Man-Candy Monday

The final Harry Potter movie comes out on Friday.  I'm going to see it, along with my mom, step-dad, and Matt.  I'm so excited, but - I'll be honest - a little bit sad.  So, in honor of that, here are the men from Harry Potter.

Daniel Radcliff (Harry Potter, obviously)

Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley)

James and Oliver Phelps (Fred and George Weasley)

Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom)

Granted, they're not the most beautiful guys on the planet.  But I have loved them, each of them, for several years.  I can't wait to share these books and movies with our kids.

Link up and join the man-candy fun!

*all images from google

Crafty Little Me

I'm not gonna lie.  Since my DIY adventures for the wedding, I kind of miss, well, DIY-ing.  I was never much of a crafter, but I really enjoyed what I did.  But I haven't had any reasons for making any crafts.  But then I came across this the other day and thought, "I really want to do that!"  Not to mention, it's probably something I could handle. 

I followed the link on the pinterest photo, and it took me to a little tutorial on how to make it.  Pretty easy!  So today, I went to my old friend Michael's and picked up a few supplies.  The original post says to use a 12x12 scrapbook frame.  Unfortunately, we don't have enough open wall space in our kitchen to fit that.  But I figured I could easily use a different size frame.  I picked up a 7x14" frame, some interesting scrap paper, and a couple whiteboard markers.

With the 7x14" frame, I needed 2 sheets of 12x12" paper.  I brought home 2 sheets of a couple of different patterns, and went with the one that I liked most on my wall.  Then I go to work! 

First, I cut the sheets of paper down to 7" wide, then carefully matched up the patterns (sort of - I hadn't noticed that the pattern wasn't totally centered and that I should have kept the top at the top when cutting) and pasted them with the glue stick.  From there, I measured out how far apart to write the days.  I gave myself 2.5" at the top to write "Menu," which left me with 11.5" to split up for the days of the week.  Each day got 1.75," with using Weekend instead of Saturday and Sunday.

I took it into the kitchen and hung it right next to our main "working" counter. 

I put this week's menu on it.  It doesn't look very exciting this week because we have plans for multiple days.  For example, on Wednesday, Matt will just eat leftovers because I'll be at Movies and Martinis with my girlfriends (not eating M&Ms).  Thursday night we're going to the U2 concert.  Friday night we'll be having dinner somewhere in Center City with my sister and her husband.  And Saturday night we'll be at a party at my step-aunt and uncle's house. 

I love our new menu board, and hope that it helps me be even more creative with my meals!

10 Day You

Krysten, at After I Do, just started this challenge.  Thought I'd give it a shot, too.  So every Sunday for next ten weeks, check back to learn a little something about yours truly!

Ten Secrets:

1. When I was younger, I took synchronized swimming lessons.  I did it for 10 years.  I competed in the Keystone State Games (PA's version of the Olympics) and actually won a few medals.  I really loved it!!  When my mom, sister, and I went to the Olympics in Atlanta in 1996, we got tickets to see the team competition.  I was so happy.

2.  In high school, I lied about when I had my first kiss.  I told people it happened at the beach when I was 14.  I actually didn't have my first kiss until I was 17.  What?!  I was a late bloomer!

3.  I actually usually prefer to stay home and watch movies than go out.  Going out requires so much effort.  Truth is, I like sitting on my butt in my pjs.

4.  I'm addicted to Angry Birds.

5.  I get so sucked in to tv shows sometimes that I feel like the characters are real people, and I talk about them like I know them.

6.  I am a chronic pessimist, but only when it comes to my health.  When I first started having migraines, I was convinced I was dying of a brain tumor.  When my knee started hurting, I started preparing myself for a knee replacement.

7.  Sometimes, I hear myself talk, and I think I sound like a huge bitch.  I'm trying to work on that.

8.  I used to say that the girls in my high school were so bitchy and mean and catty and cliquish.  Now, almost 15 years out of high school, I see a lot of people being friends on facebook who didn't speak to each other in high school.  I find myself thinking, "Psh, I'm not gonna be friends with her, she wouldn't give me the time of day in high school!"  I'm starting to realize that I'm the one perpetuating the cliquish-ness.  I need to get over it.

9.  My biggest pet peeve is when people lack elevator etiquette.  You're supposed to wait until the people get off the elevator before you start barelling onto it.  It secretly makes me just fume inside.

10.  When I was younger, I participated in a YMCA program called Indian Princesses with my dad.  It was awesome at the time, but looking back now, I realize how terribly un-PC it was.  We had Indian Names (my dad was Running Fox, and I was Dawn Dancer).  We used to go to biannual Pow-Wows, where we'd camp (in cabins) for a weekend and have ceremonies where we'd pray to the Great Spirit, do archery, and go canoeing.  We wore head-dresses with feathers and beads and painted our faces.  It was a lot of fun, and great opportunity for bonding with my dad, but....yikes.

Not us, but this was pretty typical

So there ya go.  Some of my deep, dark secrets.  I know...scandalous!

Any Other Photo

Hey all!  Matt and I are the featured "Any Other Photo" over at Any Other Wedding today!  Head over and check it out! 

I didn't discover Any Other Wedding until about a month ago, and even though Matt and I are 9 months past our wedding date, I still really enjoy reading this blog.  They talk about weddings in a very realistic way.  They don't fluff things, they tell it like it is.  I would have appreciated finding that before our wedding - I think it would have helped take some of the stress off.  So jump on over, enjoy our post, and peruse the rest of the blog!

No, I'm Not Pregnant

Just fat.  But thanks for pointing out my gut. 

I've stopped making excuses to people.  Arguing with them.  I've just started responding that way when they look at my stomach and ask if I'm pregnant.  "Nope, just fat.  But thanks for pointing it out!" 

from google

Look, I am well aware of the fact that I have gained weight.  And that the bulk of that weight is sitting right at my gut.  I am aware that wearing babydoll-style shirts and flouncy maxi dresses also contributes to the appearance of being pregnant.  But I like that style shirt, and I've been wearing flouncy maxi dresses since before Nicole Richie made them cool again.  They are comfortable.  Especially in 90+-degree heat.  And especially now, when I am feeling too self-conscious about my gut to wear the more form-fitting clothes I have worn in the past. 

But I'm not pregnant.  And even if I am, it's not any of your business.  Until I decide to make it your business.  Which I haven't.  Cuz I'm not.

So let's stop talking about how I "look" pregnant.  Cuz all you're really saying is, "Wow, you have a stomach that's pushed out further than normal and we're taking notice!"  Which in turn means, "Hey, Fatty, nice gut."  It really doesn't make me feel good.

I have never been one to believe in "dieting."  It has always been easy for me to alter the way I eat (portion control, healthier foods, etc) and drop weight without much other effort.  Obviously, my body is older and my hormones are different and things have changed.  I need to put more effort into it.  So I've been working out.  I just started the 30 Day Shred, and am hoping that that gets me results.  But I'm only 2 days in.  So right now, I still have a gut and flabby butt and floppy arms.  Can we not discuss it and analyze it to death?   Seriously, I'm sitting at work right now, and I feel like I could cry.  I just walked away from a discussion between 3 nurses about how they all think I'm pregnant.  After a few "Nope, I'm just fat!" comments from me, with a hope that they'd get the point that they're hurting my feelings, I had to walk away.  How do you respond to that? 

Since when is it appropriate or socially acceptable to so openly discuss a woman's body?  Or a woman's choice to bear (or not bear) children?  One of the nurses actually had the audacity to ask me if I would be upset if I was pregnant.  After telling me that I was pregnant and me denying that "fact," she had the nerve to say to me, "But you wouldn't be upset if you were pregnant, would you?"  Like that would be the worst thing in the world.  Maybe I would!  Maybe I don't want to be pregnant.  But how is that any of her business?  Since when do I need to discuss my desire/ability/readiness to have children with her?

I'm absolutely appalled by the audacity of these women.  I would never dream of asking a woman if she was pregnant if I was absolutely 100% sure that she was.  And if I was so rude as to ask that of a woman who then tells me she's not pregnant, I would certainly not continue discussing the matter and insisting that she was!  Who does that?  In what way is that ok?

I am already terribly self-conscious about the weight I've gained.  Having people discuss it doesn't help.  I wish it were as happy an occasion as me being pregnant.  But unfortunately, it's just as simple as me gaining weight.  So let's move on, please.  You are not helping my already delfated self image. 

Baby Pinterest

It's Wednesday!  Know what that means?  Time to link up with The Vintage Apple for...




Yay!!  This week, I'm going to feature some pins from my "For Future Babies" board.  Matt and I have been talking a lot about when babies are going to come into our future.  So I've been pinning a lot of baby inspiration for future nurseries and what-not.  Here are some of my favorites! 

I love this for a "family photo!"

These are a few purchases I may have to make.

I mean, seriously, how cool are the sunglasses attached to a nuk?

And this is my idea for a nursery - clean, with just a few framed quotes on the wall.

Quotes like...

And definitely a book tree!

So there it is, some baby inspiration via Pinterest!  Link up and join the pinning party!

Marriage

A few weeks ago, when my girlfriends and I got together, it was such an eclectic mix of people in different stages of their lives and relationships.  We had me, the newlywed; my friend Abriel, happily married with a 9-month-old; my friend Mel, divorced from an abusive a-hole with a 6-year-old; my friend Amy, happily married with a 2-year-old and now pregnant with their 2nd; my friend Nicole, widowed with a 5-year-old; and my friend Tina, going through an ugly and painful divorce with a 5-year-old and a 7-year-old [wow, really??].  Seriously - we represented almost every single life stage for a 30-something woman.  The only one not represented was the unmarried, childless woman.  And now that I think about it, I don't actually think that exists anywhere in my circle of friends!  Wow, we are getting old!

Nicole's husband died 2 years into their marriage, when their son was 6 months old.  She obviously still mourns him, but is moving on and looking for new love.  Mel is in a relationship with a guy who seems to treat her well.  Her ex-husband seems to have finally grown up a bit.  But Tina is (understandably) miserable and unhappy.  And she's not exactly a huge believer in marriage at the moment.  So when everyone was asking me about how married life was, I felt a little bit guilty being all "Oh it's just so wonderful and I'm so happy and I love my husband and he's the best thing in the entire world."  So I just said "It's great!" and moved on.  But later, when it was just me and Abriel and her mom (who is, hands down, one of my favorite people in the world), I admitted my true feelings: I've never been happier.  When we first got married, and people asked if I felt different or if anything had changed, it seemed so silly.  We'd lived together for 4 years already.  Why would anything feel different?  But now I realize that it does.  It has changed.  I can't quite put my finger on how or why, but it has.  My heart just bursts when I think about how being married to Matt makes me feel.  We talk about our future in such real and concrete ways.  We support each other.  We encourage each other.  We reassure each other.  And we love each other.

Sometimes, I look at my husband and I'm just overwhelmed.  I've heard from so many people that the first year of marriage is the hardest.  Granted, we've only been through 9 months so far.  But if it's true that the first year is the hardest, then we are gonna sail along beautifully for the rest of our lives.  And I can't wait.  For whatever comes.