2010

I know its been a while, but since returning to work keeping up with this has taken a back seat. Like way back seat, perhaps in a large van, third row back seat. I seem to have found a few minutes so I've decided to share a few things that I've learned in 2010. This is for all 6 of my "followers". These are in no particular order.

1. I have a ridiculous amount of admiration and respect for single parents.
If I could give every single one a pat on the back and a huge paycheck I would. You have the hardest job in the world.

2. Being a stay at home mom is hard, but being a full-time working mother is harder.

3. It isn't right to write people off because they are strange or weird. Good people are good people

4. I don't have to and will not agree with things that I don't believe in. And I will call you out. especially if you:
park in a handicapped spot and don't have handicap tags
park in a "with small child" spot and don't have a kid
say something sexist, racist, homophobic or any other jerky mean thing that I deem "wrong"

5.Washing dishes by hand wastes precious time.

6. I love and apreciate all of my friends more than I thought possible when I met them.

Okay, so its nothing profound but I find it amazing when I actually learn things because I always feel like I know everything. And I am not a fan of "new years resolutions" because really its just telling everyone I am going to try to be a better a person. And who cares? I just hope that in 2011 I learn more things that are important.

Kimya

I heard this song when I was pregnant and it made me happy. She is a super cute momma and we love her Alphabutt album. I hope you enjoy it too.
Love Sara

Beautiful Morning

One of my besties texted me last night to meet her and her daughter at the farmer's market at 8am. I agreed but in the back of my head thought, "8am?! Yeah right". Then I woke up at 7:15 and it turned out to be a great idea. So I packed up the boy, my camera and a breakfast bar and headed out. It was a perfect morning for the market. The sun was out, as were the Alpacas and crafters. We got our hot cups of power juice (coffee) and strolled along with the babes soaking up the sun and lovely music from She Hates Me (my favorite market band). My mom met up with us too. Really she just took Desmond and chased him while doing his morning run.
Then I got a little workout in at the gym before my mom and I had our first run outside together. She is awesome. And while running we spotted a SALE sign on the corner. It was an estate sale.....SCORE! Actually it wasn't that great but I snagged two pretty belts for $.50 total.
Next on tap, a backyard fire and a glass of wine.

Enjoy your day friends.

Cheers
Sara

So.........

I don't have anything important or that interesting to tell you so here are some pretty pictures of things that make me happy.

Knight Park

Since my days are numbered (see previous post), I have been going to the park pretty often. It also has a lot to do with the fall weather creeping in. It's my favorite season. We are fortunate enough to have several parks near us but this one in particular is my favorite if it is just Desmond and I. There is a toddler playground in addition to spacious fields and big beautiful trees to sit under. My mom met us there yesterday and we ran into my adorable cousins Joseph and Robbie. They were kind enough to demonstrate how to climb into a giant tree. And since my mom was there I got a chance to lay on my blanket and adore my new jeggings and suede boots (last years anniversary gift).

Our days are numbered

Years ago(more than 4), I made a deal with some of my cousins called the 4 year plan. We agreed to all start having children around the same time so our children would have family around the same ages, similar to what our parents did. Me and my big mouth didn't plan on being terrified to have a baby. All I could do was think about how we could make it work and have enough money to have everything be perfect. I didn't realize then, how I would feel now. One of my cousin's who already had a child asked me something so simple that I will never forget and really changed my outlook. She asked me, "What are you waiting for?" She didn't need to say anything else. She has been battling cancer for several years and it all was suddenly put into perspective. What the f am I waiting for really?

In 2008 a few things happened that changed my life. First, I lost my job. It wasn't the best job in the world, but I really loved it and the people there. I had hoped to have worked there until retirement. But all good things must end right? I already paid for and planned a vacation with Drew and two of our good friends to Costa Rica and I although I knew money would be tight, I knew that it would be an experience that being conservative couldn't replace. It's not like we had kids or anything. It was AWESOME, beautiful and perfect timing because not too long afterwards, we found out I was pregnant. Pregnant with no job and no plan. Who was I? Cheesy as it sounds, it wasn't important because I had Drew and we were in love and knew that we could do anything. We made it work and it wasn't perfect but it was perfect for us. Looking back now, its hard to imagine feeling like we couldn't move forward in our life without a certain amount of money.

Being pregnant with no job was wonderful. I took naps, read several books, got the nursery painted and decorated, did laundry and ran errands. And when Desmond was born, I didn't have to worry about going back to work in six weeks. I was able to be a stay at home mom for the past year and spend every day with the most amazing person I have ever met. He is the best gift. I have been very lucky to get to experience the past two years at home. But this too is ending. I am going back to work. I won't bore you with the our list of pros and cons for making this decision, only say it works for us. My heart is breaking though when I think of how many hours of my day I will be away from Desmond. It is going to be very hard. So now I must focus on and appreciate the time we did have together. Here are some shots of my baby turned little boy.



3 days old

2 months

4 months

6 months

8 months

10 months

1 year

now (16 months)

Mmmmmm home.

I have been so in tune with the surrounding smells of fall lately. The best one ever is the when I open my mom and dad's front door. Really, anytime of year but especially in the fall when my mom is cooking some sort of seasonal yumminess. Also, my dad almost always has a fire going in the backyard which stirs in with the old house smell too. This combination makes me want to wrap myself into one of my mom's couch throw blankets and cuddle up next to her where she will undoubtedly start rubbing my back or feet or whatever part of me is within her arm's length. Of course when Julie is home, it is a silent battle for mom's contact. Did I mention I am 32 and Julie is 29? Yes, we still cuddle with our mom. You would too if she was your mom.



seasonal yumminess



Silently battling for mom in the 80's.

Crispy leaves and campfire air

I am going to trap today's air in a jar to open and stick my nose in on sad days. For reals!

Busy bee

The past two weeks have been jam packed with playdates/coffee-dates, day-trips, parties, job hunts and daycare tours. Also, I will be doing my first 5k run in two weeks and I've been training whenever I can. In between all that fun stuff, I have been running my little sweatshop like a dog (me being the only employee). Thank goodness for my mother in law who is my best customer. Here are some recent orders that I had fun working on.





I am a fabric store junky and since the local fabric store is in the same shopping center as my gym, I am kind of a regular. Here are some new coasters I felt compelled to make. Some of the fabric is new, some old but they are all super cute.
They are all now available on etsy. Click on the link at the top left side of this page.

A Few Hours in Brooklyn

We took Desmond to visit his Aunt Julie in Brooklyn yesterday for the afternoon. Although we didn't make it to my favorite spot, McCarren Park, in Williamsburg as planned due to the ridiculous fall heat, we were lucky enough to try some new places. Here's a taste of Saturday with the Joneses.

Aunt Julie and Devoe's apartment where we were greeted with a traditional Duffield snack spread. And Desmond got to check out one of Aunt Julie and Devoe's interesting trinket collaborations.



This was a fun kids playground (didn't catch the name) where Desmond swung his little heart out.




My sweet darling Drew was kind enough to wait outside with Desmond in the heat for probably close to a half hour while I fell in love with every single card and piece of stationary in my new favorite book store, Word.


We ended the day with a late lunch at Papacitos, a yummy vegetarian friendly Mexican restaurant.


Then we hit up the local Salvation Army and we all scored. Success! So naturally we rewarded ourselves with some sweet treats at The Garden foodmarket.
A perfect ending to a perfect day. I always love the time I get to spend with my sister especially when there are no set plans and we get to just breeze around and do whatever our hearts desire at any given moment.

I love you Julie. Thanks for a splendid Saturday.