Lilacs in bloom.
Runner up: the woods-- I know it is vague, but the general mixture of soil, bark, leaves, and moist air that greets you as you enter a wooded path is very relaxing.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
Sunday, January 10, 2010
(Slightly) Fashion-forward
I have never been an impeccable dresser, if only because I did not grow up with an inexhaustible source of funds and, now, see no reason to burn through savings and investments in the name of vanity. Nevertheless, I have always enjoyed clothing and accessories. I think that they tell a bit of a story and I am a believer in first-impressions, which often rely at least somewhat on appearance. I also think that clothing, in ways both tactile and visual, has the potential to inspire particular feelings of confidence, comfort, membership, and even well-being. Most of the positive emotions and pleasures of clothing stem from how well or poorly the items fit the wearer. If you like a loose pant, for instance, you're bound to feel happier in a roomy pair of jeans than you would in tight leggings and a skirt. I happen to feel best in clothing that fits well against my body and I try to accentuate the areas I'm happy with and downplay those I'd rather not highlight. This certainly isn't rocket science, and I'm sure that many people do the same.
But, what happens during the second half of pregnancy (or the whole nine to ten months, if you happen to experience weight gain earlier)? I don't feel like myself in loose clothing; it actually reminds me of being sick and wearing pajamas during the day. I have never owned sweatpants and I have not worn a baggy t-shirt in daily life since my pals and I went through the "let's wear athletic clothing all the time" phase in sixth grade. My current clothing still fits, but the tops are increasingly ill-fitting on my growing abdomen. I end up looking like a person who ate a large lunch rather than one who is heading into her eighteenth week of pregnancy.
The best solution is to wear actual maternity shirts that were designed specifically for pregnant bodies; that is, they are a bit longer in the torso and often have more stretch in the fabric. Good maternity stores are not easy to come by and it can be difficult to justify spending hundreds of dollars on clothing you'll wear for just a few months. I compromised and purchased a few nice pieces when I was expecting Evelyn because I knew that we planned to have at least one more child after her birth and I could wear the clothes again. I also have sisters and friends who I'll be happy to share clothes with if they should need them. This time around, however, I find the search for a few stylish maternity items to be much harder. My favorite maternity shop went out of business and the others leave much to be desired unless you hunt through every single rack-- not easy to do with a toddler running through the store! Sure, I could wear a big long-sleeved t-shirt and call it a day, but I would not feel "put together." Life with a tot can be unpredictable to say the least and I am not my own first priority, but I can allow myself a few tiny "luxuries" here and there and dressing (somewhat) well is one of them!
But, what happens during the second half of pregnancy (or the whole nine to ten months, if you happen to experience weight gain earlier)? I don't feel like myself in loose clothing; it actually reminds me of being sick and wearing pajamas during the day. I have never owned sweatpants and I have not worn a baggy t-shirt in daily life since my pals and I went through the "let's wear athletic clothing all the time" phase in sixth grade. My current clothing still fits, but the tops are increasingly ill-fitting on my growing abdomen. I end up looking like a person who ate a large lunch rather than one who is heading into her eighteenth week of pregnancy.
The best solution is to wear actual maternity shirts that were designed specifically for pregnant bodies; that is, they are a bit longer in the torso and often have more stretch in the fabric. Good maternity stores are not easy to come by and it can be difficult to justify spending hundreds of dollars on clothing you'll wear for just a few months. I compromised and purchased a few nice pieces when I was expecting Evelyn because I knew that we planned to have at least one more child after her birth and I could wear the clothes again. I also have sisters and friends who I'll be happy to share clothes with if they should need them. This time around, however, I find the search for a few stylish maternity items to be much harder. My favorite maternity shop went out of business and the others leave much to be desired unless you hunt through every single rack-- not easy to do with a toddler running through the store! Sure, I could wear a big long-sleeved t-shirt and call it a day, but I would not feel "put together." Life with a tot can be unpredictable to say the least and I am not my own first priority, but I can allow myself a few tiny "luxuries" here and there and dressing (somewhat) well is one of them!
Saturday, January 9, 2010
A Snipit: Big Girl!
Woo! Evie asked to sit on the potty (the regular toilet) tonight so that she could *go number one and then she did a little. She is only 18 months and we plan to follow her lead on learning to use the potty; I'm sure we're nowhere near full-time potty learning, but I like that she took the initiative!
Friday, January 8, 2010
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Just put one foot in front of the other
It's been a while since I've written about our house. This lapse in coverage, so to speak, is largely due to the fact that I have been scheming and planning project after project and we just never had a chance to get to any of them (here is where I mumble something about pregnancy, a busy toddler, and other commitments). Ironically, Chris and I have also had quite a few conversations about how much fun it would be to undertake a joint project. I know, I just used the word "fun" in reference to a husband and wife home-improvement project, but we're still relative newly weds so let's allow this one to slide. Fast-forward through Christmas and New Year's Day and there we were in Home Depot, loading our cart with new light fixtures and paint for the entrance and hallway.
I have been envisioning a cosmetic overhaul for the hallway and front two bedrooms since we moved in. We already painted and redecorated our master bedroom, and our kitchen (which is a big open room that includes our family room). The bathrooms are waiting patiently for my Dad's help since neither Chris nor I have tinkered with humongous cabinets, bathroom sinks, vanity lighting and the likes. The grand plan involves removing the old carpeting and extending hardwood floors into that segment of the house (unless I can find some great allergen-free, chemical-free carpet to put down in its place). We also plan to replace the bedroom and closet doors and repaint the trim and possibly add crown molding.
My head begins to spin just thinking about accomplishing these tasks while Evie teeters on a ladder somewhere or trips over rolled-up carpets. Nonetheless, in our big-picture thinker meets one-action-item-at-a-time thinker manner, we miraculously agreed that 2010 would be a year for doing, even if it is just one step at a time. Also, those home depot gift cards from our parents certainly didn't hurt! We can't make our first house into our hands-down dream house in just one shot, but we can continue to work toward that goal.
On an unrelated note, I can feel the tiny movements of baby-on-board and I can't believe I'd already forgotten how absolutely amazing it is.
I have been envisioning a cosmetic overhaul for the hallway and front two bedrooms since we moved in. We already painted and redecorated our master bedroom, and our kitchen (which is a big open room that includes our family room). The bathrooms are waiting patiently for my Dad's help since neither Chris nor I have tinkered with humongous cabinets, bathroom sinks, vanity lighting and the likes. The grand plan involves removing the old carpeting and extending hardwood floors into that segment of the house (unless I can find some great allergen-free, chemical-free carpet to put down in its place). We also plan to replace the bedroom and closet doors and repaint the trim and possibly add crown molding.
My head begins to spin just thinking about accomplishing these tasks while Evie teeters on a ladder somewhere or trips over rolled-up carpets. Nonetheless, in our big-picture thinker meets one-action-item-at-a-time thinker manner, we miraculously agreed that 2010 would be a year for doing, even if it is just one step at a time. Also, those home depot gift cards from our parents certainly didn't hurt! We can't make our first house into our hands-down dream house in just one shot, but we can continue to work toward that goal.
On an unrelated note, I can feel the tiny movements of baby-on-board and I can't believe I'd already forgotten how absolutely amazing it is.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Sick Bay
I have a number of little ditties waiting to be dolled up and posted but Evie and I are down for the count right now. My poor tot has a lingering 102 degree fever and a lot of congestion so no one is getting much (any) sleep. The only comfort I've been able to really provide her is nursing -- except for some distractions here and there (music, drawing, trains-- but only for ten minutes or so at a time). I don't even want to think about how miserable she would be if she wasn't nursing. She doesn't have any appetite or interest in water or even juice (a rare treat in our house), so I don't know how I'd keep her hydrated. Moral of the story: yay for nursing toddlers! boo for horrible viruses!
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