Everything Is So Dang Cute

My first baby purchase:

What? You thought it would be something practical?

I love the lavender and the flowers and the little ribbon tags. Of course, I could have made it for a 1/3 of the cost, but it was an impulse buy and I don't have any regrets.

Liar

I had the best of intentions--Really! I was going to post about my birthday and the lovely four day weekend and random baby related things, and then...and then I got sidetracked.

D surprised me on my b-day and brought me breakfast in bed. Aw. After watching something on DVR, we went to work out. We also saw Harrison's new blockbuster and I simply cannot wait until July 18 to see the other big movie of the summer. (And I know there are other big movies, but that is the one I am waiting for.) Because our new favorite movie theater is at a mall, we did some shopping to let the nachos digest before heading to Big Bowl for dinner. Yum. Once home, we collapsed in bed because apparently that is a really big day for us.

And my four days off: Fantastic. I spent most of the time being a lazy bum, but also got out of the house to shop for maternity clothes. I can't find anything I like. Plus, most of them are still too big for me even though my clothes are too small. I need a happy medium. So I've resorted to wearing empire waist dresses and T-shirts that are too tight. I simply adore my Bella Band, though.

Oh, and I found out that Zimm is having a girl! She is due October 15. And my friend Lisha is due December 2. And -R-, of course, is due about the same time that I am! I know so many pregnant ladies!

I think that wraps up this update.

You Get 10 Bucks, I Get 10 Bucks, We All Get 10 Bucks

Sign up for Ebates through the above link before February 14, 2008 and receive a $10 sign up bonus--and I'll get a $10 referral bonus!

I signed up for Ebates just before Christmas and I'll receive my first Big Fat Check in a few weeks. After that, I'm changing over my payment option to the Animal Humane Society--so all of the referral bonuses will benefit shelter animals.

So do the same shopping you already do, and get some money back too!

If asked for the referring party's email address, please enter: museonvacation@gmail.com

If the link above isn't working, try this or copy & paste this:
www.ebates.com/doublebonusoffer/index.htm?id=33970198

Cheeky

My skin hates January. Every year the unrelenting Minnesota winter brings freezing temperatures and my skin cries. My skin care routine that only rates 6 out of 10 the rest of the year completely crumbles when faced with the added challenge of preventing dryness and redness on top of all of the other demands I make.

As you might have guessed, I have been searching the Internet to find the magic combination of products to transform my problem skin into a dewy, peaches ‘n cream complexion. Although I have not yet found the perfect product (although many samples have been requested with high hopes), I have discovered that cosmetics companies have awesome marketing teams. I am quite certain that Philosophy’s Makeup Optional set will completely clear up my skin, even though every review at MUA begs to differ; and that the packaging of Shiseido’s Pureness just deserves to be caressed as it cleanses my aura as well as my face.

I have not yet spent a fortune on skin care products (Oh how I miss my high school skin! Crazy, right? But really, I had nice skin with just a simple routine of Noxema and Oil of Olay and don’t think for a second that I didn’t try to switch right back to that last year when all of the skin issues began!) as I am patiently waiting for my samples to arrive: Arbonne, Aveda and a few others including Pureness (could not resist the pretty blue bottles!). And as I waded through oceans of information on beauty forums and blogs, I came across this Newsweek article which made me laugh out loud as it preached the virtues of sunblock: Wonder what your skin would look like if you'd kept it protected from the sun? "Look at your butt."

Day 8 And It's Getting To Me

1. I often admit to being under inspired for blog entries. Why I thought I could do NaBloPoMo is beyond me; but here I am, posting nothingness.
2. Well, that was an incredibly negative way to start this post.
3. It often happens that I have tons of great ideas that come to me when I am no where near my computer.
4. My cathartic walks to Sbux often leave me feeling creative; something which rarely happens at my desk.
5. The great ideas never seem to stick, though, or the humor and/or insight is lost as it runs the course from my right brain to my fingertips.
6. What I need is a digital voice recorder, then I could dictate my blog entries on my walks and just type it up--or hook it up to specialized software and be done with it.
7. I actually did this my senior year in high school for a poetry contest. I borrowed my teacher's recorder and as I would run errands for her during my TA hour I would work out the lines of my poems. It really worked; the creativity just flowed. Two of my three poems won in two different categories. (Unnecessary pat on the back for something done 10 years ago.)
8. I guess this means I'm not the type of person who can harness the creativity, or I just haven't learned how to yet. I'm guessing it takes work for most.
9. The last thought made me imagine lightning bugs in a jar.
10. Do you say lightning bugs or fireflies? Is it regional?
11. Back to not being able to come up with inspired blog entries from my desk, this shouldn't shock me. In college I hand wrote all of my papers in a local coffee shop on a red velvet couch and then would type them up back in my dorm room. A laptop would have helped me out greatly, Mom and Dad.
12. What all of this means to me is that I really need to blog someplace other than work.
13. Also, online shopping does not cure writer's block, but I did buy the Banana Republic bubble necklace. Score!

Some Gold & Wool Will Make It All Better

As I continue on the Quest to Create an Interesting Wardrobe, I become more and more frustrated and confused. The set above is from Banana Republic. Not that I would wear these pieces all together, but maybe the necklace on its own when a neckline calls for it or just the earrings or the earrings and the cuff bracelet on occasion. I'm trying to find accessories, but I really want diamond earrings and a diamond necklace. (Interesting? Not really. Beautiful, timeless and functional? Absolutely.) Also, diamonds are a bit out of my budget right now. I wear gold, not silver, so this further complicates things; so many gold/golden things look tacky to me and I'm afraid that all of the above just might fit in that category. I want something interesting, but I'm just not sure if these pieces (even on their own) will work for me. If you have any ideas, please send them my way!!!


On to the next. I feel pretty confident, in general, about picking sweaters, but I would appreciate some advice. Please give me honest opinions about the below styles and colors. The first two are from Ann Taylor and the third is from Gap.

I LOVE the red buckle sweater, my only concern is that it will look frumpy on me. Also, I have a great red zip sweater, but it is a bit more casual. What do you think of the red one?

The oatmeal shawl collar sweater is OK. I think I like it, but I also think it looks a little old lady for me. (Not actually like a 'little old lady' but a little like something an old lady would wear.) They also have it in black, but do I really need another black cardigan? Quite possibly I do, but I'd like to branch out in the colors just a bit, even if I'm still in the neutrals.

The oatmeal crew collar sweater is, I don't know. It's just calling me. I feel like I need it. I obviously don't need two new oatmeal cardigans, so which would you choose if you had to pick one?

Do you like any of these sweaters at all? If not, I usually have better taste--I swear! For proof, I offer you my word that I have received two compliments on my sweater dress/calf boot outfit today. And no, I do not look like a hooker.

Good Shots

Yes, I spend pretty much every weekend in the bowling alley regardless if I'm bowling or not. And yes, I still say 'bowling alley' most of the time even though I know I am supposed to say 'bowling center.' I'm working on it.

Today both my dad and my brother were bowling in a big tournament and I enjoyed watching, pseudo-coaching and cheering them on. I basically grew up in a bowling center, so I know most of the guys there, and it was fun to chat with everyone and see my friends do well. My dad and my brother both bowled well enough to make the cut, so they get to bowl tomorrow. I was reminded of the start time and that I even get an extra hour of sleep tonight (Remember, it's Day Light Savings--set your clocks back!) so that there is no excuse for me not to show up on time.

Lest you think I'm a social loser, I do have plans tonight with friends and we will not be bowling. I do expect that food and laughter will be involved though, and maybe even some shopping. Perhaps I'll find a few of the accessories I so desperately need.

80085

This morning, like every Wednesday morning, I was driving in to work listening to K102 and trying not to spill chai on myself. Yes, Wednesday mornings are my favorite mornings during the work week. I get to drive myself in to work as opposed to carpooling with D (which I actually do love, by the way, but a woman needs her space and her own music!) and that means I get to stop at Dunn Bros before work (or else I'm actually going to Sbux, which is fine, but it's no Dunn's) and also, I get to leave work early. I know the last thing has nothing to do with Wednesday mornings, but just knowing I get to leave early makes my morning better.

So, back on topic...This morning on K102 they were starting some new Ask The Experts thing, and today they had 2 women from Macy's on air who were certified bra fitters. (Log that under a job I do not want.) Right now Macy's is doing the Wacoal Fit For The Cure as it is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month--so go get fitted! Eight in ten women are still wearing the wrong size bra, even after the Oprah special a year or two ago. All of these women were calling in with fit questions and Muss and Fish were trying very hard to stay professional. It was an OK show, but it still amazes me that more women don't get fitted properly. Bras are expensive. If I'm going to spend that kind of money I would want to make sure I was buying the right size. And that is exactly what I did.

I didn't know about the whole Macy's Fit For The Cure thing, or else I maybe would have waited a week and gone there. But I went to Nordstrom last week to get fitted, and I don't think it would ever dawn on me to get fitted for bras at Macy's. Nordstrom is known for that, not Macy's. Just like Marshall Field's was known for bridal registry. In Minnesota you just registered at Marshall Field's, or at least you used to. I'm glad I was married a few years ago, if I had to register now I don't know where I would go. Would I go to Macy's by default? I really don't like Macy's. Sad. Back on point...I went to Nordstrom last week and spent gobs of money on my ever shrinking chest to lift and separate 'the girls'. (Ugh. I really hate that phrase, but it just seemed so appropriate and Peg Bundy right there. (Hmmm, 'appropriate' and 'Peg Bundy' don't really work together, do they? Oh well.)) So now my bras all fit and they are so comfortable I could probably wear them to bed. Let's ignore the fact that I measured out to be one size and ended up buying a size that was completely different--this is where 'bra fitting is more of an art than a science' as the certified bra fitter said this morning, but I just think bra sizes are meaningless.

I think that's all I have to say about boobs. (Did you get that from the post title? Pretend you're a pre-teen boy. Do you get it now? OK then, whip out your calculator. You better get it now.) Get fitted at Macy's so Wacoal donates money to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. If you don't get fitted there, get fitted somewhere. And support Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Lastly, my friend was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago, went through treatment, and is now in remission. She is doing well and made us go out on Saturday night to let loose. It was more fun than I would have thought and as good of a reason as any to celebrate. In fact, Saturday was so much fun that I'm still recovering (and I didn't even drink!) and I plan to take a nap this afternoon because I GET TO LEAVE EARLY TODAY! I love Wednesdays.