Hello Bianca!

Friday Night Eye Candy & a Challenge

2012-01-27T21:54:00.005-06:00

A little eye candy, from my lens to your screen....

Now for a bit of fun...

1. pic a photo that you like
2. write a story about the picture
3. share the photo and story with me
4. I will publish it right here for all to see.

You have a week! C'mon, I know there's gotta be one of you out there who will participate. In a week, I will share a snippet of each photo and what it means.

Semi Cheater Cinnamon Rolls

2012-01-26T06:34:00.000-06:00

It was 8PM and I was SOOO in the mood for some cinnamon rolls. I didn't have any yeast and I didn't really want to run out to the store. So I improvised. Best part, these cinnamon rolls were pretty freakin' amazing!!!

1 package Parker House Rolls (frozen rolls)
1/2 cup fresh blueberries
1/2 cup dried cranberries
4 tablespoons of butter
1/3 cup of sugar
1/3 cup of brown sugar
1/2 cup of flour

I set out my rolls to thaw for a separate meal. They were already rising and a giant mess in the plastic package. I threw down about a 1/4 cup of flour on the kitchen counter, tossed my blob of rolls, added another 1/4 cup of flour to the top and began kneading it. Then, I took out my rolling pin and rolled them out flat and as rectangular as I could. This is why they are semi-cheater because I didn't actually make the dough from scratch.

I melted 2 tablespoons of butter and poured that on top of my dough. I added the sugar, brown sugar, craisins, and blueberries. I rolled it up like a log, then cut ever inch, and placed them in a buttered pie dish. I topped each roll with a tiny pat of butter from the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. I also sprinkled a tiny bit of brown sugar to the tops.

I let it bake for 30 minutes, checked on them, and baked another 10 minutes to finish it off. YUMMY!! Here is the inside of one. Mmmm...not overly gooey, but absolutely delicious!

HDMR:

2012-01-25T06:27:00.000-06:00

I'm not feeling all that sassy with my remarks. Feel free to utilize IMDB for the summary. I have a few others I've seen, but these were the most recent three.

Dolphin Tale
Remember when I told you the Sugarbean was sick? Well, that means movie marathons. I rented this one, courtesy of a free pass from Redbox. Verdict, halfway through she stopped watching it. Obviously, it wasn't a winner for her. I thought it was cute, in that cutesy Hollywood movie type. I do want to visit Winter someday. She's quite inspirational. I think this is a great movie for older kids.

The Ides of March
Hellooooo hotness. Sad that it is the first thing out of my mouth, but yes. This is full of yummy deliciousness. Oh, and George Clooney, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, and Marisa Tomei...and yeah, it was nominated for some awards. No big deal. I wanted to see this one in the theater, but well, we didn't make it. I was really happy to rent this for free thanks to another Redbox gift (my anniversary of being with them! thank you!) It was an engaging movie and I caught myself getting really involved with it. I can see why it was nominated! You need to check it out and not just because Ryan Gosling is in it. That's just bonus!

Moneyball
As a self-confessed baseball lover, I'm frankly apalled that I haven't read the book. Seeing as how it took me 3 years to finish my last book, that's why I hadn't yet attempted it. I think I will make it my mission to actually finish it before the end of the year. Anyway, this, my friends, is dear to my heart. I want to own this movie. The movie line..."How can you not be romantic about baseball?" So.freakin'.true. Well, it is for any lover of the game. Brad Pitt, Johah Hill (ohmahgahholyacademyawardnominationdon'tsmokeajeffrey), Philip Seymour Hoffman (yes, again!) do a wonderful job in this tale. I love it! If you have any bit of respect and appreciation for the game, and you haven't seen it, stop reading this blog right now, go out and rent it! Go, shoo, go!

Coffee Makes My Heart Smile

2012-01-24T06:30:00.000-06:00

Really? How could a heart smile? Well, maybe it flutters in a special way that only caffeine can trigger. Not in the jittery-ohmahgoodnezz way either. The aroma that makes my nose tingle. The warm cup that reminds of holding my mother's warm-hot hands.

Cafe Mocha at Oddfellows

It's so warm, inviting, and soothing. I guess I should've said flavored coffee with foam and fancy designs. Yeah. That kind of coffee. Even better when it is shared with friends. Time slows down. You don't rush the moment. You can sit and sip, staring off into the distance, lost in thought...thinking about everything and nothing.

Signature Latte at The Pearl Cup

Even if you aren't a coffee drinker, you can appreciate what a simple cup of joe can mean. It's happiness in a cup, right there. It's friendship. It's rainy nights. It's secrets shared. It's inspiration. It's love.

Monday Random

2012-01-23T17:10:00.000-06:00

This blog has absolutely no consistency. Do y'all even want that? A consistent routine of things? Me, I think I like the random. I tried doing consistency with my hump day movie review and well, we all know how that went. I am thinking of re-hashing it, though. Simply because I've given my opinions recently on some dvds I've recently watched. Enough with the ramblings, get on with the random!! ok, ok...sheesh!

1. Cloth v. Disposables

I found this link and boy howdy is it an eye opener. You know we've done cloth for a while now. We aren't exclusive cloth users. Nope. I will admit, on road trips, we've relied on disposables. Additionally, rounds of antibiotics='sposies. Why? Well, convenience factor mainly. Yes, they are convenient. Especially when you are traveling and you don't want to bring the laundry "system" with you. Even more so when you know your child is going to have explosive, runny poo. Sorry guys, but that's the reality. Now you know our little disposable secret! AAACK! But in all seriousness, if you are new parent and you are struggling to make ends meet or money is a bit tight, forego the small convenience factor and give cloth a try. They aren't what they used to be. Yes, you have to clean up the mess. Yes, you have to do laundry. But you will save money. Lot's of money!! I've calculated the amount of money we have saved and let me tell you, I am in disbelief. We've saved at least $500 since Tesla has been alive. A celebrity recently launched her own line of "good for the environment and baby" diaper and wipes service. It's $80 a month to participate for the diapers bundle, which includes wipes and diapers. What is interesting to me is that they look like cloth diapers and the wipes are cloth, too. Everything happens to be disposable. I think it is great that there is this option, but I know some struggling families out there and an extra $80 a month could go a long way to put up with a bit of "convenience!" Just my opinion.

2. False Lashes

YES! That's what the inner, beauty voice in my head is hollering. You see, I adore the thought that the weekend "me" wears flowy dresses and skirts. She wears her hair down all natural. She uses vaseline as her lip gloss and yes, she wears fake eye lashes. If I could wear fake lashes every day and get away with it, I totally would. That scene in Breakfast at Tiffany's where Holly takes off her lashes at the end of the night...yeah, that's when I was sold. Check out another account of False Lashes hype here.

3. Still No Meat

Today marks the 4 week anniversary of my self-imposed "Mostly Plants" diet (I'm still eating eggs, butter, and a bit of dairy). Incredible. I haven't stepped on a scale, yet, but the goal of this wasn't to lose weight. It was just to see how my overall well-being was affected. So far, you know what...I have noticed a difference! I don't feel "heavy." Even after a full meal, I don't feel bloated and heavy. Which, actually, was opposite to what I was thinking. I firmly believed I would walk around feeling bloated. I don't. I actually have more energy. I'm tired, but that's because I don't sleep. When I work-out, play with my kiddos, or whatever, I have more energy and enthusiasm. Also, my skin feels different. I don't know what it is. Finally, in my waist, I feel slimmer. Thanks to Pinterest, I've found some great recipes. Also, I heard about Engine 2 and plan to try out their recipes, too. If you want to check some great ideas for yourself, this Tumblr is full of inspiration for workout routines and plants only recipes. Me, I'm shooting for Valentine's day or the evening when I go on my non-Valentine's-Valentine's day-celebrating-anniversary-of-being-parents date. The hope is to eat something incredibly amazing by either my Primo or a Lavendou. Either will be sure to please and an incredible treat. After that, though, I think I will try to stay with it. It is really starting to become a lifestyle and I sympathize with all vegetarians when going out to eat. It really has been quite difficult and a complete change of mind when we go out. I can always find a salad, but it bugs me to think a salad costs as much of an entree when the nutritional value just isn't there. Not worth the money, in my opinion.

That's it for this Monday's randomness. Y'all have a great week!

Balance

2012-01-20T15:22:00.000-06:00

We've been hit with another round of the sickies. I've been running on low energy for the past week, but I just chalked it up to meat withdrawal. On Monday, the Sugarbean approached me and told me she wasn't feeling well. By Tuesday, she had a full blown fever and was feeling lethargic. We kept her home that day.

All week, the Sugarbaby was irritable at night. I figured she was so advanced, she was afraid of the dark. We would leave the bathroom light on for her and settled in for a LOOOOONG night of fussing. Well, this happened Tuesday and Wednesday.

On Thursday, I received a call from Mari's school. She was running a fever. Here's where juggling took place. I had two meetings in the afternoon that I had to postpone. The plan was to take her to the office with me in the morning and rely on the ol' iTouch to keep her occupied. (I know, I know)

Then her temperature crept up and Tesla's level of irritability went up. Off we went to Acute Kids. they were apologetic for the delay, but even with the delay, they were faster than any time we've ever gone to the doctor. I just love them. If your child has a minor emergency, definitely check them out. I really recommend them! Anyway, as I was saying, we were at Acute Kids. We opted to have Tesla checked out too, since she was having similar symptoms, just on a smaller scale with no fever. After the different swabs for strep, flu, and RSV for T, the diagnosis: Viral Upper Respiratory Infection for Mari, Double Ear infection for Tesla.

When we got home, Mari just wanted to sleep, but was in and out of consciousness from her extreme coughing. She even had to utilize the sick bucket a couple of times. Tesla was much happier after I gave her some Motrin. We started her with some probiotics a couple of hours before giving her the Amoxicillin with Augmentin. So far, we don't think Tesla has the penicillin allergy like Mari. Last night was a bit of a blur for me. We were up and down for a good portion of the night. All of us slept together in our bed. It was nice having us all snuggled in, but this Mama didn't get much sleep.

When my alarm went off, I got up, got ready, and looked at my girls. Both of them were FINALLY resting. My heart ached. How could I go in to the office? They are absolutely miserable. If I took Tesla to school, I would probably get a phone call by the middle of the day. There's no way I should even think about moving Mari either. I made the call to my boss, praying he wouldn't be upset with me. I don't know why I think that because well, he's a really good boss. I still felt guilt though. Times like that, I wish I could split myself into two people. As a mother, though, you need to find balance. When your children are as sick as mine are, well, you have to wear you mommy cape more than your worker cape. If you are lucky/blessed (as I am, and I pray you are), then work will understand.

With that, I'm off to love on my littles. Hold your precious ones tightly!

Stop SOPA

2012-01-18T09:30:00.002-06:00

I participated to blackout SOPA. Learn more about why this is important by going here or here.

Dublin Dr. Pepper & Torchy's

2012-01-16T06:30:00.000-06:00

If you aren't from Texas, then odds are, you probably don't know what Dublin Dr. Pepper is. On January 12, they settled a trademark dispute with the Dr. Pepper Snapple company. This marked an end of an era. Dublin Dr. Pepper is not made with high fructose corn syrup (corn sugar). When my best friends father passed away, at the funeral, they had a large cooler filled with Dublin Dr. Pepper. You see, Pop loved it! He wanted to be sure we all had one. Drinking it made it that much more special.

You can imagine my excitement when visiting Austin a couple of years ago, and I happened upon Torchy's Tacos, thanks to my Brother. It was glorious! Bonus that they served Dublin Dr. Pepper on tap!! Score! And then they opened shop in Dallas about a year ago. Again, Dublin Dr. Pepper on tap. (I found the bottles in the store at Market Street. When the announcement was made, they sold out of their 4 cases within hours.) My friend called me to let me know a local Farmer's Market was selling the stuff. We went by and they wanted $50 for a 6 pack or $10 per bottle!!!! How fortuitous that Torchy's Facebook page mentioned that they still had it on tap! That day we indulged a lunch out just for the drink. Because I'm still on the vegetarian kick, I ordered a Dirty Sanchez and a Fried Avocado. Normally I get The Democrat. The names crack me up!! Anyway, they've divulged that they have three months of supply on tap. I hope to go next month before they are gone. If you haven't had 'em, so check them out. You will not be disappointed!

The simple thought of having my final drink brings a tear to my eye. Hard for me to believe that it'll be extinct. :( I need a hug. At least I still have Mexican Coke.

2nd Hand Home

2012-01-16T06:11:00.000-06:00

A while back, Primo and I were having a conversation about kitchen tools. Somehow we got to talking about the Kitchenaid Artisan Mixer. I told him how I wanted to own the mixer, but could never justify the expense. I wanted to register for it, but I really didn't think anyone would have been able to purchase it for us. Mom, lovingly purchased a Bosch Compact Kitchen Machine. About a year after we were married, Lowe's accidentally marked their Kitchenaid Artisan Mixers to less than $200! I want to say it was closer to $150, even. It was a total screw up, but they were honoring the price. After much debate, we finally went to the store to purchase it. However, when the guy went to enter it into the system, the error had been corrected and there was no way for him to be able to offer the raincheck. Even he was in disbelief at the price and was going to purchase one for his wife! After trying and trying, he discovered that the system had put in the fix just half an hour before we arrived. I can't even begin to describe my disappointment that day. Home I went, and my little kitchen machine and I had many, many adventures over the past 6+ years. Primo looked over at me and told me that he would give me his. With eyes wide open, I shook my head and told him that I couldn't take it. He could only give it to me as a gift or something.

Fast forward to Christmas. Again, I said, don't spend more than $20 on us. Leading up to our arrival, he had a twinkle in his eye and a very particular chuckle that was sneaky and suspicious. He just kept telling me over and over again how much I was going to love my just because gift. I didn't know what it was. I was thinking maybe a bottle of wine or something food related. It was food related alright!

He'd gifted me his mixer. Really??!! There it sat on his counter with a bright red bow on top. All of the mixing accessories and bowl. Tears welled up and I had to leave the room. I know, I'm a dork!

I used it for the first time to make banana bread. Since then, we've had many fabulous adventures. This not to say that I retired my Kitchen Machine. Oh no! I've been on fire using them both heavily in rotation. I think I have an addiction with whipping food. I'm enjoying myself so much, I think I want to buy one of these decals.

Cheater Mini Quiche

2012-01-15T11:09:00.000-06:00

Since I've been on this mostly plant diet, I've been eating quite a bit of breakfast. It seems that is what I'm most comfortable with cooking and eating, not to mention the most familiar. One of my friends makes a crustless mini quiche for her South Beach Diet. Every morning when she is heating up her breakfast, I'm salivating and jealous. We went to the store and this time, I was going to make my own to take in the mornings. Except, I want that carb-goodness. Instead of making my own crust, I used frozen store bought to see if I was adept at making such things. Turns out, they were amazing!! I'm definitely inspired to make these completely from scratch going forward! For this recipe, this is what I used:

Ingredients
1 package frozen tart shells (8 pack)
1 bunch of spinach
1/2 container of pre-sliced mushrooms
A bit of onion
2 tablespoons of butter
5 eggs

Prep Work:
Chop spinach
Dice Onions
Dice Mushrooms
Blend eggs...we use the Ninja <---parents, this is great for kiddos. The Sugarbean cracks the eggs and blends them on her own.

Bake the tart shells according to the box. Over medium heat, melt butter and saute onion. Add mushrooms. When they are both browned, add your spinach. You will notice the spinach significantly decreases in size when cooked. Add eggs. Cook up your veggie scramble. By now your shells will have been finished baking. I recommend having them cool near where you are cooking. When your egg scramble is finished, fill your tart shells. Top with grated cheddar cheese if you want. Serve.

Total time: less than 20 minutes. I know this because I was fighting to get the Sugarbean to bed at a decent hour. Plus, it might have been shorter had I not had to keep pausing to pull the Sugarbaby out of whatever shenanigans she was inciting.

You could also use broccoli, tomato, or even add jalapeno for some kick. It is a cheater mini quiche because A.) I didn't make the shells. B.) I didn't actually bake the egg mixture in the shells.

Verdict: delicious goodness. Mari declared it a success and asked to eat it every day or once a week. Tesla enjoyed the eggs and crust. I enjoyed the ease of eating it, as did Don, who ate it on the go last night.

Dinner Time for Tesla

2012-01-14T06:00:00.000-06:00

Guess who likes to self-feed now. Her favorite foods, scrambled eggs and whole wheat bread. A girl after our heart! 9 months and so happy!

And look how much she favors big sis. This is an 11 month old Sugarbean.

2012 Beauty Resolutions

2012-01-13T06:32:00.000-06:00

Thanks to Walgreens for underwriting this post. I was paid as a member of the Clever Girls Collective, but the content is all mine. Visit http://www.discoverbeautywithin.com/.

New Year. New Routine.
We have all been there. Call 'em goals, dreams, resolutions, whatever, the dawn of a new year always amps people up into trying new ways to become the very best they can be. Last year I talked about goals that I had for the year. I kept up with them for the most part. I fell off the laundry bandwagon in December and reverted back to my old habits. I digress...

I've been inspired by many beauty bloggers over the past year, especially my favorite, MakeupMandiTX. She has done many fabulous product reviews. So good, that I've actually purchased many of the products she recommended. I was of the mind set that all beauty items had to be super expensive and bought through an independent consultant or a big box department store. I never thought that Walgreens would be able to fill the need. But you know what? I LOVE going to Walgreens and waiting in the store on a prescription. There's so much to look at and check out. I always find myself in the hair aisle. This year, I resolved to be more beauty-centric without breaking the bank. Thanks to Walgreens, this is achievable. Did you all know they have amazing coupons online for their products? Right now, all beauty and personal care items are an additional 20% off, even sale prices!! (good until Saturday) This year, I want to get my groove back. I want to be a better beauty guru. I'm not going to say this will turn into a beauty blog by any means. (there's a reason I have a whole label devoted solely to "beauty school dropout"), but I do want to embrace my pretty. Once upon a time, I was a pretty girl. I liked that gal. She's still around and is desperately trying to come out. I gave myself some goals to try out. Nothing big. C'mon, you have to walk before you can run.

Here you go, my top 5 beauty resolutions with a photo of the actual products I use:

1. Do my hair at least twice a week.
This doesn't mean that I actually have to curl it, but rather do a style. I've stuck with a clear schedule for my haircut regimen. What a difference that has made. Now, to rock it. I love that I can get up and go, but I heavily rely on bobby pins, spin pins, and hair ties. Bobby pins are my favorite and I even bought these awesome lovelies to fit in my purse. Thanks to Pinterest, I have many, many styles to choose from! So long everyday ponytail.

2. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.
I have dry skin by nature. Much of it has to do with the fact that I don't drink enough water. However, I've never liked being ashy and well, I've been ashy 9 times out of 10 for the 5 years. Awful. Because I'm allergic to all fragrances, I can't use those fun smelling lotions. I can, however, use Aveeno Active Naturals Daily Moisturizing Lotion Fragrance Free! This doesn't leave my skin feeling greasy. It feels great! Also, I've been adding a bit of Walgreens brand petroleum jelly to my heels at night and wearing socks. It's worked wonders since I haven't been able to get a pedicure.

3. Extra attention to my eyes & lips.
I think my eyes and my smile are two of my best features. Yet, they haven't felt the love for a long time. I've gone to bed with eye make-up on. Because I hardly sleep, I have these dark circles or bags under my eyes. So.Not.Hot. Really, Bianca? Really? Yeah, I shudder at the thought of my appearance sometimes. Just because I'm a walking Zombie doesn't mean that I actually have to look like one. Thanks to the Neutrogena Healthy Skin Brightening Eye Perfector Liquid with SPF 25 Light, my eyes look more awake and alert. I even received an unprompted "Bianca your eyes look pretty." compliment the other day. Wowsers! ::blushing:: At the end of the day, I use the Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover. I don't find it heavy at all. Also, at the end of the day, I slather on a bit of Walgreens brand petroleum jelly to my lips.

4. Leave-in conditioner for my hair!
Ok, I can't take credit for this one. My hairstylist pretty much insisted that I use a leave-in conditioner. She wanted me to get in the habit of doing it before making me commit to a higher end product. I opted to use a Pantene product. There are many days where I just put this on after my shower and let my hair dry naturally. My curls have been rockin'!

5. Shave my legs.
Let's get real. After having two very small people, between work, home, laundry ohmygahtheneverendinglaundry!!!!, friends, and sleep, you find your shortcuts. I was very much pregnant the last time it was cold, so there was no reaching to shave. Since we are being brutally honest, I didn't shave all the time during the summer. (yes, putting a bag over my head) I only did it when I was swimming. Well, no more. It's a brand new year and I can honestly say that I've stuck with it. Thanks to EOS Vanilla Bliss shave cream, this has been something I actually look forward to!

There you have it! Great products that won't cripple your bank account. What about you? Do you all have any beauty resolutions for the new year? How about any tips?

Tiny Dancer

2012-01-12T06:30:00.000-06:00

Remember when I had grand plans of teaching my daughter the basic principles of ballet at home? Thanks to Pinterest, I captured many beautiful visual aides. Thanks to YouTube, I saw many fine videos with tutorials I could emulate. We did well, I think. When it became time for me to re-enroll her in soccer, I knew her heart was not in it. Without fail, every game, she wanted to do a ballet performance, not soccer. Instead of trying to fit the square peg in a round hole, I gave in and opted to feed a dream. She's only 3, but very nearly 4. She's already very opinionated. As Don pointed out, she's been doing the dancer "lead-in" start for as long as she could walk. Even before she could walk, she would extend high en pointe. Case in point, here she is at 6 months:

On Thursday, we took her to go sign up. Before going, I explained to her that we were NOT staying for a lesson. Despite my best explanation, she still had a very explosive emotional breakdown when we left and she was not allowed to stay. She thought she was more than ready to jump on in with the 15 year olds. They did give us a tour of the studio and they let her stay a bit to watch. She was mesmerized!

Cinderella & Ballet=favorites

I like to be prepared. I'd long since purchased tap and ballet shoes for her. Well, the night before and I realized she'd outgrown her shoes! Aaack! On the way there, we headed to Payless and picked up a pair of each. After the month's tuition, the registration fee, the costume fee, these shoes were an ouch! YIKES! Ballet and Tap is exponentially more expensive than soccer. It was worth it, though. She was positively giddy and physically vibrating with excitement.

Black leotard, pink tights, hair in a bun was what the rules said. It wasn't until after the fact that I realized those rules were more for the advanced dancers, not my little one. Still, if she is going to be the part, I want her to dress it! Thanks to the sock bun and spin pins, I was able to wrangle that curly mess into a perfect ballet bun.

For one solid hour, she was focused and involved. I was proud and couldn't help but think this was the beginning of something bigger. We will see! Check her out:

Turning Goals Into Dreams

2012-01-11T06:30:00.000-06:00

A dream is just a dream. A goal is a dream with a plan and a deadline.

I don't just want to talk about it in concept. I want to put it down here so it is real. I want to make it a reality. This summer, I'm gonna learn how to surf. I've been surfing before and folks, it wasn't pretty. I'm not sure you could call what I did surfing, but I was out there on the North Shore doing my best. I tried my hand at it again when out in California. And now, well now, with the support of my husband, we are going to go on a family adventure to Costa Rica and learn how to surf!

Of course, we are going to enjoy the beautiful scenery there. Take in a few zip line tours and conquer my fear of heights by crossing bridges like this one. Oh yes, I want to feel that excitement!

I want to go deep sea fishing. I've never done that. Seems like something invigorating thing to do. I want to dig my toes in the sand and build a ridiculous sand castle with my daughters. I want to have lazy days, get an obscene tan, eat well, and if I'm lucky, really, really lucky I'll not only get to do all those thing with my beloved and daughters, but MAYBE, just maybe I'll get to do them with more of my family and some of my friends.

What are your dreams? Will those dreams become goals?

Sticking with It

2012-01-10T06:30:00.000-06:00

We had the opportunity to go to the Cotton Bowl this year to cheer on my beloved's Alma Mater, Kansas State. While the outcome wasn't in our favor, we still had a great time! Everything was awesome! It seemed that many of our favorite people answered our plea to the universe for a night out without breaking the bank. Those of you involved, and you know who you are, thank you, thank you, thank you!!! There was NO WAY we could have afforded to have gone to the game otherwise!

We made it to the game and we were both starving! Well, I'm sticking to my no animals, and what do you, there really isn't anything there to eat that is veggie friendly. I could've had the french fries or the ice cream. Instead, this is what I came up with:

ice cream and Chandon campagne

I knew it wasn't going to be easy, but goodness! This is tough. I've elected to push it to Valentine's day. Call me crazy, but this is working! I really do feel like I'm having more energy! We'll see. If I was able to do it at Jerry World and able to do it amidst my Tapas outing, I know I can stick with it!

By the way, check out our view!

Ideal Saturday

2012-01-08T16:15:00.000-06:00

When you are younger, you don't realize what a treasure a lazy, unplanned day is. If you are lucky, you had friends that would go make memories that lasted well beyond those few hours shared. Me, I'm beyond blessed! I'm so lucky, that my best friend since I was 11 is still in my life. He and I share many, many of these memories when we were younger. We imagined the days of when we were grown, not realizing that when you grow-up, your responsibilities multiply. Totally not a bad thing, just a reality. It is a real treat when everything lines up right and we are able to spend many uninterrupted hours talking, laughing, and reminiscing. I'm so grateful to the special people in our lives that stepped up so that he and I could have our date to celebrate his birthday. We went to Cafe Madrid and La Duni at Northpark. I have to ask, isn't My Michael getting more and more attractive as we grow older? Jealous! (grateful to the teens lingering in the courtyard who were willing to take our photo.) Here are some images from our day:

I love you Michael! Thank you for sharing your day with me! It was very, very special! Easily in my top 5 best days. ;)

NYC Restaurant Review: Daniel (65th & Park)

2012-01-05T18:18:00.000-06:00

I had to go to NYC for a work trip. While there, I treated myself to an especially indulgent meal, a type of Merry Christmas to me sort of thing. Have you ever taken yourself out to a fancy meal? I found it rather empowering, albeit lonely. Armed with my camera, notebook, and pen, I set off for my dinner. This post includes my words and images from that night. NOTE: The photos aren't the greatest of quality because of the low, low, low light and my refusal to use flash. You may have to use your imagination in some of them.

_____________________ . _______________________

The evening was brisk, but not cold. I was hungry and needed to get out and experience a good meal. I did a quick search for 5 star places nearby and opted to go on an adventure. I didn't bother checking the dress code. I figured my new dark skinny jeans and a nice top with a draped scarf would do.

Beautifully decorated, the hostess table set about twenty five feet from the door, I realized this was a place for lovers. A high-end French culinary experience, I chose to come here because of the high rating. I did NOT have a reservation. *gasp* However, they were graciously accommodating nevertheless.

I was seated in the corner of the lower end dining, near the curtain partition. I was warned that I would be sharing my couch-seat since another couple was expected. Had I browsed the actual menu, I would have noticed that they only offer two seating times during each evening. Essentially, I was seated in the casual (if there was such a thing) area near their "bar" area. You have to understand, their bar area is fancier than any bar I've ever seen! I had a view of this piece of art. When I think of Europe, I think of open spaces like this one. Crawling with people doing all sorts of things. It makes me think of the dance of life, so at initial glance, I just see lots of people dancing.

All around me, I'm surrounded by the French, with their airs about food pretension and overly enthusiastic public displays of affection. Maybe I'm just jealous because I sit here alone wishing I were independently wealthy so my beloved could join me. Jaded a bit, but I sat and pretended that we were all at a big party and these were all new friends to make. Me, the Contessa Bianca, wife of Meeester Sias, our alter egos from our Napa adventure. Those of you who were there know what I'm talking about.

I ordered a glass of the "Daniel" chardonnay. Yes, a shock considering I don't like whites. But after the first taste, I was sold!! Could be the lack of sleep or the hormonal imbalance. Mostly, I think it reminded me of my love. He so loves a good white.

$108 3-Course Prix Fixe BUT....you could choose your courses.

I ordered the $51 foie gras appetizer and the $77 duo of beef. With that alone, I feel like I'm getting my money's worth.

Now, my mouth is watering and I do hope that I am not disappointed. After all, it is French cuisine, so I'm certain I'll leave here hungry, unfortunately. However, I will have eaten three days worth of awesome gut-busting calories! Sidenote: I still have my coupon for my "free" cocktail at the hotel. #winning

The servers here all wear black Armani suits with fancy-fancy ties. Even the women wear form fitting black suits, minus the tie, with their hair tightly pulled back and large ornate dangly earrings.

Amuse Bouche: Celebration of Beets (canape)
Beet puree was delicious!!! Mini crabcake (the size of a dime) wrapped in celery with apple shavings. Beet with cardamom and Beed with something else. What a positively horrible photo. :(

White truffle with artichoke soup and heavy cream. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!!!!!!

The bread came out. I chose a sour dough roll and the garlic roll. They served it with fresh/awesomely delicious butter. These were like regular french breads, flavorful and hard. I can't get past the butter. I need a moment. I have a tear in my eye. This butter is so good.

Before my next course, my flatware is changed out. The French don't care about dirty dishes! This is my first every experience with a flat spoon. Check it out...

Appetizer: Foie Gras

Sweet potato fried wonton
Cranberry chutney with pistachios
Foie gras on a bed of that chutney

Foie gras perfection!!! So far I'm SOOOO NOT disappointed. My soul is happy and so is my heart, kinda. I still miss my love. I take another sip of my wine.

Next Course: Beef Duo

Short ribs are not my Primo's short rib. They are very fatty. The potato cake with bone marrow. The potato was overcooked, the bone marrow great! Waygu beef was very good, but not OMG WOW. The accompanying red sauce was runny. The cauliflower, grilled cauliflower, was uninspiring.

This main course is delicious and flavorful, but not mind blowing amazing as the others. Call me a die-hard Texas gal, but the beef duo lacked the creativity. I've had many similar things back home. Heck, I've had better fajita meat than that short rib. That's unfortunate. Like I said, good food and against other places, superb, but just not compared to places I've been, nor can it hold a candle to my cousin's cuisine. (Call him or email him if you want to set up your own (and affordable) private and personal dining experience. Yes, his short ribs are TODIEFOR!!!)

Before I go on to dessert, I have to pause to note the music selection playing overhead. I've really enjoyed the selection and felt that the music was paired with the food perfectly!! Chris Isaak's "Never Fall in Love" covered by a foreign wispy voice. "Ain't to Proud to Beg" hehe...chill music, if you will.

Dessert: Hazelnut Chocolate Mousse

More flatware, of course! I opted for the hazelnut chocolate mousse with rice crisps and horchata ice cream. It was good and rich, but the ice cream was outstanding!

And then.....my server surprised me with a bonus dessert!! The Bosc pear special with hazelnut pear foam. It was light, airy and absolute perfection! (kissing my fingertips like they do when food is awesome!)

Again, the ice cream is divine. Accompanying them are fresh baked madeleines!! Mmmm. I've never had fresh made ones and wow! No really, wow!

Above all, the service was extraordinary! Not at all pretentious for the prices they charge. Here you pay for great food and you will equally greater service. I felt so welcomed here, I know why it was highly rated.

When in NYC and you have quite a bit of spare money for a fancy night out (yes, even in this soft economy), doll yourself up to the 9's and come on out to Da-nel (trying to pronounce it all French-like)

You will not be disappointed, nor will you regret it!

BUT WAIT!....

To finish the evening, my server brought me a set of 6 petit fours:

praline macaroon*
chocolate with lime zest
coconut pearls
raspberry crumble
lemon tart*
coffee chocolate with caramel

*these were my favorites

To finish, finish, totally finish the night, chocolates made in house. Blueberry and peanut butter. Both were bite sized culinary smiles.

Daniel on 65th and and Park in NYC...mark it on your list of must-see/do while in the City.

10 on Tuesday...delayed

2012-01-04T17:30:00.000-06:00

This is my 2nd time doing this and I don't think it's a habit because, well, I think it's been several weeks since the last one. Regardless, I liked the questions because they will help me summarize much of what's been going on! huzzah! Thanks E!

1. What did you get for Christmas?
All sorts of awesome goodness!! Fun pajama pants, a mixer, gift cards (many to Starbucks!), socks, time spent with family, baked goods, Firefly series DVD, Harry Potter DVD, a painting night out, hair ties, so much goodness!!

2. Have you taken down your Christmas decorations?
We don't normally take down our decorations until after the Epiphany .

3. What did you do for New Year's Eve?
We wore our photographers hats and shot a Quinceanera. Then we headed on over to my cousin's home for a bit, then home with my parents, brother, his girlfriend, and our daughters. It was glorious!

4. Do you like accents?
Sure, sure!

5. What kind of television do you have?
We have the old school tube TV, maybe like a 36" or something.

6. Did you make any changes at the beginning of 2012?
I started eating only plants, but that was shortly before the New Year. I'm also going to try to log 15 running/walking miles each month.

7. What's the last book you read and do you recommend it?
After two or three years, I finally finished reading Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain. It wasn't that the book was boring, I was distracted by life.

8. Do you stay current on celebrity gossip?
Not as much as I used to.

9. Do you know the words to Bohemian Rhapsody? Gangstas Paradise? Fresh Prince of Bel-Air?
Ha Ha Ha, they are probably still there in my brain.

10. What is your favorite educational television show?
Sesame Street

9 Months...Happy Birthday Sweet Tesla Jane

2012-01-03T18:13:00.000-06:00

Dear Sugarbaby,

Today is your 9 month birthday. This morning I snuggled with you, extra tightly for two minutes longer than normal. Last night, we moved your crib into your big sister's room. You see, you don't like to sleep in your crib. She doesn't like to sleep alone. Instantly, she was ecstatic to have you join her. You, well, you were not a fan of being in the crib. You know it is night time and in your mind, you belong with us. You gave it a good effort and slept in your crib for a whole two hours, so it's a start! We will continue trying and maybe you will have graduated the whole way. But I will miss you! Highlights for this month:

You took your first plane ride and you were a champ on both legs. As a matter of fact, you slept the entire way.
Unfortunately, you also attended your first funeral. However, you were a bright point to many and I was so very, very happy that you were able to meet your bisabuela.
You have also cut two teeth!!! Your two bottom teeth broke through after four very, very rough days.
You have taken a liking to stealing your sister's food. She gently corrects you and tells you, "Tesla, I will share, but you just have to ask politely." And then she will say pretending she's you, "Mari, maaaay I have some of your food. May you share? May I?"
Speaking of food, you also like to grab-hands and steal people's food out of their hands if you are seated on their lap. Which, by the way, is your favorite place to be when dining. You prefer to sit on people's laps instead of a high chair. Recently, you took your Grandfather's dessert and gobbled up some chocolate. You LOVED it!
You are also becoming an expert road tripper. I'm very excited by this because our first long road trip wasn't so pleasant. Unlike your sister, you don't need a movie or music. You just want something soft to touch and a bottle to hold. Having your brother Guapo near you is enough to keep you happy. If you fuss, big sister just leans over and sings you a song, which almost always comforts you.
Reluctantly, you hold your bottle to feed yourself. You would prefer someone give it to you. I still am not allowed to give you a bottle. You will refuse it completely. You've actually bitten me a couple of times out of spite.
No walking, yet, but I'm certain that will change by the time you turn 1. Every day, you let go of what you are balancing on, and testing your standing skills.
You were very happy with Christmas. You enjoy playing Barbies with your big sister. You hold your Little People in your hand and she has her doll. Occasionally, she will share a Barbie with you and you really like gnawing on their legs.
You know how to blow your nose. Hard to believe it, but yes!! You can do it on command and it is pretty remarkable!
You also like to hang out with Daddy in the hiking carrier. That seems to be one of your most favorite hangouts. You have helped him hang Christmas lights, cook dinner, and even assisted on a photo shoot! Way to go!
You still thoroughly enjoy bath time and splashing the water. Our little water baby! I can't wait to take you to the beach!
You are a great eater and really do enjoy self-feeding. You still make smacking noises at us when you want a taste of something we are eating. If we don't share, you will reach up and grab it. :)
You stayed up for the New Year. We took you and your sister outside to dust off the old year. You didn't care. You were just happy to give hugs.

What a month! Happy birthday, darling! Mommy, Daddy, Sister, and Guapo love you! Can't wait to give you more snuggles.

I love you!

-Mommy.

Winner! Starting off 2012 Right

2012-01-02T00:11:00.001-06:00

Remember when I had this contest for Redbox rentals? Well, I FINALLY did the drawing! One of you was sneaky enough to get two entries! ;)

As you can tell, I had some help with the drawing. Winner:

Lindsey is the winner!!! Her comment:

I will contact you to get your prize to you! Hooray!!

Holidaze

2011-12-27T17:30:00.000-06:00

I hope your holidays have been treating you well. Me, I'm overflowing with love and light. First of all, I want to take a special moment to say thanks to all of you. Aww...I've been feeling the positive vibes, I tell ya!

Some new changes for me...That photo above...well, it not only is a cup of awesome, frothy, silk nog cappuccino goodness, but if you look closely, you will also see a fine E&J red, sparkletini, and a beautiful cut of tenderloin. That, my friends, was Christmas for me. I had a beautiful carnivorous meal, which marked my final animal-filled meal for at least a month. I'm taking a challenge, inspired by the amazing talented Jacki (or are you Jacky, now?). I need to get my booty running again, but oh the aches the pains, the soreness...excuses, excuses, excuses. I didn't need a diet, I needed a lifestyle/core changer. I had thought long and hard about such a change and was further inspired after the passing of my grandfather. You see, I forgot to mention that he made it a point to do calisthenics every single day. He had about a 20lb barbell that he used to incorporate his exercises. If he could get moving, then so would I. Moving now, will help me to keep moving later. Eating a mostly plant based (I'll be enjoying eggs and the occasional tuna) diet I hope to cleanse my body of the heavy fat-filled meals I normally enjoy. I've given myself about a month to try it out, so we will see.

Also, we have a new addition to our family. Meet Sparkle...

This was the Sugarbean's gift from Santa. I made the dress. I hope to be making more clothes for Sparkle and her friends in the near future. This means that I will hopefully make slow progress on my craft area. One day, hopefully before my 35th birthday, too, I will be able to give you the tour.

I took some time to do some extra snuggling and loving on the Sugarbaby, too. While we were away, we were treated to a rare snowstorm. I turned off the TV in the hotel room, opened the curtains, snuggled in, and watched the fat snow fall tenderly as I held my sleeping little one. Bliss indeed.

Finally, I've been EXTRA fortunate to spend some amazing quality date-time with my handsome man.

He is so, so, so good to me! I've had many surprises from him and I've been totally loving it! He surprised me with flowers one day. Surprised me with my wishlist jammies for Christmas! He also surprised me with a girls night out with one of my best friends! (Sidenote: I've been getting quite a few surprises lately. I like surprises. Well, good ones, not bad ones. More on my surprises later.) I've been enjoying this time we've gotten to spend together. It's been quite magical.

Sorry for my absence, but it really has seem like a daze, these past several weeks. I have some back-blogging to do from my trips to NYC and Boulder. Hope you all are well! Hugs to everyone!

Mi Abuelo: Antonio Valenciano (February 15, 1926 - December 19, 2011)

2011-12-23T08:55:00.000-06:00

My grandfather passed away on Monday. It was a long time coming, but it still doesn't make the heartache any easier.

I grew up really knowing only one set of grandparents. I often envied my friends and their relationships with both of their sets of grandparents. They seemed to talk about their grandparents like a pair of their most favorite people. I didn't know otherwise, I just knew that I wanted to make it a point to enjoy the ones I had, even though I was shy about it. When I was in second grade, I spent the night with a friend who talked about her grandmother who had just passed. She pulled out an old smock her grandmother wore, pressed it to her face and the look that consumed her face had me curious. She tearfully blurted out, "Grandma had the best smell!" She carefully held it out for me to smell. Cautiously, I leaned forward and took a short whiff. I told her I didn't want to ruin it and take all of the smell out. A part of me was afraid of what I would have smelled. I had it in my mind that her dead grandmother was wearing the smock when she passed. I was afraid I would smell death. (shaking my head now) I suggested she put the smock in a zip-lock, bag to lock in the smell. She thought it was a great idea and sure enough, she put it in there. Years later, I wonder if that smock is still in her baggie. That memory stuck with me, though. It stays with me today.

I was always intrigued by my grandfather. He had strong, but weathered hands. I remember him in white t-shirts and bubble vests. His hair was always combed and I remember him smiling, often. On Sundays, ooooh boy howdy did he clean up!! He was fresh shaven, clad in a crisp guayabera and slacks. He would smell of Old Spice and Listerine. His cheek was soft when I would lean in to kiss it. My eyes would water from the cologne, but my heart would smile with familiarity. The rest of the week, when I kissed his cheek good night, it was rough and prickly. We would spend part of our summer break with our Grandparents from when I was 3 until I was 10. A few of those summers, we would road trip from El Paso to Los Angeles. They took us to Knott's Berry Farms and Disneyland. We visited Chavez Ravine, stayed in East Los with relatives, and his brother would talk about baseball and reminisce of the days when he, himself, played in "the show." (For this reason, Disneyland will ALWAYS trump Disneyworld for me. It is a family thing, near and dear to my heart.) Here we are on such a road trip, I was less than a year old:

look at that 59 cent gas price!

Grandpa built the house my father grew up in. More accurately, he built it with the help of friends and his sons. Their home, for as long as I could remember, was white with a green trim. BRIGHT green trim. All around the home were trees planted by my father. He had a green thumb. Also, they had several rose bushes and a fig tree out back. Out back, Grandpa had a shed that he used as a work area. It was an original man cave. I don't remember EVER going in there. I do remember him encouraging us to play on the swing set in the backyard, which was also painted in the familiar green to match the trim. He also didn't mind when I made a makeshift swing that hung off of Grandma's drying line. Grandma told me of all of the parties they had at their home. I can tell you about the nooks and crannies around their house and how it was the best place for my imagination. I can tell you that I felt safe there, no matter how very different the climate in their neighborhood changed.

I grew up being afraid of my grandfather. I don't know why. I was an extremely shy and curious child. I also took things literally. When my parents told me to not misbehave on our visits, I believed them. I also believed that my grandparents were wealthy beyond measure. They had lamps dripping with glass beads that I thought were diamonds. They also had a chandelier dripping with similar gems. To me, they were larger than life. Grandpa seemed unapproachable to me. He spoke very little to me. When he did speak, in broken sentences, he said things to me like, "Food is good always." Which was a response to my not wanting to eat my vegetables or whatever else I was not enthusiastic to eat.

My grandparents were great travelers and they loved to dance. Grandma told me of a trip they once took where a dance troupe was performing. The music was on, so Grandpa whisked up Grandma and began to tear up the floor. The ENTIRE floor was cleared and the performers stopped to watch them. I believe this. Their dancing captivated room of people. I've often thought, it wasn't fair for them to dance at other people's weddings because there was no possible way for the bride and groom to look that good...but maybe someday. At my Quinceanera, I had the honor of dancing with my grandfather. I was so nervous!! I was not a very good partner dancer. Here, I was going to have the honor of a dance with him. I hoped I didn't screw it up. As he held me in his arms, I apologized to him for my lack in experience. The only man I'd danced with was my father and he was the only one I was able to trust. He just grinned at me like it was a non-challenge. He whirled me around that dance floor guiding me me along and lo' and behold, I was actually graceful. That whole night I discovered a dancing grace within me, passed down from generation to generation. 10 years ago, at their 50th wedding anniversary, Glen Miller's In the Mood was on (their song), and he and Grandma cut a rug and tore up the dance floor.

See the guayabera? My grandmother made my dress.

My first year of college, I dated a boy that spoke mostly Spanish. Granted, it wasn't the same dialect I was used to, but it was still Spanish. My confidence in speaking it grew exponentially. My grandfather and I had some of the best conversations as a result. He told me that what mattered most in life was family. No matter the trials and tribulations that we went through, our family would always be there. And then he looked me in the eye and paid me one of the best compliments of my life. "Bianca, you are like your father. You are smart, curious, and a bit stubborn. Not as stubborn as he was." I was and remain humbled.

The Labor day after Don and I were married, we made the trip out to visit my grandparents. I wanted them to know Don. Health reasons prevented them from attending the wedding, so this was a great opportunity for us to share some dedicated time. Some how, Don and he managed to communicate. They dove head first into a fast friendship over Grandma's fiery salsa. I acted as an intermittent mediator, with topics ranging from when to best plant trees, mulch, electricity work, tile/grout work, and so many other things. We took them out to a steak dinner. When we left, Grandpa had gifted us with a few of his old guayabera's and his old clay water pitcher. He told me it was perfect for filling with water and keeping cool on a hot day. and then he leaned in and told me that it would keep my tequila nice and cool if I wanted that too, after all, according to him, "A bit of tequila keeps the doctor away. It keeps you strong and healthy." Obviously, because he lived to 85! (wink)

Grandpa loved Bruce Lee movies, my grandmother's cooking, spicy foods, steaks, a great beer, a crisp guayabera, his family, reading the paper, and doing puzzles. When I think of him, I will remember him putting beans on his pizza. Shuffling through the house in leather slippers and robe. Combing is tuft of hair atop his head. His smile. His hands. Sitting at the kitchen reading his Bible. Praying over us when we would depart our visit, then pressing his hand on our forehead, giving us our blessing. Whistling to get my grandmother's attention. Dancing or relaxing, while listening to music. So many, many things. I'm so very blessed to have shared in his life.

Doing his puzzles

Today, we take Grandpa to his final resting place. He's gone home to Jesus and is now dancing in heaven,waiting for us to join him. Please keep us in your prayers as we mourn this great man. Thank you for all of the outpouring of love and support we have received so far.

Fun Last Minute Gifts + a giveaway!

2011-12-22T13:29:00.000-06:00

As you run to and fro' gathering the last bits of good tidings for your loves, I wanted to share a couple of last minute happies sure to please!

Redbox Yes, finally, at long last, Redbox is offering gift codes for you to share with friends. Redbox.com/gifts is your stop to buy a movie rental on your friend. The only drawback, caveat, is that you MUST either be friends with the person on Facebook (and send via facebook) or know their email address. Of course, your recipient couldn't use Redbox if they didn't have an email address, so yeah. Anyway, these gift codes are sent in increments of $5 or $10. They are super convenient, as Redbox is convenient. I've talked about them before, so this isn't new news. Once upon a time, I gave Blockbuster gift cards. With the advent of so many of their brick and mortar shops closing, it's more difficult to actually use the gift card.

Groupon Yes, you can give gift credits to groupon. If you have a friend that is a Groupon junkie, then give them some groupon love. Buy Groupon e-cards with different increments from $15-$200.

Gift Cards Well, we were talking about e-cards, but you can also go with the ol' standby of regular gift cards. Who doesn't like a thoughtful gesture? However, I always like to add a personal message associated with the gift card I pick out for the recipient. If I give a DSW card, I'll say something like, "For those shoes that you wanted, but couldn't justify because they weren't on sale. LOOK! Now, it's like they are on sale!" Small personalizations totally make a difference. Oh, and if you visit your local grocery store (or Wal-greens/CVS), you can visit the gift card carousel and probably find the gift card you need without having to go into the store. (Not so great for your local mom 'n pop shops. HOWEVER! You can call them directly or visit their site and get a gift card. One of my favorites: CITY CRAFT offers these and I think it is brilliant!!!)

I'm feeling super generous, so one of you readers will win one of those lovely Redbox gift codes, valued at $5!! Thank you all for being my readers, even when I've fallen off the radar screen. This is an easy giveaway. Just leave me a comment. Anything you want to comment. Whatever you want to say, hopefully nothing negative. You can tell me what you would like to watch. You can tell me your favorite holiday tradition. You can confess that you bake, but never get to the baking part because you eat the cookie dough before it goes in the oven. Whatever. Just enter and BAM. If you take less than a minute to enter, odds are you will win because my contests usually have less than 15 entries. :) HOORAY!

Contest will close at Midnight on December 30th. Bonus: For those of you who read this through Networked Blogs or on Facebook, your comments will go towards the entry, too! For you sneaky ones who want to comment on my regular blog and on Facebook, well *zing* you get 2 entries for being sassy and finding a loophole. Good luck!

**I was not contacted by Redbox, Groupon, or City Craft to promote their products. I just like their stuff and think it is nifty!**

Supermoms...nah, just really great support systems

2011-12-17T06:46:00.000-06:00

It takes a village, right? During what was probably one of the most hectic months of my life, my support system kicked it into high gear. After returning from Thanksgiving break, I had to hop a plane to NYC for work. I would be away from my littles for almost a week. This was the first time I was away from baby T. It was a tough transition, but we made it work. The following week, I jetted off to Boulder for training. I don't like to go into detail about my actual "job," because I like to keep it separate. But for point of reference, I felt I had to include some high-level tidbits. Anyway, we are in the middle of some serious projects and all hands are on deck. I'm so blessed to work with intelligent, high level thinkers. I'm even more blessed to have an understanding manager. We are all pitching in and doing what needs to get done when Tesla comes down with a fever. Because it is near the holiday break for schools, my husband can't take time off for work. Aaaaack!

Mommy guilt sets in, but I need to go into the office. I'd been pushing meetings off all week to try to curb this illness of hers (nevermind my own tonsils and adenoids are out of control), when Friday hit. Enter my Father. Thank goodness he is in town. He's here to help my mother recover, but they both selflessly agreed to help me out. I've been going back and forth in my brain about whether or not I needed to be home. I know I need to be with my little one. I know I need to be at work. I have to do a good job at work so that I can have the healthcare for my little one in case this illness gets worse. Seriously, I don't know how single parents without family or other support nearby. All morning I've had this anxiety and worry over me. All morning I've been beating myself up about it.

And then I saw this photo and it gives me hope...hope that there is humanity and understanding.

I'm immediately reminded of Alicia Keys' Superwoman.....my favorite line: even when I'm a mess, I still put on a vest with an S on the chest, oh yes Go on with your bad self, Alicia. Hell yeah! I'm feelin' better. Play this and toast yourself if you are a hard working parent.

Holiday Cards 2011

2011-12-16T06:47:00.000-06:00

Mpix.com card

paper coterie card

Do you all have the tradition of sending holiday cards? We do. This tradition began with my mother. I always wondered why she went through such a fuss about it. It seemed to be quite an effort. Handwriting out the addresses, writing notes to a few friends, too. Sometimes there was a family pic. Usually, though, she would include our school pics from that year. We would have to hand write on the back of each photo with a personal sentiment.

Then she discovered calendars. So, she would mail off 50 or so calendars, emblazoned with our family name at the bottom. We would quietly giggle when the company would misspell one of our names. Usually it was my name or my mother's. Then they would send us another bajillion calendars to apologize. Mom, not one to waste anything, would mark through the error and still hand out the others.
Then it was a matter of putting together the packages. I remember licking endless amounts of envelopes and stamps. We would haul them to the post office, and toss them in the delivery bins. I always thought the postal system was magic! (And then they mis-placed my first package and the awesomeness has long since faded. Sad that I expect my packages to NOT arrive if I mail them from an unfamiliar location. Seems like a waste of money, but I digress.)

Fast forward many, many years and here I am, mailing my own holiday cards. We take our own family portrait (thanks Chera!) and order our cards. This year, I have ordered from Paper Coterie and Mpix. Mpix has been outstanding!! I ordered on Friday, and had them in my hands on Monday! They are super high quality, too! The coloring is spot on. My Paper Coterie cards arrived in about a week. Not too shabby, either! I really liked the linen feel of their paper. (see them above)

This year, I finally put my addresses in a Master spreadsheet. (Hello 21st Century) I hand addressed each one, though. The return address, we used is a stamp from 3 Designing Women. I love this little stamp. It adds extra fanciness to the card and Mari can easily be involved in the process (not just the licking part!).

pile of cards

All this to say, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of you in the Blogworld! Cheers to the past and a future year, too!

10 on Thursday

2011-12-15T21:04:00.000-06:00

My friend E participates in these 10 on Tuesday memes. I have never participated, but I like reading hers. Anyway, in typical Bianca fashion, I'm doing mine on a Thursday. And hopefully, this will end the drought that has been on this ol' blog. Have y'all even missed me? Hmmm... ;)

1. How do you eat your eggs?
Over real easy or scrambled with cream cheese (best scrambled eggs evaaaaaaah!!!)

2. Do you volunteer?
Yes, I try to volunteer at least once a quarter. Giving back is a basic principle in my life.

3. What’s your favorite brand of jeans?
I'd have to say either Joe's Jeans or David Kahn.

4. What was your child’s first word? Or what was your first word?
Mari's first word was Po-po (for Guapo) and Tesla's first word was Mooooom, which means food. My first word was cow.

5. Can you french braid?
Yes, many different types, too!

6. Do you prefer wide rule, college rule, or blank paper?
blank notecards and college ruled paper

7. Is there a specific treat do you always make during the holidays?
Cookies or some sweet treat. Gotta have the cookies for Santa!

8. Do you have a KitchenAid mixer? Do you want one?
Sadly, no, I don't have one. I was moments late from the accidental Home Depot sale from years ago. I do love my Bosch kitchen machine, though!

9. What kind of computer do you use?
Gateway laptop at home, Lenovo laptop for work...both have their own colorful flair lids (yes, PC, not Mac)

10. Favorite Christmas movie?
It used to be the older Miracle on 34th Street. I like that too, but I also like Elf. 6 inch curls!!! Impossible!

Happy 8 Months Tesla Jane

2011-12-03T20:57:00.000-06:00

Dear Sugarbaby,

Hard to believe it has been 8 short months since you blessed us with your presence. Every day, your personality is shining more. You are one curious little baby! You do a tremendous job of effectively communicating your desires with us as well!

This past month, you have clearly said, "Mama" You have also said, "Dada," "Papa," and "Mmmmmmaaaa"
You understand what "no" means. If, however, you elect not to pay attention to said "no" you will turn around, flash us a smile and proceed to do whatever you please.
You survived Mommy's first trip away from you. I was gone for 4 days and 3 nights. During that time, we would video chat each night and you were an old pro.
You also enjoyed your first big family holiday party! You were a champ on the 7+ hour road trip.
This past month, you have been pushing the cause and effect boundaries! You drop toys, we pick them up. You scratch my face when I'm sleeping, I shriek with pain and you belly laugh. You slap my face while nursing and laugh when I tell you "no." (see above)
You also tried new foods and really enjoyed them!
You are wearing size 12 months clothing and size 3 shoe. Your feet are tiny compared to the rest of your body.
Still no teeth, but you are working on them. You have been a drooling machine!

That's it for this update. We love you! This next month will be pretty amazing. As every other month has been!

XXOO

Love always,

Mommy!

My Purse...

2011-11-10T16:41:00.000-06:00

My friend Dianthe recently wrote a post highlighting her purse and changing it out for the new season. In it, she asks what is in our purse. Well, first of all, I wanted to highlight my purse right now:

I left the paper clip in there for size reference. For those of you who know me, this is quite a feat for me to shrink down to this size of a bag on a daily basis. Of course, I'm maintaining some level of "me" because this is a Coach. In my former life (before kids, and yes, even before my beloved), I set money aside every paycheck solely devoted to the purchase of shoes and handbags. You would think that I would have a closet gloriously filled with both, but alas, I have a few remnants of that time, 3 are my Coach bags, 2 Dooney & Bourke bags, 2 Prada bags, and a few evening clutches. I won't even get into the shoes!

This bag was gifted to me by one of my dear friends, Danika (gracias hermana!). I was so excited to receive it because this meant that I wasn't going to have to constantly switch bags, forgetting things in the shuffle. In it I have:

1 pen refill that acts as a skinny pen
83 cents in change
a couple of receipts
rewards cards to Buzz Brews, Three Dog Bakery Treat of the Month, Miyoshi & Red Mango
$10 cash (shocker! I usually only carry $5)
tiny lip gloss sample from Avon
2 band-aids
security access card for work
two wallets...one for cards and the other for the important cards. I made the one on the left with some black and white oilcloth I picked up years ago from City Craft using a Valori Wells Sewing Card.

Actually, I need to highlight the one on the left. It took me about 15 minutes total to whip up that little guy. The intention of it was for the fabrics to be opposite, but I didn't quite "get" the cards instructions and had them backwards. This wasn't anything new. Also, the insides of the pockets are a little zig-zagged. Another classic Bianca mistake that actually gives special flair to it. The diagonals work really well for me. Before I had my black Coach bag, this little wallet would roam to all sorts of bags with me. I have the order of the cards memorized! I'm thinking I may have to make another soon, though because the striped fabric is definitely wearing thin.

There you have it. My tiny bag!

My weekend go-to handbags that double as diaper bags will almost always have the following: wallet, a pen, sunglasses, cloth diaper, wipes, travel kleenex, pacifier, note pad, extra pens for Mari to draw or write with, a needle & thread, reusable waterbottle, reusable grocery bag, lip gloss, perfume roller, hair tie, coupons for various places to dine out, breath mints and/or gum, an energy bar, loose change, earrings or necklaces, post-it tabs, anti-bacteria soap, and an emergency straw (what, you don't have an emergency straw?).

HDMR: Fast Five

2011-11-09T17:25:00.000-06:00

We like muscle cars and unrealistic car chasing scenes. It's no wonder that we enjoyed this film as well. I think what we enjoyed the most about this one, though, was the reappearance of our favorite characters from all of the other shows. This cast was PACKED with all sorts of star power. I mean, Dwayne Johnson and Vin Diesel in a movie. It was so much fun. Albeit, a little awkward for the director to shoot, I'm sure. I liked how they worked that Hollywood magic to make them seem like a similar size, knowing Dwayne Johnson towers over him! Seriously, I know he's a big dude! In hind sight, it probably would have been more fun to watch on the big screen instead of on our regular ol' TV (yes, we still don't have a hi-def TV, whatever). If you like action, if you like adventure, if you like cars, and you don't really care about cheesy dialogue, then you will totally enjoy this movie. It's definitely a fun way to pass 130 minutes. My only gripe is that (spoiler alert) Jordana Brewster's character, Mia, is pregnant. She goes through some pretty intense scenes, and quite frankly, other than them saying she was pregnant, you never would have known that she was at all pregnant. No symptoms, no cautious maneuvers, she was still running around as if pregnancy is a walk in the park. For some it is, but still (really Bianca, because so much of the rest of this show is realistic and believable). Like I said, taking that out of the picture, it's a fun ride and I would definitely recommend the rental! I rate this a hefty slice of pie with a giant scoop of Blue Bell vanilla...a la mode, baby!

Taking Care of Your Body

2011-11-08T18:54:00.000-06:00

Jacki is a wealth of information and knowledge, but she's also inspiring. She isn't full of those cheesy quotes that, I'll admit, I like, but sometimes are annoying. She keeps it real. For example:

"Please, friends, take your health seriously! Fix your diet! Exercise! You are NOT super human!"

I'd been boo-hooing to myself about my ankle and making all sorts of excuses to not workout. I mean, really, c'mon. I have the dang TV on. I even have it on the free OnDemand section, more often than not. I just need to scroll on over to the Exercise section and get moving. But NOOOoO! I want to run. I want foot to hit pavement and log miles. I like seeing the distance. I like the running endorphins. Who is this crazy person talking in my head? Oh, yeah, it's that tiny voice inside of me that was quivering with emotion because just 3 short years ago, I was in New York running a marathon!

I made a promise to myself that I would run, no matter the pain on Monday. Even if it was just a quarter mile, I just needed to get moving and get back on track. Luckily for me, I had some things going for me. Redbox sent me a code for a free movie. HOORAY! I weighed myself earlier and somehow managed to break the threshold that I haven't broken since 3 years ago!! REALLY! 3 years since I was last in this weight category!!! My little goal of 1lb per week is working! I wanted to keep it at, so a run would only help that.

And then it started sprinkling.

My head was pounding, dinner was ready when I got home, I needed to edit photos, visit mom, catch up with a friend, all of this nonsense that is my typical evening. My nephew was playing his final football game and I really wanted to be there, but with the girls schedule (or lack thereof, but I'm trying to get them on one), I wished him good luck and he understood. Even better when my sister told me that it may be cancelled because of lightning.

I snuggled Tesla-bug in our bed and she nursed for a bit. I was totally zapped and ready to nap, when I looked up. Don was dressed to go for a run. He had Mari ready and was preparing the stroller. So, I too got dressed. I threw on my shorts and my old marathon long sleeve tech shirt. It was humid. I thought, "Quick run, Bianca. You have to run fast to beat this rain. It's a short two miles!" I set the timer and off we went. And boy howdy did we take off! I logged that first mile in under 9 minutes! We had a short break at the stop light and at Redbox. (After all, they were the reason we were running to begin with.) It started sprinkling, but I didn't pay any attention. It felt GREAT! While we were waiting for the light to change, I did some squats and air squats with jumps. Mari had a wonderful kick out of it, commanding me to do more jumping. She's such a hardcore trainer, that one!

On the trip back, though, my lungs began to catch fire again. My throat was feeling it, but I pressed on. As we trekked across the concrete, though, I slipped a bit. My ankles were fine, but I swore I had mis-stepped. No worries, my initial body check still felt normal. I kept running, even though my pace had slowed dramatically. That was until we ran past crazy homeless man who was shouting Jet's "Cold Heart B!tch" song. Um, no thank you crazy dude. Keep those lyrics to yourself and out of earshot of my 3 year old who wants to repeat everything. I sensed Don speed up and his uneasiness. I kicked it in gear and my fight or flight response really kicked in. I don't know, but when I passed him, I got the super-duper willies! Yikes! Then, I really kicked up the run, and was running alongside Don. I was steady at an 8:30 mile pace uphill in the wet grass (the sidewalk wasn't wide enough) to get away from him. And then my imagination took me to The Walking Dead and all I could think was us desperately fleeing hungry zombies. What a horrific thought! But it got me going!

An hour after the run, my ankle started to swell, but it wasn't in dramatic pain. However, my back....ugh! My poor, poor back. I wanted to say I was suffering sympathy pains for my mother, but no, this was my doing. I somehow tweaked it and it became painful to sit, stand, or walk. Don ran off to the store to buy a new heating pad (mine finally bit the dust after, oh, 15 years). While he was gone, I took a hot bath with a Calavera Lush bath bomb and Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential. Yeah, I know, I've been reading that book for over a year now. Whatever. It takes that long when you only read two paragraphs every other week! I think I only have 3 chapters before I'm done, though! yaay!

At work, my back was still screaming, despite taking an Advil. I scurried down to the little bodega on the first floor with hopes they would have a Thermacare heating pad. WHAT LUCK! Of course they did! They have everything in there, including Silver Oak wine, cigars, pregnancy tests, ice cream bars, lottery tickets, Hallmark cards, and well, any thing else you may need. I tore open the package and put it on. Within half an hour, I had some much needed relief! I made it through the rest of the day, but I will definitely be icing it before my next run and scheduling an appointment with my chiropractor to get adjusted!

All that to say, take care of your body. Listen to what it says! Maybe mine is telling me to give the running a rest and get back into yoga with intermittent runs.

Behind the Lens

2011-11-07T06:49:00.000-06:00

If I'm not behind a sewing machine or in the kitchen, my next favorite place to create is behind a camera, happily clicking away. There's just something about capturing the right moment and freezing it forever. I like to do that with my memories, but having an actual photo really helps to seal that memory forever. I must admit, the first few times I was captured while "working" I was a little embarrassed, but now, I think it is fun. It is great to see how other's "see" me.

This is me working a pose. If I've "shot" you, and you are female, then you know this pose well.

It's no wonder we have our very own mini poser in the family. :)

The Corpse Bride

2011-11-06T08:29:00.000-06:00

I was the awesome guinea pig for Mandi's Halloween make-up. She works some magic, let me tell you. She told me she had some grand ideas for me, one of which was the Corpse Bride.

I went over, we had an amazing dinner, a couple of drinks and next thing I knew, I'd been transformed. See, magic!

Depression and Sadness

2011-11-05T22:12:00.003-05:00

These past few weeks have been unfettered chaos. I keep waiting for that "normal" to show up, but normal as I know it has long since taken a vacation and I'm not quite sure if or when it will return. For the first time today, it dawned on me, as I sat at a red light sobbing, this is what it feels like to be teetering on the edge of ultimate fragile sadness. In the past, I've suffered from depression. I have spoken with therapists before, but I've never taken any medication. I always tried to approach things a more natural way and fortunately for me, that has worked. Not that being medicated is bad. If you feel that you may be depressed, then by all means, go seek professional help and see if you can get on a little something that will help you! During those times, I was wallowing in sadness, but I didn't really have a "reason" for sadness. I was just sad. Yeah, there were triggers and pressures, but nothing that caused me overwhelming heartache.

Seeing my mother in her hospital bed, a slight form of what I've known her to be, well, it is heartbreaking. Before I see her, though, I shake out all of the blues and I check it at the door of the hospital. Every minute I spend with her, I emit a thousand watts of positivity and love. Every fiber in me KNOWS she will get better, but that doesn't make it hurt any less when I see her hurt the way she's hurting.

And then there's friends and loved ones.

Do you know, I don't think I've ever felt more special and more loved than I do during this time. We've been surprised with meals, with notes of support, with texts, with private messages, with telephone calls, with hugs, with cards....with love. Just when I think things are going to break me, I will look in my mailbox and see a handwritten card from afar. When I've had a particularly rough day (and there have been more than not), I'm surprised with homemade brownies or cookies. Oh, and the meals...the last thing that I've wanted to think about was what to cook (even though it is definitely cathartic for me to be in the kitchen), a precious loved one has taken the time to make us a meal or sent a gift card. Thank you! All of you, thank you! There's a big ol' lump of love that gets caught up in my throat, I'm so utterly humbled by the generosity!

This past week, someone made the comment to me, "Bianca, you always go out of your way to make people feel special." I marinated on that statement and thought of Mom. She lived the Golden Rule: Treat others as you would like to be treated. It is only natural I do my best to do the same.

Even though I have this sadness, it is comforting to know that I'm not alone. Thank you for all of your positive thoughts and prayers. They are working! Mom hears them and feels them. We feel them! Thank you, infinite thank you!

Product Review: Baby Nasa Kleen

2011-11-04T16:25:00.000-05:00

I will be talking about mucus and snot in this post. I can understand if you don't want to read any further. Thought I'd be courteous and warn you. Don't say I didn't give the warning.

When my girlfriend first told me about her Nosefrida, I was a bit eeked out. Intrigued, but still wondering how you prevented swallowing any of your kids snot.

The first few months of Tesla's life, we thought we were going to escape the runny noses and congestion like we did with Mari. Mari's first two years of life were spent in a perpetual state of congestion, upper respiratory infections, and what not. We were heavily reliant upon those nasal aspirators that we received from the hospital. We were so happy to have gotten an extra one just in case. When we were in the hospital with Tesla, once again, we picked up an extra one. Unfortunately, it wasn't as powerful as the others that we had. Not sure why, but oh well.

Here lately, she's been sneezing out thick congestion, that I can only describe as life sized slugs. How she has that much mucus is beyond me, but I am more than certain she is uncomfortable with it all. Our aspirators just weren't cutting it. So when my BFF mentioned coming across the Baby Nasa Kleen at Whole Foods, I figured, why not. Her own little one was going through a similar struggle. She showed me everything that was included in the kit and I was able to see how it all worked. What would it hurt? The convenience factor, plus being less expensive than the other, had me sold on giving it a whirl.

I took it home, cleaned it, then handed it to Don to use on Tesla. I hadn't been feeling well, and I knew I didn't have the suctioning power as him, since he was healthy. After a few tries, he was telling me it was a dud. He was ready to go back to the struggle with the bulb syringe. Well, when I had to stay home with her, the congestion was overwhelming and I had no idea where the bulb syringe was. (I later found it amongst the other precious things our imp of a 3.5 year old likes to hoard.) I sterilized my mouth with some mouthwash, and went to town. Wow! That's all I can say. wow. It didn't take very long and boy howdy, was there a lot that came out. Even though there was so much, it only half filled the tube. I yielded just as much out of the other nostril and opted to repeat on each one. After I was done, she gave me a look of gratitude and curled in to rest a bit more.

I cleared out the tube by blowing everything into a napkin, during the process. When I was done, I cleaned each part and replaced the filter.

So here is how it works and the parts of it:

Mouthpiece - What goes into your mouth
Plastic tube - About a foot and a half of flexible/pliable tubing
Plastic chamber - This is actually 3 inches wide and one side has a screw on lid that connects the tubing to it. The other side has ridges to screw on the nasal nozzle.
Nasal nozzle - Made up of medical grade silicone and safe for the baby. It has a small enough tip to fit comfortably in your little ones nose, but could fit into an adult nose and a toddler nose.
Filters - These sponge like filters fit at the base of the plastic chamber where the tube connects to it. They are about the size of an m&m and are what prevent you from inhaling any snot. Included in the kit are 20 filters.
Traveling case - You also get a nifty travel case to keep it all in.

That's it. Pretty simple tool, but highly effective. I think what happened with my husband is that everything was too thick and he couldn't get anything out. In that case, you should use a couple of saline drops to help loosen it up, then suction. I would highly recommend this product if you are in search of something to help ease up the congestion. I could see this being helpful to those whose little ones haven't learned to blow yet, either. Cost, $10 at Whole Foods. They did not carry the replacement filters.

**I was not approached by Baby Nasa Kleen to mention this product. Nor was I asked to mention Nosefrida. These opinions are my own.**

Open Letter to my 2nd Born: Happy 7 Months

2011-11-03T17:33:00.000-05:00

Dear Little Miss Tesla Jane,

You bring such a smile and joy to my life. You are probably the absolute most headstrong, laid-back baby I've ever known. You are so absolutely precious, definitely a gift from above to our family. You are so inquisitive of the world around you and I am quite impressed with how far reaching your glance takes you. You notice things far beyond what I would expect your immediate gaze would take you. You can't seem to get enough of it.

This past month, you have done amazing things!

You are fully mobile! You are a crazy crawling baby!
Not only are your crawling, but you are pulling up on everything.
Not only that, but you are now cruising along!
You really like to crawl across the living room and head butt my legs and feet.
You do this at night when we are sleeping, too. (or trying to sleep)
You are so proud of yourself when you feed yourself, too!
You love carbs. You go nuts for toast!
You definitely go bananas for bananas.
The rest of the stuff: mango, applesauce, sweet potato, acorn squash, butternut squash, pears, peaches, grapes, and rice, you are indifferent. You will eat it, but don't go crazy for it.
You don't have teeth yet, but you do like to chew on everything.
You have gigglefits like you wouldn't believe. They don't happen too, too often, but they do happen and wow, what a joy they are. We've all been pretty stressed out the past few weeks, and you have been an amazing source of happiness.
Oh, and paper...I don't know what it is with you and paper. Your sister had a similar love affair.
And pulling my hair.
You are babbling more, doing your best to try to communicate with us. You don't sign at all, but that's ok. I can pretty much infer what you are trying to mean.
You still adore opera and classical music. Frequently, I find out pounding your tiny fist against harder surfaces in perfect rhythm. amazing, indeed.
You will sit perfectly still listening to books and stories. You, however, have no interest in television or movies. Smart gal!
Your hair has grown a little more and it is a light dark brown with bits of blonde in it. You still have hazel eyes, too.
You are in the 95th percentile in height, weight, and head size.
You still have tiny, tiny feet.
You have attended your first concert (Incubus), you've gone on a few road trips, and have assisted us on photo shoots.
The love you have for your sister melts my heart. Already, you two have such a special relationship, just as it should be.

Life with two has been challenging, but infinitely filled with joy! We give thanks to our Lord everyday for our blessing; chiefly for you and your sister.

We love you, Sugarbaby!

Beanies by Stacie Winner!

2011-11-02T17:05:00.000-05:00

Congratulations Mandi! You are the lucky winner of a brand new pair of custom made slippers by Beanies by Stacie!! Hope your toes stay nice and toasty (I nearly spelled toes-ty, ha ha!)

Please email Stacie with your size, color preference, and address, referencing this giveaway.

Thank you all for entering the contest! Stay warm this winter!

Milk Mothers & Other All Natural Things

2011-11-01T06:46:00.000-05:00

We all know that breast is best when it comes to our child. There are other benefits to nursing as well. You lower your risk of breast, ovarian, and uterine cancer. We have also been able to save money since we don't have to buy formula.

With Mari, we had to start supplementing her meals around 5 or 6 months. She had some form of breastmilk until 9 months. This time around, I was sure to stockpile my reserve when my milk first came in. Of course, we blew through that pretty quickly. Pumping at work just doesn't yield the same volume as when I'm around her. On the weekends, we only have to hit up the stash when Don is giving me a break. Even then, I try to pump as soon as possible.

This week, she will turn 7 months old. During that time, she has only had 2 oz of formula around the 2nd week of her life. The rest of the time, she's been nourished with breastmilk. BUT! I was very, very lucky to have generous friends who were willing to share their unused supply. One gal had to stop her nursing relationship early, and gave Tesla the 100+ ounces she'd had frozen. We have used that supply over the past month and a half to make her cereals and food. My other friend has given us oh so much, that we have been able to extend this journey a couple of months longer. I like to lovingly refer to these beautiful mothers as Tesla's Milk Mothers. Thank you, thank you, thank you Mandi & Stephanie!

There's nothing wrong with having to supplement either. It was just the choice that we had made for our little ones. I think if you can go as long as you can, then that's amazing! Great job! I do lament, though, the loss of our nursing relationship. I know my supply is dwindling and we will soon have to supplement. That doesn't mean that I will give up automatically. I still plan to continue pumping until she reaches 9 months or my supply is totally gone. And thank you concerned folks who have offered up advice to increase my supply. I've tried it all except a prescription.

Back to the topic at hand, though. When I mentioned to someone that Tesla had milk mothers, they appallingly looked at me with disgust. I found it interesting that we, as a society, accept giving cow's milk to our young, but something as natural as breastmilk seems a foreign concept. Then again, I was part of that group not long before I had children. Then, I decided to learn more.

Anyway, all that to say, I'm incredibly grateful for my friends and for the gifts they've given.

Hairstyle Winner...

2011-10-27T16:06:00.001-05:00

Remember when i asked your opinion a bit back on which hairstyle I should pick? Well, thank you all for voting and taking the time to write in. Honestly, I'd had my decision made until she actually started cutting. And then, when she got going, I just told her to keep going. 6 inches whacked off and I feel so much better. My hair is healthier and happier. I'm beginning to feel more like my "normal" self, too. It has since turned under itself instead of the outward flip it had when I left, but it is great, still. I think I *might* even start wearing it down more. yeah right

Stronger

2011-10-27T06:01:00.000-05:00

This amps me up! Get it, girls! GIRL POWER!!! RAWWWRRR!!

Product Review: Beanies by Stacie + a Giveaway!

2011-10-26T06:05:00.000-05:00

First of all, I just want to point out that I happened upon Beanies by Stacie through a local Mom's board. I'd always admired the work, but it wasn't until I was barely pregnant with Tesla that I finally ordered something. I ordered a cocoon from her and just said, surprise me when I told her the colors. I might have mentioned I wanted something pastel and organic feeling. This is what she came up with:

Then, she had her annual Christmas in July sale, so I jumped on that deal! I ordered hats for myself and my girls. Not only that, but I requested some slippers for all of us, too! She complied and boy howdy do I love them!!!

Not only that, but Tesla seems to love her hat too!

I know some of you have Christmas gifts on the brain. Well, I would highly recommend you check her out. She has quite a few ready to ship items available, too! She's super quick, the quality is unparalleled, and she's just awesome!

Now for a giveaway! I'm feeling the love that you all have been giving me for my mom. Thank you for those warm virtual hugs!! I would like to return the warmth! One lucky comment will receive a pair of slippers handmade by Beanies by Stacie courtesy of Hello Bianca! (yeah, that's me and I just totally referred to myself in the 3rd person, ha ha!) Here's how you can win:

Go fan her on Facebook and tell her I sent you! Leave me a comment saying you did!
Leave me a comment telling me why you need your very own pair of slippers and what colors you would choose.
Share this giveaway with a friend on twitter, facebook, through a blog, or even a copy and paste. Leave a comment telling me you did.

All comments must be made on my main blog page: www.hellobianca.com This contest will end in one week on November 2nd. Good luck!

**This review and giveaway are totally my own out of the goodness of my heart because I wanted to share an awesome product. I was not approached by Beanies by Stacie to do a review, nor the giveaway. All opinions expressed are my own.**

A Fighter

2011-10-25T06:12:00.000-05:00

We are still unclear as to what is going on with Mom, but she is continuing to fight whatever it is that is ailing her. The biggest offender, the experts believe, is a staph infection. They think this bacteria was dormant in her body and awoke with a fury as a result of this operation.We will have a better understanding of what is to come when the cultures come back. In the meantime, thank you for your prayers! She really is a fighter!

And I have to admit, I got more than choked up when I took this photo. My sister said it best, "Love this Picture B! Good job for capturing something I took for granted seeing my whole life!"

A Baker in Progress

2011-10-24T22:05:00.000-05:00

We made pumpkin empanadas. This was the first time I really let go and allowed her to do almost all of the work. I helped her to create a separate batch and wow, were they delicious!

Fear & Gratitude: A Tale in the ER & ICU with a Texas Tech Victory

2011-10-23T13:40:00.002-05:00

The Lord never gives you more than you can handle.

The past couple of days have been an emotional whirlwind. Yeah, that's more than an understatement. My mother recently had back surgery to repair an earlier surgery from 6 years ago. At that time, I had written a post and asked for prayers of strength and healing. A week after having her surgery, she was moved to a Rehabilitation hospital. After being there for two days, she was walking. Not only walking, but she was upright, taking it easy, walking from the gym back to her room. Joyful tears filled my eyes and I was overcome with emotion. I just knew in my heart of hearts that one day, mom would walk that 5K she's been wanting to do for 10 years. You see, over the years she's elected to participate in races, and with the help of generous friends and family, they've pushed her in her wheelchair. She's not actually gotten to do any walking in a race since the 80s.

The day after this photo was snapped, we heard wonderful news that she was going to be discharged on the following Monday. We were beside ourselves with excitement and anxiety.

And then, Friday happened.

Her blood pressure plummeted, her heart rate increased and the two were so dangerous, they feared to give her any pain medication. She didn't eat at all on Friday. By Friday evening at 10:30, they were able to stabilize her enough by giving her 1.5 liters of IV fluid. She was given more medication to give her a comfortable and restful nights sleep. When I spoke with the nurse, she told me that she anticipated her to be well enough for rehab the next day and more than likely, they were NOT going to discharge her on Monday, though.

When I went to visit her Saturday morning, the attending PA warned me that things weren't looking so hot. Her blood pressure was, in fact, worse than the day before and she continued with her elevated heart rate. They hesitated to give her a sedative, but they knew she was in an extraordinary amount of pain. She then told me that they were going to be transporting her in an ambulance to the ER to get an MRI. Since it is Saturday, the only way you can get an MRI is through the ER.

I took my first ambulance ride with her, and was reminded just how bumpy the roads are to get to the hospital. With every bump, Mom felt it and screamed out in pain. My heart was breaking. I give thanks to the driver who did his very best to try to distract me from it by talking about his 15 chickens. We got to the ER at 10:30. Over the next 9 hours, she had to be moved to different beds to have an MRI, X-rays, & CAT scans. She was pricked for blood more times that I would like to think of. She's only had a half a cup of water before we went to the ER. Her mouth and tongue were blistered, she was ghost white, she was only speaking Spanish, and in a weak voice at that. She was shrieking and screaming in pain multiple times per hour. I stood there holding her hand, quietly sobbing when I knew she was finally granted a few moments of sleep. I've never before felt more helpless and inadequate. So there I stood, holding her hand, praying, and talking to her of happier times. I was grateful for my sister to be there. We held each other when we quietly sobbed. They moved her to a critical care room and set up a morphine drip. Each of us took turns with mom when the other had to go to a meeting, go feed a baby, or go grab a meal. We talked with our friends and family, each of them giving us hope. She was scheduled for surgery to go in a clean out the wound. Before my sister returned from her meeting, Mom gave me her wedding bands since she knew she couldn't wear jewelry. I did my best to not cry. I smiled and told her that I would return them the next day when I saw her awake and feeling better. She put her hand on my face, blessed me and began to rest.

At 8PM, I left to go home. Don poured a drink for me. I settled in to watch the Red Raiders play OU. OU is ranked 3rd in the nation. We are...well, I was just hoping we weren't going to lose by more than 40. I know, I have no faith in my boys. I still hoped, but I didn't really think anything was going to happen. Then Sister called me at 11:30 telling me mom was septic. They cut off her morphine drip because her blood pressure was the lowest ever. 77 over something, I don't remember. Her pulse was too high. And then she delivered the verbal blow that punched me in the gut and took my breath away. "He says she needs to get past this, Bianca. She's so septic, she is in jeopardy of having organ failure. It's not looking good." With tears in my eyes, my body shaking, "I'm on my way. Keep breathing. I'll be there soon." I threw some things in the bag and headed back up to the hospital. I caught every green light. At this point I'd forgotten about the game. I was excited that we were ahead, but I knew that we were notorious for not having a great 2nd half showing. There was a massive storm brewing in the distance, and I pressed on to the hospital. Because it was after 10, Sam had to let me in. We briskly walked in to see her and she didn't look like my mother. I prayed and prayed and prayed. I covered her with her prayer blanket and added the olive cross that I'd purchased from our home church in Lubbock, St. John Neumann (Jerusalem earth, incense, and flower petals). I knew she had a lot of prayer warriors and boy were we needing a miracle. I tried to prepare myself for the worst, but a big part of me did not want to accept it and I just kept praying my rosary knowing she was going to get better.

Primo came by and stayed with us until 3. The Red Raiders pulled off a miracle and defeated OU in a nerve wracking game. During that time, I received so many wonderful messages of encouragement from friends both near and far. I had texts, voice mails, private messages, and so many re-threads of my prayer requests. I was overwhelmed by the thoughts, sentiment, and sheer compassion. My cup runneth over, indeed. I slept until 5 and headed home to feed Tesla. I slept from 6 until 9, and during that time, I slept hard. I checked my phone for texts and didn't have any missed calls or texts. But then I saw sister's post about how great mom looked after taking in 7.5 liters of IV fluid. Imprinted in my hand were my rosary beads and I continued to give thanks.

I was definitely afraid, but not once was did I feel alone. Thank you, all of you, who reached out and offered meals, babysitting, a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, alcohol, and hugs. We are beyond blessed.

Mom is stable for now, but it appears that she has developed a staph infection. Mostly likely, a bacteria from one of the surgeries from 6 years ago was dormant and awoke with this surgery. Mom's surgeon cut his out of town visit short and rushed back to be here first thing Sunday morning to assess her. He wants to go in and remove that old hardware, but only when she is feeling much better and stable. We have a looong road ahead of us. Thank you for your continued prayers and thoughts. Indeed, they are working! And we relay all of your thoughts and prayers to Mom and they give her strength and inspiration!

Miss Representation: Movie

2011-10-19T20:02:00.001-05:00

For those of you unaware, there's a fabulous new documentary out there called Miss Representation. It is about the projection of women in the media. Miss Representation is something we need to share with all our friends and families to change the way our children see themselves and others.

Tomorrow night, I will be having a house party at my home to show the premier of it on the OWN network at 9/8 Central. Hopefully, we will achieve the goal: Educate, Engage & Empower. I feel fortunate to have grown in a world with strong women. Physically and emotionally strong women who always told me that I could be whatever I wanted to be. At the time, I found it ironic that they were telling me to aspire for greater ambitious careers, yet, they themselves were content (or so it seemed) with being homemakers. It wasn't until later that I realized their chosen path was to raise their family. Because of it, I saw that homemakers worked hard in their homes and still looked amazing doing it.

We didn't watch much television growing up, and we didn't get many publications. There were advertisements on billboards, but nothing like today. We were watching the first part of the baseball play off game (maybe the 2nd inning) and there was a preview for the new release of The Thing. I was scared! I couldn't begin to imagine the fear in the mere seconds Mari watched before I rushed her to the other room. I realize that she will be exposed to those things some day, but there's enough time for that later. Additionally, I purchased this month's Men's Health. It was just laying around. While I realize it is filled with half dressed men showcasing their fabulous muscles, I was surprised to see a full page devoted to a gal in skimpy undies, caught looking over her shoulder as she took off her tank top. I only saw it because Mari was pointing out that the girl was naked. Not quite, but mostly. She looked at me and stated, "She's a cochina showing her panties." But her young eyes were fixated on that perfect body. I was impressed with her body and would love to have one like it, but what kind of message was it sending my daughter? I asked Mari what she thought the girl was thinking. She thought that the girl was surprised and angry. I asked her if she thought the girl was embarrassed. She said, "Yes. She wanted privacy to change her clothes." "Exactly, kiddo!"

But I've since evaluated the different impressions I've made on her and other influences. Since having my own daughters, I've actually tried to put more of an effort into my appearance. I try to show them confidence and not be overly critical of my body in front of them. I don't get embarrassed when she watches me get dressed. She knows what a "real" female body looks like. But I have to keep it up. I'm glad there is this film to hopefully raise awareness and maybe, just maybe, make a change.

I encourage you all to set aside some time tomorrow night at 9/8 Central on the OWN Oprah Winfrey Network!

Bountiful Baskets: Great for the Budget

2011-10-17T16:55:00.000-05:00

For about a month now, I've heard about this food co-op called Bountiful Baskets from Jacki. For those of you who don't know her, well, you are missing out. She's an amazing resource for all things that are good. Well, to me, any way. She's a real salt of the earth kinda gal. She knows her stuff about sewing, cooking, canning, gifting, running, food, pretty much all that kind of stuff that I think was normally passed down from generation to generation, but somehow some of it was lost for me along the way. She's helped to reinforce things I had learned and has taught me so much along the way.

Anyway, when she mentioned Bountiful Baskets, I had to do further research. When I went out to the website, I can honestly say I was simultaneously overwhelmed and unimpressed. What? How? Well, there's not a whole lot of photos and there's a whole bunch of text. I was going to have to sign up to fill out a form too. bleh! Well, I missed that initial offering. And then Jacki posted a photo of all of the stuff she had gotten. To further rub my nose in it, she posted some pretty amazing looking recipes of her haul, which had me drooling. All of that sexy looking produce, all delicious, all packed a PUNCH! KA-POW...suck on that non-wholesome/chemically laced foods!

So I went out to the site again and bombarded poor Jacki with ridiculous questions. To which, she had the patience to deal with me for a bit and kept posting the link back to their site. I know she was probably thinking, "For the love of God, Bianca, this isn't complicated. read the damn site!!" But she was very cordial and helpful! I signed up, I read, re-read, then read aloud to Don everything I thought was important. We huddled over the computer trying to decide which basket to buy. Organic, non-organic...do we do add-ons? Hmmm...We ended up going with 1 organic basket (basket=$15+organic=$10...$25 total for organic basket) and added on 2 pumpkins, which were described as smaller than a basketball ($3.25 each). We figured if they weren't large enough to carve, we could get cheaper ones later.

Since this was our first time to participate, we had to pay a $3 first time fee. Each time you participate, there is a $1.50 processing fee. Knowing that there didn't have to be further commitment, we thought $36 was ok to invest. To further complicate things, we were out of town, so instead of picking up where we would normally pick-up, we decided to do pick-up in Lubbock. Not only were were buying for the first time, but we were also going to be traveling with these foods. Luckily, they have a food storage guide, so we used that to go on. We took 3 re-usable shopping bags, and showed up 10 minutes before pick-up time (you can arrive an hour early to volunteer. I may do that another time.). We were 15th in line with a longer line snaking after us and others continued to arrive after we left. This is what we received:

Organic Basket (filled 2 of our shopping bags)

1 bunch of chard
6 bananas
6 plums
4 tomatoes
2 zucchini
2 avocados
2 apples
4 pears
2 acorn squash
1 basket of concord grapes
1 basket of kiwi berries
3 romaine hearts lettuce

Add-on: 2 large pumpkins, one was the size of a basketball, the other one was larger!

Oh my, was a haul!! I've never even had kiwi berries, nor have I prepared chard on my own. I'm guessing it is chard because I don't know what it is. I am going to be using this recipe and I want to try out this acorn squash bisque recipe, too! Can I just say that meal planning has been amped up 5 notches. I'm beyond thrilled and excited to be cooking. Plus, my Everyday Food magazine actually features many of the foods I received (they are in season, after all), so I can use a whole lot of those recipes in there too.

If you have a Bountiful Baskets offering in your area, I would highly recommend you check them out! I calculated everything that we received and compared it to what we could have paid in the grocery store and honestly, we saved about $5, but hey, that's an overpriced coffee right there. Knowing most of the foods are more local, and that I have a boost in my meal planning (after all, I don't have to think as much, I just have to figure out what to make with what I have instead of deciding what to buy AND what to make). Go for it and enjoy!

Short or Long?

2011-10-13T17:00:00.000-05:00

I have a hair appointment next week and it always takes meabout that long to commit to something. I’m in that in between phase right nowand Don isn’t helping. He likes my hair no matter how I have it. We all know that it’ll bepulled back in a ponytail anyway. Ha ha! Leave a comment to help me choose whichstyle you think would look best on me. Many thanks!

Shorter hair inspired by Jackie O, like this…

Image found here

Or keep growing it longer to get to this…

image found here

Freschetta Winner!

2011-10-13T06:21:00.000-05:00

Congratulations #4 comment from Samantha "Anonymous" who tweeted our giveaway here.

Thank you Samantha and Karin for entering! Samantha, I will be contacting you soon to get your prize to you!

Texas State Fair: Dinner Date with the Family

2011-10-12T22:00:00.000-05:00

Each year we've gone to the fair, we haven't really had a chance to make a day of it. There is so much to see and do there, you could spend an entire day taking in all of the sights and experiencing all of the events. Not to mention, you'd be spending quite a bit of money, too! Last year, we had coupons left over from our visit, so I wasn't going to make that mistake. (We ended up trading them with Primo for a good meal and well, I think we got the better end of the deal!) We weren't quite able to do it as cheap as we did in 2008, but then again, there are 4 of us, one of which is all too eager to ride rides (thank goodness for half price ride night, which is actually 2 tickets discounted from the rides I ride night).

We didn't have to pay entrance to the fair and like I mentioned it was half price ride night. (Thank you teachers who don't go to the fair and are generous to share with a family who has an expensive tradition!) I had budgeted $60 for food and rides, and we opted to purchase $50 to begin with. Tickets are valued at 50 cents, so we had 90. I took 40, I gave Don 40, and I tucked away 10 in the bag for later. Right off the bat, we hit up Fletchers. Priced at 9 tickets a piece ($4.50), it cost 27 tickets. Man were they delicious!

Next up, we went inside the food pavilion (as if there aren't food vendors every where!) for fried banana pudding. They make it like an empanada. The outer shell is almost like a pie shell. They fill it with the banana pudding, fry it, then top it with whipped cream, and powdered sugar. 8 tickets, I think. Amazing!

Our stroller broke last week. I was devastated to say goodbye to the red stroller. We replaced it with the same type of stroller, but in a blue model. The plan was to have Mari walk and Tesla to ride in the stroller. Well, the Sugarbean wanted to ride, so I wore Tesla. Because of this, I had difficulty eating anything that wasn't easily held. I spilled the insides of my banana pudding on her head. I can say, not only did she smell and taste sweet, but her hair was well-conditioned! See how comfortable Mari is in the stroller. Such a little lady!

Next, we wandered over to the petting zoo, but boy was it a madhouse! I bought $2 worth of the feed and we didn't use any of it. I repurposed an abandoned larger feed cup to house my two smaller cups and poured it all in there. Unfortunately, we didn't use any. If anyone local is going to the fair, I will happily give you my feed cups so they don't go to waste. Seriously, it was so packed in there, I couldn't even grab a photo! Awful! We scurried out of there and went to stare at the large pig. It was just being stinky and lazy.

We headed over to the craft building to see our friend do a cooking demo. We stopped just to say hello and browsed the photography entries and the other handmade items. I would like to enter something next year! Before we stepped out, we marveled at the butter sculpture. Yes, that is all butter!

Then we headed to the Midway. First stop, Tornado Taters. I don't like them crispy like chips, instead, I ask them to lightly fry it. I top with spicy seasoning, hot sauce and ketchup. 9 tickets.

Then it was time to ride the slide!!!!! 10 tickets (5 tickets each) I have to tell you that the slide was quite popular. We even had to wait in line towards the top. I nearly threw up my tornado taters with the fear welling up in my belly. I kept hunching over so I wouldn't look over the edge. I don't know how many times I was barking at Mari to keep her hand on the side. And on the inside, I kept thinking, but that's silly if the ramp dislodges off of the slide and we fell. No amount of holding on would matter. And then we would sway. Ugh!!! But we made it to the top.

The Sugarbean REALLY wanted to ride alone, but I wouldn't let her. Oh no! I couldn't imagine her flying down the side. Maybe next year. Maybe. She still had a whole lot of fun. I was laughing the whole way down, as was she. Here's a video I shot of halfway down.

Then we went on to let Mari do some more rides. We did a fun house, a car, and a mini roller coaster. When she was riding the car, Tesla was quite upset. So much so that she was actually crying tears. I think she was afraid for her sister. She is not the little adventurous one like her sister and that is fine by me! I calmed her down and she ended up sleeping most of the remainder of the evening. Here is a shot of Don squeezed into the mini coaster. What Daddys do for their girls, right?

Then we stopped by for Fried Upside Down Pineapple Cake. (6 or 8 tickets)

We'd had enough of the Midway and said our goodbyes until next year. We escaped without playing any games, too!

I really wanted our pineapple whip (12 tickets...6 tickets each), so off we went to grab some before the car show. Lucky for me, I ran into a friend while in line. Literally, ran into her. (Hi Nan!) After going through the car show and realizing that we liked the Ford Flex (albeit out of our price range), we were ready to go home. But we FINALLY found the fresh squeezed lemonade stand. 10 tickets each. We had 7, so I had to buy 13 more.

Then, while we walked out, we saw the fireworks that accompanied the video and music montage. It was indeed a wonderful end to a terrific date night! We were all ecstatic!

TOTAL SPENT: $58.50 RIDES & FOOD + $10 PARKING

HDMR: I Don't Know How She Does It & Downton Abbey

2011-10-12T17:00:00.000-05:00

I Don't Know How She Does It
Recently, I was one of the 100 people who went to see I Don't Know How She Does It. Yes, I paid full-price for it. I was a sucker for the trailer. I know a lot of people thought it was lame. It was listed as a comedy and I wanted funny. Plus, I wanted to go to a movie with my mom and I figured this would be a good one. (We also got to see Bridesmaids together, which was REALLY funny! I know you've already seen that one.)

Anyway, in this film, I didn't really think it was much of a comedy. I guess I could see where some things might have been funny, because yes, it is relatable. The part about making the list at night...OMG, yes! When I lay my head down to sleep at night, I do the list in my head. I fall asleep making the list. I wake up and I'm still making the list. These lists become lists of tiny lists. It's really out of control! But the rest of the funny?? I was waiting for it, but no. My heart was breaking, actually, because it is a very real movie. Yes, we're in a recession and the problems she has don't have anything to do with not having a job or trying to make ends meet...but they are still very real problems. Knowing that, I was actually pleasantly surprised by the film, even though I was disappointed I didn't laugh more. And Pierce Brosnan...va-va-va-voom! That man just gets so much better as he ages, it's ridiculous! And big kudos to Olivia Munn, too! She brought the funny. I really like her!

It's worth the rental, for sure. Make yourself a bowl of kettle corn and a root beer float (or a glass of wine) and indulge for a 89 minutes.

Downton Abbey
After hearing all of the awards this show won at the Emmy's I was curious. Thankfully, Netflix had this on streaming. We only own one television and I don't always want to watch football when it is on (even though I really love it), so I watched it on my phone and on my computer. Folks, I loved it! It was every bit of dramatic and scandalous as I wanted a show to be. There was snark, there was betrayal, there was snobbery at its finest, and the costumes....oh, how I loved the costumes. I can't think of one single character that I did not like. I couldn't believe it was a part of PBS's Masterpiece theater! How in the world they are able to sustain the writing and the cast, I have no idea, but I am looking forward to the 2nd season when it premiered in January.

Those of you who are lucky enough to have Netflix streaming (Qwikster?), you should definitely check it out. I give it a waaaay thumbs up and it makes me happy knowing it won so many awards!

Tutorial: Childs Apron...The Belladyn Apron

2011-10-10T16:59:00.000-05:00

This is a loose tutorial for an apron that fits size 3T-5T.

< 1 yard of fabric
thread
36" of at least 1" ribbon (4 strips of 9 inches)

BOTTOM
Then, I cut out a 14 inch piece of fabric. I hemmed 3 sides of the edges. 1/4" hem folded in twice. The other side I gathered together. If you need help with gathering, check out this link. If you are feeling sassy, I would highly recommend you buy a ruffler foot. I used one for about two months and became addicted. I need to get one for my machine! Set your bottom aside.

TOP
I took one of my daughter's tops, folded it in half and came up with the basis of the top of the apron. It is about 12 inches by 10 inches. You will cut two of these pieces.

What I did was cut a 12 inch piece of fabric, then spread it out, folded at 9 inches and cut leaving that fold intact. The folded another 9 inches and cut at that fold. This left me with enough leftover fabric that if I wanted to make pockets, I could have.

Match up with the two right sides facing each other. before you pin, add your ribbon to the edges. (refer to my graphic for placement.

Sew on 3 sides, then turn around.

PUTTING TOGETHER
Match the bottom of the Top of the apron with the top of the Bottom piece. (it will look like the top is upside down. Pin along the edge and be sure that you pin it so your gathering seam will not be visible. Sew across the edge. For added security, I sewed along that edge as well. If you had a server, it would finish it off for you, but I don't have one, so I made do.

**tip: Be sure you don't sew over the ribbon!

FINISHING
Next, top stitch all the way around to be sure it gives it a more professional look. Also, when using grograin, you must either burn the cut edges with a lighter or use some fray check.

Iron out the wrinkles and pay special attention to the side where you sewed your parts together. If you iron it properly, your unfinished edge will be concealed. I added a couple of homemade flowers and a fancy button at the center to one side. I think it gave it a bit more flair.

Now sit back and enjoy a glass of vino because you just made the awesome Belladyn apron! Woot Woot!

I plan to make another soon. Would you all like more pics in progress? How about a downloadable PDF of the top "pattern" piece I made? These would make a great gift for tiny hostesses for Thanksgiving/Christmas! The two I made just happened to be for a birthday party. Nothing like handmade gifts, right? I think these aprons finally put me over the edge to purchase my own labels, though! EEEK! So exciting!

The Power of Prayer for my Momma: SanJuanita

2011-10-09T13:27:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow, mom goes in for back surgery. I'm asking for prayers from all of you who pray. Please call on God (or whatever you choose to call your deity) to guide the surgeon's hands, help to make him alert, and expert. Pray that her recovery is smooth. For those of you who aren't the praying type, just put out positive thoughts tomorrow for my mother. She's so very precious to all of us and if you know her, well, then you are aware of how awesome she is. I believe in the power of prayer and the power of positive thinking. Thank you!

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. Matthew 21:22

NYG: Only 3 Months to Go

2011-10-07T16:27:00.000-05:00

Remember so long ago when I made my New Year Goals? Well, I can say that I've been mostly successful with it!

I haven't made something new each week, but I have made more things than not. I have definitely tried new things each month, the biggest ones being a triathlon and Mari's soccer coach. I have stuck with doing 1 load of laundry a week, but it hasn't always been my own. Actually, it's mostly not been my own laundry, ha ha, but I have been doing it. Now that I think about it, I've actually been doing more of my own laundry than before. And as far as my Cardiotrainer numbers...I get mad at myself when it falls below 1000. I hope to keep it hovered near the 1500 mark, but I need to find more time (and make more time for myself) to do just that.

How about all of you? How have you been keeping up with the goals you set forth for yourself?

Pssst....Guess What!

2011-10-06T16:44:00.000-05:00

Thank you readers for well, being my readers! You guys are awesome!!! For those of you who actually come to my main page, thank you! A giant high five to those of you who leave comments. I <3 comment love!!! *swoon* I know some of you lurkers are quiet, but I know you are there, so thank you nevertheless!

My News: I've taken the plunge and am now a part of Latism | BlogHer Network!

*POP*

That was me opening up some champagne! Grab your coffee, tea, milk, water, (beverage of choice) and join me in the virtual celebration. (I'm actually having a hot chai tea latte!) Let's all bust out the Cabbage Patch and Roger Rabbit...holla! Where my peeps at?

Anyway, just wanted to say thank you for being supporters of my small space on the Internets. Please continue to show me some of that awesome love!!

*****

I'm so excited for you Bianca, but what does that mean? Well, it just means I'm advertising now to get enough income to pay for one of my smaller indulgences each month. It also means that I'm a part of a larger network of blog writers like The Pioneer Woman! And it is my goal and hope to attend the BlogHer conference in 2012, with a sponsorship. We shall see! *fingercrossedfingerscrossed*

Road Trip: Austin & San Antonio

2011-10-05T06:05:00.000-05:00

It's been a while since I graduated from high school. It doesn't really hit me how long it has been until I think about the number of years I've had a friendship. I met Miles in my Sophomore year. He was very gracious and indeed a friend. He was one of the few friends I had that first year. Being a transfer student, I was already an outcast. I was grateful to have him as a friend, as I treasure our friendship now.

We graduated and went our separate ways, to different universities, eventually meeting up again at Tech. Then, we graduated and went our ways, until the advent of social media. Through MySpace and continued through Facebook, we maintained contact. He made the trip to celebrate my 30th birthday! (there he is in the blue shirt with cap)

Every so often, we'd meet up for dinner or on IM to talk about photography. You can imagine my excitement when he told me he was getting married and would we like to come to the reception. My response was, "Are you kidding me! Yes, we'll be there!" This past weekend, we trekked to San Antonio with a pit stop in Austin.

They had an intimate, family-friendly reception at Big'z Burger Joint. We ate delicious burgers, drank festive drinks, wore leis, danced, and talked. It was a wonderful time! I loved that we were able to take home photos from their fabulous wedding in Hawaii. Also, the hula girl straws were so much fun. I actually had 2 Pepsi's because I liked sipping out of that straw so much. Mari and I had a ball with the temporary tattoos, too! Don and I were able to dance to our song and Tesla had a fabulous time dancing and singing along with all of the music. The service at Big'z is top notch as is their food! If you are in the area, definitely check them out! Congratulations Miles & Beth!!

Like I said, we made a pit stop in Austin first! We stayed the night with our dear friends (Hi Jennie & David...and Emily, too!). Friday night, we dined at the ol' Magnolia Cafe with said friends and with my Brother. (Who will be moving away from Austin this week, so keep him in your thoughts for a safe passage.) We totally love the SoCo area of Austin. The food was pretty good, too! The next morning, we popped awake and headed out to Town Lake for a 5K (which isn't a lake at all, really). It was a busy, busy trail, but I was still able to log an ok time while pushing Tesla. Mari was happy to stay back and play with her friend. (Thanks Jennie!!) Here's the view of the bridge I crossed over. My view to the left...

My view to the right...

Seriously, with that much beauty, how would you not be motivated to run?

Afterwards, we headed over to Thunderbird Coffee for a cup o' Joe and to meet up with another buddy of ours...another friend of mine from high school that I've known as long as Miles. (Hi Danny! Thanks for coming out!) Don't you just love the decor? I like the lights!
Mmmm...that caramel mocha was AWESOME!!!

I'm a huge fan of independent coffee shops. Even better when they make darn good coffee and this place did NOT disappoint! Check them out if you are ever in the area. I even had a Grilled Nutella & Honey panini, which was perfectly delicious when paired with my iced coffee and good conversation from old friends.

When we headed South to San Antonio, we stayed at the Drury Plaza North. This was a fun decorated hotel with excellent service. We were actually happy about all the extra perks: 2 free drinks, hot breakfast, free parking, free wi-fi, small fridge, in-room coffee maker, and microwave, spacious and comfortable room, great terrace and pool. We would highly recommend this. Our two complaints about the room: it didn't offer movies for purchase and there wasn't a fan in the bathroom. (that's why you travel with matches and a candle, folks! hehehe) We didn't need to buy a movie anyway (because I truly passed out as soon as it was possible...and it was the soundest sleep I've had in weeks!) and there was a public bathroom on the lower floors. Mari really enjoyed the stationary:

I enjoyed the colorful lobby and really wished we had more time to play with our actual cameras in the lobby. Another time! Mari really did love that orange ottoman.

Yes, folks. She's still wearing her shoes on opposite feet. No big deal. It seems to work for her, so we don't mind.

On our way back home, we hit up the South Austin Trailer Park & Eatery for a Holy Cacao cake shake and Torchy's Tacos for lunch. We had prime weather to sit outside on a picnic table with friends. I swear we saw Val Kilmer's doppleganger, too! Why didn't get get a pic?

All in all, it was a wonderful trip.

Freschetta: Proud to Support Pink Giveaway

2011-10-04T06:24:00.000-05:00

Hello friends! Guess what! I'm a part of the Freschetta Fresh Connection Community. Basically, that means I like pizza and I like to give my opinion. Freschetta contacted me and gave me a coupon to try out their pizza and write a review on it. We'll see how it matches up with our homemade pizza. I'll give you my review later.

Anyway, for the month of October, they are are participating in breast cancer awareness month. What, you didn't know it was Breast Cancer awareness month? SAVE THE BOOBIES! During this month, you can purchase a specially marked package of Freschetta (look for the Proud to Support Pink). You can go to www.proudtosupportpink.com and enter the code found on the back of the marked box. Each entry will donate $1 towards their $50,000 goal to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. (Which, by the way, Memorial Sloan-Kettering is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!) WTG Freschetta!

Freschetta also gave me a nifty prize pack to giveaway to one of you lucky readers!! In it includes a coupon for a free pizza as well as two (2) pairs of Freschetta proud to support pink earphones (one for you to keep and one for you to give away). Who couldn't use free pizza and an extra set of earphones?

Here's where you can get involved! I would love it if you would go to the site www.proudtosupportpink.com and share your cancer-related story! If you do that and tell me did, you will get an entry. If you become a follower on my blog, you get an extra entry! If you tweet about this (or mention it on any of your social media outlets), you will get one more entry! How exciting, huh? All entries must be noted in the comments section on my main blog at www.hellobianca.com. That's a chance for 3 entries!!!

Contest ends Wednesday, Oct. 12! Good luck!

**Dislaimer: I was contacted by Freschetta, as part of the Freschetta Fresh Connection Community to participate in this contest. I received a coupon for a free pizza and 2 earphones to review. The thoughts/opinions/ideas expressed here are my strictly my own.**

Tesla 6 Months!

2011-10-03T07:33:00.000-05:00

Dear Miss Tesla Jane,

It's been 6 glorious months of sheer happiness with you. Every.Single.Day. I look at you and am simultaneously overjoyed and inspired by you. You have such a calm demeanor and aren't really bothered by anything. You are incredibly curious! You are constantly watching and observing. Now that you are more able and aware, you definitely want to be involved with everything that is going on around you. You love to feel the different textures wherever you are. You like to rake your little fingers like crazy. You say things like "mamamamama" or "bababababa" for when you are ready to eat. Sometimes, we've caught you saying "hi" but I'm not sure if that is your intention or not. You are now trying to wave goodbye, although, right now you just do it with your fingers instead of your whole hand.

You've been sitting for quite a while on your own. A few weeks ago, you even went from belly to back, to pushing yourself up to a seated position. Just yesterday, you got up on all fours and crawled a few feet. You were motivated to be closer to your big sister, whom you adore!

Right now your favorite toy is cellophane or crinkly plastic. You can entertain yourself with that stuff forever. Luckily, the folks who made your toys and activity mat are aware of this because you can't seem to get enough of the petals on the flower or the wings on your butterfly. You also like the way the keys on my keyboard click. We have since resurrected the "play" wireless keyboard and you happily tap away on the keys.

I'm happy to say that you have been a breastmilk baby with the exception of two ounces of sample formula. Lucky for you that we have such good friends who have donated their excess reserves. This mama doesn't feel nearly as guilty for not being able to keep up with your demand. You are happily eating the homemade food. 1 oz of fruit for breakfast and 1 oz of veggies for lunch. For dinner, we surprise you with some veggie that we are eating together. Not surprisingly, you are pretty good with a spoon and understand that when we put food on it for you, you like to "feed yourself."

You've had a nasty virus/cold for a large portion of your short life. Your daddy and I have had a couple of laughs, though. After you sneeze, you will have accumulated a copious amount of snot on your nostrils. Then you'll breathe and a large bubble will form. It looks like a frog is about to croak. Then we will quickly wipe your nose, which you loathe. However, you don't mind when we use your aspirator. You actually giggle and laugh...usually. As a result, you are getting pretty close to knowing how to blow your nose in a Kleenex. I'm pretty impressed with that, actually.

You are starting to get more hair and the more you get, the darker it is becoming. Your eyes are still a stunningly hazel color. Your smile, like your sister's, is a bright megawatt beam that lights the room. Your feet are still tiny, but the rest of you is growing like crazy (still hovering in the 95th percentiles in all of your categories)!

It's so hard to believe it's been six months already. I'm so lucky to be your mama! Happy Birthday Sugarbaby! We love you!

XXOOXXOO,

Mama!

Concert Memory: Incubus

2011-09-30T16:08:00.000-05:00

I'm writing about this concert so I will remember it. This won't be a review, but just a stream of conscious writing so I can recall the memory for our Sugarbaby, Tesla-bug.

I've been a follower of Incubus since 2001's Morning View release. Drive & Pardon Me seemed to really pull me in and connected in some way, but then Wish You Were Here was released and well, I never looked back. That song has so, so, so many memories for me. From sitting on a beach, listening to my MP3 player, driving so many different roads in states, ahhhh...good stuff. And then, well, then I lost touch with their music, having it pop up every so often when talking with my cousin or the few times they would pop in my Pandora feed.

Then, said cousin let me know he was coming to town to watch Incubus and tickets were affordable! Groupon ran an amazing special, so not only was this deal super affordable, but EVEN BETTER! I decided that this would be Tesla's first concert and we'd figure out a way to make it work despite the show being on a Thursday.

Fast forward to the week of the concert and well, suffice it to say, I have had about the same amount of sleep all week as I have had the first week of Tesla's life. Poor thing has been sick, clingy, and only wanting Mama. It totally warms my heart, but it also exhausts me. I pushed through and was still excited. I was grateful for my BFF Lindsey for letting her come over and have a playdate with her son and for watching our Sugarbean. Seriously, we could NOT afford the going rate for a sitter...let alone for longer than planned, but more on that later.

Then, my cousin calls and tells me that he wasn't approved for his vacation time and that he'd have to pass. I was kinda sad because I knew how much he appreciates them, just like me. My husband is enough of a fan to know a couple of songs, but that's it. I'm just glad he wanted to go to the concert. Anyway, after a delayed start and ridiculous traffic just to park (where we totally missed the opening act, but were treated to some awesome fireworks at the State Fair while waiting), we pulled in to a spot at the edge of the lot.

We walked up to the venue and I was doing my best to sneak in an umbrella. (Really? An umbrella? I remember when there were far other risque items I used to try to sneak into a concert and an umbrella wasn't among those items.) We settled towards the top of the lawn away from the tobacco and herbal smokers in what seemed like a "family" section because there was another family near us with a lively 3 year old. Don was about 1/4 way through his over-priced beer when we were told to evacuate the venue due to the weather. They guaranteed to play their entire set, but only after the storm passed.

We trekked back to our car and no sooner did we get settled in when the storm came down. On our walk to the car, I was getting a bit nervous because all around us transformers were blowing up (is that the correct way to put it?). Luckily, we made it safely. About half an hour (or more) passed and a guy in a golf cart was driving around proclaiming that it was safe to come back and they'd be starting again.

Perfect timing because I'd just nursed Tesla. Who then opted to spit up all over me. Lucky for me, it was easily covered by the wrap. I wrapped her up again, put on the noise cancellation ears, and we set off back to the concert. I was happy to hear my favorite songs and the night seemed even more magical by the awesome lighting show overhead!

All night, there were these beautiful electric ripples highlighting Brandon Boyd's amazing voice. I was truly mesmerized.

Fall Fashion Week: Friday

2011-09-30T11:33:00.000-05:00

Ahhh...here we are, in the homestretch of the Fall Fashion Week. Thank you Emery Jo! I'm going to miss it because I've really enjoyed it! I'm posting my Friday look and Thursday night outfit to the concert. Be sure to head on out to see more of the other ladies' outfits during the week, too! For those of you loyal readers, be on the lookout for some fun stuff in October. Yaaay!

Headband: gifted
Scarf: gifted (hooray for being chilly enough to warrant a lightweight scarf in the morning!)
Shirt: Limited
Cardigan: Gap...love the sewn in bling!
Pants: Kohls...super, duper clearance
Shoes: BCBG, DSW

This outfit was all about practicality. It was unusually hot! We're talking it was knocking on 100 degree heat in the evening. There was a chance it would storm (which it did). We were going to be sitting on the lawn and I knew I would be wearing our nearly 6 month old. I also needed something that would allow me to nurse her if I had to. I chose to wear the necklace my husband gave me as a birthday gift ages ago because it is sterling silver and works as a great teething ring. I know because Mari loved chewing on it, as well. It's elegant and sits nicely on a a nylon string. This necklace is among my sentimental pieces. (I love accessories, can you tell?)

Sunglasses: Impulse buy, I don't remember where, but I love them
Necklace: Gifted, Jared (I know you just sang the song!)
Maxi dress: Old Navy
Half Tank: La Leche League
Flip flops (we call 'em chanclas): Target

Thursday: Fall Fashion Week

2011-09-29T08:49:00.000-05:00

It's a busy, busy day. I have a filled day at work, which always makes me excited. For that reason, I like to wear something that makes me feel smarter. Of course I'll need something that feels great too! Tonight is date night, too! We are headed to go see Incubus!! Do you know how long I've wanted to see them? Eeeek!! (I'll try to snap a photo at the concert o include it in tomorrow's post.) I will also be inhaling copious amounts of caffeine today. My tiny one wanted to play into the wee hours of the night. Her giggles and smiles were so sweet, but *yaaaaaawwwwwwnnnn* this mama is tired! Without further ado...

Jacket: White House Black Market
Dress: Banana Republic
Belt: Sam Moon
Shoes: Tribeca, DSW
Necklace: Charming Charlie
Earrings: Gifted from a boutique in Kansas

Thank you all for the sweet compliments yesterday! It really boosted my self confidence! So much so that I was on enough of a high to go out and log some running miles. Wheee! High five!

Fall Fashion Week: Wednesday (with Tuesday snuck in)

2011-09-28T11:58:00.000-05:00

It's a bit late as I type this, so forgive any errors. My images are taken in the gym at my office. I'm still trying to get the hang of balancing my phone/getting good light, but I'll get there. Anyway, here's Wednesday's outfit (taken bleary-eyed, so excuse the look of confusion):

Earrings: Banana Republic
Top: Cream drop waist blouse Banana Republic
Cardigan: Banana Republic
Skirt: Banana Republic...notice a trend?
Shoes: Ellen Tracy, DSW
Necklace: gifted from my friend in NYC

Yesterday's outfit:

Top: Kohl's
Skirt: Ann Taylor maaaaany years ago
Shoes: Rocket Dog, DSW
Necklace: Premier, maybe?
Cuff: crocheted by me, I was on my way go get coffee, imagine that

*BONUS*
Here are my cuties!

On Baby T: Carters pajama set gifted to Mari, saved for T
Sugarbean: Spongebob Jammies, Kohl's

Edited to add...I tend to compliment people on a regular basis. Whether it be for their clothes or the smile on their face. It just seems 2nd nature. I can't tell you how often my compliments turn an otherwise dark mood to a much happier one. I try to compliment people when I ride up the elevator to the office. Even if I am half out of it, I think it is a good way to start the day!

Halloween Ideas

2011-09-27T18:46:00.000-05:00

Normally, I like to have the Halloween costume picked out and pretty much ready to go at the end of September, but I haven't really been focused on that. Until my friend posted this link to LilSugar.com's article about Best Costumes for Baby's First Halloween. If you look closely, you will see our Sugarbaby! They featured this photo taken by Pumpkin Pie Photography and she's wearing the outfit from Sweet Love Creates.

All of that awesome cuteness, what could I possibly dress her in for Halloween? Maybe a banana?

Really, I would like to do something fun for both gals, but it looks like Mari is insistent on being a princess. I'm gonna try to see if she'll dress up in a pink dress. If so, she can be Glinda the good Witch, Tesla can be Dorothy or a Munchkin, and Guapo and be Elphaba...or Toto. :D

Or why does it even have to be a theme? I caved and bought some lace rompers for the girls' dress-up. I think I could figure out a way to add some peacock feathers or feathers in general. What do you think? Or we could go a completely different direction and take advantage of some nifty outfits on Kohls.com. Using Kohl's cash and their discounts makes their costumes quite affordable. I like the idea of all of us being super-heroes. We could also be Star Wars characters. I think Tesla would make an adorable Yoda (they don't have it)! Of course, Mari could be Princess Vader (as she frequently likes to dress up). Or I think my favorite would be a family of rag dolls. Raggedy Ann & Andy family. Cute, huh?

Best laid plans, though. Halloween will soon sneak up on us and I'll probably end up being a banana.

How about you all? What are your ideas?

Fall Fashion Week

2011-09-27T08:58:00.000-05:00

Dangit, I totally missed it, right? Well, I'm still going to try to catch up, from here forward. I wonder if I should share my "day" outfits and my "at home" outfits. I think I will! Check back for a post later on for fashion. I might even feature my girls!

Change of Perspective

2011-09-26T18:14:00.000-05:00

I'm a working mom. I'm lucky to have an incredible partner in my daily adventures. Without him, well, I don't want to imagine it. Needless to say, we walk around in a zombie-like stage for some of the day. During the week, this is probably one of my most favorite views:

The one in the middle with the darker roof, that's my building! It's beautiful, right? When I first interviewed for the position where I am, I was in awe when I pulled up to the building. It reminded me of my adventure in Paris. I get to work in that building! Each morning during the week, bleary-eyed, I see this building and my brain clicks on. I like that feeling. As with all things, though, sometimes you need a break.

I took off a Friday to prepare for an extra special, sleep-away-from-our-kids night out with my hard working husband. In typical Bianca fashion, I did my best to not plan anything, but I still had some things scheduled. But I need to back up. Thursday, I was given a last minute project that was due mid-afternoon on Friday. Eeesh! I forgot to mention that I already had plans that evening with my beloved to attend a charity mixer. No worries, we'd still check it out and I'd work a bit that night and some of Friday.

Sure enough, we met up and boy howdy was he looking delicious! (Bonus points if you can find him) Doesn't that look fancy? I felt fancy! (Thanks Will & Nicole for watching the gals!)

We indulged on some yummies and toasted a night out. Sushi, crostini, open bar, lobster shooters oh my! By the end of the night, I was spent. I prepped for the next day and purposefully set my alarm for half an hour later. Instead, I was up half an hour earlier than normal. I helped Don get the Sugarbean ready and Tesla and I didn't rush the morning. I had a conference call, then I took her to school. I then chose to work away from home for a bit before my pedicure. (Lovely windshield...I should've taken the car to get detailed!)

Pedicure? Why yes! Thanks to Travel Zoo, I scored an awesome mani/pedi deal to a fancy spa! I bought it back during my birthday month and this was just the day to use it! Doesn't this just look so serene?

Next up, to meet friends for lunch! Here's where things were a bit wonky. More on that later.

Why yes, that's the fabulous Mandi of MakeupMandiTX! The service was unusually slow. The food was meh. But all of that was made up by the amazing company. When, I left, my phone started to die. I seemed to catch every red light. I couldn't get great parking. It was a disaster for the next several hours. And after a few crazy hiccups, things were finally getting back to normal. And I walked down the hall to our hotel room:

No, this isn't a scene from The Shining. It was our little getaway for the next few hours. See, we were attending our Primo's birthday party. Great Gatsby themed, with special instructions to arrive to the restaurant in masks. OoooOOOoooh! Here are several of us guest crammed into the elevator:

This is the party crew...

We dined, we danced, we took photos, both in front of the camera and behind it. We toasted and talked.

My favorite time in the evening was when we sat under the night stars on the open patio, laughing and random youtube snippets, singing, and just enjoying one another's company. Nearly 4AM (22 hours from when I was first up that morning) and I went to bed. I was up at 8, packing and getting ready to go home because the adventure was coming to a close. We drove home in silence, holding hands. (A very special thanks to my mother, sister, and nephew & niece for taking care of the girls for us!)

At the end of it all, I just had to give thanks for the life that I live. It's nice to go out and enjoy. It was definitely eye opening to me to see what our lives might have been like had we made a few different choices. But I wouldn't want it any other way. The thing that I kept going back to were these faces:

It was a nice adventure, but we missed our darling girls. Based on the way they slept, I think they had quite an adventure themselves! It seems a change of perspective did us all good.

Different Strokes, All Kinds of Folks

2011-09-25T23:04:00.000-05:00

Some of the most valuable lessons we are trying to teach our daughters definitely goes against some of the less liberal *ahem...conservative* thinking down here. One of the things that attracted me most to Don, from the get-go, was that he accepted everyone for who they were. He didn't care about the labels on your clothes, the color of your skin, the amount of money you had, where you came from, none of that. Like me, we accept people because they are good people. All sorts of really good people come from so many different walks of life. That's why it is important to expose our girls to all types of people. Granted, our close loved ones are quite colorful, in skin, personality, and best of all, experiences.

Today, we had the pleasure of dining with our friend and family for Sunday brunch. This special brunch also featured their first drag show. Not just any ol' drag show, but one that featured Erica Andrews (who has held every title a queen could have) and Candis Cayne. Holy cow were they beautiful! Even more than that, they were ever so gracious. After they had performed and they were about to leave, they patiently waited while Mari thanked them for their performances. Not only that, but they complimented her own beauty! I don't really think Mari has ever seen such glamour first hand. She even asked me if one of them was Barbie, to which I replied, no, her name is Candis. In awe, she whispered, "Caaaaandisssss." Clearly she was impressed.

When I walked in, I must admit, I was apprehensive. We were those people that brought children to a bar. Ok, ok, it is a restaurant, but it had the energy of a bar. I feared that we were going to be judged, which was totally stupid. Not only were we welcomed with open arms, but I didn't get any stares or gawks when I nursed Tesla. As a parent, I don't think I've ever felt more accommodated and welcomed at a restaurant. (Sidenote: Check out Dish for supreme service. The food was so-so, but the service was outstanding!! The show was just the icing on the cake!) From the moment we walked in, they asked us if we needed a high chair and/or booster seat. They even made waffles just for Mari. Tesla was curious about everything and after her nursing session, passed out. She totally slept through the entire show. Later, the manager walked up to us and told us that his own little one slept through the shows as well. Parents know parents. :)

At the end of the show, we made friends with some other patrons and they were so gracious to share goodies from their own party. They gifted Tesla and Mari with tiaras, rainbow leis, and candy necklaces. Tesla was all about that lei.

I lamented that I didn't get a photo of the performers with our girls. Another time, I'm sure. (Thanks to my cousin for capturing these for us!) We are beyond blessed to have a myriad of friends and family who encourage not only our own personal growth, but that of our children as well. What about you? What was your first drag show? If you've never been, you should go...and be sure to pack plenty of bills for tips. They are performers, after all!

Spicy French Fries: Adventures in U4 Soccer

2011-09-22T16:27:00.000-05:00

I've played organized sports since I was 5. I was the mascot for my sister's soccer team when I was 3.

Yeah, I was quite the stylish fashionista. Don't hate! Mom enrolled me in ballet when I was 4 and around that time, I also did gymnastics. Truth be told, I adored ballet and I couldn't get enough of gymnastics. My sister, on the other hand, really took to the soccer field, and the basketball court, volleyball court...well, she's a natural athlete. Me, I study the mechanics. I have all the parts to make up a decent athlete and the two things that I think that have helped me the most are: tenacity (a never-give-up attitude) and dedication. What I didn't have in height/speed, I could make up with my brain. I like how you can use your noggin and turn a physical game to a thinking one really quick. Athletics have always been a basic tenet in our family. It seemed only natural that our Sugarbean would follow in our footsteps, right. The big question was....when?

When she turned two, we thought long and hard about enrolling her in gymnastics. I even went so far as to scope out a location, interview friends, and find the right time for us. I bought her a leotard, but when it was time to commit, I chickened out. I felt that it was too soon. When she turned three, I knew this was going to be the year that she would be doing something. Initially, I was going to sign her up for ballet, when I realized that the basic principles of it, I could teach her at home until I knew it was something she was going to want to pursue further. While there are other kids in the classroom, they aren't as engaging as let's say, a soccer field. Our Sugarbean has been exposed to other children at her school, at playdates, etc, but she's never had to really showcase true teamwork (What's gonna work, teamwork!--Wonder Pets reference). When my friend told me that she signed up her son, I signed up Mari and hoped for the best. We thought we were going to be on the same team, but as we discovered, they don't normally do co-ed unless specifically requested. Even at the U4 age group, they are separated by gender. Then the email was sent out to all of the parents asking for a coach because one hadn't stepped up to do it. I waited half the day and then tossed my name in the hat. I thought I would be selected to be the assistant coach. Within an hour, I received the message that I was the head coach, thanking me for volunteering, then told I didn't have an assistant...yet.

On a Saturday morning, off we went to purchase her cleats and shin guards. When we arrived at Dick's I was excited that they had a soccer special. Cleats, shin guards, and a ball for $30! Score! Even better was that we got 15% off our purchase. I went ahead and bought a couple of pair of workout shorts and a practice jersey. That evening, when I put them on her so she could try it out, she was too excited. I asked her what she wanted her team to be called and she said, "Spicy French Fries." Honestly, I don't know where this kid comes up with this stuff. She's never eaten spicy french fries, so I blame the TV advertisements. I emailed the rest of the team and who knew that kids had such a sense of humor. We had a resounding approval for the name Spicy French Fries. Hysterical. This league provides uniforms to the U4-U6 leagues. When I went to the coaching clinic, I picked 'em up. One practice later, we were ready for our first game.

I was so nervous. Seriously, I was ready to vomit, kind of nervous. I just kept telling myself, have fun. Be sure the girls have fun. Teach them that they are little ladies and they can play, have fun, and enjoy the game with grace. Teams are normally made up of 8 players. Before the start of the first game, one of the girls had pulled out for this season, so we were down to 7. No big deal. We play 4 on 4 with 10 minute quarters and a 2 minute half-time. We don't keep score. I'd brought orange slices for half-time and for the after game snack donut holes and juice boxes. 42 tough minutes later and I was shell shocked. 6 of the 7 girls were in tears. One had completely left the game and watched it from the safe confines of her family van. The other team played confidently and seemed to understand the game. Later, I talked with the League Director and he put is very simply. Up to this point, we've taught our children to take turns, share, and be nice. When we put them on the soccer field, there's quite a bit of yelling and chaos, there's stealing, there's shoving...all of these things we've spent the better part of their young lives telling them NOT to do. Be sure to distinguish to them that when they are on the field, it is ok and they have the permission to do otherwise. Not biting, but they can "play" and win. That was great advice and I tucked it in my pocket to reference at the next practice. I also made a goal to only have 3 girls cry at the next game and 1 less parent on the field (by the end of the game, every girl who played had their parent on the field).

We also practiced passing, trap-stopping, kicking it in, and celebrating. I taught the girls to high five one another. We practiced our little cheer "1-2-3...GET SPICY!" By Saturday, I felt we were more prepared.

Tesla was ready...Gooooo Sister!!!

The game was so humid, it was like standing in a wet sauna. A couple of my girls had been under the weather at practice, and they looked mildly better at the start. One of our players didn't show because she was ill. During the week, we had another girl drop out of the season. Our small team of 6 total was short-staffed to 5. We took the field as always and were ready for the kick off.

Mari had a drive to score, but literally stepped out of her shoe. She was completely embarrassed and wilted by it and chose to sit out a quarter because of it. When she returned, she was timid, but seemed excited to be there. She wanted to hold my hand, and I let her.

We ran up and down the field. During one of the other team's goal kicks, I told her that the gal was probably going to "pass" it to her and for her to be ready. Sure enough, the gal kicked it in to Mari and it rolled to her feet. She stared at me seeking permission and I motioned for her to kick it in. And that is how the Sugarbean scored her first ever goal. She ran over and gave the gal from the other team a high five and I told her to thank her for the pass. The other little girl was so excited too! Was it possible that they were actually having fun? There were a few quarters we cut short and our girls were ready for it to be over. They happily snacked on their apple slices, chocolate bunnies, and chocolate milk. I looked around and realized that not one of them had cried! I only had 3 parents on the field, including myself. I considered it a major victory!

Now, I still need to get her to not get her feelings hurt when someone takes the ball away. (Who is this timid child?) I want her to not give up so easily and completely shut down. Luckily, we have a few more months of this to work on it. When I really think about it, this is why I wanted her to be in organized sports. I wanted her to get out of her comfort zone, learn about teamwork, learn what it means to commit to something/someone, and to have fun. Kinda like what we do at home with our family, but with her team. I see her growing more and more as she gets to know the girls more and becomes more of their friend. That brings me comfort, knowing that she already values her friendships. :) It's definitely been a fun adventure and I'm glad to be an official "soccer mom."

Any advice from you folks who've gone through this? Any thoughts?

Meal Preparation Preschool Style

2011-09-21T16:02:00.000-05:00

It is no secret that we like to prepare our meals around here. For a few months now, Don has given more and more tasks to the Sugarbean. Before, when I let her help me bake, I would just allow her to pour the pre-measured items into mixing bowls. You can imagine my surprise the first time I walked in on them preparing breakfast for dinner and Mari was cracking the egg with ease. I was quite impressed. I later saw her using a butter knife in an attempt to slice celery. I saw frustration growing across her face. I realized that she genuinely wants to help and be a part of the process.

Instead of keeping her out of the process and away from helping, we've decided to include her. I located Pampered Chef's My Safe Cutter. Retails about $4 (highly recommend this product and you may be able to find something that works for less, I just happened to be invited to a PC party and made the obligatory purchase, you know what I'm talking about).

This serrated knife is sharp enough to cut through apples and potatoes, but can still slice through breads and tomatoes. Look, I sound like an infomercial! Someday, I would like for her to learn how to properly slice and dice vegetables and fruit with a chef's knife, but for now, she's able to use a sawing motion to cut. Since we've had it, she has a new found fervor for meal prep. She will eagerly slide her stool in position, set up her cutting board, and go to town. And she follows the rules well.

The knife never leaves the kitchen, ever.
No walking/running with the knife.
Only cut food with the knife.
After use, the knife gets placed by the kitchen for us to clean it.
When we remove it from the dishwasher, the cardboard sleeve goes back on.
Place it in the drawer designated for the knife.

dicing cauliflower

I think we are well on our way! :)

Preparing the foods isn't the only thing that goes into meal prep. For the actual meal, we must set the table and get our drinks. She is responsible for placing the napkins/cutlery on the table and getting her own water. We have placed her cups in a lower cupboard so she can reach them. Lately, we've been enjoying our meals together gathered around a traditional Korean coffee/tea table that was gifted to us by our dear friend, TJ before she moved. (kamsamhamnida Teej!) It's great because Tesla can sit in her Bumbo and we are all joined together, which makes the meal more intimate. My favorite moment is witnessing us all bent down in prayer, everyone holding hands, including Tesla, with Guapo reverently by our side. After the meal, we all take our plates to the kitchen and M's job is to wipe down the table. Everyone helps, regardless.

What about you? When did you/will you introduce kitchen skills to your little ones? This is a great reference page for Increasing Preschoolers Mealtime Independence.

Learn How to Make Your Own Crochet Coffee Sleeve (Coffee Cozy)

2011-09-20T18:42:00.000-05:00

Coffee sweater? What's that? Well, you coffee drinkers...let me rephrase...you to-go coffee drinkers who buy your coffee from shops instead of making it at home, are often given a warm cup of heaven in a paper cup. If you are lucky, immediately next to the piping hot goodness are cardboard sleeves to keep your hands from burning. After all, the coffee you get is pretty hot. For this very reason, I elect to order my drinks at a cool-er 140 degrees.

...but I still use the cardboard sleeve.

I must go though two of these a day at work and once a week for when I go out, so that's about 10-12, but I've known that I've used about 15 in a week!!! That's too much waste! Enter the indie coffee shop. A few weeks ago, I treated myself to a wonderful bit of goodness to a local shop (hi Crooked Tree! seriously, if you've not tried it, go there and feel awesome and artistic and welcomed! good stuff). They frequently have stuff on display that you can purchase. Stuff like hand woven/dyed scarves from Africa, coffee, cookies, muffins, and coffee cozys! This time, the sleeve was actually a beautifully cable-knitted sweater. I loved it. And while I was ready to whip out some of my discretionary income to buy one, I made a mental note to make one. Because I have yarn at home that needs to be turned into something. (Sidenote, I've been avoiding purchasing this awesome felt cozy, but I don't know how much longer I'll hold out.)

I searched online for a coffee sleeve pattern, but all I came up with was for knitting or sewing. I didn't want to sew one, I really wanted that sweater effect. When we had rain the other evening (hooray for rain!!!!!!), I sat down to make a Christmas gift. I was going to make a sweater. I was doing the single chain when I realized that I didn't have enough of this particular yarn to make a full sweater. Since I bought it last year, I knew that the lot wouldn't match exactly. Instead, I thought I'd whip up a cozy. I don't know how crochet patterns work, but I know how to count. ha ha! Here's what I did:

9 or 10mm gauge needle
Jiffy yarn (not sure if it was thick & quick or just regular)
18-20 single chains (with a couple of extra to do the double crochet turn)
double crochet 4 rows
crochet the rectangle together

crochet coffee cozy!

I've clearly used it multiple times, but I just have to remember to bring my coffee sweater! :)

This is a nifty crochet reference page where I found this video.

Product Review: The Knot Genie

2011-09-19T22:56:00.001-05:00

Mari has curls that won’t quit. Much to many hairdresser’s dismay, we’ve never cut her hair. Not even a trim! When wet, her hair lays flat all the way to the top of her bum. It’s LONG! It’s WILD! It’s BEAUTIFUL!
When it comes to brushing her hair, though, it’s not so pleasant. There have been times that I’ve threatened her with having to cut it (knowing I wouldn’t do such a thing, but she doesn’t know that!). She loves having long hair like Rapunzel. Our ritual: wash hair once a week, condition with every bath, leave a pea-size amount of conditioner in her hair, spray with detangler, wide tooth comb wet hair, and blow dry. In the mornings, I smooth her hair down at the crown with Palmer’s Coconut hair milk. We brush out the “rats” once a week and man, it’s a chore!
Because of Zulily, I had the opportunity to purchase The Knot Genie at a discounted rate. I checked out the video and set up a game plan. Here’s the video:

Here is our before photo after the shower. Look how tight those curls are.

Here I am brushing it.

Here is the final.

(I can put up a video of the process if you are interested.)
Anyway, it is still a bit of an issue to brush her hair, but the process is much faster. She likes to brush her own hair, wet or dry. She loves the design and how it fits in her hand. I think the design is really great too. There were still a few knots, but I didn’t see as much hair being yanked out. I certainly didn’t hear that ripping sound of hair either. We didn’t have any tears and only one really big confrontation, which had more to do with her wanting to do it herself and not me. The bristles are pliable and for me, when I brush my own hair, it feels pretty good. I’ve scratched my head with it and wow, it feels awesome, not abrasive!
I give it a thumbs up and I would definitely recommend it if you have a kiddo with unruly hair and brushing/combing is quite an ordeal. I’m very glad that I purchased two; a purple one for the Sugarbean and a blue one for Baby T (for when she gets her own hair). I kinda wish I had that fancy silver one for myself!
**I was not paid by The Knot Genie to write this article. Nor did they approach me to write it, either. These opinions are my own because I thought the product was nifty.**

Energy & Growing Older

2011-09-11T15:52:00.000-05:00

In order to have a workout routine, it has to BE a routine, and it has to be a priority. Plan it, and make everything else work around it. If something conflicts with your workout, reschedule or cancel the OTHER thing. Workouts CANNOT be touched...your life and health, and YOU are worth it. by Artzy Fartzy

I read those words and a fire ignited within me. How can someone who seemingly have so much energy feel the need to be energized by these words? Well, I've been under the weather for the past week. I thought what I had were allergies, but with each day, things seem to be progressing for the worse. I have a crunchy, wheeze in my chest, my head pounds when I'm sitting vertically, and I'm so low energy, it's a nightmare. Usually when I feel these chest colds building up, I like to go for a run. Weird, I know, but something about running loosens things up and makes me feel a bit worse before feeling better. Yes, my chest pounds and aches during the process, but it is totally worth it! Such was the case yesterday, but today when I awoke, I'm still not feeling it.

Then I remember this picture. I snapped it one of the past few times my mom was in town visiting. My mother lives with RA and chronic back problems. Not back aches, but back problems. She had two intense surgeries six years ago. It took a year for the wounds from the second surgery to close. For a year, I could stare at the incision point, which was about 5 inches, and look at the sinew and muscle tissue of her lower back. It was by the grace of God that it was never infected. When I'm out and about with her, I've become numb to the way she is. I've learned patience and to look past things. It makes Mom uncomfortable for people to stare and make a fuss over her. What things to do you mean? Well, these are the things that typically yield harsh stares from strangers. (Occasionally, a kind soul will express concern, but mostly we get looks of disgust for not doing more for our mother, or looks that yell, you should just stay home.) My mom uses a walker to get around. That's not abnormal. But she can't walk more than 25 feet without having to pause. On good days, she can stand for 10 minutes. Most days she can only stand for about 5. When she sits, she always leans to her left. On really bad days, she does her best to rush in her walker where ever she can go, and will promptly lay on the floor. She is infinitely more comfortable on the floor than any where else. Of course, it is human nature to wonder. Can you imagine, if you were out and about, and you see someone just laying on the floor? You would think, what is wrong? If you saw the same person all over the place on the floor, you would then begin to wonder. What you have to understand is that mom isn't one to sit back and watch life pass her by. She's an active participant...no matter the adversity.

I tell you all of this for two reasons. One, to keep her in your prayers and she continues to wake each day and embraces every opportunity to live it. In the coming weeks, she will be undergoing preliminary tests to determine if maybe she can improve her quality of life. She will have to answer some tough questions posed to her because the potential risks depending on her choice could very well be life threatening. It is scary to me to see her in that situation. I'm certain it is even scarier for her. Please pray that she continues to have the strength each day and pray for clarity in her choices. Second, I tell you the inspiration and motivation why I do what I do. I somehow find the energy within to try to live each moment. To not take it for granted. I attempt to bend time to my will so I can do as much living as humanly possible. Feeling the sick, feeling the euphoria...it's all the same. It's about feeling and living.

What motivates you? What gets you going? Happy Grandparents day today! All of you grandparents are special people!

Review: New Balance Minimus

2011-09-06T20:11:00.000-05:00

Do you remember your most favorite pair of shoes from your childhood? No? Maybe I was the only one who obsessed about shoes to the Nth degree. Physical Education class in 6th grade introduced me to community showers, spray deodorant, and quick changes. Back then, there were specialty shoes for different activities. I had softball cleats. I had sandals. I had some basketball shoes. Some of my friends were sporting the fancy Nike Air Max shoes. Me, well, I had Payless brand Fastbak (sp?) sneakers. They white leather shoes, that bordered the old school nursing shoes. Not attractive. Shortly into the school year, we were required to do these 20 minute runs. Essentially, the coach would start the clock and you had to run for 20 straight minutes. I remembered being so stressed about running for 20 minutes straight, until I actually did it and then it became a challenge to see if I could get 3 miles in 20 minutes. I became really close when I wore a pair of red slipper type of shoes that resembled a pair of TOMS. Less bulk shoe, the faster I felt. I had speed!

Fast forward 20+ years and here we are today. I'm still in pursuit of that perfect sneaker. Nearly three years ago I bought my first pair of Vibram Classic five fingers. Last year, to prepare for the triathlon, I purchased the Vibram Bikila. This year I was going to go for the Vibram Speed, but held off. The more I wore the Bikila, the more restricted I felt in them. They didn't "stretch" as much as my Classic. It just felt like more shoe minus the speed. I also had a pair of regular running sneakers that I HATED wearing. Every time I wore them, I felt like I was running in boots. Too heavy! Then, I heard about the New Balance Minimus with the Vibram sole. I'd been wanting these shoes for a long while. Well, wanting to see them, test them out, give 'em a whirl.

When I set off to rent another hybrid bike for my 2nd triathlon, I popped into the neighboring Run On! (Sidenote: I felt like such a traitor for not purchasing at Luke's because I'd been shopping there for the past 3 years!!!!) They had the shoe in stock and in my size. I slipped 'em on and boy howdy did they make me feel powerful! They were a bit snug around the middle of my foot and gave my arches a good hug. Let it be known, there is NO arch support inside of the shoe. There's a very light weight mesh upper with an AMAZING, gripping Vibram sole. I my toes stretched and flexed, my foot felt stable and I knew with time, the internal footbed would mold to every curvature. I was looking forward to taking them for a dance. I wore them around the remainder of the day running errands. No better way to break in a pair of shoes than to wait for the last day, right? That's sarcasm, by the way. DON'T EVER break in a pair of shoes the day before any race, ever, ever, ever! EVER. Unless your name is Bianca and you are a glutton for punishment.

5AM came plenty early. I threw on my outfit, laced my sneakers, and was excited about not having to worry about socks. Although, I did pack a pair just in case. When I walked out, the air was chilly. Seriously, I had a chill. A few days earlier, 5AM still had near 100 degree temperature. That day, it was right at 70. Wow! We arrived and immediately, I set off to the transition area to prep my bike, towel, and whatever else I thought I needed. I took off my shoes, and left the laces wide open to make putting the shoes on easier. And then we went to wait. No seriously, the race began at 7AM and it was 6:20. Again, I was towards the end of the start, so I didn't get into the water until 8:10. My swim time was much improved! I felt so confident with it that I think I could actually get my swimming time down to as fast as I run in the water! I came up to the transition area feeling loose and great. I put on my shoes, helmet, camelback (lifesaver!!!), gloves, and Tech WW jersey. Off I took, and an hour and 12 miles later I found myself in the transition area once again. I slipped on my race number belt, grabbed my phone, and took off running. Half an hour later, I was done. Good thing too because Tesla was hungry...and we packed the kitchen sink, but forgot to pack the bottle!*

No blisters on my feet. No tired feet! No aching knees. No aching hips. No threatening ankles. Mildly sore shins, but that was rollover from the last tri and other runs. I expected the pain to be far worse, when in reality it wasn't bad. Quite the opposite, actually. See how happy I am? Yes, those are fashion sunglasses on top of my head. That's how I roll! This is me with my sister. We are showing off medals and our "guns up!" That puddle under me is the spot where I'd just washed mine and Mari's hands. Why I didn't step away from it, I have no idea. I know it looks like I peed myself. ha ha! (Shoutout to Mom & Dad for being awesome! Not only did they cheer us on, but they watched the girls for us so we could compete!)

I was quite surprised how quickly these shoes "dried". I was still quite wet from my swim when I put the shoes on. I did try my feet, but there was probably quite a bit of runoff. I didn't have a bicycle cage for the rental. It was just a regular ol' foot pedal. As I biked, I could feel water flying out of the shoe. There were a few times that my shoe slipped off from lack of grip. I made a note to be sure to have some kind of cage/strap for my pedals. Also, you must double knot these shoes. Half way through the ride, one of my laces came undone and I wasn't about to pull over to tie it. The lace survived and luckily, didn't get caught up in the wheel! In the 2nd transition, I took the time to double knot both shoes. The run was on a parking lot surface, a sidewalk, part of a track, and ended on turf. All of those varying surfaces and not one single problem! I'm not sure how they would fare with socks. I've only worn them while barefoot. Even then, I don't have an issue with "stinky feet" smell in my shoes.

Hours after the race, we were off to a photoshoot with a very active set of 4 year old twin girls. I wore the shoes again. They were even more comfortable during the shoot. I seriously want to buy a 2nd pair of these just to keep them in my rotation. I highly recommend them if you are into minimal/barefoot running. They retail about $100. Now to find a fun pair of red shoe laces! :)

________________________

*And Momma doesn't get a break. Baby is hungry, so here I am feeding Tesla a few minutes after finishing. I kinda wish Mae Burke would have appeared out of no where to capture this, but Don did pretty good with the camera phone. For the record, this is one of my most favorite memories!

Time & Presence Presents

2011-09-02T12:31:00.000-05:00

I'm going to go ahead and say it that way it is real. I realized that I spend quite a bit of time in front of a computer screen. A few years ago, Don and I purged ourselves from our TV watching. What started out as giving up TV one day a week turned into us watching TV one day of the week.

More recently, when he finished "my room," (I promise, I will give a full tour when I finally move in) I moved my computer from my corner spot to my new desk. Surprisingly, I have found myself less inclined to go to my room because I would rather be on the floor playing with my girls.

Time is precious. The Sugarbaby looks so much like her daddy, it is no wonder that we all fall head over heels in love with her. I remember with the Sugarbean, that life seemed a whole lot slower and less hectic. I remember having the feeling of juggling many plates, but not like it is this time around. Realizing that, I discovered that I control my time and with whom (or how) I choose to spend it. Often, I've tried to consolidate activities so that I can share time with loved ones.

This weekend I'm doing another Sprint Triathlon. I'll feel all the pre-race jitters, and be calmed in knowing my sister and husband will be enduring each physically taxing activity with me. I'll know that same feeling they've felt for years. I'm lucky too because my parents will be coming to town to watch the girls and to also cheer us on. This is the first event of this sort that both of my folks will be able to cheer for us. Truth be told, it makes me a helluva lot more nervous, but makes it all that much more exciting!

In some of the evenings during the week, we've been running around the neighborhood or dining at home with friends. I treasure these moments. Because your friends, your true friends (and family, too), understand that life with with little ones requires you to hit the pause button and they don't mind if you have to reschedule an infinite amount of times. You are ever so much more grateful that they keep inviting you to come out and in those fleeting moments when reading the email invitation, you are reminded that you were once a young cool chick, who drank wine and cocktails at spontaneous happy hours (instead of Sonic Happy Hour drinks that you may or may not spike at home), you picked your outfits because they were hot and chic (not because they were easiest to nurse in or the most comfortable to squeeze in a nap), and many parts of your appearance were composed (you didn't show up to work with one brown and one navy shoe and thought, oh, I didn't even realize I had heels so similar). When after such a long hiatus of seeing one another in real life, they don't roll their eyes when you go on and on talking about how amazing your children are, even if they don't have any of their own. Their genuine interest in your life and your kids is a blessing, some of the most special parts of friendship. Likewise, you are especially eager to hear of their own adventures! If you don't have kids of your own, and you go above and beyond your friends who do have kids...ESPECIALLY going to their home for a visit of just a bottle of wine or coffee...well, cheers to you because you are THE BEST kind of friend. Your presence is a tremendous present!

I don't lament those days past. I'm glad I was fortunate enough to go and have a whole slew of adventures before entering this phase of life. I do lament some friendships that have gone by the wayside. It's ok. It makes me appreciate all that I do have and those special folks to understand that.

Because of that, I disconnect from the world. I'm glad I've elected to move my computer to another location. When I get home, I don't spend as much time "connected" to the world. I check things on my phone, but otherwise, don't engage. I do more talking to my husband. More reading to M, more snuggling with T. I video chat on the phone with Brother and my parents (thank you Tango!). I'm forcing myself to go to sleep earlier. So far, I've moved my bedtime up a half hour. I need to be every bit as present in those awake hours than not. Too quickly, this...

turns into this...

in the blink of an eye. (*tear*) I just don't want to miss it.

I came across a blog today that talked about planning for a more minimal Christmas. The ideas he presented were wonderful. A few years ago, when I talked with my parents about our gifts, I asked them to put money towards a large family adventure where we can make memories. This year, we will do just that and I can't tell you how excited I am! Vibrating with excitement!

How about you, what do you do to bend time so you can get the most out of your time with your loved ones?

Review: Artizone

2011-08-31T14:22:00.000-05:00

Hooray! Another review! I'd been wanting to do an HDMR because I actually went to see a current release, but I think all of you have see The Help by now, so instead, I will focus on food. (What's my deal lately? You can clearly see my motivation is food and food related!)

Artizone

Artizone offers you the opportunity to buy from your favorite artisans with the convenience of online shopping -- the time and money you save from driving to the store, shopping for ingredients and driving back home again can be spent on creating your very own culinary masterpiece.

I was introduced to Artizone via Groupon. Like I mentioned in yesterday's post, we like to take advantage of these sorts of deals. I've been purchasing things here and there with Groupon for a long while now and it is a great way to try new things that I might not have otherwise been keen on trying. When Artizone's came up, I was intrigued by the concept. Then, when I reviewed their list of shops, I was ecstatic. I mean, to have heavy hitters like Spiceman's FM 1410, Hirsch's Specialty Meats, Scardello, and La Duni in one stop shop...that's like a dream come true! (I also have it on good faith that Dude Sweet will be soon joining the lineup, too!)

Honestly, I have to admit I forgot to buy the Groupon the first time around. However, I have a darling husband who actually listens to me and purchased it. In passing, he casually asked me to a date at home and told me that we had to be home by a specific time for a special delivery. Of course, I didn't put that time in our calendar and it was one of those days where I was feeling like my 22 year old self and felt like running the world. I dragged out the entire family in the 108+ heat and managed to eek out 1.5 miles before I said, this is ridiculous. Who in their right mind hits the track with that heat...ahem, me. We then received a call that the delivery was waiting for us at our home and my heart sank. This was the super special delivery that Don had set up and we weren't home! But when we arrived home, the delivery driver was fantastic! He remained upbeat and positive, and was not at all put out by our tardiness. He hauled in our delivery and everything was beautifully packaged! I felt oh-so-fancy. Not long, I was shoo-ed out of the kitchen because all of these items were supposed to be a surprise. Dangit! I can't attest to all of the packaging, but I will say that the produce was in a lovely box and looked very happy and special indeed.

The quality of the food was fantastic. Well, when I was able to finally enjoy it when the surprise was revealed over the course of the next few days. We indulged in Larken Farms cucumbers, Scardello (smoked gouda cheese that had Mari asking for only that cheese, refusing the kid-staple Kraft American cheese), Busy B's eggs, and Empire Baking Company bread & peanut butter. Not long after that, Groupon had another deal featuring Artizone and I was absolutely ecstatic. I purchased two. One to share with my family this coming weekend and another to return the favor of our own in-home date night--this time I plan. I forsee Rex's Seafood, Scardello cheese, La Duni sweets, and a decadent pasta from Holy Ravioli. We'll see! Regardless, I know the food will be top quality and the service extraordinary! Check them out, you will NOT be disappointed by the awesome selection and the amazing service! There is free delivery through the end of the summer.

**I was not paid to write this review for Artizone. I was able to take part in the Groupon when they offered it, but nothing else was offered or given to me for my review. This review is based on my opinions with working with Artizone.**

Budget 2: Supper Club, Discount Sites, & Consignment

2011-08-31T06:00:00.000-05:00

It's been a while since I first mentioned budget. Well, in my attempt to achieve some sort of life balance, I've sorely neglected my blogging duties. I apologize for that. Anyway, the next items to mention are Supper Club, Discount Sites, and Consignment Sales!

Supper Club
We used to do this more and I hope to start it up again. Essentially, Supper Club is where you get together with friends and share a meal. This achieves many purposes:

You share the cost of a meal with friends.
You get to spend time with friends socializing.
You exchange recipes if you choose.
You try new foods.

We typically alternate homes where we have the meal. Who ever hosts is in charge of the main entree. If you are a guest, then you bring a side item. This is the same concept as meeting friends for dinner. The only thing is that with this, you plan in advance, you prepare your meal, and instead of paying (in our case, $60+) for the meal, you pay less than a fraction of that. If you plan it around themes of food: Italian, Mexican, Indian, Japanese. I really like this because we can do this with other families who have children. This way, we both don't have to pay for childcare and the children entertain themselves! If you are feeling especially sassy, feel free to bring a bottle of wine to share with your friends. Drink responsibly, but also, you can discover new libations. Single folks, you guys can do this too! Hang out with your friends, share a meal, and still have room for leftovers to take for your lunch the next day.

Discount Sites
Make use of sites like Groupon, LivingSocial, BuyWithMe, and others. There are a lot of great deals to be had for quite a bit less. Groupon has introduced a GrouponNow feature that allows for the deal to be used that day. No worries if you don't use the GrouponNow deal. You are just refunded the money. The only drawback to these is that you MUST use your vouchers before they expire! Otherwise, you are just wasting money. (Guilty party, right here!) Another win is that they have a Causes page which focuses collective giving for a specific charity. People can partner together to make their micro giving a major grant to help fight the highlighted charity.

Also, you can utilize discount sites like Zulily, BabyHalfOff, HauteLook to purchase items you like, but at significant savings. Of course, you don't get to pick what items are on sale and when, but they are still a good deal. While shipping isn't a whole lot, it does stink to have to constantly pay it when making a purchase, especially if you purchase items with a large-ish subtotal. I guess that's how you can get spoiled with free shipping. Truth be told, having to pay for shipping has prevented me from completing many purchases, which in and of itself is good because I probably didn't need whatever it was to begin with!

Consignment
When I became a mom, I discovered just how expensive children can be. I wanted Mari to be clad in all sorts of cute fashions and designs, but when I read the sticker price on many things, I was in for a total shock! There was no way I was going to be able to afford the cutesy boutique clothing I'd come to adore on my budget. I remembered thinking, how do people afford to have more than 1 or 2 kids! And then I discovered stores like Kid-to-Kid and Once Upon a Child. You can later imagine my excitement when I discovered Divine Consign.

Sidenote: There's another one called JBF, but I don't like to participate in that one. The two times I tried to shop with them, I was rudely turned away and vowed to not return. There are plenty of other consignment sales in my area that I can shop and not have an issue. That's my own personal experience, so don't let that influence you in any way. I'm just telling you how it was for me.

Divine Consign is a twice a year consignment event. Unlike the previously mentioned stores, which are open year-round, DC's shopping sales are awesome. You can shop for gently used or new items for a fraction of the price! They have some incredible stuff there. Some of my favorite pieces for my girls have been purchased at this sale. I have graduated to consignor, so the goal now is to break even when I shop. I have yet to meet that goal, but I have come close. Once upon a time, I budgeted about $200 for clothes for each season, with an extra $30-$50 for a coat/swimsuit. This was when I paid full-price for clothes and shoes. Now, I have been able to whittle it down to a little less than that amount for both girls, including the coats and other accessories. I now have a great appreciation for hand-me downs, even though I hated them growing up. I will totally sympathize with Tesla! The beauty of these sales is that I'm almost always guaranteed to find a brand-new items with tags still attached! Many of these articles of clothing are from the specialty boutiques too. Not just limiting to clothing, they have furniture, toys, books, carseats, sports equipment, feeding/bathing tools...pretty much anything you need for a baby up to when they are 10, you can find it. This is a big win for me!

Product Review: The Diva Cup

2011-08-30T18:00:00.000-05:00

For those of you who are a bit squeamish, this post comes with a warning. Do not read any further if you don't want to read about how the female body works and the different cycles it goes through. If you don't like that sort of thing, move along. Matter of fact, go here, to check out this happy page.

***************************pausing for everyone who wishes to go. don't say I didn't warn ya!***

Alrighty, the rest of you brave souls, thank you for staying! I'm going to talk about the Diva Cup today. First of all, this is a bit surreal for me to think that I'm writing this review. Seriously, who really puts this much thought and effort into their menstural cycle? Some of you, please comment and let me know that I'm not alone, nor am I the only OCD female when it comes to this. You see, for the better part of twenty plus years, each month I've dreaded day 2 & 3 of my cycle. Not because I get horrible cramps or migraines, or turn into a feral animal in my pursuit of chocolate, but because I don't want to worry about having a mess (i.e. leaks). You can imagine how stressful it was for a junior high and high school girl in sports to worry about such things. I'd heard stories of a gal's pad falling out during one of her cheerleading jumps. It never happened to me, but the thought, the horror! I didn't like the idea of panty lines with my spandex volleyball uniform, let alone a pad line. And you might be thinking, duh, Bianca, why didn't you wear a tampon? I did! Super Plus, even, but they just weren't ever enough. Well, you know, you are supposed to change them often! Again, I know this. But minutes within a change, I'm back to the beginning, hence having a pad. Not a liner, mind you, but a full-bodied pad...with wings! You can imagine my horror for tournament play, when there wasn't a bathroom nearby. I became really great at quick changes and a master bathroom finder.

And then one day, I happened upon someone mentioning a reusable cup. I think they called it a Moon cup (woohoo, made in the USA). I thought they were out of their mind and a bit over-the-top crunchy and granola. Yeah, I dismissed it with my snobby traditional feminine products self. Fast forward a few years and I read a positive testimonial about their use of a menstrual cup . This time around, I'd already pushed two small beings out of my nether regions, so what was the big deal in trying something new and different. One of the many discount bulk buying sites (babyhalfoff) was running a special on the Diva Cup (Canada, 'eh!, still supporting my North American buddies), so I pounced on it! I had already considered purchasing a cup on my own, so at a discount, I was definitely going to give it a try!

When it arrived in the mail, my first thought was what! That looks entirely too large for my comfort. But I had already committed to giving it a try, so I sat down with the instructions and read them a few times. I squished the silicone in my hand and was surprised at how bendy and elastic it was. When I folded it like the instructions said, it definitely became condensed to a point where I didn't fear it. The time came for me to give it a whirl. I told myself, I will definitely commit to day 1. If it goes without any issue, I will try day 2, but I wasn't expecting to be able to use it on day 3. Certainly not. Day 1 came, and not only did I tempt fate by using it, but I ventured out in public, to a party, in a white dress, with no liner, even! I wore it for six hour and truth be told, I was paranoid about a leak. Nothing. I was shocked. Day 2 rolls around and I'm every bit as skeptical as I have been. This time I wore a liner. I wore it for 9 hours before cleaning. No leaks, no issues whatsoever. AMAZING! Another 6 hours, no leaks. I even squeezed in an aerobic type of workout complete with jumping, lunging, bending, squatting without any issues at all. Over night (surely there'd be some leaks) no leaks! Day 3, the ultimate day where I worry the most...I continue with wearing a liner. I wear it for 6 hours and realize that it is no where near full, but I'm glad that I opted to empty and clean it earlier than planned. Another 6 hours, same thing, but not a big deal. I'm an old pro at it by now. I hit the gym for a swim and have absolutely no complications or weird sensations. Day 4 and 5 are a breeze! I'm so confident, I don't even wear the liner. Speaking of, all those times I wore the liner, totally not necessary, whatsoever.

Honest Truth: I had to get used to the slight pop during removal. A seal is made upon insertion, hence the reason for no leaks, so that seal must be broken. Also, it is still larger than a tampon, but not in any way noticeable to me like a tampon. Heck, not noticeable at all, which is really weird to me, but also amazing. Seeing all of the fluid collected in it is a bit gross. However, I've been dealing with poo and vomit, so this didn't creep me out as much as I was expecting it to.Plus, I can totally plan my day around the times when I insert and remove it so I'm at home...mostly. I've had to change it a couple of times in public, but it really wasn't as big of a deal as I expected it to be. It was actually less of a deal than attempting to clean up a leaked mess from times past. For what I typically spend in a two months span, I bought the Diva Cup. My environmental impact is lessened, but mostly I feel 100% protected and confident during another otherwise unattractive time. No issues with rogue strings, failing adhesive, overly aggressive adhesive, or a plain mess. I give this product a resounding thumbs up and a huge recommendation. That is if you can get over the issues I mentioned. If not, then you've clearly never worried about leaks to the point that I have or you might need to let your mind marinate on the idea of it all before you give it a try. Regardless, I would highly recommend this product!

**I was not paid for reviewing this product, nor was I compensated in any way. I am not at all affiliated with Babyhalfoff, Diva Cup, or Moon Cup. I am not opposed to receiving items to review or giveaway on my blog, but this time I just really liked the product. These thoughts are my own opinion.**

Knick Knack Party with the Dog and Came Rolling Home

2011-08-25T06:00:00.000-05:00

Knick Knack Party with the Dog and Came Rolling Home

And that's how the Sugarbean sings "Knick Knack Paddy Whack Give a Dog a Bone." The past few weeks have been a bit hectic on our end of the world and well, I've opted to try to get some sleep instead of writing down what I was experiencing. Well, at that moment. Thank goodness for my trusty camera phone (all pics in this post are from it), because well, I have been able to capture some terrific moments and I fully intend to share with all of you.

First off, I want you all to see this photo. It was a lazy Saturday afternoon (a rarity in these parts) and both girls had gone down for a nap. I myself was preparing to nap, but found myself attempting to move into my new room of requirement. In what seemed like 10 minutes (which actually ended up being nearly an hour later) I heard giggling coming out of the monitor. Guess who had snuck into her sister's crib and woke her up. They were having a conversation all their own, too! I just love how smiley and snuggly they are.

Even though I told her that Tesla needed sleep, and she should probably let her rest, she lingered a while. I guess they had some playing to do. I quietly creeped down the hall to see what they were doing and this is how I caught her:

That blue glow is Tesla's ladybug Cloud B light. Someone was trying to show her how to work it. At this point in time, Mari had also turned the baby monitor off. Funny. Later that afternoon, I gave Tesla a bath and noticed that her hair was finally long enough for a teeny-tiny bow:

I told you it was teeny-tiny. Unlike her sister, she's also a fan of sitting in the Bumbo. She actually prefers sitting in that instead of a high chair. Interesting, huh?

Recently, Don had his annual eye appointment. When he went by to pick up his prescription, I guess someone wanted to play dress up. I think she looks pretty cute in those glasses! Studious indeed. Luckily, she doesn't need specs just yet. By the way, I scored that shirt for $3 at Buy Buy Baby! Woot!

Time seems to have sped up, though. My girls get along famously with one another and it warms my heart. I love how they interact with one another so easily. I already see how wonderful their friendship/relationship is and I can't help but beam. Mari is getting closer to making the connection that you can put the sounds of letters to make words. She knows all of her letters, she knows their sounds, and she can actually spell things, but isn't quite reading, almost, though. Crazy! However, she still inhales 6-10 books each evening before bed. Reading is one of her favorite activities. Here she is reading to her little sister....who, look, can now sit up unassisted. *tear*

That's the other thing I forgot to mention. After we put down Mari for the night, Tesla can't seem to get enough of snuggling with me. And you know what, I don't mind one single bit. So for now, I've neglected my work-outs, blogging, crafting, and bajillion other things to enjoy these few moments. All the rest of that stuff will be there later. Thank you all for still being loyal readers and for being patient!

Moving Day

2011-08-24T06:48:00.000-05:00

Hello friends and readers! After four short years I finally settled on an actual domain to call my home*. Please change your bookmarks/feeds, etc... to www.hellobianca.com. Very clever and inventive domain, I tell ya. ha ha! No, actually, I wanted something simple and easy that my mom and MIL would remember without having to use the Google to find me. I'm hoping she will remember this one. (hi Mom! hi Carol!)

The actual move will take sometime this evening (maybe sooner), but I wanted to be sure to get in this last post on the old domain. Anyway, thank you so much!

*I hope all of my stuff transfers over, eeek!

Review: Mat Kearney–Young Love

2011-08-22T22:37:00.001-05:00

When I was selected from the One2One Network to participate in the review of Mat Kearney’s latest album, Young Love I was thrilled! Every once and again, he would pop up on one of my many Pandora playlists and each time, I’d look to see who it was and it always led me to him. I don’t know why I’d never purchased his albums before. I guess I always saw it as a special treat…a little gift from Pandora. “Nothing Left to Lose” has a special place in my heart, the melodies, his voice, those words, it’s just perfect mellow driving music.

If you aren't familiar with Mat's music you've probably heard some of his previous hits on your favorite TV shows. Past songs have appeared on 30 Rock, Grey's Anatomy, The Hills, Friday Night Lights, Scrubs, NCIS, and numerous other television shows. Mat's been winning over crowds on tours with everyone from John Mayer and Sheryl Crow to Keane and The Fray.

Anyway, I received the album in the mail and I just have to say, there’s something special about opening up a brand new CD, pulling out the jacket and realizing that the words to the songs are handily inside. Not everyone does that and I don’t know why. So thank you, Mat!!! For that reason, when I feel it necessary, I will highlight some of my favorite lyrics from the song.
On with the review…
Young Love opens with a fresh, upbeat song, “Hey Mama” that is actually written about his wife. Any guy that can somehow sneak in an Anthropologie reference is a man after my heart. ha ha…But seriously, you are hard pressed to not find yourself snapping your fingers or clapping your hands with this track. It is infectious and positively filled with love. Check out the video here:

Next up is “Ships in the Night” which is more along the lines of classical Mat Kearney, well at least to me. I love the high notes he hits, but then contrasts it with a more spoken melody. Not quite a rap, but definitely not his singing voice. This is probably my favorite song of the album. The words he uses definitely paint a powerful picture: “And fists fly from my mouth” This song speaks to me about not giving up, even when you disagree. Anyway, it’s a good song and maybe you will too.
“You Can Count On Me” is a fun little number (hehe…pun) where he intertwines his wordplay with numbers in a heartfelt tune for the one he loves. This is the kind of song I wish someone would always dedicate to me. Sometimes we can’t find the words, but music helps to fill that void. This can be a bit cheesy, but it is uplifting and reassuring.
“Sooner or Later” took a bit to grow on me. It sounded a bit Coldplay-ish in their synthesizer period. Nothing bad, but it just wasn’t one that captivated me like some of the other songs. I’ll put it on simmer and let it marinate before totally counting it out.
Midway through the album, we are faced with “Chasing the Light.” This one has the clapping built in, complete with his signature harmonies. It is a classic Mat Kearney song that is easy to sing along to. My favorite line from this one: “10 pounds heavier from wasted time” Plus, he talks about praying for the person he is singing to. This is whole song is a prayer for all those who are lost.
“Learning to Love Again” is quite haunting and chilling when you listen to the words. “That was the real you singing hallelujah, looking down a barrel” It is definitely easy to get lost in this song, but once you pay attention to the words, you can find respite in them and a big sense of solidarity…if you’ve ever been down that road.
Following, is “Down” which is a close second favorite. The words alone are powerful, echoing personal experiences that I am facing, of which is a typical example of young love. The hook alone: Can you hear when we call | There where we fall | Standing our backs against the wall | Top of our lungs hallelujah | Where pain and love bleed into one | Baby when all you see is darkness | Coming down now | We all need forgiveness It gives reason to step back, pause and give thanks and glory, even in our struggles. For anyone who is going through their own struggle, you will definitely relate to this song.
“She Got the Honey” is another sunny clap-along about longing, feeling, and crushing. I dare you not to get up and dance along.
Next up, “Young Dumb and In Love” opens with an awesome rift. “The prettiest face and those rock-a-bye baby browns”…swoon, makes me love my brown eyes even more! This is the song that I’d sway with my beloved, dancing in our kitchen late at night while we wash dishes. It makes me happy.
Finishing up with “Rochester,” which is a gut-wrenching song about his father. It is a bit heavy to finish with, especially with a complete 180 to the song before it. It is well-written and makes me wonder if perhaps this wouldn’t have been one of those “secret” songs that you stumbled upon, 3 minutes after the last song on the album, but still a part of the same track. Some of you will know what I’m talking about.
All in all, I would recommend Mat Kearney’s new album Young Love. Overall, it is really great and I don’t think you will be disappointed. It is currently available for digital download and in stores for the actual album.

**I was selected by one2one network to review the new Mat Kearney album. I did not receive any compensation, other than a copy of the CD to write up the review. Thank you One2One.**

Barbie® Needs New Clothes

2011-08-07T17:46:00.001-05:00

I don’t know about all of you, but we are in a frenzy over here trying to get ready for school. But Bianca, you don’t even have children that go to school yet, what’s the big deal? Well, I am married to the very best Physics & Environmental Science teacher ever!! And, I like to think that my girls daycare is “school” (it helps ease the guilt-blow every morning when they are dropped off).

With that said, the Sugarbean’s last week of her little school is this week and then she starts bonafide pre-school. (sniff, sniff) She’s a thousand kinds of excited. The Sugarbaby starts her school this week. Big sister has taken it upon herself to show baby sister the ropes of her school and to help ease baby sister’s fear of school. Who knew 4 month olds had such anxiety? I’m just glad they will share this week of school together. It definitely helps to ease this mommy’s anxiety level. For the record, it doesn’t get any easier the second time around.

All that to say, we’ve been preparing. Tesla & Mari received a couple of new dresses for preschool from their Grandma. I’ve been fast and furiously labeling bottles, Charlie Banana diapers, and changes of clothes. Also, we purchased a couple of graph paper composition books for our #1 teacher and bags and bags of school supplies to donate to kiddos. Whew! With the help of my MIL, Tesla also has a few wetbags for the dirty diapers too. I really do need to learn how to sew in a zipper!

Because of ‘em, I had a few scraps of fabric I could put to use. All fabric is Robert Kaufman that I picked up a long time ago at City Craft...and I’ve been hoarding it for a few years. I opted to use those scraps and make some new clothes for Barbie!\

First, I made a cocktail because I knew working with teeny tiny seams would totally test my patience and I needed to be in my chill zone. Thank you Sonic Happy Hour and Tito’s Vodka! huzzah! *cheers*

Then, I logged in to my Pinterest and pulled up this awesome tutorial for making Barbie® clothes. I scratched down the dimensions and this is where I didn’t really remember what she did and just sorta winged it on my own.

Original dimensions call for 6x2” for the bodice and 5x12” for the skirt. As you can see, I didn’t really have one long 12” piece for the skirt, so I sewed three pieces together. The additional ribbon she mentioned was for sleeves, but this one would have it. I like the elegant look of a strapless dress.

After sewing the three skirt pieces together, I zig-zagged the edges of the bodice and the skirt. Then, I basted one longer side of the skirt to gather tightly. I pulled and gathered until it seemed to fit around the doll properly. After gathering, I took the bodice top and with it backwards, I “fitted” it to the doll and marked where I would add a dart with a pin. Since I didn’t sew all of the way up or do any cutting, it isn’t exactly straight. I don’t think Barbie will mind.

Then, matching right sides together, I pinned them together, attached them. and I had the dress. Next, I added an additional band around the waist because I had a tiny bit of fabric and I didn’t like how “unfinished” it looked. Finally, I added velcro to the back and fit it to the doll and BAM! That’s it!

As Mari says, “Barbie® no longer looks like a cochina!” For those of you who don’t know, cochina is a dirty girl or a nasty girl. We often use this when we don’t want Mari to show her panties and insist she wear shorts under her dress. The message clearly sticks because she knows Barbie® shouldn’t be one either!

It took me about 20 minutes, but that’s because I had to refill my drink. ha ha! If you have some scraps, go on out and make some dresses to rid the world of cochina Barbies®! Are you all going crazy trying to get ready for school too? Do you think Barbie® clothes are too revealing? Do you think they are too pricey?

Happy 4 Months to Tesla

2011-08-03T17:42:00.000-05:00

Dear Baby T,

This post will be all your own. Right now your number one mission is to grab hold of your feet and shove as many chubby toes into your mouth as you can. You do this while simultaneously rolling to your side. When you tire of your feet, then you fully roll onto your belly and proceed to do this awesome hybrid crawl off of your play mat and across the living room carpet. Slow down, darlin', you don't have to rush through things so quickly!

I've been quite impressed with your communication skills, too. You aren't signing with the fervor from the previous month, but you are attempting to formulate words out of your baby sounds. You lunge at your sister, large puddles of drool falling from your mouth as you happily say "MMMmmmmMMMMMmm" I think you know her name is Mari and maybe, just maybe you are trying to say that. You make a similar "MMmmmm" when you are staring and yelling at me when you are hungry. I know you are trying to say Mommy. But Daddy? No "ddddd" sounds just yet, but boy do you love being held in his arms. You especially like it when he stands you on his lap or he walks you around the house.

All that to say, you enjoy being held by someone or touching someone when you are awake and asleep. It totally melts my heart when we go to bed at night and in your half sleep, half awake state, you reach out your tiny hand to touch my face and stretch your foot to touch my leg. Yes, you are still co-sleeping with us and that is quite fine with your father and I. Good thing we upgraded to a king size bed.

You are wearing 6-9 month clothes perfectly. I'm not-so-secretly afraid that you won't fit into the bathing suit I purchased for you for a beach trip during the winter. EEK! And your cloth diapers? They are fantastic! We have had zero issues with them. When we have noticed they are getting a bit tight around your legs, we just loosen the elastic and we are good to go. You are at the last stage of the medium on that. More of your hair has come in and it is a really light brown, even a bit reddish-brown. You have a lighter complexion than your sister and it isn't because you aren't in the sun. You are quite a little water baby!

Also, you are really starting to enjoy your play gym. You've managed to turn yourself around in it quite a bit. Because of all of that work in your gym, you have really increased your core muscles. You can sit up for a couple of minutes on your own! In the next week or so, I know you'll be doing quite a bit more of that. Unlike your sister, you watch a bit of television, but otherwise are uninterested in it. You are completely captivated by classical music, picture books, and books with photographs (I need to introduce you to Annie!!). When I sing, you sing. Sometimes you sing in your sleep!

We've been fast and furiously stockpiling the pantry with foods we hope you will enjoy. We are hoping to push that off for another month or so, but we'll see. You have been staring at us with such intensity when we eat, even mimicking chewing and smacking your little mouth.

Your little personality is starting to shine through and I'm so happy you are in this world to brighten our days! Next week, you start your school and it's the first time you will be in the world with new strangers (who I hope become your friends). I'm anxious about it, indeed, but I know you are in good hands. Your sister loved the school and thrived in that environment and I hope you will too!

We love you dearly, little Tesla. Happy 4 Month Birthday to you!!

love always,
Mommy
XXOOXXOOXOXO