Good Things Come to Those Who Wait

Guess who is having a baby on Thursday? At 12:15.  I mean, how awesome is it that I have an appointment in my calendar with the date & time that the little munchkin is going to arrive?  SO awesome.  No scary labor, no horrible contractions?  Yes, please.

Scheduled c-sections are the best.

My aching hip + babies can make you broke

Let me tell you, ligament stretching sucks.  A LOT.  As in, you basically feel like you're being stabbed in the butt cheek ALL. DAY. LONG.  Not awesome.  Apparently this is something that I can look forward to for the next 6 months.  No real exercises to help it or ways to avoid it once it rears its ugly head.  Heating pad, massage... here I come.

In other news, baby crap is expensive.  Thank god I have friends that are willing and able to provide me with advice about which crap to spend the money on and which crap is not worth it.  As in:
Me: "are all these attachments really necessary or do they just get annoying?" 
Awesome friend who already kids: "annoying.  don't do it."
Me: "sweet.  thanks for helping me save money so my unborn child can go to college instead of have a random baby thing with lots of attachments."

That's all.

exciting news...

Yup, it's been a reallllly long time since I last posted.  Trying to change that. 

Guess what?  I'm preggers!  Hooray!  Well-deserved pat on the back to my hubster who was successfully able to sexually transmit a child to me.  I've officially hit the 12 week mark, which means that I can now share the news with the world.  (as noted by family blog post, facebook post, and personal blog post.)

Along with the ability to share my news come a few things that I have also had to keep under wraps for the past few months.  Like my ever-increasing need for comfy cotton undies instead of cute lacy ones.  And the fact that I've basically had to dress like a chunky monkey instead of a cute pregnant girl until spilling the beans at work.  (That happens tomorrow, by the way.)  And how much I love mac and cheese.  Although I think you guys already knew that. 

So far, so good.  Let's all pray that I don't blow up like a moocow.

xoxo

Hongry

I ate breakfast.  I ate lunch.  I snacked.  Why am I still so freaking hungry?  I'm making BBQ chicken pizza tonight.  Maybe that's why.

Sunshine = Magic Cure

Just a quick little note to let you all know how much I love sunshine.  After an epic run of rainy days, the sun has finally decided to grace us with her presence once again.  (Sidenote: should I refer to the sun as male or female?)  Allow me to list a few of the reasons I heart the sun:

1. a dry backyard = no muddy wet doggie paws that require wiping and cleaning EVERY darn time the pups go outside
2. a blue sky = me being able to wear a dress without tights and still look appropriately dressed
3. hair frizz is minimized
4. colors other than grey suddenly become apparent in the city
5. warmth

That's it.

Song of the day: Walking on Sunshine

Feel The Burn

Darlings, it is hot hot hot in San Francisco and I am loving it!  I've spent all summer pouting at the grey cloud cover and harrumphing about how I wish we'd get some real summer... Well, apparently the weather god finally heard my harrumphs and decided to listen.  (Thanks, weather god.)

Along with this heat wave come some interesting smells.  And by interesting, I mainly mean gross.  For example, when wandering through the Mission, there is a lovely blend of the following aromas: pee/poop/delish Mexican food.  Hard to know if I'm disgusted or hungry or both.  (Probably hungry.) 

Also with the heat comes the over-the-top presence of Fat Girl Foot.  My right foot is gorgeously swollen, puffy, and usually trying to bust right out of my adorable shoes.  Eff. 

I'm buying new flip flops after work so I can feel better about myself as I walk through the "smell gauntlet" later this evening.

xoxo

Song of the Day: Love is Like a Heat Wave by The Supremes
ps: When I was little, I thought the words to this song were "love is like a geek week", and I would dance around singing it like that.  Yes, I am super awesome.

Digging For Gold... On BART

Lovelies, I don't know how many of you are lucky enough to be regular riders of public transportation (like moi) but WOW does it have some perks:

lightening the traffic to/from downtown
reducing my carbon footprint
watching people do/wear weird/gross things

Today, for instance, the man sitting across from me was super icky wonderful.  While staring at me (a wee bit creepy) he went to town on his ear wax... And I'm not talking about the type of ear wax situation where someone can play it off like their ear itched.  I'm talking about a full scale excavation - digging, inspecting, deeper exploration, close examination.  GROSS. 

I'm just thankful he wasn't going for his nose.

xoxo

Song of the Day: In One Ear by Cage the Elephant

Is that a banana in your pocket?

Guess what I just found out?

My dress has pockets!

First, I should explain to you my relationship with pockets.  I like them.  However, I do not like that sometimes make me look puffier than I actually am.  Examples: Rear pockets make my posterior appear lumpy.  Side pockets create the illusion of wider hips than I'd like to think that I have.  That being said, pockets are useful, and I'd like to point out that I appreciate their usefulness.

Now, pockets in skirts are a different animal altoghether.  I think the negative elements of pockets are drastically reduced when they are in a skirt - the lumpy butt and wide load hip problems seem to be less of issue.  Also, I like the concept of skirt/dress pockets: perfect for when I'm just popping out for a quick Starbucks run (skinny caramel latte, I heart you) and don't want/need a whole purse and yet want to keep my hands free for coffee-carrying.

So, imagine my joy at discovering that my already cute dress is now a bit more functional!  Oh happy day.

xoxo

I'm back!

Time to get excited darlings!  After an extended absence from blogdom, Redhead Jen is back - yay!

To be honest with you all, I wasn't sure if I was going to come back.  However, Just Jon said he missed me.  (Besos, Just Jon!)

Anywho, the hubster and I have both changed jobs and the stress level in Casa de Hart has decreased substantially, meaning that I actually have the energy to:
a) do things besides work
b) actually post my often useless, sometimes amazing musings

xoxo

Song of the Day: Baby, I'm Back by Baby Bash & Akon on Super Saucy

Olympics!

Guess what starts soon?  The Olympics - yaaaaaaaaaaaaaay! 

I heart the Olympics for so many reasons.  They're epic.  They showcase the best athletes in the world, instead of lame reality tv people.  They're inspiring.  They make me cry (um, all those "came from nothing/sacrificed everything/now living the dream" stories get me EVERY TIME.)  There are sparkles (summer: gymnasts / winter: ice skaters) and y'all know how much I LOVE SPARKLES. 

Here is a perfect example of what I hope to see in a couple weeks (please note the HOTNESS at 1:38 and 2:30):
Johnny Weir - Poker Face

Oh god, I am so excited!

xoxo

Song of the Day: Poker Face by Lady Gaga (duh)

Road Trip

On Thursday, the hubster and I will be driving for nine (9!) hours.  Yes, I tried to talk him into flying.  Yes, I lost.  So, I'm making the best of it.  And by making the best of it, I mean that I am organizing everything in hopes that we get off to a fabulous start.

1. I've arranged everything that we're taking with us in one area of the house to allow for easy loading of car. (I've even laid out my driving outfit.  This is nothing fancy, it's just the comfy yet cute attire I'll wear for a ridiculously long drive and yet is still appropriate for a family gathering.  AKA: sweater tunic and leggings with flats)
2. I fell asleep last night while mentally arranging where in the car everything will go.  MODG, think tablescaping.  (With an evening arrival at the family home, our bags of gifts will be strategically placed for fast and easy removal upon pulling into the driveway.)
3. My fabulous friend sent me some books on tape (well, books on cd actually, but books on tape sounds better) so we'll have some entertainment besides me singing along to holiday music. This is mostly for the sanity of my hubby.
4. I have set an alarm for 6am on Thursday morning, so I can get up, load car, and get pretty while hubster sleeps.
5. I'm going to drive for the first half of the trip, so that hubby may continue to sleep in passenger seat.
6. I've created a "House-Sitting at Casa de Hart" list for my lovely sister, who will be watching the fur babies while we're gone.  (It warns her about the doggies knocking over the Christmas tree and potentially chewing television remotes.  Isn't she lucky?)

xoxo

Merry, Merry

Darlings, I love the holidays.  LOVE THEM. A lot.

I watch cheesy Christmas movies - no matter if I've seen them a hundred times already. 
I make hot cocoa and add big puffy marshmallows.
I listen to Christmas music from pre-Thanksgiving until New Year's.
I wrap packages in matching paper and ribbon. With embellishments. While watching movies and drinking cocoa.
I am actually excited about our 9 hour road trip to SoCal to visit family.

Hooray - Merry Christmas to you all!

xoxo

Song of the Day: Silver Bells by Bing Crosby

I am sooooo stylish

I may or may not be wearing a maternity shirt today.  And by "may or may not be", I mean I am.  Now, you might all immediately get really excited and assume that because I'm wearing preggo-wear that I am actually preggo.  I'm not.  I just really liked this shirt.

xoxo

Song of the Day: Take Your Shirt Off by T Pain

Dirty

Saw this lovely establishment the other day:

I think this is where you take things with spooge on them.  Ew.

(really? who names these places?)

xoxo

Song of the Day: Dirty Diana by Michael Jackson

Nom Nom Nom

It's reallllly chilly today here in San Francisco.  As in, there was frost on our windshield this morning.  Yeah, yeah - I know you folks who live in cold places are like, "What are YOU complaining about? It snowed 8 inches... blah blah blah".

Guess what? I don't care about your 8 inches of snow or how badass you are for living somewhere subzero.  Why did we spend a sh*t ton of money to live in SF? For the temperate weather.  (And the awesomeness.)  It's not supposed to be 35* in San Francisco.  So, I'm allowed to bitch a bit about it when it is.

Anyway, that's totally not my point.

My point is this: when it's cold outside, I like to eat.  (Forget the fact that I pretty much just like to eat and just go with it, okay?)

Today for lunch, I dashed downstairs and grabbed a delish sourdough breadbowl filled with clam chowder.  YUM.  Now, I don't know if you're supposed to eat the breadbowl itself once you've finished the chowder... but I am.  And it's GOOD.

nom nom nom

xoxo

Song of the Day: Fat Bottomed Girls by Queen

Proactivity

Darlings, I am lucky enough to work at a fabulous firm with mostly fabulous people.

There is one glaring exception.  I'll call this person "Dumbo".
Dumbo is someone that drives me slightly insane with almost everything she does. 
Dumbo is muti-tasking challenged. 
Dumbo is common sense challenged.
Dumbo is, well, maybe just challenged.

Case in point: just now Dumbo decided to be proactive and clean the white board in her boss's office.  She spent seven minutes wiping and cleaning.  (Yes, seven. I timed it.) 

Ready for the best part?
Wait for it...

The white board was BLANK to begin with.

xoxo

Song of the Day: Let's Get Retarded by Black Eyed Peas

What Not To Wear

Lovelies, I hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend!  I tried to unplug as much as possible from my computer(s) and phone - and very much enjoyed stuffing my face, sitting on my tush, and snuggling with the hubster. 

I had been planning to be very productive on Saturday, but then proceeded to change my mind and lounge on the couch for most of the day.  During this lounge-fest, I watched a mini-marathon of TLC's "What Not To Wear" and loved every bit of it!  Sometimes it just takes a little kick in the tush to remind me that I should be including a "pop of color" in my outfits and that metallics are a neutral which can be included with almost anything. 

I had a quite a fab time getting dressed this morning.  Royal blue dress, black tights, fab shoes, a yellow belt - my color pop - and a black scarf.  Adorable!

Sadly, it's freezing in my office and I'm kind of wishing I was in fleece jammies. 

Song of the Day: Devil With the Blue Dress On by Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels

May The Force Be With Me

I'm brining my 20 pound turkey tonight.  Never brined anything in my life.  Wish me luck!

Fa-La-La

Guess what I'm listening to?

Christmas music. (yay!)

Yes, I am fully aware that it's not yet Thanksgiving and that some of you may have a problem with me jumping right from Halloween to O Holy Night, and not giving Turkey Day it's due, but guess what? There's no turkey music that I know of.  So Christmas music it is. 

I figure we get basically 1.5 months (2 if we're lucky) of it being okay to listen to this stuff, and I'm going to take full advantage. 

Cannot wait to hear some of Mariah's holiday warbling... only the BEST Christmas album ever.  What are your fave Christmas albums?

xoxo

Song of the day: All I Want For Christmas by Mariah Carey (duh)

Golden Girls

Let me start by saying that I love love love love Golden Girls.  One of my all time favorite shows.  But, I'm not sure I love them this much:

xoxo

Song of the Day: Golden Girls TV Theme