She Likes Purple

A (Couple) Pins of the Month

I had a goal (on my to-do list this year) to choose one pin a month that's been gathering dust on my Pinterest boards and attempt to tackle it. It could be anything, really, from a DIY project to a local restaurant I've been wanting to try. Annnnd then I failed right out of the gate because January was pin-less. I know! But, hey. My list, my rules. I still get to cross that bad boy off if I finish 12 pins by December and since I did TWO in February, I'm back on track. 

Phew.

(I also might attempt Janssen's Pinterest challenge, so there's an extra six. I will basically own Pinterest by 2014.)

Pin of the Month #1: Dinosaur Egg Party Favors 

(original pin)

I won't quit my day job to create dinosaur egg party favors for a living, but I still think this was a solid attempt. Even Mike was impressed, and that's saying something.

I bought clear party favor bags (at Michael's), candy rocks (I bought 2 bags, which was a good amount for about a dozen favors), and tasked Mike with printing the notes (front and back) on regular ole printer paper. Then I folded evenly and stapled. I would have preferred a sturdier stock, but this was a night-before-the-party project, so. 

Pin of the Month #2: Kyle's Party Shirt

Turns out, I really like buying Kyle shirts to wear to his birthday parties. Here's a snapshot over the years. (Minus his third birthday, when I didn't buy him anything special except a few hundred balloons.) 

I pinned a few possible shirts for his party, and purchased the winning one about two weeks before his party. The seller was awesome and put it in the mail the day after I bought it, since I left a note about when the party was.

In fact, all the Etsy sellers I've bought his party shirts from over the years have been great. Here are links to each: first birthday, second birthday (we had a small family party, with a transportation theme, so this airplane shirt was perfect), and fourth birthday. 

I know, hitting purchase and calling that a Pinterest project might feel like a stretch, but I often (LIKE, WEEKLY) pin things I'd like to buy one day only to forget all about those things and wind up just dropping $50 at Target on similar (but less awesome) things instead. 

So, there you have it! One post with a lot of references to pins. 

A Weird Shopping Declaration

I added something to my 2013 to-do list. (Also, hey, I've already crossed off a couple things! High-fives to me.) In 2012, I got a little out of control (mostly before vacations and big events) with online shopping. I needed a new pair of shoes to match a dress here and a new beach cover-up there and there are only so many times you can ignore the 40%-off sales at Lands End, am I right? The thing about online shopping is that everything looks good online. Okay, not everything. Not this:

It's amazing that there were actual human beings behind the decision to charge $278 for this thing.

Anyway, back to my point. You find something online and think it's just adorable on the 95-pound model and you order it and excitedly wait for it to arrive and then it does and then....huh? Well. That's interesting. It's less adorable and more "could be part of a Halloween costume." Ideally, for me, it would go right back to the store for a refund/exchange and it often would but not always. Sometimes the not-at-all-adorable thing would get tossed into my closet to re-sell or donate or hope that if I miraculously lost 45 pounds, it would somehow become adorable. 

It's easy to mis-spend your money through online shopping is what I'm getting at. How did I come to this groundbreaking conclusion? Well, last night I saw a skirt online that I really loved and it was something like $60 and I found that to be a little too much. But then I thought, Well, if I loved it and wore it often and through many seasons, it could be worth the investment. Then I went on to think, The only way I'll really know if it's worth the cost is if I try it on first. 

LIGHT BULBS! ALL THE LIGHT BULBS!

(You have begun to roll your eyes, haven't you? At 31, these light bulbs just went off for me. I know, I'm special.)

Yeah, so, to sum it up, I've decided no online (clothes) shopping in the year 2013. I'm making an exception if I find something in person, love it, and find it cheaper or in my preferred color/size online. That fine print just makes sense, don't you think? I mean, it'd be a stupid goal to say "ONLY SHOP IN STORES EVEN IF IT'S MORE EXPENSIVE AND NOT WHAT I WANT." Yeah, that's stupid. 

So, no online shopping (for the most part) and I hope this means I'll be more thoughtful about what I'm looking for and less "oh THAT'S cute in a thumbnail image, gimme!"

Anyway, you may not care at all about this shopping declaration (I'm now thinking why on earth would you?), but I'm still really excited about it. I want to feel good about the clothes I wear (inspired by Elizabeth, of course) and that means making sure those clothes actually look good on me before spending my money on them. And since I'm not tossing free time around my life like confetti, if I'm going to take the time to seek out something at a nearby shop, it's got to be something I think will really bring value to my closet. (I just said "value to my closet" like some kind of ass. Sorry about that.) Basically, if I'm getting off the couch for it, I need to want it. 

First up, I need a pair of jeans to see me through the spring. I don't have a pair that really fits right or flatteringly at my current weight. I don't want to drop hundreds on a seeing-me-to-a-hopefully-new-weight pair, but I don't want to get a crummy pair online at Old Navy, of course. So, I'm off to find a filler pair of jeans this weekend. Wish me luck!

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PS: Very randomly, and not at all on topic with this post, did you watch the Golden Globes? Then you'll want to read this hiliarious photo recap. Especially this part: "I'm sorry you can't appreciate joy, Tommy Lee Jones." 

Fall Wardrobe Additions

Inspired by Elizabeth and also because I just plain love with fall and winter because THOSE SEASONS ARE NOT SUMMER, I've been thinking about adding a few things to my wardrobe this year.

I'd like (but will settle for much cheaper versions of)....

 

1. Twill cropped pant.

2. Denim jacket. I like this dark wash, especially.

3. Wedge pump.

4. Riding boots. I've wanted a pair of riding boots for ages. I said last year I would make a pair my own, and I didn't. My feet are tired of my empty promises.

5. Long-sleeved jersey dress. I'm sensing a black, stripey trend this fall.

6. Ponte pleated skirt. More black. Rest assured, I accessorize with reckless color abandon.

7. Classic dotted cardigan. This is too pricey for me, so if you've seen another dotted cardigan somewhere, I AM ALL EARS. MY MONEY THANKS YOU. (What am I talking about, my HUSBAND thanks you.)

8. Grosgrain-trim silk blouse.

9. Straight leg corduroys. Fine, a black, stripey, mustard theme.

10. Supersoft striped crew. I'd like to try this on first, of course. To see just how supersoft this supersoft shirt is.

11. Pink (or red) Tieks. Again with the pricey. Fine, we'll consider this a dream list, to aim for and then settle much, much below. Like at Target. 

What do you want this fall?

Sponsored Post: LeapFrog Touch Rockin' Guitar

 

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I know! Another sponsored post. What is UP with that? I've apparently run out of non-sponsored thoughts. Kidding, kidding! (You know I could easily fill another week's worth of posts on what I miss most about Veronica Mars. LIKE TODAY I COULD DO THAT.) Anyyyyway, as you may remember, I jumped at the chance to review toys for Kyle through Clever Girls Collective beacuse I suck at picking out toys for him, and LeapFrog requested the reviews be broken into two posts.

Anyway, the other toy we got was a LeapFrog Touch Rockin' Guitar.

(Photo from leapfrog.com)

This is one of those toys that's a big hit with every kid that's ever liked making a lot of music-y noise and that would definitely my kid. It's less of a hit with, say, anyone who has to pay their own taxes.

(Funny side note: Whenever Kyle asks to do something he absolutely cannot do--like drive a car or stay home by himself--my default has been to say, "When you can pay taxes, I'll think about it." It usually confuses him enough so his attention turns elsewhere. Feel free to use that trick yourself!)

I don't actually mind noisy toys, I should say. If a toy keeps Kyle happy, I've always been inclined to Fully Support It. If it's noisy, keeps him happy, AND is educational (like the Touch Magic Learning Bus), I am not going to discourage playing with it, oh nooooo. The Rockin' Guitar definitely checked the first two boxes, which rates it just below the Learning Bus, but it's something Kyle really loved and enjoyed (and I bet your three year old or the three year old you most shop for would love and enjoy it, too). Which is good! I don't need to play with ALL his toys once he's gone to sleep, and it was pretty adorable watching him try to rock out on this.

One of these days I'll share photos online withour my disaster of a house in the background. One day far, far in the future when I clean my house.

You touch a variety of images on the guitar, and different music/percussion plays and that kind of blows your kid's mind. They also look like little rockstars, which allows you to fantasize that they'll BECOME rockstars one day and take very good care of you. (Although, admittedly, I'd rather Kyle become the next Olympic star and take care of me that way. Mostly so I can get featured in a sobs-inducing "thanks mom" commercial.)

So, if you're looking for something fun, awesome (according to kids), and also kind of adorable, I'd suggest this! You can't go wrong with toys that make your kids look adorable, I think that's written in stone somewhere.

***

Oh! You might have noticed at the top of this post a mention of a contest LeapFrog is currently hosting. If you get the Rockin' Guitar and take a video of your kid rocking out on it (and why WOULDN'T you take video of your kid rocking out on it?), then share that video, you might possibly win $500. That's fun, right? More info here!

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I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and was given free product by LeapFrog.  The content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Giveaway: A Pair of Naya Shoes

A couple months ago, I got an email offering me a free pair of shoes. One, this doesn't happen nearly often enough, and two, YES PLEASE. The offer itself was very nice indeed but then I took a look at the shoes in question and they looked incredible. The company is Naya Shoes (they featured a short-and-sweet interview with me on their blog a couple months ago) and their line is filled with unique, lovely, perfect-for-summer shoes. They also have a great company philosophy and commitment that's worth a read.

I got to pick the pair of my choice (seriously, these people are vying to be my new best friends, right?) and I went with the Cerena in black, but the blue has called to me often since then.

When I received the shoes, Mike even commented on how nice they are. They took a couple days to break in (I don't wear heels as often as I used to, so I think my feet just needed a refresher) but after that, they have been comfortable and a delight to wear to the office or on a date night this summer. I can't tell you how often I'm complimented on them. (Fine, I can. A lot!)

The lovely (seriously lovely) people at Naya Shoes has offered one reader their own pair of the Cerena, in whatever color you'd like.

Simply leave a comment below and a new pair of shoes could be yours soon.

Details:

• To enter: leave a comment on what color you'll choose if you win (we won't hold you to it, if you change your mind!)
• Giveaway ends: 11:59 p.m. on Friday, July 27
  
• Who can enter: Anyone in the U.S.!
• Other notes: One comment per person, the winner will be selected by random.org and announced on the site by 7/30.

Thanks to Naya Shoes and to everyone who enters!

***

Naya Shoes gave me one free pair of shoes without requesting a review in return, and I wasn't otherwise compensated for this post.

My Holiday Wish List

While there are certainly pitch perfect gift guides out there, I still like to create my own holiday wish list each year and then direct my mom and husband to it, in hopes they'll buy me all the things. They aren't millionaires (bummer), so that rarely happens, but I keep a little hope. Hope that pretty shoes are just a loved one's generous click away.

(Every year, I also buy myself one birthday gift, which falls right after the holidays. No doubt that one gift will be from this list.)

Row one, left to right: 1) Anthropologie Noble Trench; 2) Beau & Stella Bubble Necklace; 3) Gap Cami & Shorts; 4) AE Wedge Boot
Row two: 1) Diamond Earrings; 2) UO Suede Platform Wedge; 3) gFast Graphic Leggings; 4) Cuisinart Food Processor
Row three: 1) Land's End Slippers; 2) Edge Flute; 3) Metallic Tote; 4) Red Coral Beaded Necklace
Row four: 1) Loyal Blue Dress; 2) Bare Escentuals Eye Shadow; 3) Red Ballet Flat; 4) Slim Fit Cords

So, what's on your wish list this year?

Will Run for Champagne

Months ago, I set out to find a shirt with the message "Will Run for Champagne" on it. I could find beer, wine, iced coffee, cake, and on and on, but no champagne. Which is nuts. Do you know how delicious champagne is? It should be on all the shirts.

Thankfully, I have talented friends. I asked Cherie if she'd design a shirt for me, and then I asked if we could list it in our Etsy shop, so runners everywhere wouldn't have to settle for inferior booze on their race day shirts ever again.

Will Run for Champagne T-shirt*

If this is the kind of message you can get behind, get yours today. I'll be wearing this shirt for my half-marathon in nearly two weeks. It'll be even more fitting when I reach the finish line and Mike actually greets me with a bottle of champagne.

That's the perk of running your first half-marathon in Vegas, where drinking on the street is not nearly as frowned upon as drinking on the street in suburban Texas.

*There's also a Running to Drink shirt, inspired by my running group. If you like that one, we'll make you a virtual member!

Help Me Pick My Holiday Cards (Courtesy of Tiny Prints)

Tiny Prints has offered me a set of 50 holiday cards in exchange for writing this post.

Holiday cards are kind of a thing for me. I send them every year even if I have to stretch the definition of holiday to include Valentine's Day. I also like to send them to nearly every person I've ever met. Each year, I write out my very long holiday card list and every year Mike says to me, We have really got to start pissing more people off.

So, when the chance for some incredible cards courtesy of Tiny Prints (one of my favorite online paper stores) came up, I jumped at it. I still haven't told Mike about this awesome offer because I think the look on his face when I actually show him our card will be fantastic. Gift enough for me!

(Although, no, that's a lie. I need pretty shoes this year.)

Anyway, I thought I'd share with you the cards I'm particularly drooling over and ask you to tell me which one you like best. Not only that, since I bet many of you are on my list, which would you prefer to get in the mail in a month?

(Oh, a couple rules I usually try to follow when it comes to my holliday card: 1) I prefer a message other than Merry Christmas, 2) I like multiple photos vs. just one and 3) Font is important. I'm kind of a font whore.)

With all that said, here are my favorites:

1. Be Merry

2. Bubbly Holidays

 3. Always Merry Happy (I love the phrasing here, but it might be simpler than I am looking for)

4. Merry Medley (this breaks rule #1 but is a perfect example of #3)

5. Tree Print (this also breaks a rule or two, but it's pretty cute)

So, what do you think? Which would you ooh and ahh over?

I also wanted to share how I'd like to display the cards I get this year. I pinned a few things for just this purpose (oh, Pinterest, how I love thee), but I finally settled on the below. I just need to buy dozens of clothes pins and some spray paint. If that doesn't happen (why is this year so insanely busy?), I can always fall back on taping them to our wall. Keeping it real, here!

From Craftiness is Not Optional

What about you, my friends, do you love sending holidays cards or hate to? And what kind of cards do you look for, if sending? (If you're in the PRO-CARDS camp, you could get a set of your very own free cards from Tiny Prints; visit here for more info.)

Happy holiday season!

Tea Collection Giveaway!

A while back, Tea Collection reached out and offered me a gift certificate to spend as I wanted on any of their products. A very nice offer, of course, and I said yes because I've liked their clothes and gifts for ages.

In fact, I usually head to their site among the first when I want to pick up a gift for a friend with a new baby or kid's birthday. I love their classicly sweet clothes for newborns and original-yet-adorable clothes for older kids.

Here are some of their current things I love:

{From top to bottom, left to right: Saltwater Sandals, Skinny Pointelle Leggings, Super Taco Truck Tee, Fiesta Plaid Shirt, Tin Ornament Henley, Dueling Tigers Pajamas, Skinny Cord Cargos, Simple Satire Sneaker}

Beyond their site and products, though, I want to give some quick kudos to their customer service. They were a dream company to work with. Their pitch was personal and thoughtful, they gave me plenty of time to select what I wanted and then receive the products to write about, and each email we exchanged was professional yet friendly. Maybe it's the marketer in me, but I know it can be a challenge to pitch effectively and personally, and I really appreciated all they did.

I finally settled on some fall-ish things for Kyle because he doesn't have a lot. It's either summer or winter in Texas, except for a few weeks that are chilly-in-the-morning-yet-warm-in-the-afternoon.

We got the Adios Bicicleta Tee, the DF All Stars Hoodie, and another t-shirt, too, that we layer with a white thermal tee.

The clothes are out of our usual clothes-for-Kyle budget (mainly because we keep that budget pretty pathetic), but they're fantastic. Well-made, really cute, and we've gotten big compliments on them, too.

If you would like a few pieces from Tea Collection (and you would, I swear), then it's quite possibly your lucky day. I have a $75 gift certificate for one reader to use as they'd like. Just comment below, and I'll randomly select and announce a winner by November 8th.

Good luck!

Texas Forever

I spend a lot of time online -- marketing for work, blogging for fun, spending all our money on Etsy -- but it still feels a little strange when I blur the lines. For instance, when I talk about work here. I imagine some of you don't particularly care that I market books all day, but when my job includes a book on Friday Night Lights, I get twitchy at the prospect of not telling you about it.

There is no better show on tv now or ever, in my opinion, and I know that betrays my deep-rooted and everlasting love for Veronica Mars, but I betray because I must. The show is stunning in its brilliance and its subtlety, sometimes both in the same scene. It's not perfect, and it's not like any other show I've ever seen, but it's the best show I've ever watched, both by episode and overall. I like to say we named Kyle after Kyle Chandler, and although that's a big, fat lie, Coach Taylor's portrayer would be a damn good namesake.

It ends its five-year run next Friday on NBC. I've seen the finale (it aired on DirecTV this spring), but I will re-watch it again through my sobs, I'm sure, and I'll be reminded that amidst all the reality tv (that I watch, admittedly) and crappy sitcoms that still employ a laugh track, and dramas that are as predictable as they are cheesy, there is still tv out there to love, to be proud of, to remember.

I know, it's just tv. But, then again, it's not. If you've ever found a show you really and truly love, you know it's not.

In our book, A Friday Night Lights Companion (with an intro by Deadspin founder, Will Leitch), there are heartfelt and smart essays on what we love about this show and why and even a little on each character (try not to nod along to the few pages devoted to why we love Tim Riggins). It's a great read, and you can get it NOW on Kindle and next month in paperback. You can and should read Jonna's essay on the Taylors' perfectly imperfect marriage, specifically.

One of the passages I've re-read a zillion times is from Jacob Clifton's "Come Home: West Texas Identities" because it reminds me so much of what I feel as a liberal woman who's lived in conservative Texas for 18 years:

"There is no conservative lock on patriotism, any more than liberals have a monopoly on charity. But liberal patriotism feels like nitpicking, the attempt to create a better country through constant complaint, and conservative charity looks suspiciously like church."

The whole book is that good and both on the show itself and the bigger picture the show paints for us.

Anyway, I think you should absolutely read the book (and watch the show, my god, if you aren't already). In fact, if you have a blog (book-focused or not) and want to review the book on your blog, here's your lucky day. I have ten review copies to give out. (Edited to add: these aren't giveaway copies, unfortunately, but review copies for bloggers! Sorry if that wasn't clear.)

Just leave a comment or email me at shelikespurple AT gmail.com. I'll put a copy in the mail to you as soon as I can, if you're one of the first comments or emails.

***

(And, hey, if you don't like books or Friday Night Lights or me talking about work, big apologies! I won't do it that often, pinky swear.) 

Can't Buy But Can Covet

Pretty, huh?

Two Outfits I'd Like to Make Mine

Unfortunately, I'm not shopping (for myself) until we land in Chicago (bummer) so these outfits will have to stay on my blog and out of my closet but let's ooh and ahh over them anyway.

First Outfit!

Although this Modcloth dress is out of stock. It's a good thing because it could almost lead me down the road named Screw Giving Up Shopping, I Want!

With these shoes, please.

Second outfit!

Another ModCloth dress. Pretty.

With a pop of color, maybe?

With these shoes.

What do you want lately?

A Wish List Addition

Thanks to A'Dell for pointing me in the direction of this poster that both matches my kitchen color palette and is a eerily perfect for me.

{Photo credit: How Fab}

Halfway through November, and it's still too damn hot in Texas for me

We had a busy weekend. So busy, in fact, there was no time for a nap. And, well, napping is one of those things I deem Very Important These Days. Right up there with chocolate and comfortable shoes. (Note: these shoes do not look comfortable, yet I cannot stop staring at them.)

We spent roughly 9,000 hours on Saturday crib shopping, and although it was something we wanted (and needed) to do, my feet began killing me in my H&M flats around hour one. By hour 9,000, I looked longingly at Mike and said, "Baby, if you don't pick a crib, I'll be just fine letting our boy sleep in a box." We decided on this one shortly thereafter:

We should have it soon, and then we can slowly begin piecing the nursery together so the Internet can see pictures. Of course our child needs to eventually sleep somewhere, but don't think your feedback isn't motivation enough to get my act together.

Also bought this weekend was a desk I had planned to purchase almost a year ago. (Someone has a very interesting concept of "follow through," I know.) The goal is to set up a small office area in our bedroom for me to work and write from while on maternity leave. A work space also gave me a nice excuse to ask for this for Christmas because nothing says organized like a very expensive place to keep your loved ones' addresses. Also cute folders from Anthropologie.

After the crib shopping, we went on a double date with some friends to a nearby resort hotel to see a hand-carved ice sculpture exhibit. It was ridiculously overpriced but also very cool (you can see a few pictures here). Funny accurate pregnant cliche, though: your body temperature really does get seriously out of control while cooking a human child. Where the average person finds 4 degrees (the temperature inside the exhibit) uncomfortably cold, I rather enjoyed the break from all the sweating in November I've been doing.

My mom and I spent some time together yesterday—at the movies and shopping—and once we were home from all that, I collapsed on the couch and began to eat a hot fudge sundae for dinner. My mom, on the other hand, looked at me sweetly and said, "Do you have any laundry for me to fold?" NO YOU CANNOT HAVE HER. So even though I didn't get a nap, I did find a way to get my laundry folded without ever having to lift a finger, and, I'm sorry, but no matter what else we did this weekend, that makes the last couple days a crazy success.

Finally, we have a few Christmas parties coming up along with a couple baby showers (for us!), and because none of the invitations mention lounge pants being suitable attire (unfortunately), I've been looking for a maternity dress that is neither frumpy nor made of that horrible stretchy, almost-shiny fabric I've found maternity designers are big fans of. I finally found one at GAP and it's lovely but it's also nearly $80. That's kind of a lot, isn't it?, for a dress I know I won't get much use of in just a few short months. But, I feel gross and large and lumpy most days, and it would be nice to wear something that makes me feel pretty for the first time in quite a while. I'm torn, Internet, and I need your help. What do you think:

And, hey, what shoes/accessories would you pair with it? 

26 weeks

I had a check-up today for me and baby, and I'm happy to report all is well and good for both of us. The scale, on the other hand, threw me for a bit of a loop, as I've now gained about 13 pounds this pregnancy and, um, a nice, big chunk of those pounds were put on this past month. Now I know this is no time to start counting calories, but I think it's time for me to be a tad more conscious of what I'm stuffing into my mouth and stomach. Perhaps fewer Almond Joys and more salads?

I do go back Monday for my glucose test, which I'm not really dreading even though I know I should. I have to be at the office for an hour, so I'm either going to finally beat my high score in BrickBreaker, or I'll irritate all the lab techs by continuing to read "Charlotte's Web" aloud to the baby.

One lovely little 26-week development I wasn't really expecting, though, is the onset of acid reflux. Wow, that's a total buzzkill, isn't it? If you can't agree with me because you've never experienced it yourself THEN DO I ENVY YOU LIKE YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE. I can't eat anything these days without remembering exactly what I consumed for hours afterwards because it is burning the back of my throat. I like pizza more than the average girl, don't get me wrong, but I don't necessarily like to taste pizza four hours after I eat it for lunch as I'm watching Oprah.

Oh, pregnancy. It's beautiful, miraculous and, quite frankly, just plain gross.

Since I'm gaining weight (at such an impressive speed!) and am officially knocking things off desks and counters with nothing more than my stomach, I have had to expand (ha) my wardrobe over the last few weeks. Our budget write-up at the end of the month is going to have more Old Navy totals than I originally thought it would, but I can't very well walk around naked or exposing my belly in a regular shirt. I suppose I could—I mean I did for our belly shoot—but even those "artsy" and deliberate shots and poses earned a comment that said something along the lines of, It may be time for a maternity shirt. You can just imagine what the nice people in our local grocery store are thinking. So, maternity clothes, I have succumbed. Time and a place for everything, right?

I'm still not nesting in the way neither Mike nor I would prefer, meaning the laundry is still not getting done and our pots are still going unused, but I have become obsessed with taking pictures of my shoes each morning! Sorry, kiddo, your nursery is still in shambles but your mama did manage to wear heels on Election Day!

So, we're at 26 weeks, and Mike (finally!) felt an undeniable, couldn't-argue-with-it kick the other night. Our son likes to move and flop and kick on a pretty regular basis, but he doesn't seem interested in performing for anyone other than his mother, and I understand, kiddo, you're no one's monkey. To think you wouldn't be just a wee bit stubborn with all those genes of your father's swimming around in you was completely my mistake. Just between you and me, though, there are like a million other qualities of his I hope you get, as well. Hope you're well in there.

Dry, Flat, Whining (But Grateful!) Pregnant Woman

I'm not glowing, people. My hair is not thicker and my skin is not luminescent since getting knocked up. It's a tad irritating as I kind of thought great hair and skin were some of the few perks I would enjoy this pregnancy. I didn't suffer through roughly four months of constant nausea and queasiness and vomiting—and OTHER afflictions I'm totally sparing you the details of—only to now be faced with dry, NON-GLOWING skin and, honestly, kind of flat hair. I need some product suggestions to get me through the winter and the last half of this pregnancy.

So, I'm turning to you. First, I need suggestions for a cleanser and moisturizer. (Note: I've used Philosophy's Hope in a Jar, and I like it well enough, but I don't think it's giving me the coverage I really need here; same for Kiehl's Facial Moisturizer.)

I also need suggestions for a great shampoo/conditioner combo or, really, just a great hair mask that can restore some life to my locks.

Ages ago I asked for some product suggestions and made a running list of things I should check out, but I think my face/hair have changed since then AND NOT FOR THE BETTER LIKE I WAS ASSURED THEY WOULD, so I'm doing the begging and pleading again.

Since we're at it, some great make-up suggestions to cover the non-glowing, death-warmed-over face I've got going for me these days?

Advance thanks from me and my husband.

::

Just a want-to-share aside: on this post the other day, Betsy commented that she has a connection with a cosmetologist who gives her OPI products at a can't-beat rate, and she offered to help me find the shades I was lusting after. This, RIGHT THERE, is why I love the Internet so damn much. Just when I think the world is cracking down the middle, with all the good will and kindness being sucked dry by the economy woes and political craziness, someone goes and does something so SELFLESS and so NICE that I'm floored. Just floored. Thanks, Betsy, for the gracious offer.

What I Would Own if Money or Large Bellies Were No Object

I haven't been shopping much lately, which may explain why Mike and I so rarely fight these days (other than over our kid's name; that fight is likely to live forever). I can't rationalize spending gobs of money on clothes I can only wear for a few weeks/months (please, sweet Jesus, let clothes that fit me now no longer fit in a year). Yet, I can't rationalize spending money on clothes that I can't fit into for, at least, another year. I can't rationalize spending money on accessories I used to pick up without much forethought because that money could be better spent on a little thing called a HOSPITAL-STAY DEPOSIT. I, also, can't rationalize spending money on make-up when I can't seem to find the energy to APPLY THE MAKEUP I ALREADY OWN.

As you can see, it's hard to part with money these days. Another symptom of pregnancy I wasn't expecting along with the ability to lose my shit at the drop of a hat.

But, what would I be buying if I were able to spend someone else's money for someone else's body? Let me tell you:

Lofty cashmere shawl-collar sweater, $218  (in royal violet)

Oh, J. Crew. You tempt me with your monthly catalogs, you e-mail me with sales (and more sales). You are like an abusive ex-boyfriend I CANNOT STOP THINKING ABOUT. A really expensive boyfriend who comes in a variety of stunning colors and textures.

Watercolor garden Lydia blouse, $110.

I really love this. It's not a pattern for everyone, I know, but with those dark-washed jeans and that 110-pound figure, it's really quite the look. Now, on me, it would look like I wrapped a mural around myself.

Lulu leather ballet flats, $160.

These shoes literally made me drool.

"I Am Thankful For" card from Paper Source, $7 for 10 cards.

Send a note to friends and family to let them know you're thinking of them. Thanksgiving isn't just for mashed potatoes unless you're knocked up and then you started a countdown for those potatoes in mid-July.

 

Superhero "Earth' necklace, $99.

These are all the rage around the blogosphere, and I've wanted one for more than a year now. Really stunning and really out of my necklace budget.

Francesca's "Nightfall" dress in midnight, $44.

OPI nail color, $9

Colors I'd love to pick up: Madame President, Mr. Right Now,  Brainiac, On Stage, Ms. Can't Be Wrong, Beauty Junkie, Metro Chic

Nine West violet clutch, $49.99.

Banana Republic smokey teardrop earring, $39.

Dooney & Bourke "Hayden" patent leather shoulder bag, $500.

Again, just a hair out of my handbag budget, but such a nice bag for fall/winter.

Piperlime Bandolino "Pammy" heels in navy multi pattern, $69.

Fossil "Lissa" cardigan, $68.

GAP jersey skirt, $38.

I actually might buy this anyway. Stretchy, black. Heavenly words for a woman who will soon need her own zip code.

Any chance these items will still be available when I drop 100 pounds and win the lottery?

Important Decisions

I was browsing through a Pottery Barn Kids catalog this weekend, and I could not stop laughing and oohing and ahhing at this Halloween costume:

A giraffe! Oh lord, having children is totally worth it if you are allowed to dress them up like this. I'll wait until the post-Halloween sale to see if any of the $59 price tag is knocked off, but it comes in all sizes, so next Halloween our kid is totally giraffing it up.

Since we don't have a kid this Halloween, we'll just have to do what we usually do: torture the dog. We're going to Barktoberfest for the second year in a row, and we have to decide how to dress Molly. Last year she was a lobster:

She was also a total asshole, which is why this is the best picture I have of her in her costume. You can bet we'll bring a tighter leash and also perhaps a Taser with us this year.

I'd like to choose something adorable-slash-traditional and dress her as a pumpkin:

Mike would like to dress her as a Dalmatian (as in, put her in a white T-shirt covered in DRAWN-ON black spots). He thinks this would be hilarious. (His words: "a dog dressed as another dog! GET IT!") I think this will embarrass the poor thing even more than the pumpkin. HANDMADE? I'm just not sure our little girl has it in her to be so ... granola.

What do YOU think? Pumpkin? Dalmatian?

We also started our baby registry this weekend. When we registered for our wedding, we knocked it out all in one day, and this prompted roughly 65 separate fights. Since I am far more mature and patient these days, I decided baby registering was going to need to be a project with phases. Phase One: Register for Seven Items in Twenty Minutes Then Once the Novelty Has Worn Off Go Eat Chicken Express. Phases Two Through Four: To Come. We registered for one pack of bottles, a toy, some plain white onesies and a video monitor. We'll go back in another month or so once we find out what we're having.

But—and I'm asking for this advice so let it rip—what baby products did you love/hate/need/waste money on/etc? What do you wish someone would have told you about registering? I'll print out your comments and take them with me next time. This will give me something to do after Mike pries the registry gun from my hands and shouts OUT LOUD in the baby aisle, "I NOW HAVE ALL THE POWER!"

(Your suggestions will all be much appreciated, I promise, but we may blatantly ignore some of them and buy the changing table/bassinet/etc anyway, even if you swear we won't use it. We're sort of annoying like that.)

Finally, I, well, finally, uploaded pictures from my semi-recent trip to San Francisco. You'll notice I have four total pictures from BlogHer. I wasn't drinking, obviously, but I was apparently not documenting either. What was I doing? I'm not entirely sure. You can view all (FOUR!) of those pictures here, along with pictures from the rest of my visit. You can see much better BlogHer pictures on just about any other Flickr stream out there.

Now, off to work. It may be early Tuesday morning, but it sure feels like Monday. Three-day weekends: lovely except that just like two-day weekends, they end.

Goodbye

Not goodbye forever—don't get all dramatic on me now—but for a few days while we gallivant out of town to visit family. Also, don't be jealous because even though the time there will be wonderful (it always is) the drive to get there can only be described as: GAHGRRRSHOOTMENOWAHHHHH. And we're making the drive in my uncomfortable Saturn with a dog in the backseat who every now and then likes to crawl up and lay on her mom's lap while forgetting she is FORTY POUNDS.

But, again, the time there will be great. There will be eating and fireworks and naps and time with our nephew and all of those really good things holiday weekends are best known for. I hope your weekend is also filled with good things. Even if you're Canadian (hi to you!) because a weekend is a weekend, am I right?

::

Just a quick shopping aside: I need a laptop tote [that has a strap so not a laptop sleeve] before next Monday. Any great suggestions? Links? Old ones you aren't using? Kidding! Kind of! If I can't track one down, I may just have to carry mine around with me in my over-sized purse and glare at anyone who bumps into me too hard. I'm going to be such a HIT at BlogHer, can't you just tell?

And speaking of, I leave in ONE WEEK FROM MONDAY, OH MY LORD, WHERE DID THE TIME GO? I'm so excited (only a tiny bit nervous), but I do need to ask, quickly, if anyone can recommend a good lunch place for one afternoon I'll be near Union Square with a friend. I'm from the area, but my favorite restaurant when I left was Baker's Square. (Note: I was ten when I left. Baker's Square—what with all that pie—was pretty damn cool to a ten-year-old.)

::

Enjoy your weekend. Enjoy your hot dogs. Enjoy your family.

I'll be back before you can miss me.

Mother's Day Gift Guide

I've been planning to combine some of my "products of the day" and some other great finds into gift guides for a while now. After reading Elizabeth's Mother's Day Guide, I was reminded of this plan, and I immediately told Mike this is why I need an iPhone, to set reminders for myself about important dates and birthdays and BLOG IDEAS. Anyway, please visit her site first—she has some incredible picks over there—and then come back here if you have any holes to fill in on your shopping list—for all the spectactular mothers in your life. (Oh, by the way baby—if you're reading this—I'm feeling very vulnerable this year about the whole not-a-mother thing, so why don't you make sure Molly gets me those shoes below, OK?)

1. Francesca's Collections earrings
I discovered Francesca's on my lunch hour one day and, OH BOY, was my life ever changed. It's more than just a clothing boutique, it's more of well-rounded gift shop—gifts for you, for your friends, for the bride-to-be in your life and, also, for your mom. Whenever I take my mom there, she's instantly drawn to the earrings. Check out their online store or a location near you. But, you really can't go wrong with any of dozens of pairs. Like this one:

($24)

2. Red Envelope monogrammed candle and soap set

($40)

My love for Red Envelope runs deep, and my love for personalizing gifts runs even deeper. I love this set—monogramming something slightly unconventional.

3. Anything from Lisa Leonard Designs
This is one of my new favorite go-to gift sites. You would be astounded if I told you how many new moms are in my life. In the last two years, SEVENTEEN people have had a baby (some have had two), and they aren't distant, long-lost acquaintances, they are FRIENDS. They are FAMILY.

For all of these expectant and new moms, I love this spoon ("baby's first spoon"):

($20)

Another beautiful gift to give from Lisa Leonard Designs is this "teenie tiny initial" necklace.

($42 for two charms; $8 for each additional charm)

4. Etsy SewMo Shop
I just found this Etsy shop recently, actually, and I love the unique patterns and interesting colors of the accessories. This particular bag is fantastic:

($46)

5. Fleur-de-lys glasses from Anthropologie

($32 for set of four)

You may be safer ordering these online for the mother in your life who loves collecting pretty (but useful!) things for her home and kitchen. I say safer because the moment you step into an Anthropologie I dare you not to walk up to 9,000 different things lamenting how you can't afford this or that but you just CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT IT. It won't end well. You'll leave depressed (or broke!) and you'll forget you even went in there to pick something up for someone else. So, order online. Trust me.

6. Our Name is Mud mug

($13.50)

I've loved this line for years. (I keep meaning to buy this bling holder for my rings.) They have tons of mugs that would be perfect for the mom you know who is addicted to caffeine. But this particular mug made me think of Crystal, my friend who will be a mom to a little baby girl in late September. Along with dressing her daughter in a million different shades of pink, I think she'll be in need of a pink mug filled with strong, hot coffee, as well.

7. Laptop sleeve

($34)

How many moms do you know who blog? A HELLUVA LOT, RIGHT? Well, if they blog on a laptop (highly possible), they'll need something pretty to carry it in. I love the green one, but it also comes in black, which is just as lovely.

8. J. Crew shoes

($195)

When I'm a mom, this is what I would personally like for Mother's Day. (HEAR THAT MOLLY!) Shoes you can't justify buying for yourself, but shoes that have a Pavlovian effect on you nonetheless.

9. Personalized cards from Sugar Paper

($125 for 50 cards)

This site makes me want to pawn things, so I can afford every set of expensive (but pretty!) stationary. If your mom has been particularly good this year, splurge on a set of personalized flat cards for her. And then ask her to send you a card with a check enclosed.

10. L'Occitane Honey & Lemon gift box

($81)

Every now and again I go in this store and buy one travel-size lotion or powder or room spray. I can't afford any more than that, but I like to have nice things, even if they're particularly small in size. This gift box will spoil the mom you give it to. And there's really nothing like being spoiled if you're a mom, right? At least that's what I've been told. Being Molly's mom is ridiculously difficult, but I don't get much sympathy when I bring that up in conversation with other mothers. Not even when I mention how she loves her dad more than me. (Also, the site is currently offering free shipping for orders over $40. Incentive!)

::

Enjoy shopping for all the mothers you know and love. And look forward to the next gift guide, either Father's Day or "What You Should Buy Me For Our Anniversary"—I think both will be fun.