-05:00

Wow. Thanks for all the love and support! I've got a reader full of great blogs again thanks to all your comments.

This weekend we headed out to western Maryland for a ski trip with a bunch of our friends. We had a great time. Make that an amazing time. I even went skiing and have a nasty bruise on my leg to prove it. I cooked all the meals for our "family dinners", we played lots of games, watched lots of football, and spent many hours in the hot tub. We also killed more cases of beer than I care to admit, but everyone needs to let loose now and then, right?? Don't worry, I'm detoxing this week.

The best part is that I didn't think about my miscarriage almost the entire trip. I was lying in bed Sunday afternoon after we returned from skiing and realized that I had not thought about miscarrying once. And in that moment when I did start thinking about it, I didn't cry. I just reflected on the fact that it happened, but I wasn't overwhelmed with sadness. As I continued thinking, I actually felt like I was on a trip to have fun, not that I was on a trip to help me forget about everything that has happened. That's an additional crappy thing about going through something traumatic...you are in a daze for a while. You do things and go through life because you have to, instead of actually living your life. I felt alive this weekend. That's progress.

Anybody Out There??

2011-01-12T10:43:00.005-05:00

I was searching for a recipe this morning that I had originally found somewhere on the internet. I finally stumbled upon the recipe once I realized that I had re-posted it on my blog. And then I was like, oh dang, I have a blog!

Honestly, I have been neglecting the blog world on purpose. I needed a break. A break from comparing myself to people I don't know. A break from "keeping up with the Joneses". A break from everyone else's seemingly perfect lives. A break from pretending like everything was okay. It was all too much for me during a really difficult part of my life. And boy has it been difficult. "When it rains, it pours" has a whole new meaning to us.

Among many other things, cutting out blogging was really therapeutic for me. But over time I started thinking about all the amazing friends I have found through my blog. And how much I miss you all.

So I want to build up my Google Reader again. I want to stay away from the toxic blogs and cliques that were making me feel worse about myself and my life and instead focus on those blogs and individuals that will help make blogging fun again. I started this blog almost three years ago so that I could connect with people. So here's to finding (and re-discovering) connections that are positive and inspirational. Are you in?

Holiday Gift Guide

2010-12-03T10:44:00.009-05:00

Yesterday I guest blogged for Rebecca at I Want to be a Domestic Goddess for her Holiday Gift Guide Series. We were asked to choose a few items under $50 dollars as well as a splurge item. Since I am obviously having trouble coming up with posts, I figured I would share my picks with you all as well!

LL Bean Hearthside Slipper Moccasins $34.95

These slippers look so warm and cozy. But honestly, most slippers look warm and cozy, right? What makes these slippers different are the bright, contrasting colors. They are so fun! I think the Green Tea slippers would really help to jazz up my pajamas! (P.S. You can get free shipping at LL Bean through December 20th!)

Personalized Clairebella Phone Case $52

This iPhone or BlackBerry case is perfect for anyone that loves to monogram everything they own. Not that I know anything about that. Ahem. There are lots of pretty patterns and color choices to choose from, making this an awesome way to personalize your phone. I would choose the Black Damask print and get Script font in Lime!

Ballard Designs Custom Stamp $40

This custom stamp from Ballard Designs is just what I need since we are planning to move soon. It can’t be ordered for me quite yet because we won’t be buying a house until the spring (and obviously don’t have an address yet), but it is definitely on my wish list. I love the classic look of the Wallace stamp. If the font and design aren’t exactly what you are looking for, you can check out the other designs Ballard offers.

Additional Custom Stamp Ink $12

An extra ink pad is the obvious companion gift for the custom stamp! While the black ink that is included with the stamp is perfect for daily use, sometimes you just need to shake things up with some color! I would go with Lime (which is obviously a favorite color of mine!) or maybe Grapefruit Pink.

Damask 16 piece Dinnerware Set from Target $49.99

These dishes would be a great addition to my current dinnerware collection. The damask print is so pretty and would be perfect for a dinner party. I would probably get a lot of every day use out of them too, just because the pattern is so fun!

Splurge Items

Before our wedding my husband bought me a Canon Rebel. I love the camera and use it often, but I would love to splurge on a bigger lens, a bag, and some photography classes. I like taking portraits, so the Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Medium Telephoto Lens for Canon SLR Cameras would be perfect!

I also would love a Kelly Moore Bag to carry around all my camera stuff. I have my eye on the Kelly Moore Classic Bag in Grey. It is both pretty and functional!

Fun Little Saturday

2010-11-14T11:13:00.004-05:00

Yesterday we headed out to Alexandria to have Kona groomed at PetSmart. We had time to kill so we headed to Target and TJ Maxx to buy some snow gear for our upcoming ski weekend. It started out as a serious shopping trip and progressively got more ridiculous.

First we hit up the boots section of Target. I have small feet and can usually fit into the largest kid's size, so I checked them out first since they are usually cheaper. I found a cute pair that fit really well. I didn't get an up close picture and they aren't on the Target website, but they are dark brown with light pink trim. I really liked them!

We then headed to the girls' section to check out snow pants. They didn't have any in the women's section! As soon as we saw these pants we knew I had to have them. If I am going to attempt to ski I might as well go all out, right? Plus they were only $17!

We then found the matching jacket. Awesome, no? I would have bought the jacket just to make the ensemble complete, but it was $35 and I don't NEED it. Sad.

I ended up not getting the boots because the pants have black in them and I don't want to mix black and brown. (But I will wear ridiculous plaid snow pants...crazy I know). I'm now on the lookout for cute black boots!

Next we headed to TJ Maxx where AJ found this amazing hat set. I almost died of laughter in the middle of the store. I think he would scare the children on the ski slope, so we opted to not buy the hat.

I'm not sure what got into us yesterday, but we were so silly and ridiculous. It sure was fun though!

It's Christmas Card Choosing Season!

2010-11-11T15:37:00.011-05:00

I love sending Christmas cards, especially since we live away from our families. We were able to spend time with my extended family more than normal this year because we were in NY for the summer, but we still only saw most family members a couple of times. Most of AJ's family we haven't seen since 2008. We also have friends all over the country that we only get to see maybe once a year. For this reason, I really enjoy including a photo in our cards. I know our friends and family like receiving the pictures because I have seen them on their refrigerators and cork boards. And not just our picture....other people's Christmas photos are up there too (Don't worry I know I'm not that important!). This year I am combining the card with a photo and plan to use Shutterfly because they have so many pretty options! They even have some that are printed on premium card stock. Pretty and great quality? Yes, please!

I am currently trying to decide between these three cards:

Flourish Elegance Holiday Card

Royal Elegance Christmas Card

Elegant Cranberry Damask Christmas Card

I love all the damask options! Now I just need to decide if I want to go simple or choose a design that is a tad more ornate. Oh and take the perfect photo!

You can get 50 free Christmas cards too...just click here!

Disclaimer: I will be provided with 50 free holiday cards as a result of this post. All opinions expressed are my own.

Where do we go from here?

2010-11-09T15:55:00.005-05:00

We are now in the stage of "where do we go from here?". I am not sure I can definitively answer that question, but we do have a few things planned that are helping us look to the future instead of dwell on the past. That doesn't mean we will ever forget what happened or the baby that we lost, just that we need to move forward and go on with our lives.

So what do we have to look forward to in the coming months?

Attending the Penn State vs. Indiana game at Fed Ex Field. We didn't attend Penn State, but I have a few friends that did and I went to a bunch of games back when I was in college. We are going with one of my friends that we haven't seen since our wedding! It will definitely be a fun time.

Hosting our parents for Thanksgiving in DC. This whole experience has really opened my eyes to the importance of family. I really miss my parents and can't wait to see them in a couple of weeks. We are lucky that our parents get along with each other pretty well despite their differences. We have spent two previous Thanksgivings together, and we always have a nice time.

Seeing Elf on Broadway at Christmas time. AJ surprised me with tickets the other night. I cried (tears of joy). Elf is my favorite Christmas movie of all time and I have wanted to see the show since the day I heard it was coming to Broadway. We are just going up for one night, but it will be a great holiday getaway.

Renting a house for a ski weekend with friends. My work friends and I just booked an awesome house in Western Maryland for a ski vacation over MLK weekend. And it is an amazing deal to boot! The house has a hot tub and a pool table and is only a few minutes away from the ski resort. It should be an epic weekend.

Vacationing in Grand Cayman with my parents. Instead of getting us a bunch of stuff we don't need for Christmas, my parents are paying for us to go with them to Grand Cayman over President's Day weekend. We haven't been on a "real" vacation since our honeymoon, so this will be a perfect escape before a stressful spring and summer (what with buying a house, moving, the bar, and all).

So where do we go from here? Apparently we go on a lot of trips and spend a lot of time with family and friends. But seriously though, being around those that love, support, and distract you really does help. And being in fun places doesn't hurt either. We will also be spending a lot of time enjoying our last few months in DC. After all of that maybe we will be ready to start trying for another baby. Until then, we are just a normal couple soaking up all the fun that we can!

Two Weeks Later

2010-11-01T10:40:00.003-04:00

It has been two weeks and I am happy to report that I am feeling a little better.

This has been one of the most difficult emotional experiences I have ever had. I still have moments where I get sad. I sometimes cry. In general, though, I am doing okay. My doctor told me that it can take months, years, or even the birth of a healthy baby before I fully accept what happened to our baby. That is tough information to hear, but I am just trying to remember that it should get easier every day.

I am not going to go into great detail about the miscarriage, my reaction to the meds, my follow-up appointment, the emotional roller coaster, or any other graphic information, but if you would like to know about my experience, I am more than willing to email with you. I found great comfort (and hope!) in the stories other women have shared with me. Each woman's experience really helped me to feel less alone and also helped me to understand my own thoughts and feelings. I hope no one has to go through pregnancy loss, but realistically I know that some women will. If it does happen, know that I am here to listen or chat.

Thank You

2010-10-21T09:09:00.004-04:00

I chose to write about my loss because I wanted sympathy. Maybe that makes me selfish, but sympathy is what I truly needed at that point. What I got was so much more than that. I can't even begin to express my gratefulness for all the love and support I received from you all. This has been the most difficult week of my life, and each and every comment, tweet, email, text, and phone call has helped me to grieve the loss of my first pregnancy and slowly pushed me toward the path to acceptance. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

Sad News

2010-10-18T13:12:00.005-04:00

Today was supposed to be the day that I announced my pregnancy to all my blog and twitter friends. Instead I am here writing with a heavy heart and tears streaming down my face because I found out this morning that my pregnancy is no longer viable.

I have so much going through my head right now, that I don't even know where to begin. I guess I'll start with feelings. Devastation, sadness, anger, disappointment, and embarrassment are the first ones that come to mind. I'm also confused because we had two positive ultrasounds. One at 7 weeks and one at 8 weeks. Warning: the rest of this paragraph is TMI. I had my first ultrasound at 7 weeks because I was spotting and cramping and we ended up in the ER. I didn't get to see the sonogram at 7 weeks, but we were told that the baby was measuring on track and that there was a strong heartbeat. I stopped spotting a couple days later and when I had an ultrasound at my OB's office a week later, again, everything looked great. I started spotting on and off the next week and it continued for the rest of the pregnancy. Up until this weekend, the spotting had all been brown. As my doctor repeatedly told me, brown blood is old blood, and I shouldn't worry too much. On Saturday, I started spotting more heavily and the blood had a reddish tint. Still, I tried not to freak out. This morning, however, I knew something was wrong. I passed a small clot and there were gobs of dark red blood. I cried the entire time I was in the shower, but there was still a small part of me that thought the baby might be okay. After all, I had been spotting before both of my previous ultrasounds and everything was fine. We decided to go to my appointment this morning, which was in the perinatal center, not my OB's office, because I would be getting an ultrasound for the first trimester screening. As soon as the ultrasound began, I knew it was bad news. The fetus only measured 7 weeks, 6 days and there was no visible heartbeat. The rest of the morning is a blur. The director of the perinatal center came into the room to deliver the bad news because the on call doctor was dealing with an emergency in another part of the hospital. We were both already in tears at that point, but I guess she had to officially go over the results of the ultrasound. Then the doctor came in and told us the same thing. She also noted that the gestational sac was way too large for 11 weeks. I am not really sure what that means and at this point, I can't remember what she told me. The director then walked us upstairs to my OB's office and we were seen by one of the other OBs since mine wasn't there today. The doctor walked us through our options and did a quick internal exam to check my cervix. It was still closed, so she reported that the miscarriage probably wouldn't happen on its own at this time. I opted for the medicine that will induce the miscarriage instead of a D&C. I know it will be emotionally and physically painful, but I think it is the best option for me. We then left the hospital and headed home.

I don't really know where to go from here. We have already told our family and friends the sad news. Everyone has been loving and supportive, but there is only so much anyone can say. I guess I will pack up my pregnancy books, maternity clothes, and the baby stuff I bought. I will put it all in the back of my closet. Hopefully it will come out again soon, but I sure don't need to see any of it right now.

Homemade Bread!

2010-10-14T09:54:00.006-04:00

A while back I posted that I was going to review a product from CSN stores. Well I am just now getting a chance to review my product! I decided to order the Oster 58-Minute ExpressBake Breadmaker, which came with a free Zwilling JA Henckels International Eversharp Pro Deluxe 8" Bread Knife. The breadmaker comes with an Oster manual/recipe book as well.

We've made bread twice since receiving the breadmaker. Both times the process was super easy and the bread was delicious. I used this Rosemary bread recipe for the ingredients and mixing instructions and left the rest to the breadmaker.

I added the ingredients to the bin:

And added the last cup of flour while it was mixing:

All mixed and kneaded:

3 hours later:

All done:

Using the knife:

We have only used the standard 3 hour bread cycle, but as the product name reveals, there is a setting to make bread in 58 minutes. Pretty convenient for a week night bread making session. My only complaint about the breadmaker is that it is kind of noisy when mixing and kneading. However, I have never used a breadmaker before and they all might be noisy during this part of the process.

Also of note, the breadmaker shipped right away and was at my door in 3 days. Not too shabby. The knife, however, was shipped separately, and didn't arrive until the first week of October. I'm not sure why there was such a delay, but I guess since the knife comes free with the breadmaker purchase, I shouldn't complain too much. Especially since it is such a great knife! We didn't have the knife the first time we made bread, and it wasn't a pretty sight.

If you are in the market for a breadmaker, I definitely recommend this one! Thanks, CSN!

Disclaimer: I was provided with one $40 gift certificate to use toward any product available through CSN sores so that I could review the product. The balance of the bill was paid by me. All opinions expressed are my own.

Clueless Saves the Day

2010-10-04T17:31:00.001-04:00

I've had a pretty crappy day. Things were not going my way at work and when I got home this afternoon I had to deal with a washing machine repair man. Boo. Once he left and promised that the washing machine will work this time AND won't spew water all over our new hardwoods again, I settled into the couch to relax and watch some TV.

Luckily things got much better once I found Clueless on HBO. I mean, is there a better movie in the history of teen movies?? I don't think so.

Oh, Clueless. I didn't see it in theaters (I was 10 when it came out) and instead stumbled upon the movie when it was playing on HBO back when I was in 7th grade. (Thank you HBO for picking up what would become one of my favorite movies.) I would scan the little magazine (remember that thing? Oh the days before digital TV!) to find out when it would be playing and attempted to watch it every. single. time. it was on. I somehow did this without my parents knowing that I was watching a PG-13 movie without their approval. I finally got up the nerve and begged my mom to buy the movie for me once it was off HBO. I distinctly remember the Christmas I received the VHS and my mortification when I watched it with my mother at the tender age of 12. Yes, it led to awkward conversations, but i guess I brought it upon myself and can't complain too much. After that day, I kept the tape in my bedroom and only watched it with my girlfriends. Funny how the "embarrassing parts" pale in comparison to some of the stuff on TV and in movies today. But that is neither here nor there. Let's talk about my full on obsession with this movie. You already got a taste, right?

In 8th grade, my two BFFs (one is still my BFF!) and I printed the script and spent an entire sleepover watching and pausing the movie so that we could memorize every line. Do you remember what printers were like in 1998? It took us HOURS to print the hundreds of pages of script. We would replay parts of the movie until we had the next part of the script and could move forward. Why we actually needed the script, I don't remember. It's not like we couldn't have memorized the lines without it (holy triple negative). At the time we thought it was super important to have the script and obviously that it made us cool. We spent the next year quoting the movie non-stop. I guess at some point it became uncool to say "as if" and we reeled in the crazy, but now that Clueless is back as a cult classic, I fondly recall the crash course we took that night.

Needless to say I can still recite the movie to this day. And although many things went over my head back when I watched it in 1998 and there may be slightly different reasons that I love the movie now as compared to then, I still think Clueless is one of the best movies ever. And it will always brighten even the worst of days. Thanks again HBO!

Pizza and Pasta at Oro Pomodoro

2010-10-03T18:50:00.006-04:00

A few weeks ago a woman emailed me asking if I would like to try one of the restaurants participating in Rockville Restaurant Week. I of course said yes, so yesterday AJ and I ventured out to the 'burbs for our date night. We decided to try Oro Pomodoro, an Italian restaurant situated in the middle of Rockville Town Square.

Since the weather was so perfect in DC this weekend, when we arrived at Oro, we decided to sit outside. We had a view of everything going on in the square, including a group of guys that were breakdancing on the stage, the millions of kids playing in the rock garden, and the huge group of angsty teens that I'm guessing meet up in the square every weekend. Okay, maybe there weren't a million kids and all the teens weren't angsty, but there were definitely a lot of both and the atmosphere was very different than the one AJ and I are used to in DC. If you are cool with that scene, sit outside and enjoy the weather, otherwise you should take your meal inside. We didn't mind the action at all, but it might not be the right fit for some people.

Onto the food! We were served warm bread with olive oil after ordering and it was so good that we almost ate the whole basket. If we hadn't ordered an appetizer, we definitely would have eaten it all. The appetizer, Bruschette Pomodoro e Mozzarella (grilled rustic bread served with fresh diced tomato, mozzarella, garlic, oregano and basil), was very good (we ate it so fast I forgot to snap a picture), but if we had known we were getting delicious bread for free, we probably would have skipped the Bruschette.

For our entrees we decided to order a pizza and a half order of pasta to share. We went with the Polpettina (fresh tomato sauce, mozzarella, meatballs, parmesan cheese) and Rigatoni alla Sorrentina (rigatoni with fresh mozzarella and basil in a light tomato sauce). So good. In fact, the pizza dough and the free bread appeared to be one and the same (and we all now know how much I loved that bread) so the pizza was a big hit. I definitely recommend both the pizza and the pasta.

The best part? We ordered lemonade, a glass of wine, an appetizer, a pizza, and a half order of pasta and our bill was less than $50 including tip. Yummy, reasonably priced food? You can't beat that. Oro Pomodoro FTW!

If you live in or near Rockville you should definitely check out Restaurant Week. It runs October 4-10, 2010 and features prix-fixe menus at 31 Rockville restaurants. In its’ second year, restaurants are offering either $8 Lunch/$15 Dinner OR $10 Lunch/$25 Dinner pricing options.

Disclaimer: I was provided with one $25 gift certificate to use toward our meal so that we could provide our opinion before Rockville Restaurant week. The balance of the bill was paid by me. All opinions expressed are my own.

MmMMmMm Soup

2010-09-28T16:08:00.005-04:00

The forecast for this weekend calls for temperatures in the 60's. I am so excited! The heat has been so oppressive (particularly at an outdoor wedding we attended this past weekend, ugh!) and I am ready for all things fall and winter. Particularly, soup. MmmMmm.

My two favorite homemade soups are vegetable beef soup and my grandma's chicken soup. I posted the chicken soup recipe for the DC Ladies a while back, but the recipe is so good I just have to share it again. I hope you enjoy them both!

Grandma's Chicken Soup

Ingredients:
1 package boneless, skinless chicken breasts
16 oz. chicken broth
Celery, chopped into 1-2 inch logs
Carrots, chopped into discs
Heaping handful of acini de pepe (pasta that looks like tiny beads)
Salt and pepper
Water

Directions:
Fill a soup pot half full of water and bring to a boil. Cook chicken breasts in the boiling water until white throughout. Remove chicken from water and cut into small pieces. Put chicken back into water and add chicken broth, celery, and carrots. Simmer covered for an hour. Add a heaping handful of acini di pepe and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!

Vegetable Beef Soup

Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef (or ground turkey)
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
28 oz. can crushed tomatoes
6 cups water
6 beef bouillon cubes
1 1/2 cups frozen mixed vegetables (corn, peas, carrots)
Heaping handful of orzo
Salt and pepper

Directions:
Cook beef, onion, and garlic in soup pot. Drain grease. Add tomatoes, water, and beef bouillon to beef mixture. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes. Add orzo and frozen vegetables and simmer for 15 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!

Renovation Complete!

2010-09-06T21:42:00.007-04:00

As I mentioned in my last post.....the renovation is FINALLY complete! The cleaners came on Friday and my husband moved all of our stuff back downstairs so that we could officially start using the new kitchen and dining room.

Here are the before pictures:

The wall to the right of window is now gone. A new window was put in.

The drywall covering the brick on the left and the bathroom on the right are gone. The new bathroom is in the closet straight ahead.

New hardwood floors, cabinets, appliances (except the dishwasher), and two big windows replaced the old kitchen.

The washer and dryer are now in cabinets and are side by side. And as I said before, the wall where they were housed is now gone.

After pictures:

As you can see from the first "after" picture, the exposed brick is two different colors. That is because the wall in the dining room used to be covered with drywall. Our landlords and the contractor said there was nothing they could do to fix it. It is more pronounced in the picture, but it still looks pretty bad in person. Oh well....we are moving in 9-10 months!

Anyway, I am so glad it is over. It is nice having a more open space and a brand new kitchen, but man...what a process!

CSN Review in the Works

2010-09-06T20:08:00.004-04:00

A few weeks ago I was asked to review a product from CSN Stores. I have been putting off the review because I wanted to wait until the kitchen renovation was finished before choosing a product. Well....the time is here!

CSN has over 200 internet stores and offers a wide selection of products. You can find big items, such as furniture and exercise equipment, as well as smaller items, like wine glasses and dutch ovens. I haven't decided what product I am going to review, but I know it will be something for the new kitchen!

Stay tuned!

A Plan

2010-08-31T10:46:00.003-04:00

By now you have probably forgotten that I had some exciting news I wanted to share. Yesterday we finally received the documentation we were waiting for....so I can officially share the good news with all of you!

AJ was offered a job at the law firm where he worked this summer! He worked very hard and put in a lot of hours, so I wasn't too surprised when he called me the morning of his last day at work and told me the good news. We made a lot of sacrifices this summer (long distance marriage, living with my parents, etc.), so we were very happy when he received the offer.

Unfortunately, this means we will be leaving DC next summer. This is a bummer for a few reasons. I have met some wonderful people here and I will be so sad to leave them. I have a pretty great job and am just getting into a groove where I feel comfortable and appreciated. I love city life and am a tad scared of moving back to a suburban area. Ahhh! Those three things are enough to induce a small anxiety attack.

On the other hand, I am so excited to be moving closer to my family (and even more excited to not be in the same quarters!). I grew up with my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins by my side and am grateful that my children will have a similar close-knit family experience. I am also thrilled that we can afford to buy a house. And yes, I have already been looking. Also, I am so happy that my husband has a job. Period. In this economy, we just didn't know if he would find one. Even better, he will be working at a firm that doesn't require 80+ hours a week. That just wouldn't work for our family. Plus, he genuinely liked the firm atmosphere and the people that work there, so it really is a win-win situation for him!

As for me....hopefully I will make new friends (but, keep the old!) and find a new job back in Upstate NY. I know it will all work out in the end. For now, I am just happy that we have a plan and am so proud of my husband!

Vapiano's Pesto e Spinaci at Home

2010-08-23T08:44:00.003-04:00

I love, love, love Vapiano's Pesto e Spinaci. I order it every single time we eat at Vapiano. The last time I watched the chef prepare my dish, I realized that it can't be too hard to replicate at home. I decided to make it the other night...and it was delicious! Here is my take on the dish:

Pesto, Spinach, & Tomato Pasta

Ingredients:

Fresh pasta of your choice (I used linguine)
Bag of spinach
Container of grape tomatoes, sliced in half
10 leaves of fresh basil, roughly chopped1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pint heavy cream
6 tablespoons pesto
pinch of red pepper flakes

Heat the olive oil in a frying pan or wok. Add the garlic. Stir to avoid burning. Add heavy cream and red pepper flakes and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and allow sauce to barely simmer for 5 minutes. Add the pesto. Allow sauce to barely simmer for 5 more minutes. Remove pan from heat. Add tomatoes, spinach, and basil to the sauce. Add the pasta. Toss and serve!

Happy First Day of School!

2010-08-23T07:48:00.006-04:00

Today is the first day of school. Summer is officially over and it is back to the daily grind. I'm excited for a new school year, but it is always hard coming back after a long break. Luckily there are a few things that are brightening my day this morning!

I am wearing a pretty Vineyard Vines dress that my husband surprised me with on Friday. He knows that a new first day of school outfit is a must!

I also have a new monogrammed lunch bag courtesy of Simply Bags. The bag is black quilted fabric with kiwi thread and is the perfect size for someone who brings breakfast and lunch to work. The inside is insulated and there are two outside pockets. If you are in the market for a new bag (tote, beach, diaper, laptop, etc.), check out Simply Bags!

Disclaimer: I was sent a free sample of this product. Click here for more information.

The first day of school also brings back fond memories of the days when I was in school. During elementary and middle school, my mom, brother, and I would walk over to my aunt's house for a special first day of school breakfast with my cousins. My aunt would make Belgian waffles (which I always topped with cherries) or french toast, which was such a treat for all of us. I really hope to have some kind of tradition like this for my future kids...it made the first day of school extra special!

Lunch Convo

2010-08-20T11:48:00.001-04:00

While AJ is finishing a tall Miller Lite and eating Wild (aka super hot) wings at Buffalo Wild Wings at 11:30 AM, the following conversation ensued:

J: Are you going to be drunk before noon?

A: Only if I have another one of these. But, probably not. The hotness kills the alcohol.

J: Oh really? Is that how it works?

A: Yes, it's science. Plus, I'm on vacation, I'm allowed to be drunk before noon.

Renovation Rant

2010-08-19T11:45:00.004-04:00

Great ready for some complaining.....

One of the advantages of being in NY for the summer was that we would not have to live through the renovation our landlords planned to do in the kitchen, dining room, and half bath. The renovation began the day after I left and was supposed to be finished the last week of July. Wishful thinking, right? Of course, it took longer than expected and we are currently living in a construction zone. When I showed up at the house two weeks ago to drop off some stuff, I started crying right in front of the workers. Construction dust covered every surface and I knew there was no way the work would be completed in a little over a week.

When we showed up this past Sunday the house was clean-ish (as in most of the dust had been removed), but there were no appliances and there was still a laundry list of things that needed to be completed (painting, installing the bathroom, granite, lighting, etc.). We headed out to the store, bought ice, water, beer, Easy Mac, and microwavable soup and set up a cooler in the living room. We have basically been squatting in our house for the last 4 days. Luckily it is restaurant week in DC, so we aren't too sad that we have to eat out every night. Still though, it is annoying to not be able to cook ANYTHING.

The other issue is that we moved all of our stuff from those three rooms into our second bedroom. And because we had nowhere else to put the stuff from NY, our bedroom is also a cluttered mess. The downstairs is a construction zone and the upstairs is a war zone. UGH.

I know I shouldn't complain too much because we haven't payed rent all summer thanks to the renovation and I know it will be beautiful once it is FINALLY completed, but for now I am stressed and upset and just want it to be finished!! Today the granite is going in and the sink should be put in tomorrow. After that they just need to do cabinet hardware and outlet covers. Fingers are crossed that tomorrow will be the last full day of construction.

Thanks for listening. I feel better :)

Summer Blurbs

2010-08-18T16:01:00.013-04:00

While writing this post, I realized that I had lot of things I want to share. I tried to keep each event short and limited myself to one picture per blurb so that I (hopefully) don't bore everyone to death.

Here are the highlights of my summer!

We celebrated our second anniversary on July 5th. We attended the wedding of one of AJ's college roommates that weekend, so we couldn't do a big anniversary getaway. However, it all worked out in the sense that the wedding was an excuse to get a hotel room and get out of my parent's house for a couple days. Here we are at the reception, which was held at a beautiful country club in Rochester:

Instead of a vacation, we went wine trailing down Cayuga Lake on our way back from the wedding. It was a beautiful day and we had a lot of fun tasting wines at a bunch of different wineries. I think we came home with 12 bottles. Oops!

AJ and I ran in a 5k the second weekend of July. I finished in 31:15. It was so humid and I wanted to die during the last mile, but I ran the whole time so I guess that isn't too bad. I was hoping to be under 30 minutes, but in the end I was just happy I didn't come in last place!

I successfully hosted a bridal shower and attended the wedding of one of my best friends. Her wedding was very unique and the trip to Charlotte was another mini-vacation for AJ and I. Here we are at the reception:

Image via Kristin Vining Photography

We also spent a few days here and there at my grandparent's cottage, which is on a small lake in Northern Pennsylvania. I love going to the lake because I feel like I have gone back in time when I am there. We play games, read, chat, swim, drink, and eat....and that is pretty much it. There is no TV, cell phones don't get service, and you are forced to relax. And honestly, how can you not relax with this view??

While at the lake, AJ also had his first experience holding and feeding a baby. My youngest cousin just turned one and we thought he should get some practice since we are hoping to have a baby sometime in the next year. I love this picture because he looks clueless and so scared. Hahaha, poor thing.

The first weekend of August my girlfriends and I road tripped down to Wrightsville Beach for a bachelorette weekend. It stormed on Friday, but we had beautiful beach weather on Saturday and had lots of fun both nights. This was my first girl's only trip and I really enjoyed myself!

I then spent a week staying with a friend in DC because I had to get in a few summer days at work and our renovation project was not (and still is not) completed. We had a nice time cooking together and I watched more trashy reality TV that week than I did all summer. It is so much more fun to watch while drinking wine with a girlfriend.

Last weekend I headed back to NY to pick up AJ and Kona. What happened that weekend deserves a post of its own! Don't you just love a cliffhanger?? (Unless we are Facebook friends...then you already know our news!)

Back to Work

2010-08-16T11:22:00.001-04:00

And just like that.....my summer is over! Today is my first official work day of the school year. I can't believe it is mid-August and that the students start back next Monday! I'm not going to lie...I am so ready to be back. I love summer and having the time off is great, but there is something about structure and organization that I crave. I am so excited to set up my office, lay out my planner, and start tackling my to do list. Yes, I know I'm crazy!

My weeks in NY were fun, exciting, stressful, eventful, and involved a lot of travel. I will recap some of the highlights over the next few days, but will try not to bore you all with too many pictures or details!

Winner!

2010-06-27T21:35:00.002-04:00

Congrats to Rachel of Observations of a Token Yankee! You are the winner of the CSN giveaway!

Thanks to everyone that participated!

CSN Giveaway!

2010-06-21T08:00:00.003-04:00

Happy Monday!

Since I am now up in NY (with my husband!!) for summer break, I thought it would be nice to spread the joy and happiness I am feeling by offering a fun giveaway to all my readers!

CSN Stores contacted me about hosting another giveaway since my last one was so successful. This time I have a $40 gift certificate to give to one of my lucky readers. If you're not already familiar with CSN, you need to check it out! They have over 200 stores and you can literally buy anything on the many CSN websites.

As I mentioned the other day, our landlords are doing a renovation on the kitchen, dining room, and half bathroom while we are in NY. I could furnish the entire renovation just from CSN websites. I am hoping that the new bathroom has a vanity like this:

To enter to win the gift certificate go to any of the CSN websites and let me know what you will get if you win! The giveaway ends Thursday night at 8 pm EST and I'll announce the winner on Friday.

No More LDM

2010-06-18T08:09:00.003-04:00

The day that I have been looking forward to for the last 7 weeks is FINALLY here!

I am off to the airport to pick up my husband, which officially ends our long distance marriage. Yay!!!!! Our time apart was difficult and I can't wait to be living together and sharing our lives together once again.

Most of our weekend will be spent moving everything out of our kitchen, half bath, and dining room. While we spend the summer in NY, our landlords are doing a renovation on those rooms. When we return in August the kitchen and dining room will be one big room! I'm very excited for that. Unfortunately the bathroom will be smaller and we are losing a closet, but I still am looking forward to the changes.

On Sunday we will drive to NY and my lazy summer will officially commence (for me at least...AJ will still be working at the law firm). I am looking forward to reading the stack of books I have collected over the past few months, training for a 5k, trips to the lake, golfing, playing with Kona, spending time with my family, attending firm events, etc. I am so excited!!

G Natural and G2 Natural

2010-06-17T00:00:00.001-04:00

A couple weeks ago I was contacted by a PR firm to see if I wanted to try two new Gatorade products, G Natural and G2 Natural. I love G2 and love free stuff, so of course I said yes!

Here is an excerpt from the press release:

For athletes who thirst for natural products, Gatorade® has harnessed its 45+ year competitive edge in sports performance to introduce G Natural™ and G2 Natural™. Made with natural flavors, colors and ingredients, G Natural and G2 Natural have the same performance and hydration benefits as original Gatorade Thirst Quencher and G2, with a great taste that athletes will love. The new, natural offerings are now available exclusively at select Whole Foods stores.

Like I said before, I am a big fan of G2, so obviously I drank the G2 Natural first. In general, I like G2 more than regular Gatorade because it is lighter and not at all syrupy. I have an aversion to drinks that leave my mouth feeling sticky and heavy (umm gross), and G2 does not do that. G2 Natural is also very light and did not taste any different than G2. Given that it is made with natural flavors, colors, and ingredients, I definitely recommend G2 Natural. G Natural also tasted the same as regular Gatorade. If you like Gatorade, you will like G Natural. Given that G2 Natural has 40 calories per bottle while G Natural has 100 calories, I am again more inclined to like G2 Natural more. Either way, the Natural products are a good choice for anyone looking to rehydrate and replenish their body while working out!

G Natural and G2 Natural are available exclusively at select Whole Foods stores. Visit www.gatorade.com to find the store nearest you. Suggested retail price for a 16.9-oz bottle is $1.49. (Via Press Release)

Disclaimer: I was sent free samples of these products. Click here for more information.

Last Day

2010-06-16T07:47:00.004-04:00

Today is the last day of school. I can't believe it is FINALLY here. While I am sure the last day of school will always be a significant day, it is especially significant for me because it is the last day of my first year of work. I knew it would be a difficult year solely because I had to prove to my school that I know what I am doing and that I am capable of holding my own in a difficult environment. It has been a long, hard year, but a very rewarding one as well. I have grown as an individual and as a professional and am very happy with the job I did. Sure, there are areas where I need to improve, but isn't there always something we can do better?

In 10 months I have changed a lot. I am more articulate and well-spoken, I can stand up for myself when I am right and I can accept criticism with grace when I am wrong. I learned how to sympathize with parents, how to control my emotions, and how to quiet my critics. I learned to not take things personally, like when I give parents negative reports and make them cry or when I tell a teacher something they don't want to hear and they get mad. I now know that "taking one for the team" is really not that bad and can help open doors, but also that I need to assert myself and not let people walk all over me. There are many more things that I have learned this year, but those are just a few examples. Each experience this year has taught me something, and I really need to reflect on everything during summer break so that I am refreshed and ready in August. Because I am not going to lie.....I am tired and ready for a break.

And speaking of August.... If you follow me on twitter you know that my position was terminated back in April due to budget cuts, but that I was reinstated earlier this month and will continue to work for my district next school year. I am so glad I can relax this summer knowing that I have a job to come back to in August!

In the Homestretch!

2010-06-01T08:24:00.003-04:00

And we're in the homestretch!

A weekend with my husband was exactly what I needed. I am feeling refreshed and am ready for all the challenges I will face over the next few weeks. Only 18 more days of pseudo-singledom!

A New New Dress

2010-05-27T07:57:00.010-04:00

Thanks to everyone who commented on this post. I really love the ruffle dress, but I obviously had reservations about wearing it to the wedding this weekend. I guess I was looking for validation that I wouldn't be under dressed. Most of you thought it would be fine for a wedding, but there were a few who did not think it was dressy enough. Ultimately I decided that I would rather be overdressed, so I set out to look for a new dress last night.

On my way home from the dentist I decided to browse the stores in Union Station. I never think to check out White House Black Market, but as I was walking by last night, it caught my eye. There are some really nice dresses there! I tried on a bunch and ended up finding a little black dress that I can wear to a variety of events. It is currently on sale, looks really expensive, and is super slimming. I am obsessed with this dress.

I also picked up these shoes.

I cannot wait to wear this outfit! I even tried it on again last night before bed. You can't see my shoes, but I was definitely clomping around the house in them. Sorry neighbors.

I haven't decided on jewelry yet, but I like the chunky necklace idea.

I also really liked this dress, but decided against buying it in addition to the LBD and shoes. When I sent the picture to my husband and mother, they both said I should go back and buy the dress.

I may be stopping by the store again tonight!

A Good Morning

2010-05-25T09:37:00.002-04:00

You know what I love? Days when I really feel like I have kicked ass.

It is only 9:30 AM and I am already loving today. This morning I woke up at 5:30, went for a run, showered, packed my lunch, fed the dog, and headed off to work. I also have done a bunch of things here (including testing a kid) since arriving at 7:15. There is just something about being productive in the morning that makes me feel great!

I am now about to begin marathon report writing, which is admittedly one of the worst parts of my job. I am not looking forward to it (especially since the reports are due tomorrow), but I have my Pandora pumping some country music and it is helping to keep me upbeat and happy.

Hope you all are having a great day as well! :)

Dress - Yay or Nay?

2010-05-23T16:23:00.011-04:00

This morning I set out to find a dress for a wedding we are attending this Friday (Yes, we! I get to see my husband this weekend!). I decided to check out Target to see if they had any cheap options. I ended up purchasing this Ruffle Tank Dress for $20, but I am not sure if it is dressy enough for a wedding. I mean, it is from the juniors section and the top is cottony. What are your thoughts? And what about the black? Is that still a no-no?

Here is the dress without accessories:

Better with the long chain necklace?

(that white blob on the floor is Kona)

More sophisticated when looped twice with some pearls added in?

Help me decide, please!

I also tried on this Zac Posen for Target Two-Piece Ruffled Dress. It was super fun, but I didn't buy it because the only dress available in my size had a rip on one of the ruffles.

Is this dress over the top? I might go to another Target to get it.... Thoughts?

Rewards Winners

2010-05-20T07:45:00.002-04:00

I just sent out emails to the five groupon awards winners! Check your email to see if you've won. If I don't hear back from someone by tomorrow morning, I will pick someone else. Happy Grouponing!

There's a New Whole Foods in Town

2010-05-18T08:03:00.012-04:00

Last night I was invited to the sneak peek Bloggers Tour of the new Whole Foods in Friendship Heights. The store, located around the corner from the Friendship Heights metro stop in the Shops at Wisconsin Place, officially opens at 10 am with a bread breaking ceremony. I won't get into great detail about everything I saw, but there are a few things I'd like to highlight:

This place is ginormous! The ceilings are high, the aisles are wide, and the departments are huge. When you visit the store you will not feel like you are getting jipped by the grocery gods, like I normally do when shopping at the other grocery stores in the city (although technically the store is located in Montgomery County).

When walking into the store from the street level you are immediately met with a coffee bar. Besides the obvious drink selections, the bar also offers breakfast sandwiches, an oatmeal and fresh fruit topping bar, gelato, and sorbet. The coffee bar opens at 6 AM. (I forgot to grab a picture...I was fumbling with my umbrella.)

One of many cool features...a trail mix bar! You can make any combination of nuts, seeds, dried fruits, and chocolates for $4.99/lb.

The Global Animal Partnership is working with Whole Foods to rate all meat products sold at the store. The rating scale (1, 2, 3, 4, or 5) lets customers in on the welfare practices of farmers and the well-being of the animals. You will see the rating on the pricing sign for each product.

A similar kind of rating system is also available in the Seafood department, with the ultimate goal of only selling sustainable seafood in their stores. The color coded system identifies the sustainability status of all wild caught seafood. Other nice features of the seafood department...free marinade with purchase, and free skinning, de-boning, and cutting. Our tour guide mentioned that she has all her fish cut into 4 oz. servings so that she can better control portion size and not waste any food!

My personal favorite and the main reason I will trek up to FH.....fresh cut pasta to order (and sauces) by Severino Pasta:

The prepared foods section offers multiple options (in addition to the salad and hot food bars) including pizza, burgers, hot dogs, and sandwiches. The place is going to be a hoppin' lunch spot.

Another great feature is the value packaging program for the salad and hot food bar. In addition to the traditional $7.99/lb boxes, a portion controlled slightly smaller takeout container is available for a flat fee of $7.99. The only caveat is that your lid must close completely!

The bakery offers gourmet cupcakes for $1.99 each! I didn't get to try one last night, but they looked delicious and should give the many cupcakeries in DC some stiff competition.

The candy available at the candy bar contains no artificial colors or flavors. The jelly beans are delicious!

Other cool things I did not get pictures of.....

Bulk salts, pour your own honey (with bear containers!), grind your own nut butter, Gatorade and G2 Natural (a Whole Foods exclusive product), three frozen food cases of gluten free products, and the NYC style checkout lines.

Now onto the cons. Because the store is located in Montgomery County and there are weird alcohol rules, they cannot sell beer or wine. My main gripe, however, is that this will be one of three Whole Foods locations in the Upper Northwest/Bethesda area. As a Capitol Hill resident that has to drive to the P St. location or ride the red line to get to a Whole Foods, this is especially annoying.

Throughout the tour I obviously learned a lot about the Whole Foods philosophy and the vast array of features and products in the store, but I also learned a little bit about myself. I have been quite apprehensive about jumping on the organic and natural foods product bandwagon for a variety of reasons, but am now wanting to embrace this kind of lifestyle. Yes, I realize that the point of the tour is essentially to sell the Whole Foods store and their products. Clearly I am a marketer's dream. Oh well...at least this stuff is good for me!

Disclaimer: I was given food and a goodie bag for attending the Bloggers Tour.

Fiddleheads

2010-05-17T16:56:00.003-04:00

Any curly haired girls out there??

I am the lucky owner of a full head of curly hair. I straighten my hair almost always during the winter months....but now that the humidity season is upon us, it is time to start wearing my hair curly again. I am currently using Aveda be curly in an attempt to tame my tresses, but it just isn't working for me. I am not sure if it is because that is the only product I am using in the "4 step curl perfecting system" or if I need to try something new.

So....let me in on your favorite curly hair products! Tips on shampoos, conditioners, and anything else are all welcome.

Groupon Rewards For Me & You!

2010-05-14T16:27:00.009-04:00

Are you a member of Groupon?

If not, go join now. Here is a referral.

Because I have bought quite a few Groupons, I was given an advanced invitation to the new Groupon Rewards program. As a Groupon Rewards Member, I will earn G's when I view the daily deal (1 G) and/or buy a Groupon (50 G's). I'll earn even more G's if I buy a Groupon before the "deal is on" (150 G's). G's are equivalent to cash (100 G's = $1) and can be used to purchase the daily deal. I can also win G-oodies for purchasing a Groupon. Pretty sweet, right?So why am I telling you all this? Because I have five referrals for the Rewards program! Just leave a comment on this post and I will randomly pick five winners. I was given 500 G's ($5) for becoming a member and I am betting you'll get a welcome present too. You must have purchased at least one Groupon in order to be a Rewards member, so let me know in your comment which Groupon you previously bought. You have until Wednesday the 19th at 8 PM EST to leave me a comment! (And if you haven't purchased a Groupon yet, you have until Wednesday night to do so!)

Disclaimer: Like I said above, I was given 500 G's because I am a Groupon junkie. I wasn't asked to write a post, but I wanted to extend my invites to readers....soooo that's that. I think. I don't really understand this whole disclaimer bit, but alas....I'll do it to keep myself from being fined.

Weekends

2010-05-11T12:48:00.003-04:00

I never thought I would say that I wanted a weekend to end, especially because I used to live for the weekends, but now it is different.

I didn't have any plans for Friday night, which actually isn't that unusual for me. By Friday afternoon I am tired and drained and just want to relax, watch a movie, and drink a glass of wine. However, when you do the same thing alone....the night doesn't have the same charm. I was sad that I was sitting at home drinking by myself while my husband was up in NY being wined and dined by the law firm. I just want to be with him and hate that we have to be apart right now.

Luckily I had plans for Saturday night so I didn't feel like a loser the entire weekend :/

Being home alone on a weeknight isn't so bad, but there is something about being home alone on a weekend night that had me feeling extra lonely. I am hoping that I am just adjusting and that my second weekend will be better.

Domestic Diva

2010-05-08T13:38:00.005-04:00

If there is one thing I have learned during my first week on my own, it is that I am SPOILED. I always knew that my husband did a lot for me and was a big part of helping to keep our house /life in order, but man...I did not realize how much work it is!!

Let me run through the things I had to do this week:

Walk Kona three times a day, feed Kona twice a day, make my lunch, make tea in the morning, go grocery shopping, carry the groceries in, put the groceries away, cook dinner, do the dishes, empty the dishwasher, do the laundry, fold the laundry, take out the garbage, recycle the wine bottles (yes, multiple), get my car inspected, change my registration sticker (which is a bitch...anyone that has a car in DC can affirm this), clean up dog vom, clean the kitchen, dust the house, sweep the floors, water the flowers, make the bed, pay a bunch of bills, etc.

I do a few of those things on a regular basis, but doing all of them on my own made me feel like I didn't sit down this entire week. (Don't let me fool you, I did sit down....I even watched 3 hours of RHNJ one night, but you know what I mean!) I guess all this house work is good though, because it has helped to tire me out and I have slept pretty well each night (with the exception of the first night).

Anyway, it made me realize how lucky I am and that I am so thankful to have someone that helps me out so much! Do you all do this stuff on your own or does your significant other help you out? If you do it on your own, how do you do it on a regular basis?! I need your tips!

Back

2010-05-06T14:19:00.002-04:00

Well hello, strangers! Did you miss me?

So much has happened since I last posted. Things have finally calmed down and I am slowly adjusting to my pseudo-single life. I'm glad to be back...I've got lots of things to talk about.

Stay tuned!

Flowers Make Me Smile

2010-04-10T19:12:00.006-04:00

This afternoon we walked over to the United States Botanic Garden. I was feeling a little grumpy and thought seeing some pretty flowers might help to cheer me up. Guess what....it worked! We spent some time in the Conservatory, the National Garden, and Bartholdi Park. Most of the flowers are in full bloom and looked gorgeous on this perfect spring day. Here are a few of my favorite shots!

Happy Spring! Hopefully the flowers bring a smile to your face as well!

Countdown

2010-04-06T10:32:00.000-04:00

As anyone who works in a school can tell you, the weeks following spring break usually involve a countdown to the end of the school year. Everyone is excited that the school year is almost over and we can't wait for summer break. I am definitely excited for the school year to be over because so many great things will happen this summer and fall, but there is one thing I am dreading that has me wishing time would stand still....

AJ starts his summer job on May 3rd.

In New York.

And I will be working here until the end of June.

I'm trying not to be a wuss, but I cry thinking about being away from him and being on my own. Then a small part of me also gets upset that I am so sad because I feel like I should be more independent and self-sufficient. Ugh. Clearly I am overly emotional about this whole situation!

Luckily we will only be apart for two months. We will see each other Memorial Day weekend for a wedding and my friends and family will be visiting throughout May and June. Kona will stay here with me and she will help keep me company. I have great neighbors and friends in DC and I know I will get to spend a lot of time with them as well.

At this point I'm just trying to stay calm and keep it all in perspective. It really isn't that awful, especially when I think of the women who are away from their husbands during a deployment. He is just going to New York, not a war zone. We will only be apart two months, not a year. We'll be together again before I know it.

It looks like I will have multiple countdowns this school year. First, a countdown to the day AJ leaves. (sad face) Then a countdown until we see each other in May. (happy face) And finally a countdown until the school year is over, which means I can head up to New York and spend the rest of the summer with my husband!! (super happy face)

Day Trip to VA

2010-04-05T12:07:00.009-04:00

It's my last day of vacation. I'm sad to have to go back to work (which probably says something, right?), but I thoroughly enjoyed my time off, so I am feeling pretty happy.

We had a wonderful time on our day trip to Virginia on Friday. We stopped at two wineries, one tasting shop, an inn for lunch, and an ice cream parlor. The wineries were both picturesque and the town of Middleburg was so charming. The weather was perfect and the only low point of the day was driving back into the city. It took us over two hours and I actually hopped out of the car once we got into the city so that I could metro home. Yes, I left my husband to survive the gridlock on his own. I could tell we were headed for a fight and this helped save the day. I got home approximately 30 seconds before him, but I was relaxed again and he was happy that he did not have to deal with a side seat driver. But enough about the drive home. Let's look at some pictures!

The view at Crysalis Vineyards

Enjoying the sun! (Excuse my natural hair...didn't have time for a blow out)

Piedmont Vineyards

The oldest original inn, Red Fox Inn

Lunch on the back patio of the Inn

We didn't make it down to the cherry blossoms, but we got to see them from a far and we might try to venture down to the tidal basin later this week once the tourists have packed up and gone home. No offense, tourists. Speaking of tourists, for a funny comparison of us vs. them read this post.

ETA: Blogger is messing with the color of my pictures. So weird!

Hello Spring Break!

2010-04-01T13:52:00.003-04:00

It is finally spring break for me! We have a lot of things planned for the next few days so I am hoping to have a lot of stories and many pretty pictures to post here next week.

Today I hit up Target, TJ Maxx, and the grocery store for a little retail therapy and to stock up on food for the many cookouts we plan on having this weekeend. Tomorrow we are heading out to Virginia to visit a few wineries. We have not been to any in the DC area since we moved here, so I am really looking forward to our little day trip. Saturday we are having our old neighbors over for a cookout and Sunday I have a big Easter dinner planned. We also need to fit in a trip to see the cherry blossoms! I saw them while I was driving out to Target this morning, but I don't think that counts.

I hope everyone has a great weekend and enjoys the nice weather!

P.S. Make sure you check out MRM's Vineyard Vines giveaway here.

Smiling

2010-03-25T14:40:00.009-04:00

I had a rough couple of days last week. It was most notably awful because I received notice that our department might need to make cuts (dun dun dun) and I am one of the people that could be layed off since I have only worked in the district for one year (my internship year doesn't count because I wasn't part of the union last year). It makes me so angry that the cuts are NOT based on performance and instead are based on date of hire. Alas, that is the case and they aren't going to be changing the procedure anytime soon. I am trying to stay positive and not let future lay offs rule my thoughts, so what better way to avoid those thoughts than by listing out a few things that have me smiling lately!

Last weekend the weather was beautiful and spending time outside with my little family and our neighbors really helped lift my spirits. We spent a ton of time gardening, weeding, walking, and barbecuing and look forward to doing these things a lot more in the coming weeks. This weekend will be a little cooler, but it is supposed to stay dry so that is good enough for me. We might venture down to the Tidal Basin to see the Cherry Blossoms or we might just enjoy the weather in our own backyard. We'll see.

Spring break begins tomorrow. The kids were itching for a vacation so I am hoping they enjoy the time off and come back refreshed and ready to finish out the school year strong! I am still working through Wednesday, but no kids means I can catch up on reports and paperwork. I hate doing desk work during the school day when there are other things that I can be doing with the kids. Needless to say, the paperwork piles up quick! With this break, I'll be all caught up in no time.

Today I won this super cute lunch bag from the Preppy Princess! I'm taking this as a sign that I will still have a job to which I will need to bring my lunch.

And of course my loving husband, snuggly puppy, supportive parents, and amazing friends keep me smiling. Without them I wouldn't have made it through this week! Thank you all so much.

What is making you smile lately? Anything you share will be greatly appreciated!

More School Stuff

2010-03-17T09:07:00.007-04:00

It was very interesting to read your reactions to my last post. A few people mentioned that the activity would have been correct if the greatest number was on the far right, but unfortunately that wasn't how she was writing the numbers. Since almost everyone said they would want to know if they made a mistake, I talked to the teacher and she confirmed that it was just a careless error. She didn't seem too upset so I am glad I said something. I love that there are so many teachers that read my blog. The insight you provide is priceless!

And now for a happier anecdote....

While observing a Kindergarten class, I watched two kids working together to make a construction paper card for their teacher. One student was helping another student to spell their teacher's name. It was so cute how the little girl kept running back and forth between the word wall and their table to deliver each letter. What was absolutely precious though, was that the card said:

"Four Ms. Cotman"

That's Not Right

2010-03-16T13:20:00.013-04:00

I rarely talk about my job, but there was something that I observed today that I want to share. I would like to preface this post by saying that I am not trying to single out this teacher....everyone makes mistakes and it certainly does not mean she is a bad teacher. It just got me thinking and I would like to know what you all think too.

Now onto my observation....

I was in a 1st grade classroom observing a student that was referred for testing because he has temper tantrums and exhibits bizarre behavior in the classroom. I didn't see any of this behavior, but that isn't that uncommon. Even if I don't see the behaviors, I can usually get a feel for a kid, and this one definitely has some issues. Anyway, I wasn't paying that much attention to the lesson because I was focusing on the student I was there to observe, but I noticed something was weird with what she was writing on the board.

I think I witnessed the teacher teaching the students something that was wrong. The lesson was on greater than and less than and she was writing numbers on the board and then having students put the numbers from greatest to least in blanks she had drawn. So for example, she might have written 65, 72, 43 and then ____ <____ < ____.

But that is wrong, right? She should have used > (greater than) signs if she wanted them ordered from greatest to least. Once I realized the mistake I kind of panicked. I became confused because I wasn't sure if I was wrong, but after thinking about it for a few minutes I realized it definitely was wrong and then I felt uncomfortable, and then I thought about bringing it to her attention, but then thought that would be embarrassing for her and that she would hate me, and then I was thinking about how the kids were learning something incorrect and how that is bad, yada, yada, yada. Basically, a million things were running through my head as soon as I realized what was happening. The activity was over before myself or any of the kids mentioned anything, but I am still stewing over the whole situation. I am sure it was just a mistake (at least I hope so), but it got me thinking....

How often do you think something like this happens? I would guess we all operate under the presumption that students are taught everything correctly, but what happens when that is not the case? Am I making a mountain out of a mole hill?

Work Attire and Self-Esteem

2010-03-11T07:34:00.004-05:00

Well hello there!

Somehow two weeks have flown by since the last time I posted. I guess that is what happens when work gets busy, I get sick, and I don't open up my laptop at night. I've also been reading a lot of books lately, so blogs and blogging have fallen to the wayside. Yesterday I had to mark all as read in my google reader because it was out of control and stressing me out. Blogging shouldn't stress me out, it is supposed to be a fun outlet!

I am feeling better, but work is still crazy. We are in the middle of state testing and the annual rush to get students referred and tested before the school year is over. Today was the first day in a while that I was planning to spend the day working solely with kids. Imagine my surprise when I got to school this morning and found an agenda for NINE pre-referral meetings regarding kids with academic and/or behavior problems in my mailbox. On "kid days" I tend to dress more casually and don't wear make-up, which is definitely what I did today. Since going off the pill I have had trouble with acne on my chin, and although my face has finally cleared up, I still try to give it some breathing room every once in a while. On meeting days I dress more professionally and always have on a full face of make-up.

Luckily I had my make-up bag in my purse and I was able to apply some foundation and bronzer so that I don't look like an 18 year old when I am trying to convince people that I have the answers to these kids' problems. They will just have to deal with my sweater/khakis combo because I don't have any extra clothing. Honestly though, most of my team will be in casual clothing and no one from outside the building (e.g. attorneys, advocates, etc.) will be in these meetings, but for some reason I still feel less professional when I am not "dressed to impress". It's not like I work for a Fortune 500 company where business attire is required, so what is my deal? Why is that clothing makes such a big difference in our self-esteem and our perception of our ability to do our jobs well? Am I being elitist in thinking that I should be dressed better than everyone else?

What are your thoughts on this??

PB&J

2010-02-25T11:05:00.002-05:00

This morning I had to test a kindergartener, the first one I have tested all year. I thought his lunch started at 10:30, but it actually started at 10, so he missed it. I had him get his lunch and brought him back to my room so he could eat in there. For lunch he had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich I have never had peanut butter and jelly sandwich in my life, but today I wanted one.

Weird, right?

Or is it more weird that I have never had a PB&J sandwich?

When I was in school I was the kid that never brought a sandwich for lunch. And I mean any kind of sandwich, not just PB&J. My mom would pack me soup, Chef Boyardee, cheese and crackers, tuna fish and crackers, salads, cut up vegetables, fruit salad, etc. Pretty much anything other than a sandwich. I still am picky about my sandwiches, but will now at least eat them. Still though, I don't like plain old bread, unless it is a salami and provolone cheese sandwich. That can be eaten on sliced, white bread. All the other sandwiches I eat, however, need to be on some kind of textured bread. I don't like sandwiches that just melt in my mouth. Ugh, just thinking about it grosses me out.

Obviously my issue is with texture. But still, the smell of the PB&J today made me want to try it. Maybe my tastes are changing. My palete has changed a lot in the last 5 years and I eat many more foods than I did when I was younger. I used to equate never having with not liking, but I have finally realized that this is not the case. A part of me is thinking that I have made it this far in life without it, why should I try it now. It makes me unique. But is not having a PB&J sandwich really note worthy? No.

So if I try it, do I go traditional? White bread, creamy peanut butter, and grape jelly? How do you like it?

A Little Sunshine

2010-02-24T21:22:00.006-05:00

Sometimes all we need is a little sunshine to brighten our day. Today my sunshine came in the form of flowers.

After a weekend with the in-laws, a doctor's appointment that did not go well, red wine spilled on an off-white shirt, ripped stockings, and a day full of meetings, these were JUST what I needed to make me smile!

Happy Birthday!

2010-02-22T07:00:00.001-05:00

Happy birthday to my wonderful husband and happy belated birthday (her day was Friday) to my sweet puppy!

xoxoxo

Random Tidbits

2010-02-16T15:17:00.005-05:00

Oops, looks like I gave the impression that it was our anniversary this past weekend. It is actually not until July....this was just a Valentine's Day outing. Sorry for the confusion!

Today was my first day back at work since the snow storms, but the kids still did not have school. When I heard the announcement that the kids would have another snow day I was so annoyed, but after driving to work this morning I understood why. I got stuck at the end of our street and had to do the reverse/drive rock until I finally was able to make the turn. Real fun. I also could not believe that people were honking and yelling at me. Clearly I was stuck! Boo on you impatient people. Once I made it onto the main roads, the commute wasn't too bad. The roads were pretty much all clear. The street my school is on is another story. There are literally no sidewalks shoveled in the neighborhood surrounding my school. It is awful. The kids would have to walk in the street, which is also narrowed because of the walls of snow lining each side. Very dangerous and very sad that the community is not out helping to get the sidewalks and crosswalks cleared. Maybe the kids will be back in school in April, once the snow melts. Ugh!

Yesterday I finished reading All Souls by Christine Schutt. Has anyone read this book? I picked it for my book club, which meets tonight, because it was the runner up for the Pulitzer Prize last year. I am really worried that everyone hated the book. Oops! Bad choice by me. I definitely agree with this one-minute review.

I think I heard that there is a blogger layout that allows you to have pages. I can't remember where I heard this, but I am pretty sure it wasn't in a dream. Can anyone clue me in on how to do this?

I got a Clarisonic Mia for Christmas and am still deciding how I feel about it. I haven't seen any positive changes in my complexion, but I guess going off the pill is probably mostly to blame for that. I am also not really sure how to go about using it. I have the cleanser that comes with the Mia, but do I wash my make-up off first and then use the cleanser and the Mia or do I just use the cleanser and the Mia or is there some other routine that I should be doing? Let me know how you like the Mia (or any other Clarisonic) and how you use it, please!

Weekend Recap

2010-02-15T17:51:00.009-05:00

We are home after a fantastic weekend!

When we arrived in Pinehurst on Friday afternoon we stopped at the condo and then jumped back in the car. Kona was a great sport the entire ride, but we knew she was itching for a long walk. Thank goodness the next town over has a dog park with easy hiking trails. It was nice for us to get some exercise too. Kona refused to pose for the camera...she was too busy exploring.

Friday night we had dinner with my grandparents. They flew into town that afternoon and are planning to stay down for a couple weeks to escape the bitter cold that is plaguing NY. Spending time with them warms my heart; they just celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary! While we were at dinner it started snowing, so instead of stopping at the one bar in town, we headed back to the condo and spent the rest of the night watching the opening ceremonies for the Olympics. I was a tad worried when I heard that it was going to snow Friday into Saturday, but it ended up not being a problem at all. A few measly inches was nothing after what we had here last week. I forgot how pretty and charming the snow can be when it doesn't fall 30 inches at a time!

Saturday morning we dropped Kona off to get groomed (because grooming in DC is EXPENSIVE!) and then headed over to The Track, a hole in the wall diner that is situated on the horse track in town. Not only was the food greasy and delicious, but we got to see the horses too!

The rest of the day was spent shopping, sleeping, eating, and watching the Olympics. We were hoping to fit in some golf, but alas, you cannot golf when there is snow on the ground. Next time!

Yesterday we had an early breakfast, did some more shopping, had lunch in the village, and then relaxed before our dinner at the Carolina Hotel (where we had our wedding reception).

How about those drapes!? Clearly the condo has not been redecorated since the 70's!

It was so strange walking up to the hotel and I was surprised at how nostalgic I felt. It almost brought me to tears! Anyway, we had wonderful time at dinner and even got to share a piece of red velvet cake (our wedding cake) for dessert!

It really was a great weekend. I was so surprised that my husband planned something so low key, yet meaningful. Perfect, in my book!

Off We Go!

2010-02-12T08:40:00.005-05:00

We are off to my most favorite place in the whole wide world...Pinehurst, NC!

We haven't been back since our wedding (I cannot believe it has been almost 2 years!!) so I am really looking forward to this trip. Everyone have a great weekend!

Don't Make Me Dance

2010-02-11T10:19:00.009-05:00

We've been snowed in for a week. (Spring? Are you there?)

Our time has been filled with eating, drinking (I ran out of wine last night!), sleeping, cleaning, extreme snuggling (ahem), TV, board games, and video games. Luckily we've gone out a few times...for a half day of work on Friday, lunch last Saturday and Sunday, brunch on Monday, and to GameStop on Tuesday.

But yesterday we were stuck inside all day because of the 50 mph winds and 4-8 foot snow drifts. We REALLY had a lot of time to kill. In addition to deep cleaning our living room and attempting to rearrange the furniture (it's not possible), we played all these:

And because we had nothing better to do....we videotaped ourselves playing DDR. AJ has forbidden me from posting video of him "dancing", so that means I have to upload video of myself. I'm not sure what it is about that game, but it makes me lose my rhythm. I swear, in real life I am actually a pretty good dancer!

Please excuse my appearance....glasses, jingle jammies, naturally curly hair, and no make-up. Now you know what I reeeeally look like. And how awesome my DDR skills are.

ETA: I'm not sure why the video is so small, but I've learned not to mess with Blogger when something is wrong because I usually just eff it up even more. I am just happy it uploaded!

Look What I Found!

2010-02-08T16:47:00.005-05:00

Today I had the brilliant idea that I should clean out all of my bags. I have a laundry basket full of bags, many that I do not use regularly. I was looking for an Alice gift card (click for a referral link) that I knew had twenty something dollars left on it, but instead of finding that gift card, I found all of this stuff:

1 bottle of nail polish, 6 cotton swabs, 2 nail files, 1 wood cuticle pusher, 4 elastic bands, 1 barrette, 11 bobby pins, 1 tube of mascara, 4 lip glosses, 1 hand sanitizer, 2 chapsticks, 2 band-aids, 2 cough drops, 1 face cream, 5 tampons

1 packet of Splenda, 2 pieces of candy, 1 bookmark made at camp, 50 cents in change, 1 stack of napkins, 1 Tide to go, 1 moist towelette, 2 matchbooks, 2 pairs of ipod headphones, 4 gift cards/certificates with balances, 1 CD (New Moon soundtrack)

4 pads of Post-It notes, 19 pens, 7 pencils, 4 batteries, 11 paperclips

I also found countless receipts and 12 pay stubs. Clearly I need to clean out my bags before I put them in my basket. I can't get over the number of writing utensils. Hilarious!

Winner!

2010-02-07T17:18:00.003-05:00

Wow. Le Creuset was a good choice for a giveaway!

There were 122 eligible entries and the lucky number was 110. Congrats La Petite Chic!

Easy Italian

2010-02-03T18:20:00.006-05:00

Where I grew up in NY there are a plethora of amazing Italian restaurants and I come from a family of very talented Italian cooks. Needless to say, I have a high standard for Italian cuisine. When we moved to DC (and NC, for that matter) I was greatly underwhelmed by the quality of Italian restaurants. When we first tried the Italian food various places had to offer, we ALWAYS left unhappy and longing for the food from home (both home cooked and from our favorite restaurants). Now we know better and rarely eat at Italian restaurants....so I have to get my fix via my own kitchen. (Or by ordering from this yummy place and having them ship it to us....but that is only for special occasions!)

Given my snobbishness, I should be ashamed of what I just whipped up in my kitchen. However, the meal was delicious, easy, and way cheaper than anything we could have gotten at a subpar restaurant in town. I had all the ingredients on hand and it required no planning whatsoever.

Here's how you can do it too:

Boil water and cook your favorite pasta. My pasta of choice tonight was penne.

Butter two pieces of Italian bread and sprinkle with garlic powder or garlic salt. Bake on a cookie sheet for 8-10 minutes in a 350 degree oven

Put together a mixed greens with garbanzo beans and croutons (I usually add roasted red peppers to salads, but didn't have any on hand today)

Heat Bertolli Premium Pasta Sauce (we used Vodka Rustica, but also love the Champignon & Portobello sauce with angel hair) in the microwave for 90 seconds

Transfer cookie sheet to the broiler and let bread cook for 1-2 minutes to help make the bread crispy

Pour the sauce on the pasta, grate Parmesan cheese over the sauce, serve with the bread and salad, and enjoy!

No, Bertolli isn't offering me money, or products, or anything for this post. I just really love their microwaveable sauces. I know I am probably breaking some unspoken, Italian cardinal rule by liking a sauce that comes in a pouch and is cooked in the microwave, but I don't care. They are easy, convenient, and taste great. With the staples that I always have on hand, the sauce helped me pull together a last minute, delicious meal. I will definitely continue to buy them, especially until I can make my own killer sauce and/or we move back to a town with good Italian food.

Le Creuset Giveaway!

2010-02-02T09:00:00.007-05:00

I am so excited for this giveaway! Last week I was contacted by a guy at CSN stores about an opportunity to host a giveaway for any one of their millions of products. CSN is an e-commerce company with over 200 online stores, including one that sells mailboxes, another that sells barstools, and a site dedicated to cookware. I browsed a few of their stores and found countless things I would love to offer, but ultimately decided that I could not pass up the opportunity to give away some Le Creuset!

So without further a do....

One lucky lady (or guy) has the opportunity to win a Le Creuset 9" Square Baking Dish AND a 5" Baking Dish in Caribbean!According to the Cookware.com website:

Le Creuset's Square Dish is truly an all-in-one dish that you can use for baking, slicing, serving, and storage. Poterie Stoneware can be used in the oven, broiler, or microwave and will not absorb odors or flavors. The durable finish resists chipping, scratching and staining. This beautiful and colorful piece has sure grip handles to go straight from baking to tabletop, making an impressive presentation.

Features:
Bonus 5" Baking Dish
Bold Caribbean color
Does not absorb odors and flavors
Oven and microwave safe
Durable, non-porous enamel resists chipping, scratching, staining
Convenient grip handles
Refrigerator and freezer safe
Specifications:
Material: Stoneware
Dimensions: 9" W
Capacity: 1.5-Quart
Cleaning and Care: Dishwasher safe

To enter, please leave a comment with your favorite item from any of the CSN stores. You can receive additional entries by posting about this giveaway on your blog and/or tweeting about the giveaway with a link back to this post. You will get one additional entry for blogging and one additional entry for tweeting, for a total of three possible entries. Make sure you note in your comment if you have done one or both. Unfortunately, I can only accept entries from the U.S. and Canada. This giveaway will close on February 7th, 2010 at 5 PM EST. The winner will be announced on February 8th, 2010.

Here are a couple of my favorite items to help get you started!

Whitehall Products Bone Leash Holder. This would be perfect for Kona's many leashes, and the best part is it can be personalized for free!

Rogar Hammered Steel Bookshelf Pot Rack. If we owned our place I would definitely hang this on the exposed brick wall to save space in our kitchen!

ETA: Ugggggh Blogger!! Why must you be so difficult to format!?!? Please excuse the color/font/size changes. I can't figure out how to make them all the same. Boo!

Outfit Planning FAIL

2010-02-01T12:19:00.008-05:00

Some of you may have noticed that I did not post my outfits this week. We got a few inches of snow on Saturday so naturally my school district decided yesterday that we would be having a two hour delay this morning. I knew I would have plenty of time to get dressed today so I decided to relax last night and save my outfit planning for tonight.

Now for the funny part.....

Guess what I am wearing today?

My "uniform" of course!

Cable knit sweater - Loft

Brown pants (at least they have a pattern!) - Gap

Suede loafers in Merlot - LL Bean

I tried to add some flair with my headband. I get fun credit for that right??

Ignore that lovely splotch on my throat. I've mentioned a few times that I have super sensitive skin. I must have been touching my neck right before I took this picture, hence the splotch.

This just proves that if I want to wear fun, creative outfits that don't consist of cable knit sweaters and some form of khaki pants, then I need to plan ahead!