Clouds

*Image and product from Velocity

I love these wall decals. Especially if you happen to have light blue walls, these puffy clouds along with a fun airplane would be a great way to decorate a wall in your kid's room.

34 Things To Do Before Turning 35

*Some goals are easier to achieve than others. Getting to Barcelona to visit my sister and meet her new little man was an easy one.

I turn 35 on March 26th. As you may recall, I created a list of 34 things I wanted to accomplish before this date. I achieved some, and didn't achieve others. I may be able to get a couple more checked off before the date, and some will remain undone, but overall, I think I did pretty well. It was fun to create the list, and it was fun to check them off.

Here's how I did:

1. Take more bubble baths (this one will continue to be a goal)
2. Go apple picking
3. Create photo book in time to give it to my husband for Christmas
4. Visit Barcelona to meet my new nephew (So much fun!)
5. Write letters to 3 friends (Christmas cards don't count!)
6. Sign up for a yoga class (probably won't happen, especially now that I'm fully round and pregnant, but I'm focusing on getting exercise at home)
7. Take a picture of all 3 of us for our holiday cards
8. Organize our office desk at home (Okay, it didn't happen, but we're getting rid of our desk as a part of the next phase of house renovations, so this will resolve itself soon.)
9. Get dressed up and go to the Holiday Pops with K (Had tickets and babysitter all lined up - Darn snowstorm prevented us from going. Booooooo.)
10. Get rid of my wedding dress (if no takers on Craig's List, then donate) (Update: Okay, now my sister and SIL insist that I give it to someone in the family instead. So family - any takers?)
11. Take the little boy to the library (This has become a favorite Saturday morning activity.)
12. Bake a yummy gift for the neighbors for the holidays
13. Make time to see old friends while home for Thanksgiving (Marking it off because the holiday is over, not because I actually followed through. I tried, though - really I did!)
14. Spiffy up my desk at the office - new family photos, new calendar, clean out files, etc.
15. Watch Fantasia again (I only have a VHS, which just doesn't do it justice. My new goal is to get the DVD.)
16. Learn how to play a few new songs on the guitar (It's time to learn a couple more, though!)
17. Do some lessons in my Spanish instruction book - work towards doing one per week (Sigh....isn't going to happen.)
18. See a movie in the theater, complete with popcorn and raisinets
19. Use my still-unused spa gift card and get a pedicure (I just finished up this wonderful card and got a fabulous facial this weekend! Awesome!)
20. Host a brunch for some friends and little ones (This continues to be postponed due to our next phase of house renovations. I will do it eventually, I swear.)
21. Eat dinner at Blue Ginger, or maybe No. 9 Park if I'm really good (We had a wonderful dinner at Blue Ginger the night we found out it was a boy!)
22. Go sledding with my boys (Isn't going to happen this year.)
23. Bake a pie from scratch
24. Surprise my husband with homemade chocolate pudding (Maybe this weekend?)
25. Organize my CDs (Next phase of house renovations will force this one as well - it won't happen by 3/26, but it will happen.)
26. Get my hair colored at the salon
27. Organize drawers in the little boy's room (I did one - well, I basically just emptied it out, but still...that counts, right?)
28. Tickle the boy and giggle every day*
29. Organize my recipe binder
30. Pick out window treatments for our new downstairs windows (New windows coming soon!)
31. Clean out nightstand drawers
32. Go to a museum
33. Do some sit-ups and push-ups and stretching while watching TV
34. Carve a jack-o-lantern out of one of our home-grown pumpkins - let the little boy make a huge mess with the insides

Recipe of the Week

*Image from Cooking Light

I know I haven't done a "This Week's Menu" post in a while. My lack of inspiration has hit the kitchen, too, I'm afraid. My husband's been traveling a lot, so I haven't been especially motivated to try new things. This weekend, though, I got a new issue of Cooking Light, which is usually a good source of food inspiration for me, and I decided it was time to try something new.

I made Goat Cheese and Roasted Corn Quesadillas on Sunday night, and they were so incredibly easy and tasty. I used frozen instead of fresh corn, which is more convenient and works just fine. This recipe will be cut and placed in my trusty recipe binder for future reference. As suggested, I served with yellow rice and black beans. The little boy loved this dinner, too, which is always a bonus.

Goodbye, Green Curtains

This post will make my sister smile. We are getting ready to begin the next phase of house renovations. This includes major updates to the living room and office, including new windows, a gas fireplace/mantle/surround, built-in bookcases, lighting, and more. It is going to be fabulous.

We've had to tackle home projects in stages, and this has required us to live with some less-than-ideal situations. This includes some rather awful green curtains in the living room. I suppose I could've just taken them off and done without anything in there, but the naked windows seemed worse than just leaving them alone. Anyway, now that we are finally about to replace the windows and cover them properly (we're thinking wood blinds), I am ecstatic to be saying goodbye to the ugly green curtains.

This post contains only a "before" picture, of course, since the work is just getting started. The real "after" pictures are probably a couple months away, especially since Kevin is taking on the painting himself. But I still thought it was worth a little moment of celebration as we took the curtains down, and I plan to post more steps along the way as we move towards a prettier and more comfortable living space.

Tease

To take my mind off the fact that it's snowing right now, I thought I'd post a picture from yesterday. We had a very nice weekend, with temperatures in the 50s. The little boy was beyond excited to be able to play outside. Most of the snow melted away, revealing the grass and offering hope for Spring. I must grudgingly recognize that Spring doesn't officially start until the 21st, so I guess snow is still fair game.

March and April are all about "teaser days" - those few nice sunny days that make you think Spring is here to stay, followed by cold and wet days that slap you back into reality. My goal this year is to fully appreciate every nice day and remember that the cold and wet days will make the flowers more glorious when they do finally arrive.

Inspiration

A few of my loyal readers - okay, I know there are only a handful of you anyway, but I still love you all - have pointed out that I am neglecting my blog and that they miss me. That's nice to hear, and I appreciate it. To be honest, I just haven't been very inspired lately. I'm trying, though.

So let's start the week with just a few stories from the biggest source of joy and inspiration in my life - my little boy.

1. One night last week, he was getting cranky, because he wanted a snack, but it was almost dinnertime, so I was saying no. I said, "But Aaron, it's almost time for dinner, and we're going to have pierogies and kielbasa..." I didn't get anything else out before he leapt up with a big smile on his face and said "HOORAY KIELBASA!" He happily helped me prepare dinner as he continued to say "mmmmm...pierogies and kielbasa". His polish family would be proud.

*Image/Product from CafePress.com. I might just have to get this. With a matching one for Kevin.

*Image from http://www.espn.com/

2. Aaron has watched many sports games with me, and it is starting to rub off. I love this. Yesterday, as we watched the UNC/Duke basketball game, he spontaneously threw his arm in the air and cheered, "Go Tar Heels!" It makes a mother proud. I am confident that I'll have him firmly cemented as a part of Red Sox nation this summer as well.

3. Me: "Come on, honey, time to go upstairs for bathtime." Aaron: "But I can't, Mommy. I'm sleeping with Daddy."

There are tons of other funny things he does, and I really want to capture more of them. He is growing such a fun personality as he grows more and more into a "big boy". How the time does fly...

The Black Keys - Lengths

I was introduced to The Black Keys quite a few years ago, and for some reason, I didn't run out and buy all their albums. Not sure why, because I actually really like them. They're a great band to see live. This is one of their slower songs, but I like it, so I thought I'd share. Hope you enjoy and have a wonderful weekend.

Singing, Salsa, and Hope for Spring

This week's Three Beautiful Things:

1. The little boy serenaded me all the way home. The song list included the ABC's, Baa Baa Black Sheep, Good Morning Friends How are You?, She'll be Coming Round the Mountain, and Mary had a Little Lamb. He even started the ABC's in Spanish but gave up halfway through - he's not as confident with that one yet, but he's getting there. Maybe he'll continue to enjoy singing as much as I do.

2. I pulled out a forgotten jar of Salsa Verde to serve with our enchiladas. It hit exactly the right spot.

3. There is still quite a bit of snow on the ground, and it's still February in New England, so it's cold. But! Enough of the snow has melted so that I can see some grass. And Spring Training has begun. I'm going to buy myself some more tulips this weekend, to remind me of all those tulip bulbs we planted in the Fall. I love these hopeful signs that Spring will one day arrive.

Quote of the Day

Tina Fey is fabulous, and I love this quote:

"I think every working mom probably feels the same thing which is you go through big chunks of time where you're just going 'this is impossible -- oh this is impossible.' And then you just keep going and keep going and you sort of do the impossible." - Tina Fey

Taking Care

Here I am relaxing on my sister's terrace in Barcelona. I did a good job of relaxing while I was there.

I'm exhausted. And I'm tired of being exhausted. I know I'm not unique. A lot of us - moms in particular - struggle to find balance in our everyday lives. I've reached a point where I wanted to spend a few minutes to create some goals for myself to help alleviate this problem. I know it's always important for me to take care of myself, and it's particularly important now, being pregnant.

All these goals are focused on now through the end of June, when my schedule will go away for a while. Thank goodness for summer babies!

1. Breakfast. I typically eat breakfast with my son in the morning, and in order to get out of the house in a reasonable timeframe, I stick to easy options: oatmeal, waffles, cereal. I do often add fruit, but I'm thinking I need to increase my non-carb consumption in the morning. I may not be able to change my first breakfast, but I can update my second breakfast, which occurs after I arrive at work. My current latte and bagel/croissant is not the right answer. Yogurt and fruit should be easy enough.

2. Exercise. I am currently not getting much, and I really struggle with the best way to fit it into my schedule. I get much more in the warmer months when I can take walks and there's more daylight to work with. My goal: 3 yoga/exercise videos per week. On nights when I've planned leftovers, I'm hoping I can squeeze one in after work. (That's of course dependent on the little boy's mood. I get up at 5:30AM as it is, so early morning doesn't seem feasible.) On weekends, I'll take advantage of naptime.

3. Bedtime. 5:30 comes fast. I need to be in bed by 9:30. Period. I'm going to focus on making that happen more often, allowing some time to read as well. That means watching less TV, and that's okay too.

4. Music. I know I need to inject some fun into my everyday life as well. Not much improves my mood like a really good song. I am on a mission to fill my car CD player with new music. Any suggestions?

5. Books. It's such a great thing when you find a book that you can immerse yourself in. I've read a lot of great books this year, but I have now run out and have nothing on my nightstand at the moment. Again, any suggestions? I'm actually thinking of going back and re-reading (or in some cases, reading for the first time) some classics. I read Wuthering Heights in the 7th grade but can't remember it at all. I remember adoring Gone with the Wind in the 8th grade. I bet I would still adore it now. What are your favorites?

Everything is Amazing, Nobody is Happy...

My cousin posted this to Facebook, and I love it. I have no idea who this guy is, but he provides some great reminders of how much we all take for granted these days.

Oscars Faves

I love that I have a husband who will stay up later than usual to watch the Oscars with me. We rarely make it to the end, of course, but I do enjoy watching them. I thought this year's show was a little dull, actually, but I was very happy with the winners. Slumdog Millionaire is fantastic, Kate Winslet so deserved an Oscar (I love her!), and Sean Penn is fabulous. (I haven't seen Milk yet, but I want to and have heard it's fantastic.)

I also wasn't terribly impressed with a lot of the dresses, but there were a few that stood out to me. Here are my faves:

Jennifer didn't walk the red carpet, so it was harder to find pictures of her. Not sure these do her justice, but I thought she looked beautiful.

Thinking about the Who would play you? conversation, Natalie Portman is my husband's answer for me. He calls her my Hollywood double, and I certainly don't mind. She's gorgeous. Last night, when she walked on stage, he commented that she has my neck. I liked that compliment very much. She has a very nice neck. ;-)

Stunningly beautiful.

Who Would Play You, part 2

I mean, totally, right?

Who Would Play You?

If they made a movie about your life, what actress would be cast in the leading role? We often have fun with this question, although K is still not happy with any of my choices for him. (What's wrong with Ben Affleck?)

My friend S paid me a very nice compliment the other day by saying that I look like Audrey Hepburn, and I've been trying to think of who would play her. What do you think of this choice, S? Debra Messing certainly has the gorgeous hair, not to mention the fun fashion sense.

The Second Time Around

Being pregnant is a lot different the second time around. I am already feeling guilty about the lack of attention I'm paying to my newest little guy. The first time, everything is so new and exciting that you pay attention to absolutely everything. I knew exactly how many days/weeks along I was, how much weight I had gained, how big the baby was, etc etc. I read babycenter.com religiously, and I faithfully took a belly shot every week.

I honestly have no idea how far along I am right now. 20 weeks? 21? Somewhere around there. I have checked babycenter once or twice to see how big the baby was, but I can't remember now. I'm getting bigger faster this time, but I have no idea how much I weigh - perhaps I'll actually look at my next doctor's appointment. And I hadn't taken a single belly shot until my sister forced me to last week.

I'm not saying it's not exciting, because it absolutely is - I can't wait to meet my new little boy. It's just different.

Barcelona

I'm home from my trip to Spain. Actually, I've been home since last Saturday, but I've been trying to catch up since then and haven't had time to post. I want to get back into it, though, because I miss my daily focus on positives.

The trip to Barcelona was great. I was there less than a week, and my primary objective was to spend quality time with my sister, baby nephew, and brother-in-law. I had been there before, and the weather was pretty chilly, so we didn't really do anything in the way of being touristy. Lots of walking, reading, playing, and eating. It was very nice. I went by myself, and although I missed my boys, it was also very good for me to get away from the usual routines that demand my time and energy at home.

These pictures are of one of the many Gaudi buildings in Barcelona. One of my favorite things to do in European cities is walk and enjoy the spectacle of the architecture. Barcelona is particularly beautiful in this regard. So many interesting buildings, structures, parks, neighborhoods, churches. One of my favorite spots - we didn't visit this time around, but we did during our first summer visit - is Park Guell. So unique and beautiful, with gorgeous views as well.

Z-man

*UNC/Duke is tonight - Z says ¨Go Heels!¨

Sorry for my absence this week. I am in Barcelona, visiting this gorgeous little man - my nephew - and his parents. I am missing my boys terribly, but I am determined to really enjoy the break from my normal routines. I´m sleeping and reading and walking, and of course playing with this cute little dude.

I forgot my camera cord, so I am not able to post my pics until I return. Have a lovely week, and I´ll catch up next week I promise!

Happiness, Vacations, and Breakfast with Friends

This is the face I get when I ask for a smile. Sigh...

This week's Three Beautiful Things:

1. We were walking up the stairs, and the little boy turned around and said, "I'm happy, Mommy. Are you happy?" I grinned. "Yes, Sweetie, I'm very happy."

2. I love the anticipation of a trip. I'm packing my suitcase gradually, which of course means I will forget things, but that's okay. I'm going to see my sister, brother-in-law and nephew in just a couple days!

3. A and I visited some friends on Sunday morning for waffles and playtime. It was a nice escape from the house, and it was great catching up. Thanks, C and M!!

Building towers (and then knocking them down, of course!) with Daddy

Daydreaming about a Shopping Spree

I don't go shopping much. Actually, I only buy things when I need them, and even then I usually buy online. I hate going to stores and love sites with free shipping. I have no business shopping now - I don't have any extra money lying around, and my waistline is also rapidly expanding, making most regular purchases pretty silly.

All that said, the latest Boden catalog provided quite a few temptations. If I did happen to have some extra money lying around, I would easily go on a shopping spree here. Here are a few of the items that caught my eye:

Cute little vintage top

I love these shoes - perhaps they'll go on my birthday list.
I like the orange and the pockets. Orange looks good on me, and you never see enough orange in the stores.

Isn't this a fun skirt? I'd have to get a cute shirt to go with it too, of course.

Twilight

Okay, I get it. I'm hooked. I finished the first book last night - took me three days. Wouldn't have taken me that long if I didn't force myself to go to sleep. I had to go out yesterday and buy the rest of the series. Pure, fun entertainment, and a total escape. I love it.