Month: July 2011

Categories
Everything Else Travel

Going to BlogHer part 4 {guest post}

Thanks for coming back for part four of my BlogHer guest post series! {if you missed Suzanne or Suzanne ~ yep two of them, read their posts & I jumped in Sat}.

Alena of Charmingly Chandler is one of the reasons I’m going to BlogHer. Back in the fall, when I learned she was going, I emailed her & BA & asked, should I go? What do I need to know before I decide & if/when I decide, who would I stay with? Alena’s resounding YES & WITH ME has had my excitement brewing since then. I’m fortunate enough to have hung out with her twice before & can’t wait to spend four days in San Diego with her soon.

Roommates.  I haz ’em.

In fact Suz, Miranda & Diana are mine, and they are awesome.

When I read about blogher last year I knew that the only way I’d be able to swing it is to have roommates.  I didn’t know who was going.  Or how to find roommates.  Or how to pick the right roommates.  But here I am, the conference is upon us.  And I have the most awesome roommates (if you have roommates and you think yours are awesome, I’m sorry.  But mine? AWESOMER!).

I know you all want to read about something that may be helpful or encouraging or funny.  But instead I’m going to tell you why roommates (especially mine) make the difference.

I have people in my corner.  If I get overwhelmed, or drink too much, or feel all alone in a sea of bloggers…I know my roommates have my back.  I know that I can text them or meet up with them if I feel like the lone blogger.  I know that one of them will surely help me back to my room if I can’t remember my room number because the cocktails were strong.  It’s a safety net.  And I don’t know if I’m brave enough to have gone into Blogher with out one.

Also awesome about roommates?  Someone is on the look out for conference/party info when you can’t be.  We are IMing, texting, or FBing about things we see so that there’s no roommate left behind.  We’ve compared plans, and schedules.  It’s really helped me feel prepared.  Again, this has been vital in keeping me from freaking out about blogher.

Another awesome thing about MY roommates?  We are all new to this.  Now to some that may come off as a disadvantage.  No one to give us advice.  But that’s what twitter is for.  To each other we can geek out, squee, CAP LOCK SCREAM with excitement, look like dorks, obsesses over things the old timers don’t care about….and it has made the weeks leading up to BlogHer even that much more fun.

The other great thing about my roommates?  I’ve gotten to know 3 fellow bloggers better.  We were all friends on some level before we became roommates.  But we know each other so much better now.  I think we’re better friends.  We are closer.  And it’s something that wouldn’t have happened if I had roomed solo.

Plus? We split the room 4 ways. WINNING!

This may not help anyone for Blogher11.  Since it’s SO CLOSE and changing plans would be rather difficult.  But Blogher12 will be here before you know it.  So if you’re thinking about going next year….roommates.  It’s the way to go.

So glad & proud that I can call Alena roomie! Go show her some love at her blog, Charmingly Chandler & on twitter as @alena29. Then be sure to come back Friday for a post by another one of my kick-ass roomies!
Categories
Everything Else Reading

Sing You Home

There’ve been a few books in the past year or so that I haven’t been able to read. Mostly ones where people complain about being pregnant. Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult stood out for me for the opposite reason. The premise of the book focuses on an infertile couple, Zoe & Max. I was a little apprehensive that this book would hit a little too close to home. While there were definitely infertility medicines & procedures discussed, Zoe was doing IVF so it’s not exactly the same as us. I’d heard there were some inaccuracies in her infertility meds part, but if so, I didn’t catch them.

If you’ve read any other Jodi Picoult novels, you’ll recognize that she again in Sing You Home gives each character a voice {their own chapters & fonts}. I enjoy that ~ the feeling of being behind-the-scenes with each of the main characters.

I thought Jodi did a great job of portraying what infertility is like from a guy’s perspective. These two quotes from Max resonated with me {from chapter two so not really a spoiler}:

“I did everything she asked me to. I stopped drinking caffeine, I wore boxers instead of briefs, I started jogging instead of biking. I followed a diet she’d found online that increased fertility. I no longer put the laptop on my lap.“

I’m not sure about all that but I have mentioned the laptop & biking thing to Jason. He was already a boxer dude. But he & his buddies haven’t been an issue for us. This next quote though scares me because I know this is sometimes {I hope rarely} us.

“I can’t really tell you the moment it went wrong. Maybe it was the first time, or the fifth, or the fiftieth that Zoe counted out the days of her menstrual cycle and crawled into bed and said, “Now!” Our sex life had become like Thanksgiving dinner with a dysfunctional family- something you have to show up for, even though you’re not really having a good time.“

The infertility quote from Zoe that stood out & pretty much sums up my last twenty months quite well, “And to think, some people who want to have a baby only need to make love“.

Besides all the IF talk {really most of the book focused on other things}, I enjoyed learning about musical therapy through Zoe. I’d never really thought about that job, but looking back many of Ma’s fellow nursing home patients did perk up in the group singing/instrument playing activities. It really makes sense.

This book also brings up other hot-button topics like religion, depression, education, social politics & today’s families. I won’t say more beacuase I don’t want to give anything else away.

I know I talked a lot about the IF aspect of this book, but even if you’re not into infertility, I think you’d enjoy this book. Like other Jodi Picoult novels, Sing You Home makes you think & question your own thoughts about things {way to be specific, Suz!}.

I have read every novel Jodi has written {except for Perfect Match which is in my TBR pile}. Her books do follow a similar style & usually have a big twist or two at the end. This one also does that, but to me that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Not exactly knowing what would happen had me reading in suspense until the end. Over all, if you’re a Jodi Picoult fan or not, I’d recommend requesting this from your library.

Categories
Photography

Shot Away…

for week 27 of project 365! A photo every day. This might be a first in months if not all year!

Day 190: Saturday night we met up with friends for dinner at the local Mexican restaurant. I attempted photos on manual without a flash for baby Reagan’s benefit. This {along with the lighting} resulted in red photos. Here’s the best I could do to fix. Regardless, it was a fun dinner! [flickr id=”5952410843″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”medium” group=”” align=”center”]

Day 191: Sunday, I was at the pool with my friend Tammy for over 5 hours. I grocery shopped on the way home then did sandwiches for dinner. The only photo I snapped was of my almost empty beach bag at the end of the evening. {my bag is 2006 Lilly Pulitzer that I gave my bridesmaids & myself. It’s faded but I love it!} [flickr id=”5952964172″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”medium” group=”” align=”center”]

Day 192: Monday I wore my newish Lands End cardigan set {$18 total}. Of this is the day they decide to recirculate air in the office & it goes from 60-80 degrees at my desk. You’re seeing a end of a hot day photo that I didn’t use in last week’s WIWW post.  [flickr id=”5952411399″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”medium” group=”” align=”center”]

Day 193: I stopped by Target after work & picked up Essie polish as well as a few other things. I’m a fan. We also made yummy burgers for dinner. [flickr id=”5952964524″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”medium” group=”” align=”center”]

Day 194: Wednesday Moe kitty was looking cute after I took a WIWW photo. [flickr id=”5952971420″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”medium” group=”” align=”center”]

Day 195: Thursday should have it’s own post. Instead, I’m gonna do a quick recap & bunch of my favorite photos here. My work friend Kim’s last day was Friday; we decided to take off half day Thursday & go to a local bar for drinks & laughter. Much of both occurred ~ there was beer & a few shots {lemon drops in top right & July 4th} & more beer. Good times. & yes, that top right is a very drunk fly that was in my friends beer. [flickr id=”5952538073″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”medium” group=”” align=”center”] [flickr id=”5953092236″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”medium” group=”” align=”center”] [flickr id=”5952534559″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”medium” group=”” align=”center”]

Day 196: Negative pregnancy test Friday morning. But I was still hopeful & even called the RE to schedule blood test Monday morning. Instead, I started spotting Friday night hence the wine & skinny Firefly drinks. [flickr id=”5952411891″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”medium” group=”” align=”center”]

Categories
Travel

Going to BlogHer part 3 {nerves?}

So I was going to save my BlogHer thoughts to last, but I’m too excited to not hi-jack my own guest post series now. I’ll probably do another pre-BlogHer post before I leave. Then you can bet I’ll have a few after I return from sunny San Diego.

It seems like there have been a lot of posts popping up this week about BlogHer. Ones like Katie‘s, Suzanne‘s, Diana‘s, Miranda‘s & Alena‘s about their nerves. I commented on all these awesome womens’ posts reassuring them that it’s all going to be fine {except for the kid-at-home parts because I got nothin’ on that}. My comments made me realize, I’m not nervous {at least not yet} & should I be?!

I don’t feel nervous about clothes & other things I’m packing. I’ve read a bunch of BlogHer advice posts (like Kate from Guavalicious Life’s on clothes & on packing, Mandy whose includes her outfit photos as well as Suzanne‘s), & checked out photos on Facebook, & blog posts from last year. I know I’m over packing, but I’d like to have options {another post of this subject to come}.

I’m not nervous about being a newbie. Morgan from the 818 made me smile last Saturday as a I read her surviving the BlogHer panic post. Lindsay from Linz Loves You had me laughing out loud with her own twist on BlogHer advice for newbies like myself {those photos got me too}. I know they’ll be lots of  newbies & BlogHer veterans alike all there to learn & meet people & have fun.

Maybe I should be nervous that Suz’s Treats is a “small potatoes blog” in comparison to so many others. But honestly, I think that makes me not nervous. I think because a lot of people will not have already heard of me/this blog, there won’t be unrealistic expectations that I will have to live up to. I can just be me. I hope that brings people here, but if not, I can honestly say I’m happy with my current readers & still typically blog for me.

I’m guessing the nerves might hit for me the week before? That night I fly in & try to find Miranda & Katie in the airport/hotel or meet my Wed night roommates for the first time? But all of that will be cured by the first glass of wine or hug or tweet from a new BlogHer11 friend or text from one of my roomies!

Over all, at this point excitement is winning over those pesky nerves. I can’t wait~ only 3 weeks to go!

Categories
Food

Burgers anyone?!

So the food treats here have been lacking recently. Not holding out on y’all. I just haven’t cooked or baked much recently. First it was my work traveling, then just being out of habit, then it being hot out & Jason working late, but yeah I think it’s mostly lazy.

I’ve been trying to do better, but admittedly, most of our “cooked-at-home” meals recently have come from store {aka rotisserie chicken} or freezer {pizza, pasta bag}.

But since this was cooking-at-home for us, I thought I’d share Tuesday’s dinner. Kraft Caesar pasta salad mix {on sale for 94 cents at Food Lion} & burgers. Angus Bubba burgers cooked in the skillet for Jason & microwaved black bean burgers for me. Both topped with fresh tomato slices & served on 100 calorie white wheat buns. The pasta salad was enough for us & then again as a side for lunches.

Easy, simple, pretty quickly put together home-made meal.

[flickr id=”5938311987″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”medium” group=”” align=”center”]