Bye Bye Babystyle....

I went to the mall to do a little shopping for one of my good friends baby girls Sarah. She will be Coco's bestie for sure, boy is she cute!!!

At the mall, I could hear the air conditioning humming. I mean it was so empty and desolate it was like a little shopping ghost town! I went to Gymboree and bought this:


With the matching bag and sunglasses of course...and the headed to Babystyle to get some shoes for Landon. Only there is no more Babystyle! They were selling everything out of a half empty store and there was barely anything left. Whoa.

Then I walked to Hallmark and looked across the way to see Talbots GONE. Now I know these are tough times and we are scaling back, but how bad were things at these companies that they needed to close this soon? Were they all living on the edge? Apparently!!!

Here's the message at the Babystyle website:



"We're sorry but we have suspended internet sales from our site.

Babystyle is sad to announce that we have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. At this time, we will no longer accept online orders. Any pending orders that have not yet shipped have been cancelled and your credit card will not be charged.

If you are interested in purchasing any of the items seen on babystyle.com you may do so, in person, at any of our remaining locations. Please understand that due to this filing we are prohibited from accepting or issuing returns, babystyle Gift Cards and babystyle Merchandise Cards at any of our remaining stores.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Thank you for your patience during this difficult time."

Circuit City, Linens and Things, Ritz Camera....the list goes on. What's happening in your town? Your mall? What have you noticed? I know this will all get better. It will probably make us better too. It is a little freaky though! I know that I am barely spending anything right now, not that I drove the economy before but if everyone stops shopping then all the stores will close. What is the answer? I'm not sure. What do you guys think?

Real OC Recap...The Confessions!

Oh my Goooooodness. I am sitting here watching the Real Housewives confess and already my jaw has dropped (I think I am one minute in).

Question: Jeanna, did Kara get a boob job? Answer: You'll have to ask her but I think so...it was a graduation present. Hello? Are you there God? It's me The Mrs. First of all you obviously paid for your 18 year olds boob job. Graduation present? How about a laptop. If Coco wants boobs for graduation I swear I'll jump off a bridge. And then her making excuses for her rude kids? Pathetic. Vicky is just as idiotic, because her kids treat her like crap too.

Then on to Gretchen and Jeff's relationship. The looks Vicky and Tamra were shooting each other when she was telling of Jeff's passing and where she is now (not ready to date) were unbelievable. I could tell Tamra was out for blood and I was just waiting to see what she was going to say next!

Lynne and Gretchen are still the dumbest people ever. That has not changed. How about Lynne saying everyone thinks she smokes a "BOMB?" Gretchen not knowing who Florence Nightengale is or the All About Eve movie reference. Shear brilliance I tell ya. Lynne bawling about being the dumb one is too funny, I'm sorry. She needs to own up to the fact she's a lazy mother who HAS CREATED spoiled children.

Vicky and Don do not have a bright future. She is a bottomless pit of needy BS. Poor Don is emasculated at every turn!

Tamra is so evil and pretends she didn't mean it when she said she wanted to get Gretchen "naked wasted".
Vicky needs to stop defending Tamra. Tamra believing Gretchen was paid to care for Jeff and then telling the Gretchen boyfriend story was awful and sick. Gretchen did look guilty as hell. Gretchen says the guy is her friend but she kicks him out of the car by the side of the road?

I find it funny that Tamra is so intent on pulling the moral card when she is obviously the one with the worst morals.

I was thankful when Lori came on. I miss Lori!

The season is over and I am exhausted!!

Kindness Challenge!!!

Life of a Southern Belle had the greatest idea to start a kindness revolution. Since these are tough times, and some people are losing hope, what better way to restore it than speaking about all the kindness around us.

I am adding up all the kindness given to me, to share with you.

1) Everyone is opening doors for me!
2) A woman at Landon's gymnastics class lifted him up on the trampoline so I wouldn't have to.
3) A woman in the parking lot of the dry cleaners told me I looked great.
4) A woman at the gas station said "happy baby!"(I started by telling her the great dane in her passenger seat was a handsome devil).
5) A man moved a cone for me so I could get out of a tight parking space.
6) Neighbors threw me a PINK shower!
7) At church everyone tells me I look beautiful and asks me how I'm feeling.
8) Hubby is doing everything, making dinner, bathing Landon, and being the best guy ever.
9) Landon's giving me lots of snuggle time.
10) At my grocery store "Sal" the bag guy, helps me to my car and unload my groceries.
11) At Landon's preschool mommy and me all the ladies are excited for Coco.
12) The ultrasound lady told me Coco was beautiful.


Now I challenge you to post some of the kindness you've received or given! Who's in?

Being a Big Brother- Tips for bringing home baby #2!

I have been thinking about what a shock this is going to be to Landon, he really doesn't know what Coco coming is going to do to his world!!! I want him to feel like he's still very important.

My pediatrician had some amazing tips for bringing home baby #2 and I wanted to share!

At the hospital:
1)First let Big Brother/ Sister visit mommy alone. Let them feel like Mommy is still theirs! Then wheel baby in.

2) Have pictures of Big Brother/ Sisters picture on the new baby's bassinet. Let them see that new baby is thinking of them!

3) Have a present from baby to Big Brother and from Big Brother to baby.


AT HOME:

1) Make sure you give over the top attention for any gentle and sweet behavior towards the new baby.

2) Let Big Brother help.

3) Have people greet Big Brother/Sister first before the baby when they come over.

4) Have gifts for Big brother so when baby gets one he does too!

5) Keep one on one time with Big Brother or sister as much as you can.

6) Reprimand new baby for crying and interrupting Big Brother time! Ridiculous but makes the older ones feel so good!!!!

Bachelor Recap! The Women Tell All

I am so over the past bachlorettes on the show so I barely care about their rude behavior. They are so catty and stupid.

It was cute seeing Ryan and Trista again, she's a gorgeous pregnant girl!

Things heated up when Jason finally came on. I could tell Jillian was so nervous and almost crying from the top of the show. She got dealt the "friend" card, which is a tough pill to swallow when you think you're in love with someone. It was sad when Jason admitted kissing Melissa was "different". You can tell she's genuine. I think Jason handled the hot seat with class.

The best part of the show was the preview!
I am dying to see why in the world they have no audience at the final rose! What the hell is going on!!!??


UPDATE!

Okay I have read the spoilers and here's what THEY are saying. They are saying he picks Melissa, proposes and then a few weeks later decides he made a mistake. He then gets together with Molly. They say the reason for no audience is Melissa is over it and feels like a fool. She thinks he's coming to the after the rose thing to get back together but he picks Molly. They also say it's been planned all along. OMG. If this is true I think I am done with the Bachelor!

Baby Vegas

As we get closer to greeting her ladyship (as Great Grandma from Wales calls her), Miss Coco, I think about how it was having a newborn. Keep in mind Landon was in the hospital 52 days so my beginnings with him were a little different....

Still, we spent every day with him at the hospital, got no sleep, and worried about everything! A friend of mine calls the time when you bring the newborn home going to "Baby Vegas". You have no idea where the time goes, whether it's day or night, Tuesday or Friday, because you are on lock down in your own world!!!

This time is a special time though, a time when you have to give yourself over to motherhood completely because this new little one needs you so much. It's sort of nice having a singular focus in a world that has become about extreme multi tasking!!!


It's even better when neighbors and friends bring you a meal so you don't have to think about cooking.


If someone volunteers to make a meal for you just say YES!

Since we only plan on having two I am going to try to enjoy Baby Vegas. I will be breast feeding and hanging around the homestead with the visiting Grandparents and hubby. All I need is a healthy baby girl.

The Mrs.

Shower Idea! Couples shower!

My neighbor Sheila who you may remember makes the best seven layer dip ever, and my other neighbors threw me a couples shower! The Theme was PINK! Well, really what could be a better theme. We've had blue in this house but PINK is coming to town in the form of baby Coco! (Can you tell I'm excited?)

I think the couples shower was so fun. There were cocktails and it was so relaxed...I loved including hubby this time!! It was also fun seeing all our friends before the baby arrives!



Anyhoo, Sheila and the gang....





....threw a beautiful party complete with a full Mexican spread of fresh chicken and beef tacos. It was delicious!!











I was looooving the cake brought by neighbor Annie that had pink chocolate shavings!!!! (pictured above)

Best of all was friends coming together to celebrate something wonderful happening. Don't we all need that right now? I do!

Look at all the fabulous gifts I received!!!!









Hubby and I were so grateful.....



But he really got into the PINK Shower!!!

Oscars!

Did you watch? The whole town is buzzing here and hubby and I were busy attending a couples shower for Coco and a 40th bday party for our good buddy Chris (how the hell am I almost 40?)

Meanwhile the red carpet is out and the stars are nervous!!!

I did not looooove these dresses like Mileys and Heidis above:



I did loooove Marissa, Anne, and Kate! I thought the speeches were better this year too...








What did you think?

Real OC Recap...the finale!

Well it was "old home" week on the OC housewives and we got to see all the old characters come out of the woodwork!

Jeanna went on a date with a cutey pie and sabotaged the date all over the place. No matter what he said she tried to boss him around and kill it. Like when she said she'd never let a man open a door to a car for her. When the car stops she wants to get out! Hello? Give a man his balls please and let him open you're door! At the end we see they are now only friends, big surprise!

Brianna freaked Vicki out with her wanting to go into the army and be a nurse thing, at the end it says she changes her mind, but you can see Vicky is not a big listener. She tried to tell her before. Brianna however, is just being a drama queen because Colby broke her heart. She's trying to get attention!

Raquel, Lynnes daughter makes me ill. I cannot stand her, Making fun of her mother for asking her to get a job and Lynne taking it? Ridiculous. They're both idiots.

At the party we get to see Jo (ugly bangs! yucky!), Lori (come back we miss you!) and her spoiled annoying kids (poor Josh), Slade (idiot!), Tammy and her kids (cheeseball!), but noticeably absent was poor sick Jeff.


Tamra gets a bracelet (wowsa), Vicky went on about a Rolex she bought herself (see above comment about giving a man his balls and let hubby take credit lady!) and Gretchen gets a motorcycle (random). Vicki will not go see the motorcycle because she says Gretchen is trying to get attention, but she'll go around the party showing her Rolex!

We finally hear of Jeff's passing through Jeanna is a bizarre public service-like announcement. Strange.

I am dying to see the reunion show because clearly the poop hits the fan! Did you watch?

Godfather Came To Town!

Landon's Godfather came to town for the Tour of California. He has a very famous blog called Belgium Knee Warmers, all about bicycle racing.

Pictured at Landon's christening above, Godfather is on the left and Godmother are on the right. Landon is wearing hubby's christening gown, that Miss Coco will also wear.

Back to the Godfather....

Godfather is hubby's best bud who lives in Chicago. Both hubby and Godfather adore cycling. Did you know Lance Armstrong is back to racing?? Go check out Godfathers blog, his pictures are amazing. Tell him the Mrs. sent you!!!

Last night Landon put on quite a show for Godfather, reciting his ABC's, counting to ten, and dancing around the kitchen to "She'll Be Coming Around The Mountain".

Well, what did you expect? We put on a good show here! Next week I will be delving into tips for bringing home baby #2 as well as starting a Kindness Challenge! Stay tuned dear readers!

The Done it/ Not Done it List

I borrowed this from WSU Laura, you just bold the ones you have done!

1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7.Been to Disneyland or world!!

8. Climbed a mountain (part way!!)

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a Marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies

62. Gone whale watching

63. Got flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71.Eaten Caviar

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76.Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book (sold a script though!)

81. Visited the Vatican

82.Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year's Eve

86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone’s life

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one

94.Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a law suit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee

I tag anyone who wants to do it! Let me know if you have!

The Pink Giraffe Giveaway!

Run don't walk over to The Pink Giraffe!

She's having a giveaway of a cute monogrammed lamp shade! Go check out her adorable stuff!!!

I think I need all of this stuff asap!!!!!!!!!

Fabulous Find! And I won it!

Houses, Couches and Babies was hosting a little give away and I won!!!


This is the Stay Dry Bath Apron an Towel! I think this is the best invention ever. Landon was so slippery after bath time I would have loved to have had this! Now I have a Pink one for Coco! You can get yours at Target!

Thanks Houses Couches and Babies!!!

Also thanks for the rockin' Angry Julie Monday who paid it forward by giving me One Fifth Avenue to read! It's a Candace Bushnell so it's a goodie!!! Thanks Julie!

Nursery Decorating in Pink and Green!

Coco is going to be one stylin' girl I tell ya. After searching high and low (and not wanting to pay as much as a car payment), I decided Pottery Barn Kids was the winner for her crib linens.

I chose the Penelope Pattern above. So cute with pink and green little birdies!!



I'm going to add on a pink gingham bedskirt and fitted sheet to change it up a little...




And this sweet Butterfly Mobile...

I am leaning more and more on keeping Landon's green (Coco is moving into his room) and just adding in my pink touches.


You remember Landon's safari themed room right?









now imagine it with the bedding, these pink shades...








and this rug....












and this chandelier!







I think it will be fabulous. I may even paint a few birdies on the wall and her monogram.

What do you think?

Bachelor Recap!

And then there were two!

The Bachelor was fabulous tonight. In New Zealand we got to see three very different dates with three very different Bachlorettes!

Jillian (Canadian girl) had lunch on top of a mountaintop and a helicopter ride. The whole time I knew she was going home, the whole thing seemed so forced. She just seems so aggressive and talky! No chemistry.

Molly went bungeee jumping and showed up to lunch with a list of 20 questions (cute but a little psycho, and then of course the fantasy suite. He went on about how great her family is...really? Anyhoo, she's still a contender.

Melissa (she's the one people), was still upset about her parents not being willing to meet Jason, but time in the jacuzzi heals all wounds! HA!

These too are crazy for each other and (spoiler alert) everyone is predicting her because they say you can see her ring on her pinky as he proposes in the clips. I could care less cause I picked her all along!

He got rid of Jillian and she tried to lawyer her way out of it. (Hello you're going home anyway, take it like a woman!) Jason was very upset.

The whole episode I was waiting for Deanna, but the previews were by far the best part! The Bachlorettes tell all is next but I don't care, the final episode in two weeks is what I want to see! Deanna comes to see him and messes everything up. To top it off he is bawling. Then, because of some drama there will be no audience for the final after the rose show. Hmmmm...Melissas parents disapprove? Jason upsets Molly so much she's suicidal? Melissa's parents meet Jason? What do you think it is? I am dying to know!!!!

Grand Torino- A Mom's Review!

Oh my goodness. I loved Grand Torino. Granted I am a sucker for crotchety old men who have a soft spot. Clint Eastwood plays a widower with some seriously racist language, who befriends an Asian family living next door. He gets more involved than he intends...way invested in this family and makes great sacrifices for them. They are dealing with serious gang issues in the neighborhood, and Clint tries to go to war. There's a young priest in the movie who is amazing.

I BAWLED at the end of this movie, I mean cried my eyes out but I LOOOVED it!

I am giving it 5 out of 5 Cosmos. It is a must see!!!!!

The real meaning of being a Team

This is a wonderful true story I heard about. It will just melt your heart!!! I thought we all needed to know about it!!!

They played the oddest game in high school football history last month down in Grapevine, Texas.


It was Grapevine Faith vs. Gainesville State School and everything about it was upside down. For instance, when Gainesville came out to take the field, the Faith fans made a 40-yard spirit line for them to run through.

More than 200 Faith fans sat on the Gainesville side and kept cheering the Gainesville players on—by name.


And even though Faith walloped them 33-14, the Gainesville kids were so happy that after the game they gave head coach Mark Williams a sideline squirt-bottle shower like he'd just won state. Gotta be the first Gatorade bath in history for an 0-9 coach.


But then you saw the 12 uniformed officers escorting the 14 Gainesville players off the field. They lined the players up in groups of five—handcuffs ready in their back pockets—and marched them to the team bus. That's because Gainesville is a maximum-security correctional facility 75 miles north of Dallas.


This all started when Faith's head coach, Kris Hogan, wanted to do something kind for the Gainesville team. Faith had never played Gainesville, but he already knew the score. After all, Faith was 7-2 going into the game, Gainesville 0-8 with 2 TDs all year. Faith has 70 kids, 11 coaches, the latest equipment and involved parents.


Gainesville has a lot of kids with convictions for drugs, assault and robbery—many of whose families had disowned them—wearing seven-year-old shoulder pads and ancient helmets.


So Hogan had this idea. What if half of our fans—for one night only—cheered for the other team? He sent out an email asking the Faithful to do just that. "Here's the message I want you to send:" Hogan wrote. "You are just as valuable as any other person on planet Earth."

Some people were naturally confused. One Faith player walked into Hogan's office and asked, "Coach, why are we doing this?"

And Hogan said, "Imagine if you didn't have a home life. Imagine if everybody had pretty much given up on you. Now imagine what it would mean for hundreds of people to suddenly believe in you."

Next thing you know, the Gainesville Tornadoes were turning around on their bench to see something they never had before. Hundreds of fans. And actual cheerleaders!


"I thought maybe they were confused," said Alex, a Gainesville lineman (only first names are released by the prison). "They started yelling 'DEE-fense!' when their team had the ball. I said, 'What? Why they cheerin' for us?'"


It was a strange experience for boys who most people cross the street to avoid. "We can tell people are a little afraid of us when we come to the games," says Gerald, a lineman who will wind up doing more than three years. "You can see it in their eyes. They're lookin' at us like we're criminals. But these people, they were yellin' for us! By our names!"

Maybe it figures that Gainesville played better than it had all season, scoring the game's last two touchdowns. Of course, this might be because Hogan put his third-string nose guard at safety and his third-string cornerback at defensive end. Still.


After the game, both teams gathered in the middle of the field to pray and that's when Isaiah surprised everybody by asking to lead. "We had no idea what the kid was going to say," remembers Coach Hogan. But Isaiah said this: "Lord, I don't know how this happened, so I don't know how to say thank You, but I never would've known there was so many people in the world that cared about us."

And it was a good thing everybody's heads were bowed because they might've seen Hogan wiping away tears.


As the Tornadoes walked back to their bus under guard, they each were handed a bag for the ride home—a burger, some fries, a soda, some candy, a Bible and an encouraging letter from a Faith player.

The Gainesville coach saw Hogan, grabbed him hard by the shoulders and said, "You'll never know what your people did for these kids tonight. You'll never, ever know."

Isn't that the most wonderful story!!!??

Recipe For A Fabulous Valentines Day

How do you have the perfect Valentines Day at home?

1) Lobstergram:
We had a wonderful night dining on lobster bisque, crab cakes and lobster from Lobstergram. Top it off with key lime pie!!!





2) A gorgeous table: I set the table with our Royal Crown Derby China (Old Avesbury) and added in my Grandmommie's (Coco's namesake) purple glasses, and waterford crystal for our water glasses. It was my Father who encouraged me to get the RCD and gave me all my pieces! He also gave me the waterford glasses and my Towle (Old Master, but not pictured) silver!I treasure it now and every time I use it I am so grateful to have it! Thanks Dad!!!! Setting a fancy table makes you feel wonderful.

3) Roses from hubby and a mushy card!




The perfect evening!!

Did you watch Oprah's Valentines Day episode rerun? The opening wish she granted just kills me. Maybe because I LOOOOOOOOOVE Patty Labelle!!! Watch this unsuspecting husband as he fulfills his dream of doing a duet with her!!!


Who's your dream duet partner? Mine would be Luther Vandross (may he rest in peace). I don't know if I could keep singing like this guy did!!!


TRYING TO GET IT TO POST!

If only you knew duet with Patti

The Real OC Housewives- Trashy Review

Well, this time we got to see Life With Vicky, and I am not sure we want a life with her! I'll give it to her, smart idea and a cruise no less! Seems like Don is really on board (except when he's at the bar) despite how she treats him! Vicky is so hyper it's hysterical. Her climbing the rock wall with her cellulite was killing me. You need some pants lady!

Gretchen left AGAIN to go see her college girlfriends. i love that she's showing off her ring while her fiance is in the hospital AGAIN! She never stays with him and always says she needs to get away! Get away from what? All your girls weekends?

Lynne and Frank had a get away (love the hotel!) Left the kids with Grandma (smart for once). Lynne complaining about having teenagers made me sick, even her hubby seems annoyed. Then she tells him about Raquels car? (way to ruin the romance) I am so sick of Lynne's lack of parenting skills. Wake up lady, the cigarettes are your daughters!!!

Jeanna and her daughters road trip revealed it all. The way she cursed and spoke to her daughter made Jeanna seem way less sympathetic in my mind. I think she may give out the verbal abuse as bad as she gets it. SAD. The way they were talking about homeless people (bummers?) was so rude it made me puke. No sensitivity genes running through this family!

Tamras situation with her Dad is tough. Really tough. I wouldn't have spoken to him either after leaving her mom for her friend. I hope they can patch things up so the kids can have grandparents. Grandparents are THE BEST! Tamras cousin is a major slut, and tacky as hell. Coming on to her cousin? GROSSSER THAN HELL.

Jeanna's date? tivo cut the show! didn't see him!!

Ahhh the trash...

A Very Lobster Valentines day

Rather than deal with price fixed menus and crowds, we are being smart and ordering a Lobstergram for our Valentines Day! This is the greatest company.

They have a huge catalog of lobster, steaks and desserts which they will ship to your door. The lobster is some of the best I've ever had. (Thanks Uncle Boober for the gift!!!)

Happy Valentines Day!

What are your plans?

Slumdog Millionaire A Mom's Review!

Hubby and I got to see Slumdog Millionaire a few days ago. I have to say it's very clever and well done. The story surrounds two brothers living in poverty, trying to survive, and one ending up on the Indian version of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire". There are some heartbreaking moments in this film and it jumps back and forth from present to past A LOT. I did like it, but it's tough for me to see kids that poor and what they have to go through!

I am giving it 4 out of 5 cosmos, only because of tough subject matter! It really is Oscar worthy.