The unstoppable pull of baby crap!

Now that my poppy seed is a rip old plum I am becoming seduced by baby gear. It isn't as exciting as wedding planning, as most baby stuff is ugly. I am compiling a list of the things I need(want) so I don't forget what they are when the time comes to buy.

I am really liking the Duo Deluxe diaper bag by Skip Hop. The shape and size seem very reasonable and it comes in a lot of patterns like the Uptown Stripe shown. The plain red or black look great too, but I still like a little childlike pattern, especially if it is a refined color palate like the bag I want!

Week 9

I'm pregnant!

This is for Lawren. I am being ultra original and will begin blogging about my experience being pregnant!

This is my ultrasound from Tuesday. Today I am exactly 9 weeks along. I can't wait for the next three weeks to go by so I will be out of this annoying first trimester. The fatigue is brutal.

live blogging: the inauguration

Rick Warren did his thing for the invocation. I am out of the loop on megachurch ministers, but apparently he heads up Saddleback Chruch in Orange County. I always feel weird about these things at government functions. I don't like the notion that these religious invocations are appropriate because most of the the country may be religious, let alone Christian. This is better left for people at home or in church. The speech was very nice, but I couldn't get past all the heaven and god refrences. I know, the guy is a professional minister, it is what he does.

Aretha Franklin's rendition of "My country tis of thee" (is that right) war HORRIBLE. First of all, I don't like when awesome songs are butchered in the name of personal styling. Second, he voice was all dry and crackly.

Biden's swearing went without a hitch.

The John William's piece played by all the awesome classical musicians was out of sight! Williams in a genius. Star Wars, Jurrasic Park, Indiana Jones, Home Alone, Harry Potter.... the list goes on. Genius.

I don't know if it was John Roberts' fault, or Obama's, but someone mixed the other up during the President's swearing in. Obama tried to start too early, but Robert's had too long of a pause. Yea!!!! NEW PRESIDENT! PRESIDENT OBAMA!!!

Oh geez, he mentions terrorism - but at least he didn't mention the "t" word. Man he sounds powerful. I like that he is addressing the real issues at hand and that we will overcome. Whoever wrote this speech should get an award!

I like the refrence to the people who busted their butts to build this country. I do not like that CNN cuts away from the speech to show crowds of people watching the speech in remote locations. All right!!!

Science will be restored to its rightful place!!

I wonder how long these speeches go. I just checked, Obama's is to be 17 minutes long.

9:18 He is starting to get "whistley" with his s sounds

9:19 He sure sounds stron on terrorism, and no having to apologize for our way of life - awesome
finally, someone mentions that the country is made up of nonbelievers as well as Christians, Muslims, Jews and Hindus

9:20 "your people will judge you on what you can build, not on what you destroy" great line.

9:21 lots of mention of the US using lots of world resources

I think the know of his tie is too narrow. I think that with the long points of his collar, he needs bulkier knot. Especially since he is already so thin and narrow, the die emphasizes it.

CNN just showed people sitting on a bronze statue of horses and a carriage. How crude. Why are people climbing on monuments like it is a children's playground. That is embarissing.

9:25 Ok, my concentration is waining. When will this be over?
Oh, ok it is now done at 9:26.

9:26 I think the people behind Obama, military guys included, who are taking snapshots are rude and crude. There will be plenty of professional shots available.

9:28 Elizabeth Alexander's caidence is so odd. I know it is specific to her poem, but it is a very odd preformance. The actual words are amazing, but the choppy preformance is very distracting. Maybe that is how it is supposed to be. This is why Americans are so ambivialent to poetry. I am too synical to enjoy this type of poetry.

9:30 Why is everyone leaving? Are they going to get a spot on the parade route.
Bush I looks so cute in that fur hat. He is a bundle up old grandpa.

9:33 Dr. Joseph Lawrie? Lawry? This guy is smart. I can tell. I wonder how old he is. He sounds really old. He cirtizes favoritism to the elite and rich. If that were to end, how would congressmen afford their lavish homes? Their salary isn't nearly enough to afford the luxuries they have become accustomed too..

9:35 there is a guy in the fancy seats who is wearing a red fedora type hat. That guy is awesome. I think Michelle Obama is lucky for being so tall, but like so many tall women she hunches too much. She needs to take a lesson from Carla Bruni on poise. Obama tends to stomp around and hunch to be on the same level as shorter people.

9:37 Rev. Dr. Joseph is kind of awesome. "...so the red man can get ahead, man. And the guy who's white will embrace what is right." I love old people from the 60's. They are still hippies.

9:38 National anthem "Star Spangled Banner" preformed by Navy Sea Chanters. What a lame name. I do, however, love their traditional rendition of the anthem.

9:39 presidental party exits, John Phillip Sousa "The Stars and Stripes Forever" plays. I love that song.
Next up, PARADE!! I don't even particularly like parades.

Inspirational Poster

I was having fun with Adobe Illustrator this morning and decided to produce an inspirational poster like the cool one for the Obama campaign. Except, mine is not very inspirational. I love Joan Holloway from Mad Men but I hate smoking. I liked the image and wanted to play around with recreating the Obama poster. The colors are exact, but the font is wrong. Mine is too fat. I could buy the exact one, but I am not spending $140 to replicate a poster.

I am really feeling this right now.....

Ski Trip!!!

Next Tuesday we will go to Mammoth!!! I am so excited because I got my first pair of snow pants!! every other time I have gone to the snow, I have made due with nylon warm up pants, not good when in a wet snow. The best part is my new pants were only $15 on EBay, with $10 shipping!!! I was about to spend $100 on some cute Big 5 pants, but was dissuaded. I just hope they fit. I am an 8 in the $100 ski pants, so I hope I am in this Obermeyer pair. No more wet butt, no more wet knees!!!! The best part is that they are cute too. These pants are nice and streamlined. They even have ankle gaiters in the legs. Can you beat $25??? No way! Now I am ready to hit the slopes!! Gabe just bought a snow onesie suit on EBay and I hope to copy his success. I should get my new pants at the end of the week, just in time for the trip. I will model them for you when they arrive. (I think I love Ebay, I will know for sure when my pants arrive)

Week One

I cleared out my bookshelf the other day. I found an old German textbook and decided to list it on Amazon instead of just donating it. I sold it for $30within the hour!! That is $30 toward the new entryway! I will try to sell other stuff to offset the costs of my changes. This will be great because I plan to get rid of a lot of stuff, and only buy a few key items!
______________________
Sold items: textbook
Income Total: $30

Purchased: 0
Purchased total: 0
______________________
Net: +$30

the Cure: week one

This little guy is gonna go!





There are quite a few tasks to complete for week one of the cure

• Read through to page 69
• Take the AT Quiz on pages 42-44 of the book.
• Take pictures of your home and upload them to our Flickr page
• Determine your budget: The Cure is not about money, it's about spending time getting to know your home. We'll be showing you to do it economically.
• Will you be doing the Deep Treatment or the One Room Remedy?: We recommend the Deep Treatment for first timers
• Start a style tray Use a tray, a scrapbook or a box to gather your clippings. If you've never done one before, we suggest taking your style tray off line for hands-on experience.
• Figure out where you'll be buying fresh flowers every week: We like Trader Joe's because we're there anyway buying food.
• Pick a day next week to visit your favorite home store: Even if it's out of your budget, it's a great place to pick up ideas.
• Start a list of things that bother you in your apartment that need to get fixed: On our list? We're replacing all our lightbulbs with CFL's as they burn out.
• Determine where you'll put your outbox: we keep ours by the front door.
• Figure out one item to put out on the street

-from Apartment Therapy LA Fall Cure

I have so far completed everything except starting my style tray and gone to a home store.
I have taken photos of my place and have posted them onto my Picasa photo page. My budget is $300, but I cannot buy anything big because I plan to move to San Diego in a year and I don't want to move a lot of stuff (and I have no money and my apartment is full so the point is to get rid of stuff). Since I am a first-timer, I will be dong the Deep-Treatment (although, I am not totally sure what this is yet). I will buy flowers at Trader Joe's or make my own arrangements from found plant material. The apartment is in great shape, except for the darned kitchen cabinet under the sink. The hinge is broken and needs to be replaced. I have designated an outbox (an old laundry basket that is also on its way out) it even has some trash that is ready to dump. I haven't put an item on the street but I have jumped the gun and done some "therapy".

I have already gone through my little bookshelf and removed 10" of magizines (to toss) and old books (to donate) and de-cluttered my nightstand. Now I have room for the new, unread books that were scattered about and when they are done, they too will go. I need to get the DH on reading his last couple of Michael Chriton novels so they can keep the others company in the bin. I have also listed my little art table on Craig's List. I am not that sad to see it go. It is lovely, but underused and therefore just taking up 10 sq ft in my little apartment. I can already visualize how nice the extra breathing room will be.

My answers to the quiz are as follows
Style
Favorite Actress: Scarlett Johannson, Claire Danes, Audrey Hepburn
Actor: Paul Newman, Liev Schreiber, Clive Owen, Collin Firth
Artist: Andy Warhol, Frank Loyd Wright, Monet, Picasso
Music: the best of everything, classic pops, pop, classic rock
Automobile: BMW Wagon, 1960's Mercedes
TV show: The Office, The Biggest Loser, Friends
Restaurants: Market, San Diego
Designer/Store: Michael Kors, Gap. classic, sporty, tailored, preppy
Personal History
Born: Toppennish
Grew Up: San Diego County, lived Bakersfield, Ventura, Berlin, San Luis Obispo
Role Model: Martha Stewart: business mogul, strong personality
Problem with my apt: too cluttered, difficult to keep tidy, not enough breathing room, no where to work
What I'd like to do more of in my apt: want to have more guests over
How I'd like my friends to describe my house: Cool (sophisticated), cozy, like a place they don't want to leave, warm and inviting

Hi all!
I have embarked on a new adventure. In an effort to make my home as lovely as possible, I am commiting to the 8 week Apartment Therapy home "cure". If you are unfamiliar with Apartment Therapy you should check out the awesome blog. It has a bunch of great ideas for people living in smaller homes.