Photo du Jour

What an Opportunity!

If you get a chance to head down to Salem for the fair, you could swing by this booth to find out your fate. We kept walking...

Shoes

What does your papa do? Mine makes shoes...and shoes are the best toys.

New Uniforms

O's oldest bro, the captain, just returned from another visit to Afganistan. He brought back matching soccer uniforms for my boys. How fun. Go team.

Living at the End of the Earth

My roomie from freshman year and I have managed to keep in touch all these years. I don't know the last time I saw her (jojo, was it 99??? has it been 10 years?), but I am so glad that she and I are still buds. Post college this smarty pants went on to get her MBA...in french...a Paris. Where she fell for a dude from Chili.

After the MBA was done, they got hitched, moved to Santiago, and had a baby girl. So cool. But she didn't stop there...they have now moved to some tiny town at the bottom of Chili, where they are helping to run the family seafood business.

How interesting, right?!?! And lucky for me (and you), she FINALLY started a blog...check it out. This will not be your average mommy blog.

State Fair

I love me a good state fair. I have never been to Oregon's, but perhaps that will change this weekend? Their website is so well done, I love the cute graphics. I wonder if my boys would like a day at the fair? What is not to like? Of course they would like it!

Yard Chickens

I think this picture is so cute. I like eggs. But I do not intend to join the movement of keeping urban chickens.

I am starting to feel like the only person in Portland that doesn't have (or at least want to have) chickens in my yard. Is this craze happening across the country or just here?

Sidenote: If I ever did keep chickens (trust me, I won't), I'd make sure they had a really cute coop.

I like this modern option spotted on dwell's blog :

Or perhaps something more classic...

What a Nest

This mobile is the cutest ever. It was custom made by the Anthro design team...no wonder its perfect. Birdie, you could whip one of these up, no?

And the mobile is just a tiny part of the most creative nursery I have ever seen. Check it all out here. Love it.

Photo du Jour

Taken by his teacher at school.

Derby

We hit the derby Saturday. So fun. We'll definitely be back next year. I predict that one of these years O will be part of a derby team...

Below is a great video that will give you an idea of the event if you missed it.

My Two Favorite W's

Below, my godson WRL.

And here is my WKF, when he was little enough for the W shirt.

You've Been Tagged - Vintage O

O just got tagged in a facebook picture taken 10+ years ago. Crazy how that can happen in the age of facebook...isn't it?

How funny is this picture though? And how cute is my hubby (2nd from the left...)? This was taken at about the time we started dating.

Photo du Jour

It's never too soon to learn...check out my little sk8 rat. So Portland. Burnside next weekend...

UVM Pride

Check her out! Melissa d'Arabian is the "Next Food Network Star" winner. And she is my (sorority) sister.

How cute is she? No surprise, everyone knows the AXO girls are the cutest. And of course she is the total package, a wife, a mom, a chef, and a now a TV star...just your typical AXO...

Do you watch the food network? Well, if so, watch for her. And if not, start.

Much like this sister of mine, I also fondly remember the late plates on Main Street from my college days. I would race home from track practice and devour whatever Gina had left out...ah, those were good days...

"Ten Dollar Dinners with Melissa d’Arabian” premiered Aug. 9 and airs at 12:30 p.m. Sundays on the Food Network.

It's Derby Time

My hometown hosts the All American Soap Box Derby each year at Derby Downs. This is a clean-cut, all-american event for kids.

Each year Portland hosts our own version of the Soap Box Derby. Our version is for adults. It looks amazing and each year I intend to check it out...perhaps tomorrow we'll actually go and see this for ourselves.

The PDX version of the derby takes place on a volcano (Mt. Tabor). There are some (but not many) rules. Some of my favorite rules are:

• NO KEGS! Cans and bottles are fine.
• NO BOOZE! Parks does not permit hard liquor. Drink your vodka later on.
• Keep your beers in the “Beer Garden” – this year the “Beer Garden” means the 10 feet
  either side of the entire course.
• Pick up your trash and don’t pee in the bushes

Chillin' in the Cart

When WKF goes to the grocery store, he just kicks back and relaxes in that cart...

I Gotta Try This

According to this post, all I have to do is freeze bananas, then throw them in the food processor, et voila, banana ice cream! I'll let you know how it goes...

Boys Weekend

While I was away for the weekend, the boys hit up the Dew Tour. Looks like they both had a great time. I'm glad uncle bobby was there to document...

I know his hair is (too) long...we have cut it twice...and he is ready for #3. But I sorta like the shaggy look too...

Mama's Home!

Oh I had a great trip. So much fun with my best girls.

Below is the only picture that I took all weekend. This was taken from the patio of the condo. How amazing is this place?!?! It was unreal. So much fun! So great. There was ZERO reason to even leave that patio. Yes, that is a private pool...on the patio...just for us...heaven.

I had a little incident on Saturday morning. Which required a 911 call and some blood loss and some venom and sirens and lots of pain and panic. I was stung by a stingray. Not fun. Why did we leave the private pool?! Why?!

I won't bore you with the details, but it was AWFUL. And next time you go in the ocean...do the "stingray shuffle". I'd tell you how to do it, but obviously I have no idea...

Thank god my girls were there! They rallied into action, calling 911, helping to get me to safety, stopping the bleeding, helping me through the 4.5 hour poison period (painful!), keeping the wound submerged in scalding hot water (the only treatment for a stingray attack), and keeping me positive through the ordeal.

True friends, they were prepared to pee on the wound (what? we heard it worked for jellyfish attacks!) and/or suck out the venom (haven't you read "Twilight"?). Thank god 911 was there in just a few minutes...the paramedics would have had a good laugh if they walked up on us treating the wound in our own way...

The baby and I are just fine. Still swollen, bruised and a little tingly, but getting better every minute. What an experience.

Despite the attack, it was THE BEST weekend. You know you have amazing friends and you are in a fab place if you can honestly claim that you had a fabulous weekend despite a stingray attack.

Oh my girls, I love you! Can't wait for our next TBL weekend! xoxo

Beach Bunny

By the time you read this, I'll be at the beach with my girls. Offline for a few days. Have a fab weekend.

Bon Anniversaire

Bon Anniversaire Coco!


If I know you, there is going to be a big party in St. Tropez this weekend...I wish we could be there! Maybe next year?

WKF is really itching to get back to Paris...he regrets sleeping through so much of it the first time...

We love our Coco!

Workplace Chatter

I love being pregnant. I love working. I don't really love when the two overlap.

Here is a memo to men (and in most cases other women too): never use these words when talking to a prego chick at work.

Crazy
Fat
Period
Cervix
Dilate
Bleeding
Tearing
Fertile
Ovulate
Conceive
Stretch Marks
Kegel
VBAC
Boob
Breast
Lactate
Nipple

I don't care if your wife has had a baby too...it doesn't make it more comfortable for me and it doesn't make you an expert. To play it extra safe...maybe just don't use the above words ever at the workplace.

I think in the last 2 years I have heard all of the above...in office place conversations. Weird, right?

The above pix are from my first go round. Poor baby#2...no belly shots have been taken yet. Gotta get on that...

Do you Kindle?

My new kindle arrived yesterday. I am so excited to get it going. Do you use one? Do you like it?

Any good books I should read? I have a long flight tomorrow (YIPEE!!! Girls weekend here I come!) and I'd love to have a great plane read loaded up...

Indoor S'mores

Ever since the recent holiday, I have been on a big s'mores kick. They are so good. And who says you have to be camping (or even outside) to enjoy them.

Balance - Part Deux

As promised, I am checking back in with you about balance...

I have been back to work for several months now...and I must say...I LOVE it. I LOVE it like I have never loved work before. I only work 2 days (was 3, now 2), and it's pretty great.

I must also say that the hardest day at work is way easier than the most average day at home with a baby. Without a doubt, full time mom-ing is the hardest.

At this moment, I feel like I really have this balance thing pretty well sorted out. For now. And...I am so confident that will all change when #2 arrives in a few short months. However, I think the balance thing is always evolving...that is part of it.

I also think that I am soooooooo glad I came back to work, because for me it was the right move.

Who knows how I'll feel on this topic 6 months and a year and 5 years from now. But right now...I feel GREAT. How about you? We girls can have it all!

PS - I got the above image here.

Holiday!

Um, in case you forgot, today is a holiday! Happy National S'mores Day to all of you.

I know what we'll do to celebrate.

Photo du Jour

This was taken by his teacher at school on Friday. So sweet. His grandfather (BryGuy) had, and loved a doll (which he still has and loves) that looked very similar to this one...

My Roots

I live on the west coast these days, but I was born in New England. My parents are spending a few weeks at the cottage (yes, its still for sale....)...and they made a day trip down to the birthplace of SKF.

Here is my first house...cute, isn't she? I don't remember her, I was pretty young when we moved away.

And here is my first (and best) babysitter. She's cute too, isn't she? I do remember her.

I wish I could have been there for the visit. Thanks for sending the pix.

It's Almost Weanniemoon Time

WKF has been weaned since he turned one...but my celebratory moon hasn't happened. Yet. But it is coming soon.

One week from today, I will be in heaven with 3 of my best girlfriends. No babies, no boys, just us...and the ocean, and the pool, and the sun, and the sand, and probably a bag of doritos. I AM SO EXCITED! Aghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. I think about this trip every day. Can't wait!

Bon Anniversaire

Today is PapaF's bday. He is a stud.

Funny Confession XLIII

You are officially not cool when an article in the WALL STREET JOURNAL (of all places) makes you feel unhip...which happened to me this morning.

Today's article about texting lingo left me feeling old and out of the know.

Do you know what any of these acronyms mean?! Do you use them?

WOMBAT (waste of money, brains and time)
WRUD (what are you doing)
IMO (in my opinion)
ROFL (rolling on floor laughing)
SWDYT (so what do you think)
WDYM (what do you mean)
GNOC (get naked on camera)
LMIRL (let's meet in real life)
IWSN (I want sex now)

Funny stuff. According to the Journal, we need to get smart and keep up with such lingo or we will not be able to communicate with our children. Yikes. I hope my children never GNOC because IMO that is trashy.