lately [tidbits + pics]

I was recently reminded that I haven't blogged in three weeks (thanks KAYCIE). Life has been busy and hectic and fun and OMG SUMMER. So here's what we've been up to - in bullet point form, naturally.

- Our house is officially on the market! As exciting as it is to plan our future in a new home (details to come on that in another post - I don't want to jinx it), it's pretty overwhelming in a lot of ways. 

First of all, we have a TON of last minute projects to wrap up before we have showings... you know those little things you've been putting off for years... like un-cluttering the empty bedroom and repainting the outdoor stair rail? We've been busting our asses (meaning, Sean has been busting his ass) getting all this stuff done. 

Also, it's a little emotional to think about leaving this place and starting over somewhere else. This was our first home we owned together and we have a ton of memories here. But I'm so excited to start fresh in a home that ISN'T 60+ years old. So yeah, that shiz has been a little crazy. 

- Ronin loves the pool. Granted, we've only been a handful of times, but he loves the water and that makes me such a happy Mama. We spent a few hours at the pool on the 4th of July and it made me so excited to spend his first Independence Day doing something fun. We had a little cookout at our home to celebrate the 4th and sadly, I took zero photos. But trust me when I say we are certainly enjoying our summer so far!

water baby :)

- My Arbonne business has been such an eye opening experience, and I'm really enjoying everything I'm learning about network marketing, our products, and building leadership skills. I'm bound and determined to move up in rank by the end of the year, and it feels extremely empowering to have a goal like that in mind. 

- I have yet to take Ronin's 10 month photos and he'll be 11 months old next week. I also sent his birthday invitations out this week and I may or may not have cried in the parking lot of the post office. This kid is looking more and more like a little boy and less like a baby by the day, y'all. And I just can't. 

Ronin's birthday invite - designed it myself, blocked out the address for privacy reasons, duh.

-  I'm currently reading Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn (author of the infamous Gone Girl), and I cannot put it down. It's been a long time since I was so into a book that I finished it in less than a week. We're reading it for our book club and it's going to be so hard to wait until August to discuss! 

- I'm thinking that we may have a slight intolerance to fruit going on with Ronin - either that, or I'm just giving him too much of it and he can't handle all of the fiber. He's been in disposables for about 10 days because he's been pooping SO MUCH, and he also had a nasty diaper rash that lasted for almost 4 days. It seems to be getting better (the poop frequency AND the rash) now that I've cut back on the fruit at meals, so let's hope that's all it was. 

I just talked about baby poop on my blog. I think I'm officially a mom blogger now? 

Happy Hump Day!

round up: cloth diapering - the newborn stage

if you choose to cloth diaper your baby from the beginning, you'll want to invest in some newborn size diapers before moving to the one size options. some people decide to just wait until the baby can fit into one size diapers. we chose to do it from the get-go and Ronin was in his first CD at 10 days old. 

after talking with several cloth diapering mamas, I decided to buy a few different kinds of diapers to figure out which would work best for us. some people prefer pocket diapers, some prefer all-in-ones (or AIOs), and some prefer fitteds and prefolds. because I had no idea what Ronin would be like (skinny legs, chunky waist, heavy wetter, etc), I figured the best idea would be to have a variety. for a low down on all things cloth diaper related, check out Laura's cloth diaper blog. she was extremely helpful when I consulted her regarding our stash and other sorts of CD related questions.

1-3: PREFOLDS
prefolds are most like the old-school cloth diapers that your parents or grandparents may have used. they are simple to use - you can either fold it into thirds and lay it inside a cover, or you can use a Snappi and fold it onto the baby. you can check out different ways to fold a prefold diaper here. 

1. Bummis Organic Cotton Prefolds (6)

perfect prefolds in the newborn stage. lasted until Ronin was about 12lbs.

2. Bumkins Cotton Infant Prefold Diaper (6)

larger than the newborn size, great quality and absorption. still use them today, but days are limited; need to size up.

3. Snappi Cloth Diaper Fasteners (3 Pack)

if you choose to use prefolds, you will need some Snappis. they take the place of previously used safety pins to fasten diapers in place. they are incredibly easy to use and come in fun colors. 

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4-7, 12: DIAPER COVERS

because prefolds (and fitteds) are usually made of cotton and are not covered with a PUL outer layer, a cover is needed to keep baby's clothes dry. I bought a few of them to have some variety, but you really don't need many. we've only had 4-5 leaks onto the covers and only then so you need to wash it. 

4. Bummis Super Snap Diaper Cover (1)

love this cover; fit my chicken legged boy perfectly. have the celery dot pattern. 

5 and 12. Bummis Super Brite Diaper Cover (2)

bought these in super brite green and blueberry dot; LOVE them. aplix is durable as long as you use laundry tabs as needed.  

6. Thirsties Duo Wrap Snap (2) 
favorite diaper/cover brand so far; come in 2 sizes (size 1 fit up to 18lbs, size 2 fit up to 35-40lbs); still using the two size 1 covers I have over prefolds at six months (16lbs). 

7. Thirsties Diaper Cover (2)
bought 2 of the aplix covers as well (extra small); aplix provides more custom fit on baby. lasted until Ronin was about 3 months. 

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8-11: DIAPERS
I wanted to try a variety of diapers to see what system would work best for us, and honestly? I loved them all and I still use a bunch of different kinds of diapers today, from prefolds and fitteds, to all-in-ones (AIOs), and pockets.

8. Kissaluvs Newborn All-In-One (3)
wonderful for NB stage; snap down in front for umbilical cord, unbleached fleece lining. lasted until Ronin was 3 months old. 

9. Kissaluvs Fleece Fitted Diaper (4)
hands down my favorite NB diaper! snap down in front for umbilical cord, soft fleece, easy to use for first timers. had two unbleached, one yellow, one blue; lasted until Ronin was 5 MONTHS OLD. 

note: this diaper does not come with a PUL outer layer and needs a cover on top of it.

10. Lil Joeys All-In-One (2)
cutest teeny tiny AIO; snap down in front for umbilical cord; very absorbent; comes in a big variety of colors. had two in platinum; lasted until Ronin was 3 months old or so.  

11. GMD Workhorse Fitted Diaper (2)
no closure option works well with Snappi; custom fit for babies of all size; 100% cotton. bought two orange edge (NB size); lasted until he was about 2 months old. 
I loved these so much that I bought 4 of the next size instead of 2. we still use them in daily rotation. 

note: this diaper does not come with a PUL outer layer and needs a cover on top of it.

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so there you have it; those are the ins and outs of my newborn stash. what works for us certainly won't work for everyone. I know several moms who prefer having one kind of diaper versus having a large variety. every baby and family is different, so keep that in mind when doing your research. 

Happy Cloth Diapering!

round up: so you want to cloth diaper your baby...

I can't even count how many looks of disgust I received when I told people that we'd be using cloth diapers on Ronin. people act as if your kid is going to be covered in poop or something. 

before I even got pregnant, I knew I wanted to cloth diaper, for a variety of reasons. the most obvious reason is the money savings - the average family spends $1,000 on diapers for the first year, meaning (assuming the child potty trains at two and a half) one child will cost the family $2,500 in diapers alone. I think by the time we're done building our stash, we may spend as much as $800 in cloth diapers, which will last us until Ronin is potty trained AND will last us through future children. 

also, cloth diapers are ideal for sensitive babies' skin, and studies show that cloth diapered babies potty train earlier and easier than those that use disposables. and finally, it's so, so, SO much better for the environment to use cloth diapers. 

(disclaimer: for the time being, we are using disposable diapers on Ronin at night, simply because I've been spoiled with a baby who sleeps through the night and I don't want to ruin that by having him wake up from being wet. I am doing some reading and investing in some bamboo inserts to stuff in his pockets.)

when I found out I was pregnant with Ronin, I immediately went into research mode to find the best way to build our stash. I knew that I wanted to cloth diaper from the beginning, which meant that I needed to have teeny tiny newborn size diapers to start with.

but before we get into the details of our inventory, let's cover the essentials that are needed for cloth diapering. 

keep in mind that these are all items that have worked for OUR family. not every CD mama uses Charlie's Soap or ditched the disposable wipes. some moms prefer using a diaper pail with a liner instead of wet bags. it's all in what works best for you. 

1. Cloth Diaper Safe Detergent. 

most mainstream laundry detergents contain ingredients that will build up in diapers and cause them to repel. here's a great list of detergents to use as a reference. we use Charlie's Soap and have had no problems with it. we are actually still using the first tub we purchased and Ronin is six months old (almost). 

2. Wool Dryer Balls. 

if you want to avoid static and soften your clothes/diapers, dryer balls are the way to go. dryer sheets like Bounce leave a film on diapers (as well as other clothing) and cause them to repel. wool dryer balls are also better for the environment and they shorten drying time. 

3. Thirsties Cloth Wipes. 

we chose to use cloth wipes instead of disposable wipes for a few reasons. first off, like using cloth diapers, it's cheaper. secondly, it's just easier. instead of having to separate the disposable wipes from the diaper and throw it away, I just tuck the cloth wipe(s) into the dirty diaper and throw it all in the wet bag to be washed. it just makes more sense that way. I like the Thirsties wipes because they're super soft... and fun colors. 

4. Hanging Wet Bag. 

as I mentioned above, some folks prefer having a pail with a liner & a lid, but I love having wet bags. they have a little strap that I use to hang on the Pack N Play (or a door knob) for convenience. I use the large Planet Wise bags and have yet to have any issues with smell. I toss all the wet and dirty diapers, along with wipes, in the bag and when it's time to do diaper laundry, I unzip and dump the contents into the washing machine and just toss it in with the diapers. I have another wet bag that replaces the one in the wash. 

5. OzoCozy Flannel Wipes. 

I like these wipes because they get the job done and they're cheap, and I didn't have to make them. there's nothing special about them, but I tend to use them more often than the Thirsties wipes for quick changes.

6. Cloth Diaper Safe Diaper Rash Ointment.

regular diaper rash creams create a barrier on the inner portion of the diaper, which causes repelling of liquids. we just had our first experience with diaper rash and Nature's Baby Organics Diaper Ointment cleared it up overnight. 

7. Spray Bottle. 

if you're using cloth wipes, you'll most likely want to make a wipe solution to use for dirty diapers or just to rub your baby down if they're soaked in pee. I just fill this spray bottle up halfway with hot water, a teaspoon of baby oil, and a teaspoon of baby wash. I then just spray the wipes (or the baby) when it's time to change a poop diaper. when I'm out in public, I just wet the wipes with plain old water and it does the trick just fine.

8. Travel Wet Bag. 

along with the two wet bags I keep at home, I also have a smaller one that I keep in the diaper bag for outings. it can hold 4-5 diapers (max) but is small enough that it doesn't take up too much room while we're out and about.  

let me just say that CDing has been a great experience for us so far and not nearly as difficult or time consuming as I imagined it might be. I look forward to putting Ronin in cloth for the day (remember, disposables at night), because they leak SO MUCH LESS than the disposables. and let's face it, it doesn't get much cuter than a big fluffy baby butt. 

if you have any questions about cloth diapering, I'd more than happy to answer them. feel free to leave them in the comments! I also recommend Jillian's Drawers as a good place to get started.

Thursday thoughts

play along with Sar today...

[1]

we watched a video of a vaginal birth in our birth class on Tuesday night. I've seen one before (my 11 year old brother's), so nothing about the process really shocked me. what DID surprise me was how emotional I felt watching that baby being placed on his mother's chest. I had to stop myself from bursting into uncontrollable sobs and embarrassing myself in front of a room of strangers. I cannot wait to have that moment with Ronin.

[2]

baby LBL's nursery makes me happy. I want to live there. he/she is a lucky little baby to have such handy parents! I'm so excited for Cole & Jus and can't wait to "meet" their little bundle.

[3]

I changed my mind on the bedding for Ronin's room. after finding sheets at Pottery Barn Kids for MUCH less than most Etsy shops, I decided to change it up a bit. I'll post sometime soon about the actual shop and the quality (the pieces arrived this week) once I wash them and get them in the crib, but here's what I ordered:

[4]

my official last day of work is August 3rd. it's pretty surreal to think that for the first time in 12 years, I won't have any income. frankly, it scares me quite a bit. I consider myself to be extremely fortunate to be able to stay home with the babe, but I know that a part of me will miss the independence that comes with having a (paying) job.

[5]

I am SO FUCKING TIRED of people telling me that we will give up on cloth diapering. look, I get it... people tend to be threatened or intimidated by ideals that are not "the norm" in their social circles. but guess what? it's none of your fucking business to begin with! if I mention that we plan on cloth diapering, don't shake your head and respond with "yeah, good luck with that... we'll see how long it lasts." I don't know what it is, but it seems as if people inhale some stupid in their brains when they're around pregnant people. 

[6]

on a happier note, Mama cat loves little brother already. you're welcome for the cute. 

also? I just realized that I can't talk about anything non-baby related to save my life. 

WTF happened to me?!

Happy Thursday!

keepin' it real.

the idea of being a first time mom is exciting. everyone seems really interested in how me & the baby are doing, and of course, there is no shortage of suggestions and unsolicited advice being thrown my way.

honestly? I LOVE being pregnant. there are some down sides, but the outcome will make me forget about the pain in my pelvis and the horrid morning sickness that ruled my life for 4 weeks. I cannot wait for the day that I get to meet this little person that I've been housing in my womb. I already feel such a strong bond between baby Q & myself.

with all that said, I'm here to confess... I am scared shitless. I know it's normal to be nervous, so I don't feel guilty for feeling just a tad bit crazy brained when I think about the grand scheme of things. but because I like to keep it real here, I'm gunna lay out all these crazy thoughts that occupy my brain from time to time:

I'm terrified that I won't be able making it to 40 weeks. I've been having some pretty bad round ligament/pelvis pain for a few weeks and I keep thinking... "holy shit, I still have 22 weeks to go and I'm only going to have more weight to carry on this pelvis that feels like it may or may not collapse at any moment."

not only am I going to get bigger and struggle more to carry this baby, but it's going to be fucking hot. I thought I was going to pass out in the grocery store last weekend because it was hotter than normal in the frozen foods section. how the hell am I going to handle the high humidity Maryland summer?

I love the fruit size updates I get every week from The Bump. and then I realize that by week 40, baby Q is going to be the size of a watermelon. I'm going to push (that's the plan, at least) a watermelon out of my vagina. and I might poop in front of people other than my husband. I know at that point I won't care, but right now, it's a gross thought.

babies cry. a lot. and they can't tell you what's wrong. I'm so scared that I won't be able to know what's wrong with him/her to make him/her stop crying. how will I know if baby is eating enough or is pooping enough? they don't come with a manual and I think they should.

also? SIDS. fucking TERRIFYING.

breastfeeding. I hear it hurts. and can be reaaaaaally hard emotionally. postpartum depression doesn't really sound like a ball of fun either. baby blues scares me.

and then I buck up and say, "self, you got this. you're a nurturer by nature, you can take care of a baby. you will push that watermelon out like a champ, and you will know, thanks to motherly instinct, why your crying baby is upset. the baby will like breastfeeding, or it won't... no biggie. formula kids are awesome too."

and then the new fears hit me. for instance... this kid is mine now. forever. I have another human being that I am solely responsible for. I have a real opportunity to completely fuck this little creature up and give it real life problems. what if he/she becomes a drug addict, or a murderer? or what happens if he/she is bullied in school? omg, school. how will I handle sending my precious child out into the world?

... holy shit. I have a feeling that this worrying doesn't go away any time soon. so uh, thanks for reading?

DISCLAIMER: please know that regardless of these fears, I am so incredibly lucky to have this baby growing inside of me. I cannot wait to meet him/her and cherish every wonderful (and frightening) moment I have with him/her. and hopefully I don't fuck him/her up too bad.

random tidbits

- you know those Chevy commercials that show the Rockies and the theme song says something like "like a rock"? when I was a kid, I thought the words were "lock her up." dumbass. 

- after my horrible hangover last Sunday, where I admittedly spent at least 6 hours at or on the toilet, I couldn't poop for a week. IT WAS TERRIBLE. I can say it was honestly one of the worst weeks of life. I've always had a pretty regular digestive schedule, so the sudden bout of "I have to poo, but I can't" really fucked me up. 

- I met with our accountant over the weekend. thanks a huge financial decision we made early last year, we now owe the federal government $5,000. not cool, especially since I was counting on that refund to get some things done around the house. ya know, maybe buy a dining table? maybe some chairs for the dining table? looks like we may be refurbishing the old set in the garage after all. 

- my Bear cub is the cutest kitty ever. 

don't mind the eye boogers... he's been getting them a lot lately.

- thanks to the suggestions of many people, I started reading The Hunger Games last week. started on Friday, finished on Thursday. started Catching Fire (the second book) on Friday, and I should be finished with it this evening. 

I AM HOOKED. I'm pretty sure there's crack in the pages. it's such an odd and morbid concept that it makes me value the government of our society, as corrupt as it may seem. I'm also considering naming my first born Primrose. thank you, Suzanne Collins. I will be posting reviews of all three once I finish, which shouldn't be long! 

- yes, I still have The Help review to finish and post. slacker. 

- I'm actually really liking my English class this semester. I'm not big on reading pieces of literature and analyzing/interpreting them, but unfortunately, that's the gig for this class. professor seems really laid back though, so that's awesome.  and the other classmates seem really nice and supportive.

- I'm going to email everyone who donated to the Miss Chow Fund and get their addresses. a happy ending like this one deserves proper thank-you notes.

- according to Bear, this is his couch. 

Happy Tuesday! :)

her confidence is tragic, but her intuition magic

it's random thoughts time at TBNT!

five words I hate to hear:
- "bestie"
- "tat"
- "taint"
- "crunk"
- "porno"

five words I love to say:
- "fuckerbitch"
- "facetious"
- "lyric"
- "cunt"
- "vase" pronounced with a long "a" sound.

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do mosquitoes actually do anything productive? is there any grand reasoning behind their existence? someone, please let me know. because I hate them. I'd really like to just walk around with mosquito netting draped around my body at ALL times.

sexy, huh?

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my purpose in life is to answer my one life long question: how do blind people know when they're done wiping?

I'm sure there are ways to do it beyond sight (obviously... there HAS to be), but I'm honestly curious to know what these skills are. do they own a sniffing dog? do they smell the toilet paper themselves? this is in no way, shape, or form meant to be offensive to those with no eye sight whatsoever. it's just something that has plagued my mind for YEARS, so I thought, who better to ask than my lovely readers?

and don't act like you don't look at the poopy toilet paper when you're done wiping... you gotta make sure your ass is clean, yo! well... maybe not for you fancy pants out there with bidet toilets.

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I'm really really disappointed at all the recently canceled TV programs. let's be honest here... I'm a TV junkie, and I've mentioned this fact many times on this blog. and it just so happens, that I watched a lot of the shows that were canceled this year already, and some from last year. proceed below for the list:

The Cleaner


Accidentally On Purpose


Cold Case


Flash Forward


Law & Order


Mercy


Raising The Bar


Life


My Own Worst Enemy




RIP to some of my favorite shows. I love you all for one way or another. you've treated me well over the season(s) and you will be truly missed.
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I often think about the origin of letters and words and why they sound the way they do. for example, who decided what the letter A would look and sound like? why doesn't it look like an A, but sound like an S? who looked at a chair one day and proclaimed "this will be called a chair!"? it's insane how much I try to figure this stuff out, and it's crazy if you really think about it long enough... what if all the letters in the alphabet sounded like something else? that shit boggles my mind.

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insomnia sucks. between being busy with work, and being high on Ambien by the time I get a chance to blog about anything, I haven't had a chance to get to Wedding Wednesday yet today... whomp whomp. I'm go to attempt to half ass for sleep's sake, but if it's horrible, I'll put it on my list of things to do for tomorrow.

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oh yeah - GO FLYERS!

handicap bathrooms are not the safest option (TMI, yet hilarious)

since our kitchen is covered in dust and half our kitchen equipment is still in our entryway, we've been eating out A LOT. we try to keep it healthy with Subway and whatnot, but last night, we were both craving Italian cuisine. we headed down to a little hole in the wall nearby called Mama Lucia's, a big favorite of ours.

after we finished with dinner, we decided to stop by Giant to pick up a few things... kitty litter, card for a birthday, some nasal spray, among some other items. as we're browsing the aisles, I feel the rumblings. the rumblings that I mentioned in my second blog post ever. I typically have the rumblings after every meal, and the meal I had prior to our grocery store visit was a little greasier than I'm used to (stuffed shells, in case you were curious).

I clenched as we kept walking, and hoped it would go away so I could poop in the comfort of my own bathroom. within 2 minutes, I knew I wouldn't be having the pleasure of a home bowel movement. the rumblings of my loins were getting painful, and I quickly broke out in a sweat. I shoved all my picked up items in Mr. FoFandee's arms, and told him that there was NO WAY I was going to make it home, and I brisk walked my ass right into the bathroom.

as my luck would have it, the first three stalls had pee or toilet paper filled toilets, and I had to take my last option - the handicap stall. I don't know about anyone else, but I love the handicap stall - it's nice and roomy, and it's usually got a good stash of toilet paper... especially in a grocery store, where I imagine it's not used often.

so I go about the binness and let 'er rip. it wasn't so much an assplosion, but it wasn't pretty either. I performed the courtesy flush, just in case someone else happened to walk in... I would hate to have someone walk into THAT stench. I finish up pretty quick and flush away.

as I got to leave the stall, I turn the little handle on the door, and push open the door... except... it doesn't open. I turn the little knob 180 degrees in the opposite direction (counterclockwise), and it still doesn't open. the little latch that goes into the socket of the stall DOES.NOT.BUDGE. I freeze. what the FUCK am I going to do? there is no way in hell that I was climbing UNDER the stall, and therefore touching the nasty ass floors. no fucking way. I keep trying to turn the knob and that little bastard latch does not move, at all. I swear to god, I was going to find a way to climb OVER the stalls before I was going under them.

after about 10 minutes of fucking with that handle, and being about 30 seconds away from having a mental breakdown, I called Mr. FoFandee, who was still in the store... probably just waiting for me and thinking that I'm taking a huge dump. the conversation went a little like this:

Mr: what the hell are you doing in there?
Me: you have to help me.
Mr: uhhh... I don't think there's much I can do to help you out in there...
Me: I'm... locked in the bathroom... the handicap stall to be precise.

:insert hysterical laughter:

Me: it's NOT funny! I'm terrified in here. I'm not crawling under the door, so just come in here and get me out.
Mr: I can't come in there, it's a girls bathroom!
Me: I'm sure they'll make an exception if you're rescuing your imprisoned wife!
Mr: maybe I'll just get someone to help... and suggest that they announce it on the loud speaker that some fucking idiot locked herself in the handicap stall.
Me: thanks for the support... really. I swear, I've jiggled this handle for the past 12 minutes and I can't get the door open!

and finally, after another 3 minutes or so of fiddling with the damn handle, it finally opened. THANK GOD. I was sure they were going to have to call the fire department or some shit... I would be on the news as the local girl who was stupid enough to lock herself in a public bathroom stall. jesus. I made sure to inform the check out boy at the register that there is some serious defect with the handicap stall, and that I was near death trying to get out of there. he didn't think it was too funny... instead just looked at me all weird like I'm some kind of fucking psycho.



so. how was YOUR Tuesday night?








DISCLAIMER: this blog is not meant to offend any person or persons who use the handicap stall in public bathrooms, nor is it meant to offend anyone who is handicap or frequently locks themselves in public bathroom.

random thoughts Friday? okay!

you know what I really hate? when you feel the rumblings of a good BM, and it turns out just to be a fart. biggest disappointment EVER. I feel like this situation definitely makes my top 10 list of things that piss me off.

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I ordered my previously mentioned Bentley last night. it retails on Amazon for $51.55, but since I had a $25 gift card, it only cost me $26.55 (I qualified for free shipping). I cannot wait to get it. I will be stalking the mailbox religiously and awaiting it's arrival. my first project will be adding some length to our curtains - we originally bought them at a shorter length, due to our baseboard heating... we didn't want it covering the baseboards. but now that spring time is here and I'm really starting to HATE how short they are, it's time to spruce them up a little bit. thanks to some helpful tips from my girl, Melodie (inspired by her curatin revamp post here), I should be able to pull it off without any problems (fingers crossed). for a little reminder, here's the beaut that will be ALL MINE in a few short days:

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tomorrow night, I will be graced in the company of my friend Renee and we will be enjoying the comedic stylings of a Ms. Chelsea Handler in DC. I'm super excited - 1, because I get to spend some one on one girl time with Renee, which doesn't happen very often, and 2, it's Chelsea fucking Handler, and that bitch is hilarious.

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Remember that Spring Cleaning list I made a couple weeks ago? I haven't even started one thing on that list. it's so hard for me to get motivated, and it sucks. there are so many on-going projects I have in my head regarding our house, and I can't seem to find the time to organize them (in my head) and get started. it's completely overwhelming and it leads to me just shutting down and leaving the house as-is. SO frustrating. I've been doing really well at keeping the house decent looking and continuing to do little things every night to keep up with daily mess, but the actual hardcore cleaning just keeps getting pushed back farther on the calendar.

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We should be getting our federal tax refund aaaaany day now, and I'm itching to go shopping. I have a few things on my Amazon wish list, including this L shaped workstation. it got a couple good reviews, and I love the way it looks - it would fit perfectly in our "office" and I love the modern look of it - the sleek lines and metal mesh panels are so attractive! I know I could probably find something cheaper at Ikea, but this one really just calls to me, and for only $200, I don't think it would be a bad investment.

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I recently switched to Nuva Ring. I'd been on the Depo Provera birth control shot for almost 6 years, and since we plan on having kids in the next couple years, I decided it was time to switch to something a little less... harsh, I guess. I love the Ring so far, except for one tiny side effect. my fucking boobs hurt ALL THE TIME. doesn't matter if I am or am not wearing a bra, doesn't matter if I slept on my stomach, doesn't matter if it's close to the time to change the Ring... doesn't matter. they are constantly sore. a friend of mine told me she had this problem as well, and it never went away. I'm a little discouraged knowing that I could possibly have sore tits until I decide to get off birth control... but I really don't want to switch to something else. boo.

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I play Scramble on Facebook. am I a nerd? yes. Mr. MandeeFoFandee is extemely competitive - he saw that I was playing this game a while back and decided he wanted to give a try as well... if only to beat the shit out of my high score. since then, we've gone back and forth beating each others' scores and having bragging rights in the FoFandee household. his last high score was 220 (which only beat my previous score by 6 points, I might add). well the other day, I wiped the floor with his ass, scoring 252. two hundred fifty-two points... beating his top score by... oh... let's say 32 points!

I promise, I'm not as competitive as it seems. ;)

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I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend, and I hope the weather is nice wherever you are! it's only supposed to be in the 50s this week here in DC, so I gotta make sure to bundle up! if you're in the DC area and happen to see our gorgeous cherry blossoms, be sure to take some pictures and share them!

Happy 101 Award

Can I just tell you that today is the PERFECT day to be given this award? Thank you SO much to Suzanne from sunshine and wine for passing it along to me. If you want to drool over some amazing design pictures, head on over to Suzanne's place! I've had a shitty week already, mostly because of issues at my workplace and feeling unappreciated (I'll make sure to blog about it tonight or tomorrow to fill you all in... since I know you're on the edge of your seat with curiosity), so this will help to cheer up my Tuesday!


So. Here's my list of the Top 10 things that make me wet myself with joy. Or... just make me happy. whatever. these things are not in any particular order... just as they come to me off the top of my head.

1. Mr. MandeeFoFandee. oh, this poor guy. I don't know how he puts up with me some days... it really baffles me. he's always keeping me on my toes and making me laugh like no other. sometimes I think it feels like we've been together forever, and other times I feel like we just met yesterday. I guess that's a good thing. he's my best friend, and I wouldn't trade him for the world.

isn't he handsome? how did I get so lucky with a hunk like this?

2. My Cats. aka my children. they really are like little humans, and they all have their own little (and BIG!) personalities. I find extreme pleasure in giving them catnip as a Friday night treat, and watching them roll around and go crazy like they're on drugs. they never stay mad at me for long, and I can always count on them to give me lovins when I've had a hard day.

big girl Lily loves belly rubs.

3. Tattoos. to say I have an addictive personality would be the understatement of the century. tattoos are no different than Dr. Pepper, cigarettes (horrible, I know), or makeup. I love them, and am constantly yearning for more ink to display on my skin. people ask how many I have, and it's hard to tell, because different pieces were done at different times, so I tell them I have about 20 hours worth, 10 of which are due to my rib piece. it's important to me to have meaningful tattoos, and all of mine represent something or someone at a certain point in my life. I'll be sure to give a post with all of them, but for now, here's the completed rib piece. also, feel free to check out more of my tattoo artist's work at his website.

$750, 10 hours, and a lot of pain later... I have my garden rib piece.

4. Family & friends. I consider myself incredibly lucky to have so many amazing people in my life, from my dad to my brothers to my friends. they're all super supportive of everything I do, and they give me honest criticism when I need it. I am eternally grateful for each and every single one of them. oh, and my little brother is the cutest and coolest kid EVAR.

my my my cookie face, my my cookie face.

5. Vacation. there is nothing I love more than laying on the beach with a cold drink (preferably containing a good amount of alcohol) and a great book in my hand. we try to take at least one week long vacation a year, but this year might be tough due to being homeowners now. we shall see. but I'd give anything to be here for a week. right now.

this was taken on a beach in Oahu during our honeymoon. le sigh.

6. Pooping. I've said this before, and I'll say it again: the relief from a good bowel movement is amazing. I'm probably only mentioning this right now because I've been backed up for a few days and I would give anything to squeeze one out... even if it caused me to pass out from bearing down too hard. but for serious, I love taking a nice, relaxing poop. no picture necessary for this one. I'm not THAT gross.

7. DVR and On Demand. I honestly don't know what I did before DVR. to be able to fast forward through commericals and pause when a good poop comes along is, in my eyes, the best invention ever. I don't even know when most of my shows air... I just watch them as they appear on my DVR screen. and in the rare instance that I forget to set up a series recording (like I mistakingly did for the new season of Project Runway), I can find most of them at my fingertips On Demand. oh technology, I love you immensely.


8. Blogging. I'm new to this whole blogosphere, but I'm already addicted (have I mentioned that I have an addictive personality?) to this little place. I love checking my Google Reader everyday and reading up on what everyone is doing - whether it be DIY home projects, cooking deliciousness, playing with their kids, working for the man, or just living life. I'm a nosy person by nature, so reading about others' lives has always fascinated me, and to do it everyday and feel like a part of it at the same time is pure bliss. andplusalso, I get some handy dandy DIY/designing tips along the way. can't beat free advice!

9. Decorating/Designing. even when I was a little MandeeFoFandee with no husband or cats to speak of (okay, that's a lie... I had tons of cats, even as a little girl), I found myself always rearranging my room to get the most effective space plan. I was always making things to hang on my bedroom walls, and incorporating throw pillows from the living room to match my current scheme. I've always had a passion for interior design. now that we own our home, I'm like a kid in a candy store... if the candy store were home furnishings. I'm always on the lookout for the next piece to use in a room in our home, and am SO inspired by the many decor blogs I follow. if I could choose my career (which, yes, I'm well aware that I COULD... but that's a long story), it would be interior design, fo sho.

I'm obsessed with this design board Ashley's office over at Decorating Obsessed.

10. Sales. as much as I love a good pair of jeans or shoes, I'm keeping this one general, because if the shit is on sale, I can almost guarantee that I will buy it. I tend to justify purchases much easier when I know the items I got were not full price, and I convince Mr. MandeeFoFandee the same. I love finding the perfect item on sale - whether it be something I'm specifcally looking for, or a surprise.

and to complete my task with the Happy 101 Award, I'm tagging 10 blogs that make me happy (again, in no particular order):

1. Erinn @ Stawberry Swing and other Things
2. Laura @ Signed In Ink

3. Ashley @ The Domestic Wannabe
4. Sarah @ a little of this, a little of that
5. Melodie @ The White City Project
6. LiLu @ Livit, Luvit
7. Kasey @ Lola B's
8. Tara @ The Life of a Newly Wife
9. Sherry & John @ Young House Love
10. Alaina @ misc.alain.eous

PS - I would elaborate on WHY those blogs make me happy, but I'm at work and unfortunately, I actually have work to do. soooo just check out their links and see for yourself!

Happy Tuesday, bitches!

random thoughts.

My digestive system has been all wonky lately. I'll go days without pooping, and then have water ass for a day, and then back to being stopped up. WTF stomach?

I'm so sick of snow. We've gotten approximately 30" already this winter and I.am.over.it. We're supposed to get a huge storm this weekend, which will, ONCE AGAIN, prevent me from running weekend errands. fuck you, Mother Nature.

I went grocery shopping tonight to try to avoid the crowd, with no such luck. I don't know what it is about snow that makes people freakthefuckout. Last time we had a big storm, I went shopping the night before (it had nothing to do with the incoming snow... we had just moved and literally had NO food in the house), and the store was full of empty shelves - mostly in the eggs/bread/milk/chicken areas. It's not like a fucking meteor is coming and we'll be holed up in our bomb shelters for months, people. It's snow, and it'll be cleared up in a few days... I'm pretty sure you won't consume 7 loaves of bread in that time. Put it back and share. Now.

I love cheesy reality shows, including (but not limited to...) Bad Girls Club, Jersey Shore, Worst Cooks In America, Biggest Loser, American Idol, Big Brother, and Hell's Kitchen.

I would rather scrub toilets than wash dishes. I fucking despise doing the dishes.

For some reason, Pheobe is being a cunt lately. Every time Bear walks near her, she growls and hisses at him, and then proceeds to chase him and seriously attempt to hurt him. I don't know what her deal is, but she needs to cut that shit out.

I am guilty of responding to everyday statements with "that's what she said." Sometimes when it doesn't even work, but I still find it hilarious.

I totally forgot to switch my Nuva Ring last night. Thankfully, I remembered on my way home from the store and did it when I got home. It was easier to do the first time. I was really strugglin' there for a minute.

Sean & I are both atheist. For some reason, people get really offended by this, even though it doesn't concern them. We don't look down on, nor do we judge, those that believe in God. Why do those who follow organized religion find it necessary to make a big deal of our beliefs (or lack thereof)? I don't get it.

I would rather rock a fab pair of earrings than a big necklace.

I find new home decor/design blogs to subscribe to/follow everyday. I currently have 32 blogs in my Google Reader, and I'd say about 86% are house blogs. Addiction say what?

Speaking of addiction. A&E's Intervention makes me freaking cry every.single.episode.

I don't even know what time my favorite shows come on. All I know is they magically appear in my handy dandy DVR, ready for me to enjoy.

I keep thinking today is Friday. shit.

Schmoop fest, table for one!

Okay, so this is going to be a little different than my previous posts. No poop stories, no dead baby jokes, no sarcasm (well... maybe a little), and definitely no negativity.

I adore my husband. With Valentine's Day right around the corner, I've been feeling all warm and fuzzy inside, and it's not because of the Ambien, like usual. Normally we don't do a lot for V-Day, and we probably won't change that tradition this year, but still - a day dedicated to love makes me feel pretty damn lucky.

It's nearly impossible to think of a time that I didn't know Mr. MandeeFoFandee... a time when I knew absolutely nothing about him, other than his name. A time that I wasn't aware of his ice cream addiction, and his love of classic rock. A time before I knew that he despised ranch dressing, but had an unnatural affection for BBQ sauce. A time that I thought I was the only person who loved "The Boondock Saints" enough to place it at the top of my favorite movies list. A time when I believed that I never wanted to get married, or even think about bearing demons... ahem... children.

In summer 2007, my best friend dragged me out of my hibernation of depression and anxiety (which I had masked as a possible case of IBS, and even went as far as to have a colonoscopy to prove it) to go away for the weekend to Ocean City. OC is a place much like the infamous Jersey Shore - full of trash, but great entertainment if you know the right spots. I hesitated, but agreed in the end, because my best friend had just met a guy, and wanted to meet up with him and his friends in OC, but obviously did not want to venture out alone. So there we are, in our hotel room (which amounted to about $40 a night, so you can imagine how luxurious it was), drinking beer (ahem... I was NOT drinking, due to my recent stomach issues), and waiting for the men folk to arrive, who were staying in the same hotel... just a few rooms down the hall. I should also mention that my best friend and her new beau had been trying to hook me and S up for a little while, but we were just never in the same place at the same time. Now, back to the story - the door is propped open, and S walks in. I damn near have to pick my jaw up off the floor, because "GOD DAMN, who is that handsome chunk of man flesh that just walked in our room?!" Sure enough, it was the guy I'd been hearing soooo much about. Honestly, I was really hoping S would turn out to be a giant douchebag, because he was way too good looking to actually be a "great guy." We didn't talk much the first night, but I did offer him my dead skin peeling services for his poor burned legs, which had been abused by the sun the weekend before. No shame in my game, playa.


The second day we were in OC, a bunch of us went to the beach for the day. The beach was crowded, so we sneaked into the pool at the nearby Hilton. When the drink girl came by asking for wrist bracelets, I just told them we were checking in that day, and therefore our reservation wasn't on her handy dandy spreadsheet. I'm devious like that. S shows up at the pool a little later, and to my surprise, strikes up a conversation with me. Turns out, he has struggled with extreme anxiety for years, and he thinks that my stomach issues could be just that. I also learn that I am, in fact, NOT the only person who adores "The Boondock Saints" to the point of obsession. After the pool conversation, we all headed back over to our respective hotel rooms to get ready to hit the town.

During our walk on the boardwalk in our large group of 20 somethings, we hang in the back, getting to know each other better. I don't remember what we talked about, but I guess it doesn't really matter. We all went to dinner, hit up a bar on the boardwalk, and then made our way to the party block on 17th street, where the liquor reaaaaally started to flow (with everyone else except myself... stomach issues, ya know). S was getting quite intoxicated - he and E (best friend's beau) were drinking all the tube shots they could get their hands on, in order to see which girl would have the most glow bracelets on their wrists by the end of the night. We totally won, in case you were wondering. At some point during the night, I realized that I was staring at S... kind of stalkerish staring. My best friend noticed (as she should), and bet me that I wouldn't make the first move. With that said, I walked up to him at the bar, pretended like I had to tell him a secret, and planted a big one right on his gorgeous mouth. From that point on, we were making out all night (klassssssy). We got back to our hotel, and he thought it would be an excellent idea to throw me in the pool... with ALL of my clothes on. I tried to be angry with him, but I had to respect the balls he had to throw someone completely sober (and clothed!) into a pool. I tried to hang as long as I could, but being that I was not wasted, I couldn't keep my eyes open much longer. I said goodnight, and went to my room. And in case you were wondering, I went to my room ALONE. Perverts.

this was one of our first pictures together... before the trip into the pool.

The following day, we all got up and planned to head out and go our separate ways. I found myself rambling about S the entire car ride home. My best friend got his number from E, and as they say, the rest is history. We had our first date a week later, and have been together ever since. We couldn't get enough of each other, and we fell in love quickly. I loved everything about him - the way he was so laid back and sort of shy, but still confident. The way he cared immensely about his family and friends. And most importantly, the way he climbed the walls I had built up around me for years in order to protect myself. The way he MADE me get close to him, and let my guard down. He allowed me to see myself in a different way. He made me feel safe and protected, and he brought out the best in me. I could be myself around him, and he loved me as MandeeFoFandee. And all this doesn't mean he totally kissed my ass either, cause that was not the case at ALL. Trust me, he called me out on my bullshit when he thought I was wrong, and he let me know when/if I was out of line (more when than if). Honestly, I loved every minute of it. It was refreshing to be with someone who knew exactly who he was, and who had strong opinions. I loved his honesty, and his knowledge of himself, and that he wasn't afraid to share that with me.

here are a few pictures from the beginning of our relationship:

It's nice to remember our relationship early on, when it was so fresh and new. Of course, our relationship is still as wonderful as it was then, but it's a different kind of wonderful. It's the kind of wonderful that means knowing almost everything there is to know about each other, and still smiling at the end of the day. It's the kind of amazing that allows you to ignore the annoying flaws (which trust me, we both have plenty of), and embrace the good spirits. It's the kind of wonderful that makes Valentine's Day a fuzzy and warm day, and not just some Hallmark created holiday.

I was perusing MySpace for the first time in a loooong time today, and I found this blog that I had written back in March of 2007. I had dated (and I use that term loosely) a guy who ended up being a giant tool... and so I wrote this blog as a sort of guideline for myself... if a guy didn't make at least 5 of these traits, he was date material only... nothing long term. And as it turns out, S meets all of these... except the Redskins one.

Here's the blog I wrote on March 2nd, 2007. Little did I know, I'd be meeting the man who would change my cynical ways in just a short few months.

I want a man...
... that is proud to call me HIS.
... who will let me pay for dinner sometimes.
... that wants to show me off to his friends.
... who won't compliment me all the time, but when it's honest & true.
... who loves the Washington Redskins more than I do.
... that will let me bury him in the sand at the beach.
... who isn't jealous or possessive.
... who will make me laugh until my stomach aches.
... who will love every flaw on my body.
... that loves his mother.
... that lets me have my privacy and isn't stuck up my ass all the time.
... who will impress my friends on the first meeting.
... who's not afraid to be himself.
... that will have thumb wrestling tournaments with me & not let me win.
... that will tell me if an outfit I'm wearing looks dumb.
... who won't let me critique myself physically.
... who can get approval from my dad without kissing his ass.
... who will have debates with me about heated topics.
... that will express his opinions freely & not second guess himself.
... that will make fun of me when I'm crying over a chick flick.
... who won't spoil me, but simply treat me the way I deserve.
... who is confident and secure with himself.
... that will let his guard down when he's ready.
... who will make me want to be a better person.
... who will sit in the bathroom and talk to me while I poop.
... that makes me feel like the sexiest woman alive.
... who won't back down in a fight with me.
... who makes me love myself even more than I already do.
... that I can have fun with.

... who will want me to delete this blog because he knows he's IT.

Don't worry, I won't be deleting this blog, but I did delete the other one. Damn you, V-Day. I'm never usually all mushy and shit about my marriage, but for some reason, I've been feeling the need to share about it lately. Until next time, hookers!


PS - He doesn't sit in the bathroom with me while I poop... we just poop with the door open.