Just a little bit of cheating

Sweater: H&M, Skirt: H&M, Tights: Hue from Macy's, Boots: Bare Feet in Philly, Belt: Target, Scarf: American Eagle.

I couldn't help it- it was so wet and dreary that I needed to wear my hearts rain boots.

Shirt: H&M, Vest: TJ Maxx, Jeans: Urban Outfitters, Blazer: H&M, Boots: Blowfish Shoes.

Joel and I went out and even though I just added a blazer to Day 8's outfit I am counting it in my remix. I can't believe how easy it was to find something to wear to go when you only have a few options. Applying red lipstick took longer than figuring out what to wear.

I need a lint roller! Stat!

Shirt: Gap, Skirt: H&M, Boots: Blowfish Shoes, Tights: Hue from Macy's, Belt: Target, Socks: Sock Dreams, Scarf: American Eagle.

I really wanted to make this skirt work in a more casual way. Not the most convenient outfit to wear for a day spent indoors when you're just playing with your kid on the carpet. Especially a carpet that needs to be seriously vacuumed of cat hair. However, it is a fun outfit to wear to surprise your husband when he comes home for lunch expecting to see you in pajamas. We also went out for pizza that night! I am very easily influenced and when I read about Elizabeth's day of crafting with a pizza break included I suddenly wanted and needed pizza. Hopefully no one will be posting about diamond necklaces anytime soon.

Cheesin!!!

It is so very gray today! Sheets of rain coming down and it doesn't look like it has any intentions of stopping. The Jbaby and I might head out today or maybe we'll just stay in listening to music and dancing around his bedroom. Jimmy Eat World's The Middle followed by The Beach Boys' When I Grow Up To Be A Man.

In the past year my baby has looked like so many different family members but never really me. Here though with his big teeth and scrunched nose I see that my son is taking after his mommy... just a little bit.

Did you want to talk about the weather or were you just making chitchat?

Gray Shirt: Target, Button down: H&M, Jeans: Target, Socks: Target, Shoes: Blowfish Shoes, Belt & Scarf: Target.

Oh my goodness it was so hard finding a spot that wouldn't have me glaring into the setting sun or having Joel work some backlit magic (in the 2 seconds we had to actually take some photos).

So I want to talk about my hair. I do this a lot... talk about my hair. I talk about the frizz and the crazy curls. I talk about how long it takes me to blow my hair out or how long I will go in between washes. I even talk about how I have nightmares of my hair being wet when I specifically remember having it just blow dried. The recipient of all these stories is of course Joel. And he loves me so he listens... or he pretends to listen. If I ask him if he heard a word I said he'll ramble off... blow dryer, frizz, curls, crazy. It reminds me of a time not so long ago when I was in Florida and telling Joel how much I missed my ped egg and how my heels felt dry and unloved. He quickly began asking me how our adorable son was enjoying visiting with my family. I called him out on cutting me off... didn't he want to hear about my heels? Didn't he care? Nope, no he did not... not for the state of my heels he didn't. But my hair is a different story he'll at least pretend to listen to those tales. All that to say is my hair is acting very Jekyll and Hyde today. It wanted to be curly... no it wanted to be straight... no it wanted to be curly. So I just let all the personalities out and tamed it best I could.

And then it hits me- I am a Mommy!

Shirt: Target, Vest: TJ Maxx, Jeans: Urban Outfitters, Socks: Target, Boots: Blowfish Shoes, Scarf: Target, Necklace: Charlotte Russe.

Here's the lowdown: Jonah is napping, Joel gets home, I check to see if I have cheerios or cottage cheese remnants stuck to my clothes, pull on my shoes, and we both run outside for 2 minutes to take photos. I am very lucky to have a husband who not only can wield a camera but knows how to work it (we're talking all Manual mode)- I know how to pick 'em!!! Taking these photos don't take a long time but we usually make it happen during Jonah's nap. Well, yesterday Jonah took a shorter nap and there was no running outside for a second to snap some shots without him. He was also in a rather clingy mood so- he joined me for Day 15. I tried to have Joel hold him while taking some solo shots but all of them are of me trying to make Jonah laugh. Plus, a cute baby has got to make me look cute too by comparison, right? Right??

13 months later and I look at that boy and say to Joel, "We have a baby!" or "We're parents?!!" then followed by a, "When, how did that happen?" Sometimes I am just in disbelief that I get to be a mommy to the coolest little man around. And it's just WOW!!! I'm a Mommy!.

put a scarf on it!

Shirt: GAP, Skirt: H&M, Tights: Vera Wang at Kohl's, Boots: Blowfish Shoes, Scarf: H&M, Belt: Target.

I didn't know how I would feel about the whole belted scarf thing. But I like it!! All these warm tones aren't what I usually pick out but I have had this scarf forever and just wanted to try it out. I tried it a few different ways but then settled for tied in the back, drapey in the front. I have a ton of scarves so maybe this will be something I continue with future outfits. Exciting, exciting!!

What else is exciting these days? Oh oh oh... Grey's Anatomy season's 1-4 are streaming on Netflix! I've only watched season's 5 & 6, so I'm pretty stoked to catch up from the beginning. So yeah, scarves, Grey's Anatomy, and finishing a box of cookies in 3 days.

Laundry Day

Top: JC Penney, Sweater: H&M, Jeans: Target, Boots: Blowfish Shoes, Belt: Target, Scarf: Camden Market in London.

How was your weekend? Although Joel had to work on Saturday it was a pretty relaxing weekend at home. We went out to dinner a few times and partied hard Saturday night... and by party hard I mean food shopping at Trader Joe's. I stared longingly at a box of Maple Leaf cookies until Joel told me I could get them. Oh man I love cookies and I am pretty proud of myself that I didn't grab the box from the cashier and start eating them right away (Joel was really surprised that I controlled myself).

Moving on! It's definitely laundry time seeing as my ruffly mustard top is already making a reappearance. And my sweater came with complimentary cat hair!

Dance Party Monday: Happy Birthday Kim!

So my friend Kim who has been mentioned here & here is celebrating her birthday today!! Although we met in person a few times between 2002 & 2003, our friendship actually began over myspace. We realized we had a love for knitting, sales at H&M, cats and imitating our boyfriends snoring patterns. Once our friendship began it really went full force and we've been in the honeymoon stage ever since.

Kim is truly an amazing friend. She is genuine and thoughtful. She's all for a night out but appreciates staying in watching movies or just chatting. She's a great listener too which must be exhausting since I tend to call her for anything. She knows how to throw an awesome party, make a killer vodka tonic, put together the best music for a bachelorette party and a drive across the states, and be the friend you can always count on. She also drives down to Philly on a moments notice to take the greatest family portraits of us ever. She inspires me to work harder and be a better photographer. And it should go without saying- she is the bestest mommy to baby Thea!

Happy Birthday Kim! I hope you get your dancing on today!!

Fashion Show! Fashion Show! Fashion Show at Lunch!!

Top: JC Penney, Cardigan: Target, Jeans: Old Navy, Belt: NY&Company, Shoes: Blowfish Shoes

Shirt: H&M, Button down Vest: F21, Blazer: H&M, Jeans: Target, Scarf: American Eagle, Belt: Target, Socks: Sock Dreams, Boots: Blowfish Shoes

This is what catch up looks like! 2 days in a row I didn't take a photo. So while my sister in law was over hanging out with the Jbear, I put on what I wore the past 2 days, ran outside with Joel and we had ourselves a little fashion show. Very chic runway no?

Anytime I think of the words fashion & show together I think of this scene from The Office. It's toward the end of the clip.

Besties with Babies 30 for 30 edition

Shirt: H&M, Sweater: H&M, Jeans: Urban Outfitters, Shoes: Blowfish Shoes, Belt: Target, Scarf: Target.

J baby and I had some visitors yesterday! My gal Kim and her adorable Thea girl came up to CT to hang out and since we're both doing the 30 for 30 challenge we decided to take our photos together. Our babies are only 3 months apart so Kim and I have been on this ride together pretty much since the very beginning.

Here is the first Besties with Babies photo taken when the kids were 1 & 4 months old.

And this is from Fall 2009 when we were Besties with Bellies!

sometimes sushi comes first

Shirt: Gap, Cowl neck tunic: American Apparel, Jeans: Target, Shoes: Blowfish Shoes, Necklace: F21, Scarf & Belt: Target.

I can't deny that I miss living in Philly but being closer to family has unlimited perks. In the middle of the day if Joel or I decide we want to go out we can just call up Joel's folks to see if they are free to hang with the J baby. Last night we went with some of Joel's friends to an All You Can Eat Sushi place. I love sushi and kinda know the spectrum of having great sushi in San Francisco and bad bad pre-packaged hand rolls- so I was a bit skeptical. However, Joel's friends kinda swore by it and it totally delivered! Two servings of red bean ice cream for dessert was pretty sweet as well. So yeah, photos got pushed back til after dinner in the midst of a sushi coma.

New Boots! (finally)

The boots featured in these next photos are not the brown ones I posted in this post because those ones were basically the same as my black boots (AND made my calves look 20x thicker). I also had to swap out my black sweater vest because Joel made me. It was way too worn looking and needed to go. It has been replaced with a pinstripe vest. Important information isn't it?

Shirt: H&M, Vest: TJ Maxx, Jeans: Urban Outfitters, Boots: Blowfish Shoes (I really love their shoes), Scarf: Target, Necklace: F21.

nerd face: ALL ME!

Does anyone else get that slouchiness around their knees when wearing boots? Or do I need to do some french cuffing before I slide my boots on? Oh wait, I think french cuffs on jeans are back in style. Sorry for the mocking!

La La Love You

shoes: yes the same black boots again!, blazer: H&M, shirt: Target, skirt: H&M, tights: (I promise they are a different pair than day 5) Macy's, socks: Target, scarf: American Eagle.

shirt: Zara, skirt: H&M, belt: Kohl's, shoes: Target, necklace: Aldo

I have a lot of catching up to do with my outfits since all I wore in Florida were shorts. Valentine's Day isn't necessarily over in this house, seeing as it takes me a whole week to accomplish all the plans I had.

The 14th was a fun day though spent with Jonah, a lunch visit from Joel and going to surprise my sister in law at work. I went to the store to buy some flowers and loved how I was the only woman in line. I loved watching all the men pick out arrangements for their significant others, possibly sweating a little bit, but ultimately pleased with their selection. I had Sir Squawky Squawkenson with me (seriously my kid is SO LOUD) otherwise I could have stayed in the flower department all afternoon smiling at everyone making their Valentine's Day purchases. Yes, I'm a weirdo but I love flowers and balloons- and smiling "smiling is my favorite".

HOME!!

Dress: Gap, Cardigan: Target, Blazer: H&M, Belt: from a dress from Century 21, Tights: Macy's, Socks: Target, Boots: Blowfish Shoes

Scarf: Camden Town Market in London. I am such a sucker for that market and always buy a scarf when I go.

So I took Jonah down to Florida, with my dad, to meet his side of the family. It was a short trip but packed with so much happiness. Along with my dad's brother and sister, Jonah got to meet my 94 year old grandmother and liked her immediately. It was so incredible to watch his face light up with all the new attention he was getting. And to say that my child rules at traveling is an understatement! So now we're back home to mounds of snow wherever you look and wearing layers and layers. But the days are getting a little bit longer and spring really does feel like it's around the corner.

Dance Party Monday Lovey Love edition

Two for Valentine's Day! I absolutely love Feist and this song never gets old for me. I think I played it everyday in 2006. The Erykah Badu song is from one of my favorite movies "Brown Sugar". OH MY GOODNESS I love that movie!!! This song has been a constant in my singing in the shower routine.

I need to go and have a kickin' dance party with my baby Valentine! Have a wonderful day!!

Do you wanna dance??

The best way to start a new week is with a DANCE PARTY!!! Happy Dance Party Monday!

I play this song for Jonah to start off our mornings.

Peace out snow!

Shoes: Blowfish Shoes, Shirt: Target, Skirt: H&M, Belt & Socks: Target, Tights: Macy's, Scarf Anthropologie, Jacket: F21

I just couldn't take my coat off for this photo- it was beyond freezing. Oh wait maybe it's because I'm wearing a skirt! It was just so dreary today I needed to wear some bright colors!! I am going to have to abandon the 30 for 30 challenge for a few days because the J boy and I are headed down to Florida. And all my long sleeve tops and jeans just won't work for 75-80 degree weather.

dud city

I'm hoping that I can only go up from here! Day 1-3 of the 30 for 30 project:

I didn't leave the house once this day, but I did cook a tasty risotto!!!

shirt: Target, vest: F21, saggy butt jeans: Old Navy, belt: Target, stripey socks: Old Navy (circa 2 holes in the heel ago)

shoes:black boots from Blowfish Shoes, shirt: Gap, jeans: Target, necklace: F21, socks & scarf: Target

When it's cold my neck gets all crazy like.

shoes: Blowfish shoes, shirt: Target, jeans: Mar Cooperative from Urban Outfitters, belt: Target, necklace: a gift from my bff Kate, scarf: I made it!

The color in J's room.

Jonah's nursery is SO much bigger than the one he had in Philly but I do miss his old room. I have so many visually strong memories of painting his room with Joel while I was pregnant, watching Joel put together his crib, and hanging up all the framed photographs. I'll have to put up the photos from his former room soon.

With all the snow and gray skies going on these days I decided I wanted to focus on color! And even though his walls are still stark white there is so much color going on in his room. Still so

much more to come!!

I want some Apple Drink- it's greeeeen

I have a love/hate relationship with layering. I like to do it when it's on my terms- say a ruffly shirt under a v-neck sweater. I hate when it's necessary because said ruffly shirt and v-neck sweater are too short for my torso. One of the issues of being tall I guess but it seems that all my height comes from my upper body which makes layering extra long tanks necessary (even if they are just regular length on me). I just want shirts to be long enough so I am not constantly tugging at them. Or I might have to bring back Donna Martin esque cropped tops back in style. And nobody wants to see that.

This is not my first 30 for 30 outfit (that one is kind of a dud) but I wanted to post it because I had fun wearing a ruffly shirt, fake pearls, and green eyeshadow.

Does Phil feel lucky?

So many things I want to share. First! Today is Groundhog Day and to quote my friend Kim "To say you guys are weird for Groundhog Day is an understatement" kind of explains how excited Joel and I get for this particular day. I mean who doesn't love Bill Murray AND Punxsy Phil? Am I right? But it is also the day that Joel remembers meeting me all those years ago (10 to be exact). And I say remembers because we ACTUALLY met in August of 2000 but for reasons beyond comprehension he can't recall meeting me then. Punk! Punxsutawney is a great little town that we have visited twice- the first time was just some random January weekend and the second time was actually for Groundhog Day. I think today we will only communicate with each other using quotes from the movie- because we are super clever like that. And by clever I mean really really lame. But who cares- it's GROUNDHOG DAY!!! Much like REX MANNING DAY! It also feels special thinking back to February 2, 2001 which was kind of the start of it all- the friendship that eventually became something more.

Today also starts Day 1, for me, for a project I am doing called 30 for 30. Kendi of Kendi Everyday started it last year as a way to learn how to shop your own closet for outfits and inspiration. It's a really cool concept- pick 30 items (including shoes) and wear them for 30 days. And while you're making up outfits with only these 30 items you can't go shopping. I have to admit that I am NOT a big shopper*. I love the idea of shopping but then I got bogged down with too many choices and my (annoying) ability to rationalize why I don't need this or that. My mother, on the other hand, never needs an excuse to shop which is evident when I go back home and realize that she has a closet just for pants. Her summer pants are in another closet.

So why am I doing this? Although I don't have a crazy closet full of clothes I do want to learn how to shop smarter and how to pair potential new clothes with what I own already. As a stay at home mom living in what feels like the Arctic Tundra I don't really feel like putting in the effort to wear anything besides comfy pants and a hoodie and many, many layers of socks. I also want to get rid of some clothes and wearing them to death this month seems like a great guilt free way to do so. Here are the items I am choosing for this project:

4 button downs. 2 sweater vests.

5 long sleeve shirts. 1 short sleeve tee. 1 cowl neck

4 jeans.

2 dresses. 2 skirts.

2 cardigans. 1 blazer. 2 sweaters.

3 shoes.

I am one item short. It may be for a pair of sneakers or maybe, just maybe, I will keep it as a wild card! Kim is joining me in this venture so it will be exciting to see what she comes up with as well.

BING!!

*this is quite a huge contradiction to my pre college days when Contempo Casuals (what is now Wet Seal and truly not the same) was my favorite place in the whole world. I could also make an outfit for under 40 bucks. Just ask Jaime Rader.

pink!

I woke up wanting to wear pink eyeshadow. I found a shirt that would go with hot pink and had way too much fun during Jonah's nap.

Plans and rambles. Rambles and plans.

I keep thinking of something I heard, read, made up myself (I doubt that)- "I'm mediocre at best". I wish I remember the actual quote and who said it. I always thought of it though when it came to me and my aspirations or endeavors. I've always spread myself thin whether I was in high school belonging to every club under the sun or spending a weekend at home trying to visit with all of my family and friends. I even thought of this when I met a girl who traveled to every Radiohead show when they would tour. I remember thinking how I could never dedicate myself to just one band- I have too much love for many bands which resulted in me just enjoying the majority of them in the comfort of my own home. Sure, I would love to be great at one thing instead of kind of good at a few random things. But that is just not me! I love photography. I love to dance (like really really love to dance). I enjoy baking and the satisfaction of eating what I just made even if it burns my tongue (no patience when sugar, eggs and butter are involved). I love good music and bad music and making compilations of my favorite songs. I love watching t.v shoes that make me laugh and movies that make me cry. I have a lot of fun playing with make up, clothes and hairstyles and wigs. I go crazy over pretty paper and ribbon. I talk a lot and ramble about things that get me excited (like my husband, my baby boy, kitties, baby leg warmers, shimmery eyeshadow, curl taming hair creme and french fries).

So I decided that this is what this space will be about: my adventures in mommyhood, starting my photography business in a new state, and everything else that brings excitement and happiness into my life.