Wednesday Wisdom - Nadia Style

I sent this email to my girlfriend Nadia today.

Explaining the plan for my trip to Austin tomorrow.

I thought it was a good enough summation to share with everyone.

Here's the skinny...Just so you're up to date. I"d call...but i'm at work. You know how it is...

I leave for TX tomorrow. I arrive in Austin at 1:55 and zoom over to the hotel for my interview at 2:15. After my interview, the Regional Manager and I will be bumming around the city and going to dinner. Then it's back to my hotel for a quiet night all by myself. (Read: Boredom/homesickness/wishing i had a friend to drink with at the hotel bar). Friday we'll be seeing clinics and doing patient fittings and then my flight leaves Austin at 2 or 3, and I get home around 8:30. I'll snuggle my girls and put them to bed and then hopefully collapse in a heap of "OMIGOD I TOTALLY GOT THE JOB!"

If not...then I will wait until Monday/Tuesday/Dear God don't make me wait forever to find out for HR to tell me if I'm "the one" or if they've decided to "go another direction." In which case I will either jump up and down and cry tears of joy, or jump up and down and scream obscenities at the recruiter. Either way, there will be jumping and tears.

Due to the conscise nature of this email, I believe I will be copying and pasting it to the blog for my Wednesday Wisdom post.

Because....

You inspire me, oh muse.
Oh bestie of mine.
I'll heart you forever,
Till the sun doth not shine.

We met in the fourth grade,
our loud mouths were the sign
that great friends we would be
'til the end of all time.

A couple decades have passed
and so have some fads
since we first became friends
and I started calling you "Nads."

We knew in our hearts,
no matter the season
we would be friends for life
and loud mouths are the reason.

xoxo
a

I heart the crap outta this woman.
So do my girls.
I will miss her so much when/if we leave that I will ache.
But phones are amazing.
Skype is even better.
And we've made it 20 years already.
What's 1000 miles?

Cheers,
A

Green.

Ree is hosting a Photography Assignment over on Flickr. 
The subject is "Green."
I might submit this photo as my entry.

Maybe.

I can't decide.
But it sure is pretty.

Who doesn't love orchids?

I'm a little down today.
The calm before the emotional storm that's coming?
Perhaps.
I fly to Austin on Thursday.
I get home Friday night.
It's going to be a flurry of emotions.
In a very short period of time.

I have my suit.
A solid 90-Day-Plan.
And my A game.

Oh, and my slouchy cowboy boots, too.

Maybe the next assignment will be "Pink," and I'll have another reason to use this photo.

Happy Tuesday.
Remember to love one another.

A lot.

And mean it.

Cheers,
A

Color Scheme

I want to make a quilt.

A duvet cover, to be precise.

I want to use the paper pieced string quilt method.

Luc is giving it a whirl, and I love how it's turning out.

Currently, I have chocolate brown throw pillows on my bed.

And a turquoise throw.

With fringe.

Chicks and ducks and geese better scurry,

When I take you out in the surrey,

When I take you out in the surrey with the fringe...on top!

Watch that fringe and see how it flutters....

Sorry.
I get carried away sometimes.

This I know.

Back to the task at hand.

I want to coordinate my duvet to things I already have in my bedroom.

So as to lessen the financial burden that such an endeavor could create.

(Read: Quilting is NOT a cheap hobby).

So logically I thought I would do turqouise and brown.

Here are my favorite fabrics so far.

(Courtesy of Hawthorne Threads)

Your thoughts?

Do you like them?

Would you like some pepper in your poppykosh?

Sorry...I'm in a When Harry Met Sally place today.

Apparently.

And, for lunch.

I'll have what she's having.

Cheers,

A

My Favorite Things

Here are a few of my favorite things lately.
Some of them I have.

Others, I'm still lusting after.

Exhibit A:

My new french press travel mug.

I have given up bad coffee.

Forever.

And ever.

Amen.

My new car.

zoom-zoom is an understatement.

(Thank you DealerRevs.com for the photo)

A couple of  necklaces I'm lusting after.

Because I can't decide on which one I like better.

I'm taking votes.

Which one is your favorite?

The current.

89.3

Awe.Some.

If you don't live in MN, check it out on the web.

You can stream it through your computer here.

This ring.

I've asked Mummy and Daddy if I can have it for my birthday.

It IS my last year of my 20's afterall.

And it's under $75.

And last

but certainly not least

what kind of person would I be if I didn't mention this....

Cheers!

A

Wednesday Wisdom

Since my post yesterday was a little...
um
er
cranky

I'll lighten things up a bit today.

For this week's "Wednesday Wisdom" I offer you,
dear readers,
all 7.6 of you,
a glimpse into the mystery trapped inside an enigma stuffed in a quagmire that is...
Me.

Here are some things you may not have known.

*I'm only 5 feet tall. Five foot Zero. Nothin'. Nada. Zilch.  I'm short.  And I once heard that in the state of MN drivers under the height of 4'10" have the option of getting handicapped parking access.  When I'm 80, being super short will finally have its perks.

*DRL and I have known each other since I was 15.  He had just broken up with a best friend of mine when we met.  Logically, I was on her side and hated him.  He was the evil boy that broke her heart.  Then I married him.  And she was the maid-of-honor at our wedding.  It's funny how things change. 

*My dad is really my adopted dad.  This is why he is 6'5" and I am not.  Though it's funny to see people look at him, then at me, then back at him when I tell someone he is my dad.  I laugh every time.  During the father-daughter dance at my wedding I stood on a chair to dance with him. 
*I wear my emotions on my sleeve.  You never have to guess how I feel. Good or bad, I don't hide it well. 

*I'm horrible at keeping my own secrets. If I get someone a gift or plan a surprise, it's all I can do not to tell them early.  I just get so damn excited.  Conversely, I can keep other people's secrets as if my life depended on it.

*I wish I had more tattoos, but I'd rather spend my money on camera lenses now.  Though I do plan to get something in honor of my girls.  I just don't know what yet.

*I miss my grandmother almost every day. Especially now that I have kids of my own.  I watch my mother with them and ache for my gramma.  She gave the best hugs.  And made a great sandwich.

*I have the best friends. Ever.  Ranging from as far back as the fourth grade, and as recent as a woman I met through the blogosphere that is just as important to me as the women in my life that I've actually met...face to face.  And I feel honored and blessed to call them my friends.  I hope you know how amazing you each are.  And how much I love and treasure each and every one of you.  Fer Realz.

*I am the most impatient person ever.  I want to lose the weight yesterday, I want my hair to grow out right this instant, and I want my camera bag already.  Having kids is teaching me patience.  Slowly.  Which is too ironic even for me.

*I haven't seen a movie in the theater since Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.  At least I think that was the last one I saw....

*I love my new car.  L-O-V-E love it. 

*I really dislike pumping my breastmilk.  But I enjoy being a nursing mother. 

*I have decided the reason I'm not losing weight is because....ahem...I don't exercise.  I'm working on fixing this.  Afterall, I have the gym membership. I just have to use it.

*I've said it before, and I'll say it again, the biggest surprise about motherhood is the guilt.  And it just gets worse with two.

*My current haircolor is 100% natural. No artificial colors or flavors. Pure as the driven snow.

*I secretly wish I was a rollergirl.

*And I'd really like to sing in a band. Just once.  Okay, maybe twice.

*Guiness is my favorite beer. Followed closely by Stella.

*I am a plethora of worthless knowledge.  I know so many random facts it even amazes me.  In high school my friends called me, "That's 'cuz" because I always responded to anything someone said with, "That's 'cuz...."and gave a reason.  Like, "that's cuz it takes 600 pounds of pulling force to remove the human head from the body."  Or, "that's cuz rubber bands last longer if you keep them in the refrigerator."  I have since dropped the "that's cuz" and have traded it in for "didjya know."  Maybe someday I'll land on Who Wants to be a Millionaire and it will all be worth it.  Until then, you're stuck hearing my random bits of trivia.

Sorry.

Cheers!
A

The Rant Zone

I'd like this blog to be sunshine and rainbows all of the time....
but, I am not Ree.  I can't do Ethel Merman impersonations, and the only recipe I could offer is for blue box mac and cheese.
(ok, that's a strech, but I'm no chef...)
I am not Dooce, either and so I won't fill this humble blip of a blog with cynicism and wretchid complaints.
Well, at least not as many...

But, I do have some things I'd like to get of my chest.
And I can not wait until Festivus.

Let's start with public restrooms.  I may be on a rant here, but Is it really necessary, when entering a stall, to flush the toilet prior to using it?  Unless someone left a floater, or filled the toilet with stinky nasty asparagus pee, just sit down and do your business already.  Shredded toilet paper left from the last flush does not neccessitate a new tank of water for which to collect your sacred urine.  Fresh water is a commodity, folks.  Let's not waste it.  Oh, and if you're pooping...don't flush so that the person in the stall next to you can't hear your fart. Or kerplunk.  Pooping is normal. We all do it.  Men even do it together...as a planned part of their day.  Us ladies can poop side by side and not be embarrased.  But...if it stinks....go ahead a courtesy flush it away.
Thank you.

Second order of business: You all know how I feel about blinkers, and the pesky irritating drivers who choose not to use them.  But let's shift our focus to those who don't actually know how to use a four way stop sign.  I may be on a rant here, but it's not all that difficult.  I know that in this day and age, we rely heavily on traffic lights to tell us when it's our turn to advance, so allow me to provide a brief overview of the hard-to-master Four-Way Stop.  If you arrive at a four way stop sign at the exact moment as another vehicle, the car on the right has the right-of-way. Is that you? Hooray! Do a little dance and drive-on. If you arrive moments after another car, but they are on your left, and are coming to a full-stop, therefore throwing a wrench in your urgent attempt to get wherever it is you're going....listen up..this is important...THEY HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY.  You will have to wait your turn.  *gasp.*  Oh, and just so we're clear...a left-turning vehicle does not have the right-of-way over a car going straight through the intersection.  Ever. 

Third: Minnesota Nice. I may be on a rant here, but I don't actually think it exists. Instead, I believe it is a charming quip used to explain acts of kindness that are becoming more rare than sighting a Blue Whale in its natural habitat.  People are supposed to be nice, folks.  We should do kind things for each other.  Acts of kindness should never be random, nor should they be described as such. 

Finally: This one's for you Gossip McGossipson.  I may be on a rant here, but while I appreciate that your life is so vastly boring that you have no choice but to nose around in the business of others, it is time for you to take up a new hobby.  Try knitting, or quilting. Maybe bowling or bingo. Something. Anything.  Just please stop wondering how she got those jeans when she said she had no money, or how he's totally started smoking again and didn't tell anyone, or how so-and-so keep hanging out and omigod! did you see the way he looked at her the other day?!?!  We all have secrets.  We each hide skeletons in our closet.  If you don't want people nosing around in your dark hiding places, why nose around in the secrets of others?  Especially if you have the gall to call those people friends.  At least to their faces. No friend of mine would discuss my personal decisions and/or life choices behind my back using negative connotations or judgement. 

And Finally, Finally: Since I'm back to work now, let's discuss my current job-related pet peeve.  I may be on a rant here, but your job is yours. You applied for it, accepted the position when offered to you, and have come to work every day to do just that.  Your job.  If you don't like it, if it really is the worst thing ever, why are you here?  No one is forcing you to do this job that you so obviously loathe to the point of disgust.  Sure, some things about your job have changed over the years, and maybe you don't get the same joy out of it that you once did, or maybe the money isn't as great anymore.  All the more reason to dust off that Microsoft Word formatted resume and start searching for jobs on Monster.  I'm sure there's a position out there that will bring you joy.  Or atleast get you out of earshot. If you don't mind,  I am trying to keep a positive attitude and make the best of it.

Thank you for listening.
Goodbye forever.
A
   

Goodbye, Old Friend.

I bought this car brand new.

When I was 20 years old. 

One month before DRL and I started hanging out.

Three months before 9/11.

I loved this car.
I washed it often.
Detailed the interior once a month.
And I felt proud owning it.
It stood for all that I had accomplished since high school.
I was responsible enough to purchase a brand. new. car.

There were months when I wished I didn't have the payment.
When I wondered how I was going to pay the bill.
But I did.
On time.
Every month.
Until it was finally MINE.

Then we got pregnant with Elena, and the car became DRL's primary mode of transportation.
The Pizza Car.
And I missed it.
Very much.

But soon I got the CR-V, and forgot all about my old new car.
It got dusty.
It looked sad.
And then the day came when it was no longer needed.
DRL washed it.
Changed its oil and rotated the tires.
And we sold it.

It backed out of my driveway moments ago.
I am a little sad to see it go.

But I had to make room in the garage for this....

Zoom-Zoom!
A

It's in the Bag

This is the Kelly Moore Camera bag.

I just pre-ordered my very own.

I can use it to carry my camera.

And diapers.

And wipes and bottles and socks and toddler undies.

And a wallet.

iPhone.

Keys.

I can use it for my new job.

If I get it.

(I hope I  get it.....)

It will arrive sometime mid- to late- May.

Smack in between Mother's Day and

my wedding anniversary.

Have I mentioned how I'm the most impatient person ever?

This is going to be torture....

Cheers,

A

Wednesday Wisdom

*My maternity leave is officially over. I went back to work today.  In fact, I am there right now. (shhhh...)

*I fly to Austin next Wednesday for another interview.  Then I will work the territory with the Regional Manager on Thursday. We'll take a couple doctors to lunch, visit a few therapy clinics, see the city, drive the region.  I'm excited.

*Being back at work....feels like I never left.  I'd like another three months off, please.

*Paid.

*I hate pumping.  H.A.T.E.  I feel like a cow.  But it's a necessary evil.

*I miss my baby.  And my girl.  And I can't wait to get home to them.

*I broke in a new shirt and a new pair of shoes today.  Yay for having a reason to be out of my pajamas!

*I'm working on a blog post that will be witty, sarcastic, and full of the self-deprecation you've come to expect from me.

*It's going to be deeeeelicious.

Cheers,
A

HautHaus: Waconia Edition

I worked for HautHaus again today.

This time, Holly and I went to Emily and Bill's amazing home in Waconia.

Emily is a charming woman. 

Friendly.

Radiant.

Stylish (Skinny jeans. Striped tee.  Tousled Pixie.  Need I say more?!?!) 

And her daughter Claire was a delight. 

Imaginative.

Indepedendent. 

Full of Whimsy.

This hangs in the entryway.  It is not a HautHaus design, but it deserved a place in this posting.

I am In.LOVE with this chair. Turtle doves? Are you kidding.

Sign me up.

For two.

Or twenty. 

I don't care.  I want them all.

Proof that curtains can meet in a corner and do so fabulously.

Effortlessly.

Brilliant.

By far one of my favorite photos of the day.  The banister was picked out by Emily herself. 

From the woods outside her home.  

What creative vision.

And her and Claire playing in the background.

Just being themselves.

Mother and daughter.

Girls.

Friends.

I'd like seventeen-gagillion of these, too, please.

Emily and Bill used to live in London. 

They hung maps of the city in their kitchen so they can point to the exact location where their home sits.

Proof that it IS okay to fill the frame with a face.

Especially when they are this adorable.

And because no HautHaus shoot would (seemingly) be complete with a pet-star...

Meet Kitty.

And,
Like last time....
Call now
Don't delay.
There NEEDS to be a HautHaus in your future.

Cheers,
A

(P.S. I go back to work tomorrow. Officially.  Ugh.)

Happy Monday

Cheers,
A

Pillow Fight

Not so long ago I made Elena a quilt.  

Then I made a coordinating one for Stella.

A few nights ago Elena's crib was converted to a toddler bed.

I thought she could use a pillow

I didn't want to buy a full size smother-my-daughter-while-she's-sleeping-because-it's-huge pillow, and the only place I found "toddler" sized pillows was Pottery Barn Kids.

And it is far away.

And I can't be sure that if I went there I would leave with only a pillow.

So...

I channelled my inner octogenarian, and I made one.

And then, 

Because I love them equally, 

I made one for Stella.

I have to stuff it, still.

And because I love you, 

here's a gratuitously cute photo of my girl.

Cheers,
A