I'm all about giving back, so a few years ago I started working with the local SPCA as their humane educator. I go and talk to kiddos in the community about proper ways to meet/greet dogs, how to be a good pet-parent, what are signs of animal abuse- all very important topics to bring up (so, if your not in my neighborhood and can't come to one of my presentations but want information, email me!)
Anyway, one of my big give-back initiatives with the SPCA is running their summer camp. We started it last year and for an entire week we talked about animals to kiddos, younger kids in the am, older ones in the pm. It was amazing to see their little minds figuring things out and making crafts for the animals and just learning as much as they could about animal care.
This year I'm doing it again, although not running both the am and pm groups (just the am- pretty sure Mr.Pricklepants wouldn't appreciate me being gone all day...) and guess what? After a year of planning, its coming up next week!
I'm so excited!
Friday, June 22, 2012
Friday, June 1, 2012
Starting point...
When we found out we were pregnant lots of things went through my mind. Obvious things like how thankful I was that we were actually pregnant. More random things like, how exciting it will be to take a little one on my trips to Home Depot (yay for orange!). Very important things like, when can we plan our first trip to Disney World? (How tall do you have to be for Space Mountain?)
But one thing I didn't have to think about AT ALL was the nursery design. You see, hubs and I, we are planners. Specifically me for things like say, a nursery. I've been dreaming of having my own baby since I was, er, a baby myself...(for real, my siblings would torture my baby dolls just to get their jollies. Evil I tell you!! But, enough of that...)
So many, many, many months before we got pregnant, I already had a folder set aside on my desk containing the selections for the nursery. At one point I had made so many selections, I had to put together a spread sheet to contain everything (pricing, where I found it...) I'm pretty sure it was after I made the spread sheet I realized, "I'm not even pregnant yet. I really need to stop." So, I deleted the spread sheet, tucked the folder away (just to the back of the folder stacker- not in the bin...) and went about the rest of my life until that day when I got our positive!
That's when it all changed. Things got kicked into high gear. Suddenly nine months didn't seem that long (especially since we were already three months into this when we told the family!) Six months to take all my plans and make them reality. (You know how they say it takes more than a year to plan a wedding...which really, a wedding is like, what ONE day and then done. How is it fair that you only get NINE months to plan for something that will change your entire LIFE? Just sayin'...)
One thing we didn't have to worry about was the dressers for the nursery. You see, when we got married, we inherited my husband's childhood furniture, which was his mother's childhood furniture. (And I know what you might be thinking "oh, probably looked sad and dated!"- but here's the thing, it wasn't!) You wanna talk about furniture with TIMELESS style...and not just like, "timeless Traditional" or "timeless Neo Classical" no, I just mean like, 100% timeless. See...
The only thing that needed to happen before putting them in the nursery was staining them. So...we (and of course, when I refer to "we" here on out, I'm talking about the hubs and his dad- because of course, I was pregnant and therefore couldn't "help" because of the "fumes" and "dust" and something about not wanting our child to have six toes on one foot or something. They started to sand them....
I couldn't get over how GORGEOUS the wood was underneath all that original stain!!
Lil topsy turvey...
Grandpa adding the stain (check out our awesome riding lawn mower in the background!)
And, in the end the dressers came out beautiful...the only hiccup was the stain smell lingered for SOOO long. Honestly, we left them in the garage (with the door open during the day) for like two weeks and when we moved them into the nursery, we still had to leave the window open...but it was worth it...
Now, before you start yelling...YES, that beautiful dresser is inside the closet. Why? Because there just wasn't enough room for it in the room itself...and quiet honestly I love putting a dresser in the closet...especially when I knew nothing of the babies would be long enough to take up all that space!
You wanna see more pictures, don't cha? Well guess what...you just have to wait! I'll do a big ol' reveal here in a little while, but, as the title implies, this was just the starting point :)
But one thing I didn't have to think about AT ALL was the nursery design. You see, hubs and I, we are planners. Specifically me for things like say, a nursery. I've been dreaming of having my own baby since I was, er, a baby myself...(for real, my siblings would torture my baby dolls just to get their jollies. Evil I tell you!! But, enough of that...)
One thing we didn't have to worry about was the dressers for the nursery. You see, when we got married, we inherited my husband's childhood furniture, which was his mother's childhood furniture. (And I know what you might be thinking "oh, probably looked sad and dated!"- but here's the thing, it wasn't!) You wanna talk about furniture with TIMELESS style...and not just like, "timeless Traditional" or "timeless Neo Classical" no, I just mean like, 100% timeless. See...
 |
You wanna see more pictures, don't cha? Well guess what...you just have to wait! I'll do a big ol' reveal here in a little while, but, as the title implies, this was just the starting point :)
Friday, April 27, 2012
I didn't know...
Becoming a mom has taught me a lot that I didn't know about myself, like:
- I didn't know I could stay up most of the night and still function in the morning
- I didn't know I wouldn't be able to sleep even when the baby is sleeping- for fear that he might wake up any minute now...
- I didn't know I could lift so much (car seat+baby= awesome arms!)
- I didn't know how fast two hours go when he's sleeping and I've got lots to do
- I didn't know spit up would/could come out of his nose (first time it happened I was certain he was broken!)
- I didn't know that screaming babies in public make people look at you like you did something wrong (because, of course I'd CHOOSE to leave the house while my son is upset? No, it just happens!)
- I didn't know I'd be on the verge of tears almost everyday, just because
- I didn't know I could cry as often as I do (because, before he came along, the last time I cried was 1999...or something like that)
- I didn't know how comfortable I'd be breast feeding...anywhere (including the mattress department of Macy's...)
- I didn't know cloth diapers would be so easy
- I didn't know that one very small person could be so very, very loud at times
- I didn't know that walking into a room with a baby everyone stops and says "awww, its a baby" (even though, my entire life before having him, I was that person who'd 'awww' in an instant!)
- I didn't know how much love my heart could hold
- I didn't know how many pictures our memory sticks can hold (we've only reached capacity once...)
- I didn't know that loud noises (like my hair dryer or vacuum) wouldn't bother him. At all.
I know there are so many things still that I don't know about myself, but four months into this mommy business and I tell ya, one thing I do know- I KNOW his smile and laugh reaffirm my faith in God everyday! How else could someone so perfect be put in my life, if it weren't for the grace of His hands!
I'm so thankful to be able to spend my days with someone who, for now, can only communicate his wants/needs with either a smile (that melts my heart) or tears (that melt my heart, for another reason...) Ahhhh, I just love him to itty bitty pieces!!
- I didn't know I could stay up most of the night and still function in the morning
- I didn't know I wouldn't be able to sleep even when the baby is sleeping- for fear that he might wake up any minute now...
- I didn't know I could lift so much (car seat+baby= awesome arms!)
- I didn't know how fast two hours go when he's sleeping and I've got lots to do
- I didn't know spit up would/could come out of his nose (first time it happened I was certain he was broken!)
- I didn't know that screaming babies in public make people look at you like you did something wrong (because, of course I'd CHOOSE to leave the house while my son is upset? No, it just happens!)
- I didn't know I'd be on the verge of tears almost everyday, just because
- I didn't know I could cry as often as I do (because, before he came along, the last time I cried was 1999...or something like that)
- I didn't know how comfortable I'd be breast feeding...anywhere (including the mattress department of Macy's...)
- I didn't know cloth diapers would be so easy
- I didn't know that one very small person could be so very, very loud at times
- I didn't know that walking into a room with a baby everyone stops and says "awww, its a baby" (even though, my entire life before having him, I was that person who'd 'awww' in an instant!)
- I didn't know how much love my heart could hold
- I didn't know how many pictures our memory sticks can hold (we've only reached capacity once...)
- I didn't know that loud noises (like my hair dryer or vacuum) wouldn't bother him. At all.
I know there are so many things still that I don't know about myself, but four months into this mommy business and I tell ya, one thing I do know- I KNOW his smile and laugh reaffirm my faith in God everyday! How else could someone so perfect be put in my life, if it weren't for the grace of His hands!
I'm so thankful to be able to spend my days with someone who, for now, can only communicate his wants/needs with either a smile (that melts my heart) or tears (that melt my heart, for another reason...) Ahhhh, I just love him to itty bitty pieces!!
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Thank yous
When we realized we were pregnant so many things happened in a blink of an eye. I realized immediately how blessed I was that God had finally given us the go-ahead to start a family. (No joke, I wrote in my journal, THANK YOUUUUUUUUUUU! like a billion times when I first found out!)
Knowing how thankful I was to the big J.C., I shared my joy with the hubs. He too acknowledged the same amount of gratitude. But we can't send God a thank you note, just lots of thank you prayers. Which got me thinking, "people are probably going to start buying our baby things- I need to find a killer thank you note!"
...and so, at about five weeks pregnant (before anyone other than the hubs and I knew I was, in fact pregnant) I began the monumental task of trying to find the right thank you note to convey to anyone who would hold one, just how thankful we were.
Now, I know I might have taken this task too "serious" but here's the thing. Words couldn't accurately describe just how truly thankful we were for someone to take time (and money) and spend it on us and our little bundle of unspecified-gender joy.
A while back I helped one of my clients plan a baby shower for one of her close friends. They stumbled upon this website, Storkie.com, which I went home and absolutely devoured! Invitations, thank you notes...annoucements- ahhhh, all a girl could ask for! (Except, at the time, we weren't pregnant yet, so I took some mental notes about what I liked and engraved the web address into my brain..)
Fast forward to preggo week five. I've forgotten all about Storkie.com. Instead I'm looking at all these other websites...and keep getting more and more upset. How am I going to say thank you adequately enough...when these thank you notes look like trash? (Hindsight: was I possibly over reacting about these thank you notes? Yes. Had we even received one gift yet? No. Had we even told anyone about being pregnant yet? No. So really, did this matter? In my preggo brain, YES. Thank you notes were ALL that mattered!)
And then, like a thousand elephants stampeding, it hit me! Storkie! Insert the hallelujah chorus and golden rays of light emitting from my computer screen. It couldn't have been more beautiful. I began searching for thank you's. Since our theme for the nursery is "under the sea" and we are total beach babies, I wanted something beachy with an ocean type theme. But nothing too over the top, but something that would convey our gratitude...but not in an overwhelming fashion (yes, I put a lot of thought into these cards!) I finally narrowed it down to this one and this one.
I ordered samples of both and once they arrived (in three to five business days), I made my decision. We went with the baby submarine! I can't tell you the weight that was lifted off my shoulders when that decision was made. It was perfect. It was cute (who doesn't like a cartoon baby?) it was personal (hello, our theme was under the sea. The baby was, literally, UNDER the sea- in a submarine, could it get any cuter?!) it was gender neutral (because we weren't finding out the sex until we had the baby). It. Was. PERFECT!
Once that was checked off my list, I was able to move on to other very important tasks...like finding baby shower invitations- to the baby shower that wouldn't happen for another SIX months. I figure, I've never been a procrastinator- why start now?
So, if you received one of our thank you notes, please understand, that piece of folded paper in your hands is the result of a woman who wanted to know be sure everyone knew just how thankful she (and her hubby) were that you thought of them.
Knowing how thankful I was to the big J.C., I shared my joy with the hubs. He too acknowledged the same amount of gratitude. But we can't send God a thank you note, just lots of thank you prayers. Which got me thinking, "people are probably going to start buying our baby things- I need to find a killer thank you note!"
...and so, at about five weeks pregnant (before anyone other than the hubs and I knew I was, in fact pregnant) I began the monumental task of trying to find the right thank you note to convey to anyone who would hold one, just how thankful we were.
Now, I know I might have taken this task too "serious" but here's the thing. Words couldn't accurately describe just how truly thankful we were for someone to take time (and money) and spend it on us and our little bundle of unspecified-gender joy.
A while back I helped one of my clients plan a baby shower for one of her close friends. They stumbled upon this website, Storkie.com, which I went home and absolutely devoured! Invitations, thank you notes...annoucements- ahhhh, all a girl could ask for! (Except, at the time, we weren't pregnant yet, so I took some mental notes about what I liked and engraved the web address into my brain..)
Fast forward to preggo week five. I've forgotten all about Storkie.com. Instead I'm looking at all these other websites...and keep getting more and more upset. How am I going to say thank you adequately enough...when these thank you notes look like trash? (Hindsight: was I possibly over reacting about these thank you notes? Yes. Had we even received one gift yet? No. Had we even told anyone about being pregnant yet? No. So really, did this matter? In my preggo brain, YES. Thank you notes were ALL that mattered!)
And then, like a thousand elephants stampeding, it hit me! Storkie! Insert the hallelujah chorus and golden rays of light emitting from my computer screen. It couldn't have been more beautiful. I began searching for thank you's. Since our theme for the nursery is "under the sea" and we are total beach babies, I wanted something beachy with an ocean type theme. But nothing too over the top, but something that would convey our gratitude...but not in an overwhelming fashion (yes, I put a lot of thought into these cards!) I finally narrowed it down to this one and this one.
I ordered samples of both and once they arrived (in three to five business days), I made my decision. We went with the baby submarine! I can't tell you the weight that was lifted off my shoulders when that decision was made. It was perfect. It was cute (who doesn't like a cartoon baby?) it was personal (hello, our theme was under the sea. The baby was, literally, UNDER the sea- in a submarine, could it get any cuter?!) it was gender neutral (because we weren't finding out the sex until we had the baby). It. Was. PERFECT!
Once that was checked off my list, I was able to move on to other very important tasks...like finding baby shower invitations- to the baby shower that wouldn't happen for another SIX months. I figure, I've never been a procrastinator- why start now?
So, if you received one of our thank you notes, please understand, that piece of folded paper in your hands is the result of a woman who wanted to know be sure everyone knew just how thankful she (and her hubby) were that you thought of them.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
...been a while, eh?
I didn't realize how long its been since I've posted, since I just looked at the blog and realized, uhm- its been THREE months!!
So what have I been up to? Oh, you know...just working like a crazy lady with the remodeling company, working on some commercial projects, drafting, teaching a college course, oh and my favorite new thing that takes up my time? My son! Yup, while I've been away from the blog, my husband and I had a beautiful baby boy!
His nursery you say? Oh yes, yes, that was a work in progress. Actually, I think that will be my jumping off topic to get back into the blogosphere!
...and as I'm typing, he's waking up from a nap, toodles!!
So what have I been up to? Oh, you know...just working like a crazy lady with the remodeling company, working on some commercial projects, drafting, teaching a college course, oh and my favorite new thing that takes up my time? My son! Yup, while I've been away from the blog, my husband and I had a beautiful baby boy!
His nursery you say? Oh yes, yes, that was a work in progress. Actually, I think that will be my jumping off topic to get back into the blogosphere!
...and as I'm typing, he's waking up from a nap, toodles!!
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
My quiet afternoon
Do you watch Grey's Anatomy? I do. Religiously. Since season one.
In one episode, Izzy walks into an empty ER and says to Bailey, "Its so quiet in here". Bailey jumped and explained how you never say "quiet" in the ER because it jinxes it. (and then, true to form, they get rushed with lots of bloody people, limbs missing- all because Izzy said it was "quiet".)
This is what happened to me yesterday. I had one meeting scheduled, at 7pm, and all morning I thought to myself, "wow, its so quiet today". Ahhhh, key word, quiet. I started doing work on my class schedule for the Spring semester (did I mention I'm now an adjunct instructor for a local college? Pretty sweet, right?) and my cell phone rings.
The voice was all broken up, so I only caught, "Hi...got your name...need help...Saturday". I explain that I can't understand anything she's saying, and then all of a sudden, she comes in crystal clear!
She's having a party on Saturday, received my name and number from her drapery designer I've done work with, and wanted my assistance in helping make her house festive for her party. I setup a meeting with her for that evening...remember, it was "supposed" to be a quiet afternoon.
Keeping in mind, I'm 35.5 weeks pregnant (for those of you who don't do "weeks" that's almost 9 months pregnant.) Daily naps at this point are built-into my afternoon schedule. Because if they aren't, mama ain't happy. And if mama ain't happy...well, you know how the saying goes.
So I finish up my school work, realize its lunch time...then, of course, nap time- see, as I'm writing this, it doesn't seem like a lot went down. But from my point of view, yesterday was the most rushed afternoon of my life. And I'm not exaggerating. My LIIIIIFE.
Because I wake up, and realize I need to feed Jack, then take him for a walk so he can do his bid-ness, then get myself ready (because although I took a shower in the morning, I don't put on makeup these days, unless deemed necessary. Meeting a new client? Totally necessary.) Oh, and I left this part out...my evening appointment was with my husband and a photographer for our maternity photos. So the pressure was on to LOOK good for my initial meeting, but also look good for the photos that would come soon after.
Here's the part where you just have to sit back and laugh a little. Because, for the first time in, approximately a thousand years, a TYPHOON came to our town. (I might be exaggerating, but whatever, it rained A LOT!)
So after I make myself look all pretty, all my hairs in the right place, mascara perfect...I go to my meeting. It went awesome! After, I get into my car, no rain. But it was sooooo dark outside. And then when I realize its too quiet (ah! again, that word!) it starts to pour.
Like buckets from the heavens were getting tossed onto my windshield. It. Was. Horrible. (Thankfully just a few weeks ago I replaced my windshield wipers, just for occasions like this...but still.) And here's the other kicker. I was picking up dinner to take to our friends house (who is a photographer)...the plan was for me to bring Boston Market with me, to thank her for taking our pictures in her studio...and so everyone would eat a good dinner. (And, I'm totally addicted to chicken these days- and you cannot go wrong with Boston Markets mashed potatoes and mac and cheese- can I get an Amen?!)
Well, here's the problem with me picking up Boston Market. There is no drive thru. Yeah. Rain drops the size of grapefruits are falling from the sky and I'm sitting in the parking lot, looking into the restaurant, watching those perfect rotisserie chickens rotate in front of me, and I'm pleading with my hair. It went something like this:
"I know if I get out, and one drip of water gets on you, my cow licks will curl up and I'll look like Carrot Top in our preggo pictures. But if I don't get out, then I can't eat that chicken. And look at that chicken! But I didn't bring my flat iron to fix the cow licks...but if I don't get out now and brave the water, then I can't eat a piece of warm, toasty corn bread." Ohhh screw it- I opened the door and did what my Grandpa used to tell us when we were little, "walk in between the rain drops".
Well, I'm pretty sure that even Grandpa never saw rain drops THAT big before. Because try as I did to avoid them, I was soaked when I walked in. But the smell of that chicken made up for it. I enjoyed my five minutes of chicken scented bliss, until I realized, "crap- now I have to go back out there!"
I am such a tough chick. I grabbed my yummy, delicious smelling bag of chicken, took a deep breath, and waddled as fast as I could to my car. When I got back inside, I did a check of the hair damage. Yup, just as I expected. Carrot Top- just not so red (actually, its called "Sweet Cola"). Fail.
By the time I got to our friends house, the hubs was there waiting for me and although I was soaked, and soggy and water logged...we took great photos together :)
In the end, I was thankful for the new client, the tasty chicken, warm corn bread and great friends we spent the evening with...but I tell you here and now. I will never say I'm having a "quiet" afternoon ever again!
In one episode, Izzy walks into an empty ER and says to Bailey, "Its so quiet in here". Bailey jumped and explained how you never say "quiet" in the ER because it jinxes it. (and then, true to form, they get rushed with lots of bloody people, limbs missing- all because Izzy said it was "quiet".)
This is what happened to me yesterday. I had one meeting scheduled, at 7pm, and all morning I thought to myself, "wow, its so quiet today". Ahhhh, key word, quiet. I started doing work on my class schedule for the Spring semester (did I mention I'm now an adjunct instructor for a local college? Pretty sweet, right?) and my cell phone rings.
The voice was all broken up, so I only caught, "Hi...got your name...need help...Saturday". I explain that I can't understand anything she's saying, and then all of a sudden, she comes in crystal clear!
She's having a party on Saturday, received my name and number from her drapery designer I've done work with, and wanted my assistance in helping make her house festive for her party. I setup a meeting with her for that evening...remember, it was "supposed" to be a quiet afternoon.
Keeping in mind, I'm 35.5 weeks pregnant (for those of you who don't do "weeks" that's almost 9 months pregnant.) Daily naps at this point are built-into my afternoon schedule. Because if they aren't, mama ain't happy. And if mama ain't happy...well, you know how the saying goes.
So I finish up my school work, realize its lunch time...then, of course, nap time- see, as I'm writing this, it doesn't seem like a lot went down. But from my point of view, yesterday was the most rushed afternoon of my life. And I'm not exaggerating. My LIIIIIFE.
Because I wake up, and realize I need to feed Jack, then take him for a walk so he can do his bid-ness, then get myself ready (because although I took a shower in the morning, I don't put on makeup these days, unless deemed necessary. Meeting a new client? Totally necessary.) Oh, and I left this part out...my evening appointment was with my husband and a photographer for our maternity photos. So the pressure was on to LOOK good for my initial meeting, but also look good for the photos that would come soon after.
Here's the part where you just have to sit back and laugh a little. Because, for the first time in, approximately a thousand years, a TYPHOON came to our town. (I might be exaggerating, but whatever, it rained A LOT!)
So after I make myself look all pretty, all my hairs in the right place, mascara perfect...I go to my meeting. It went awesome! After, I get into my car, no rain. But it was sooooo dark outside. And then when I realize its too quiet (ah! again, that word!) it starts to pour.
Like buckets from the heavens were getting tossed onto my windshield. It. Was. Horrible. (Thankfully just a few weeks ago I replaced my windshield wipers, just for occasions like this...but still.) And here's the other kicker. I was picking up dinner to take to our friends house (who is a photographer)...the plan was for me to bring Boston Market with me, to thank her for taking our pictures in her studio...and so everyone would eat a good dinner. (And, I'm totally addicted to chicken these days- and you cannot go wrong with Boston Markets mashed potatoes and mac and cheese- can I get an Amen?!)
Well, here's the problem with me picking up Boston Market. There is no drive thru. Yeah. Rain drops the size of grapefruits are falling from the sky and I'm sitting in the parking lot, looking into the restaurant, watching those perfect rotisserie chickens rotate in front of me, and I'm pleading with my hair. It went something like this:
"I know if I get out, and one drip of water gets on you, my cow licks will curl up and I'll look like Carrot Top in our preggo pictures. But if I don't get out, then I can't eat that chicken. And look at that chicken! But I didn't bring my flat iron to fix the cow licks...but if I don't get out now and brave the water, then I can't eat a piece of warm, toasty corn bread." Ohhh screw it- I opened the door and did what my Grandpa used to tell us when we were little, "walk in between the rain drops".
Well, I'm pretty sure that even Grandpa never saw rain drops THAT big before. Because try as I did to avoid them, I was soaked when I walked in. But the smell of that chicken made up for it. I enjoyed my five minutes of chicken scented bliss, until I realized, "crap- now I have to go back out there!"
I am such a tough chick. I grabbed my yummy, delicious smelling bag of chicken, took a deep breath, and waddled as fast as I could to my car. When I got back inside, I did a check of the hair damage. Yup, just as I expected. Carrot Top- just not so red (actually, its called "Sweet Cola"). Fail.
By the time I got to our friends house, the hubs was there waiting for me and although I was soaked, and soggy and water logged...we took great photos together :)
In the end, I was thankful for the new client, the tasty chicken, warm corn bread and great friends we spent the evening with...but I tell you here and now. I will never say I'm having a "quiet" afternoon ever again!
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Popped my bubble!
It always happens. You're at a restaurant, you get your food. Your waitress comes over, asks how things are- but you have your mouth full. It always happens to me, and the worst part about it is that I LOVE being able to tell a waitress, "its awesome!" or compliment how good the food is; but instead I look like a farm animal at the trough.
So today I'm at the bank drive thru. I send off the tube and grab my purse to verify I have my camera (I was heading to a flooring store- and didn't think to verify before I left the house...) So as I'm rummaging through my massive purse, I find a piece of Bubblelicious gum!
(I forgot I dropped three packets of gum in the giant purse a few weeks ago...)
Back to the drive thru. I grab the gum, start unwrapping a piece, pop it in my mouth- get two good chews in and the lady says, "Hi there! Is there anything else I can help you with today?"
Huh, I can't speak right now! All the grape deliciousness is exploding in my mouth right now, making all this saliva and I'm having a hard time swallowing to keep up with production...and this lady wants to know if she can help me?
I swallow big, and politely say, "no, thank you!" (I was so proud I got all those words out!) and do you know what she does? She keeps talking! Asking me if I'd like to switch to another checking account, gain more interest on our savings...
Whatever happened to impersonal banking? You just drive up, send the tube, say thank you and drive away? When did they start talking so much?
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