A Martini Always Helps

This was so fun, I thought I would copy it ;-) Single+Cats=Sad gave me this great blog idea for a Fun Friday!

Considering this is the last day of NaBloPoMo (I am almost sad to see it go... ALMOST) I thought I would do something fun!

Rules: You must type the answer to each question into a Google Image search, then pick an image from the first page of results.

1. Age at Next Birthday: 27

2. Place I would like to travel: Italia (I have been, but it would be nice to go back with hubs)

3. My favorite place: Rome! (everytime I have gone, there has been someone getting married so I thought this was apropriate!)

4. My favorite objects: Furla purses and accessories

5. My favorite food: Spinach... weird I know!

6. My favorite color: Pink :)

7. My nickname: Drea (like Matteo, but I am certianly not that pretty or tall...love her!)

8. The place I was born: Reston, VA



9. Ideal Date: The opera and a good bottle of wine

10. Where you hope to be in 5 years: 1 child and twin girls. Living financially comfortably in a beautiful house with hubs. (1 down, twins to go)

Hope you all had a wonderful NaBloPoMo!

Diaper Dude

I have to admit, as NaBloPoMo progresses... my blogs are getting more and more random by the hour. Not that I write a blog every hour, but you catch my drift.

A couple of things.

Yesterday, I ran into a very old friend. It was SO awesome to see her! She just had a baby boy (7mnths) his name is Cannon. SO CUTE! And quite large. (25lbs, and 34 inches long... I am like WHAH?) Anyhoo, she told me about the coolest sites. 1. Diaper Dude - ok folks, I consider myself a stylish person (I feel weird saying that, because I know deep down inside I am such a dork that just buys nice clothes) simply because I have always had my "own" sense of fashion. Nothing too flashy, mostly classic and basic colors. So I have been looking for Diaper bags, and I want something no one has, but I want to be practical too. I don't want some Juicy Couture fuzzy white bag, that my child is going to puke on once, and poof... RUINED! I swear, I know someone who had that problem! But, I also want something my hubs can be proud carrying. He is a pretty versatile man... I have put him in many a pink shirts (looks great with his complexion) and he wears it with a smile! So then, she tells me about this site and TA-DA! this is where I will be purchasing the D Bag... and folks check out the prices... CHEAPPY CHEAPPY. Yippee!

2. She also told me about this amazing place where all the celebs design their nursery's, Posh Tots. If I have a boy, I am totally copying this room. Not gonna spend $500 on a lamp (are you kidding with that??) but totally going to copy what I can!

3. All you "Christmas Procastinator's" (as Julie Q put it so kindly ;-) Apparently you are unaware that I have begun to work Part Time for the first time in my LIFE! I have never had this much time to do... Stuff! Hence the reason for the tree, Christmas cards, wrapped presents and so forth. Also, my hubs travels, a lot, and I have lots o spare time to sit and be with the tree and the presents. so don't feel bad my dear bloggy friends. As someone pointed out yesterday, it isn't even December! Just know that I am bored out of my wits here in Texas and need stuff to do!! I have WAY too much energy to sit on my bum and sleep!

If you have any suggestions of fun, cheap, time consuming stuff... that I can do solo and not look like a goober (no movies please) feel free to suggest them. I am dyin' over herah!

Ciao for Now!

Wordless Wednesday...

This is what I look like after blogging too much!

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Folks, this could be the best Christmas ever! My Christmas cards have already been sent, we got solar screens yesterday (as an early present from the in-laws) and I wrapped all my gifts :) I wish Christmas was this week. I am ready steady!!

Music

So I was reading this funny blog at footsteps in the sand and it was a Meme about putting your IPOD on shuffle and answering questions. Quite humorous!!

So I was thinking, I am always talking about singing, but no one has ever heard this amazing song that my hubs and I wrote one Sunday Morning. And my hubs is TOTALLY singing background... hee hee.

I can't figure out how to upload the thing, but here is the link. http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=55917159

Anyhoo, just being weird, and strangely sentimental. So I thought I would share this with you.

Tell me what you think? Obviously it is not finished. There is only an acoustic guitar, no drums or bass :)

P.S. I think I felt the baby move today. It felt like if you were watching a glass of San Pelligrino and you see the bubbles float to the top. That is kind of what it gelt like? I hope that is it? Otherwise, I must have some very strange gas?!*?

Giving Biscuts

So everyday I come upstairs to work in my office. I shut the door and procceed to work for the half the day. At least half the day my cat Basil (aka Fatty McFatterson) meows at my door, wanting in, only to lay directly on my desk and papers. I allow it, just because I love him so.

Well, today was the most beautiful thing. Normally he just lays there... waiting for me to scratch his chin or give him kisses, but not today. Today he snuggled up to my knee and put his hands on my stomach and started giving biscuts. I know your thinking... giving biscuts?? What the heck is that? Well folks, my hubs has had cats all his life, and when a baby cat reaches up to his momma to get milk he has to knead the teet so the milk squirts out.

When my hubs was a baby, his mother said knead and all he knew was that you kneaded biscuts, so he calls it giving biscuts. Today my baby Basil, said hello to my baby in the tummy by giving biscuts. I think they are gonna get along just fine!! *Sigh*

3 Things Today (and a damn good laugh!)

1. I am 18 weeks pregnant!!! Considering what happened last time, I never thought I would get to this point! Seriously, I wake up every morning checking to make sure my beautiful baby is still with me, and of course, the 6lb bump is still there, growing every day.
This week from head to bottom, your baby is approximately 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and she weighs almost 7 ounces. She's busy flexing her arms and legs — movements that you'll likely start noticing more and more. Her blood vessels are visible through her thin skin and her ears are now in position and stand out from her head. Myelin (a protective covering) is beginning to form around her nerves, a process that will continue for a year after she's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and Fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If your baby is a boy, his genitals are noticeable, though he may hide them from you during an ultrasound

2. I will be the first to tell you, the G-Men officially suck! I am appaled at Eli's perfomance yesterday, not to mention Shockey, Burress and the rest of 'em. I was so ticked I was actually rooting for the Eagles last night JUST so someone could finally beat the damn pats. Brady... you make me sick. Love the name! Not a fan of the person! Not to mention that puts the damn cowgirls in an even better spot, because the Giants failed misserably, the Redskins lost AND the Eagles lost. I think the dang cowgirls already sealed up the playoffs. :p (that is me with my tongue out in disgust!)

3. I would also like to say, you advertisers.... you know that more than MEN watch Football. I understand I am somewhat of an an anomaly - in terms that I actually love football, would watch it over any other sport, know most of the players and really care about the stats. Yes I know, I am very weird! Here is the thing though, I don't care about freaking cars, beer, fast food or most anything else you try to sell during Football games. But I have to say, even though I have Tivo and have the option of fast fowarding... it just isn't the same unless your watching it live. So yesterday I stumbled across this INCREDIBLE commercial. Again, hate the car, but if this doesn't get your attention and make you laugh, you need some more coffee this morning.

The G-Men

Well folks, right now, the G-Men are losing horribly to the Minnesota Vikings. Eli has already thrown 2 picks and we aren't even at half time. Not only is it cold and raining, and I haven't gotten out all day, my dog is feeling just as depressed as I am.

Sleep Eludes Me...

And it is totally pissing me off! Sleep was my best friend in my first trimester. Really, it was all I ever wanted to do. Now that the second trimester (I am 18 weeks today ... woo woo!) is here and in full gear. I want to go to bed at like 8pm and then I wake up at 6 :( Blugh! I want to sleep until at least 9 on my days off.

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Oh! I have posted pics of my turkey and the amazing recipe, seriously if you make turkey for Christmas... you NEED this recipe. Check it out!!

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Anyhoo. So yesterday, the hubs and I headed out for some final Christmas shopping. Oh you heard me right folks. I only have 3 more people to shop for. Halleluah, halleluah!!! But, somehow, instead of getting the final 3 gifts, we ended up seeing my grandmother-in-law, and watching No country for old Men. I went off of a fellow blogger's recommendation and tried to ignore the violence because the plot was so awesome. Hmmm, don't know if you can really ignore the violence with that movie (one part, I seriously almost hurled in my popcorn) but the plot was incredible!! It was such an artsy movie, with its color and direction. Plus the camera angles were just amazing. I think, from a person who rarely watches movies, it was a good movie, if you really can get past the violence.

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Also, on a very exciting note. Every person I saw yesterday said I finally looked pregnant. And I didn't even have to wear a tight shirt to show off the 5lbs. I don't know if it was all the turkey we ate or even pecan pie? All I know is that it seems overnight, my belly has popped and I am finally showing. The picture above is of Thanksgiving and our Turkey. Tell me what you think? Am I looking preggo yet? And if you don't know the story of the maternity mayhem, feel free to read.

P.S. The picture up top is also a pic with my extensions in! Tell me what you think??

NaBloPoMo and a Black Friday

These are just a few of my collection :)

I was on such a roll....

and then I missed one day of NaBloPoMo :( *one tear*

I think that getting up at 4:30am on Thanksgiving, sticking my hand in a turkey by 6:30am and not sitting down until 8:45pm... I was just whooped!!

Not to mention yesterday I woke up at 7am, got all my snowglobes out (I collect them, and get one every Christmas) and set up my tree. Needless to say at 8:20pm I was out like a light on the couch :)

Hope you all had fun shopping and had a wonderful day. It is about 35 degrees and raining here, in good ole Texas! I am totally going to vedge today and just relax! Tell me what you did for your day after Thanksgiving??

PS: Julie I am posting Turkey pics as soon as I get them from my rents ;-)

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Here's wishing you and your family a very merry thanksgiving. May you eat a feast, savor the flavors and enjoy all who you dine with.

Today I am thankful for many things

1. I am very thankful for my hubs and new baby on the way
2. I am very thankful for my family and in-laws
3. I am very thankful for my animals. Mochachino (my chihuahuah) Basil, (My fat cat aka Fatty Mc Fatterson) and Sammy (my skinny, playful cat aka Sammer Bammer)
4. I am very thankful for my friends and Bloggin Buddies (all of you mean more than you know!)
5. And finally I am thankful for all the possessions God has given to us.

May God bless you, so that you will be safe on your journey!

Wordless Wednesday

Blogger is being a bitch right now and will not let me upload photos. I will post more pics of the hair as soon as Blogger gets their act together :) Happy Turkey day if I don't see any of you :)

I will be posting pics (on Friday) of the dinner that my hubs and I are preparing. Eek. Say a prayer! hee hee

The Bachelor

Ok, so I just caught up on the Bachelor finale on my tivo and WTF??!*#@??

How could he not chose either?? what is going on?? I kept waiting for him to tell Deanna to go away and then call Jenny back and she would come running back up the stairs with half make-up on and half off. Then he would pick her up and spin her and she would laugh, but be ugly because of her eye makeup ; -)

Hubs and I just kept sitting there like goobers staring at the screen. Tonight is the "After the Rose episode" and you betchyourass I'll be tuning in!

Seriously, did anyone else watch this??

Rapunzel let your hair down...

Wee hee! Got the extension in and I am looking like one hot momma!! It is down to my bra strap and they are curly. Not to mention the curl actually matches up to my natural curl pretty damn well!

The only draw back is that I don't think I am going to be able to straighten my hair... simply because of the extensions. When you run your fingers through your hair they have a possibility of getting caught on the "balls" at your hairline. So it is difficult to flat iron and dry and brush through!

I still love them, and my hubs thinks they are hella sexy. I'm bringing sexy back... UGH! Them other girl don't know where its at... UGH! Sing along...

17 weeks pregnant!!

Went and saw the OB this morning. He got my weight... I have gained a total of 5lbs (right on track for 1lb a week) and we listened to the baby's heartbeat. It is a fantastic 140 beats per minute!! I am supposed to gain 1lb a week from now until the baby is born. Yippee! I was really concerned I hadn't gained enough, cuz everyone says they can't tell I am preggo. Except my daddy did tell me I looked preggo last night... which made me smile :D

As for 17 weeks... this is what is happening!
Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and he's around 5 inches long. The umbilical cord, his lifeline to the placenta, is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby can move his joints, and his skeleton — until now, rubbery cartilage — is starting to harden into bone. Some of it will remain cartilage for years after he's born. A newborn's skeleton has 300 parts (a combination of bone and cartilage). As your child grows, some of these parts harden and fuse together. By the time your baby reaches adulthood, he'll have just 206 bones.

On a different note... I get my hair extensions today. YAY! I cannot contain my excitement! I am so excited! I will post pics tomorrow. Got a ton of stuff to do today. Found more mom pics last night (they make me want to cry they are so freaking cute!) So I am off to work more on the project :)

Ciao for now!

Clean Closets and French Fries!!

Ok folks, the french fry furry is still with me! I can't stop it. I dream of french fries! My mouth waters when I just think of those salty little things. MMMMmmmm. The best is at Bennigan's when you get a turkey o'toole and you dip all the french fry goodness into the honey mustard. OH GOD! I have become a fast food whore! I never eat fast food. Everytime I would drive, by I would cringe. And if I WAS in the mood, I would never allow myself to super size or whatever they call it. No mayonaisse and no bread. Now, as my pregnancy progresses all I think about, want, and eat, are french fries.

It has gotten so serious I asked my doc and he said fried potatoes have more potassium than OJ, Bannanas, and Avacado's... I could be craving Potassium. So instead of allowing myself to have an excuse to scarf a biggie size Fry. I went out, got some potassium pils, and waited! Nothing! I still want french fries as much as I did before I started taking them. I weighed under 100lbs before I got preggo, so the doc said 20-25lbs during this pregnancy should be fine. I think I may have gained 10lbs, and I am halfway to my 5th month. I don't know what to do?? The leg cramps are still there?? My friend says I need to eat calcium, but I drink soy (I am lactose intollerant) and I eat tons of spinach... eek. The french fry frenzy is out of control.

On a slightly lighter note. I watched Oprah yesterday (yes, I am obsessed) and she had this show on hoarders. Now, I am far from a hoarder, but I did have the occasional dirty closet. Well, not anymore folks! Yesterday, I went on a cleaning and purging frenzy!!! I cleaned every closet in the house, got my hubs to finally start cleaning his office and we made our second bath upstairs beautisimal!! You know just in case we have a drunk guest on Turkey day that needs to stay over ;-) Aaaahhh. I love having a very clean house!

Love Letters

So I was catching up on my Oprah's and I saw this show about the greatest love story ever told. Now... the first story they started off with about the guy in the concentration camp *holding back tears* really was just amazing. It could have been one of the greatest love stories ever
told!



So there was this other story about this woman and man who had written each other love letters for 27 years. They said there were 3 components

1. How I feel today...
2. I love you because...
3. A question of the day... such as "How do I feel when you're sick? How do I feel when you're short with the children? How do I feel when you do something special for me?"

What was also said on the show, was somedays they were mad at each other, some days they didn't speak except for giving each other a love letter. The wife would write... I love you today. Because, that day, it was a choice to love him. Nothing just came out.

She said it takes only 5 minutes and they write it before they go to bed (in a spiral notebook) and then they swap... sometimes not saying a word, other times embracing.

I thought, since I am commited to NaBloPoMo... I should commit to my marriage and attempt to write a love letter a day, to my adoring, wonderful, devoted hubs!

What is your love secret? Date night away from the kids?? Love texts? Telling the person, simply, that you love them? Or something new and inventive? Share with the rest of us!

Yippeee... I got tagged

D-Blogged has been kind enough to tag me for a meme - woopie! Seriously, just the other day I was thinking how cool it would be for some random blogger friend to tag me, and there you go... prayer answered. YES!

So I guess the rules are I have to name 7 random things about myself, that most people don't know. Which, now that I think about it, is going to be kinda hard, because I am sort of an open book. I think most people know pretty much everything about me???

Then I have to tag 7 more bloggers and leave a comment to let 'em know.

First and foremost - 7 random things:

1. I studied French and Italian opera for 9 years of my life. that is how I learned to sing.

2. I learned to count in French before English and I only studied French in school, even though I am, OBVIOUSLY, Italian

3. I speak no Italian. I only know the cusswords they use in NY.

4. I was born in VA, not NY. Right outside of Washington DC actually, but I graduated highschool in CO.

5. I was a gymnast for most of my life.

6. I am only 5" tall. Nothing more, nothing less.


7. I have wanted to move to Italy since I was 5yrs old. I almost bought a run down olive oil mill in Tuscany (before we bought this house) but somehow it didn't work *one tear*



That was probably pretty boring to read, but hey, that is me. Boring and as Elysa would say, bizarre ;)



OK... onto 7 people I want to tag...

1. Elysa at genpink - she was my first blogging friend and the one that got me addicted. I owe it all to you E!!

2. At Home in Rome - one my serious fav's. I am so jealous of her Roman lifestyle

3. Sassy at eye heart internet - freaking hysterical!

4. Nanette at Say it, Don't Spray it

5. Tina Vaziri at the Adventures of Tina and Mr Bee. Hysterical and amazing illustrations, plus she is a fellow Texan ;-)

6. Sognatrice at Bleeding Espresso - nothing but Italian love!

7. CDP at tortious - truly touching!

I'm off to tag my picks. Enjoy the reads. they are great!

Oooohhh... I want a girl!!

Just so I can make this nursery. Black, White and Pink. Saw it on the Oprah show. LOVE IT!! It is SO contemporary, but not too much, plus you could totally transform it to pale blue for a boy, when we have one of those! I can't get enough of it. Plus, I get to buy all white furniture, which I am partial to! Love the softness of the white furniture with the strength of the black! Plus it totally works in the room!

Fabulous Friday!

Man, I love Fridays! My hubsband is OFFICIALLY a genius. He got the dishwasher to work AND we have nice clean dishes for breakfast and lunch *heart beating rapidly*

Last night he made me organic cheese Ravioli... mmm! after my "ordeal" at the hair dressers. Not to mention this morning my soy coffee has been brought upstairs to my office, piping hot with a smile on his face. Is this guy the best or what??

OH! and a long, long, time ago, for a Christmas present or something or other, my hubs bought me this amazing Furla (If your not sure what a Furla is...they make these amazing Italian purses, and I think the designer is associated wtih Mui Mui.) Anyhoo, I walked in my closet yeterday to scope out the purse rack, (I have quite a collection over the years) and low and behold, there is was, the beautiful tan and red Furla, smiling at me to pick it up and wear it!

I grabbed it, threw on a tight cream cable knit turtle neck (showing off the 4 month bump proudly,) jeans, brown boots, a preggo jean jacket from Gap (like this but long sleeves and dark denim) and headed to my hair apt. The day couldn't have been nicer! Not to mention this morning with the best husband in the world!!

Folks... we could have lift off!

So... as we now have 3 parts for the dishwasher and the laziest warrenty company in the world to fix it, my hubs has decided to be "handy man Dave" and fix the thing. Hopefully it works, cuz Lord knows I ain't scrubbin one more damn dish! I will write back tomorrow to let you know if the dishes have been succesfully washed :)

On a complete other note, I got step 1 done for the hair extensions. I got my hair colored. A little backstory: I went in 6 wks ago to get it an auburn brownish color, but somehow it turned out dark, dark brown?? Then I go in today, pick the color (out of a swatch) that matches the hair extension and my hair dresser heads in the back room to mix it. She comes out, apply's, and we wait. When she takes the color off, it is a brownish goldish weird color. NOTHING like what the swatch of hair extension looks like, or even the color that she applied for that matter. We sit and think and then she apply's a different brand of color. Just as I am sitting with option #2 on my head, this woman sitting in the next seat says "When I was pregnant my hair wouldn't take the vibrancy of the color. It would only take the undertone." So we check the hair and Fata (nothing!) Madone! I am thinking what the hell... not only is pregnancy making me one ugly Italian but now I am gonna have ugly hair?? OH hell no! So then she thinks, lets bleach the top and the red will take better (b/c it is bleached) and we'll go from there. We don't really have to worry about the bottom half as much because in a couple of days it will be fixed with extensions.

Finally, the blonde takes and she dies it red... really freaking red! I wait and she washes it, for like the 10th time. By this time my head is raw, and my hair is REALLY red. I just have to sit back and laugh because I know it wasn't her fault, but my hormones were really F*ing with her!

So as of now, I have a top half of my head the is REALLY red and a bottom half that is half browish redish goldish.

Not to mention the timeline of this hairtastrophy

1:00 - arrive for apt

1:45 - wash out color

2:30 - apply golidsh browish color

3:45 - bleach top half

4:30 - test pieces of blonde with three different reds/browns/golds

5:15 - add REALLY red

5:45 - wash and dry

6:00 - flat iron and walk out of their

6:25 - walk in the door

;-)

I get the extensions on Monday and I will be sure to post with pics! Hopefully it goes better than today. Say a prayer to the hair Gods!

*Disclamer for all you weird preggo people that think you can't die your hair. We are using organic hair dye. My stylist is pregnant and I am pregnant, so I know she wouldn't use anything on my hair to "possibly" screw with the bambina.

Coincidence... I think NOT!

Ok, so we all know yesterday was a doozie! The ups and downs, nursery planning and all sorts! However, as the day went on... it just kept getting crazier and crazier.

As you ALL know by now my dishwasher is still broken and it is *officially* driving me bonkers! I can't do any more dishes by hand, unless you want me to hurl. So the warrently company came out last Thursday, told us they had to order a part, ordered it and left. They said it takes 3-5 business days to order... BLAH!
So we wait and FINALLY yesterday the beautiful part comes via Fed EX. My hubs tries to install it himself (because the warrently company couldn't come BACK until today) and notices the whole thing is broken. Are you freaking kidding with this? Thanksgiving is NEXT week and I could possibly not have a dishwasher ? *huge gasp!* So we call them, do a little bitching and voila it will be overnighted here and get here, maybe Thursday, but probably Friday (it was late in the day when it was ordered.)
Anyhoo, as hubs and I are working upstairs there is another doorbell (probably like at 5pm) so my chihuahua goes crazy and we go downstairs. To our AMAZEMENT there is another dishwasher part sitting at our doorstep. We kind of give each other a WTF?? glare and open the box. BRAND SPANKIN NEW! OH YEAH! So we call the warrenty place... again. They should be out today... sing it with me... HALLELUAH, HALLELUAH...

So then, as you all know, I am a recruiter. I recruit RN's, so any RN's out there in the states neeeding a job, I am here for you. Send me an email and I can hook you up! I work all over the country.
Anyway, I am talking to this gal, lets call her MM (and in my business we go only by word of mouth referrals) and she says she was busy but she wanted to talk, call her back at 4pm. (Code Word, I am in front of my boss right now... call me later so I can really talk to you!) I say sure and plop it on the calendar.
Then I start talking to this other gal and she starts giving me names of people that would qualify for the job. Then she says call MM, so I think, it can't be the same MM, I am working in 5 states. So I write down her number and her company and go on with my day. 4pm rolls around and I glance at the calendar, it says call MM. I look at the company and the name of the person and I am astounded. Not only does MM want to chat, but she was highly recommended. Coincidence... I think not!!

Seriously, was it a full moon yesterday? Did anyone else have any bizarre things happen??

Pregnancy Ups and Downs

I know they say pregnancy throws you curve balls, but this is a bit ridiculous! Today I was SO excited about looking at nursery ideas... I am talking, SO excited.
Then I watched Oprah and saw this amazing black, white, and pink nursery... ADORABLE. Then, for no reason at all, I started crying... which is NOT like me at all!

I start crying and thinking about everything, and anything. So I cry, and think... no big deal, just a good cry right??

Well, then I get this email that says check out this guys photography, Jared Ray Photogrophy, so I do, and I start crying again. How weird?? I see this beautiful gal and her hubs with their soon to be born baby and it puts me in this sad, crying spiral.

Don't know how many of you know this, but in June I ended up looking like this




after my near death experience (and I am warning you... if you are not in the mood for some drama, don't even bother reading) and now I look like this...

but slightly more preggo.

I guess the crying was about seeing that beautiful girls, unscarred stomach and I just realized I won't be getting any of those photos. Ok... enough crying. I really don't think I have any left.

Nursery Ideas??

My mother-in-law keeps asking about baby furniture and baby stuff. She wants to do some shopping over Thanksgiving, but I don't even know what I am having. I found some stuff on the internet that I thought looked cute

Tell me which one is your favorite or some great ideas for nursery's.

Don't worry about the size of the room, fortunately, the nursery is going to be a room that is 14x13. I am thinking oversized furniture would be better... what do you think?

Wordless Wednesday

There secretly love each other... well maybe they just love the blanket!

Love/Hate

Thoughts of Nothingness
Love: that I am doing this project for my mom and I get to look at old pictures

(some of my fav's are above)

Hate: that I am stressing about the Thanksgiving menu
Love: that the maid came yesterday and I have a beautiful clean house!
Hate: that my dishwasher is still broken and that the part is no where in sight
Love: that in 2 days I get to change my hair color
Hate: that the total cost is going to be outragious!
Love: that I only work until noon 5 days a week
Hate: that my hair is only half curly
Love: that it is almost a holiday where family's can get together and eat... mmm... food!

Monday News...

4 Months Pregnant!
At 4 1/2 inches long (head to bottom) and 3 1/2 ounces, your baby is about the size of an avocado (last week it was the size of an apple, so here is my thought. Where are you buying produce, cuz down here in Texas the apples are a hell of a lot bigger than the avacados?) In the next three weeks, she'll go through a tremendous growth spurt, though, doubling her weight and adding inches to her length (I am supposed to gain 14lbs this trimester... eeeks!) Her lower limbs are much more developed now. Her head is more erect than it has been, and her eyes have moved toward the front of her head. Your baby's ears are close to their final position, too. Some of her more advanced body systems are working, including her circulatory system and urinary tract. Her heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, circulating her total blood volume through her body many times. (By the end of your pregnancy, this will increase to about 190 quarts.) The patterning of her scalp has begun, though her hair isn't recognizable yet. Although closed, her eyes are moving (slowly), and she's even started growing toenails.

On a side note... my family has this old wives tale where you take your engagement ring (whichever one has the diamond) and you put it on a string and hold it above the belly. Somehow it either moves back and forth (in a line) for a boy or in a circle for a girl. Last night my hubs and I did it and it went in an unmistakable circle... woo hoo! I really hope I have a girl. My best friend has one and it is just so much fun!
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I start the new job today. To be honest I am excited to start doing something I love again, instead of just "getting paid." But I know it will be a ton of work. So here goes :)
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The freaking dishwasher is STILL broken. They are shipping the part to our house, so it will hopefully be here Wed or Fri, at the very latest. But, I swear, if we don't have a dishwasher by Thanksgiving I am seriously gonna cry.
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Thanksgiving is a week from this Thursday... eeks! I really want to put up my tree Wed cuz I am off but is that too early??? What do you think. I have heard it goes up Thanksgiving day and has to come down by New Years? What is your tradition?

The NY Football Giants...

All I am gonna say is we should have lost that game by the way we played the 2nd half. Frickin Chris Snee (who happens to be FREAKING Tom "turn your head and" Couglin's son-in-law) pretty much lossed the game.
Not only did we run back the ball 84 yards, score a touchdown, only to get some holding call on some other Giant but THEN Chris Snee jumps in and holds just as we score the touchdown for the SECOND time. UGH! Then freaking ELi... can you believe this guy... 3 (yes, that is NOT a misprint) 3 delay of game penalties just to top it off.

PITIFUL! My freaking G-men were pitiful in the second half. Go get 'em boys, you deserved to win!

Are you Ready for some Football

Today at 3:15pm CST the G-Men take on the Dallas Cowboys

Let the Trash Talking Begin!!

Tomorrow at 3pm CST the NY Giants take on the Dallas Cowboys

Considering I am in Dallas, but originally from NY, there is a deep rivalry that happens in the fam. Even though both my parents grew up in NY (both originally JETS fans) and we didn't move here until I was 9, they have become traitors and have now begun rooting for the Cowgirls. My husband, a born and bred Texas, has always been lead astray and has always rooted for the Cowgirls.

The trash talking started early this week between my dad and I and it went a little something like this...

Him: It will be a big week for the NFC East leading Boys v the G-Men. Let the trash talking begin.
Andrea, I put Bob in copy so you would have a little support when the ‘Boys take Manning, Plexi and Shockey to the back of the woodshed.

Me: Oh my dear Cowboys rooting friend… oh how you are so wrong!! Considering Mr. Romo was hanging out with none other than Britney Spears this past weekend, I would say the G-Men are on their way to victory!! If that is a not a lapse in judgment who the hell knows what is? He may just need to call Michael Vick to see when he, TO and Tank Johnston could all go out for a little “gang bangin’” Love Ya!!

Day 2 of Trash Talking
Me: Miss u daddy. Did u see my baby is the size of an apple. We need to do dinner sun. So I can watch ur face while the cowgirls get trampled :D

Him: Careful sweetie. You may have to eat sour grapes come Sunday. But I would love to watch it with you. I'll make a nice sausage and ham chili. LOL.

Just to give you the back story... my dad and I are so similar it is frightening sometimes. We have so much fun and we love to cook, but I hate sausage and ham. So everytime he cooks he alwyas seems to throw some pork scraps in there just to make me gag :) Love ya daddy!

Hot Pocket

So I read this blog called Pinch My Salt and this morning I stopped by to see what new recipes she had and Oh My God this was on there. Now I have never had a Hot Pocket but this was so funny, I thought I would share :)

Hair Extensions... here I come!!

Ever since I got pregnant all I can dream about are my new hair extensions. I haven't gotten them yet but I start the 2 week process this Thursday. You see, a while back I went to my hairdresser and asked for a pre blonde, Lindsey Lohan reddish brown aka


Now, my hair dresser is awesome and normally I get exactly what I want, but because I went from blondish brown to reddish brown this is what I somehow ended up with

This length and color, minus the bangs. Now hold on a sec there Gilligan, that is NOT what I wanted. She said it would fade and I played it off like it was good for the fall. But now, I am totally sick of it. I am Italian and normally very tan but with being pregnant, I guess I am in the house more or who knows what, cuz i am PASTY... and feeling a little like snow white, minus the strange dress and birds flying in windows.

So I head back to my stylist on Tuesday to show her how dark my hair is and to pick out (drum roll please) my extensions (you better be singing that word cuz I am... hell yeahh!) I show her the color I want her to buy and what style. You see, like I said I am full blooded Italian and I have really curly hair, but with this goofy hair style it looks even darker when I wear it curly so I am having to straighten it out everyday... gag me! So we pick this red (like Lindsay below) and curly.

So I go in on Tuesday to get it colored. Then I go in the following Monday (hello long hair for Thanksgiving) and get them put in. I am so excited and then I saw the pricetag. I almost fell over in my Dolce and Gabbana heels. $400 dollars, pretty much, just for the hair. EEKKK! My hubs was NOT happy. But they are ordered and I am getting long hair. No more fat preggo face for me ladies, I will be styling and looking like Lindsay sooner than I think.

I'll post a pic of the color on Thursday and of course pics to follow on Mon with the extensions.

Fighting... Bad!

Got in a fight with the hubs tonight. UGH! I hate fighting. I wish shit could just get burried and be burried forever, but unfortunately not with us. Somehow the shit always comes up like when strippers wrestle in mud. It gets over everyone and it isn't pretty, no matter which direction you look at it.

The other thing I hate when you get so mad, you get tired, which in turn makes you want to cry and sleep. Don't know if that is possible but I am at the sleeping crying phase right now. I don't want to talk to him because... well... just because. Fighting sucks and freaking solves nothing. I want to go to sleep but he is in the bedroom watching some obnoxious show with tons of people killing and dying.

UGH!

The BEST Cheap Music Site!

So my hubs found this amazing website, like a year ago. It is a Russian site to download music, and all the amounts are in Rubles (sp?), which in turn translates, to REALLY cheap for the dollar, Euro or Pound! Secret Russian Website. You can download pretty much anything! They have all types of music and to purchase a whole album is anywhere from $1 to $12. It is just awesome! Seriously, if you are a music download lover, you have got to check this out!

You can read more about an amazing artist that we found as well, Paul Potts on my hubs Blog.

Ok on a totally random note...
Did anyone see the finale of The Contender. OH MY GOD, seriously that was one of the best fights I have seen in a long time. I just recently got into to Boxing, because of the Contender, but now I am a bit of boxer addict. Anytime it is on ESPN I will watch it. It is a little harder to read when they don't slow mo, but this was a fight I would recommend watching.

Random Thoughts on a Wordless Wednesday!

Random things today that I just feel I need to get off my chest. So I totally jacked this from Confessions of a Jersey Girl

- My favorite fruit is Pommegranit (besides Grapefruit) so my hubs bought one for me and I ate it yesterday. Apparently the baby wasn't as excited because I could have sworn my peanut flipped me off in the womb

- Last night I ate Homemade Chicken Soup soup for dinner. I ate so much I had to get up and pee 3 times in my sleep

- I threw up in the shower

- My outfit is too big but somehow it works

- I am really tired even though I woke up at 6:18am raring to go!

- My dog pooped on a neighbors lawn today, but my hubs was right there with a plastic bag.

- I am so hungry I am daydreaming of food!

- I want a box of Saltines in my purse at all times but I have yet to accomplish this

- I have a weird sinus headache and need to give myself a netti pot
and just in case your wondering a netti pot is a small tea pot looking thing that you fill with warm water and salt (like sea water) and you stick up your nose and poor a stream of water into it until it comes out the other side in a solid stream. It cleans your sinus' and makes you look like an idiot but feels darn good when yoru done.

Wordless Wednesday

Bitty Baby Bump...

Well guys here it is. The bump you have all been waiting for ;-) This is my almost 4 month pregnant baby bump. I think I gained 5lbs or so pounds.

Maid Me!

My mom always said, "you should pay the money to get good quality makeup, simply because you can't hide your face. You should pay good money to get your hair done, because you can't hide your hair and you shouldn't waste precious time washing toilets, just because!"


There is my mom and me at my wedding!

My mom is probably one of the smartest women you will meet. She is brilliant and crazy at the same time! She graduated Magne Cum Laude from college, but it took her 10+ years, mostly due to me! This is why I think these statements are so funny, because most of the time she doesn't wear any makeup and she changes her hair color about as often as I do ;-) This is a woman that wakes up at 4:30 in the morning to swim with one arm, no arms or sometimes two arms, just because she can. This is also a woman that kayaks in her pool and only wants new and exciting gadgets for her Kayak for Christmas. Needless to say, she isn't your average mom, but she is my mom and she is a DAMN Smart MOM!

The reason I say this is because there are really one 3 things I spend serious money on... makeup, hair and you got it.. A MAID! Wee hee... I LOVE Maids!

My hubs and I moved into our house about a year ago and we didn't think we could afford a maid, but things have changed and money has been moved and HALLELUAH we are meeting with our maid today! I am so excited to not have to waste time cleaning floors and toilets and such! YAY for Maids!

My baby is 15 Weeks today! And some very random things.

Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds. Finally, if you have an ultrasound this week, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or a girl! (Don't be too disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down your baby's sex depends on the clarity of the picture and on your baby's position. He or she may be modestly curled up or turned in such a way as to "hide the goods.")

Just to let everyone know... I am not having an unltrasound this week, I think it is in 2 weeks or so, so calm your horses! We are very excited with this week. I think I may have gained 4 or 5lbs so I seem to be on target! So exciting!

On a totally seperate note...

My dishwasher broke yesterday - I seriously shed a tear. I may be coming into my domestic ways, but washing dishes, BY HAND, does NOT apply! Plus, it is the REALLY good kind. The kind, if you really want you don't have to really clean the dishes, you just put em in there and say deep clean and POOF! really clean dishes. Not to mention it is one that you can't hear! It is the quite, really awesome, sleek version. I am having to call our homeonwners but if they try and stick me with some goofy, white, crappy loud one I am gonna scream!

Then I had to go to a funeral yesterday. Just think, pregnant, hormonal, and I am headed to a funeral. Needless to say I had no eye makeup when the thing ended, even though it was absolutly beautiful and really made me appreciate her life! So, while getting ready for my funeral, I tried on these AWESOME tights I bought the day before. You know, I thought solid black is boring - appropriate for some things, but since I can only wear solid black why not spice it up. I bought this fab tights/stockings (whatever the hell you call them) that had a flowered pattern and they were really spiffy. So I put them on, with my maternity black dress, and they looked like a witch trying to be fashionable not so good. I was so dissapointe! I am always one to try and make a fashion statment! Not to mention (even thought it was almost 80 degrees here in Texas) it is November and I'll be damned if I was going to go to a funeral, in Winter, with bare legs. UGH! I changed and ended up wearing pants.

Also, I did decide to take the more stressful job, if anyone read that. I say, suck it up! It is more money and in 6 months, when the baby is here, I will not be working. So here I go, bring on the work!!

Eat, Pray, Love

As most of you know, I am an avid reader. I love cookbooks, I love love books - I love you Jackie Collins - but most of all, I love great books that make you think! This book Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert is one of those great books that really makes you think!

I am only on page 48, but already I have come across some amazing words! Yesterday, I found this awesome quote/passage/paragraph (who knows what to call it) that I thought we could all apply to our lives!

How this chapter begins is that she is getting a divorce from her husband, living in NY and (basically) dying to travel. On assignment from her magazine she gets sent to Bali, Indonesia. She is there to do a story on a yoga vacation, and while there she gets the opportunity to speak with a medicine man. The Yoga teacher says they can ask the man one question.

"So when the old man asked me in person what I really wanted, I found other, truer words.
"I want to have a lasting experience of God," I told him. "Sometimes I feel like I understand the divinity of this world, but then I lose it because I get distracted by my petty desires and fears. I want to be with God all the time. But I don't want to be a monk, or totally give up worldly pleasures. I guess what I want to learn is how to live in this world and enjoy its delights but also devote myself to God."
Ketut said he could answer my question with a picture. He showed me a sketch he'd drawn once during a meditation. It was an androgynous human figure, standing up, hands clasped in prayer. But this figure had four legs, and no head. Where the head should have been, there was only a wild foliage of ferns and flowers. There was a small, smiling face drawn over the heart.
"To find the balance you want," Ketut spoke through his translator, "this is what you must become. You must keep your feet grounded so firmly on the earth, that it's like you have four legs, instead of two. That way, you can stay in the world. But you must stop looking at the world through your head. You must look through your heart, instead. That way, you will know God.""


This is how i feel about this book right now!!

To me, that is exactly how I want to live my life! Feet firmly on the ground so that I may appreciate the worldly pleasures, but not look through my head, look through my heart, so that I may always be with God. AMAZING!

A Man's Libido?

Here is the thing... I am 3, almost 4 months pregnant. I am getting fatter by the day, my hormones are on a daily roller coaster, not to mention I am getting bizarre acne and my hair is going semi-straight. Besides the leg cramps and vomiting on a daily basis. I am not feeling too hot and sexy. I mean, can you blame me?

Well, apparently some aunt gave my lovely hubby an expectant father book that says, this is the honeymoon stage?? of the pregnancy. And, apparently I should be horny every day of the week. The reality is I am 50% Carrie and 50% Charlotte, so the sex life of Samantha really doesn't come into play. I mean, I have never woken up in the morning saying damn, I wish I could have some sex today? I am not joking either... my friends used to tease me about it. I have a big bubble of personal space and I am not too keen on it being popped. Even by my adoring, loving, sexually charged hubby.

So yesterday we got in this tiff because I never want it and he always wants it. So my question to all you fabulous women is does it ever stop? Does the libido ever die?? Or have I just not hit my sexual peak?? My husband acts like an 18 year old, most days. If he could get it on the hour, ever hour, he may be satisfied. Me, I'm more like your average person, listen... I got Sh*t to do!! I don't need to be hassled every stinkin day that, yes, my boobs are huge, and yes I am apparently attractive to my husband. Trust me, I love him for the compliments, I just don't want to be harrassed every day. So far, it is like once a week. In my book, that is a great amount, in his. It could always be more!

What should I do? Should I give in and let him enjoy it every day? Or am I right to stand my ground and say, back off tonto, I have three more days of feeling frumpy?

Preggo Rant!

Here is the thing... it is Friday, my hubby has a cold and I am still in my PJ's at 11am :) What a life I lead... hee hee. As all of you know by now I am pregnant (finally showing) and really enjoying the pregnancy, except for a couple of things.

This is my WTF?? can't pregnant people always be beautiful and never have anything wrong??

I mean we are carrying a child, can't you make us Heidi Klum look-a-like's for just 9 months of our lives?? I mean, I know this would probably put a strain on the economy because more stupid people would just keep having kids and us lovely tax payers would just keep paying for them, just because for 9 months of their lives they could look like Heidi, but come people... REALLY! To see the true strangeness of my pregnancy, click here

My newest preggo annoyance... cramps in my legs. HOly Sh*t! When I was about 12 or 13 I used to get these wicked charlie horses, probably because I was a gymnast or growing or something? Who freaking knows, but they were Pain-I-Ful!! So yesterday, I am sitting at work, no problem, loving my hair and my outfit (mainly because it doesn't look like I just ate too many carbs the day before- it actually looks like I am preggo) and then it hit me. First the sweats started, then I got a little dizzy.

I stood up and ran for dear life speed walked to the bathroom to hurl my breakfast of a delicious PBJ! Ok, I think to myself, not really worried about puking, it comes with the territory. So then I am sitting there and get this wicked cramp in my leg. Madon! I try and start to walk around (the people in my office must think I am a freak at this point) but nothing is helping. Most people say... eat some bananas. BLAH! I freaking hate bananas. So, I head to lunch. After eating a very healthy lunch of grilled chicken and broccoli and some eggdrop soup, I start to feel pukey again. ArGH!

I finally head home to put on my favorite PJ's and climb into my warm bed. But no... relaxation is what you want... not so much, here it comes again. A freaking leg cramp. At this point, I am loudly moaning, and my husband comes downstairs to see what for. I can't walk, I feel pukey, AND now I have this pounding pain in my leg so I can't even get comfortable.

After 30 minutes of the annoying pain I crawl up the stairs to my office to do some research. This is all I freaking find, Leg Cramps

Nov 1 :) Official NaBloPoMo!

So, for all of you that don't know what NaBloPoMo is, it is National Blog Posting Month. For the entire month of Nov. you are supposed to post a blog once a day! I kind of do that already but now I am going to be dilligent!

Since it is the beginning of the month, and a new NaBloPoMo, I am thought I would give you the A,B,C's of being me. Sometimes quite complicated, other days... not really. I got this idea from Elysa at http://www.genpink.com/ and I thought it was quite amusing!

A: Athletic. I am one of the most athletic girls you will probably meet. I played basketball (despite being only 5" tall) and football in highschool and I love anything to do with sports. Although I don't do much athletics, currently I love watching any type of sport or athlete. I just love it all!

B: Bags!! I am known for always sporting the latest and greatest in handbags. I love designer bags, I just think they spice up an outfit like nothing else!

C: Clever. Most people think I am pretty clever and there is never a dull a moment because I am never at a loss for words :)

D: December. It is one of my most favorite months, not just because of Christmas, although I do love Christmas, mostly because I get to see my family a lot this month and I get to do one of my favorite things.. SHOP~!

E: Eloquent. Since my job is to talk on the phone all day, most people I speak with say I have a very eloquent speaking voice. I tend to take their advice ;-)

F: FOOD!! Food, Food and More FOOD! I love to eat, cook and just plain be around food. All the smells, the way it brings people together and most of all the taste! With as much food as I eat I am surprised I am not bigger than I am. There is really nothing about food that I dont' love!

G: Goofy. Most of the time I am pretty goofy! If you can't laugh at yourself it is hard to see the humor in other things!

H: Happy. Overall, I am pretty darn happy. I have a great family, a wonderful husband, amazing friends and a beautiful baby on the way. Most days I just wake up and I am happy!

I: ITALIAN! I am a full blooded Italian baby! I love everything about being Italian, the culture the food, the people and of course the place! I read blogs about people that live in Italy and I have an Italian flag on my car. I just love being Italian! Forza Italia!!

J: Jaguar. My dream car is a Jag XK8 covertible. I love those cars. WOW. One day I will drive one, but probably not any time soon.. hee hee.

K: Kareoke. It used to be one of my favorite past times, but sadly I have not participated or sang at a kareoke bar in a long time!

L: Loved! I am very loved! My hubby tells me he loves me at least 10 times a day, and I always seem to get emails from my friends and family telling me how someone loves me. It makes me feel so blessed to be loved!

M: My Mistress! I am the lead singer for a wonderful band, although on hiatus, My Mistress. We had a great group of guys and just had the time of our lives. It was so much fun.

N: New York Giants! My favorite football and sports team ever. I drive a car with NY Giants license plates and I have signed pictures of Eli Manning AND Tiki Barber. I am a HUGE NY Giants fan. I know all the players and I love watching every game they play! I even wear a hat, and jersey every sunday! I am true NY Giants fan!

O: Oodles. One of my favorite words. I have oodles of stuff so I tend to use this bizarre word often?

P: Patience. Unfortunately, this word has NEVER been used to describe me. I am the most inpatient person... EVER.

Q: Quiet. Again, another word that has never been used to descibe me. Most of the time i am really loud and I think screaming is a great part of life. Don't bottle it up... just let it ou!!

R: Restless. Most of the time I am pretty restless. If I'm watching TV I am normally doing something else. I don't watch movies because I think it is a waste of 2hrs and I can't ever sit still. I get up, sit down, and continue this process until I am doing something else :)

S: Singing. It is my one true passion. I wish everyone in the world could hear my voice, but so far I have only made it on YouTube a couple of times. I really wish I could get paid to sing, but I just don't think its gonna happen :(

T: Teeth Grinding. My one really annoying habit. I have no idea why I do it, but apparently it is really loud at night... my poor hubby! I even have to wear a bit, like a horse, to keep my mouth from grinding. It is really ugly but it sure does help not wake up with a soar jaw.

U: Uteris. Since I am preggo, my uteris is growing at an extremely large rate :0 I officially have a 3 1/2 month baby bump.

V: Vegitarian. When my hubby goes out of town I tend to eat all vegitarian dishes. Why, I have no idea?? I just really like vegitables and I don't get to eat that many when my hubby is around. To say he is a picky eater would be the understatement of the year!

W: Worry. For some reason I am worrier. I worry about everything. From the cleanliness of my house, to bills and what I am wearing that day. I am a constant worrier. Something I am trying to change before the baby comes, but I don't seem to be doing a very good job at.

X: I think I am a part of Generation X, but who really knows. I mean seriously, what other word do you know that starts with X that isn't freaking Xylephone. Some goofy instrument that I certainly do not play.

Y: Yankee. Most people would call me a yankee, although I currently live in Texas. I lived up North for most of my life, so Yankee is what I am now referred to by the Southeners (AKA the losers of the civil war;-)

Z: Zodiac. I am a Gemini through and through. A friend read my chart once and said half my darn chart was Gemini. Needless to say being around me is like hanging out with an entire group of people :)