hello clothes, goodbye clothes, stay around clothes

Last night husband and I went on date to eat at Rubios-- the man knows the way to my heart ... mexican food (especially baja fish tacos).

When we came home, I put my clothes away like a good girl but came to find that they are not all fitting. My closet size is average but far from a walk-in. I think I need to say goodbye to a few things.

In going through grandma's clothes, she kept every basic or classic item and it was so neat to see all the older pieces she kept around. My grandmother had always been timeless chic. The problem is it's a lot of stuff to keep!
I have a shirt I kept while I dated Cameron that I can't throw away. It has a story and too much sentimental value to it. Or a classic black dress that will be in style forever that I can't bare to part with.

How do you know what to keep? Do you keep it for memories or for classic style?
How do you know what your kids may love?
Have your family members kept anything around that you absolutely love what you have now??
What would you keep?

don't cry over spilt milk

Many times I find myself in an instance where I'm juggling a few things in my arms and trying to get tasks finished.
Life gets a little chaotic and something goes wrong (notice my picture above)
and I start to find frustration and anger taking over my mood.
Then I hear a little voice behind me say "uh oh" in the sweetest little tone that reminds me to smile and to not be so flustered by the small mishaps that don't go as planned.

I love these little moments.
I may be the parent but I'm certainly not the only one being the example.

shall we talk about the weather?

I would be lying if I said those were fall leaves at my feet. Maybe a few but mostly old trimmings from yard work. Pretending is allowed.

Although we may not have the fall foliage or brisk air of New England, today we had some colder weather in the mid 60's and a little sprinkle of rain. Just enough to make it feel Fall-ish.
There have been many Fall "to-do's" posted around and I've mentally thrown around some of my own.
#1: caramel apple cider from Starbucks. That sounds so yummy right now. And the rest of the list is still pending.
I plan on cooking pumpkiny treats and making my house smell like wonderful goodness but in the meantime I bought a fall scented candle.
ha.
not near as yummy.

What are you doing to bring on autumn?

the daily mommy workout

This was before my husband somehow talked me into doing his P90X plyometrics with him. My legs are jello.

Motherhood sometimes is not a job for the physically weak.

Mom's daily workout:

Possible pre-workout: Carry around 0-25lb.+ weight in front of body for 9 months

Thighs: Drop your keys twice on your way to the car. Squat down and pick them up with added weight(s): baby in arms (20lbs.) + purse + target bags. Say "dang it" while doing so.

Cardio: Run after child while: shopping, church, or in restaurant

Shoulders & Arms: Take infant in the infant car seat in and out of the car and carry around for at least 15 minutes while trying to run errands. Amount of sets is determined by amount of errands.

Core: Sit on your bed and rock/bounce baby at least 20 minutes or until baby is sleeping.

Resistance: No resistance bands needed. Simply change a diaper of a kid who doesn't want their diaper changed.

Abs: Lay down on back and lay baby on shins. Extend shins outward resulting in engaged abs. Now make airplane noises and baby will love you.

Pliés for Buns: Pick up items off the floor while wearing baby Bjorn/carrier without dumping the baby out. This forces you to do pliés.

Arms: Throw baby in air 10 times. Works biceps and triceps (enjoy giggles and funny faces)

Additional Arms: Accidentally forget your stroller and hold baby on one hip for long periods of time. Or while person talks your ear off and won't stop. Be sure to switch or you're going to have one buff right arm.

To increase workout intensity, feed baby lots of food or add one or more children into the mix.

Is this not the truth? Any others that I left out?

girl time

I really lucked out this weekend with spending time with many of my best friends: Ashley, Heather, my mom, and Kristin.

To sum up the adventures of Kristin and Lindsay, here it goes:
shopping and more shopping, errands (aren't I a fun friend?! we made them fun), a mini baby shower for Kristin from the Collins gals, a day downtown, talking about natural birth, eating lots of treats (like gelato at Chocolat), the San Diego Zoo, and ending it with general conference.

We had a great time and I'm glad all my activities and walking didn't put her into labor. I can't wait to meet baby Hayden someday!

Is shopping a sport?

Kristin and I doing our damage at Fashion Valley

We had ourselves quite a successful shopping trip but between the two of us, that is a given.

I brought the subject up to Kristin, the one I have disagreed with my husband about.
Is shopping a sport?
My husband says a hobby. But when I find an awesome find, worth the $, you can't tell me that that kill isn't any different than hunting. Is it not? And hunting is a sport. And you can hunt as a necessity to eat and I can shop to merely clothe myself. But to hunt for fun, is that not the same as a good hunt for clothes? Or for a white peter pan collared shirt today? Which the American Apparel employee responds to my search with, "Is that for a Halloween costume?"
Really?!! No. No, it is not for a costume. You shouldn't work here. Or in this mall. And don't ever say that again because it's rude.

She actually did lead me to them. But they weren't fitted but I am considering this one. Shopping is not an easy sport. It takes effort and sometimes sweat. You gotta grab the goods before others do! But it does give me a rush-- a huge rush of endorphins thus making me a happier person and resulting in a happier, healthier lifestyle.
Cheers to our health and the sport of shopping!
Who's with me?!
We can bask in our winnings all day long!

beach babes

pictures taken from Kate

Look at these boys! Beach baby boys: Nixon, Beck, and Krew. And as Kate said it, "the future of surfing".
Recently we had joined the Hawkley's and Gardners at the beach for some beach time and bonfire (and maybe getting our car unstuck out of the sand). We had so much fun hanging out with our other beach-lovin' friends and watching the boys interact. It is so neat seeing how young babies enjoy other babies/little kids' company. Never would I have thought that babies like to be social at such an early age. But there's always lots to learn for the first-time mom here. And the mamas like to be social too! Imagine that.
I love that this picture speaks summer but summer is sadly and quickly coming to an end. These last few weeks have been a little nippy.

And my fellow San Diegans, have you seen the red tide at night right now?! It is incredible. If you haven't seen it, it looks like someone poured glow stick juice in the waves and they glow at night.
Incredible and purely nature.

kristin is coming...

pictures circa 2007

Today one of my best friends is coming to visit me, Kristin! We were college roommates together, placed in randomly or shall we say it was fate. Maybe heaven sent.
I don't think that meeting and being placed in the same apartment was just an accident.
Is this starting to sound like a love story?
We both have a passion for shopping (and how appropriate is it that her due date is Black Friday), we studied the same major at school, enjoy the same types of things, we were engaged within a month from each other, wedding planned together, the list could continue.

And she's coming to visit me 7 months pregnant! I feel loved. I hope I can make her comfortable while she's here and we better not do too much walking around because I don't think her husband would be too happy if she went into labor.

On another note, does anyone have any recommendations for a good conditioner that doesn't flatten your hair down? I have straight hair as it is so I don't need anything to flatten or unfrizz, just volume! I continue to buy ones I don't like and I feel like I'm starting to resemble a wet dog.

Suggestions please...

picnic at orpheus park

This last picture was the funniest thing to me. Krew sailing on the zip-line.

There is a quiet little park on the top of a hill where we picnicked on Sunday. The sun was overhead with a cooler ocean breeze from the sea. Perfect combination in my book.We ate some food and gave our baby the bones. :)

We played on the playground. By the way, have you women ever tried the monkey bars or zip line or anything where you're holding your entire body weight recently? Well it's hard. I swear I could do monkey bars like a pro and 3 pull ups in junior high but I don't know what has happened. I will spare myself the embarrassment and NOT post the pictures Cameron took.

And we found this tame-looking spinning thing that Cameron thought would be a good idea to spin me on (after the baby was off). Well it got out of control and I was yelling "stop!" and Cameron didn't understand I wanted off. So he stopped pushing but I was still spinning and still yelling "Stop! Stop! Stop!" He's saying "I stopped pushing already!" and I'm thinking he thinks this is darn funny as I'm about to fly off this dumb little thing and puke my milano cookies out. Miscommunication there. Cameron was laughing pretty hard though which has me questioning...

The rest of our weekend was spent at the Rondo's house, eating yummy thai food at Siamese Basil with family in town, attending the Relief Society broadcast, celebrating birthdays and lots and lots of family time. Isn't that how it should be?

a little piece of me.

I saw this on the dresser and thought it looked pretty and found the arrangement attractive. It's my dish of "jewelry to be filed back" but as you can tell, it's piling up.

I set a goal for myself a few months ago to always be sure to accessorize. I think mommyhood kind of got me out of the groove considering jewelry transformed into insta-toys. But I've been improving (as you can tell by my pile). One of my favorite pieces is my great grandmother's golden "L" pin. I love the look but I love even more that it has a history.

Happy weekend and don't forget to accessorize (if needed).

just my luck.

Why is it that you can have your house clean all month long and no one comes over. Then the second that it starts to get a little messy (not that it ever does... hardy har har) everyone comes over! I love it when people come over, it's just I wish my house and visitors would meet up on the same schedule. That would be great.thanks.

I haven't lucked out on my housekeeping but I did luck out with a hot date.

Last night, my husband and I went on a midweek date. Why not the weekend? It breaks up the week and play tickets are cheaper midweek! A win win situation! The play was so so (and another story within itself) but I enjoyed dressing up, spraying some perfume on and being taken out on a date.

I'm glad Cameron has always enjoyed watching a play every so often (more my interest than his).
After we hit Extraordinary desserts. I go here way too often. We enjoyed a little Shangri- la or as Cameron says "Shangra-leee". We talked about Cameron's work and I tried to understand my husband's tasks at work in the plainest of terms. My husband is patient. He is sweet and caring. The Shangri-La was delicious but we prefer something with chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate.

We had a great time on our date. Just him and me. Win win! I'm one lucky gal to have him.

Afrikan drum class

Having a degree in International Cultural Studies, I am a sucker for any activity that introduces Krew and I to different cultures. Friends Fiona and Kindsay invited us and we have gone a few times to an Afrikan drum class where we drum, sing, and dance our little hearts out following the instructor. They have little drums for babies and big drums for mommies.
The instructor tells us that a baby is in its mommy's belly for 9 months with a constant rhythm. We continue a rhythm throughout life and everything we do is to a beat.
Krew was a little shocked by the loud drums at first but he's getting the hang of it. And I enjoy it just as much or more than he does. :)