Retail Therapy

WARNING: THIS SEEMS SHALLOW. PROBABLY BECAUSE IT IS.

For a few weeks, I have been desperately craving some retail therapy. Actually, I wouldn't really call it therapy when you desperately need clothing. Apparently, when you have a baby, your body changes. Who knew? It really has been bothering me. It isn't that I hate my body. I actually like it better now that I've had a baby (for the most part). It is just super depressing that this new body of mine doesn't easily fit into Target or Khols clothing anymore.

As a result, I have one t-shirt that looks nice.

ONE!

I can't even count how many times this shirt has been spit up on.

So, last week, I bundled up Evelyn and went to the Mall with my sister and my Mom. I was going to shop!

We had a blast at Bare Essentials stocking up on, well, our essentials! Thank God for Bare Minerals. Truly! I just love their products! Anyways, I digress. So, I got make-up. Which, was more important than a shirt I guess. At least I had one shirt. I had no makeup.

And then we went to find shoes for Evelyn. She got Pumas. I'm insanely jealous.
I have always, always, always wanted a pair of Pumas. When she is a teenager, I'll make sure she gets Pumas so I can steal and borrow them. It will be great!

And then we stopped in some stores for me to try on clothes. Everything was either too big or too small.

I feel like Goldilocks people!

Where is baby bear's stuff for me to steal!?

Not at Nordstrom's Rack! That's for sure!

So, during our grocery run at Target I bought three Ho-Hum shirts that sort of worked. (aren't you glad I am going into such lame detail?). I couldn't wear the same Tshirt forever. People were seriously starting to notice. These Ho-Hum buys were necessary. But, you are what you wear (not actually true at all... but stay with me here). So, I've been all Ho-Hum.

To battle these Ho-Hums (Did you like that transition? BAM!), I accepted an on call shift yesterday and was all psyched up to tackle the MOA on my own.

The on-call-ness lasted negative 10 minutes. So, "Off to Work I Go" I sang as I climbed into my car. Yup. I am ALWAYS that positive when I get called into work.

ALWAYS!

So, my new goal is a Thursday shopping day. My fingers are crossed. I'm hoping for some success.

In the meantime, I'll wear my Ho-Hum tshirts while my good tshirt has a break.

And then I'll look at this poorly composed photo of my daughter sitting on a book. An image captured shortly before she started tearing out the page.



Looks like I'll probably have to go to Barnes and Noble during my trip on Thursday.

But, believe me, I'll be thinking board books people.

Sorry, I digressed (again, I know I do it a lot).

What I meant to say is this:

I love this girl. And if that means I only get to have one shirt for the rest of my life.

I'm ok with that!

List of 10...

Here is a list of things that I will never do well simply because I don't have the patience. Wait. Correction. This is a list of things I will never CARE to do well due to my lack of patience. Please take note: This is not a list of things I think people are crazy to do. If you can do them, cheers to you! There were moments when I used to wish to be like you. But, I just can't ever do these things with complete rapture and joy. It just isn't me.


1. Icing/Decorating Baked goods. I can't wait for the cake, cookie, etc. to cool off prior to icing and then, when I finally get to the point of icing, I truly do not care.

2. Scrap-booking. I've tried it. Three times. Each time I want to pull my hair out and cry. After the first page, I just don't care where photos go and what cute props I use. I can't do it.

3. Wrapping presents. If you ever get a gift that is wrapped in any sort of symmetrical or thoughtful manner, you better believe my husband wrapped it. The whole folding edges, making a box look like a box, and not having torn edges or exposed parts of the gift, pretty much sucks the joy out of wrapping. If there is any joy at all. (Now. Don't get me wrong. I love to buy and give gifts! I just hate the wrapping part). Let's just say that gift bags (or heck, just store bags) are my friend.

4. Coming up with lists on my own (Thanks Greg)

5. Having ALL the right ingredients for a recipe I'm making. I'm totally cool with improvising. The thought of having to run to the store for just one item is just stupid (for me, for me, for me. Not you). This is another reason I don't like to bake. Turns out improvising really doesn't cut it in the world of baking.

6. Gardening. Keeping plants a live. Etc. (This is one that from time to time I imagine myself loving someday but I know deep down that I'll never master it. It's just not me).

7. Actually downloading music from iTunes, burning a CD, and discovering musical artists on my own. It isn't that I don't like music. I just can't sift through the crap.

8. Making the perfect bed. It took great strength to fool my clinical instructor in nursing school into thinking that I really enjoyed making patients' beds.

9. Watching "funny" You-Tube Videos. It's fun for about 2 minutes. But then, really, I can't continue. I wish I could be one of those people in the group crowded around a computer laughing. But, I only get it for a few minutes. Past that, I'm just wondering when it is going to end.

10. Word Games. I married into a family that LOVES word games. I've definitely gotten better at them but, given the choice, I'd rather play Hearts any day!

Ok. That's a good solid list of 10. I have no idea why I felt motivated to post this. Oddly, I haven't been bothered with any of these things recently. I was just surfing Etzy.com and came across such cool crafts. For a brief moment the thought crossed my mind that maybe I could start an Etzy store and sell... well, sell... what? Hmm. Maybe I could learn to knit baby hats?

And then I laughed and came downstairs to write this post.

So, Bonus.

11. Learn to knit baby hats.

Ironically, I do know how to knit. Funny, huh?

Photo of the Day

This photo of Evelyn's hand melts my heart. I just love watching her while she "reads." She loves to turn the pages. Ahhh... Wow. This post probably seems more appropriate for WatchMeGrowBaby but I wanted to share the photo here.

Want to know why?

My worlds are blurring people. Prepare yourself: I want to merge my blogs!

But I need a name for both. Any ideas?

While you think about some great URL's, check out these photos I took of my childhood friend Jayme and her sweet little girl Maycee. They volunteered to be the subjects for my first photoshoot. We had so much fun!!!! I can't believe how much I am loving photography. Nothing has made me this happy since, well, basketball. And, believe me, that is saying A LOT. It took 10 years for me to feel this way about a hobby. I am having so much fun!

Here's the Link. Photos of Jayme & Maycee by Me!

Remember to comment on a new blog name where I can merge these worlds of mine.

Lovey Face

This is what I found at 5:30 in the morning, greeting me in the kitchen.

This is what happens when I go to bed before my husband.

It makes for a happy day.

How could you not be happy after finding that?

I have so much to write about but no time for it tonight!

All I have to say is this.

I love my husband.

A photo for the press...

Today, I was faced with a challenge of doing a portrait of Evelyn and I. Why was I faced with this challenge? Well, it is kind of a long story.

Let me attempt to make it brief.

A good friend of mine, Ashley, had her own good friend, Kelli, from college who is now a freelance writer for a Chicago community health magazine. Kelli was assigned to write a piece on fitness and health in pregnancy. Ashley referred Kelli to me and she asked me all sorts of questions about my experience as a women, a pregnant woman, a new mom, and, a nurse who works in Obstetrics and low risk neonatal care.

And that's how I ended up sitting on the floor, setting my exposure, and after failed attempts with my self timer in coordination with my daughter, I got my husband to push the button to capture the shot.

It would have been awesome if it was some beautiful photo of us cuddling close on a chair or gazing into one another eyes. But, I've only dipped my toes into this world of family imaging and, at this point, that would have been impossible to arrange.

So, right now, I'm just happy we are both looking at the camera. :) It's a good start!

I'll post the link to the article whenever it gets printed. I had fun answering all of Kelli's questions. It's weird to think that somewhere some woman will be flipping through this magazine in a doctor's office and come across a photo of Evelyn and I.

It's weird, but, I must admit, it is a little bit fun too!

The Fuel Drawer

This is the Fuel Drawer. A MUST HAVE for parenting! It's filled with protein bars for both of us and tea to keep us going. I call upon this drawer for strength at least three times a day.

I highly recommend the Luna Caramel Nut Brownie Bars. They are delicious (dairy free) and really help me satisfy my chocolate craving. Greg is partial to the Luna S'mores bars. Yes, I know what you are thinking. Aren't Luna Bars made for women? Technically, you are right. However, Greg is man enough to not care. They are delicious, with 9 grams of protein in a light 180 Cal snack. He eats them in conjunction with his Muscle Milk bars. He can have those Muscle Milk bars because I think they are disgusting. I tolerate the S'mores bars (Have I ever mentioned that I don't like marshmallows?) but, seriously folks, the Caramel Nut Brownie Bars are were it's at!
And then there is the TAZO Awake tea. I try not to use this too often because I surely became dependent on this little tea bag in college and it sucked. So, I only allow myself to use it on days I work. I will be the first to admit that it tastes like a barnyard (and I'm an avid tea drinker) but, let me tell you, for a women who hates coffee (sorry everyone) this does a great job of kicking me in the butt when I need it most.

And, believe me, after 6 days of my little daughter having a crappy cold and knowing I have to head in to work in a few hours and stay up well past midnight, this drawer is my life source.

I wish I could fit the whole thing in my purse.

(Some days, I try).

Photo of the Day

This is my favorite photo of the day. I just love how curious she looks.

This was also the most terrifying shot of the day. I was certain that she would fall. I threw a gigantic pillow under the chair with hopes that they would never meet; thankfully, they did not.

This chair means a lot to me (as does the baby). This chair was my Grandma Elizabeth's (name ring a bell?). In 1940, my Grandpa Bushy made her a vanity table and this is the chair that he bought and painted for her. I am lucky to have both the chair and vanity table in my bedroom.

I did a major piece of retail therapy today and I bought myself a 35mm f/1.8 lens for shooting infant photography. I am loving this and I am aspiring to capture some great images. *See Post on Dreaming*

This new lens has been so much fun to play with. I'm just learning the ins and outs of it but I am already loving it! Look at how beautifully blurred I can make the background with this new piece of wonder?


Evelyn, on the other hand, does not seem to care. To all who believe that Evelyn always seems to smile for photos, here is a photo for you. Mostly, she acts indifferent unless I completely make a fool out of myself.
Or, she acts like this. Yup, I get this a lot too.

And that's when I pull the plug and decide that maybe it is time to cuddle and take a nap.

And, for real, we love our naps!