Style Junkie

Yea, my kid is going to be pretty rad. Check out the new stuff my Mom hooked her Grandson up with! She has awesome taste and is pretty much the coolest, hippest Yia-Yia in the world:)

For my Homeslice

Half Way Mark

I can't believe I'm 5 months pregnant already! According to my cool iPhone app, I'm 56% done with 124 more days to go! Woo hoo! It still completely amazes me that there is a BABY in there. Not a little blob that will one day grown into a baby. No, there is a full on BABY in there. Arms, legs, head the whole bit. Incredible!

I'm feeling amazing, happy, healthy and excited about what's to come. You know what? It feels damn good to say "excited" instead of "unsure" or "nervous" or "have no clue." For the longest time, I felt like I was never going to get out of that space. It seemed like I was stuck in molasses or quick sand, with no end in sight. But I really feel that things are starting to fall into place and for the first time in a long time, I can actually take a deep breath and exhale. Make no mistake, there are still a ton of unknowns, not sures and no clues. But I feel better prepared to handle them now.

Through my incredible, beautiful, wonderful family and friends, from really being forced to dig deep and after countless boxes of Kleenex...I have gotten through the roughest 4 months of my life. I'm still in one piece. And dare I say stronger for it?

Are things perfect? No. Are there still a lot of variables to balance? Yes. Is the future still somewhat scary and unknown? Absolutely. Do I feel ready to take it all on with a open arms? You bet your ass I do:)

Live it. Be it. Own it.

My best friend Lanie sent the following to me back in 2007. She received it in an email and forwarded to me and others. Little did I know then how so very true many of these would actually be! Re reading them today gives each one a whole new meaning.

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, cheese, and or comfort foods, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye no matter what you do... so don't forget to close your eyes and breath every once in awhile.

16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.

17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.

18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness except "you".

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. Music heals, listen to it so loudly that you can't even hear your own voice as you sing at the top of your lungs in the shower or your car.

35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.

38. Vote.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

45. The best is yet to come.

46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

48. If you don't ask, you don't get.

49. Yield.

50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

51. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

Marcus and Megs always have the best costumes for Halloween/Luciano's birthday party. One year they were Wayne and Garth, then Homer and Marge. Last year they went as Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. Check out how awesome they looked!!!


Lex and Looch looked great too, as always. Lexi was a self proclaimed 1970's coke whore, but she looked more like a '70s goddess straight out of Studio 54...gorgeous! Luciano was so rad, he went as George Michael. The resemblance was eerie!


Dimiti went as a the ghost of a phycho murdering lumberjack, I was Kat von G and Rob was a Zombie. Luciano's birthday has become one of my favorite holidays and I'm already trying to think of a good costume for this year!

Write Off

I had to laugh out loud when I saw this onesie.
It has Rob written all over it lol

Nosey Parker

It really bugs me when I go to the store, pick out a card and then when I check out, the cashier opens the card to read it. I mean, I know I haven't written anything inside yet, and I know that it's not technically mine until I have paid for it. But I painstakingly picked it out. It's personal to me, and now it's being manhandled by a total stranger.

I'm not the kind of person that just grabs any random card for my recipient. I take my time, pouring over tons of different cards, finding just the right one that expresses my sentiment. It's a labor of love. And having someone just open it, read the inside scripture and chuckle, or make that "awwww" face....it really gets under my skin. I feel like telling them "hey man, you don't know why thats cute, or funny, or meaningful! You don't know me!"

Am I totally alone on this?

No need to cook this week

I'm a big time foodie. I especially love the experience of going out to a nice restaurant and enjoying a delish meal. But let's face it, with the economy in the toilet right now, it's much harder to splurge on a lunch or dinner date.

Well, guess what? It's Orange County Restaurant Week! What's that you ask? Well, from February 22nd-28th, you can dine at a bunch of different really amazing Orange County restaurants for a fraction of the price. Pick a place to dine from the list and enjoy lunch for $10-$20 and dinner for $20-$40. You'll be treated to a three course specialty menu and feel pretty swanky while saving a buck.

Go here to see the restaurants that are participating and take this opportunity to get out there and indulge in a night out. Come on, you deserve it!

Zzzz

The extent of my tiredness right now is shocking. I feel like I could fall asleep at my desk as I type this. I know there are some people that can sleep anywhere without much fuss. Sitting on a train-no prob. Check out line at the grocery store-no prob. But not me. I need to be comfortable, preferably lying down with a good pillow and blanket. But right now I truly believe I could just close my eyes and nod off to la la land. I feel my eye lids getting heavier and heavier. I have to stop thinking about going into the other office and lying down on the couch because it sounds so good. And just the mere thought of it is making me even more tired. How that's possible, I don't know. I feel like all the energy has been sucked out of me..like a balloon without its helium. I can't exactly drink a red bull to perk up, so I will just have to find a way to stay awake the natural way.

Must stay awake....

.......don't close eyes.....

fingers crossed

Good things may be happening.....keep those positive vibes flowing....I think it's working....

Big Sister Harlow

Joel Madden and Nicole Ritchie are expecting another baby! I just love these two together. Nicole has finally calmed down and seems to be a really involved and attentive mother. Her and Joel are good together it looks like they make a good team. Congrats!

Skully

My sista from another mista, Megs, got this bad ass gift for the cub. Please check out how awesome the little baby slip on sneaks are! And the onesie is so rad. Thanks Auntie Megs and Eggs!!!

Distracted

All I can think about right now is the BBQ chicken pizza from ZPizza that was left over from dinner last night. It's sitting in the fridge....I can see the fridge from my desk.....is it lunch time yet?

Changes

It's getting tougher and tougher to move around these days. It kind of just snuck up on me. I have had a pretty easy pregnancy so far so I'm definitely not complaining. I've been mostly just tired, a little morning sickness here and there. I haven't had to buy any maternity clothes, I'm still rocking all my old clothes which I'm happy about. But something happened on Friday morning. I woke up at 6:30 to get ready for work and as I pulled my jeans on, they wouldn't button! How did this happen? I wore then the day before...yes they were a little on the snug side, but they still did up. Now, it's just not going to happen. I guess the cub just needed some more elbow room in there and it looks like he got it. As Lexi would say, I've popped. I'm now officially that pregnant chick who is huffing and puffing as she climbs a flight of stairs and needs a hand getting off the couch. It might even be safe to say I have a slight waddle. But I'm embracing it. I don't mind the big belly and the slower pace of getting around. I still feel good and have to say I think I still look pretty darn good too. Right now, I'm all belly. (I hope I didn't just curse myself and end up looking like the stay puff marshmellow man!) I'm glad I made it to five months pregnant before having to think about buying a pair of maternity pants. Now I just have to find a pair that are my style. Do you think they make them in skinny jeans?

Busted

I was at Church a couple of weeks ago and Nicolas, almost 3 years old, was standing next to me on the pew. Right when it got to a quiet part in the service, he yelled out "Nuna, tattoooooo!" pointing to my neck where my "Blessed" ink is located. I couldn't help but laugh and feel proud that my Godphew knows what a tattoo is. That's my boy:)

Instant Love

I think I should start getting prepared to take care of a little newborn, so I would like to get this little lion cub. It's perfect. He's a cub, mine is a cub....see the connection? It makes perfect sense. How could anyone argue with this reasoning? *sigh* My heart is melting....

Chucks

I haven't really bought anything for the baby yet, just a couple of onesies, but these I couldn't resisit. Can you blame me? These are the coolest shoes ever and my little no name son will totally rock them!

Looking back

Life is a very strange thing. I thought as I got older, it would make more sense to me. But, as it turns out, it just gets more and more complex and challenging. Obviously it's because when I was younger, life was so much easier. But I remember at the time, it seems like the things that I was faced with were just so awful and difficult and I would never recover from. Being grounded, getting my heart broken, math tests. They seemed like the world greatest disaster but really they were really just a blip on the map.

Lanie says "I miss my old problems" and that is such a true statement. I remember looking forward to being an adult so things would be easier in life. I couldn't have been more wrong. Dealing with adult shit is so much more frustrating and painful. Don't get me wrong, there are definite perks such as no curfew, drinking, smoking, Las Vegas etc. But there are some things that are just plain tough, like divorce, worrying about the real estate market, being able to afford a mortgage or rent, getting the car fixed, paying taxes, working hard just to get by....the list goes on.

I suppose it balances itself out. There are ups and downs of being a grown up, and if you're happy in your life, the sucky things don't seem quite as bad. I can't wait to get there again. Don't get me wrong, I'm not totally unhappy right now. But being away from the man I love is difficult. Especially at 5 months pregnant. It's no one's fault except the damn economy (I hate you economy!) When I'm with him, I'm truly happy. And I'm happy when I'm with my family and friends (I don't know what I would do without you Lanie.) But I am just looking forward to waking up every day and not have a hundred stressful things on my mind. I want to feel happy and content and not in limbo, unsure of what the future holds. I'm trying my best to be patient. I just hope it comes soon.

Big Boy

Did I mention that the average weight of the baby at 20 weeks is 9 oz and mine is 12 oz? This doesn't ease my fears of labor. Just saying.

Insight

Sometimes it feels like nothing is going to go right. I hate that.