Laugh out Loud

30 before 30

2012-03-01T09:33:00.000-06:00

I'm 29! Bah!

I have 1 year left to live up my youth! (ha, I am too immature to be old - forever young!) What to do, what to do...

Well, I am a list maker (total Type A). I like to visualize what I want to do. That way I can physically cross things off the list and feel accomplished.

I have seen a couple of these lists done and could not wait to get on board. My good friend Jenny recently did one and I have borrowed (stole) some of her ideas.

1. Hopefully have another little miracle...
2. Read the Bible - Cover to Cover
3. Volunteer somewhere, for someone in need
4. Pop a champagne cork (well learn how to and then have a reason to do it!)

5. Try Indian food (its crazy that this has not yet been accomplished)
6. Turn the tv off for a whole month. B - do you think we can do it?
7. Go Camping - in Canada?

8. Learn to play at least 1 song on the guitar
9. Read 50 books (ok everyone, gonna have to start suggesting some short or reaaaaally good books)
10. Enjoy a sunrise/sunset in peace and quiet with just me and B.

by Clay June

11. Catch fireflies with Xander.
12. Force my friends to escape with me for an all-girls weekend.
13. Do something crazy with my hair (like colored highlights or tinsel or whatever the latest fad is) even if its short lived.
14. Brush up on my Espanol - maybe Rosetta Stone.
15. Sew Xander a "big boy" quilt.

16. Complete my very own Project 365.
17. Date my husband every month...just the two of us.
18. Send 30 handwritten notes.
19. Get professionally fitted for a bra (sounds silly but you should see the variety of sizes that I rock or try to rock - Im a grown woman, I need to dress that part).
20. Grow a vegetable and eat said vegetable.
21. Make an article of clothing (I'm thinking the pleated wrap skirt from pinterest!). B's pj pants do not count!

22. Get scuba certified with my dad.
23. Go to a Blues Bar downtown (Chicago)
24. Sign up for and complete a yoga or martial arts class.
25. Learn how to play chess - I sort of learned a long time ago, but I have a feeling it didn't stick.
26. Get a tattoo? (Mom, Mrs. Barnes - pretend you did not see that one, ok?)
27. Watch all 100 years 100 laughs
28. Stay at a B&B (Niagara? Kari?)
29. Make and jar pickles - ha! B is going to LOVE THIS!

30. Go wine tasting... in wine country

On Broooadway...

2012-02-29T08:00:00.000-06:00

I figured I might as well not stop the song and dance post titles now...

I was singing The Drifters "On Broadway" song non stop the week of and during our New York trip. It was just WAY.TOO.MUCH.FUN not to.

Day 1 in New York was a blast! I could not wait to wake up on Sunday and get back into the pumping heart of the city!

We started the day with a jog in central park. Then we popped downtown for a ferry ride. We didn't have time for Ellis Island, so we figured we would take the free ferry over to Staten Island and see the statue from afar.

After the ferry, we went back up to times square picked up a little loot for X man, picked up a street pretzel, and headed to BROADWAY!!

The day before, we snagged some half priced tickets for the musical Memphis. It was FANTASTIC! Someday maybe I will get a chance to sing and dance on stage!

After the show, we had to bid adieu to Mrs D'Elia. Then B and I went to St. Mark's place for dinner. If you don't mind having to snake a table in an uber crowded place, then I suggest S'Mac. So so so good. Then we over a couple of streets to check out the oldest bar in Manhattan - McSorley's. It did not disappoint. It was insanely small, but the ambiance was perfection!

On Monday morning, I went out again for a BEAUTIFUL jog in Central Park - I could really fall in love with that place! When I got back, we had just enough time for breakfast before we went to the airport :(

I know these three are repeats, but the jog was THAT good.

Our hotel's next door neighbor

Lower Manhattan from the Staten Island Ferry

Ole Lady Liberty

Brisk ferry ride.

Clearly the windows need a SERIOUS cleaning, but I just loved that ferry.

We didn't see the island, we were just there for the ferry ride.

Chicago really needs more street vendors selling pretzels!

LOVE.LOVE.LOVE.

S'mac - DELICIOUS baked mac N cheese in St. Marks Place

McSorleys. The oldest bar in Manhattan. The only serve light or dark beer - in the cutest little mugs.

And everyone spontaneously breaks out in song - We got in on this little ditty - Oooh I've got friends in loooow places...

Goodbye New York

We will be back!

Self Manicure Solution

2012-02-28T07:30:00.000-06:00

I commented a little while ago about how I just could NOT figure out how to paint my nails! I realize 3rd grade girls are doing this task successfully, so I reached out for some advice.

The most common advice was to get my nails done with shallac - I have yet to try it, but I am CONFIDENT that I will LOVE it! Maybe that will be a belated birthday present to myself?

However, I did try some advice that I got from a couple people and the almighty INTERNET.

Here is a step by step:

1. Prepare a bowl of cold water - as cold as you can get it. Put 1 ice cube in it. Set that aside but on the same work surface as your painting station.

2. Paint your nails. Turns out it doesn't matter if your nail polish is Sally Hanson or OPI, this seems to work for them all. Also, try to stay inside the lines...

Probably shouldn't be the one to teach our son to color...
(Also, don't you love those vintage rings? They're my grandmothers)

3. Wait 60 seconds.

4. Dip nails into ice water. Its probably easiest to do 1 hand at a time, and don't bump the ice with your nails.

5. Keep in ice water for 60 seconds. Gently shake water off hand. Switch.

6. I wanted until the water had evaporated off my hand to check (so about a minute of two).

Its like magic. I have done it 3 times now... all with GREAT success!!

Start spreading the news... I wanna be a part of it...

2012-02-27T09:25:00.000-06:00

NEW YORK!

Totally MY kind of town.

Side note: I am realizing that more and more of my blog post titles are song lyrics - I think that may speak to the music that is part of my soul. I, like my dad, make a song out of anything! We are silly that way.

We left on Saturday February 18 for a little pre-birthday adventure into the wildness that is New York. First, we stopped by the very secure, highly private offices of Boingo Wireless (AKA my husbands office) to waste some time before our flight. I got bored quickly and wanted to people watch, so we made that stop a quickie.

Geared up for our adventure, checking his phone.
(this is how he looks 70% of the time, he is glued to his technology)

This is a sign at a corner in the basement of O'hare Airport, I thought the exclamation point was particularly funny.

In his office... Yup... checking the phone again. See why I got bored so quickly?

We had Economy plus seats, so I had the most amazing amount of leg room. Thank you United!

There it is!! I see it!!

Almost there...

We stayed at the Marriott East Manhattan - right across the street from the fabulous Waldorf Astoria

Our first stop was just down the street from our hotel - Grand Central Terminal.
The epitome of people watching. Plus, they have some pretty good New York pizza.

This was our pizza choice. Isn't their sign so cute?

hmmm... get in there!

This is how he "smiles" for pictures. Don't you just love those blue eyes?

Starving, but trying to look delicate for the pictures.

mmm... its good!

Again, amazing smile. I promise he is not angry, just annoyed at my desire to take 14 million pictures.

The upstairs at Grand Central
- make me nostalgic for the old times, when architecture was more about aesthetics than cost efficiency.

This picture does not do the place justice.

Subway'n it

Brooklyn bridge - unfortunately, I did not venture across it to hang with the hipsters.

That's more like it!! I LOVE this pictures, he just looks... happy.
That was also my attempt at a self portrait... clearly I miss, since I cut myself out. ha!

A little better, I am in LOVE with the gas lamps in the background!!
This little park was so darn cute!

See... so cute... wouldn't you like to cruise through here on your way to work?

Another architectural beauty.

The Freedom tower - in the making

I love this memorial on the wall.

I liked it better than the actual memorial.

Just a cool saying...

I won't.

Oops, someone (me) tried to be "green" and print our tickets on 1 piece of paper.
9-11 memorial no-no. Had to wait at this tent for them to print new ones.

A peek into the memorial museum - which was not yet open.

I realize the glass is super reflective, but look past me, can you see that beam?
That was from the original structure - pretty moving.

Part of the "pools" with all of the names etched.
People left flowers in the etching - super sweet.

Yes please!
(ha! yea right, if my husband bought me anything from Tiffany's I would return it and buy 14 pieces of jewelry from a thrift store - I'm way too "frugal" for that place. But I do LOVE the movie, so I had to get a pic.)

Coolest old church in the financial district.
Trivia Fact: Alexander Hamilton was buried there.

30 Rock

Me in my stupid fleece with cutie pa tootie Kari.

This was our "special" photo session.
Picture 1 - umm... what is up with my eye?
Picture 2 - Kari, your hands look scary
Picture 3 - Better!

I look weird, but I like that we got a picture of us together.

This is what happens when I try to get a picture taken with my little camera in the dark, with lots of lights.
Time Square is like a seizure waiting to happen. Its like vegas, without all of the casinos.
Its a "green" nightmare.
Also, so fun and lively and touristy. All things grand!

And this was only day 1.

Its easy when you Pheobe it

2012-02-24T08:40:00.002-06:00

I like running. I really like running outside. I can tolerate the treadmill. But I LOVE running outside in new places. You know, the whole 2 birds, 1 stone thing.

When we visited New York, I got a chance to run in Central Park a couple of times and I.LOVED.IT!

It is an easy way to see a lot of an area in a short time. Plus, when you don't know where you are, you don't know how far you are going or how far you have left to go - and for me, that makes it so much easier (when I know the distances, I will play the numbers game in my head and that just makes the run seem longer).

See... Phoebe...

Yes he is biting my head... I don't know why he thought that would be funny... its weird

I'm doing some weird chipmunk cheek thing

He is actually running, it just LOOKS like he is speed walking!

I could take that view on my jogs every morning!

I knew exercising at home would be a bummer, so Xander and I switched it up and tried the Barr method video. He was very confused and really amused!

He is trying to figure out why Caillou is not on TV

He does not appreciate that I am squatting but not picking him up

And now he thinks we are dancing!

Goal assessment:

I did work out 5+ days
I did ride the bike for 45 minutes

I did NOT do 2 Barr Method workouts - maybe next week...

Next Weeks Goals:

Run for 45 minutes straight
Get a sub 26:00 5K
2 Resistance Exercises
1 Lunch Run

Feel free to track my progress here

Friends - with Benefits?

2012-02-23T07:17:00.006-06:00

Throughout my life, I have always had friends. Big groups of friends. Some really close friends, some really weird friends, some really smart friends, but always lots of friends.

As a kid, I was friends with my sister, my cousins (whom I discussed here and here), and whomever my mom had us socialize with (aka my mom's friend's kids, who have since turned into my own friends that I lived with in college and who sang at my wedding).

Remember these from game night?

Me and my cousin, Hope circa 2006

Erin, Me, cousin Hope, and cousin Jenna circa 2005?

Cassi, her aunt, my mom, her mom (my mom's bff), me circa 2001.

In grade school I had friends that let me hone my silliness and really let my quirky flag fly. We made up songs (which all contained a penguin singing doo bee doo bee doo - weird alert!), we wrote stories (about our families but gave each family member - including pets nicknames that were descriptive of their personality or looks - which we then turned in as school projects), and we did all sorts of goofy things (like tying up little brothers and dressing them up like ladies)!

Amy and me circa 2008 (clearly my wedding)

Then in high school, I had to make a whole new group of friends. Talk about TERRIFYING! I was transitioning from a small, private school with 23 kids in my class, to a nice big public high school with about 550 kids in my class. I was also a touch (read: so totally, completely) dorky and socially awkward. I owe some big thanks to the Big Man (you know, THE Man, the one in the sky, The Creater, The Almighty - God) for putting me in the right place, at the right time and allowing me to fall into this group of girls who fostered the perfect environment that I needed to really let my weird out! I keep in touch with many of these girls to this day - some have unexpectedly come back into my life and I wonder how I lived even a week without them!

Xander and me, Tracy and Annabelle, Carrie and Abbi circa 2011

Jen playing hide and seek with Jackson and Xander (2011)

Me, Tracy, Kelly, and Carrie (2009?)

Me, Kelly, Carrie, and Kelly (yea I had a lot of friends named Kelly)

College was a little bit like high school, but also a little bit easier. In college, most people don't know too many people, so everyone is sort of expecting to make new friends. I made some of the best friends in college. Talk about letting the quirky flag fly - my college friends led the quirky parade! We did so many fun, silly things. We made up dances (to R. Kelly's Remix to Ignition) - which we then performed in the middle of the dance floor at the bars, like we owned the place (it may be worthy to note that these were not "cool" dances, they included the "stir the pot" move, the "pretend to start a car" move, and some remedial cheer leading moves). We pretended to be Charlies Angles (I was always the awkward red head... hmm...) We made up silly incoherent text messages to send to people, to get a response. We took our boxes of wine with us to keg parties, you know, so we could get our franzia on with the rest of the cool kids. Clearly, the bubbley let even more of my silliness out!

Me and one of my college besties circa 2006

Rockstar days 2004

Me and the Remix girl, Nicole, circa 2008

Now that I am older, busier, and do not live within a few miles of all of my friends, it has gotten so much harder to keep in touch and see all of them (why don't they all have blogs, so that I can keep up with their lives in between phone calls and visits?).

This last year, all of these friends have been invaluable. I have been happier than ever to have the friends that I have. I am glad that I can talk openly and honestly about how silly I feel for being upset about things that are happening (or not happening) in my life. I know that I can count on these friends to make me laugh (until I cry) when I need it, or cry (until I laugh) when I cannot help it. These girls make me feel normal no matter how silly or crazy I am.

I hope that I can return this favor to each and every one of them. I hope that despite my current crazy obsessions, I can celebrate their excitement, be the shoulder to cry on when they need some support, and help them fly their quirky flags high and proud!

Heaven

2012-02-22T12:55:00.000-06:00

My friends and I started this "book club" (wine club) a few years ago (after I typed that I had to think back, wow, it has been yearS with an s - crazy, time is going too fast).

This month we read the conversation evoking book "Heaven is for Real"

Between the six girls in this book club, we got a wide variety of perspectives and "takes" on the book. It was such a fun book to discuss. We pretty much all agreed that even if we do not believe the whole story is true or even if we question some of the points made, little Colton painted such a wonderful picture of Heaven and we all want to see it for ourselves (I mean come on - who wouldn't want angels to serenade them?).

While we were discussing was the legitimacy of something so surreal happening, one of the girls told a message from a sermon that she recently heard. It really resonated with me, so I would like to share it and document it, so that I can look back and hopefully have this same connection. It went something like this (forgive me in advance because I will not do this message nearly the justice that it deserves):

Her pastor asked the congregation if they ever have those moments where they can just FEEL that something greater is at work. It could be a fleeting moment, but you just KNOW there is a greater power putting the pieces together. He said that some people call it chance, some people call it coincidence, and some people call it fate, but he just KNOWS its God's hand at play. Then he told a story about his experience and his big "moment" where he just knew what had happened was "meant to be".

While she was telling me this story, I was getting goosebumps. It was such a heart-warming moment, sitting with some of my besties, all talking about God and sharing reasons why we KNOW that Heaven is For Real.

If you haven't read this book, I highly recommend it. It is sweet and short and certainly thought provoking.

Self Manicure Failure

2012-02-20T07:13:00.000-06:00

I am not sure why this is such a challenge for me, but I CANNOT give myself a manicure that looks good. Scratch that - it does not even look decent.

I tend to paint them in the evenings, because that is when I have (toddler free) time, and the result is always a mess of smudges because I had to go to bed before they had time to appropriately dry. OR I once they dry, I find my nails covered in little tiny bubbles.

Either way... I HATE IT

Which leads me to do this mid day

- EVEN WORSE than the original problem. Sigh

What am I doing wrong?!

Like a little 'ole jetsetter

2012-02-18T06:25:00.001-06:00

Right now, I am on a plane on my way to NEW YORK CITY!!

Even though its like 7 in the morning, I feel like I should be drinking a Martini...

A very happy birthday to me!

Exercise - Barr Method Style

2012-02-17T07:32:00.002-06:00

Ok, so according to my little tracking page, I only accomplished 1 of my goals - the sub 27:00 5K! However... I did accomplish that goal twice, so that should count for SOMETHING - right?

I added this little guy to my tracking page to show you when I accomplish one of my week's goals...

Ok, so I am getting back into the habit of regular, 30 minute cardio sessions (eventually that time will increase). Now, I'd like to add some resistance training into this program. I do not immediately have access to free weights, so I am going to rely on my old friend - Barr Method.

I am not sure how many people are familiar with the Barr Method, but I have used the exercise videos (off and on) since I tried them with my friend Kari in Boston in 2009 and I had to stop mid lunges because of the intense heat that my muscles were generating. It is crazy! I have even incorporated some of their moves into the exercise classes that I taught (once upon a time).

So... this week's goals

Exercise 5 times a week (it is worth shooting for every week even if I do not always achieve it)
Do at least 2 Barr Method videos
Ride the bike at least 45 minutes (I have keep it until I accomplish it)

Firm Up Friday

Our Valentine's Day 2012

2012-02-16T06:45:00.002-06:00

I remember there being Valentine's Days that I hoped to have A date, this year I had 2!

Laaaadies :) His shirt says... Most Eligible Bachelor

Xandy's Valentine's presents (books, cookies, and Cars pjs)

Breakfast of Champions

We went to a movie!

Someone didn't want to wear his 3D glasses

Ready to get his Beauty and the Beast on!

Helping himself to the popcorn (He is lucky that his mommy is obsessed with holidays so he can get away with eating his body weight in junk food!)

Couldn't quite make it through the whole thing... maybe next time

Later Gustan

Love drives me craaaazy!

Just a sec mom, Caillou is doing something interesting

Booty booty booty!

CHEESE!!

And some flowers from my main squeeze

For the girl who does not love roses!

I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day as well!!

Game Night (round 1)

2012-02-15T07:04:00.001-06:00

As kids, we had traditional Friday Night Game Nights. We would go the 1 miles to my Aunt and Uncles house (we had lots of family within a five miles radius - AWESOME!), order pizza and play games, all together, as a family. The games that I remember the most were Trivial Pursuit and Win, Lose, or Draw (do you remember that being on TV?) - so funny!

A little background: My mom's side of the family gets together FOR EVERYTHING; I mean, come on - we are a big Irish/English family, but we celebrate Cinco de Mayo, seriously, the most freckles in one room, eating burritos! So growing up, we saw A LOT of each other.

Unfortunately, as we all have grown up, we have gotten married, gotten jobs, started our own familes, we have just gotten so busy, we don't have time to get together nearly as much! :(

We decided that we should make an effort to see one another more often! We decided to re-institute Game Night! We had some trouble with our first picked date (since my cousin and his wife had a baby a couple of days before!), but finally settled on this past Saturday. Sadly, last minute, some of the kids couldn't come. We didn't get TOO much gaming done, HOWEVER, the few rounds we played - I KILLED IT! It.was.EPIC.

My sister and my boy

The new daddy and baby Landon, the new mommy (rummaging), and the new uncle

Our self portrait (my new bangs are all awry)

Auntie Kimmo, Xandy, and the weird PBS guy

Little alien baby Landon

Amanda in her smock and Bradley

Me and the sleepy boy

Uncle Bradley and baby

Auntie Kimmo and Xan again

Barnes, the sore loser ;)

Whoa whao Amanda, this is a family affair, watch the hands! haha

And the photo shoots that I thought were hilARious!

This is what happens when we try to take our own family picture (could no one else in the room grab the camera for us?) I especially like the ones with our eyes closed or even better, the half open half closed goofy ones!

I just snapped shot after shot of them sitting there... thankfully they are goodfy enough on their own!

These were the funniest to me (clearly, look at how hard I am laughing)

Do you guys see family often? What do you do together? Any random photo shoots?

Our Love Story

2012-02-14T06:06:00.001-06:00

I saved this post for Valentine's Day (because I'm romantic like that).

1. How long have you and your significant other been together?

I have been friends for about 10 years, a girlfirend for about 7 years, and a wife for about 4 years to THIS man:

He will do just about ANYTHING to get a laugh out of me.
I mean come on... look at that mustache! hahahahahah

2. How did you meet? {What's your "love" story?}

I actually do not remember officially meeting B.

What I do know:
It was definitely in college.
It was most likely at a party.
We were probably dating other people.
I may or may not have regularly confused him with one of his friends (yea, they don't even look a like at all).
I did go to his birthday party without actually knowing it was even a birthday party - oops.

So I say we met in '01, he says he doesn't remember me until '02 or '03 (thanks hun)

The summer of '04 there was a little feeling sharing session that led to NOT talking for about year (ah to be young and dumb again).

Flash forward to the summer of '05, we were both single; we flirted a bit; we talked a lot; we graduated; we moved back home; he called me silly, I thought it was cute; he asked me to be his date to a wedding - I said yes.

The rest is history!

Halloween '05 I was a cat lady - yea I'm weird like that, he was NOT dressed up... boo!
We look like babies

My birthday '06, he surprised me at work with a cake and then took me to dinner and to see Wicked (that was when Wicked tickets were going like hot cakes and you had to buy them on Ebay and spend a fortune! I'm a luck lady!)

Winter '05

Lunch at the Walnut Room at Macy's Christmas '05

3. If married, how long have you been married? If not, is this the guy you hope to marry? {do tell}

This spring will be 4 years that we have been married.

Four wild and crazy years. In that four years, we have traveled, been through graduate school, moved, bought our first house, refinished half our house, started a family, and grown together.

These four years that have been jam packed so much excitement and change that I don't think I would be where I am without him.

Lake Tahoe '09

Our 1 year anniversary '09

4. If you are married, where did you get married at? Big or small wedding? If not, where would you like to get married? And will it be big or small?

We got married in my "hometown" church, by the most AMAZING pastor ever to live (I was also confirmed by said pastor and Xander was baptized also by said pastor)!

We sort of had a big wedding (like 250 or something). It was beautiful and magical and fun and way too fast. I am forever indebted to my parents for not only paying for it, but also for spending the HOURS working with me to add all of the personal touches that made the day so special for me.

See that dress? Yup, its my moms!
The rings, my grandmothers!
The earrings and necklace, my great grandmothers!

5. Do you have any nick-names that you call one another? Do share!
Umm...I feel like I am obligated to say that my nick-name for him is Barnes (but really that IS his name). Like I mentioned earlier, we knew each other a considerable amount of time before we started dating. All of our mutual friends (actually pretty much everyone I knew in college) referred to him as "Barnes", so that is what I called him. Then 2-4 years later I am supposed to all of a sudden just start calling him Tim? Nope, not me!

Early on I also called him "Bubs" a lot (I don't know why)

Otherwise, maybe Hun?

Honeymoon in Rome '08

6. Name 3 things you love most about your honey.

1. Sense of humor #1 - this boy can make me laugh (out loud) like no other (see mustache picture above)!

2. His support. Sometimes I like to do things that are a little outside of my (our) comfort zone (and maybe that makes me a little more anxious than necessary), B is ALWAYS there to support my wild adventures or crazy ideas (even if he tells me that HE does not think its the best idea - my stubbornness usually prevails).

My fan at my first triathlon '09

My banana, err... uh... supportive husband at Halloween '10

3. He "gets" me. He knows just by looking at me what is going on in my head and MOST of the time he knows exactly what I need.

7. Tell us how he proposed? Or your ideal proposal?

He actually proposed 5 years ago today! I love this story...
We knew we would marry each other, it was more about the when then the if at this point.

On Valentines Day 2007, we were living in the city, we decided to avoid the rush and pomp of getting a reservation and dining out and that B would come over to my place, he would make us dinner (he was in charge of dinner, I was in charge of dessert - which I bought, last minute) while I got dressed up.

On my way home from work, B called to ask me if I liked the flowers that I got at work - which I did not actually get due to the big storm we had just been blessed with - he apologized and said he would put something together really quick so that I was not left empty handed on Valentine's Day.

I set the stage quite nicely. I had a fire going, I lit candles all over the room, I slipped into a saucy red dress, and put my hair up all fancy.

We had a nice, romantic, candle lit dinner. After dinner I said something snarky like, all right let me have my shotty gift. So he hands me this card (which is actually a thank you card that I think I bought but forgot in his car - went along with the last minute story quite well), and there is a note inside. He tells me to read it out loud. I am reading it and crying and straining into the candles to finish. At the end, I read "Someday I will buy you the most beautiful ring, I just need you to wait a little bit longer... ok that's long enough, WILL YOU MARRY ME?"

I do a double take. I look over and he is down on his knee, saying something, I am crying, saying "What?" in a really weird high pitch voice over and over again.

I say yes, he give me the ring (my grandmother's ring)... I spend the rest of the night on the phone calling EVERYONE I know!

8. Is he a flowers and teddy bear kind of guy for v-day, or strawberries, champagne, and rose petals?

Hmmm... I mean he HAS gotten me flowers, but he knows my stance on the pointlessness and clutter of stuffed animals, and I don't think he would ever even think to get strawberries with champagne or do ANYTHING with rose petals.

I'd say he is a movie and dinner kind of a guy. Or a make his woman a fantastic dinner from scratch while she kicks her feet up, sips wine and watches him, kind of guy.

9. Are you a sunset dinner on the beach kind of girl, or pop a movie in and relax on the couch?

Pop in a movie and relax!!
That being said, there is definitely a time and a place for the sunsets and the beaches in my life!

10. Tell us one thing you'd like to do with your significant one day. If you could do anything? Go anywhere?

I'd like to make a giant family with him, then retire somewhere warm (but not humid) where we would have huge family parties, and when we are not entertaining, I'd like to spend our time traveling the globe (starting in Greece).

11. Tell us what you plan on doing on this Valentine's Day.

I said I wanted to spend this Valentine's Day with both of my boys. So I think we are going to take Xander to his first movie!! Then have a nice (made from scratch) dinner at home.

12. Are you asking for anything this Valentine's day?

No, but I wouldn't be upset if he got me something... hint hint wink wink?

13. Give us one piece of advice of keeping a relationship strong and full of love.

Laugh. A lot. Life is not worth living if you are not having fun!

14. Show us a picture of what love means to you.

This little family is 100% love to me!

Bangs!

2012-02-13T11:10:00.000-06:00

I got bangs on Friday! EEP!

High quality photo right here

My super cute, trendy hair stylist with the purple highlights and the bedazzled eyelashes convinced me.

I have thought about bangs for a long time, talked about them to my (male) coworker too much. Now that I have them... I am still adjusting...

I'd like to have my cake and eat it too...

2012-02-10T20:50:00.001-06:00

I mean why wouldn't I want to eat my cake? Who wants to have a cake they cannot eat? I kid.

Lets get down to business... literally... work business...

I finally figured out what I want to do for a career and graduated with my Masters degree just 2 short weeks after giving birth to my sweet boy. What is a mom to do? I struggled with the concept of work vs stay at home early on in motherhood.

I started out working only 2 days a week and staying home with Xander the other 3 days. Those days... I was BORED (gasp! how dare I say such things)! Xander was young, slept a lot, I was not into the whole cleaning, cooking gig (who is right?); I just didn't WANT to be a work at home mom.

As soon as Xander was staying awake more often, becoming more interactive (read fun), I got the opportunity to apply for my DREAM job! What is a mom to do?!

I strrrruuuuggggled! I love being with Xander, seeing all of the things that he was picking up on, snuggling him (when he let me), and just being with him. However, I had to consider how niche my career path is, how seldom jobs like that come along.

I was able to make a compromise - of sorts. Initially, when there was a trial going on, I got to work at 4:30 am, so I got home around 1:00 pm - still LOADS of time with my boy(s). Right now we do not have a morning trial, but I still get home most days by 3:30 pm or so. We are not how with Xander all day, so when we get home, we try to make each minute of the time we arrive until the time Xander goes to bed quality minutes! We play, we sing, we dance, we read, we draw, we paint, we cram it all into the 4 -5 hours we have! Then weekends are jam packed with family togetherness.

Some days going to work is harder than others, and it seems to get hard the older Xander gets (isn't that backwards?) - he is just SO much fun, so cute, such a little sponge, I want to see EVERYTHING he does, hear EVERYTHING he says, and just be with him all of the time; but I LOOOOOOVE my job. Ugh! The life of a grown up.

Maybe it will be easier when he is in school and he won't be home anyhow?

Challenge 2012 update: Hot and Cold

2012-02-10T07:36:00.002-06:00

This last week I did OK. Not great, but OK with the whole challenge goal.

Alright, let's recap this week's progress toward my Challenge.
I did 4 legit cardio sessions.
I think 3 of them were pretty solid.
1 maybe 2 were forced and most certainly could have been better.
However - they all felt great - because I WAS MOVING!

Let's readjust the goals for this coming week.

Work out 5 days
Hit a 27 minute 5K
Get in at least one 45 minute ride on the bike

My secret for motivation in the morning (besides some terrible nights of sleep that do not make you want to stay put when the alarm goes off) is chick flick TV!

I save all of my girlie/ teenie bopper recorded shows for my workouts. I just HAD to know, did Blare marry Louie AND what is going to happen on with the twin in the car on One Tree Hill...

Head over to Kristin's blog to see how other people are sweatin' to the oldies, err, I mean working out, I don't listen to oldies while I work out... no... that would be sooo lame

Pee pee on the potty, pee pee on the potty

2012-02-09T08:06:00.000-06:00

I don't know why I sing all of my blog posts, but that is what comes to my head when I am working on titles. To sing this one, you will need to get a conga line going and throw your leg or hip out every time you say "potty" - to the tune of cha cha cha cha cha CHA, pee pee on the potTY... now everybody up, lets sing and conga... Pee pee on the potTY, pee pee on the potTY! I have a feeling I was the only one dance to that...

Maybe it is because I am the only one that is all a twitter because my big boy has pee peed on the potty TWICE!

Tuesday morning when he got up, B was changing him and said... wow, his diaper is completely dry - IMMEDIATELY I was like aaaahhhhh lets get him on the potty, hurry, hurry!

So we sat him down, he wiggled a big, but I gave him his tooth brush to start brushing while he sat there and lo and behold HE PEE PEED!

Yesterday he was at his Yaya and Gumps house, so no pee pee on the potty. However, today... when he woke up, he did the same routine, this time, he sort of peed in and ON the potty - but I am counting it!

I'd say, if this goes well, in 6 months or so, we may lunge into full on potty training!

We also put him on the potty in the mornings to air out his booty, because he has been struggling with a little bit of diaper rash.

Ladies Night

2012-02-07T07:53:00.000-06:00

Oh yes its ladies night and the feelings right, oh yes its ladies night - Oh what a night!

If you do not sing the Kool and the Gang song whenever you read ladies night, then I guess you are just not weird like me.

I was pretty much singing that song all day on Friday - because I was going out - with the LADIES! I gave B the excuse of babysitting to stay home and have some "him" time - you know, like "me" time, but for him.

Friday was my cousin-friend's 30th birthday, and her husband had a little surprise party planned. So I contacted all (5) of my local high school friends (who I still keep in contact with, who also know said cousin) and got a couple to come out to celebrate with me!

I had SO MUCH FUN!! My friends are SO funny! I forget how funny they are until I am with them, doubled over, hysterically laughing. I laughed so hard I got that crying, goofy face, laughing going and could not stop all night (hence why I look so silly in the pictures, I could not compose myself)!

Me and the birthday girl

Me, and the high school friends (Kelly, and Carrie)

I just love a good ladies night! Maybe next time we can get the other 3 to come and make it a REAL party!

Cloth Diapering Process - Everything I know

2012-02-06T08:44:00.001-06:00

A few of my friends who have recently had babies or who are currently pregnant have asked me a bunch of questions regarding cloth diapering. I figured I would spell out our whole process, so that if anyone else is interested, they can get an idea of how we do things.

You can see the background information and old post that I have made about cloth diapering here.

It all started when I said that little phrase..."Honey, I've been thinking...". Now, at this point I was probably about 6 months pregnant, so my very intelligent husband knew better than to shut me down outright, so he obligingly listened, and mentioned something about it being ok, we can think about it.

I persevered. I studiously read website and reviews from actual moms all over the internet. I decided on a couple of different styles and brands to try (out of the 50 million there are to choose from). Through trial and error in the last 18 months, we have decided that the fuzzibunz one size pocket diapers are and perfectly manageable and we still use a few of them. However, the Bum Genius one size pocket diapers with snaps are our favorite! They seem the most durable and absorbent. The velcro are nice initially, but we are not patient enough to make sure things don't get caught up in the velcro in the wash or dryer, so the 1 velcro diaper that we have does not stay velcroed all that great.

Wipes: In my opinion, there is no point in using the paper wipes with cloth diapers. Then you have to have a separate garbage can for the wipes and the diaper bag for the diapers - no efficient in my book. So what we did was look for thin washcloths for sale. Then I found a homemade baby wipe recipe online and I mixed some up for a squirt bottle for the diaper bag and then I used an old wipe container that we had from the first 2 weeks before we got the cloth diapers and just put 5 or 6 wipes in that solution to soak until we were ready to use them. Then I would just ring out the cloth, and wipe away. After the cloth was used, I would tuck it into the dirty diaper and stick it into the diaper pail together.

Diaper Rash Cream: You cannot use the typical diaper rash cream with cloth diapers. Xander has only had a few diaper rashes - this boy has uber sensitive skin, so too much acid and we have a diaper rash on our hands. Typically, we just make sure he is really clean and it clears up in a day on its own. If its one of those days that he has like 8 poopie diapers in a day, we may have to grab a paper diaper and coat him with some butt paste. However, we recently read online that we should try to rinse him off in the tub when he is starting to rash - and not wipe - so his skin does not get so red and inflamed, so we may be trying that one next time.

Poop clean up: When I was nursing, Xander's poops were water soluble, so we didn't worry about the poops, they just came clean in the washing machine. Now that he is eating fully solid foods, we use flushable liners inside the diaper - they go between the baby's bottom and the diaper. They look sort of like a really thin drier sheets. We cut each sheet into thirds - they seem to fit better that way. So when Xander poops in the diaper, we just take the diaper and shake it over the toilet. The poop sticks to the liner and it all falls easily into the toilet and flushes away. Then the dirty diaper goes into the diaper pail. Easy peasy!

Diaper pails: We got the Dekor Diaper Plus pail and then we got the Thristies Deluxe Pail Liner which fits right into the Dekor Diaper Plus pail, so we have to sent free convenience and ease of use of the Dekor Diaper Plus pail with the water proof functionality of the waterproof liner.

Wash: When it is time to wash a load, we just take the whole liner and its contents out of the pail, dump the contents into the wash, then throw the liner itself into the wash. We wash with powered Tide (no scent, no dyes) as per our diaper company instructions. We use about 1/4 - 1/2 the recommended amount of Tide per load. We wash on HOT. We usually do a 2nd cycle on COLD without detergent to rinse any soap that may still be on the super absorbent liners that have worked themselves out of the diapers on their own. If its summer, I will lay the covers out to dry but put the liners through a hot cycle on the dryer (with NO fabric softener) - in the winter, it all goes in the dryer.

Diaper bag: We pack a bunch of the thin washcloths with that squirt bottle of the water mix for wipes. When its time to use one, we take out a dry washcloth, squirt it down with the solution and its ready for use. We decided against getting a waterproof bag for the diaper bag because we are not nearly put together enough to keep that in the diaper bag, let alone to make sure to take it out and clean it. Instead, we use recycled plastic grocery bags. We just pack like 10 at a time into the bottom of the diaper section, making sure to keep it separate from the rest of the bag. We do not need Xander to be chewing on something that was just sitting next to a dirty diaper bag.

I think that is essentially it. We started out small, but as we gained steam on the cloth diapering, we have bought a few more here and there and I think we are currently at about 20 - which gets us through 2-3 days without washing.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Challenge 2012 (how I denied my profession)

2012-02-03T07:12:00.002-06:00

Back in the day (read before pregnancy and baby life), I loved (L.O.V.E.) exercise.

I would run for fun, if I got bored running, I would bike, I would coerce my main squeeze to play any sport he could think of (that realistically I could be OK at), I would force myself to swim (because I knew it would make me feel better afterward, though I hated the whole process and act), I was constantly moving. In the same year (within 2 months), I did the Susan G Komen 60 mile walk for breast cancer and the Chicago marathon - AND I LOVED IT!

Flash forward to present day. I am still CONSTANTLY moving, but now its more of a necessity than a desire. I HAVE to go to work, to the grocery store, to the bank, to the gas station, to church. I NEED to get Xander up, to feed the cats, to stop Xander for imminent danger, to wash the clothes, to change Xander, to pick up toys, to stop Xander from imminent danger, to make dinner, to play, to stop Xander from imminent danger, to bathe Xander, to bathe myself, to get the whole house dressed.

I feel like I am constantly busy (I am sure I will look back on this one day and laugh about how much time I have), but somehow that REAL exercising - its not happening. Sure, I do still run (jog), but its like one time a week - and its because I force myself to do it, and I still love to ride my bike (if its a nice day and I have extra time - so like 2 times a year). I am at the point where I am out of shape and the exercise is not exactly "comfortable", plus when I actually have time to carve out of my day to exercise... I am just too tired (or lazy, but it feels pretty darn exhausted).

I don't want to get out of bed when its dark and sneak down to the basement at the wee hours of the day. And by the time I am done eating dinner, playing with Xander, bathing him, getting him ready for bed, reading to him, tucking him in, and come back downstairs; I am just too dog tired to hop on that bike or treadmill and rev back up.

I am an Exercise Physiologist by profession, so this whole post is practically blasphemous! I have heard all of these excuse, and I didn't take them from my clients or study participants, so I sure as heck should not let myself use them! I know what to do, how to do it, when to do it... I just NEED TO DO IT!

So, this week I decided that I am NOT going to let my hobby lay by the way side. I AM going to get "back in the saddle" - and to make it a little more interesting - I am going to document my progress. I need SOMETHING to hold myself accountable (my husband is too much of a push over to give me the gently nudging (read butt kicking) that I need, so I will have to take matters into my own hands).

I made a separate page to document my road back to "the day" (as in, back in the day). I would LOVE any encouragement or suggestions that you have on how to better optimize my time or exercise buddies that want to meet up to exercise together!

A Day in our Life (Xander 18 months)

2012-02-02T07:00:00.001-06:00

I have done this posting before and I like it.

1. It gives me an idea of where my day has gone.
2. I can look back and laugh about how I thought I was SOOOO busy, but really had loads of time on my hands.
3. It gives everyone else an idea of how we spend our time (how much lolly gagging around we do) over here at the Barnes household.

Now this is not exact. Is life with a toddler ever exact? I do have some friends who seem to have everything together and who’s houses seem to run like well oiled machines, but the Barnes household is not quite that smooth.

5:30 am
In my ideal world, I would get up and lug my sleepy butt downstairs to hop on the bike or treadmill while I catch up on my trashy TV, but in reality, that only happens about 4 times a month.

5:50 am
After hitting snooze for the 2nd time, I roll over and take my temperature - you know, gotta chart these hormones. Then, I log into fertilityfriend.com to plot my temperature - to start another day more confused by my Six Flags style roller coaster of temperatures and wonder - have I ovulated? (I know TMI - I'm done, I'm done)

6:00 am
Finally roll out of bed and stagger into the shower.

6:10 am
Leap out of the shower full of song and energy (I am a tad bit of a morning person)

6:20 am
Try to get B up, he "snoozes" me and asks for another 5 minutes.

Anytime between 6:15 - 6:45 am (with the occasional sleep in)
Xander either starts singing or crying, so we go get him, change him, dress him and let him wander around while we finish getting ready (sometimes he gets to sit in the sink and "help" me put on make up - or stick the blush brush in my eye while I put on mascara; and sometimes he gets to play with the "movie" (Ipad) while B gets dressed)

6:45 am I make my coffee (decaf these days - it gives me a nice placebo effect) and package up our lunches. B and I join forces to prepare a breakfast of champions for X man.

7:00 am Ya Ya arrives - Xander is usually starting breakfast at this time.

7:05 am - 7:15 am We depart for work - Xander tells us "bubye, morrow!" (he hasn't gotten the "see you later" down yet, so he goes with "see you tomorrow")

7:30 am I arrive at work (Barnes probably does not get to work until closer to 7:45?)

Work

Work

Facebook
Lunch
Blog

Work

4:00 pm I get home from work - Xander is usually finishing an afternoon nap (yup, so far he is still rocking 2 naps)

4:30 pm Xander gets up, Ya Ya packs up and gets ready to head home. Xander and I play for a little bit or clean together or do whatever odd thing I have on my list to do. We ALWAYS put on some Pandora (journey, pearl jam, zac brown band or biggie radios) and jump and dance and sing!

5:00-5:30 pm I usually start making dinner, sometimes my hands are full (or I am laying in the floor waving my white flag) until B gets home around 6:00 pm

5:30 pmish We lasso Xander up and strap him into his high chair. He usually starts snacking on something while we finish preparing our dinner.

6:00 pm We are usually sitting down for dinner - saying our "Come Lord Jesus" prayer where Xander loudly states AMEN at the end.

6:30 pm Xander is insisting "All done? All done? All done?", so B( who usually has already finished his dinner) gets ready to free the monster and starts the clean up while I finish eating.

7:00 pm Dinner is done and cleaned up, left overs are packed up for the next day's lunches. At this point we either play as a family, watch a movie, do some art work, read book after book, or give Xander a bath.

7:30-8:00 pm Xander is beat, his little eyes are usually fighting to stay open. Sometimes we take him upstairs and he points to the crib and says "Bed?", so we just give him kisses, lay him down and he goes peacefully to sleep. Sometimes, we rock him and sing to him a little bit.

8:00 pm We act as the disaster clean up crew and pick up the toys that have been deposited all around the kitchen, living room, and stairs. We then sit down together and watch some TV or surf the net, or play some digital games.

9:30 pm I am usually asleep on the couch, so B wakes me and tells me to go to bed. I go upstairs, wash my face, brush my teeth, wake myself back up, go check on Xander and tuck him back in, (at this point B has made his way upstairs and into bed) then hop into bed to read for about 10 minutes before I actually fall asleep for the night.

10:00-10:30 pm I am asleep, probably snoring away while B reads in bed for a bit longer.

2:00 am I wake up thinking about the trippy dream I just had

4:00 am I wake up confused about where I am and what day/ time it is

Rinse and Repeat

Enjoying the Arctic Environment

2012-02-01T08:15:00.000-06:00

When you live in (around) Chicago, you expect several (like 6) months of the year to be frigid! Like, buy a few nice pairs of boots and big coats, because you will live in them from December through March.

I hate it. I hate everything cold and dark and grey.

Did I always hate it? Wasn't there a time that I LOVED playing outside in the snow (despite the cold)? I remember the excitement I would feel when I would wake up and see that big blanket of white (clearly that was before my driver's license). I would layer up to the level of Randy from "A Christmas Story", we would build snowmen, snow forts (if the boys were around), make snow angels, and sled. Then we would come inside, drop our gear and half of the yard's worth of snow on the floor by the door and snuggle up with some nice hot chocolate!

Ahh... sounds so nice (key is SOUNDS nice). Even though its not MY favorite thing, I want Xander to know the excitement and fun (misery) of a good snow day - isn't that just the epitome of parenthood? Doing something that you do not necessarily love for the joy of your child?

But their joy brings you joy right? So it is fun for you again - just in a different way? Too deep? Ok, ok, I'm done.

Picking out just the right spot

Getting into position

A little race

Tandem sledding

Warming up

**Clearly this post was written a couple of weeks ago, because yesterday it was high 50s here**

From the pool to the field...

2012-01-25T08:47:00.000-06:00

This man is busy!

I apologize in advance for the quality of these photos (but gotta document the happenings):
1. I am terrible at taking pictures. TERRIBLE. I am good at taking them, I am bad at getting quality.
2. I was trying to do it through disgusting plexiglass.
3. I was trying to take them while wrangling a very overactive, overtired, overtoddler (I made it up) boy.
4. Again Xander, in 1 swift motion, changed all of the settings on my camera!

Anyways, here are some pictures of my man in action (or around action - since I don't think I even got 1 action shot!)...

And here are some picture of my boy in action - ALL action shots!

Our weekend and Swimming with Sweaters

2012-01-23T10:53:00.000-06:00

Friday, we had a play date with some of my friends from high school and their babes!

Jen trying to help Xander vacuum

Xander vac cumming Jen's son Brayden

Then I had to brave this little winter wonderland to get home.

Our treacherous drive home - boo to winter!

Snuggled up nice and warm at home with little blue eyes

Saturday morning the boys were back in the pool.

Time to swim!

Fighting for the back float

B - you are supposed to take OFF the sweater before getting into the pool!
***My husband is such a big manly man that he rocks some chest sprouts***

Rockin' the kick board

Having some fun in the play area post work out

Then we stopped by to meet Mr. Landon

My new baby, er, my cousin's new baby - soaked in the baby love!

Sunday was filled with church, football, and a little art work.

Working on his master piece

And now back to work :(

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops

2012-01-20T11:49:00.001-06:00

The title was from this song - it gets me weepy every time, but it reminds me that God has a plan and that I need to trust him.

I mentioned last week that I was having a terrible, horrible, no good, blah blah blah week. I found out last Wednesday that I had an early miscarriage. I was (am) devestated! I felt embarrassed for being so upset when it was so early, which only made matters worse. B was out of town. All in all it was a terrible, horrible, blah blah week.

But that week is over! I'm done with it!

The weekend was amazing. It was a turning point for me. I still feel sad and hurt, but it helped me to focus more on the things that I do have...

Like an amazing husband that turns our date night into MY night.

He took me for sushi (which he only tolerates) and to see the Twilight movie (which he barely tolerates) and then we snuggled, and talked, and enjoyed each other.

I think the deep fried roll helped with the tolerating

I also have an adorable son that give me kisses (which he only tolerates) whenever I ask him! He is learning new things every day - I am so blessed to have such a healthy, happy, smart, loving little boy (I think he is learning that from his daddy).

So even if life isn't going exactly how I want it to (and I like things to be how I want, when I want), it is still amazing! I do not give my life enough credit!

God is good - AMEN!