via I am Baker....

Ickle me, pickle me, tickle me too.......

Do you know that ryhme by our dear Uncle Shelby?

If not.....

Why you may ask do I bring this up?   Has she lost her mind you question.....

Nope - not yet (stay tuned on that front however)

It's pickling time!

I've ordered the cucumbers this morning to pick up on Friday.  No turning back now.......

Recipe you ask?   Well it's right here from the last time I did this.  My excuse last summer was I was pregnant and we still had some.  However we are OUT!  So no excuses here.   However having a roving never stop and sit still 9 almost 10 month old would be a good one.....maybe he could help peel the garlic? 

I might....might make small jars of pickle slices to hand out at J's first birthday.   We shall see how it goes.   Since I have no idea how many people will be coming to that it might be kinda hard.  

And the journey continues.....

Squeeezzzeeee

Let's consider this a PSA of sorts......

This morning bright and early I went and had my mammogram.

If you are a women and you are over 35ish and you haven't had one in 12 months ( or even worse never) stop whatever you are doing and go and make an appointment right now.

I'm serious

It's not that big of a deal

It doesn't hurt

Nobody is going to stick you with a needle or weigh you so what are you afraid of?

You owe it to yourself and the people you love to take the 15 minutes ( or less ) and go and have this done. 

The gal I had today was really nice.   She said she actually had someone pass out on her once.   Seriously?   Goodness.   The more relaxed you are the easier it will be for your tech and the quicker it will go.   Also, if you have a history of breast cancer be prepared to tell who and at what age they had cancer. 

Ok enough with the lecture.....kind of heavy for a Friday.

Rally forth and enjoy the weekend!

And the journey continues.......

Back to reality

Today is the last day of my vacation.......

From previous posts you know that it didn't start out so wonderful but sickness is all part of the game.

We had a fun time at the beach.   The first day was spent with the grandparents and lunch at Mo's and from there we just settled in to a couple of days at "Mermaid Cottage".   Just great to be back after being away for a year.  Didn't actual get J down on the sand.   The timing never seemed to work and I'm trying hard not to force things to happen just to have the moment or to have the picture.  This is a very easy trap to fall into.   I think being still a little weak from the sickness is helping me to live more in the moment and not over do everything. We found a fun new lunch spot in taft Hwy 101 Burger which I would highly recommend.   This place is nothing fancy but the food is tasty, inexpensive, and fresh.

J at Mo's

J at Hwy 101 Burgers

The rest of the week was spent at home.   We took J to daycare on Thursday and took the time to get a little caught up on some things and enjoy a nice lunch on the lake.  It was weird to be without him though and just out the two of us.   We missed him but it was nice to have a little break.  J had a wellness check up on Friday and everything seems to be tracking.   Also, have J on a new feeding routine and he seems to be working and this might give me some time in the morning to do my yoga or walk.....time will tell.

Back to the salt mines tomorrow.........thankful to have a job.   Was nice to have a break - my first one since my leave - and looking forward to the next one in October.  Until then back to the day to day and everything that entails - the good, the bad, and the tiring......

And the journey continues..........

Not my anniversary

For many, many, many (did I say many?) years I worked at Nordstrom.  This meant I spent  the middle of my summer living basically at the store.  The reason being the Anniversary Sale.   This is the sale that nightmares are made of.  My first sale as a manager I had to go home the night of set up with 4 fixtures on my floor that were completely empty and hope and pray that the merch I needed to fill those fixtures was on the morning truck.   For set up you were there until at least midnight and then turned right around and were there at 5 am for fluffy and final touches.  Good news?  If you were lucky you would sale your you know what off and make a bank of money.   You also worked 12 - 18 hour days and didn't have more than one day off a week.   But you know everyone else was doing it as well so you just went with the flow knowing that this was not forever.   Just for about 3 weeks......

I've been gone for about 8 years but still every July the first weekend of the sale does not go by unnoticed.....

I'm not one to be there the first day of the sale when the doors open (I did that the first year I wasn't working there) but instead I'm the internet shopper.   Its just easier.  Especially when they are going to ship things to me for free!

Here's what I have on the way to my home as we speak....

Shoes glorious shoes!

Not sure I will keep both pairs of loafers but a girl needs shoes to wear to work doesn't she?  And I just love those boots!   I think they will be perfect with long skirts.  

A little something for the pickle.....

He had a North Face jacket last year that my friend D'Anna got him and we wore it a ton!  It is fuzzy and warm yet thin enough that he can wear it in his car seat.  Also, the hood is key.   This was a splurge - don't usually spend that much on things that will be worn about 6 months - but it will be worth it.

A little something for the house......

Everywhere you go know their is these kinds of things.   But I have to say this is the original or at least pretty close to it.   I remember years ago when this very sweet young girl came to our buying offices to pitch this brand.  She told us a story of being in Italy and working with this little old man to create the different fragrances.   We took a leap of faith and bought into the whole concept - hoping that they price wasn't too steep.   Well needless to say the brand seems to only of grown and 10 years or so later seems to be going strong - looks like Julie, Mary and I made the right decision to bring it in....

Needless to say if we are counting things I'm grateful about this weekend (besides the fact I convinced J to take a nap in his own crib this afternoon - big win!) it is that I woke up this morning was able to make my family breakfast and go for a long walk with them.  So much better than working a 12 hour day at the mall.   However, I wish them all luck and I hope everyone made their goal the first day as well as the first 3 days.

All pictures from here

sick, sick, sick.......

So I don't believe I've ever been sicker, more sick, sickly, in my whole life.......

It started on Tuesday and to be honest I should of gone home as soon as I got done with my meeting.  But I just chalked it up to be tired - because I was so very tired and have been for a while.  But then on the way home I threw up in the car at a stop sign.   TMI?   Well lets just say I didn't even do that when I was pregnant.   But to be honest I took a little better care of me and the babe when I was pregnant.   G had to work late so I went and got J and luckily he was a good guy and went to bed without incident.   Wednesday I was out for the count.  Thursday was a little better but I still wasn't really able to eat but I worked from home for part of the day.  Friday I still wasn't able to eat so I called the advice nurse.   After telling her all the gory details (which I will not share here) she informed me I had a viral intestinal infection that could last 5 - 7 days.  UGH!  You see I was supposed to be going to the beach on Saturday.  I haven't been in over a year.   And we had our family reunion on Sunday and everyone is expecting me to show up with J.   So I was hoping for a miraculous recovery.  It wasn't looking good though, I was weak - very weak, and the house well lets just say its very obvious what gets done by me around here because I wasn't able to do anything.   Couldn't even carry my baby up the stairs.....

Its Sunday and I'm sitting on my couch..........

No beach and no family reunion.........

Lesson learned?  I hope so.  We will see.  I've been running on all cylinders and thought I had it under control.  Apparently not.  I truly believe had I not been so tired this would not of hit me like a sledgehammer.  I truly don't think I'm trying to be superwomen but I do remember on Monday thinking that I couldn't believe how tired I was and it was only Monday.

Good news?  I've lost 10 pounds!  How's that for glass half full?  And I'm on vacation this week so we are still hoping to get to the beach for a couple of nights.   Would love to smell that ocean air.

What day is it?

I'm truly confused.  

I didn't go to work yesterday

Or the day before

And I don't go tomorrow

However that sweet little boy of mine did sleep through the night last night!

I however woke up at 12

And at 1

And at 2

But pickle kept sleeping.......

I woke up one more time at 4

But pickle did not wake until 5!

And I gave him a bottle rocked him and back to sleep he went until 7!

This is the most joyful time of my life and the most stressful an odd combination but one I'm willing to ride through

We are taking our first road trip to the beach next week

Should be interesting.....