Casa de Norwood

Stella & Dot

2011-06-07T21:32:00.000-04:00

I don't know what took me so long to get on board, but I am finally in love with Stella & Dot. It could be that I went to a trunk show for a different jewelry line a few years ago and felt pressured to buy things that I didn't feel was worth my money. I attended a Stella & Dot trunk show about a month ago, and had my defenses up. I was NOT going to be persuaded to buy anything that I didn't think was worth the money.

Stella & Dot completely surprised me! I love the jewelry- it is so beautiful, and versatile. You can wear the jewelry in so many ways, and layer the items. I was so immediately addicted that I decided I had to host a trunk show (though, I don't need much of a reason to open my home to a bunch of my girlfriends, drink wine, and shop!).

I wanted to open the opportunity to attend my trunk show to all my blogosphere friends through a virtual trunk show! Buying through a Stella & Dot trunk show is so easy- you can have the items shipped right to your door, and the shipping is FAST! (At the previous show I attended, I placed my order on Sunday and had it waiting on my porch on Wednesday!)

Take some time to shop at www.stelladot.com/melissamcleod . If you would like to make a purchase, click on "Can't make it to the trunk show? Find your hostess" and then enter TIFFANY NORWOOD.

Happy shopping!
xoxo

3 years!

2011-05-29T08:28:00.000-04:00

Campbell Grace turned 3 years old on May 23rd. I cannot believe how fast time has flown...

Totally awesome!

2011-05-01T19:49:00.000-04:00

Ryan and I went to an 80's theme 30th birthday party last night. I absolutely love the 80's. The music was FANTASTIC. I love the bright colors. I just love how radical everything was. Ryan and I really got into the whole thing.

My fear of white

2011-04-30T17:03:00.000-04:00

I have this fear of wearing white. Inevitably, I will spill something on myself. Case in point, day #2 on my new job, I was wearing a lovely white tunic top with jeans. At approximately 10 AM, I spilled coffee straight down the front of my shirt and had to wear it that way the rest of the workday. Fast forward to maybe a month ago, I was wearing the same tunic on a nice weather day and eating breakfast in the car on the way to work. I happened to look down while sitting at a stop light, only to notice that I dribbled hot sauce all down the front of my white tunic. Luckily I was close enough to home that I could turn around to change, but still.

So, even with this fear, I went on a limb and picked up a pair of white cropped jeans. I purchased them from Old Navy last weekend when they were running their $6 clearance bottoms promotion. I figured at $6, if I ruined them in less than 8 hours, it wouldn't be a total wash. I'm proud to say that I wore the jeans for a full 12 hours without incident!

Old Navy The Diva White skinny ankle flare jeans, size 8

Old Navy Tiered tank, size Small

Gap cinched shoulder cardigan, size Medium

Cynthia Vincent for Target wedges, Summer 2010

I also have a fear that I look a bit like a huge marshmallow in white pants, especially from behind since my behind is a bit more ample than most (hence the back shot).

They were a bit more snug in the rear earlier in the day, when I took these pictures, than they were by the end of the day. The jeans have 1% spandex, so they hold their shape nicely, while also stretching to give a comfortable fit.

I was also pretty nervous about wearing white before Memorial Day. I can't remember if the rules have changed, but I've seen a ton of white jeans and pants around here in Richmond. Is everyone else wearing white pants already, too? No one fainted at the sight of me wearing white pants before Memorial Day here in the South... did I commit a faux pas?

If you are liking the jeans I wore, you can find them here, in sizes 12-20, and on sale for $25.00. Your local store will probably have them for cheaper (they were marked to $14.99 in store when I purchased them). The reviews online say that these sit low, which is true, but I didn't think they sat SO low that I looked like I was trying to be 13. I'd say that they sit lower than most of the jeans I currently wear (like Gap's Sexy Bootcut jeans).

You can find similiar styles below:

Bloomies- Paige Premium Denim
For a skinnier fit, JCrew Cropped Matchstick White jeans
Gap- Cropped kick flare white jeans

Hope everyone is having a fantastic day! I am about to gear up for an 80's theme 30th birthday party for a friend. I'm so excited to transport back to the truly outrageous styles of the 80's. I'll definitely do a post of the party fashions for everyone's enjoyment! :)

Cardigan Queen

2011-04-09T22:15:00.000-04:00

I have realized that I have way too many cardigans. On top of that, I wear a cardigan almost every day. I feel like I need some sort of change, but I can't really figure out how to break that cycle. Until then, here are two outfits with cardigans!

Outfit #1- VA's weather has been all over the place this past week. One day it was super breezy and almost 85 degrees, the next it is 60 and rainy. I think this outfit was from Wednesday, when we had some sun and upper 60s!

JCrew Factory Jackie Cardigan Spring 2011 (can't remember the color of this, spicy olive?)- medium

Old Navy Tiered Ruffle Tank - small

JCrew Cafe Capris in black- Summer 2009?- size 6

Can I just tell you how much I adore the Tiered Ruffle tank from ON? So much that I have 3- black, white, and green! The tank is incredibly flattering. The tiered ruffles lay very nicely, and interestingly enough, I swear this tank is tapered in a bit at the waist because it looks like it is cut very close to my natural waist (without the cardigan). I'm always a bit hesitant with these types of tops because I feel like they add so much bulk to my stomach and waist, so I feel like I need to add a belt to make the top look a little more tailored. This is not the case with this tank. A word of warning- I have smalls in all three colors. I bought the white in store, and tried it on and was very happy with the fit, so I purchased a small in the black and green online. There is at least 3 inches difference in the length of the tank between the three tops. I'm still very happy with all three tops, but it is worth noting.

Outfit #2- By Thursday of last week, the weather peaked back up to the mid 80's with sunshine! I received an order of Stella & Dot jewelry from a party I attended the Sunday prior, and was excited to work it into an outfit for the week. I ended up with shades of blues with this outfit- I personally loved it!

JCrew Factory Jackie Cardigan Spring 2011 (a cool minty color)- medium

Lands End pintucked shift dress Summer 2010 (navy blue)- size 8

Cynthia Vincent for Target wedges Summer 2010

The photo is a bit small, and I didn't take a detailed picture of my jewelry, but I'm wearing a really lovely necklace from Stella & Dot called the La Coco necklace in turquoise beads. This is an incredibly versatile necklace that can be tripled up, doubled, or worn completely long. I also purchased a fun bee brooch to wear on the necklace, but it was a bit too much with this outfit. I remembered Coco Chanel's quote, "When accessorizing, always take off the last thing you put on", and the last thing I added was the bee. I'll save that beauty for another day. And I'll make sure to take a better photo of my jewelry, too!

Have you heard of Joss & Main? If you have used Rue La La, it is a lot like that, but apparently focuses on home accessories and that type of thing. Preppy Plates, which can only be found at specialty boutiques, will be featured on April 11th, and Lilly Pulitzer will be featured April 18th! I'm really excited. I saw a sneak peek of some of the items that should be featured. Who doesn't need these adorable coozies for a summer BBQ or the wine glasses for a day with the girls?

The best part? Membership is totally free! If you use my link by clicking here, though, you don't have to wait in line to become a member (which I've heard is a pretty lengthy line.... waits up to a month or so?!?!).

Hope everyone is having a fantastic weekend!

Oh, hello there....

2011-04-05T18:56:00.000-04:00

I tend to go MIA at times on this little bloggy, don't I? I don't ever have a reason to, except for life getting in the way of having time to sit down and peck away here. March was an insanely busy month for us. One of our very best friend couples was married... in the BAHAMAS! Oh yes, we went! We had a fantastic time at the Sandals Royal Bahamian resort on Paradise Island. This was our first resort trip, and I'm now officially addicted. We loved our trip so much that we've booked a trip to Jamaica for April 2012. I can't wait! :)

The wedding was beyond gorgeous. Sandals did a fantastic job. The wedding was beautiful, very organic, and low key. Perfect for the couple. I didn't take nearly enough pictures while I was there, but here are a few lovelys.

Ahh... the life. My Kindle and a view of the ocean. Yep, that's my Boden Pool Party Tunic, too! Perfect for poolside lounging.

Ryan and I at the wedding. Ryan is dressed head to toe in Tommy Bahama (I made him wear linen for the first time!). I'm wearing JCrew's Juliette silk chiffon dress in Shocking Pink (got this on Final Sale around Christmas for $35!! What a steal!).

Enjoying one of the fabulous restaurants at the resort.

Our last night in the Bahamas. Isn't the sunset amazing?! Tunic from Target... Ryan is wearing a JCrew polo (not sure which one).

We were lucky enough to spend 5 full days in the Bahamas, so of course getting back into the swing of things back home and at work was a slightly daunting task. Ryan has been coaching his travel baseball team on the weekends, so it has been me and Campbell holding down the fort on the weekends! I've spent too much time shopping, so I'm trying to go on a slight "shopping hiatus" for the month of April. Mostly because, honestly, what do I need to buy?!

That being said... I have a new addiction. It has big plans to ruin my shopping hiatus for April. It is actually two pages on Facebook: Shopaholics Preppy Closet and Re-Lilly. Oh dear Lilly Pulitzer.... these two FB pages are a little slice of consignment heaven, especially for Lilly Pulitzer items. I had friends turn me on to both pages and I'm beyond obsessed with checking these pages multiple times throughout the day for something I must. have. now. I snagged a lovely halter top that should arrive here within the next day or two for $35! I'm so excited! I'm stalking a few dresses and skirts right now... trying to debate if they are worth breaking my hiatus or not. We'll see. If you even love Lilly just a little and are on FB, you have to check out both of the pages.

I'm also battling a massive onslaught of Spring allergies. They have set on my tail this year. Is anyone else struggling with allergies already? I'm absolutely miserable.

And finally, I've also become incredibly addicted to the Sookie Stackhouse novels. I'm so late for this bus, but I'm loving the books all the same. I have devoured the books... just started the 5th book today! I just love the drama and suspense. It is like a little lovely escape from reality for a couple chapters....

I've had some fun styling some of my newer Spring items, but have not taken any pics for the blog. I'll resolve to get back on doing that ASAP. :)

Can't a girl get some sleep?

2011-02-20T09:01:00.000-05:00

Oh sweet baby Jesus... all I want is some sleep. Some uninterrupted, 8-10 hours of blissful sleep. It is just not happening around here. Campbell is sleeping for maybe 6-8 hours, MAX, and I'm beyond stressed at work with a new project I'm supervising. Oh well.... I guess I'll sleep when Campbell's grown and out of the house, right?

But seriously, until that day comes... mommies- any tips for getting more sleep? We are able to get Campbell down for bed between 8/8:30 PM during the week and she usually gets up around 5:30 AM (30 minutes before that blessed alarm goes off! gah!). On the weekends, she goes to bed around the same time and *maybe* lets us get up around 6:30/6:45. Last night, we were out with friends at a kid friendly function and got home around 10:45 PM. Campbell went straight to bed, and woke up promptly at 6:30 AM. AHHHHH- serenity, and SLEEP, now please!

I'm running on fumes, ladies. I'll blame the exhaustion and the business at work for my delay in posting these two outfits. I worked on two outfits centered around the Real Straight jeans from Gap. I think these jeans are a fantastic sub for super skinny jeans if you are a bit curvier. They are just a smidge wider at the ankles than skinny jeans, so the proportion to my thighs is a bit more complimentary. I am still nervous to wear them completely straight, so here they are slightly folded. I used to do the JCrew sloppy fold but after trying them this way, I found I liked the fold better!

Gap Real Straight Jeans- Size 29/8- This style has an interior print of birds that you can see when you fold the jeans. I think it was an early Fall '10 style.

Gap Cardigan (my fave!)

Close up shot of the cuff. I folded this so that the bottom of the cuff hit right at my ankle bone.

Seychelles Ring in the New Year pumps, size 9.

Love these shoes. Love them. I love Seychelles anyways, but the Ring in the New Year's are so awesome for Spring. Plus they are super comfy!

Here is another outfit with the Gap Real Straights. These are the dark wash, nothing fancy. I paired it with the Loft Sequin front sweatshirt from this late winter campaign.

Gap Real Straight Jeans, size 29/8

Loft Sequin front Sweatshirt, size S

Loft t-strap suede heels in pewter, size 9

I'm loving the sequin sweatshirt! It is so comfy and goes dressed up or down. I'll definitely wear this through the Spring.

I hope you are getting more rest than I am.... Campbell is flipping out about something right now, so I'm off to save the day!

Frazzled mommy style

2011-02-10T20:42:00.000-05:00

Both of these outfits represent the frazzled state I've been in lately. Campbell has been potty training herself (hooray!), but is experiencing lots of constipation from witholding (boo!). She is cranky, doesn't sleep well, doesn't eat well, and is just overall miserable. I, in turn, am exhausted and frustrated, which does not make it easy for me to get myself dressed in the morning!

Outfit #1 is a combo of Gap and Loft pieces. You can tell I'm frazzled in this picture because I didn't iron my pants. Oh well, I sit at a desk all day anyways.

Gap Perfect Khakis in Pavement, size 8

I have to do a quick review of these pants 1) because the picture on the Gap website just doesn't do it justice, and 2) the reviews on the Gap website are really mediocre. These are fabulous pants if you are a bit curvy. I have found that the waist is very flattering; it sits below your natural waist, but isn't incredibly low cut. The legs are definitely a wide leg, but not nearly as much as they are shown on the website. I think if you are very slender, these will swallow your legs completely, but if you have a little thickness to your thighs (like me!), these are incredibly flattering. I purchased these in the long length and they are definitely long enough to wear with higher heels and platform sandals. I am planning on purchasing them in the regular length to wear with lower heels and flats.

Outfit #2 is one of my favorite frazzled mommy outfits, mostly because I feel like I'm wearing pajamas. And it is even better that I get to wear this to work! Campbell jumped in this shot, and then stood in front of my for every other shot, until she bumped her head on the counter and subsequently threw a temper tantrum. Remember, frazzled mommy.....

Express Sweater tunic and leggings

Here you can see my favorite boots in the world. These are the Seychelles True Story boots, which were a Christmas gift from the hubbs. I am completely addicted to Seychelles (post on those forthcoming), and these boots are absolutely fantastic. They are made of a very soft leather, and have a small heel. Best part is that you can wear them as over the knee boots by just unfolding the cuff. Ryan ordered these for me from Piperlime, where they are now on sale! I wear between a 9 and 9.5 in Seychelles. These are a 9.5 and I think I could have gone slightly smaller, but the 9 would have been too snug and would have taken too long to stretch out.

Tomorrow is Friday and I'm so happy for the weekend to be here! We have a wedding shower to attend for a couple that is absolutely wonderful-- plus, their wedding is the reason we are going to the Bahamas next month! :) Any big plans for the weekend?

A taste of Spring!

2011-02-02T20:48:00.000-05:00

We had temps in the mid 60's here in the RVA, which meant I could break out some of my new Spring items.

I had some Christmas returns to make at JCrew a few weeks back and honestly couldn't find anything I was dying to have. I finally settled on the Waverly Chinos, and I'm pretty pleased with them. I was a huge devotee to the Cafe Capris for years, but the cut is a bit more slim this year and I just didn't find them as flattering as years past. It could have just been my mood that day I was shopping, though.

JCrew Waverly Chinos, size 8, (no idea what color... I didn't save the tag, and it isn't listed online, but it is a slate blue-ish color)

Loft Pansy Blooms Ruffle Shell, Small

Gap Shirred Shoulder Cardigan, Medium

I'm really loving the Loft shell. The colors are fantastic for Spring; lots of coral and pinks, with hints of burgundy and seafoamy/pale mint colors. The collar stands up a little with ruffles, so it adds a little to the neckline without looking bulky. The cardigan is another one that I mentioned in my previous post- I'm obsessed with this cardigan. Very lightweight, but it isn't flimsy and wears nicely all day long.

Lucky you, I took this picture in the morning before rushing out the door. Make up and hair is nice and fresh... you don't have to see two days of me looking run down and ragged!

Like I said, I'm pretty happy with the Waverlys. They have a nice cut, but I think I will only wear them rolled up. The length is fairly short, I think. The item description says it is a 32" inseam, but I honestly think it is closer to 31". That said, if you are a bit more slender in the hip and thigh region than I, you could pull it off unrolled with some cute kitten heels or flats. The Waverly Chino kept it's fit all day long, especially in the rear. I was chained to my desk on the phone all day long, and I did not end up with a saggy rear (which often happens to me and chino-style pants). I don't know that I'd pay full price for another pair, though, so if you are considering them, I'd suggest snagging them when they are on sale. There just isn't anything that makes me go "Yeeeeeaaaaaaaaahhhhh" enough to pay full price, you know?

We head back to the wintry temps tomorrow, so it will be back to jeans and sweaters for me. This taste of Spring has me yearning for skirts, dresses, and fun sandals, so I'm dreading the cold after this tease. Did anyone else get to enjoy the warmer temps today?

Beautiful Boden

2011-02-01T21:30:00.000-05:00

Many thanks to Dina over at My Superfluities, I was introduced to the wonderful, beautiful world of Boden. For those of you who have not had a chance to shop Johnnie Boden's fantastic designs, you must go visit now . I really can't think of a good way to describe it, but the colorways are amazing- beautiful prints and colors that you just don't find in many stores here in Richmond, especially at this time of year.

After an excruiatingly long, crazy day at work, I came home to a beautiful polka dot package from the fantastic folks at Boden.. hooray, my order arrived! I purchased the Pool Party Tunic and the Printed Cotton Skirt. I'm beyond happy with them!

First up, the Pool Party Tunic in the Rosebud Pavilion colorway. This is so very reminiscent of Lily Pullitzer, for a fraction of the price. Definitely a tunic, this beauty hit me mid thigh, but the slits on the side will prevent it from being worn on its own. I plan on wearing this on my trip to the Bahamas next month, and then throughout the Spring and Summer over some skinny cropped jeans. (Please excuse the worn down, ragged look of my hair and makeup... that's what a 10 hour work day will do to ya!).

Got this in a size 6 and it fits like a glove. Loose, but still snug in the right places to keep it from looking shapeless. The cotton has a nice feel to it; not super sheer and has a good weight. I feel like I stay away from tunics because they tend to only look good on super slim ladies, but I think this tunic has changed my mind! I'm pretty curvy (small natural waist, but wide hips), and I feel like this is incredibly flattering for my body type.

Below is the Printed Cotton Skirt in the Multi Palm Beach colorway. Again, very reminiscent of Lilly. I love a good A-line, but again with the wider hips, I have a hard time with them. They are either too big in the waist or to tight in the hips. Johnnie got it right with this one. The cut is fantastic. The skirt fits snugly at my natural waist, and doesn't pull a bit in my hips. I purchased this skirt in an 8 regular, and again, a great fit. The skirt hits me right past the knees and I think will look great with flats or heels.

I think I would probably wear this cardigan with the skirt, but I'm not sure. I went a little overboard this month at Gap on this great item. It is the shirred shoulder cardigan, and I think I bought it on sale with an additional 40% off, so it came to maybe $13. Do I even need to say that I have four (different colors, of course)?

A side shot of the skirt. I feel like this is always an important piece of how a skirt fits. I have a little pooch that is feeling impossible to get rid of after the baby, so I try to find items that complement my stomach rather than make the pooch more obvious. This skirt does that nicely.

What do you think? For those of you making Boden purchases this spring, what are you planning on getting (or already purchased)? If you haven't seen Boden before, are you thinking of checking them out?

Cleaning out my closet

2011-01-30T16:13:00.001-05:00

I'll admit... I've gone a little overboard with the shopping lately. As I was cleaning and doing laundry, I realized that I am hoarding clothes that I no longer wear. I have some items up for sale- I'll leave them here for a week and if they remain unsold, I'll take them to ebay! A lot of these items are designer labels, and are completely authentic. I am listing them at super low prices because I need to get them out of my closet!

All items include first class domestic shipping (international? just ask!). I will sell these on a first come basis, so the first person to email me will be the lucky buyer! I will send you an invoice through Paypal. I've noted the designer and as much information as I can remember/gather on the item up for sale. If you need to know specifics, let me know.

Email tiffany dot a dot norwood AT gmail dot com . Please make sure you include the item you are interested in purchasing in the subject line. Thanks!

Item 1- Citizens of Humanity Jeans; Naomi #065 low waist flare. Size 28/6 - $30.00
Wore these maybe 7 times before getting pregnant. There is some slight wear at the hem, but in looking at the rear pockets, I think that is the style of the jeans. These are standard length and have not been hemmed.

Detail of pocket and hems.

Rearview

Item #2- Gap Perfect Bootcut Cords from Holiday 2010. Size 29/8 regular length. $15.00
I think this is the "Stone" color. These are brand new without tags; I purchased these and they were a teeny bit snug. Took the tags off, and never ended up wearing them!

Item #3- Boden blouse, size 10. $10.00
Purchased late Winter 2010. This came with a cami, but I cannot find the cami for the life of me. I think I recall the cami being really short because I always wore a different cami underneath. The blouse has lingerie securing straps. 100% silk; more of a greenish olive color (the photo makes it look more brownish olive). Worn maybe 3 times.

Item #4- Kimchi and Blue pink and white striped blouse. Size Medium. $8.00
The material is a heavier, woven cotton, with an elastic cinched waist. Comes with a belt of the same material to fashionably cinch the waist. Worn less than 5 times.

Item #5- H&M Black poplin skirt, size 10. $8.00
Worn once. Skirt has a rear zip and hits (me) right above the knee.

Item #6- Lucky Brand Corduroy Skirt, Size 29/8. $8.00
This skirt is gently used (I've worn it maybe 10 times over the course of 3 years). Skirt hits mid-knee and has a front kick pleat. Front slit pockets, but no rear pockets.

Item #7- JCrew Black Cotton Casual dress, Size Medium. $8.00
This dress is of a heavier cotton, with a notched v-neck. The v-neck is a bit low cut, so I've worn it with a cami or tank underneath. Ties either in the front or back. I'm not sure of the name of this dress, and it appears I cut the tag with the style number out of the dress. Hits (me) mid thigh.

Item #8- Loft Chiffon Rosettes cardigan in Champagne, Size Medium. $7.00
I think I *might* have worn this cardigan twice.

Item #9- Diane von Furstenberg black low cut cotton dress. Size 6. $17.00
This is a fanastic dress for spring and summer. Flowy cotton (not jersey, definitely heavier), with on seam pockets. There is banding at the waist that stops right around your belly button. The dress is definitely low cut in the front and back. I wore it out to nice dinners and dancing, and have also worn a cami under it with a cropped cardigan on top. Dress hits at the knees.

Item #10- JCrew Factory Cafe Capri. Size 6. $18.00
These are brand new with tags.

Item #11- Isaac Mizarahi for Target black lace dress. Size 4. $8.00
Brand new with tags, purchased sometime in late 2007. Very pretty dress, and I'm sick that it doesn't fit (even after all these years). I remember it having a very Audrey Hepburn fit. Comes with a wide grosgain ribbon belt. Fully lined. Hits right below the knee.

Item #12- Diane von Furstenberg wool wrap dress. Size 8. $20.00
The classic DVF wrapdress. I loved it, but felt that it runs just a smidge small (if you are a slender 8 it would work for you. I'm a bit more curvy, so it looked a little too provocative for my tastes). There is a teensy pin hole right near the left breast pocket (see 2nd pic), which isn't noticeable when you are wearing it.

I have a couple other items I am gathering up to sell as well. If I find that selling items through this venue works well for me, I will do it more frequently. Happy shopping!

Nail biter

2011-01-22T09:27:00.000-05:00

I used to nibble on my nails growing up. Gross. In high school, my mom would take me to get acrylic nails to keep me from biting my nails so my hands would look somewhat decent. It was difficult to keep up with, and not mention fairly damaging to my real nails. I eventually grew out of biting my nails, but never kept them painted because a) it was too much work for me, b) they always looked kind of sloppy, and c) the paint never lasted.

I had heard about Shellac 14-day manicures and finally decided to try it out this past fall. I am now addicted. I am in the salon every 2-3 weeks getting my nails done because these manicures are A-MAZ-ING. Things I love about the Shellac manicure, in no particular order:

1. Great colors- my salon has maybe 20-30 different color options. You can also layer and top the colors with glitters or shimmers, so you can create your own polish or style!

2. Fastest dry time- seriously, the moment my manicurist is done painting my nails, I can reach right into my purse and grab my wallet. No nicks, smudges, or ruined manicures. Mommies and every other woman on Earth can appreciate the luxury of not having to sit and not touch anything for 30+ minutes for fear of ruining their manicure.

3. It lasts- I have gone 3 weeks with one of my Shellac manicures before. It was a fair light grey shade, so the nail growth wasn't as obvious, but they didn't even chip! Like I said... amazing.

4. They are YOUR nails- No filing your nails down to the base layer and then adding acrylic nonsense to your nails. No machines or drills are used to prep your nails; just emery boards, nail files, and a buffer. To remove, you soak off the polish and then buff your nails ( I leave this to my manicurist, though she's told me I can do this at home if I need to). They aren't weak or ruined if you decide not to do another manicure.

Here is a (not great quality) photo of my most recent manicure (Thursday):

I did a layering option, where we took a darker color and put a layer of chunky glitter polish in between the two coats of the darker color. The dark color is called "Bella's Vampire", which is a purpley-plum color. The glitter coat is called "Wateredge", which has chunky large glitter pieces with a ton of teeny-tiny silver glitter. I think the combination is much more appropriately named as "Bella's Vampire", since Edward glimmers in the sun, like this nail combo does (I'm such a Twilight geek!).

If you haven't had a chance to try a Shellac manicure (some salons also use Gelish, which is the same thing, just different vendor), you really should give it a shot!

*Note: I am not being paid by Shellac, Gelish, or any nail salon or spa for this blog post.*

2010 in Review- The Quick and Dirty

2011-01-01T10:20:00.000-05:00

So one of my New Years Resolutions is going to be better about keeping up with this blog. Pretty much since August/September, I have been MIA because of, well... life! Before jumping into 2011 (wait, you mean we're already 10 hours in.... crrrrrud. I'm already behind. Story of my life.), let's see what 2010 brought to the Norwoods;

We started the year with me pretty much hating my job. Ok, maybe not "pretty much"... let's get rid of the qualifier and say yes, I could not stand my job and was ready to leave the world of teaching. I resolved to make it as best I could through the rest of the school year and find something newASAP.

The rest of the year went something like this...

- Ridiculous amounts of snow in RVA. Love!
- Ryan coached baseball.... I passed the time with job hunting and shopping. Campbell continued to develop her super-sassy attitude in preparation of her second birthday.
- I turned in my resignation in April! :) Love!
- Campbell turned 2 in May.
- The end of the school year came in June. I peaced out as quick as I could!
- We spent time all summer grilling and enjoying our beautiful patio that was installed in September 2009. Lovely summer days in the backyard (plus mosquitos... blech).
- Campbell and I lived at the pool!
- We enjoyed a wonderful, but unseasonably cool, week in the Outer Banks in July. Right before leaving, I had a very promising interview with a local law firm.
- Upon returning from vacation, I received a job offer from said law firm and quickly accepted.
- Begin the whirlwind of the fall... Ryan picked up with baseball season again, and I began to work 50+ hour workweeks at my new job.
- October brought a promotion for me to analyst at the law firm, a wedding of one of my most wonderful college girlfriends, and my 29th birthday (last year in my 20's... ahhhhh!).
- Baseball crept to an end in November... just in time for our 4 year wedding anniversary and Thanksgiving!
- Snow in December.... crazy work weeks for me.... and a white Christmas! Time with family (my sister flew from California for the holiday!)... utter craziness and driving all over the greater Richmond area.

*Sigh* It was a good year! I resolved to be happier in 2010 and it definitely happened. We've been busy, which is always good. I forsee good things, and more blogging, in 2011... it's a new decade y'all!

Are you there, blog? It's me, Tiffany.

2010-09-06T18:32:00.000-04:00

Sorry for my severe absence. I really have SO many things that I want to post about, but it has been utter madness around here. First off, my computer crashed so I'm using Ryan's. I hate his computer. The keyboard is way too big or spaced out, or whatever. And you have to literally PUNCH the keys to make them type. So here I am, typing away at a sentence and it is taking me FOR.... EV... ERRRRRR. Ugh. Secondly, I started my new job on the 23rd.... we are so insanely busy at work that I've worked way beyond my shift hours to get stuff done. I will certainly enjoy the paycheck, but my days are going by so quickly because I'm spending so much time at work. Oh, and not to mention, I sort of got a semi-promotion of sorts about a week and a half into the job. So now, I'm supervising/training people to do what I did for about a week and a half. I'm about 90% positive that the promotion is not temporary (meaning, that when all the new people are done starting ((we get about 100ish people starting at my place of work every couple of days)), I do not think they will place me back in what I was originally doing), but I guess there is always the possibility. I really enjoy what I do though.... both the first position that I was hired to do, and now the increased responsibility.... so even if the "promotion" is just a temporary one, what I'm doing under those responsibilities is a huge resume builder, so I'm good all around!

I gave up on the Couch to 5K program. The program taught me that I am not a runner... and that the only running I will likely ever do is when I'm running from something trying to attack me. So it's back to the ho-hum elliptical until SportsQuest (the new sports complex around here) opens. I'm hoping that they will have better equipment than the gym I currently work out at, or that they will have a greater variety of classes and times. Right now, I'm trying my hardest to get up and go to the gym at 5 am every morning, Monday through Friday, since the time I get home from work is typically so varied... but it's a tough go. I'm working so hard at work that I have found that I need sleep SO much more than when I did when I was teaching! Here's to trying though.... it has to burn some calories, right?!

So I'm hoping that in the coming week, I'll be on the road to getting my computer back. Once I do, I have loads of pics to upload. And, I want to follow in the footsteps of some of my fellow blog buddies and clear out my closet by selling some gently used clothing here. I have some stuff that is pre-Campbell that I just don't have the faith I'll fit back into ever again (thank you hips, for permanently moving approximately 2 inches wider). That being said, if you are a size 6(ish) and like Diane Von Furstenburg (spelling?) dresses and Citizens of Humanity jeans, be on the lookout hopefully in the next 2 weeks.... I'll be cleaning out my closet!

xoxo :)

wordless wednesday-- vacay in obx

2010-08-11T08:12:00.000-04:00

A world of changes....

2010-08-06T11:58:00.000-04:00

Phew.... it's been a whirlwind couple of weeks (or almost month?). We went on vacation in the Outer Banks, I've been interviewing for jobs, blah blah blah. I want to post some pics of our OBX trip.... so I'll try to just do a post with pictures in a bit. I went on 2 job interviews.... got an offer for the first job, which was at a daycare. I was somewhat excited about the position (just teaching), but the pay was not going to make life or my wallet very happy. I took it as a back up and kept looking. Went on an interview the Friday before we left for vacay, and really wanted the job. Less than 2 weeks after the interview, I got an offer and accepted (and of course, then called to "quit" the daycare job, though is it technically quitting if you haven't started yet?). So now, I am officially a claim reviewer for a law firm in town that specializes in big claim settlements between companies and claimaints. I think it will be a lot of desk work, but I'm excited to be around adults, and to get experience in a job that is outside of the classroom. I start 8/19! Oh-- the best part? It is CASUAL dress 24/7! Yes, casual! I am so stoked about that part.... jeans every day? Yes please!

Let's see, what else? I can't remember if I mentioned way back when that we had our front porch and door painted. It turned out very nice, and I think it adds a little flair to the house (though I guess we'll see what the HOA says about it, since our door isn't technically the same as everyone else's.... oh well.). We've had some monster storms here in Richmond, and my front porch is covered in dead flower petals and leaves. So, let me get that cleaned up and I'll post some pics. We also have been working on dolling up the patio. I know I haven't posted on that either, so I'll work on catching up with some pics on that as well.
I've been keeping up with the Cto5K running program.... though, sadly, I'm only on week 3. I probably should be somewhere on week 5 I think, but I ended up doing 2 weeks of week 2 because of vacation (running on the beach is a B*!). Week 3 isn't too bad.... I did it 3 days in a row to catch up, so I finished it today and I can definitely tell a difference in my stamina. We'll see if I'm singing that same tune next week though!

It is shaping up to be a lovely weekend.... what will you be doing?

Welcome to the world of technology!

2010-07-11T16:24:00.000-04:00

I've always felt that I'm quite welcoming, heck even excited about technology and all the its advancements. But I will admit that I often skimp on technology for myself... meaning that I won't spend the extra $$ to have all the bells and whistles if I can find something a little less expensive (I prefer to spend my cash on clothes and shoes and Campbell).

Well, in the course of 2 weeks we had our digital camera die, along with my cell phone take a dive in the swimming pool, and Ryan's cell phone take a running leap off the roof of our car at 35 mph (which resulted in it being totally smashed on the side of the road). It was time for us to make some major purchases.

First, to replace the camera, I finally decided it was time to get something decent and go for the Nikon. I was sort of inching towards an SLR style camera, but decided that I needed something a little more sleek to fit in my purse or diaper bag. In the end, we decided on the Nikon CoolPix S8000 . I'm really excited about this camera! It has 14.2 megapixels, and a 10x zoom, all in a sleek little package. I haven't had anything to take pictures of lately, but that's my project this upcoming week, so I'll post some up here so you all can see how she works!

Next, we needed to do something about our cell phones. Mine had dried out and was functioning (sort of), but Ryan had no communication capabilities outside of a landline. Since we were out of contract with our current provider, we shopped around to see what we liked. Long story short, AT&T ended up having a great deal for us because of a discount through Ryan's employer. We are now the owners of the... iPhone! I never really thought I'd see the day when I'd sit in awe of my cell phone and play with it for hours... but that day has come, sweetie. It really is a fun phone! And, even cooler-- I finally got Ryan to sign up for a Facebook account (he said that since he has the iPhone, he supposes he could update his page through there if he wanted)!

It is as if we stepped out from under a rock and entered 2010. Amazing!

Side note: I've done 2 days of the running program I mentioned below. Still loving it! Had to take the weekend off, because frankly- I had no time to get to the gym! So tomorrow will be day 3 of week 1, and then I'll take Tuesday off, and start week 2 on Wednesday. Anyone else trying it?

Run, baby, run!

2010-07-08T15:40:00.000-04:00

I have never been much of a runner, but I have often wished that I was. Runners always seem so at peace when they are running. Plus, most runners have a pretty nice physique. Unfortunately, the whole running thing has been lost on me. I am often in pain when I run (I apparently don't breathe well when I run.... I think I hold my breath or something), and my mental monologue typically makes me cash out way before I'm ready. Additionally, my mind never calms down enough for me to find that "peace" that so many runners claim to get.

I need to run, however. I'm not pushing myself much in the cardio department at the gym, and I need a change. Unfortunately, I'm too embarassed of my lack of drive to join a running group, and I refuse to pay $50+ for someone to stand next to me at the treadmill encouraging me to run.

Great news! I stumbled upon a running podcast that was totally free! I've never paid much attention to podcasts, but I found this one and I really like it! It is a 9 week podcast called "Couch to 5K". Now, don't let the name fool you... I have no intentions of actually running a 5K or any other type of marathon. I just want to break past the mental block that I have when it comes to running. This program seems to do just that by slowly easing you into running through interval training. I started with week 1 today (despite my best efforts, today was my first day of week 1... baaaaah), and I truly enjoyed it.

The gist of the podcast is this.... a man (named Robert Ullrey) coaches you along... tells you when to run, when to walk, and encourages you along the way. There is some really cool house/techno music in the background that I actually enjoyed (surprise!). Week 1's workout is about 30 minutes long, and I was honestly shocked that it went by as quickly as it did. I plan on doing all 9 weeks and seeing what happens to my running mentality (and perhaps weight loss goal??). I'll post updates each week.

If you want to try it out, or even try it along with me, you can go here to download the podcasts to you iPod or MP3 player (or whatever else plays podcasts).

Adults only - Myrtle 2010

2010-06-30T08:41:00.000-04:00

Well, our summer got started with a frenzy! School ended on June 18th, and with that being my very last day at my school and being a teacher, it was a bit hectic... plus, Ryan and I had an adults only vacay scheduled to start the next day, so I had to have everything done so I could leave and never look back!

Our adults only vacay was for four days in Myrtle Beach, SC, with three other couples. We went with our best friend couple, Brandon and PJ; one other couple was more of an aquaintance, and the last couple were new to us! By the end of the trip, we were all getting on like we'd known each other for years! It was seriously a blast....

We left super early on Saturday morning so that we could avoid traffic (since our trip inadvertently coincided with High School Beach Week.... joy of joys!).... we arrived in Myrtle around noon, but since check in wasn't till 4, we decided to hit up an ABC store and beach it for a few hours! After we were able to check in, we decided to all shower and get ready for a night out at Broadway at the Beach, the big tourist spot in Myrtle. We had a great time, but apparently our age was showing since we were all pooped out by 11 pm and headed home.

Outfit for night 1:

Top: Dotted top with lace inset from Loft

Shorts: 3" chinos in Bright Kiwi from JCrew

PJ and I at Fat Tuesday

Ryan and I at Broadway at the Beach (before we all decided we were too old to be out that so late)

The next day, we spent a lot of time down on the beach, and then decided to gorge ourselves at Captain George's seafood buffet. I'm not much of a seafood buffet girl, but I do love food, so I found more than enough stuff to eat and enjoy! We walked around Broadway for a little while after dinner to walk off the enormous amount of food we ate, but again decided we were way too old to be out so late... so we came home and played cards and Taboo for a few hours!

Outfit for night 2: Jersey Halter dress from H&M (Summer 2010)

For our third and final night, we decided that we were going to put our big kid pants on and party hard at Broadway! There is a dueling piano bar called Crocodile Rock, and we were all super amped to go and enjoy the music and drinks! We reserved a table right up front, and the piano players did not disappoint! We had a great time and the musicians gave us hell the entire night.....

Outfit for night 3:

Top: Watercolor shell from JCrew

Jeans: Gap Bootcut Jeans (in long)

Shoes: Cynthia Vincent for Target

Unfortunately, my camera stopped working in the middle of the third night out, so I didn't get anymore pictures :( But we had a total blast, and the fourth day in Myrtle was a recovery day for everyone. We beached it for a while, and then Ryan, Brandon, PJ and I all packed up to head home.

I loved every second of being on an adults only vacation.... of course, I missed Campbell, but Ryan and I needed some time away to be with friends and have fun! We are so lucky that Ryan's mom was able to keep Campbell for us while we were gone, so that made it that much easier for us to be gone for a few days!

So, that was the start of summer vacation for us! Since being back from Myrtle, I've spent the days at home with Campbell, going to the gym and playing at the pool. And job searching.... I do have an interview next week, though, so fingers crossed something comes my way! :)

Did I mention....

2010-06-07T16:03:00.003-04:00

that I will not be returning to teach after this school year ends (in 11 days, including the weekend)? Well, if that is news to you, then surprise!

Yes, it was not a long, hard decision for me. But it was the best decision I could make. I have no idea what I will do for a full time job come the fall, but that's ok.... something great will come along. And if something great doesn't come along, well then I'll just settle for something that pays (some of) the bills while I'm still searching for greatness.

The closer I get to June 18th, the more I feel like a little kid on the last day of school. I'm so very much looking forward to getting rid of this jaded, constantly irritated parent of everyone else's child that I've become. I'm ready to be back to the old Tiffany-- fun loving, more relaxed, cool and collected under pressure, and know that I'm a valued and successful part of a team! :)

Be still my heart.....

2010-06-02T06:15:00.005-04:00

As if I'm not already about to die every time I see a preview for "Eclipse".... out comes a little "novella" to provide some extra story details to Eclipse. Release date for the book is June 5th... I think I feel a pre-order coming.

Tried and true

2010-05-27T09:23:00.002-04:00

Last night as I was getting dressed for bed, I had a random realization that the pajama pants I was wearing are almost *10* years old! Crazy, right?! They are a pair of random Old Navy cropped cotton pj pants, with a red, white and blue pattern (so either from Memorial Day or July 4th). I remember purchasing them on a super clearance for something like $4. They are some of my favorite pj pants (just ask my hubbs... I wear them constantly). They are buttery soft, and have fit me through my variety of body sizes. I even wore them for a while when I was pregnant! :)

At any rate, it got me thinking.... what else do I have or use that is tried and true for me? I can be a creature of habit and use the same thing over and over again. A few of the things that came to mind were:

1) Benefit's Boi-ing concealer in medium. -- I was introduced to this concealer sometime after 2003 by my sister, Celia. It has been the ONLY concealer I have used since! No matter my skin tone or the season, this concealer works. It covers the hereditary dark circles under my eyes, as well as the occassional blemish. Plus, it lasts forever! I'm about 25% through my current container, and I think I purchased it sometime last summer.

2) Bath and Body Works Tahiti Sweetie body lotion -- I started using this sometime in 2004, and the only vacation I took from it was after Campbell was born (I was told to use unscented lotion to help with breastfeeding... something about staying true to my natural "scent"...). I just love how light and crisp the scent is.... it is like a little tropical escape! Plus, it moisturizes like no one's business, and gives your skin a little glow. The hubbs is a big fan of the scent, too! :) The downside is that whenever I put it on, I have this insatiable urge to grab a margarita and sit in the sun.

3) Dr. Scholls Zodiac Sandals in black-- I purchased these in 2006, and they are still going strong. I don't know that you can purchase the original ones I own (the textured leather with the buckle on the top), but I see at DSW that you can buy a newer style with the buckle on the side. As soon as I saw the Zodiacs, I wanted them! I rarely have to have a pair of shoes, and rarely will I purchase them right away at full price (momma needs a sale or a coupon, or they have to be todiefor). They are super comfy, and they are just the right bit of dress to wear to work or with a nice dress or skirt, but casual enough to wear with shorts. I love that they have held up for four years (I wear them starting in the spring, through the summer, and into the fall), without any need for repair!

4) Nellie & Joe's Key Lime Juice -- I started making Key Lime pies sometime in the summer of 2007, and this is the only stuff I use to make them. Sure, I can juice a bunch of key limes, but have you seen how tiny those things are?! Who has the time for that? Plus, you only use a teeny bit of the bottle to make a pie.... so I like to have it on hand to add to my summertime adult beverages. ;-) I always have a bottle of this stuff in the fridge so I can make a pie at a moments notice.... they are quite a hit, if I do say so myself. :)

I'm sure there are others.... but what about you? Are there some products that when you stop and think about it, you realize that you've been using for years? What about clothing?

Review of the belted bow bikini

2010-05-26T09:39:00.005-04:00

It is that time... dreaded bathing suit season. Well, actually I don't dread the season, just the whole "trying to look good in a bathing suit, but I still have about 5-10 pounds to lose" part of the season. At any rate, we all know it's coming.... days spent soaking up the sun at the pool, vacations at the beach..... so bathing suit time it is.

I decided to give a quick review of the JCrew swimsuit I just purchased (thank you JCrew for the fabulous 20% off AND free shipping last weekend!). I was fairly terrified since I look nothing like the models on the website/in the catalog.... but a discount and free shipping sweetened the deal since I could return it if I didn't like it. I chose the Solid Belted Bow Bikini bottoms in dark charcoal, and the Solid Wide Band halter top to match. I particularly liked the look of these, as they have a little something going on at the top, which I felt would help to minimize any lingering hip fat that I am still rocking.

And what would a review be without some IRL pictures? Hold on to your hats... it's Tiffany in a bathing suit....

Phew... that wasn't TOO terrible, was it? Thank goodness my airbrush tan is still looking nice and golden-- doesn't a tan make trying on a swimsuit that much better?

I am actually very pleasantly surprised at how happy I am with this swimsuit. I feel like it does make my hips look a little more slim, and it doesn't emphasize the tummy that is still present (though it is slowly making an exit). Additionally, the full coverage in the rear (which isn't full coverage on my wider-than-average bottom) is flattering but not too revealing. The top is nice, but I'm wondering if I would have a little more lift with the underwire halter top? I like that it is nice and secure, though, which is key when lifting a toddler around.

My only concern is pickage. I have the twist front bikini from last season, and from sitting on the side of the pool with Campbell, it did snag a teensy bit. Best way to avoid that would be to sit on a towel, I suppose.

I do wish that this swimsuit came in some prints or floral patterns. The brighter colors, like the neon rose or neon purple, might be a good substitute.

I like it so much, that I'm planning on purchasing the same bottoms and a slightly different top! What colors do you think would be best? I'm leaning towards something bright since I have the dark charcoal (like the neon purple), but should I go with something darker like the brown or navy?

This of course means that I need to return the swimsuit I purchased from Lands End (that I was never entirely happy about anyways).... and wouldn't you know that I tossed the packing slip from the purchase this past weekend. I'm such a dummy. Hopefully I can get my $$ back though, so I can make a purchase with JCrew (and maybe there will be a coupon code or at least some free shipping in the meantime????).

Miss Campbell is 2!

2010-05-24T13:56:00.006-04:00

I can't believe our little girl is 2 years old. Some days, the time has seemed to drag (is she JUST now turning 2? I feel like she's been sassing me for years already)... but then to hear her tell me an entire story or talk to me while she's eating her dinner, and I realize that I remember the days before she was born like they were literally this morning. The time has flown!

And, a polyvore for the outfit I wore.... yes, I noticed that the only 2 polyvores I've ever done both feature the same top. Ugh.... I swear I wear clothes! haha!

birthday party by tnorwood featuring Old Navy shorts

Items in this set:
Merona® Collection Women's Tegan Tunic Top - Blue Print : Target, $27
Old Navy Womens Perfect Khaki Shorts (3), $20
Merona Evelin Ruffle Thong Sandals (gold), $15
Birthday Cupcake Bath Soap, $15
Domino Happy Birthday Domino Mounted Rubber Stamp, $6.50

In love....

2010-05-24T13:49:00.002-04:00

Is it wrong to love a cleaning product? If so, then I truly do not want to be right! :) I am madly in love with the Woolite Rug Stick!

Before purchasing our home almost a year and a half ago, we came from rental properties that only had hard wood floors. As much as we love the hard wood, with a toddler we needed carpet. In a year and a half, the carpet in the living room is looking a bit downtrodden. I tend to be a bit skeptical when it comes to cleaning products, so I have ignored the Woolite Rug Stick commericals for a while. The hubbs and I have been complaining about the dark, matted down spots on the carpet for a while though, and we decided to give this a shot.

Let me tell you-- it is worth the hype! The carpet looked VERY refreshed, the stains and dirt were GONE, and the entire room just smelled incredibly fresh. I will say, however, that it took a lot of scrubbing, and I used the entire 22 oz. can for just half of my living room. I think that with more regular use, however, I won't need to a) scrub like the Queen is coming to visit, and b) use the entire can for one spot on the rug!

The kit is about $15, and the full size spray is $5 (I think). For that price, it's great maintanence for carpet and area rugs (and personally, I liked the results better than when we've had the carpets professionally cleaned!).

Convo with a toddler...

2010-05-03T18:07:00.002-04:00

The joys of toddlerhood.... actual conversation:

Campbell: "Mommy, I want snack. Milk milk milk.... MILK!"

Me: "Ok, you want milk? Where are your manners?"

Campbell: "MILK!.... Pweeze."

(leaves to prepare sippy of milk, return, and hand sippy to Campbell)

Me: "Manners please."

Campbell: "Tank yooooooouuuuuuuu!"

Me: "You are welcome!"

Campbell: "Teddy Bear want drink. Teddy Bear want juicemilkwater."

Me: "Which one? Juice, milk or water?"

Campbell: "Juice. Milk."

Me: "Hmmm... how about juice?" (come back with prepared juice sippy)

Campbell: "No! Milk!"

Me: "Teddy Bear said he wants juice."

(a bit of time to process this....)

Campbell: "Teddy Bear wants drink."

Me: "Teddy Bear has a drink."

Campbell: "Teddy Bear wants snack. Butter!"

Me: "Teddy Bear wants butter?! That's silly!"

Campbell: "Teddy Bear wants pancake! Cookie! Chips!"

And I sit in utter confusion. :)

What I wore....

2010-04-26T10:09:00.005-04:00

yesterday! I tried styling my new CV for Target wedges for a UL party I did yesterday afternoon. It was a windy, humid day here in central VA, and this outfit was so comfy that I wish I had more places than just the party to go to!

Two things:
1) this is my FIRST polyvore, so it's somewhat bland and I probably didn't do it right, but oh well.
2) I don't have an IRL photo of the outfit.... Campbell was sick with a fever and Ryan was running on about 1 hour of sleep (as was I) from being up literally all night with her. So no photos.... maybe another time?

Sunday party day by tnorwood featuring Cynthia Vincent shoes

Items in this set:
Merona® Collection Women's Tegan Tunic Top - Blue Print : Target, $27
J.Crew ankle toothpick jean in twilight wash, $98
Cynthia Vincent for Target® Cognac Wedge Sandal - 7.5 : Target, $30

Everything listed in the polyvore is right, except for the pants. I actually wore a pair of Gap 1969 cropped jeans from about 3 years ago... but they look just like the ones in the polyvore.

I liked the outfit, and the tunic is so comfy! I wish that it came in more colors or designs though!

I'm really wanting to style the CV's more, but I'm coming up with a lot of "not appropriate for work" outfits, such as fun (shorter) skirts and shorts.... any ideas?

Shoe love

2010-04-23T16:41:00.003-04:00

Look what I got my hands on....

Oh yes.... Cynthia Vincent for Target's highly sought after wedges! :) I actually wasn't even looking for them. I noticed them on the website a few days ago, and during a trip to Target to buy diapers, I happened upon the shoe department. What before my wondering eyes should appear? The only pair of Cynthia Vincent wedges in the entire store in a size 9 (my size!). They looked so teeny that I didn't even think they were sized correctly, but *happy sigh* such is the wonderfulness of a super high wedge-- big feet look little!

At $29.99, these are beyond a steal. They are GORGE in person, and super comfy to boot. I haven't had a moment to style these (as wearing them to Romp N Roll this morning seemed out of the question), but I'm so excited. I can see these putting a little edge when paired with a sweet ruffled summer dress, with shorts to lengthen your legs, and with cropped pants and a tunic style top (going to try this look on Sunday). I also loved them with my jeans when I tried them on.... they gave just a hint of hippy chic!

Note: these are NOT available online. I don't know if there is even any intention of them being sold on Target's website since these designer lines don't tend to stay for long. I also saw online that there is supposed to be a woven looking wedge in stores right now, as well, but didn't see a glimmer of them in stores.

Anyone else score these lovelies?

Addicted

2010-04-21T11:20:00.004-04:00

I'm keeping with my goal of losing weight and getting in shape; therefore I'm trying to watch what I eat. But I am absolutely ADDICTED to the Kettle Brand Potato Chips. Ugh... so delish. The nice thing is that they are all natural, so I feel a *teensy* bit better about consuming mass quantities of them.

My fave flav? The Spicy Thai. Oh. My. God. Sweet and Spicy and Salty all in one. It doesn't help at all that Kroger had Buy 1 get 1 Free on these yesterday. Yes, I do have two bags in my pantry, thankyouverymuch.

Excuse me while I sit in my darkened classroom and enjoy a little bliss.... yes, I did bring a little zip bag of a perfectly measured out single serving portion. :)

I'm alive....

2010-04-15T15:58:00.002-04:00

yes yes, I'm alive. Just super busy, and without my life-line (aka my laptop). My laptop went kaput just before spring break- apparently the LCD went out? We are lucky enough to have another functioning computer, but you know... it just isn't MINE, so I just haven't been doing my computer stuff. But, once it makes a glorious return, I plan on posting some wonderful pictures of what we've been up to....
such as:
- gardening!
- gardening! (yes, more.)
- decorating the patio with fabulous furniture!

and who knows.... maybe other fun stuff too! :)

LL Bean Signature

2010-03-22T15:07:00.010-04:00

Mom showed me the new LLBean Signature collection catalog yesterday.... um, I might be in love... or perhaps in lust. It is very JCrew inspired. Here are a few of the items I'm slightly lusting after.

The Daysail Boatneck... $75.00

I like the look of this sweater, especially in the grey. I can see this working nicely with a pair of chino shorts for cooler summer evenings. I also think it would look super cute with a pair of cropped jeans (or for you skinnier gals, boyfriend jeans) and some heels, paired with a some layered necklaces.

Poplin Skirt... $65.00 (also in prints of red and blue here for $69)

I am favoring the navy option of this skirt. The catalog makes it look much prettier than the website photo (and of course, the catalog photo is not on the website). It seems very flowy and forgiving, perfect for those warm, humid days we get down here in VA. I don't really like the wrap up espadrilles in the pic above, but I think some caged heels or some open toe wedges would be perf with it. Pair it with the Crinkled Cotton Shirt (below) for a classy Nantucket feel.

Crinkled Cotton Shirt (in celestial blue)... $49.00

My only concern about this top is that it looks a little short. I have a long torso, so my fear is that this might come untucked as I move around all day. The description says it falls at the high hip..... might be worth a try.

Lightweight cotton plaid tunic... $65.00

My mom is gaga over this. I'm not much of a tunic girl myself, but I can see the appeal. Perhaps with a pair of skinny jeans and some wedge sandals?

Rebecca Cork Wedge... $99.00

Ugh, I reeeaaaallly wish these came in black. I really need a nice, reasonably priced pair of wedge sandals in black for the season. The neutral tone is pretty, and these also come in red, so it may be on option if they go on sale.

So those are the things that I'm pondering upon from the new Signature collection. Between LLBean Signature and Lands End Canvas collection, it looks like there are a few new options for the JCrew/Banana/Gap crowd. LLBean is offering a $10 gift card for every $50 you spend, so it might be worthwhile to try out some of the new offerings. There is a note both on the website and in the catalog to definitely do take your measurements for the Signature pieces, as they have a more tailored "close to the body" fit than the typical LLBean stuff.

Thoughts? Anyone thinking of checking into the LLBean Signature collection?

Another thought....

2010-03-18T12:36:00.002-04:00

I've been thinking of doing outfits of the day.... or something to that effect. A couple of the blogs I follow do them, and I get so much inspiration from their pairings. I am feeling really good about my wardrobe lately-- I think it must be the spring weather. I'm much more a spring/summer clothing girl. For example, I'm feeling very good about my outfit today.... coral pink pencil skirt (Jcrew), cream jeweled neck tshirt (Loft), with a black cropped leather jacket (F21). I'd love to get more feedback on my outfits, etc, than the typical response from the husband ("Yeah, that looks good."). The problem? No full length mirror at home! I know- gasp! I really don't know how I get dressed without a full length mirror.

So, I'm thinking about it. I need to get a full length mirror anyways, so this may be my motivation. Of course, the blog will still focus on my family, but I think we can find a way to fit fashion in on the blog, too!

Thoughts? Is anyone even interested in seeing what I wear on a day to day basis?

Long time, no blog.... blessing or not?

2010-03-18T12:18:00.003-04:00

Sorry folks.... it's been a while. Life has been crazy, but when is it not? We've been busy with work, weekends all over Richmond, and baseball has started up for Ryan (he's coaching). I've also been having great success with Uppercase Living and have been having quite a few parties. I'm really proud of the dedication I have put into building my company.... I know I can do more, but right now with working full time, I'm doing the best I can :) We've also been staying really focused on working out and *trying* to be healthy. I'm really excited to say that I've lost 9 pounds since making my resolutions to work out at the beginning of the year.... hopefully I can stay on course with that as we head into shorts-and-bathing suit-season. Ryan is sticking to working out as well, and is looking mighty fine. ;-)

In addition to the five million and one things going on, I've been observing and thinking. For Lent, I really tried hard to give up judging others or forming opinions of others based upon their outward behaviors. Sadly, I haven't been very successful. I think it might just be my personality... and sure, it warrants change, but at the same time in fighting my observant nature, I've come to see that some of the things I observe are just plain ridiculous.

For example.... everyone and their mother uses the phrase "I'm/We're so blessed to be (insert mundane situation here)". Sure, it is wonderful that people can identify even the smallest blessings in their lives, but tell me this..... what is so "blessed" about a child's poopy diaper? Or what is so "blessed" about a child who doesn't sleep at night? Perhaps people can see the blessing behind what I might find to be less than a blessing.

I also have noticed that the same people are constantly claiming their blessedness over the same things.... such as their husband, their child, their job, etc. To me, say it once to the world, and then privately acknowledge your blessing. Don't blather on to me (or Facebook, or your blog, or where ever else) about how blessed you are because your husband put the toilet seat down.

No, I'm not bitter. And no, I don't feel as if I'm less blessed than anyone else. I have a lot of wonderful in my life, and for those things I'm thankful. And in noticing others broadcasting their blesssings, I came to this question.... Are those individuals who feel so obliged to go on and on about their blessings really feeling blessed? Or are they trying to convince themselves that they ARE blessed by finding the slightest of a silver lining and then broadcasting it to everyone else 24 hours a day? To me, I think that if you are blessed, you don't have to yell it from the roof tops. Anyone who is around you would notice how blessed you are because you are happy, living your life to the fullest, and loving those around you.

Quite the performer

2010-02-21T07:47:00.004-05:00

We were able to get some of Campbell's dance moves on video last week.... it's been quite a hit on Facebook!

Blizzard of January 2010

2010-01-31T16:27:00.000-05:00

Richmond got blasted with anywhere between 10-14 inches of snow this weekend. Here are a few shots of us enjoying the snowy weekend!

Campbell and I enjoying our feathery coozies while the snow falls outside.

Campbell all bundled up and ready to head outside!

Ryan working hard at shoveling our sidewalk. Yes, it was still snowing at this point.

Campbell wasn't too sure if she wanted to play in the snow....

She eventually warmed up to the idea and went for a face plant in the snow!

Day 2 in the snow.... Campbell decided it was time to start making snowballs!

Campbell throwing a snowball at me!

Look at how much snow we got!

Caddy wanted to play in the snow, too!

Campbell throwing a snowball at Cadillac!

Little snow bunny.

Cutie pie!

UL blog up and running!

2010-01-12T09:00:00.001-05:00

Campbell is sick with a nasty stomach bug, which means I'm home today. There can be nothing worse than a toddler with a stomach bug, who is also running a fever and refuses to take meds ( sidebar: should I even try to give Motrin on an empty tummy?). Lucky for me, we have about 20 Max and Ruby episodes DVR'd, so she is happy.... and I can work on some Uppercase Living stuff!

I set up my UL blog, so please head over there.... I don't have too much on there yet, but as the days go by and I get my hands on more supplies, I will! You might also want to follow me... I'll be doing giveaways and contests in the coming months! So clicky-click here !

I also decided to add the online shopping feature to my UL website ! Happy shopping! :)

Opportunity knocked... and I answered

2010-01-10T18:50:00.000-05:00

As of today, I am officially an Uppercase Living Independent Demonstrator! I am SO excited about this really great opportunity and think that wonderful things will come from this decision.

So you might have a TON of questions... let's see if I can answer a few....

1) WHAT is Uppercase Living?

Uppercase Living is a direct sales company that provides vinyl lettering and embellishments for your home, office, school, car... and just about anywhere else you want!

2) How did you find out about Uppercase Living?

Honestly, I stumbled across UL by doing a Google search a few months back for home decor. I was tired of all the same ol' stuff in all the big-box retailers. I couldn't commit to a random painting or piece of art that really had no bearing on my personal style... and at price tags of $50 and up, I just had a really hard time finding anything I liked. Well, if you see the post below, I came into contact with vinyl wall lettering through a purchase at Target. I liked it enough, but I could tell that the quality wasn't really what I wanted... and I wanted more selection than just the 3 or 4 phrases available at Target. I found an item I liked through UL, ordered it, and was then invited to a catalog launch party for the new spring/summer catalog. I fell in love with the items, and as I kept looking through the catalog, all I could think was of all the people in my lives who were looking for the SAME things. Of course, I could just host parties every once in a while... but becoming a demonstrator would allow me to be in people's homes and help them realize their decor dreams.... so I made the decision to become an independent demonstrator!

3) Awesome- where can I see the products/learn more?

So glad you asked! ;-) I do have a website through the company, and you can view products on the website. I will say, however, that the physical catalog is so much more expansive than the online catalog. There were designs and ideas that I hadn't even thought of! But the website gives you enough to wet your whistle until you want to host a party (which provides lots of great rewards and freebies!). Check out my website here . (I am considering upping the ante on my website and putting in an online shopping cart... it isn't there yet, but if you find that you see something you are absolutely dying to have, let me know and I will make your order happen!)

So that's that! I will be starting another blog for just Uppercase Living stuff. It will highlight new design ideas, promotions, hostess/party rewards, and just all things Uppercase! I'll keep this blog going, too, but just need a place to keep the Uppercase Living stuff separate. Once that blog is up and running, I'll let everyone know through here so you can follow me there too!

The writing is on the walls....

2010-01-07T17:58:00.000-05:00

We have an ENORMOUS wall in our kitchen that has been sitting all bare bones since we painted it back in May. We really had not been able to decide on any one thing to go on the wall, and Ryan isn't a fan of visual clutter, so multiple things for the wall that we could both agree on just were not happening.

I had seen these Wall Quotes in Target, and after much thought, finally decided to give it a try....

Ryan pretty much told me this was "my project", but I asked him for his help anyways. The first step was to tape the scroll provided in the container to the wall (well, after finding just the right spot, of course).

We used painters tape because Ryan was worried anything stronger would pull the paint off the wall. It worked nicely.

The next part was to rub the lettering with the little credit card applicator provided in the container, which doesn't sound too difficult, but it is was a bit boring.

After rubbing all over the lettering, you are supposed to peel off the white backing (or fronting?) very slowly and carefully. As you can see in the picture below, we had some difficulty with that.

No biggie though! After a bunch of "STOP! WAIT!!" were yelled, we started over and this time Mr. Muscles got in on the rubbing action.

Ryan put more elbow grease in the rubbing and together we carefully peeled back the backing again. This was the most tedious part of the process because every few letters, there would be some "non-stickage" going on. We would just go back, rub REALLY hard on the letter, and then peel back again slowly. In the end, we had a beautiful, almost custom-looking addition to our kitchen!

We are thinking of getting some simple trim from Lowe's and framing around it, just to offset the words from the wall a litle more, and of course, to jazz it up! :)

As for why it was so difficult to get the letters off the first few times, despite us meticulously following the directions, you got me. Here are a my theories:

1. We have latex paint (or something like that) in the kitchen. Perhaps because it is a little more glossy, the letters needed more coaxing to stick?

2. This item was $16.99 at Target. Not cheap, but not expensive either. Perhaps the more costly models are more reliable when first installing them?

I'll find out soon enough as we were so inspired by this project and how it really jazzed up the kitchen that I ordered a piece for the living room from Uppercase Living. I'm actually headed out to an Uppercase Living catalog party, so who knows- I might get REALLY inspired and have more stuff to jazz up around the house soon!

Kicked to the curb...

2010-01-05T11:14:00.000-05:00

Oh dear trendy boyfriend jeans... how I wanted to love you and incorporate you in my wardrobe.... but sadly, No. It was not meant to be.

Perhaps if I looked like this in them:

as opposed to looking like I was DROWNING in them, it would have worked. I tried Ann Taylor Loft's Lean boyfriend version in an 8, and they were faaaar too big. So I downsized to a 6, and they were practically painted on! Ugh! So much for trying to be trendy... I guess I'll stick with my tried and true bootcut and flare leg jeans, despite Cosmo stating in their January 2010 issue that bootcut jeans are totally out this year! Whatev.... should I go around looking ridiculous just to be part of a trend? I think not. This has been a lesson in sticking with what works for you and your body, instead of the trends!

I am, however, lusting after these shoes at the present moment by Sofft....

Gorgeous, right? I just wish my local Macy's had them.... OR if Macy's shipping wasn't a cool $15 bucks, so I could use their $25 off $100 promo going on right now. I have some gift cards that I could make good use out of to make this purchase a little more friendly on my wallet. I have such a hard time justifying shipping costs. Plus, I have never owned or tried on Sofft before. Anyone? I've seen great reviews, but I don't know.... at $15 to ship, it's risky.

PS- sorry to those readers not interested in my fashion ramblings ;-) I promise to post some pics of a new project we tackled in the kitchen this weekend. Nothing too ground breaking, but I'm excited about it... and it's got my mind running a million miles a minute about the possibilities!

In with the new....

2009-12-31T13:27:00.000-05:00

"I do think New Year's resolutions can't technically be expected to begin on New Year's Day, don't you? Since, because it's an extension of New Year's Eve, smokers are already on a smoking roll and cannot be expected to stop abruptly on the stroke of midnight with so much nicotine in the system. Also dieting on New Year's Day isn't a good idea as you can't eat rationally but really need to be free to consume whatever is necessary, moment by moment, in order to ease your hangover. I think it would be much more sensible if resolutions began generally on January the second."
Bridget Jones' Diary

I typically do not believe in making resolutions on the sole account that I can never keep them. To me, it seems a bit soul crushing to be all hopped up on the "newness" of the year, to make these promises to yourself, and inevitably break them... don't you?

On the flip side, I'm in a rut. I'm finding that I'm in this endless cycle of not really being 100% happy in the end due to the previous choices and habits that have led me to this place. That being said, I think it is time to resolve to make some resolutions. (Disclaimer: the previous statement does not allude to anything cryptic or indicate regret with where I am, so please don't start the rumor mill... I'm simply stating that I'm at a standstill and now it's time to make things happen!)

Here are the things that I'm hoping to do in 2010:

In 2010, I will be more in charge of my happiness and will seek out situations, people, and places that make me happy. Basically, I will remove as much negativity from my environment as possible.
In 2010, I will not be afraid of change.
In 2010, I will get in shape. Seriously. And to do this, I will work out no less than 3 days a week, and one of those days will be with a personal trainer (at least through the end of February).
In 2010, I will keep the house in better shape. Chores will be completed daily, rather than weekly.
In 2010, I will pay off all of my credit cards. And I already have a plan in action to do this! :)
In 2010, I will demonstrate more patience with my family and friends.

There are probably other things I want to do, but these are the big things that have been looming in my mind the past few weeks. I think they are all do-able. Some of the prospective outcomes of these resolutions are already frightening to me, but I have to remind myself of resolution #2 up there, right? I'm hoping that in one year from today, I can look back at this post and check off all 6 of the resolutions. Or at least say that I worked on accomplishing them up until that point.... and that they didn't die off with the final bubbles in my champagne glass tonight!

Happy New Year everyone.... I know it keeps being said, but 2010 is going to be a great year!

You're so vain....

2009-12-29T07:57:00.002-05:00

So I had a nice 4 hour spa day yesterday and I am feeling wonderful daaaaaahling! The reason why I was so lucky to enjoy a 4 hour spa day is a long story -- basically, I was gifted one at Mother's Day by the hubbs, and the spa felt that I needed another one due to some things that happened while I was there. I didn't feel that a re-do was necessary, but who am I to turn down a spa day?

At any rate, I had an AMAZING facial yesterday. I have never had dermaplaning done (not sure if I spelled that right....), and I think I'm officially addicted. Up until this morning, I had been contemplating Botox, Restalyne or something to help with what I can only describe as Father Time taking over my face. Perhaps it is motherhood, or maybe my uber-stressful job, but I am noticing fine lines like never before. I know it is inevitable, but I am 28 for crying out loud!

I hadn't planned on having dermaplaning done yesterday, but the girl who did my facial said she does it to almost all of her clients, and honestly I didn't know she had done it until it was already done. To those of you who don't know what it is, basically, they take a surgical blade and exfoliate your entire face with it. Since it is a blade, it removes all the baby fine hair that covers your face along with all the nasty, dead skin that is sitting there on your face too. Because it is a fairly intense form of exfoliation, I understand that you shouldn't do it more than 1x every 4 or so weeks.

At any rate, I was washing my face and noticed that all of those fine lines that seemed so prominent just yesterday morning were.... gone! Not like disappeared, but I seriously did not notice them until I was nose-pressed-against-the-mirror examining my skin. I put on my foundation (love love love Korres' lightweight foundation) and I think I finally have that airbrushed look that I have longed for when looking at all those gorge models in the magazines..... *sigh* love it!

Has anyone else had dermaplaning done? Am I just a bit kooky for liking it so much? Honestly, I am not one to get facials that often, but it is one of my new year's resolutions to get them more often (along with some others that I'm working on.... look for that post by this weekend), and I'm definitely feeling like more dermaplaning is in my future.....

The most wonderful time of the year!

2009-12-29T07:52:00.003-05:00

I absolutely LOVE Christmas. A little piece of my heart breaks when we have to take down the ornaments, even though I know it is only a year until the next Christmas. And I've found that I enjoy Christmas more as an adult than I did as a child. Or perhaps it is just that I enjoy it differently. I truly do love giving gifts, but what gets my heart jumping for joy are the lights on the houses.... the holiday songs.... and being together with family and friends. Here are a few shots of our Christmas... enjoy!

Christmas Centerpiece....

2009-12-29T07:46:00.005-05:00

Oh you know, just a little bit late. I'm hoping to catch up on blog posts today, and as long as Campbell is watching Blues Clues, I might just get it done! :)

I've been wanting to post this for a couple of weeks. I put together this centerpiece for our dining room when I was in the throws of decorating. It cost me a whopping $12 to put together... seriously! I love it though, and love the way it puts a little glow on the table ( the picture doesn't it do it much justice, however).

Here's the breakdown on supplies:

- Large jar = $5 at Walmart (can you believe that? Might have been a mis-price!)

- Strand of battery operated lights= $7

- A bunch of un-used ornaments= Free (but I think they were like $1 a few years ago at Ikea)

- Extra garland unused from a few years ago= Free

I pretty much just willy-nilly tossed the stuff in the jar, turned on the lights and viola! Christmas joy! I'm loving the the battery operated lights so much that I'm thinking of incorporating them in all of my centerpieces... at least for a little while! :)

Where does the time go???

2009-12-15T21:02:00.003-05:00

Ok, seriously. I was hoping that I would be much better with staying up on posting on the blog. Ugh. Time just slips away from me so quickly, especially with the holidays. What have I been doing with all my "free" time, you ask? Ummm.. here's a quick run down.

- decorating the house

- Christmas shopping

- CLEANING!

- working (blaaaaah)

- and then of course, dealing with Miss Campbell being sick....

The house is all Christmas'd up! I've gotten creative with centerpieces, so I'll post those in the next few days, as well as our home all decorated.

In the meantime, here's a shot of the fam. This was intended to be the Christmas card this year, but alas- we've decided to forgo Christmas cards this year. No time to get them done! Soooo....

Happy Holidays from the Norwoods!

Easy- Peezy and oh so delish!

2009-11-24T10:51:00.002-05:00

With the holidays literally around the corner, I thought I might share some of my favorite easy dishes that are great to take along as your contribution to a holiday meal or party. These are also great to make if you are the hostess (or host!) at said party....

1) The easiest fake cobbler you can make!
- This is my go-to dessert, and it has only 3 (yes 3!) ingredients!

Yellow cake mix
1 stick of butter (melted)
2 cans of your favorite pie filling

Spread pie filling along the bottom of a rectangular or square baking dish.
Take the DRY cake mix and cover the pie filling (you may not need the entire package of cake mix).
Drizzle the melted butter all over the top of the dry mix. Using a fork, spread the butter so the entire top is moist.
Bake the concoction at 375 for about 30 minutes or until the topping is a golden brown color. Let cool, and serve! This is beyond delish with vanilla ice cream!

2) Cranberry-Barbecue Meatballs

- Again, another 3 ingredient recipe! These will be devoured, so you might need to double up!

1 can of jellied cranberry sauce
2 bottles of original flavor barbecue sauce
1 bag of frozen meatballs (of course, you can make your own if you so choose, but that takes the easy-peezyness out of it!)

Combine the BBQ sauce and the cranberry sauce in a crockpot. Heat on high for about 20 mins.
Once the sauce is mostly melted, throw in the meatballs. Cook in the crockpot for about 4 hours on high. Enjoy!

3) Spinach and Artichoke Dip

- Notoriously addictive, you can make this with little to no fat depending on your crowd!

2 packages of softened cream cheese (I go with fat free)
1 package of frozen chopped spinach, defrosted and drained of all water.
1 can of artichokes (forgo the ones that are sitting in oil and save some calories)
2-3 large spoonfulls of sour cream (again, I go with fat free)
2-3 large spoonfulls of Duke's mayo (I go full fat with this baby!)
Shredded mozzarella cheese (part skim will melt pleasantly)
Salt and Pepper to taste

Put the cream cheese, the sour cream, and the mayo in the crockpot.
Chop up the artichokes. I prefer a food processor, but if you don't have one, just chop them messily! Throw them into the crock pot with the stuff in step 1.
Throw in the spinach. Stir everything up.
Salt and pepper your concoction, top with the mozz cheese, and cook on high for about 2 hours; make sure you stir occassionally so you avoid burnage!
Serve hot with pita chips or crackers!

4) The infamous sausage dip

- This is not a recipe I've created, nor do I make it. Ryan always makes this, and he got it from someone else! This will be completely devoured about 10 minutes after you serve it, so make an extra!

2 packages of softened cream cheese (go fat free!)
1 can of Rotell tomato stuff
1 package of hot/spicy pork sausage, cooked

Combine above ingredients in a crockpot and cook on high for about 2 hours, or until creamy.
Serve with tortilla chips, or Ryan's way with Fritos!

I hope everyone has a tasty and restful Thanksgiving!! Gobble Gobble!

Right on Target

2009-11-22T18:51:00.004-05:00

I'm a huge huge HUGE fan of Target. Not so many people are (for example, Ryan's Nana... who swears she never finds ANYTHING at Target.... impossible, I say!), but I'm an even bigger fan when Target gives me fashion and a great price at the same time.

I purchased this Merona Shawl Collar sweatshirt last week in black. I personally liked how fashionable it was, while still making me comfy... which is always incredibly important at my increasingly stressful job.

Imagine my excitement when one of my co-workers pointed out that it looks just like this beauty from JCrew.

Here are the similarities and differences:
Similarities:

shawl collar
fleecey cotton material
incredibly chic enough to wear with heels and khakis, or casual enough to wear with flats and jeans (or my new fave cords from Ann Taylor Loft)

Differences

pocket style... Jcrew has the kangaroo pocket, while the Target brand has small side pockets (I prefer the side pockets, as kangaroo pockets tend to emphasize a belly)
toggle button... Jcrew has non, while the Target brand does.
variety of color... Jcrew's offering is in muted tones (black, light grey, etc).... Target has just about all the colors of the rainbow!
price.... You can buy the Jcrew version for a mere $59.99.... or head to your local Target and pick up the Merona version for $19.99!

The verdict.... I say go with the Target brand, and get a couple in your fave colors without breaking the bank! I'm headed back for at least 2 more..... I just have to decide on the colors!

Preliminary Patio Post

2009-11-01T20:09:00.003-05:00

Try saying that 3 times fast!

Well, the patio has been in for about 2 weeks now and I just haven't had a moment to post pictures or anything. While the pictures aren't the most BEAUTIFUL things ever due to the backyard still being in recovery mode (the lush backyard was definitely torn up in the process), we are super excited to finally have our patio!

Ryan and his dad are working on putting in new steps on the deck this coming weekend, and hopefully we should start the furniture hunt soon. I can't wait to have the patio all decorated and set up with furniture.... soon, very soon!

So here are the pics... before and after!

Our backyard and deck before the patio was put in (we DID have steps on the deck, but they were torn out for the patio install...)

Another shot of the backyard before the patio...

Detail of the patio design... we went with stamped concrete over paver stones.

The completed patio!

Another shot of the patio... as you can see, the yard is totally torn up! The section that comes up to the side of the deck is going to be Ryan's grilling station!

Mirror Makeover

2009-10-15T20:43:00.004-04:00

When my sister, Celia, moved out to California last December, she offered up a load of goodies from her super chic apartment. I snagged a HUGE mirror with a faux gilded frame, along with some other great items. At the time, I didn't know exactly where or when I would use the mirror, but the size of it was too good to pass up. Once we moved into our home, I knew that the mirror was the perfect size for our dining room.... the faux gold, however? Not so much.

I mean, judge for yourselves.

Here's a close up of the faux gold frame. Isn't it to die for? Gag me, please.

Enter 1 can of Rustoleum's 2x spray paint in Heirlom White. In less than an hour, the mirror went from gaudy to gorgeous!

Here it is, hanging in our dining room (ignore the odd white lines on the mirror.... must have been some weird thing from the flash).

And a close up of the frame... isn't it lovely?

Now I just have to be careful since now I want to spray paint everything!

Next project update... the patio! We're on deck for the work to begin on Monday, as long as the rain holds off!

Best invention for mommies!

2009-10-11T13:37:00.003-04:00

I am in LOVE with the Dwink box!

Campbell has started her love of juice boxes, but I'm totally over the phrase, "Don't squeeze it!" since I've said it about half a million times in the past week. Dwink boxes are hard, plastic holders for all sizes of drink boxes, soy milk boxes, and even those soft Capri Sun type juice packages. My life is instantly improved by at least 70% by the sheer fact that I am no longer saying "Don't squeeze it!" every time Campbell drinks out a juice box. And for a mere $4.99! Needless to say, we bought 2.

Campbell loves them too!

And here is one more gratuitous shot of Miss Campbell enjoying her new Dwink box. She's so darn cute!

Mommies, you can find them at the Dwink box website. These also make great gifts for mommies, too!

Updates

2009-10-10T11:58:00.002-04:00

Ok, I've been really horrible at keeping up with the blog. We've been so busy, it often feels like the day has just begun by the time it is about to end. I guess this is growing up....

So here in a nutshell is what has been going on...

1) School started. I'm beyond stressed and overwhelmed, but trying to find the joy in the work. It's hard most days... heck, most weeks. But I'm trying, and I guess we'll see how things work out as the year progresses.

2) In addition to working like a crazy woman, I've started working out again. Woohoo! Ryan has a total workout/food plan, so he's encouraging me to stay on track. 4 days a week, I'm at the gym at Woodlake. It's nice, but ugh- some days it takes just about every grain of energy I have left to just walk in there, especially after the days I'm having at work.

3) We have been BUSY! Ryan has been coaching a baseball team, so just about every weekend is consumed with something related to baseball. We've also been out of town for a wedding, and I swear it takes me almost 2 weeks to get readjusted after being out of town for a few days.

4) Campbell is growing up fast! She's not growing a lot size-wise (she's still a petite little thing!), but she is talking up a storm. And she is FUNNY! Ryan and I spend a lot of our free time laughing at her, and it's nice to have our own little comedian here in the house.

I'm sure there are other things that have been going on that have been consuming our time, but I couldn't think if anything else right now if I tried. With all the stuff going on around here, some of the projects around the house have slowed to a stop. But we do have a very exciting addition to announce....

THE PATIO! :) Yes, the long awaited patio will be put in by the end of the month. (Wait, you didn't think I was referencing something else, did you??) I can't wait! Before and afters will definitely be up for your enjoyment!

And speaking of home improvements, has anyone seen or heard of this Cricut thing?? I saw an infomercial on it this morning... and I think I want one. They are pricey though, I think.... but I might have to get one!

Absence makes the heart grow fonder...

2009-09-22T21:38:00.001-04:00

If that's true, then you must adore me, right?? Uh huh. Well, I've been beyond absent.... the whole new school year has been so overwhelming, but I think I'm starting to get back in the groove....

Just in time to be off for two days of work! Haha! Ryan and I are taking our very first trip away from Campbell for the weekend to take part in Megan and Bobby's wedding in Hendersonville, NC. I'm so excited!!! Pictures, updates, etc will follow!

What a difference a sink makes!

2009-08-24T07:51:00.006-04:00

When we purchased our 4 year old home in February, we quickly learned that "builder grade" really means "boring and cheap". We've done a few upgrades around the house to make it less cookie cutter and a little more "us". For example, Ryan and his dad hung crown moulding all throughout the living room and dining room downstairs. We also installed a natural stone tile backsplash in the kitchen.

Saturday night, our kitchen went from this:

To THIS:

Isn't she purrrrty?!?! The new sink and faucet totally upgrades the overall look of the kitchen and just makes things look NICE. My awesome dad works for a company that sells these materials (sinks, faucets, tubs, toilets, etc), and got us an AMAZING deal on the sink and faucet... basically, we paid $80 for $800 worth of sink and faucet! How about that for an inexpensive upgrade?? And Ryan's awesome dad worked his tail off to help install the sink and faucet.... we are certainly lucky to have family who have great hook ups and are incredibly skilled!

Ok, one more gratuious shot of the new sink in our kitchen....

We have a couple other upgrades we're planning on for the house.... I can't wait to bring this house out of boring, cookie cutter builder grade to a fantastic and stylish home!

I can see clearly now...

2009-08-18T08:33:00.004-04:00

There is no shortage of people to tell you that a baby will change your life. People will remind you that you'll maybe have stretch marks, so make sure you use that cocoa butter. People might even inform you that in order to lose those last 10 pounds, you will have to work harder than when you tried to push that little precious baby out and into the world.

But not a SOUL informed me that after having a baby, my skin would look similar to that of a 14 year old smack in the middle of puberty!

The breakouts started when I was pregnant with Campbell. I just kept reminding myself of the old wives' saying "Boys give beauty, girls take it away". I was diligent about washing my face, but honestly, I was the size of a small whale, so I figured that clear skin probably didn't make too big of a difference in my overall appearance. Plus, I am a make-up queen, so I was pretty good at hiding a nasty breakout most of the time.

I figured once Campbell was born, the breakouts would quickly fizzle out. Ok, fine- I was positive that the day after Campbell was born, I would not have any more icky breakouts! I didn't have breakouts before Campbell was born, so I figured that as soon as she was out, I'd be back to my old self. Yeah right.... if the swelling that occurred was any indication, it would be at least 3 weeks, if not longer until my skin was back to it's pre-baby self.

Helloooo.... 14 months later, I was still battling breakouts. My skin was NOT smooth.... I had little bumps covering my cheeks, and I was riddled with large zits that took weeks to get rid of. So, here I was, still trying to lose those last 10 pounds and covered in a face of zits!

I tried everything.... but I wasn't ready to admit that my skin needed serious help in the form of a well advertised product called ProActiv. I've always been able to use Neutrogena or something similar, but alas- we can't keep doing what we've always done. I wasn't ready for the committment with ProActiv though, and found some great reviews with AcneFree. Based on price ($14.99) and convenience (you can buy it at Target, Wal-Mart, etc), I decided to try AcneFree's Clear Skin system.

People- my skin is CLEAR! It has been one week and I have been using the system exactly as it describes (AM and PM, 3 steps each time). My skin is smooth, and I have no breakouts! I, do, experience a tad bit of dryness, but it is a small price to pay for the smooth, clear skin I am now enjoying! My hope is that I can go without wearing make-up more often (before, I wore make-up almost no matter what).

So, for all of you who are having skin troubles, I definitely recommend you check out AcneFree!

Who doesn't love a wedding?

2009-08-10T12:34:00.004-04:00

OOOHH I love weddings! I just love wedding dresses, seeing the wedding party, watching the bride come down the aisle, and all that jazz. I cry EVERY TIME the bride comes down the aisle. I don't know what it is, but I just up and cry like I'm getting married. Never mind the fact that I actually laughed as I walked down the aisle... maybe I'm making up for the fact that I didn't cry?

And, oh yeah, if I'm in the "crowd", I definitely mentally critique the bridesmaid dresses. I just sometimes do not get the dresses that people wear in weddings. Maybe the bride is trying to make everyone else look hideous so they look exponentially wonderful... who knows. I tried to make an effort to have my girls wear dresses that they could wear again, and I actually know at least one of my maids who did!

So imagine how over the moon I was when one of my bestest girls in the world decided that she would let the BRIDESMAIDS pick out their dresses? Well, actually I kind of got nervous because we all know that people's idea of appropriate are all over the place. Thank GOD Megan put down some ground rules for her dresses (ex. no cotton, must be black, not too short, not floor length, etc). I searched and searched for a dress.... and folks, it just came in the mail today. I was not photo ready, so no pics of ME in the dress, but here it is from JCrew's website:

Of course, it's in black.... but oh goodness it is WONDERFUL. And I will certainly wear it again. I jumped for joy all over my bathroom after putting it on. The fit is perfect (thank you, amazing customer service people at JCrew... you are WONDERFUL!), and I am so pleased with it. And it doesn't hurt that it was on sale for $99, from it's original $215, either!

And speaking of Megan's wedding... she's getting married in the gorgeous Hendersonville area (think NC's Smokey Mountains) at the Pinebrook Manor. One of my other besties, Angela, and I decided that we wanted to have a more homey stay than just sitting in a hotel, SO, check out the cottage we booked for ourselves and our men.....

The Gardener's Cottage

Now, I just have to cool my jets until the big day.... September 26th! I'm so excited to be part of Megan's wedding... and of course to see my wonderful SBC girls! :)

Drop Everything and Read....

2009-08-07T08:12:00.002-04:00

The Time Traveler's Wife.

No, I'm serious. If you haven't read it.... stop what you're doing (well, wait... finish reading my blog, of course) and read this book. It is AMAZING.

I was on the search for a good book to read during our beach trip, and the movie trailers for The Time Traveler's Wife made me curious. Seriously folks, after reading this book, I get chills every time I see the movie trailers on tv. It is THAT GOOD.

The basic premise of the book is that Henry, a time traveler, has a genetic defect that causes him to time travel to various times and locations. During his travels he meets Clare, who in present time is actually 8 years younger than him, but throughout his travels he sees her at various times in her life- the earliest at 6 years old. I know what you're thinking.... that this sounds crazy and not at all engaging, but you have to read the book to really understand how this happens... it makes much more sense than how I'm explaining it. The book is about love, loss, longing, life, parenthood, and friendship. It has a comedic undertone in the book, but if you aren't moved to tears at least once while reading this, you my friend are heartless.

Home Sweet Home

2009-08-07T07:49:00.005-04:00

I do love traveling... and even more so to the beach.... but I also love coming home. I do hate to leave the beach, though. We had gorgeous weather (though it was fairly windy most days), and the family time is fun too!

Campbell liked the beach way more this year than last. Last year, I could hardly walk her down to the water without her screaming (she was 9 weeks old). This year, she would just plop down in the wet sand by the water and play for a good amount of time. And we made it away without her eating too much sand! Thumbs up!

Finding shells

Eating goldfish crackers on the beach.... is there any better time to eat them?

Don't even try taking my tootsie pop....

Every year, I take some black and white pictures on the beach. Campbell acted like she was on "America's Next Top Model", picking up sand and letting it blow in the wind, rolling around in the sand, and running out to the water. We got some amazing shots, and I can't wait to get them framed and hung around the house!

*Sigh*.... I can't wait till next year.... only 51 more weeks! :)

Beach Bound!

2009-07-23T07:47:00.003-04:00

We are beach bound this weekend and I CANNOT WAIT! Yes, I know, I've been on "vacation" all summer... but there is just something totally different about GOING on vacation. And we are going to one of my favorite vacation spots in the Outer Banks.

I probably need to throw out this disclaimer.... I'm not a huge fan of the entire Outer Banks. I'm not big on the whole "touristy" area with the five million seafood buffett restaurants and beach shops on every corner. If this is the only way you've vacationed in the Outer Banks, I'm sorry... but you need to try the 4 wheel drive beaches. I was like you.... traditional OBX vacationer.... until I went on vacation with the Rudacille clan (Ryan's maternal side of the family).

The 4 wheel drive beaches begin where the road in Corolla ends. Literally. It's nuts... you are driving on regular road with double yellow lines, and then all the sudden.... there's the ocean and no more road! And this is where the most beautiful beaches and HOMES (yes, homes!) are located. Turn on the 4wd and be ready for a turbulent drive down the beach!

We stay about 7 miles down, which is a pretty hefty drive... which means that once you get to the house, barring any emergencies, you are probably going to be staying down by the house for the extent of the vacation, which I love! I love not feeling like I need to visit the shops at the beach, or going out for a night at a restaurant. I don't feel rushed to end my day at the beach so I can go to that "new spot" or that "highly recommended spot" down the highway. When I tell people about where we stay, I always say, "When we get to the house, I take off my shoes, and I don't wear shoes again until we leave!". I think perhaps Kenny Chesney was singing about "our spot" when he said "No shirt, no shoes, no problems...."

One of my most favorite things about where we stay is that we are right in the middle of where the wild horses live. Yes... wild horses! There is honestly nothing more magical than waking up early and seeing a herd of horses eating seagrass right outside of your house. They come out when you aren't expecting to see them, like right after an evening storm.... we saw them racing each other along the shore. Last year, we saw the horses every single day.... I hope we are lucky enough to see them at least once this year!

Here are a few pictures of the horses from last year.... I hope I have the opportunity to add to my collection of photographs this year! We'll be back sometime on August 1st! Have a great weekend and week everyone!

Is this our garage?

2009-07-19T09:48:00.003-04:00

Let me remind you of the state of our garage before the clean-up...

Holy disaster area, Batman! We had stuff, literally, strewn everywhere. We didn't even walk through there, because... well, we couldn't!

After 2 truck loads of furniture, decorative items that had no place in our new home, and other random items we had no use for sent to Goodwill, and 1 truckload of stuff that was determined to live at the dump, we now have a much more organized and clean space to call our garage!

Ignore the saw set up in the middle of the garage, as well as the PVC pipes in the floor. Ryan is working on assembling an ECU themed ladder golf game. We would have liked to do shelving in the garage, but all we could manage in about the 5 hours we spent in there was to clean and discard. Shelving is on the project list...

Speaking of projects- in going through the garage, we found a bounty of projects to tackle! There were a couple of "too good to part with" items in the garage that didn't quite fit with the decor in our home now. Well, stay tuned.... we are going to transform a couple of things to put in the house!

I'm pretty excited.... however, when I'll get to them is another issue entirely. We leave for the beach this Saturday, so hopefully I can utilize some nap times this week to get a start on my projects. If not, I have time when we get back!

Design inspiration please!

2009-07-17T11:33:00.007-04:00

Ok fellow bloggers and lurkers... please turn your creativity in this direction! We need some ideas in decorating our kitchen! Our kitchen is painted green (yes green)... Behr's "Asparagus" to be exact. A great little aloe plant given to us by Brandon and PJ is our design inspiration...

The walls are actually very close to the green in the aloe plant (despite the way the walls photograph), and we loved the contrast of the green with the black and the white in the pot, so we would like to incorporate black and white in the decorative elements.

Issue #1:: The big wall at the back of the kitchen.

Please ignore the light fixture... that will be switched out soon. But the wall... what do we do with it? I have no idea! I'm not really into shelving... the thought of shelves in the kitchen kind of bugs me because of all the dusting that would inevitably need to be done. I'm not sure if we should go in the route of traditional kitchen-y artwork... and if so, what would be best? Any ideas?

Issue #2:: The large (beautiful) windows....

These are adjacent to the wall that needs decorative elements. I'm not sure what kind of window coverings to go with. Cafe style curtains that cover the bottom half of the window? Full length curtains? And then, what color? Ryan is quite partial to the damask pattern on the flower pot, and the only other pattern that I'm a bit open to to coordinate with the damask is stripes (which continues into our living room, which is connected to the kitchen). So, solid or patterned curtains? No curtains at all, and blinds instead? I'd prefer not to completely cover the windows with something that blocks out the light because I do love the natural light that comes through said windows, plus it is going to eventually have an even better view once the patio is put in. Ugh.... I'm going bonkers with this.

Ideas???

Spring, er- Summer Cleaning

2009-07-17T11:29:00.003-04:00

Oh what fun... look what Ryan and I are tackling tomorrow!

Yep folks, that's our garage. And only about 75% of it, I might add. This has been the "catch all" since we moved in late February. We are borrowing a truck, loading that bad boy up, and taking almost everything to Goodwill! We haven't even started yet, but I'm crazy with anticipation... I can't wait to be able to WALK through our garage, and easily find stuff I'm looking for. It is going to be SO cathartic to get rid of a lot of this stuff too... much of it brings back the days of apartments, renting, and a mish-mash of "stuff" used to decorate old spaces.

Let me tell you 'bout our best friends....

2009-07-05T10:48:00.004-04:00

As I've gotten older, I've come to realize that quality over quantity is important in life. This rings even more true in regards to friends. I consider myself (and Ryan) to be very outgoing, easy to get along with people. Unfortunately, not everyone is in our boat, and over the past 2 years, I've come to see a large amount of friends disappear due to our personal life changes. However, one specific person has been there as a constant reminder of true friendship to us.... so let me introduce you to our wonderful friend, Brandon!

Now, every time I introduce people to Brandon, I get a look like, "Your husband is ok with you being best friends with a GUY?!" Oh, heaven forbid, right? Well, here's the story on Brandon. We met because we had a mutual love for awesome dance moves and booze. Yep- we met at a not-to-be-mentioned-because-it-will-date-my-age club in the city during my time of hanging out with aforementioned friends that are now no longer friends. Ryan was playing baseball and was gone for the entire summer, so I had nothing else to do but dance and drink the night away. So, one night, up comes this gentleman who demands that I shake my groove thing with him. I flash the bling and kindly tell him I'm off the market. He laughs, and tells me that he isn't interested anyways, but that I can dance and he wants to dance. He is a great dancer and quite funny. Night ends, we part ways. Throughout the summer, it turns out that we both enjoy the same hangouts so we dance and have fun, but never hang outside the confines of the bar. Fast forward a few months to me regaining some brain cells and realizing that I need a new place to hang out. Wouldn't you know- Brandon frequents this new bar. Now, I know what you're thinking- STALKER!- but no, this bar is actually close to his apartment. We decide that fate is telling us that we must be friends, and we become Sunday brunch buddies.

At this point, yes, Ryan is becoming a bit uneasy. Who is this guy that hangs out with my fiance (and now at this point, wife)? Luckily, Ryan and Brandon hit it off. Long story short (wait, was this short?), we've been connnected at the hip ever since. And thank God Brandon has good taste in women, because his girlfriend is AMAZING! I love her and highly approve. Campbell loves them, too, which I think speaks volumes since they are unmarried and without kids. Could our lives be anymore different? You wouldn't know it if you saw us together.

Brandon and PJ

We dominate a good amount of Brandon and PJ's time. From cookouts to nights out, we're together a lot, but even if we go weeks without getting to see each other, no time has passed when we get together.

I guess the moral of the story is this.... all those cliche things you've heard about people coming and going, true friends, blah blah blah- it's true. I didn't think that at first, and was really heartbroken to see my large friend group dwindle down to about 2 (this is not counting my best girlfriends in the world, who do not live close by :( sad.). But last night, as fate would have it, who happens to show up at the bar we were at but one of those long-lost friends. In seeing her, I immediately knew that the universe works the way that it is supposed to, and that she (along with the others) were never true friends anyways.

And knowing that makes me beyond happy.

A few of my favorite things...

2009-06-22T08:45:00.015-04:00

Being a wife and a mother of a VERY active 1 year old, I've found a few things that I absolutely love... and that make my life easier! I thought that I'd share them here, especially since many of these are great for just about anyone!

1. Oxiclean

Holy crap! This stuff is seriously magical. I had never used it before until we received it as a baby shower gift. The very first blow-out Campbell had, we soaked the clothes in a bucket of water and Oxiclean... and the stains were immediately REMOVED! Every single one of Campbell's onesies look brand new because of this stuff! We regularly buy the tub of this, and it takes out just about any stain you can throw at it!

2. L'oreal Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara

Before getting pregnant, I never had a problem with make-up smearing, flaking, or rubbing off. As soon as Campbell was born, horomones went bonkers and I was having make-up meltdown, regardless of the weather. The final straw was when I was looking like a raccoon in the middle of the day, even though I was wearing "smudge proof, waterproof" mascara (a VERY expensive brand). My sis, Celia, suggested going with a tubing mascara. Basically, the mascara creates a "tube" around your lashes which will only come off with a combo of warm water and pressure as you gently pull on your lashes. I tried some expensive brands, and they were great, but at $30 a tube they weren't very realistic for every day use. Enter stage left, L'oreal Double Extend Beauty Tubes. This stuff is amazing... even better than the expensive designer brands! My lashes are thicker and longer because of this mascara.... and it's only $8.99 at most big box stores (plus, there is almost always a $1-$2 off coupon in the newspaper!). No more raccoon eyes for me! I've even worn this at the pool (inadvertently), and it DOES NOT flake or run. You seriously have to use warm water and pressure to get this off! I highly recommend you go out and try it!

3. L'oreal Infalliable Never Fail Eyeliner

I actually was able to try this eyeliner because it came free with the L'oreal Beauty Tubes mascara (above). For the same reasons I explained above, I was struggling with make-up. Now, let me pause and say.... I ADORE Sephora. I love make-up, and I'm a Sephora addict. However, L'oreal might make me a convert if they keep it up with these products. I know that many people are anti-eyeliner, but maybe I'm old school.... I like eyeliner and it looks good on me. This eyeliner will not budge... it lasts all day, and does not smudge (unless you, of course, smudge it... but even then, it doesn't smudge well so it isn't a good "smokey eye" eyeliner). I haven't paid for this yet, since they keep packaging it as a freebie with the mascara (it's been sold this way at Target for well over 6 months), so it is definitely a steal!

4. Mr. Clean Magic Erasers

If you've already tried these, you don't need me to explain how magical these are. They are right up there with Oxiclean. They will clean ANYTHING.... I have used them on the walls, the stove, the counters, the floors, Campbell's high chair..... they are awesome. We keep these in the house at all times because they are so essential to keeping things clean in a house with 3 pets and a baby!

5. Venus Spa Breeze 2-in-1 Disposable Razor

Now, I know it's not very green, but I'm a disposable razor girl. With the introduction of the Venus razor by Gillette some 10 years ago (?), I have ONLY used Venus razors. These 2-in-1 disposables by Venus are A-MAZ-ING. I adore that I do not have to lather up to shave my legs! These are such a great time saver, and at $6.99 at big box stores for a pack of 2, they help my legs stay smooth for a month! Plus, keep an eye out in your Sunday paper.... you can usually find a $1 off coupon at least 1x a month!

6. T-Mobile's Samsung Behold

I have to thank our wonderful friend, Brandon, for hooking us up with these awesome touch screen phones at T-Mobile. Ryan and I don't use our cell phones too terribly much, so we don't need phones that use 5 million apps or connect to the internet or whatever, and these phones are PERFECT for us! I love that the screen is nice and big, and the touch screen feature keeps us in the cool zone as parents. The QWERTY keyboard feature is awesome, too. I hate multiple clicking numbers to peck out a text message, and this phone makes me happy that I can avoid that frustration! I use the calendar app all the time.... it keeps me from missing appointments (which I am known to do!), and the fonts and calendar are big enough that I actually can see what I am typing and what the event is that I have scheduled! I have the pretty rose pink color that I picked out, and Ryan has the manly expresso brown. It packs a 5 mega-pixel camera, which also makes it easier for me to capture those spontaneous Kodak moments when I don't have my digi-cam handy!

7. Ikea Markor Bookcase

Take a quick look at my living room. Besides the larger baby toys in the far right corner of the picture, do you see random toys scattered about (and, no, I did not go around hiding toys before taking this picture... this is really how my living room looks as soon as Campbell goes down for a nap)?

No? Didn't think so! As any mother knows, every room is full of toys, and if you are like me, the living room is where many of Campbell's toys live (despite the playroom we have upstairs). I was going nuts with the baskets of toys that never seemed to make my living room look remotely close to adult-ish. Thank you IKEA for making the Markor horizontal bookcase!

The bookcase is a beautiful espresso wood with 10 open slots for your decorating and storage needs. I bought 10 seagrass baskets at IKEA that seem to be made for this bookcase, and viola! Toy storage bliss! The bottom 5 baskets are devoted to the toys and books Campbell likes to play with on a regular basis, and the top 5 hold DVDs and books. She is able to pull out the baskets (mostly) on her own, and when it is time to clean the house or just regain my sanity, I can chuck all the toys in the basket and make the house look less like a daycare and more like a nice home! Here's a shot of a few of the baskets in all their toy storing glory...

So there you have it, a few things that make my life easier. I'm sure there is more.... and when I think of them, I'll definitely share them!

Oh, wait... I DO have 1 more thing that makes my life easier....

Yep- the hubbs! He is the chef, the grocery shopper, the dog walker, the landscaper, and just all around awesome! :) I heart him!

Do I need a hobby?

2009-06-19T13:20:00.004-04:00

So, as I'm sitting here reflecting on life as Campbell sleeps, I have recalled a convo with my physical therapist yesterday....

PT- "Ok, so you are a teacher (blah blah... insert something here about what grade I teach, or something like that).... And so what do you do in your free time? Like, what are your hobbies?"

Me- "Um... well, I chase after my 1 year old daughter. And.... well, I've just started to work out again. (long silence).... Oh! And I shop."

PT just stares at me.... then scribbles down on her little sheet. "Ok then. Let's get started."

......

So, do I need a hobby or something? I mean, you know, with all the "free time" I have and all? You'd think that the PT was expecting me to say that I volunteer at a soup kitchen or collect trash on the side of the road, from the reaction she had to my comment. I can't help that all I have time to do between diapers and feedings is to hop on an elliptical and find a good sale.

What do you all think? Shopping is enough of a hobby, right?

Perhaps if I called it "stimulating the economy" she would have taken me more seriously......

Summa-summa-summatime!

2009-06-19T07:19:00.003-04:00

Yes! School is out for SUMMER! The sun is shining and it is HOT HOT HOT outside. Miss Campbell and I have lounge chairs reserved poolside at Woodlake for the entire summer, which I know is going to make summer break go by faster than necessary.

Our family joined Woodlake Swim and Racquet Club (http://www.woodlakesrc.com/), which has two outdoor pools, an indoor pool, a fitness center, AND child care! Campbell loves the childcare center because she gets to play with new friends and different toys.... I love it because I get to FINALLY work out! And of course, we both going to the pool (Ryan likes coming, too!). Campbell is a little water bug already! She loves to splash and play in the water... and the fact that the concession stand sells popsicles! :)

Speaking of.... it's perfect pool weather today, and Campbell has an appointment at the childcare center this morning (and I have an appointment with some fitness equipment!), so ta-ta for now!

Everybody's Free....

2009-06-03T11:09:00.003-04:00

This morning on the radio, I heard a song that came out in '99 (ten years ago!) when I was graduating from high school.... I vaguely remembered it.... but just remembered that it was super lame. I remember thinking that if this was where music was going, I was not listening. But hearing it today was totally different.... I guess because perspective changes the way you listen and think about things... either way, here it is... (I've bolded some of my favorite parts)

Everybody's Free (to wear sunscreen)- Baz Lurhmann

Wear sunscreen
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience…I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh nevermind; you will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded. But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked….You’re not as fat as you imagine.

Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing everyday that scares you.

Sing

Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss

Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind…the race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself.

Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch

Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life…the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don’t.

Get plenty of calcium.

Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone.

Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll have children,maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary…what ever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either – your choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s.

Enjoy your body,use it every way you can…don’t be afraid of it, or what other people think of it, it’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever own..

Dance…even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room.

Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them.

Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for good.

Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go,but for the precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you knew when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard; live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.

Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will philander, you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders. Respect your elders.

Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund,maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one might run out.

Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen…

Patterns and Prints

2009-05-27T14:20:00.003-04:00

One thing I LOVE about having a little girl is the wild colors and prints that I can make Campbell wear. Of course, I don't go around letting her look ridiculous, though! One of the cute little gifts Campbell received from her birthday (thank you Aunt Chris and Uncle Bill!) is an A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E handmade romper by M.E.K.O.kids (available locally at The Cordial Cricket in Chester, and here on etsy ). Is this not Lilly Pulitzer meets Pucci??

I want one for myself, but I honestly don't think I can pull off the romper look (damn my thighs!).

I haven't had a chance to hit up the boutique, but from the looks of the M.E.K.O.kids etsy shop, I am obsessed and need to high-tail it to Chester ASAP!

Happy Birthday Campbell!

2009-05-24T11:41:00.003-04:00

Well the day came and went in fabulous fashion! Miss Campbell woke up bright and early on her first birthday at 6:45.... she must have known that it was a day to be excited! :) After cleaning the house like crazy and forcing the princess to take a nap (which she desperately needed), family and friends descended upon our house for fun and festivities! Campbell loved all the people, the balloons, the presents, and of course, the cake! What a wonderful way to celebrate her first birthday!

Thank you to all our friends and family who made Campbell's birthday so special!!

And.... relax!

2009-05-22T14:46:00.002-04:00

Can I just say how fabulous and wonderful my husband is??? Knowing how ridiculously stressed I've been with work (SOLs and VGLA..... awesome.) and not having much time to myself (love ya Campbell! :) ), he got me an amazing 4 hour SPA package for mother's day. What a treat! I most certainly indulged, and now feel so refreshed and relaxed.... just in time for birthday extravaganza!

Happy Birthday (tomorrow) to Miss Campbell! One year old! :)

WALKING!

2009-05-17T11:20:00.003-04:00

Oh yes, Campbell has reached a huge milestone.... she is walking! Not to the point yet where I need to go buy the "leash disguised as a backpack" yet (oh, I will), but she is well on her way! Here are a couple action shots of Campbell trying out the walking thing!

I can't believe she is almost one year old. It's incredible how time flies.....

Tag!

2009-04-29T10:21:00.002-04:00

Shirley tagged me in her blog, and I figure that I need a little brain break right now (yes, right in the middle of the day.... :) ), so....

1. Current obsession: home improvements.... i'm obsessed with anything we can do to make the house more "OURS". i'm also obsessed with the end of the school year ;-)

2.Namesake: a character on General Hospital named "Tiffany" (back in '81). My mom had apparently never heard the name before?? There are a lot of Tiffany's now, but it's alright!

3. Favorite Dinner: my favorite homemade dinner is salmon off OUR grill-- Ryan is becoming quite the grill master!

4. Favorite brand of jeans: Paige Premium Denim. I'm still working on getting back into my pre-Campbell favorites :(

5.Favorite tea flavor: homemade sweet tea. Or the orange blossom tea at Can Can in Carytown.

6. Favorite owned jewelry: Engagement ring/wedding band. Any of my Slane&Slane, and of course my Miki pearls!

7.Favorite TV show: grey's anatomy.... and friday night lights (if you haven't seen an epidsode, you MUST watch it!).... and how i met your mother.

8. Listening to: the sweet silence that is my classroom during my planning period!

9. Bathroom cabinet holds: we actually don't have a "cabinet", unless you're talking about under the sink... and in that case, it holds just about everything that is needed in the bathroom!

10. Childhood dream: to be an actress.. haha! or a psychologist... apparently now as a teacher, i'm both!

11.If I could go anywhere in the next hour, I would : go shopping all by myself! :)

12.Person I want to meet: me as a grandmother... i imagine i'll be a pretty cool grandma! haha!

13.Five-Year-Plan: have ONE more child.... retire from teaching and either be a stay at home mom, or do something else... i imagine i'll need a break from teaching if i make it another 5 years!

14. Today is special because: i'm in a great mood, despite the ENORMOUS amount of stress i'm under to get the rest of the math 6 SOLs taught so i can finish the VGLA binders before may 7th (eek!)

15. Where I blog: usually at home, but today, here in my classroom!

16. My perfect day: sleeping in till 7 (it's a luxury i haven't had in a very long time), having coffee while looking out on the ocean, spending the day on the beach with a beer/margarita in hand, eating a delish dinner with family and friends, and talking with friends and family till i almost fall asleep! ..... OR a day spent shopping and gabbing with friends! :)

Heat Wave

2009-04-28T15:12:00.003-04:00

Ahhh... the hot weather has us (ok, fine- me and Campbell) SO ready for summer time! Ryan did some awesome landscaping this weekend, though he has now sworn it off and refuses to landscape ever again! Campbell tried out her swimming pool and is now a bonafide water baby!

We had a delish dinner with Brandon and PJ on Sunday at Kona Grill. Kona was a big fave of ours when Ryan was in Phoenix AZ for a summer for his baseball injury. They have some really great sushi... I loved the Sunshine Roll. It's basically a spicy tuna roll (or yellowtail, can't remember which) with a slice of lemon on top. The lemon makes the roll-- it's so crisp and light tasting! I highly recommend Kona if you haven't had it yet. Plus, they had high chairs, so Miss Campbell was able to enjoy dinner with us too (sans sushi... though they did give us mashed potatoes for her, which were to DIE for!).

Hope you all are enjoying the heat wave.... we're in for rain starting tomorrow... typical Richmond!

It's beginning to look a lot like springtime....

2009-04-21T15:23:00.003-04:00

I've surprised myself since moving out to suburbia. When I was living in the city, I had no desire to own plants, work on a garden... heck, I didn't even want people to give me flowers because I just didn't like having plants or flowers in my house because they'd just die! But now I have a house, and I'm all grown up because I have PLANTS! I bought 4 gorgeous boston ferns for the front porch this weekend to give our house a traditional southern look. I am obsessed with them.... I constantly gaze at them, willing them to survive despite my "black thumb". They better live, since I spent quite a bit of time at Lowe's picking out just the right ones.... that's time I can't get back!

I also spent a hot minute at Home Depot this weekend buying some herbs. They had a fabulous BOGO-free deal on their peat pot (say what?) herb and veggies, so I took some time to find just the right rosemary and oregano plants. Ryan and I want to have a nice little herb garden established, so we still need to get more.... but for now, I'll keep my nose glued to the rosemary.... how I love the smell of rosemary! Saturday, we're working on getting the azaleas and shrubbery planted, and hopefully we'll add some color with some other flowers, too!

And speaking of the great outdoors, Ryan bought a grill on Friday and we spent Saturday AND Sunday grilling with friends and family. Ryan is becoming quite the grill master, and I'm craving food off the grill constantly.

The only thing I'm craving more than grilled food is a patio. Our deck is nice, but small.... so I'm hoping that we can put in a stone patio. Not sure of the timeline on that quite yet, though.... I doubt it will happen before Campbell's birthday party at the end of May, but that's just fine since our grass is quite green and lush thanks to Ryan's awesome fertilizing job Easter weekend!

Now, I'm in need of ideas (and I'm probably just talking to myself here, but whatev...)... what, oh what, can I do with my front door??? It has a big oval shaped window on it. I am NOT a country girl who likes curtains on it. I'd love to have leaded glass or something along those lines, but that's a pretty penny that we just don't have to spend on something like that, SO..... I've been looking at vinyl options. Either I can do a vinyl cover on the entire window (similar to privacy adhesive stuff ), OR I've seen some great stuff on etsy to maybe do a vinyl monogram that has an etched look to it.... something kind of like this (but of course, much larger, and just the letter "N"):

thoughts, anyone???

Tile and Crown Moulding makes a girl happy

2009-04-11T10:05:00.003-04:00

Ahhh... relief! The tile backsplash is complete! My kitchen is *finally* back in order. The next step is choosing a pretty color to paint the kitchen... I'm thinking of a nice green. Green is such a hard color to get right (much like orange)... in my mind, I'm thinking something like an aloe green, but I don't know if it will be too bright. After updating this blog, I'm going to Behr's website to play with their "Paint your place" tool. It is SO awesome- you upload pictures of your room, and then get to try out paint colors with a click of the mouse!

Enjoy the pictures of our updated space.... In the coming weeks, Ryan and I will be tackling the landscaping with the help my wonderful Aunt Chris! I'm looking forward to getting some color around the outside of the house! :)

Happy Easter y'all!

The living room as we got things ready to install the crown moulding.

Crown moulding installed... it makes such a HUGE difference in the feel of the room!

Our boring, bland kitchen before our much needed tile backsplash....

Ryan installed the tile backsplash completely on his own.... I am in love with the way the kitchen looks with it now!

Isn't this tile BEAUTIFUL? The awesome folks at Moasic Tile Co. here in Midlothian helped us find just the right fit for our kitchen!

DIY time

2009-04-09T09:24:00.002-04:00

Hello spring break! We've been busy this week working on a variety of projects around the house (damn you HGTV and your DIY inspiration!). We have installed crown moulding in the living room and dining room, installed a tile backsplash in the kitchen, and FINALLY painted the downstairs half bath. All while fighting some nasty stomach bug (apologies to all those who came to visit us for dinner on Sunday, and then caught the funk-nasty-ness). Pictures of our new additions are coming!

Campbell is getting her spring/Easter pictures done tomorrow, and she is overdue for some professional pictures. She has a super cute Easter dress courtesy of Gigi (my mom), along with some very cute Stride Rite white sandals. Those pictures will be coming soon as well (as long as I can get the scanner to work.... ugh, yet another project).

It's a beautiful day, and I'm finally feeling well after spending a large chunk of my spring break SICK. I anticipate a nice walk around the neighborhood with Miss Campbell in a few hours.... :)

Sneak Peek...

2009-03-22T13:05:00.003-04:00

It's been quite a while since an update, but we've been busy! The "funk" has hit our home, so we've been cycling through runny noses, congestion, and nasty coughs for what seems like 2 and a half weeks now. Ryan is almost 100% healthy (but don't ask him that... he swears he is still running a fever... I mean, who runs a fever for 2 weeks??? but I digress..), Campbell has a nasty cough still, but the humidifier seems like it is helping things. And me, well I am just NOW getting the funk, so I'm not feeling all that glorious.

Besides being sick, we've been working on the house trying to make it more of a home! I think we've made 3 trips to Ikea this month, and Ryan is swearing he will not go back for another 5 years. We have found some really great items for the home there, though. I've been impressed with Ikea lately- if you haven't been, you really should check it out... some of their newer lines are very "Pottery Barn"-esque, which is fitting in well with the rest of our decor.

Speaking of Pottery Barn- thanks to one of Ryan's co-workers, we got an awesome hook up on a PB dining room table and chairs. Ryan's co-worker just built a new home (which is GORGE by the way.... it's way out in the boonies, but I would be willing to live that far from civilization if I had a home like that!), which meant new decor for her.... so she was selling her PB dining room set that was practically brand new. Then, she dropped the price when we went to pick it up yesterday. So we basically have this beautiful dining room set for about a quarter of the price of the table ALONE! Nice!

The house is FAR from done, but here are a few snapshots to see how things are moving along. April will be a big month for us with home projects- tile backspalshing in the kitchen (yes!), painting some more rooms, and maybe I can convince Ryan to go ahead and do crown moulding downstairs????? We shall see!

View of our living room from the back door. Check out our awesome TV niche above the fireplace!

Another view of our living room. Don't you just love the choice of toys as living room decor?

Yet another view of the living room!

Breakfast nook... check out the pretty aloe plant centerpiece from Brandon and PJ!

Our "formal" dining room, with our awesome PB dining room set (we accidentally left the table leaf at Ryan's co-workers house, so we haven't extended it yet!). The plan is to add crown moulding and wainscotting in this room!

Winter Wonderland

2009-03-03T09:22:00.007-05:00

The Blizzard of '09 made sure that March lived up to the hype- in like a lion! I think we got about a foot here in Midlothian....

Campbell enjoyed getting out and playing in the snow for a bit, too!

We're HOME!

2009-02-22T17:02:00.003-05:00

Today is our first full day in our new house and it's been nothing but chaos. Boxes everywhere, random stuff piling up on the counters and in the living room... let's not mention what hasn't been tackled and brought in from the garage.

But we LOVE it. We are loving our home! We were able to get painting done in our bedroom, Campbell's bedroom, and the living room and dining room. Unfortunately, we are still working on the decor and getting the furniture we DO have in... and assessing what furniture needs to be bought! That means that pictures are still to come since I absolutely will NOT post pictures of the mess that we are living in right now! :)

All the space that we have now is such a breath of fresh air. I never thought I'd be a suburbs kind of gal, but I am loving the quiet that surrounds our house, aside from the distant laughter of the kids on the other side of the cul-de-sac playing on the trampoline. I love the area we live in too.... yeah, sure, it's across the river (I will not call it "southside", because it's not.), but it's great! I can't wait to have our friends and family over.... I'm envisioning lots of cook outs and parties!

Packing is my nemesis....

2009-02-14T15:27:00.003-05:00

I feel like we've been packing for a month now, but we have hardly anything to show for it. This is our last weekend in the apartment, so we have to get going on getting stuff in boxes. It will all get done, but until then, our place looks like a bomb of boxes went off in every room. But... this time next week, we'll be in our new home! This is such a huge thing... and we are SO looking forward to it!

In mommy news, Campbell is getting back to sleeping well at night! She's still waking up somewhere in the neighborhood of 1-2 am to eat (yes, I know that we should be phasing out the nighttime feedings), but then sleeping solidly until about 7 or 8 in the morning. Ahhhh... I'm loving the increase in consecutive hours of sleep!

And speaking of Campbell... today's blog is brought to you by the little lovebug herself...

6 more weeks of winter?

2009-02-06T18:21:00.003-05:00

I was fairly certain that the groundhog said 6 more weeks of winter, but I'm not so sure I'm feeling that.... with temperatures predicted to reach close to 70 this weekend, the flip flops are coming out of hibernation!

If the coming temperature increase wasn't already getting me pumped for warm weather, then Blue Moon's seasonal spring ale, Rising Moon certainly is! It is DELISH! Very light, with just a touch of lime I think... the label says "Keiffer Lime leaves and lime peel for a smooth, balanced taste." Reminds me of warmer days, sunshine and the beach. Perfect.

Go out and get ya some....

True confessions of an addict...

2009-02-04T18:35:00.002-05:00

I'm here to confess that I am an addict... I'm seriously addicted to HGTV. Yes, you read that right.... Home and Gardens TV. I can't help myself... as soon as I get home, I hop on the remote and immediately start watching whatever is on the channel. Divine Design (eh, the host kind of drives me bonkers)... Spice Up My Kitchen (very cool ideas...).... Property Virgins (because, well, we are!).... My First Home (love it, but it drives me nuts that they get a free gift)... *sigh* I could go on for hours.

Now, I never ever watched this channel before we got into the home buying process. Now I can't steer myself away. I am so wanting to DIY all over the place.... everything I look at, I think "Heck- I could MAKE that!" Whether this is actually true or not is another story. I'm also kicking myself for not paying more attention in my teen living classes in middle school. I am in need of some serious sewing skills to actually put some of those DIY projects into action!

If only they had a show with Elmo in it... then Miss Campbell might sit still for a bit and we could watch it together!

We're in the waiting game right now on the home front. Just counting down the days until we move (15 days!). Our apartment is feeling smaller and more annoying by the second though, which is making the days draaaaaaag by. We'll start packing this weekend (no, we haven't started packing yet....), so maybe that will make things feel like it's picking back up!

The 'do

2009-02-01T08:12:00.000-05:00

I finally was able to get a picture snapped of the new hair do.... I don't feel like it photographs as well as it looks in person. I'm still trying to get used to it, especially since when I went in, I only intended on getting a trim. My hair stylist, Mario at Salon 5:01 (who is AWESOME, btw), had something different in mind!

I think it bears a striking resemblance to the hairstyle of the office girl character in Britney Spears' "Womanizer" video. I'm not sure if that was intentional or not.... I'll have to check with Mario.

I love freebies!

2009-01-30T21:18:00.000-05:00

We've been with comcast for quite a while... well, as far back as I can remember being on my own. Unfortunately, our neighborhood is only wired for Verizon, so we had to make the switch. They have an awesome package, which was great. Imagine how TICKED I was today when I stopped by the post office to pick up a change of addy form and saw that if I signed up for Verizon using a special code, I would get a free $50 American Express gift card. OH NO NO NO! Wonderful hubby to the rescue.... called Verizon, and yeppers- got my gift card! Now what shall we spend it on???

Most likely paint.... we spent a good chunk of time last night at Home Depot checking out paint colors. We thought we had the colors for our bedroom all set, but after looking at them again, the brown I thought I wanted had some icky greenish undertones. After some searching, we found "Chocolate Coco" by Behr.

I guess I should backtrack and explain what I'm thinking for our bedroom. We have cathedral ceiling in our bedroom, so the far wall is a pentagonal shape (go math teacher!), rather than square. So, I'm thinking that I'd like to have that wall a dark, chocolatey brown, and the other walls a more taupe/beige color, like Behr's "Gobi Desert". I hope it looks as good as I'm thinking in my head... :)

this is the brown we're going with...

with this color on the other walls.

Well, the little one has been asleep for a bit, which is my cue to get to bed as well. Here is a recent shot of our little lovebug...

This is a first...

2009-01-29T17:54:00.000-05:00

Yep, first post! I decided to create this blog to keep family and friends, near and far, updated on our family! I'm not very good at sending out mass emails, or even sending out the mass of pictures I take, keeping everyone updated on our lives.... so, as Ryan says, I'll "bloggy bloggy"!

We're in the process of finishing up the purchase of our FIRST home! I'm excited, to say the least. Buying a home is not like buying clothes, and I'm a very much instant gratification kind of girl, so sitting around waiting to close is killing me. I'm ready to get in there and start decorating and painting and whatnot. Speaking of.... Ryan is probably ready to head to Home Depot in a few minutes. We're going to take a look at some washers and dryers, paint colors, and the like....

I wish I had some personal photos of the house to share with the world, but alas, no such luck. Here are some of the house from the official listing....

this is the front of the house!

and of course, the most important part... the jetted tub in the master bathroom! haha! :)

I definitely want to get more pictures up, especially when we are all set up in the house... stay tuned! We close on February 19th!