Little Gray Pixel

Happy Birthday, Baby

2012-01-28T04:15:00.000-08:00

Dear Alexa,

A year ago today I heard you cry for the first time. I gazed into your eyes for the first time. I held you in my arms while you slept for the first time.

I never fully understood how people could say "time goes by so fast" and "they grow up so fast" -- until now. Those excruciating hours breastfeeding that I never thought would end? They became short days. Those long days that away from you at work I never thought I would endure? They became short months. Those long months awaiting the "next stage"? They became a short year.

And now you're several stages past the first one. You went from a squishy newborn to a cooing cutie to a sitting duck to a leaning wonder to a crawling curiosity to a cruising troublemaker. You went from nursing every hour to holding your own bottle to eating hummus and pita.

Today we will eat cake and celebrate you, baby girl, and all the stages that have yet to come. There are so many more, and I fully intend to enjoy them because they are all so short.

Xoxo,
Mommy

Me, on my first birthday, nearly 32 years ago. I still make this face when I see chocolate.

Friday Night Tunes

2012-01-27T16:54:00.000-08:00

As a very clever YouTube commenter wrote: "I will gladly play you Tuesday for a Wilco song today."

So That's Why She's Been Waking Up Screaming

2012-01-26T09:42:00.000-08:00

This adorable little girl doesn't look like she can scream like a banshee, does she? Well. She has you fooled. Because for the past few nights she's been waking up around 10 p.m. and shrieking at the top of her lungs.

Our first line of defense is to check her in the crib and make sure she has her binkie. Sometimes that's all she needs. But no. Binkie is in her mouth, and she is standing up, bouncing up and down. Is her diaper soiled? No. Is she hungry? Negative.

As soon as I hold her, the calms down. So I try to rock her to put her back to sleep. Oh, if only it were that simple. The entire time I'm trying to lull her back to dreamland, she's kicking her legs and talking up a storm.

She doesn't appear to be teething. She doesn't have a fever.

If there's one thing that drives me more batty than a screaming, kicking baby, it's not knowing WHY I have a screaming, kicking baby.

Just when I'm about to have an aneurysm trying to figure out this brain teaser, a baby development email arrived in my inbox. Lightbulb moment.

"But the period of time before your child takes her first steps might not be so much fun for you. Just before they walk, toddlers-to-be often start waking up at night every four hours or so. Try not to become frustrated by the break in routine — the big achievement your child is preparing for will be worth it."

Whew, mystery solved. But wait. Does this mean I'll have a walking terror on my hands ANY DAY NOW? Omg.

Link Love

2012-01-26T04:32:00.000-08:00

Some of the fun things my swap pals have been up to lately:

Sara introduces her Serial Thrifter Girls project (psst: I am very happy to be part of it!).
Pamplemousse1983's California Dreaming photo block reminds me of why I love SoCal. (above)
Sew Bea makes a mean chocolate-banana ice cream.
This bright-yellow roundup by The Ravenna Girls will rid you of any winter blues.
That Mama Gretchen shares some veggie smoothie tips. And so do her readers.
Annie rocks the blogging boat with some pet peeves and why she hates mommy bloggers.
Kelley of Brixton Makes Three notes the overuse of onomatopoeias in her daily life.
Eliza has some sweet Valentine's tags in the works.
Mama G finds out she's expecting with a mac-and-cheese craving.
Deanna of Delirious Rhapsody is starting to pay it forward.
Love is all you need. Imprintalish's DIY felt art shares that sentiment.
Janel of Run With Scissors makes me want to start a Project Life scrapbook.
Five moments Tales of Grace does not want to cherish.
Joanna's chicken vindaloo over at Brock Paper Scissors is making my vegetarian mouth salivate.
Jodi mends family ties over at Sweets and Shutterclicks.

If you'd like to swap with LGP in February, reserve your spot today.

Photoshoot: Winter in Wichita

2012-01-25T04:02:00.000-08:00

The next installment of our Midwest trip continues ...

We left Kansas City early New Year's Day to make it back to Wichita for a gathering at my Aunt Denise's house. We had a blast catching up with myriad aunts, uncles and cousins we haven't seen in a long time because we haven't been able to make it back for the reunions. Living far from family takes its toll.

When we first arrived, Alexa clung to me and wouldn't let go. She slowly warmed up as family passed her around and played with her. Before too long, she was cozying up to my Aunt Linda and asking her to read an Eric Carle book.

After leaving the party we met my best friends from high school for dinner. Afterward, we brought the party back to Dad's place, where we stayed up giggling and chatting until the wee hours. Sadly I don't have any photos of our get-together. I was having too much fun gossiping!

The next morning we had lunch with more family: my uncle, aunt and cousins on my mom's side of the family.

There also was relaxation. We had lunch at a coffee shop downtown and did a little thrifting. My favorite place was an antique mall. One of the vendors had the best taste in midcentury modern furniture. I was bummed I couldn't buy it all and store it in my massive new home on the outskirts of the city. (So many housing developments, all with prices that made my L.A. self cry in frustration.)

It was a blustery day. The wind in Wichita is one of those things you forget about when you're not subjected to it on an everyday basis, but let me tell you. It's nothing to mess around with. We're lucky we didn't blow away. Forget about doing your hair, mmkay.

A few shots where the wind seems blissfully absent:

Alexa enjoyed spending time with her Grandpa (or as she calls him, Baba).

To be continued ...

Shit People Say in L.A.

2012-01-24T22:14:00.000-08:00

"Do you have almond milk?"

Guilty.

The It List

2012-01-24T04:00:00.000-08:00

Five things I'm lovin' right now ...

Sandwich art by Low-Commitment Projects. (This one is Mondrian-inspired.)
This interview, in which Julian Casablancas chats with Robby Krieger and Ray Manzarek of The Doors.
Quilt pizzas.
"Crossed," by Ally Condie. The "Matched" sequel is besting its predecessor so far. Love!
The colorful dinosaurs in Mandy's terrarium/aquarium.

As always, you can see more things I'm lovin' over at Pinterest.

True Colors

2012-01-22T23:25:00.000-08:00

Ten more things you may not (want to) know about me ...

(71) I have this bad habit of hanging my purse over a kitchen chair when I walk in the door. I've tried to put it straight into the hall closet. This worked for, oh, a month.

(72) I do the same thing with the diaper bag.

(73) OK, fine. Any bag. Except not plastic grocery bags, but only because those handles are too small.

(74) The extent of our child-proofing has been to plug the exposed outlets and to remove the toxic chemicals from beneath in the sink and onto a tall shelf. I figure we will play this by ear. I don't let Alexa roam freely into mischief ... yet.

(75) I found a choir stole in one of my high school memory boxes last night. I have no memory of stealing it.

(76) I've purged many a book to Goodwill to keep my collection lean and mean. Some authors who still remain on my bookshelf: Jack Kerouac, Bret Easton Ellis, Hemingway, Arthur Nersesian. Plus my mega collection of Beatles books.

(77) I also keep the old books. Mostly paperbacks from the 1960s that belonged to my mom, including my favorite: Confessions of a Hitch-hiker.

(78) Some chick lit authors I love: Jennifer Weiner, Jane Green, Emily Giffin, Sophia Kinsella, Stephenie Meyer. I do not keep their books because I doubt I will ever read them again. Sometimes I pass them along to friends, sometimes I donate so another person can enjoy them. I also adore the Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger and The Hunger Games series (all of which I've borrowed from a friend).

(79) I read and loved a huge sum of Agatha Christie books. I do not own many of them because I checked most of them out of the library when I was in college. I also read and loved all the Harry Potter books. I do not own them because I read my mother's copies when they first came out.

(80) I worry that my recent addiction to reading books on Kindle will lead to the stagnation of my physical book collection. But I can't help it! It's too easy to lie in bed and scroll through pages on a smartphone. I no longer get arm cramps from reading in awkward positions. It's revolutionary.

This is part of a series of confessionals. Mad props to Deanna for the inspiration.

Steppin' Out

2012-01-21T22:15:00.000-08:00

What I'm wearing:

Cardigan: TJ Maxx

Blouse: Lane Bryant (part of the capsule wardrobe)

Jeans: Target

Shoes: LifeStride (part of the capsule wardrobe and sooo comfy)

Necklace: F21

What Alexa's wearing:

All: Janie and Jack, gifted from Sara

It was some kind of weird day here in the South Bay. Cloudy and raining one minute, stupid sun peeking out from behind the clouds the next, wind gusting like it's the Midwest or something. These kind of schizophrenic days really play a number on my psyche. Plus it's kinda difficult to know how to dress when it's 20 degrees cooler in the shade vs. the sun. Still, most locales have to deal with schizophrenic weather more often than L.A., so I should quit my bitchin'.

Yesterday Alexa was scratching her eyes violently, and I realized it was because her bangs were too long. So I pinned them up with a barrette and chopped. I could feel that my scissors were slipping. I knew it would end haphazardly. I KNEW IT. But I still went with it. Sometimes being a mom means always wearing your poker face. So I present to you Alexa's first asymmetrical haircut. I'm sure it won't be the last. She's a pretty edgy baby, wouldn't you say?

You can't see my necklace, I know. All these photos, and not a single one of the necklace. I'm going to fire the photographer (just kidding, H). It's nothing terribly exciting, just a glass strawberry with gold seed accents. And by gold, I mean the appearance of gold (because it's from F21 and cost $5.80).

A big shoutout to Sara again this week. Without her Alexa would be naked and I would be topless and shoeless. (Hardy har har har.)

Photoshoot: New Year's Eve, Part II

2012-01-21T06:53:00.000-08:00

Taking a peek back at New Year's Eve in Kansas City. We came indoors in the afternoon and enjoyed a few quiet hours.

Alexa fell asleep in my arms and I transferred her to the corner of the couch, where she slumbered for another few hours, take comfort in the murmuring voices and small movements from the rest of her family. Paranoid as always, I built a fort of pillows around her to keep her safe.

The aroma of glazed ham filled my brother and sister-in-law's impeccably styled 100-year-old home as dishes appeared on the table and Lola emerged during her wakeful period, her eyes open and alert. She couldn't keep the paparazzi away.

At last we sat down for a wonderful feast. It's only been a few weeks since I went meatless, and looking at my last meal of ham has me salivating.

Alexa joined us at the table, her pigtails askew, just in time to help us clean off our plates.

Afterward we toasted s'mores on the patio and watched New Year's coverage on TV that made me feel older than the hills. The new parents retired well before midnight, as did Alexa, but H and I stayed up with Dad ... just long enough to say "Happy New Year!"

Part 1 of New Year's Eve here.

Surf's Up!

2012-01-20T22:21:00.001-08:00

I've been watching surf movies all night, and I had to share this with you. Watch it, you won't be disappointed.

100 Movies: 86, 87

2012-01-20T07:49:00.000-08:00

And the countdown continues in my quest to watch and find something inspiring in every single one of Yahoo's 100 Movies to See Before You Die.

Y'all, I've been doing this list so long I'm pretty sure the link the above paragraph is broken. Yahoo is even over this list.

Still, I trudge on ...

Let me tell you what I went through to procure a copy of this film. First, it doesn't exist on Netflix. Second, the DVD is obscure and outrageously priced. So I started asking around, and finally I found a colleague who owns the Apu Trilogy and agreed to lend it to me. I have been hoarding it for the past three months. I really should return it, but I haven't gotten around to watching the other two movies (and I'm told I really ought to).

Back to the movie. A story about a would-be unemployed writer in Calcutta who goes to a friend's cousin's wedding on a whim. Before the ceremony, the bridegroom steps out and the writer's friend somehow convinces him to step in and marry this beautiful woman. Against all odds they fall in love and get pregnant. His wife dies in childbirth and Apu is so devastated he wanders the earth for years, letting his parents-in-law raise his son in the meantime. I found his behavior deplorable. The only bit of sunshine arises at the end, when he returns to his son and they walk off together, Apu smiling like he hasn't in years.

Sorry, did I give away the ending? Well, so does the photo above.

Anyway, I'm inspired to be a better parent than Apu. And if I ever think I'm not being a good enough mom, at least I could say I never abandoned my child!

Jim Stark: Nobody talks to children.
Judy: No, they just tell them.

I actually really like this movie. I can't believe I haven't seen it more than twice in my life. James Dean, Natalie Wood, teen angst. What's not to like*?

There's a chickie run that ends in a death. Jimmy tries to do the right thing and tell his parents, but they're not listening. He tries to go to the police, but the thugs threaten him. So he does what anyone would do: go to an abandoned mansion with a pretty girl and hide out for awhile.

I'm pretty sure I had a little crush on Jimmy the first time I saw this movie (I was 17). What really appeals to me at this point in my life is to find my own abandoned mansion and pretend it's mine for one night. I would prefer to avoid the chickie run beforehand, though.

*Something not to like: the fact that both Jimmy and Natalie ended up dying violent/bizarre deaths at a young age.

How to Plan a Cheap But Awesome Wedding

2012-01-19T11:58:00.000-08:00

I've mentioned before that H and I threw a wedding on a small budget. I've been asked to share some tips on how to do so, and I must say I'm highly flattered. I must share one caveat, though: We got married in 1998. That was quite a few inflations and financial disasters ago, so it's doubtful anyone can do in 2012 what we did nearly 14 years ago (omgz) and still get away with spending less than $5,000.

On the other hand ... couples getting married in 2012 have an advantage we did not. A little something called the Internet, which in 1998 did not boast wedding blogs and wedding sites and online boutiques and myriad other resources that kowtow to the bride and groom. We found our venue and officiant in the yellow pages. Do I sound ancient or what?

All this in mind, I do have some quick tips for keeping costs down.

Keep it small.
No need to go Kardashian here, folks. Do you really need more than 100 people at your nuptials? I know this is a toughy for people who have enormous families or whose cultures dictate that the entire city be invited, but I have two words for you: destination wedding. Or, in a pinch: elopement.

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Consider nontraditional dresses.
There are more than 12,000 vintage wedding dresses listed on Etsy and most of them cost less than $200. eBay has even more. If you've got the time and inclination, you can go straight to the thrift store or antique mall and start looking for hidden treasures. You can easily shave hundreds of dollars off your dress budget by shopping secondhand*. Take heed of "Pretty in Pink," though. Molly Ringwald's dress ended up a hot mess; that's why you don't alter your own dress unless you're a professional. Enlist the help of a seamstress and get that dress altered to fit your body. It'll still cost less than a brand-new gown.
* If you absolutely must have a new dress, might I suggest BHLDN's line of party dresses, many of which are in the $200-$300 range?

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Find an offbeat venue.
We got married on a Christmas tree farm. In June. Many seasonal places like this offer pretty good rates and pretty backdrops. Bonus? The reception area was onsite. Two-for-one! How about a public park that you love? If you live on the coast, obtain a permit and get married on a public beach. If you or someone you know has a fabulous home or backyard, do that. You can save thousands by searching for an unexpected spot.

Do it yourself.
Become friendly with your local hobby store. We bought fake flowers and designed our own bouquets, corsages and boutonnieres. We bought fish bowls and crafted our own centerpieces with pebbles and tea lights. I designed our programs. We made a few mixtapes (aging myself again) and avoided hiring a DJ. Bonus? No random awful songs popped up on the dance floor. Everyone got down, as our family is wont to do.

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Know where to cut corners.
Look in your closet. Chances are you already have a pair of shoes that will work for your wedding day. And I'm pretty sure you or one of your friends knows how to use a blush brush to create a blushing bride. You don't need a makeup artist. Other (more controversial?) places to cut corners -- for your pocketbook, your parents' pocketbooks and your bridal party's pocketbooks: showers, bachelor/bachelorette parties, rehearsals, rehearsal dinners. These are all things the media tells us we need to do, but I didn't do any of them, and I survived (as did my marriage).

{+}

Forgo the big dinner. BYOB.
No need to cater some expensive meal that people complain about anyway (have you seen the nerve of the people on TLC's "Four Weddings"?). We served up deli trays for sandwiches and crudite platters for guests to munch on after the ceremony. We also had a barrel of beer on ice and bottles of wine and encouraged everyone to bring their own poison. Some circles might consider this gauche, but it's supposed to be a party. Relax. Oh, and the less time spent on dinners and speeches, the more time spent on the dance floor having a good time. Can't go wrong there.

Call in some favors.
Are you friends with someone who sells party poms? Do you know someone who bottles their own wine? Call 'em up, see if they'll give you a discounted rate to supply your reception. You can bake them a treat or take them out for drinks to say thank you.

Throw a party to get people to help you with projects. For instance, my brother and sister-in-law had a pumpking-carving party a few days before their wedding, and the lit jack-o-lanterns lined the path to the reception hall. You could also gather all the best bakers you know and spend a day making cupcakes for your dessert table. The possibilities are endless.

Don't get bogged down by possibilities.
Back in 1998, it was possible to get overwhelmed just looking at bridal magazines. So many great ideas, which ones to choose, etc. But it's even bigger now. There are so many inspirational blogs and websites it is easy to come up with huge portfolio of ideas. The downside is that it's all the more difficult to whittle ideas down and say no to the excess. Do you really need a chocolate fountain? How about those mismatched chairs -- unless you already have a collection of them, are you really going to fork over hundreds of dollars at thrift stores (chairs usually cost a minimum of $10) and/or weeks of your time trash diving or picking up free chairs off Craigslist to track down the perfectly rustic look? If not, let go of that idea and focus on the details you want your guests to remember. A fun handmade photobooth with silly hats and feathers for your guests to take impromptu photos of themselves, perhaps? It's easy and inexpensive as opposed to deceptively elaborate and potentially costly.

{+}

Finally, do not skimp on this. Pay for quality.
Photography.
I wish I had heeded my own advice, but sadly that's why I have a cautionary tale. Our photographer was a friend of a friend, and he worked for cheap. We have cheap photos. No candids. All posed like we're waiting for our "picture to be made" in the early 1900s, which is fine for 1919, but not so great for 1998. We would've been better off giving our guests a bunch of point-and-shoots and telling them to go for it. It's laughable now, but I do wish I had a pretty wedding photo to hang on the walls.

Freebie! Facebook Timeline Cover Art

2012-01-18T22:11:00.000-08:00

Hey, I just switched over to Facebook's timeline. Anyone else make the leap? What do you think of it?

Not sure how I feel about it quite yet, but the option to upload cover art has me intrigued. Here's a little something I threw together tonight. Click here to snag the full-res image. Personal use only, please.

Photo of the Day: 1.9.12-1.17.12

2012-01-18T13:33:00.000-08:00

Catching up on 365 Days of photos ...

01.09.12 {my go-to spinach salad for lunch}

01.10.12 {in which I catch her terrorizing the cat under the table}

01.11.12 {coming up on 14 years in June}

01.12.12 {commute corner}

01.13.12 {bookworm}

01.14.12 {artless}

01.15.12 {doodlin'}

01.16.12 {impromptu beach time}

01.17.12 {rearranging the DVDs}

Aaaand ... we're all caught up.

Steppin' Out

2012-01-14T23:40:00.000-08:00

What I'm wearing:

Shrug: Torrid, part of my capsule wardrobe by Sara

Ruffled tank: Mossimo, thrifted

Jeans: Style & Co., capsule wardrobe

Shoes: Torrid, capsule wardrobe

"Mom" necklace: gift from my friend Shelly

Amethyst ring: Mooreaseal, gift from H

What Alexa's wearing:

Dress: Baby Gap, gifted

Onesie: Children's Place, gifted

Yellow hair clip: Target

This is what we wore today. It was a leisurely Saturday. I slept in, blocking out the sounds of Alexa wreaking havoc in the living room with H. When I woke up we ate blueberry waffles and enjoyed the rest of the overcast morning. We finally went out to drink some Coffee Bean and wander around the party store to get inspiration for Alexa's first birthday party (two weeks away omigod).

Sara's capsule wardobe is in full effect lately. She gave me so many pieces I'm not sure I'll ever be able to do them all justice. I'm really just get started here. My BFF Shelly gave me this necklace when we saw her on our trip. She pointed out that we have known each other for 20 years. Holy cow.

The ring. Well, the ring is a Christmas gift that H so thoughtfully purchased for me from my very own Etsy account without my knowledge. (Or maybe I pounced on it for myself and made him wrap it up for me. I can't say.)

Alexa's dress is so adorable. I fear she's getting to the age where every cute outfit will be ruined in milliseconds, though, because as soon as I zipped it up she wanted to crawl around. It's much more difficult to crawl in a dress than in pants, it turns out. The next thing I know she's squeezing bites of clementine all over herself. Her socks serve the sole function of sweeping the the floors. And shoes? Forget shoes. She takes them off immediately. She scrunches up her nose as if to say, "uh-uh, not on my feet," swipes her hands at them and yanks them off. Oh, this girl! I love her.

Photoshoot: New Year's Eve

2012-01-14T07:18:00.000-08:00

New Year's Eve in Kansas City was unusually warm.

We had arrived the night before after a long day of travel. Our flight was delayed four hours at LAX because of fog that closed down the entire airport. What the what! I guess the weather here isn't always perfect. I had been nervous for months about flying with Alexa. She is spirited. And energetic. And ... it was fine. She didn't even mind the four-hour delay as much as I did.

I was way too eager to meet Lola Belle, my new niece. The only setback was that Alexa and I were both getting over that awful Christmas cold, and we couldn't hold or touch the wee newborn. My cameras got pretty friendly with her over the course of 24 hours, though. (This post is all point-and-shoot. I'll break out my DSLR shots soon!)

We went for a brisk walk around my brother and sister-in-law's new neighborhood, which included independent coffee shops, bookstores and toy stores. We saw some crazy stuff in the science lab part of the toy store. Two-headed cat in formaldehyde, anyone?

The nice weather brings out the little boy in my dad.

Back at the house, we sat outside to enjoy the patio my brother built and the afternoon sun beating on our faces. I checked in on Beatles Week, which was happening on the blog ...

Lola slept in her mama's arms. I think she liked the outdoors, but that's just a guess ...

Alexa explored the area and found the perfect lookout spot.

And here, the new parents and now two-time grandpa.

We barely heard a peep out of Lola the few nights we spent at my brother's. It was more difficult to get Alexa to sleep in a pack 'n' play in a new environment. She would wake up howling in the middle of the night. I had to rock her to sleep half the trip, and I haven't rocked her to sleep since she was 4 months old. I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy it somewhat. And having her curl up to me and snooze on my shoulder ... awww. Holding her like a little baby is so few and far between anymore.

To be continued ...

Baby Talk

2012-01-13T13:49:00.000-08:00

Forty-five weeks old

Forty-six weeks old

Forty-seven weeks old

Forty-eight weeks old

Forty-nine weeks old

Fifty weeks old

Dear Alexa,

Baby girl, you are nearing the home stretch on your first year. You are on the go all the time now. Just crawling and crawling and crawling. Standing and squatting, jumping while holding the rail in your crib, opening drawers and pulling things out.

Your daddy and I have our work cut out for us. We are constantly trailing you, making sure you do not try to eat an inedible object or cram your tiny fingers into the DVD player again.

Your favorite things to do are to rock out with your guitar or piano, read your books and chase us around the house.

I thought I'd be able to keep up with a week-by-week update, but I had no clue how quickly time would pass. I really didn't have a single clue.

Last year at this time I was waiting on pins and needles for your arrival. I was going to second and third opinions after the ultrasound specialist told me we should schedule a C-section. I was so worried about my birth plan and how it was being hijacked. How silly it all seems now. You arrived just like you were supposed to. Still, last year at this time there were a lot of tears of worry, and your daddy had to calm me down a lot.

He might have to calm me down in a few weeks when I sob uncontrollably at your first birthday party. My baby will be turning 1 soon!

Xoxo,
Mommy

10 Dollar Bill

2012-01-13T07:40:00.000-08:00

You've got $10 in your pocket. Why don't you ...

... tuck one of these butterfly hair pins by Which Goose into your 'do to add whimsy to an otherwise ordinary day? After frolicking in a field picking pretty flowers, you could cozy up and watch "Labyrinth" with your honey. Just remember what to say* to the Goblin King.

*You have no power over me.

My Word for 2012

2012-01-12T13:39:00.000-08:00

Every year in January the mood changes. People start getting serious about their lapsed gym memberships. The holiday sweets start to look sour. Everyone makes hollow resolutions.

I've stumbled across some people who have chosen a word for the year instead, a word that will help them focus on the thing that is truly important to them. I started thinking about what my one word would be for 2012, and I came to this conclusion:

Cliche, right? Isn't that the point of every New Year's resolution, to change?

Yes, and no. This word means more to me than meets the eye. You see, for the past year I have changed in one of the biggest ways imaginable: I became a mom. My life got turned upside down by Miss Alexa, and I would have it no other way. I became less selfish, opened my heart in ways I didn't think possible, survived on less sleep than a hunted gazelle, learned how to juggle a baby, car seat, stroller and diaper bag alone in public. So much change! Still, all this change happened to me. I didn't do much last year to affect any change.

I feel stagnant. Like I'm just coasting along. Like my ambition died.

That's all about to change.

I can't tell you how this word will manifest itself throughout the year because my life is a work in progress, but I can tell you what I'm doing right this minute to change.

Change my diet: This week H and I went meatless. We are planning to do this as long as possible, perhaps forever. I'll write more on this later, but let's just say it's going well so far.
Change our cleaning methods: We are working toward a more efficient way of keeping our house in line now that Alexa is crawling and soon-to-be walking. She is a tornado, leaving a mess in her path, and we are being proactive to counteract her. Among the goals here: Do a cursory sweep every night before bed and put everything back in its place. It's a work in progress.

Then there are some other changes in the foreseeable future:

Change our living situation: We are not content in our current apartment and are looking for a more compatible place to call home. We will be patient, but we will be looking.
Change into a morning person: I could use some tips on this one, but I need to be less of a zombie in the early morning for Alexa's sake.
Change my blog focus: I used to love all the structured features I came up with, but lately I feel like they're stifling me instead of helping me connect with you. More on this later.
Change my skills: I'm coming up with a list of projects to work on throughout the year so I can get in touch with my as-of-now-nonexistent crafty side. I'd like to better my photography skills, too.

I'm sure I'll identify other things to change as they come along. I'm encouraged by this process. Would you be willing to try it? What would your word be?

"When you're finished changing, you're finished." -Benjamin Franklin

The It List

2012-01-11T07:25:00.000-08:00

Five things I'm lovin' right now ...

Patterns From Above aerial photography. The images are stunning.
Everything about this Givy lookbook photo. [via]
Tassel garlands. Tutorial by Delightfully Tacky.
This recipe for Greek custard pie.
Beds with storage underneath instead of dust bunnies. [via]

See more things I'm lovin' over on Pinterest.

Photo of the Day: 1.1.12-1.8.12

2012-01-10T16:47:00.000-08:00

Just another little photo dump (and a sneak peek from our Midwest trip!).

1.1.12 {a family reunion}

1.2.12 {topsy turvy}

1.3.12 {stay gold, ponyboy}

1.4.12 {at the zoo}

1.5.12 {four generations}

1.6.12 {soaking in the sun}

1.7.12 {the ~~white~~ red stripes}

1.8.12 {berry delicious}

Aaaaaand. We're all caught up.

Photo of the Day: 12.19.11-12.31.11

2012-01-10T08:26:00.000-08:00

It's official. This is the longest I've gone without posting my daily photo. But I didn't really drop the ball. I still took a photo, so my 365 Days project is on track. All it really means is that I have a few massive photo dumps to bestow on you. You've been warned!

12.19.11 {early morning bedroom light}

12.20.11 {20 percent}

12.21.11 {brown paper packages tied up with string}

12.22.11 {faux-stitch freebie tags}

12.23.11 {mean and green}

12.24.11 {pretty packages}

12.25.11 {sleeping Christmas baby}

12.26.11 {candy cane lane}

12.27.11 {colorful winter in L.A.}

12.28.11 {turning 11 months old}

12.29.11 {king of the road}

12.30.11 {earning her wings}

12.31.11 {meeting my niece Lola Belle, 2 weeks old}

Whew. Congrats if you've made it this far! Isn't little Lola a cutie patootie?

Steppin' Out

2012-01-08T21:21:00.000-08:00

What I'm wearing:

Dress: Old Navy, capsule gift from Sara

Cardi: Target

Leggings: Old Navy

Sandals: Payless

Teething necklace: Koukku

What Alexa's wearing:

Dress: Old Navy, Christmas gift from Sara

Pink hoodie: Gifted

Pink leggings: Thrifted

Navy mary janes: Janie and Jack, gifted

We're back in L.A.! This is what we wore out for the day. First on our agenda, we thought we'd check out some townhouses for rent. Turns out they weren't townhouses, they were upper-unit apartments with a view of the alley. They weren't even the photos posted on Craigslist. Renter, beware. H flagged that shizz faster than you can say "scam."

We need to find someplace to live that has carpet and more windows. Call me the reverse hipster, but I've done hardwood floors now, and I'm so not impressed. And living in a dungeon is not for anyone ... except maybe goths (also not me).

Anyway. The clothes. Ahem.

Sara was super generous at Christmas and hooked me up with a capsule wardrobe. I'll be posting more about this in the future, but let's just say she took a set sum of money, worked her shopping magic, and presented me with jeans, skirts, shirts, dresses, shoes, cardis, etc. This dress is just one of the things she found for me. I can't thank her enough. She is really a genius. She also presented Alexa with many, many new outfits, including this little dress. Loooove.

The necklace I'm wearing is one I picked up while shopping for my sister-in-law for Christmas. It's a beautiful fabric-and-wood teething necklace. I've been desperate for jewelry I could wear that Alexa wouldn't be able to break, so I had to have one for myself. I have nothing but good things to say about Koukku.

Thus Concludes Beatles Week

2012-01-08T13:30:00.000-08:00

Thanks for letting me take you down as I went to Strawberry Fields this week. Now you know all about my love for the Fab Four. I hope you enjoyed everything as much as I enjoyed putting it all together!

I'm back from my trip to the Midwest, and I'll soon have lots of photos and stories to post. I'm currently slogging through all the blogs I've missed while I took a big break from the Internet. All those new year's resolutions to "blog more" are in full effect, I see.