Week 26

Here is to Sea Salt and Cracked Pepper Kettle Chips!  Here's to Almond Butter!  Here's to Jelly Beans and any hard candy I can get my hands on!  Because in 12 weeks, it'll all be over.  I'll have deflated, my child on the outside of my body, and I'll go back to my salads, point counting, running, and wine.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again... I LOVE being pregnant.  So, yes!  I'll go ahead and enjoy the next 12 weeks of cravings and try not to be too hard on myself.

Here is week 26.  Cheers!

~Was that my abdominal wall pulling apart?~

~Now not able to see my feet~

Week 25

This week I keep finding myself in an interesting state of mind, thinking of something I never thought I'd think... I never want my baby to have to do without anything.  I always I thought I'd be a hard-core, drill-sergeant, rule-following parents who makes their child work their fingers to the bone for everything they had, just like my husband and I had to.  But this is not the case (at least this week).  I'm finding that I want him to have the best of everything, go to the very best schools, have the best opportunities, toys, friends, play on the best sports teams, eat the best food and be the brightest in school.  I mean, the elite, the most prestigious, the most glorious of things the world has to offer.

And so I've now realized, no one really thinks of these types of things until they're faced with the reality of becoming a parent, but once one does, and he/she has the means to give your children more than you ever had... you simply give it to them.

Now, I'm starting to understand those 16-year-old kids who get a brand new Range Rover for their birthday from daddy.  Daddy probably just didn't have a brand new Range Rover growing up and wanted to give more than he ever had to his kids.  And so I find myself in the same state of mind.  Now, I'd never give my kid a brand new car for his birthday, but my point is, I'm starting to understand how selfless and act being a parent is... not because it has to be, but because you want it to be.  It is a truly selfless act that simply transforms you... I mean, I assume.

So, as I sit here and type this, while my husband bangs out Katy Perry's "California Girls" on the piano (read: very interesting version of the song), I picture us becoming better versions of ourselves, as we strive to give the very best to our unborn son, and lots of "yes"es to follow us in our future.  Yes!  We have prepared for many years for our child's arrival, so that he will always have more opportunity than we did growing up.  Yes! He will have to work hard for what he gets.  Yes!  He will stand out from the crowd.  Yes!  He will be an inspiration to the world.  Yes!  He will be powerful and outrageous, just like his mommy and daddy.  Yes!  I will have a very hard time saying "no" to this little prince.

I sure hope I can find a fine balance between the yes's and no's.

Wish us luck!

Arts and Krafts

On the first day of school, you go around the room and rhyme your name with another word, so that everyone remembers you.  In 9th grade, I was Krafty Katie.  I was Krafty Katie again in 11th, and once again in college.  Until now, I had no claim to that fame... but now I do.

Here is what I did this weekend.

I took these gold, square, modern-ish mercury vases that I had from my wedding in 2008.  I've been looking for a purpose for them for... uh, 3 years now, and warped an idea I saw when strolling through Crate and Barrel.  The original were white branches in a tall glass vase.  I took the same idea and played with it using my vases.

~Discarded branches from the backyard~

~Non-toxic, silver paint $3 at Michael's, painted branches with a paint brush and trimmed them down to fit~

~$3 Foam from Michael's and cut it to fit~

~$2 Moss from Michael's,  filled to the top to cover any foam~

~Placed them 4 inches apart on top of our country-style 1960's piano to modernize it a bit~

There you have it.  I spent about $10 total, used some backyard items, and used what I had lying around.  These are going to be so pretty with Christmas lights or ornaments for the holidays.

Budget Creative

I've had a little bird chirping in my ear in the past 3 months.  He's been noting that my house is not a reflection of myself, what I love to surround myself with or how I feel inside.  I have to agree with him.  He' right.

I have inherited many wonderful things from my mom when she moved, but the items I received are bulky, heavy, HUGE and dark.  That is not a reflection of how I feel inside.  So, I made a choice to make a change.  I don't know about you, but I work darn hard for my money and I can't just go on a shopping spree for all new furniture whenever I want.  What fun is that anyways.  I personally appreciate someone who uses their head to create their own environment.  Enter Craigslist, Target and one savvy, budget shopper.  You'll never believe what I found.

~Crate and Barrel Super Expensive Mohair Pillow $85 (Fell IN Love but couldn't do the price, so I kept my eyes open and look what I found)~

~Target found almost exact pillow $14.99 (bought 3)~

~This is what I did with them~

~Craigslist White Laquered Table and Chairs (purchased from two separate posts-spent $160 total-talked down $40 on table and $50 on chairs)... gold apples $3 per at Pier 1.  I put them in a vase I had lying around and made them my centerpiece~

~Craigslist 2 Mirrored Side Tables $100 for both (talked down from $150)~

~Glass Head $20.  I went around and around about this thing.  I took an iphone pic of it and sent over to my sister for brainstorming and she loved.  It affirmed my $20 purchase.  Now she's my favorite new living room accessory.  Working on a name for her~

I looked and looked for this stuff, kept my eyes and ears open and negotiated.  There are some things worth splurging on, and some things that need a little tweaking until you find exactly what you want within a budget.  Hope this inspires you to go be creative and think outside the box.

I Sing... Therefore I Am

Let me just preface this by saying, that I did not start this because I thought I had a great voice and wanted to perfect it.

While at the beautiful Braemar Country Club, sunning with my great friend Laura Tanger, she casually mentions that she is taking voice lessons by the Grammy-winning Darlene Koldenhoven... casually, mind you.  Because those are the types of names that are "normal" in LA (hence the reason I love LA).  I am instantly intrigued!!

I've secretly been wanting to take voice lessons since I was 3 years old, and had I been been given the type of mother that would have played the role of a stage-mom, instead of the insanely brilliant mom/dad, working type of mom, who worked her butt off to make other things happen for her girls in other arenas, I would have been your regular Disney teeny bop idol.  But... I wasn't (thankfully).  So, now, at the ripe old age of 29, I'm doing the things I've always wanted to do... though maybe too late, hence voice lessons amongst many other lessons.

So, upon the invitation from my great friend Laura, although reluctantly, I accepted!  And thus, I am the now a student of Darlene Koldenhoven... for the next 5 weeks.

I went in expecting nothing.  Just open and ready for anything, but I knew this would be raw, baby skin-ish, untouched territory.  I was "green" in all senses of the word.  I've never explored my voice (besides singing in my car by myself, by the way I am brilliant all alone), let alone with a Grammy-award-winner, I can see her award from our practice room, nor with a bunch of theatre veterans, whom I admire more than they know.  Subtext- I've always wanted to be one.

It is a converted back-house with 8 chairs, some serious recording equipment, one black Baldwin piano and many many crystals and geometrical triangles, for which Darlene uses for spiritual uplift (loooooove her!!!!).  We 8 students gather on our Wednesday evenings to support each other to be better versions of ourselves than the week before... I think in any way really.

Laura and I have both agreed (over our gingerbread and mocha coffees) that it's more about our mission to conquer our fear of performing in front of a group and bettering ourselves in general, rather than perfecting our fabulous, sumptuous voices.

Every Wednesday, I go into that class with anticipation, doubt, and some left-over resistance, and come out on the other side with support of 6 other strangers, whom I did not know before, who root for me, hug me when it's over and tell me I have nothing to be ashamed of.  They give me confidence, support and perspective!  Total strangers...

I didn't start this mission to show off, be controversial or to push social boundaries.  I started it to learn more about myself and better myself in any way, and my mission is paying off.

So Miss Laura, here's to you, Darlene Koldenhoven, and the strangers that have now become our friends!  And to all of my followers (though you be few) GO DO SOMETHING NEW AND A TAD BIT SCARY!  I PROMISE, YOU'LL COME OUT A BETTER VERSION OF YOURSELF, AND WITH SUPPORTERS!

Life is good.  Comment if you dare.

Best Beauty Product Ever

It's so overwhelming.  You walk into a CVS or Sacks, Dillard's or Macy's in search of a great new moisturizer that you'll spend a good $40+ for and walk out with a tiny jar of who knows what.

What you've likely walked out with a jar of chemicals.  Synthetic toxins meant to make you think your skin feels good, but in reality, they really don't do much!

Want to know my best kept beautiful skin secret?  I thought so.

Organic coconut oil.  You can put it in and on your body.  I keep two around- one in the kitchen to saute mushrooms and plantains, etc and one in the bathroom.  It's great for your hair as a moisture treatment, it's a miracle worker for blemishes and scarless healing, stretch marks, after sun (not before, or you'll fry).  I put it on face (no, it won't break you out), body, hair, hands and use it as my regular moisturizer.  Believe me, the smell fades (because it's natural) and men can use it too without being completely emasculating squeezing some pink tube of floral mess in their hand wondering if it's spiked with estrogen.  This is my favorite.  It'll run you about $14 at any grocery store or health food store.  Or order at the web address below.

http://www.shoporganic.com/product/artisana_raw_extra_virgin_coconut_oil/organic_raw

Seaweed Glory

May I take just a quick second of your time to introduce the most glorious snack ever.  It's everything you could ever want in a snack: nutritious, lightly salty, nutty, crunchy, chewy, light as air, and super low in calories...

I'm talking about seaweed snacks.  They taste like airy potato chips but subtract the guilt and add the health.

I first learned about these little morsels of chlorophyl when I was teaching 2nd/3rd grade and the cool thing to have as a snack was your little carton of seaweed.  Upon first glance, I thought "seaweed, seriously??  I get the whole seaweed with sushi, but come on".  Well, I was not just wrong but dead wrong.

If you want to know what's cool, just go visit an elementary school.  From their clothes to their food, to the hottest songs and games, those kids know what's up!  I'm not kidding.  When was the last time you played tag or pulled yourself up on monkey bars??  The last time I did, I got in 30 good minutes of cardio (sweating, huffing, puffing, target-heart-rate cardio) and was sore the next day.  After that, I figured these kiddos seriously know what's up.  Plus, I actually had a ridiculous amount of fun!!

So, I ran to Whole Foods and paid $2.50 for some toasted, lightly salted seaweed mini sheets.  Yikes!  Steep price for such an airy snack.  Then I found them at Trader Joe's for 99 cents and then Ralph's for about the same price.  So I bought 6 cases of them.  Not only do my husband and I fight over who gets the last piece but the dogs are salivating at our feet... and if they have good manners, they get a couple pieces.

You've got to try these.  You can find them at any health food stores or Ralph's/your regular grocer in the "ethnic" section.  Gosh that's condescending term.  Nonetheless, you can find them there.  Regular nori is pretty awesome too.

And with nutritional facts like these, why would you even hesitate?
30 calories... for half the carton
2 grams of fat
1 gram carb
1 gram fiber
1 gram protein
1 point for those Weight Watchers lovers out there.

I love these: http://www.anniechun.com/our-food/seaweed

Or if you live in a larger city and have a Trader Joe's the "Trader Joe's Roasted Seaweed Snacks" are amazing too.

Happy and healthy eating to you all!!  Take them home to your kids and let me know what you all think!!  Remember, I learned about these from kids.  But don't worry, if you're a grown man who secretly sneaks them when no one's looking... that's okay too.  Who could blame you?  These puppies are goo-oood!