Saturday, February 27, 2010

Back from the Babymoon!

February 27th, 2010



What a trip that was! It was so nice to get away, to be in warmer weather, to have the sun kiss my skin, to be near water, and to have a total mental escape from my world here in Ottawa.

John and I did everything from clubbing in L.A. to picnicking in Santa Barbara, to relaxing in Cypress, to working our calves out on the hilly streets of San Francisco. Despite being ‘on the go’ for the majority of the trip I still found it to be incredibly relaxing. We went at our own pace and I slept like a baby so I always had energy for the day ahead of us. I could go through details about everything we did and saw, but I would probably bore you. Instead I’ll share some picture highlights with you and end on this note. If you have the chance, go on a babymoon! It was a very special trip, different from any trip John and I have been on together. I don’t know if I feel any more ready to have this baby, but I certainly feel more in love with my partner than ever.


Walking along Hollywood Blvd.


Approaching In-N-Out Buger; fast food chain to the stars!


Our first In-N-Out Burger experience.


Here we are taking a break (my feet needed a rest) and soaking up the sun in Santa Monica.


Even the seagulls in Malibu are pretty.


John & I on the pier in front of the Paradise Cove Beach Cafe.


No, those aren't ducks, they're surfers! Surfers can be found like this at every beach along the coast of California.


First bathroom break of many...


John capturing our run in with an elephant seal. I stayed back... I was afraid it was going to wake up and charge us.


Sunning ourselves on the beautiful beach in Carmel.


The view from the ferry that goes to and from Alcatraz.


The very impressive Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.

Monday, February 15, 2010

February 15th, 2010

My friends daughter Clementine turned 1 this past week and we celebrated the milestone yesterday. It was a great get together with lots of cuteness and even more sweetness (the birthday cake was unreal).



What struck me was just how many babies there are in my group of friends now. A lot of the time when we all get together it’s more of an adult thing… holy moly this birthday party was baby central. There was everything from a 2 and a half week old beautiful newborn to a nearly 2 year old bundle of energy. Soon John and I will be adding our contribution to this budding baby community as will our friends Kim and Peter. We really are at that age. I feel like it almost works the same way it does when women live together and next thing you know their periods sync. One of my girlfriends got knocked up and next thing you know its babies, babies everywhere! Okay, maybe it’s not exactly the same thing, it’s just what came to mind.

Yesterday also marked Valentine’s Day and the one year anniversary of my engagement to John. Because my wonderful fiancé is always so great to me on Valentine’s Day I told him this year was going to be all about him. Even with that instruction he still got me a gift certificate for a pedicure! He’s a good man.

I got him something he loves almost as much as me… steak. But not just any steak, I actually found a meat market in the city that sold Kobe steak. So last night a trail of letters I wrote lead John to the fridge where the beautifully marbled Kobe was waiting for him. I swear he nearly had the same reaction I did when he presented me with a stunning diamond engagement ring 12 months ago.



Turns out I chose the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for my man, which thrilled me because he so deserves it!

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Well That Was a First!

February 11th, 2010

Yesterday I wore my new pants to work. I absolutely love them! They’re as comfortable as Lulu’s, but they look like dress pants. Genius! Now since they’re form fitting I had to wear a thong… Let me tell you a little story about me and thongs. We don’t get along. For many years I faked relationships with thongs. Pretending to love them, pretending they made me feel sexy, but the truth is I hate them. I think they’re uncomfortable and I only wear them when I don’t want to be the girl with the underwear line. So yesterday I put on a pair of thongs for that reason, but since I literally have not worn a pair since I’ve become pregnant I failed to calculate how uncomfortable they’d be given the weight I’ve put on. Wow! If I thought they made me squirm before… Mid-morning I decided I couldn’t take it anymore. In a desperate act I closed my office door, grabbed my scissors and went at them. I cut right down the middle of them and felt instant relief. When I got home I threw those suckers in the garbage and boy did it feel good (to see them in the trash and to have them off my body). Booty shorts will forever be the new thong to me!

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Feelin' Goooood!

February 6th, 2010

There is nothing more invigorating than a successful shopping spree!

It never fails; whenever I book a trip I always have to shop for it, which inevitably doubles the price of my vacation. This babymoon is no exception. I just did some serious damage on the old credit card and I don’t even feel done. I’m one of those people that can actually be quite conservative while shopping. I can go with a friend and maybe pick up one or two things or nothing at all. There are those times though when it seems all the shopping fairies conspire to make sure that I fall in love with everything I see, and once I buy one thing, it’s over. It’s like trying to have one chip when a brand new bag was just opened in front of you… impossible. You have that one, next think you know half the bag is gone.

Luckily (like splurging on booking the trip itself) I can easily justify the spending. First of all I had a gift certificate to use. My amazing and thoughtful fiancé found a super cool maternity store that I had never heard of before and they have a lot of great quality clothes that I will even be able to wear after my pregnancy. I’m counting on that actually because good quality doesn’t come cheap. After the maternity store I went to go look at shoes. While in the car I was thinking to myself about all the money I’ve saved not drinking for nearly 6 months! Boom, that’s a nice pair of shoes and a few accessories right there! Plus, I’m going to L.A.! I’ve got to look good in L.A., ‘cause you know, all eyes will be on me. Ha ha! Riiiight.

K, I’m going to go try on all my new clothes again.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Look What I Made!

February 3rd, 2010

Last night I did a craft workshop. My wonderful friend Emily (who owns Blackbird in Almonte) decided she would share her talent for crafting with the public and offer workshops in her store once a month. This was the first one.

I’ve never really fancied myself to be all that crafty. I mean I’ve made quite a few cards in my day, but that’s about the extent of it. I think I’ve used a glue gun once, and my sewing skills are limited to sewing buttons on jackets. That being said, for whatever reason I think now is a good time to get my craft on. Maybe it’s because I’m not getting my drink on… huh. So that’s what being pregnant means to me; I’m trading in my bottle of red for the experience of making my own wreath. Interesting…

I was actually excited all day about the workshop and when the time finally arrived I entered Emily’s store eager to meet the other crafters and anxious to see what I would walk away with. In total there were ten women, plus Emily and her right hand woman, Colleen who lead us step by step through our creation.

Let me tell you, the night was not a let down. First of all, everyone was wonderful, easy to talk to, and fun. I was a little worried because you never know what you’re going to get when a whole bunch of women who don’t know each other get together, but everyone was really sweet. It made me realize once again how many people there are in this world and how my own personal world can be enriched by meeting these people. There was a time when I actually said, “I don’t need anymore friends, I have enough”. That was probably one of the most naive things to ever come out of my mouth. I know now that the way I grow and evolve is through meeting people and learning from them. Sometimes one person you let in can change the course of your life for the better. Imagine if you didn’t have the time for them.

I digress.

Two hours into the workshop, with a scissor blister, a small glue gun injury, and burlap all over my shirt I had my wreath. If I do say so myself I think it turned out great!



When John saw it he said it looked like a hippie wreath! I love it! Love the different perspective. I guess with the burlap and the clashes of patterns and colours it is pretty bohemian. Smart guy.

I don’t have a place for my hippie wreath yet. I’m thinking it would be a nice splash of colour in the baby’s room once we get that together. If I keep this crafting up there may not be room for the baby in the baby’s room by the time May 30th rolls around. Okay, maybe that’s an ambitious thought. Ha ha!

Why?


February 3rd, 2010

Why? Why would super, supermodel Gisele Bündchen go and say that giving birth wasn’t painful?! Why would she do that to all of us non-supermodel women? In a recent interview Gisele spoke about her experience giving birth saying, "It wasn't painful, not even a little bit. The whole time, my head was so focused . . . every contraction, the baby is closer, the baby is closer. So, it wasn't like, 'Oh, what pain.' It was, 'With every contraction, he is getting closer to me.'" If you’re thinking that she was obviously doped up on drugs to feel so good think again! She did it drug-free. She said, "I wanted to be conscious and present for what was happening. I didn't want to be anesthetized. I wanted to feel."

Now I have every intention of focusing as hard as I can on delivering this baby boy of mine safely and with as little self-inflicted pain as possible, but seriously. NO PAIN? Come on Gisele! Isn’t that… impossible?!

And just when you think it couldn’t get any worse she said she was back on her feet almost immediately, quote, "The second day, I was walking, I was washing dishes, I was making pancakes in the kitchen."

John, I love you, but I do not intend on doing dishes or cooking pancakes for us the day after giving birth. Gisele Bündchen… Supermodel or Superwoman?

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Countdown to the Babymoon is ON!


February 2nd, 2010

I just booked the flights for our babymoon! We’re going to be travelling to Los Angeles, California (I hope it’s sunny)! We’ll stay in L.A. for a few days and then rent a car and drive along the coast to San Francisco. This is a trip that I’ve wanted to do for a long time and I am so excited that John and I will be taking in the California coast for the first time together!

If I do say so myself I am due for a vacation. My last sunny holiday with my hunny was in March of 2008 when we went to Miami together. Wow, two years goes by quickly!

I love the idea of a babymoon; doesn’t it make sense to go on one last vacation with your partner before your lives are turned upside down forever?! I have a feeling that starting next summer our family vacations will be shorter and closer to home, which is totally cool, but all the more reason to splurge on an awesome trip now! Ha ha! I’m such a woman, already justifying all the money I’m about to spend on myself!