So Fresh and SO Clean.

I have one huge pet peeve. 

A dirty ring! I'm so weird about having a dirty ring I take it off every time I put my hands in the sink. And, confession, I had a dedicated toothbrush that I use to clean off the dirties in the little creases. It's crazy I know! 

Yesterday we had to stop by the jeweler to pick up some paperwork for insurance and I made Dave take the ring in to ask them to clean it. Even though I just got it cleaned a little over a month ago. There's nothing like a clean ring. They even re-dipped it, which they also did a month ago. It looks so sparkly and clear I can see right through it. I finally took some good pictures of it. 

Taking pictures of rings is a really hard thing to do.

A Long Weekend Post

I am happy to say that the rain did not affect our weekend activities.

It did however make it a coooold one. 

Friday night we had our cleaning party. Dave wanted to clean the house Friday night instead of Saturday morning so the house would already be clean on Saturday and we'd be able to relax. I told him that wasn't really the way it worked. Sadly, it isn't. And the house didn't stay very clean. Especially the kitchen after making fried chicken last night. I'm still cleaning up grease!

Saturday is a bit of a blur. I don't know why I can't really remember it. I had to ask Dave what took place because I couldn't even find pictures documenting the lost memories. But, I found them! This is what I know we did, thanks to pictures, collaborated on a delicious breakfast, went out for coffee, had one of our windows replaced, raked the leaves in the backyard, went to a "moms with multiples sale" at a church and played on the playground, and went to fresh and easy. The multiples sale was really neat, and in Paradise Valley, so they had a lot of really nice stuff. I found a Bugaboo stroll, really nice and orange for $400! Only $400 for a Bugaboo! I wanted to buy it really bad. I started thinking that I should have another baby just so I could have an excuse to buy the stroller. Maybe next year they will have another one? 

Sunday was lovely. We woke up, skipped showers, went to Dunkin' Donuts and took them to Kiwanis park. When I was a young girl my dad would do the same thing with us on weekends. Then, we went to Ikea to see what we need to have, just like my mom always did with us. I love going to Ikea, especially right when the doors open and there isn't many people there. There is a lot of stuff we need there. You should get excited because once I graduate and have the time and money, I am going to do so many things to this house of ours. After Ikea we went to Guitar Center. I think Dave took us to Ikea in order to get us to Guitar Center without any complaining. Smart man, that one. Owyn went crazy in the GC. I wouldn't even had been able to could how many times he said guitar and piano. The moment we walked in his face lite up with excitement and he screamed with joy.  "tar tar" "pee pee" "tar" "pee". He wanted to play ever one. He was in heaven.

I'm already looking forward to next weekend. 

Hopefully it will be warmer than this one.

Happy Friday!

It's Friday, I'm off work and the weekend has begun! 

Woop woop!

Now if only Dave would come home so we could begin our 

dance/cleaning party to Florence and the Machine.

Do you have any great weekend plans? 

We do, but this stormy forecast might disrupt our plans,

which I am fine with. I love the rain. Here in AZ town it's a rare occasion to even have 

clouds in our big blue sky. Sunshine is SO overrated. Bring on the rain clouds! Water my yard for free!

Enjoy yourselves and stay safe!

Mastering the Bun

After much practice and observing, I have found the secrets to a great high bun. 

Thanks to the wonderful tutorial found here.

Kylie did my hair yesterday. Isn't the color beautiful?

A True American Idol

A while ago Dave told me a quote. One by Eleanor Roosevelt. This quote was: 

"Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people."

I replied, "she has taken those words out of my mouth!"

This is what I have been trying to explain for so long. I have discussions with my sister about it, a woman who is a great mind. Ever since Dave said this to me I have been in love with Eleanor Roosevelt. She was such an incredible woman. One that I look up to. 

This is one of the reasons why I love Dave. He knows me so well and we share the same ideas and values. We are able to have deep discussions that and share political and religious ideas. And luckily for us, we agree on all religious points of view and most political. He is able to open my eyes, challenge my ideas and even give me he shivers by the powerful things that come out of his mouth. And I'm sure I do the same for him.. maybe?

Anyway, back to my lady Ellie, she is my new idol.

Here are some great quotes of hers that I treasure, for your pleasure:

"People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously. This is how character is built."

"One thing life has taught me: if you are interested, you never have to look for new interests. They come to you. When you are genuinely interested in one thing, it will always lead to something else."

"A little simplification would be the first step toward rational living, I think."

 
"Friendship with ones self is all important, because without it one cannot be friends with anyone else in the world."

"I think, at a child's birth, if a mother could ask a fairy godmother to endow it with the most useful gift, that gift should be curiosity."

"My experience has been that work is almost the best way to pull oneself out of the depths."

"Only a man's character is the real criterion of worth."

"You can never really live anyone else's life, not even your child's. The influence you exert is through your own life, and what you've become yourself."

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My biggest goal in this life here on Earth is to be a good example to my children and be someone they can look up to.

 

Sometimes We Talk to Strangers in Restaurants About Lactation

Saturday night we stopped at Oregano's, one of my all time favorites, for some pizza and wangz. Yes, we call the wangz in this household. It was 9pm and past Owyn's be time. Something has magically changed in this kids behavior in the past week. Out of nowhere he has decided that he wants to be a good boy again. No fits. He just chills out with us. We usually dread going out in public places like stores or restaurants because he just want to run around like a wild child but not this week. He was perfect at all the stores we took him to. 

We waiting a long time for our pizza. While waiting we met a guy. He started asking us questions about Owyn and told us how he and his wife just brought home their first child earlier that very day. He was so happy. I wanted to sit there and feed off of his happiness and joy. I remember those precious days. Before we knew it we were sitting in a busy restaurant talking about breast pumps, latching and lactating. It was great.

Then we went home and shoved our faces with food.

Major points from this post:

Oregano's is delicious

Owyn is starting to mature 

New baby's bring happiness and sore boobs

:) Have a great week!

Weekend from my Droid

 

This weekend was awesome. I had the weekend off work and didn't do an ounce of homework. It was a looong week trying to get over my illness and having 2 papers due and an exam. So, I gave myself the weekend off from all school work. We had a real lazy day on Saturday (well, Owyn and I). Dave cleaned the house while I slept in. Then, he had to go into work so Owyn and I napped the entire time he was gone. What? It was a rainy day! What else is there to do? On a whim we decided to go shopping at night

After shopping we went out and grabbed some pizza. Past Owyn's bed time. 


Sunday we ran errands.

Do You Have a Favorite Room?

Owyn does. 

It's my bathroom. He loves being in there, I don't know why. 

My Little Valentine

I tried my best to make Valentines Day a special day. 

I think I failed. Have I mentioned that I am sick again?

I can't decide if I should go to the doctor or not. To be quite honest, I don't think I can get myself to the doctor. Yes, I did attempt to go to work today, but I also failed at that. I am now home laying underneath two comforters and propped up by 3 of the best pillows in the house. aka Owyn's pillows. That kid has claimed all of the softest down pillows in this house to be his own. He cries out for them when he's sad or tired. " Gaaaawwwwlllll". How he got gawl out of pillow, I'm not sure. 

Anyway, here are my symptoms so you can tell me whether this need medical attention or not: sore, swollen and red throat, congestion in sinus cavities and chest, lots of pressure on my chest, low fever around 100 for three days (even if I take Tylenol!), extremely sore and achy body (even my hands are sore. weird.), sinus headache.

Yesterday I had a doctor appointment, not with my PCP. Dave advised me not to take Owyn but I hate asking people to watch him, especially just for an hour or two, so I brought him anyway. Boy oh boy was that a nightmare! It wouldn't have been so bad if those damn Pharmaceutical Reps didn't keep coming in and taking up the doctors time which meant we had to wait 25 minutes in the waiting room past my scheduled appointment. Owyn must had been on speed or something and was running in circles around the waiting room like a Tasmanian devil. He kept wanting to go outside and when I picked him up he would throw a fit and hit me in the face, or himself. I was so angry because 3 pharmaceutical reps walked in one after the other smiling and all making remarks like "it's hard being the mom sometimes" and I looked at them and wanted to slap them. I know what they're doing, I know that they are trying to push their drugs onto my doctor when he should be taking me back into the room. I know because my mom used to be one (only she wasn't pushy, of course :))

Afterward I thought I would try to take Owyn out for some lunch so we went to Sauce and all he wanted to do was play with the silverware. 

We went nextdoor to Urban Outfitters to get Dave a bag he's been wanting and I couldn't remember which one is was. 

We had a second doctor appointment, this one was a check up for Owyn, later in the day. It turned out worst than the other. We waited an hour and Owyn was going nuts in the little room. I had to transfer my sleeping son from his bed into the car so we could get to the doctor in time. He didn't have shoes on, he had crusty stuff on his face, stinky breath and a diaper full of pee on him. I left the diaper bag in the car and couldn't get my aching body out to get it. I was embarrassed, I looked like I never take care of my child. 

Toddler boys are really tough to deal with sometimes. Cutest and funniest being in the world, but man, they sure do like to test the limits. I never hear moms with toddler girls complain but every mother I meet who has or has had a toddler son has the same stories I have. 

By the time we made it home I was texting Dave begging him to come home and take care of Owyn so I could rest. The moment he came home I went into bed and spent 3 hours writing a paper. Meanwhile Dave was running around the house taking care of everyone and cleaning up the days worth of messes. I feel so bad. I wanted to do something special for him but instead he did everything for me. 

Gotta love my boys. Without them, my life would be so empty.

 

I know my last few posts have been a little snarky, but with 3 illnesses over a course of 4 weeks comes cynicism. 

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See lasts year's festivities here and here. 

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Also, did you know my blog just celebrated it's second birthday last week? It's true!

**Insert Catchy Valentines Day Phrase Here**

Wow, I think cyberspace has taken our heart day to a whole new level this year. Agree?

I don't think I head the same V Day phrase twice. Who knew there were so many ways to say happy Valentines day? I have to admit, I forgot about this super duper important holiday. This can only mean one thing. I am an un-festive boring person who isn't madly in love. I guess that's two things.
(that's my way of being facetious)

We celebrated our Valentines day over the weekend.

I came home from an event on Sunday to this: 

He had been preparing our usual Sunday steak dinner and set up a romantic atmosphere with a beautiful orchid (my favorite). He gave me spa finder gift certificates, a cheese cake and two BIG reese's peanut butter cups. Best of all he had the house spotless and had completed my flash cards for my exam coming up. I think that meant the most to me. I create flash cards for every art history exam with images of art works glued to them but I was unable to finish them earlier that day because I had to go work. I can just picture him sitting at the table with mini artworks printed on paper, index cards and a glue stick.

My actual Valentines day wasn't one to put in the books.
It involved a lot of temper tantrums, tissues and I'm pretty sure I threw out my back.
But more on that lovely topic later.

P.S. I'm sitting at work right now with my boss is gone and can't think of anything to do.

Cultural Festivities

this weekend was full of cultural events. 

1. shopping. we both got a pair of jeans. (I work for Lucky and get 60% off but I only wear Gap jeans. weird? not if you've ever tried on Gap 1969 jeans!)

2. Chinese Cultural Festival (to celebrate Chinese New Year. Year of the Rabbit! Bouncy bouncy bouncy. (that's what I say to Owyn when we see rabbits since I don't know what noise they make. he seems to think it's funny)).

3. Japanese Tea Ceremony. I helped at a private reception for a Japanese ceramicist at MCA. It was really neat, I worked with/met new people and had great food.

Date Night

This weekend we did an early Valentines day date at Liberty Market. 

It was a mini <3-Day date with Owyn. We thought of going to a nice fancy place but this weekend wasn't a good one so we're waiting, maybe till this weekend? Mini or not, it was fun and delicious. And it's always nice to have Owyn along for some entertainment. 

Sorry my pictures suck. Dave get's embarrassed when I pull out my camera and take pictures so we do it super fast and he refuses to use a flash. I on the other hand I like to pretend to be a food critic working on my next piece. 

I love going out. It reminds me of the old dating days.

 {if you can't tell what Owyn is doing, he is shaking his head at the speed of light with a number card in his mouth waiting for daddy to open a candy.so excited! like I said, entertainment}

For my informal restaurant review:

We loved it! It was our first time there. My sister told me that's where all the cool kids go, so of course we had to go! I can't wait to bring her and my dad back to try the burgers. My dad would love this place.

.. AND Dave loved it! BONUS points!

Miss Riley

Look at how adorable my niece is. 

I can't wait to see her in March and introduce her to her cousin who is dying to meet her! 

Owyn loves looking at pictures of Cousin. He says "baayyyby" and kisses the computer screen. It's precious. 

My favorite things about Riley include: 

the "prune face" she gives for pictures

her chubby cheeks

her super stylish outfits

the way she seems so cool and relaxed all the time

her thighs

these are my favorite thing as of right now in this very moment, but I love everything about her. After March there will be a whole lot more!

Red Eyes and Raw Nostrils

I've been sick all week. Really sick. And it blows. It blows a lot of snot. 

Okay, I attempted to put in a little pun and it was lame. I blame it on the night time cold medication. I've never been into cold medication because I think it's unnecessary and doesn't work but I was in serious desperation last night and picked some up. Now I know what they are talking about when they joke about getting loopy off cold meds. I've been doing crazy things. And seeing crazy things, but hey, seeing things that aren't there is better than not seeing things that are there, right? I've also been typing crazy things. Crossing my fingers on the research paper I just emailed to my professor.

Today at work my boss came to and said "feeling a little loopy?" as I was lounging as far back in my office chair staring at my blank desktop screen. I looked at her with a blank stare and giggled a little with no response. It was then apparent to her that I might need to go home. I tried so hard staying. 45 minutes later we were touring a group of 100 high schoolers and I really wanted to be there to experience the chaos. Darnit!

Anyway, back to more precious topics.. Owyn!

My poor baby (toddler, whatever, he will always be my squishy!) is sick as well. It's only his second time being sick in his entire life. Boooya! He has such a great spirit though. He hasn't complained. He has however complained about my parenting skills by throwing a fit when I wouldn't let him play outside in the freezing cold with the shovel I scoop the dog poopies with. I'm such a bad mom! When your sick kid (who am I kidding, even healthy kid) is throwing a fit, a mom will do anything to make them stop. Even if it means sitting in the car with them for 40 minutes and letting them play with the windshield wipers. Brilliant! I know. We were outside (kinda) where its warm and there's music. Bonus, I could sit on my bum and relax. Worked like a charm. We even invited Mizti on our pretend road trip. She accepted, obviously. 

Tomorrow I have to work both of my jobs beginning at 8am. I'm not looking forward to it. at. all.

Art Educator

is my new professional title. 

I finally started my new job at the ASU Art Museum after waiting months, literally.

I am loving it more than I thought a person could ever love their job. 

 {random shots taken in the courtyard of the museum on my computer last semester while waiting for class to begin. It can get a bit boring while waiting for class}

I find myself confused and sometimes giggling to myself at work when I remember that I am getting paid. 

Here is how my first day went, since I'm sure you're all dying to know what I do during my days: 

9-1030- set up for gallery conversations

11-12-attend conversations (and get paid! heck yeah! I liked going for free!)

12-1:30-  go around campus and hang posters for our new docent program

1:30-2- lunch

2-5- pick out my favorite piece in a newly installed exhibit and research it (I have to give tours, which requires knowledge of the work)

And here's how I spent my second day at work- 

10-1130-  type up and save my competed research on Carlos Montes de Oca 

1130-1- Arts and crafts! I got to play with our crafts closet and come up with materials we will need for the first Saturday family project. This involved creating my very own masterpiece. 

1-1:30- lunch

1:30-5- Begin research on Cuban Art. We have a tour coming up and the teacher asked that we focus on our current exhibit featuring many Cuban artists and I have to research Cuba and Cuban art so I can teach it to them and answer any question they shoot at me.( I can now tell you all of Cuba's art History from the 19th century and any basic fact about Cuba including demographics, culture, capital, currency, language, geography, government, the Revolution etc.) I also have to come up with a project for them to do, which requires more arts and crafts!

So, basically life is good. Minus my experience going to the doctor yesterday. I haven't been to see my PCP in three years! When I told her that I haven't done anything about my 3 year old esophogitis she seemed very concerned and told me that  untreated esophagitis leads to esophageal cancer. So, I have a new prescription and I'm taking it religiously now. I'm also getting my thyroid tested (due to my hot flashes and rapid heart rate) and have a referral to begin physical therapy for my sciatic nerve.

In other news, you might want mark this date and time on your calendars..

Thursday May 12, 2011 @ 12:30

because this is the time I am graduating!