6 places + 5 foods + 4 books = playing catch-up!

Been a little distracted by unpacking and organizing process going on full-swing in the 'dream home.'  So, extremely late, here are:

6 places...
1. boundary waters canoe area
2. my kitchen {even in its current state}
3. my parent's farm
4. napa valley
5. seattle
6. new york city {any season, for any reason}

5 foods...
1. pizza
2. warm, crusty bread dipped in olive oil and balsamic vinegar
3. goat cheese {plain, on things, doesn't matter}
4. hummus + 'naked' pita chips
5. 'my' chipotle burrito - steak, rice, corn salsa, cheese + sour cream
(Yes, clearly I like cheese and carbs.)

Source: someecards.com via Greta on Pinterest

4 books...
1. pride and prejudice and zombies - reading right now, think is hilarious and fantastic!
2. the great gatsby - how can you not be in love with this novel?
3. the poisonwood bible - such a good read about sisterhood and motherhood.
4. the awakening - will forever remind me of my college women's lit days.  so much to analyze, such a classic.

Linking up again here with these lovely ladies...

We close on the sale of our 'other' house tomorrow -
so happy and hopeful that all goes well!

Hope all is going beautifully in your world!
g

14 days of loves: day 14 {my valentine}

No dinner.  No chocolate.  No flowers.

Better.

Spa Day!

We drove 2 hours to drop the babe off at his Mimi's house, so we could enjoy our daytime Valentine's Date.  Here is me, makeup-free in my sweats, all ready to bliss out:

 Started the morning off right relaxing together with a latte and sweet vday treats!

 I read my book, and Hubby got a paper and did the crossword.  We did this a lot in our former, pre-baby life together. :)

Then it was off to the spa.

Doesn't that sound swanky?

As if we have spa days a lot {we don't.}

Hubby booked us both two services each.

And although we spent the next three hours apart...

it was heavenly.

I took a waterfall shower, 

sat in the sauna,

sipped 'calm' tea,

had a foot scrub,

full-body massage,

more tea,

then pedicure.

Anytime I was asked if I'd like something...sample of lip balm...blue oil on my neck...more tea...

I said:  Don't mind if I do.

Pure zen awesomeness.

Only weird part...this awkward conversation with my masseuse:

Her: When was your last massage?

Me:  Ummmm...seriously I can't remember.

Her: *look of pity* 

Me: Maybe three years ago?

Her: Any recent surgeries or health issues?

Me: Nope. Unless you count having a baby.  If so, then yes.

Her: *uncomfortable stare*

Me: *uncomfortable laugh* 

Her: Any particular area you want me to concentrate on?

Me: Um...pretty much anywhere.  Everywhere. It all needs help!

After another odd look from her

{note to self: don't try to joke around with massage therapists}

 the awkward question/answer period ended, 

and the AMAZING massage ensued.

So, so nice.

Then, famished, we had a late lunch of

sushi and, of course, wine. 

Was a nice change-up from our typical Valentine's dates, before Baby came along.  Much needed rejuvenation for this mama.  And much-appreciated romantic date-time for both of us.

Thank you, Hubby, for loving me so much.  Every day.

g

14 days of loves: day 13 {runaway bunny}

My valentine's gift to Cormac. 

{for his true love should be the written word, right?}

'If you are a gardener and find me,' said the little bunny, 'then I will become a bird and fly away from you.'  

 If you become a bird and fly away from me,' said his mother, 'then I will be a tree that you come home to.'

Yet another children's book to make a mama cry...

these books should come with warnings.

g

14 days of loves: day 12 {the fauxhawk}

Hmmm...

...not really enough hair to rock this fabulous look...

...but at least we tried.  

:)

g

14 days of loves: day 9 {our gray dining room}

Once upon a time, we painted our dining room bright green.

I wrote about it here.

For two and a half years we have enjoyed our vivid dining space...

however, we are soon to list our house for sale

and I had my doubts as to whether any potential buyers would see the beauty in the hue.

In fact, pretty sure it would 

scare most buyers away.

Immediately.

{you need vision people!  it's only paint!}

Anyway, so we painted it.

Um, correction:  Hubby painted it.

{he is an awesome painter!!! we I don't even have to tape anymore!}

Went with Woodlawn Colonial Gray {Valspar}

a color we love so much now we plan

to use it in our new home.

(And by "new" I mean 150 years old.)

Here is the finished product:

Gorgeous gray, right?

I'm also having fun getting packing up all kinds of other things that might deter buyers...such as personal photographs, certain artwork, and raggedy paperback books.  

Oh, and developing an attack plan for hiding all baby items 

whenever we have a showing.

Keeps a mama busy!

As if the crawling kiddo didn't already.

Wanna see him crawl the first time?  Click HERE to see me nearly pee with excitement over this milestone.

:)

Anyone else have a room painted gray that they absolutely love?

g

14 days of loves: day 6 {lip gloss}

I have a problem. 

 No, seriously.  The other day I was cleaning out dumping out my purse and came across this...

All from Victoria's Secret...except the Lancome one, second from left.  A stocking stuffer this year from my MIL Karen - who apparently knows my problem.  And the Burt's Bee's lip balm isn't gloss...but I typically have a bunch of those lying around as well.

Five tubes of flavored lip gloss.  In my purse.  

This is not counting all the others that I have in my makeup drawer.   Not sure how I accumulated this many lip glosses...but I do love them.   

Ladies, isn't it funny how you can put on lipstick and feel a little bit better about yourself?

Anyone else have an inordinate amount of lip gloss/lipstick in their purse?

Happy Wednesday!

g

14 days of loves: day 5 {Falsies}

Now, I won't normally blog about makeup. Mainly because I am a cheapskate and the only makeup I will buy must be found at a drugstore.  Everyone likes to spend their extra money on different things...and for me, that is travel, wine and food.  Beauty products take a waaaay backseat in my life.  I have never even entered Sephora, M.A.C., or shopped at a department store makeup counter.  I color my own hair.  I wax/pluck my own eyebrows.  I can count the number of mani/pedis I get per year on one hand finger. I will leave the hard-core beauty blogging to those who really know.

However, my blog friend Christi over at Between 3 Sisters recommended Maybelline Falsies mascara in this post.  I was intrigued {Christi's makeup always looks amazing!} so when I was at my local Walgreens I picked up a tube of Falsies.  My verdict:  LOVE.  Of course.  That is why I am posting it as Love #5. :)  Plus, I paid only 7.99!

I really did get great volume on my meager lashes.  The "spoon brush" is something I've never seen before, and seemed to really coat the lashes without getting clumpy.  I tested it Friday night before going out to a girlfriend's birthday celebration.  I used three coats.  Not sure what is normal/correct???

my eyes not really that blue.  fun with saturation!

Now, can anyone recommend a good self-tanner???  

I am paaaaale.

:o)
g

14 days of loves: day 4 {I don't know how she does it}

The latest Sarah Jessica Parker movie I Don't Know How She Does It {based on the bestselling novel by Allison Pearson}  falls under the category of: "Movies That are More Fun to Watch Alone than Make Hubby Watch With Me."  Here is a taste, if you haven't seen it {remember to pause my music player at the bottom of this page before you hit play}:



While it may not be a cinematic masterpiece - more like a fluffy chick flick - I really enjoyed this movie.  I think it has some interesting messages about the modern role of "woman as mother."

I guess as a stay-at-home-mom I could be insulted by this movie.  It humorously pokes fun at mamas like me, painting a picture of SAHM's as rich, self-centered, and annoying.  As gym rats, yoga junkies, organic cookie-baking "Momsters" with posh lives of ease.

"Working moms" {an interesting term in itself...pretty sure we all "work"} are depicted as  "Jugglers" - women who "do it all."  They have high-powered careers, plan elaborate birthday parties, travel,  and create to-do lists in their head while laying awake at night.  Sure, they rush around, forget to pluck their eyebrows {because SAHM's have soooo much time to do that} and miss out on things with their kids (ie first haircuts) but they manage do be great moms and great employees.

I loved this movie -- simply because I am a new mom and it made me think about these stereotypes.  I don't really believe them, as I think whether you "work outside the home" or are "stay at home" or "work from home" you are still "working" your most important job: "Mom."   Each version has it's own challenges and perks.

I stay at home.  I miss my paycheck.  Having extra money for vacations and clothing and home furnishings was kind of nice.  I miss the peace of my office, the adult conversations, and having time in my car when I can listen to the radio and not have to sing "You are My Sunshine" over, and over, and over to prevent my baby from screaming.

Then again,  sometimes I get to stay in my pajamas until noon.  I make my own schedule, have time to keep the house clean, and really don't have to miss any moment of my baby's life.  Oh, and I am able to work out, whether it is a yoga class at the gym, or running with the baby in the jogging stroller.

Sure, I have a huge Rubbermaid bin of cute Express work pants and tailored button-down shirts that I will never wear again. Also, a ton of sassy high heels that, now, hardly get worn.  Oh, and the only time I get a latte that doesn't get cold before I'm able to finish drinking it is when I am grocery shopping on Sunday nights sans baby, which I sip while I shop.


Like I said, no matter what type of "working mama" you are - there is the good and the bad.

The important thing is that you are happy with the choice you make.  A happy woman makes a happy mama.

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend! 

This was a day late due to the nasty cold I've been nursing the past three days...ugh.

PS -- Would love to hear other mamas' reactions to this movie/book!  

g

14 days of loves: day 2 {Girry}

 "Girry" is Cormac's giraffe.  

{we are really creative with naming toys around here...the zebra is "Zebby"...the frog is "Roger Ribbit"...the duck is "Duckie Doo"...you get the idea. welcome to parenthood.}

Girry has four different sound settings and is an essential part of the bedtime routine.  

After 'baby massage', pajama time, songs, reading books, and prayers, we lay Cormac in his crib and after a few cries of protest he immediately grabs Girry and sticks the poor giraffe's head in his mouth.  

Who needs a thumb to self-soothe with when you have a fuzzy giraffe head?

 

After the biting and chewing of the head ends, they cuddle and settle into a blissful sleep...

...which is why I love Girry.
(Girry purchased at Target, in case you want one of your own.)

g

14 days of loves: day 1 {B&B Surf Spray}

{From now until Valentine's Day I will be posting one thing each day I "love" right now - in addition to my regular posts.  Enjoy!}

Love for Day #1: Bumble and Bumble 'Surf Spray'

I have always hesitated to buy these salty surf sprays because I thought they would make my hair sticky and gooey.  My hair is prone to get oily anyway, so I don't want make matters worse.  However, my stylist convinced me when I recently chopped 10 inches off my hair that my new haircut would require a little product.  Product.  I never like to hear that word uttered by my stylist as I always feel like I'm being pressured to buy stuff I don't need.  As you probably know, I am really cheap.  So I usually listen to the spiel and then politely say, "Um, I'll think about it." even though I don't really need to.

But my recent haircut, named "the shab" by the fashion mags because it is a cross between a "shag" and a "bob" 

Source: usmagazine.com via Melissa on Pinterest

(apparently "the slob" didn't sound as cute) had me feeling like I needed something.   My stylist convinced me that all I would need was this Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray.  A couple of spritzes, whether my hair is wet or dry, and a few "scrunches" with my fingers was all it would take...

And she was right.  I don't blow dry.  I don't curl.  I don't flat iron.  I don't even need hairspray or dry shampoo.

Sure, it does look a little disheveled...but it's supposed to!

Plus, this is on my third day of styling (as I only wash every 3rd day.)  Not too "shabby." :)

I love it.  It's easy, modern, and did I mention easy?  Perfectly easy for a new mama stayin' at home...and sassy enough for a night out.  And I only need one fabulous product.

Another lovely 'love' tomorrow for Day 2!

g

favorite things: turquoise

My favorite color is, without any doubt, turquoise.  

It always has been.

I would love to have the all the rooms in my house painted various shades of turquoise.

Alas, turquoise is not exactly neutral.  In fact, it is gorgeously girlie!  

So I will stick to subtle accents.

For dear hubby's sake.

Turquoise tends to make anything look more amazing.

The following images were found

on Pinterest

and only make me love the color more...

Source: weheartit.com via Tish on Pinterest

Source: anthropologie.com via Susan on Pinterest

Source: google.co.uk via Becky on Pinterest

Source: iammommy.typepad.com via Barrett on Pinterest

I could get away with lots of lovely turquoise in the nursery:

I simply had to promise Hubby that the next bedroom I designed for Baby Boy 

would be all sports...or trucks...or something extremely boyish!

Check out the entire nursery {HERE}. 

Also, in our outdoor space I have slowly been adding various 

turquoise accents, such as the market umbrella, throw pillows

and several DIY painted terra cotta planters:

Latest additions?

These ceramic citronella pots from Pier1:

Also, I finally found a use for this turquoise glass vase I found at a 

garage sale ages ago.  I just filled it with river rocks and 

added a bamboo stalk for a 

simple, zen centerpiece:

Do you adore turquoise, too?

I would love to know how you

infuse this color into your decor

whether subtly

or boldly!

{And if you have entire walls painted turquoise, then YES, 

I am very jealous.}

g