Ok, that was not easy. No sir-ee. We finally got funding today and got the keys to our new house! Not a moment to spare either. We are super stoked to move in this Friday after the painters work their colorful magic this week. Lots of work to do but hot dog - they let me buy a house!
I'm not sure if this is a common thread that runs through the lives of every human being or if I'm just a spoiled brat BUT even when I find myself in one of those really exciting chapters of my life, I have a really bad habit of letting myself stress out to the point that I can't even enjoy it.
Take right now for example. Hubby and I are expecting our first child which we have been waiting for and dreaming of for years. We were so lucky to get pregnant on our honeymoon and find out about our little bean the day we returned. We decided to start looking seriously for a house shortly after that.
We finally decided on a house and the offer was finally accepted on the short sale at the end of March. Not exactly ideal - would have been nice to have been moved in by then. But, we figured that getting the house about a month, month and a half before the due date would give us plenty of time to nest and it would have the added bonus of taking our minds off the waiting for baby's arrival.
Getting financing proved to be VERY challenging. Conventional financing turned out to be a pipe dream so at the 11th hour, we switched to the FHA route. This wasn't a piece of cake either but we had back up plans and a very solid agent that knows his business very well. We finally got loan approval sign off two weeks ago. Now, we are sitting and waiting for the docs to be drawn up so we can sign them, close escrow and take possession of the property.
I had to rent my place out to some very nice people that have been flexible with us and agreed to move their move-in date from June 1 to June 20th. So, that's the deadline. June 20th. We need to be out of here, have this place clean and ready to go for them by the morning of Saturday June 20th.
The hitch is that we need the new place painted before we move in. The interior walls are painted a horrible mustard yellow with dark red accent walls. Yucky, yucky, yucky. Can't do it. Just can't. Of course our friend Darrin, our painter and incidentally, the guy who married us as well, will be taking a long weekend right smack dab in the middle of this. He'll be gone Friday through Tuesday and he needs 3 and a half days to do the painting.
I lost you.
Anyway, here's my point. Baby is due June 30th. I'm pretty sure he won't come early. Most new moms go past their due dates and I have a feeling I won't be any different. My best guess is July 3rd for his birth date - but what the heck do I know?
I am so darn scared that he will come into a world of chaotic, unpacked boxes. "Where are those darn diapers?" "I know we have a changing pad somewhere."
Well, that's it for me. Ryder will be full term tomorrow so he can come anytime. Psychologically, I think I'm ready. I'm getting a little scared of labor and delivery but I think I can handle it and I have a great coach. Besides, I am starting to really get sick of caring around this extra 30 plus pounds of uterus. It's pretty uncomfortable.
But, see what I mean? This should be a really exciting time for me (I mean, it is in a way) but I am so darn stressed about the timing of everything. Plus, I'm like no help whatsoever in packing or moving. I can't even get from one position to another without some help. It's really sad.
Take right now for example. Hubby and I are expecting our first child which we have been waiting for and dreaming of for years. We were so lucky to get pregnant on our honeymoon and find out about our little bean the day we returned. We decided to start looking seriously for a house shortly after that.
We finally decided on a house and the offer was finally accepted on the short sale at the end of March. Not exactly ideal - would have been nice to have been moved in by then. But, we figured that getting the house about a month, month and a half before the due date would give us plenty of time to nest and it would have the added bonus of taking our minds off the waiting for baby's arrival.
Getting financing proved to be VERY challenging. Conventional financing turned out to be a pipe dream so at the 11th hour, we switched to the FHA route. This wasn't a piece of cake either but we had back up plans and a very solid agent that knows his business very well. We finally got loan approval sign off two weeks ago. Now, we are sitting and waiting for the docs to be drawn up so we can sign them, close escrow and take possession of the property.
I had to rent my place out to some very nice people that have been flexible with us and agreed to move their move-in date from June 1 to June 20th. So, that's the deadline. June 20th. We need to be out of here, have this place clean and ready to go for them by the morning of Saturday June 20th.
The hitch is that we need the new place painted before we move in. The interior walls are painted a horrible mustard yellow with dark red accent walls. Yucky, yucky, yucky. Can't do it. Just can't. Of course our friend Darrin, our painter and incidentally, the guy who married us as well, will be taking a long weekend right smack dab in the middle of this. He'll be gone Friday through Tuesday and he needs 3 and a half days to do the painting.
I lost you.
Anyway, here's my point. Baby is due June 30th. I'm pretty sure he won't come early. Most new moms go past their due dates and I have a feeling I won't be any different. My best guess is July 3rd for his birth date - but what the heck do I know?
I am so darn scared that he will come into a world of chaotic, unpacked boxes. "Where are those darn diapers?" "I know we have a changing pad somewhere."
Well, that's it for me. Ryder will be full term tomorrow so he can come anytime. Psychologically, I think I'm ready. I'm getting a little scared of labor and delivery but I think I can handle it and I have a great coach. Besides, I am starting to really get sick of caring around this extra 30 plus pounds of uterus. It's pretty uncomfortable.
But, see what I mean? This should be a really exciting time for me (I mean, it is in a way) but I am so darn stressed about the timing of everything. Plus, I'm like no help whatsoever in packing or moving. I can't even get from one position to another without some help. It's really sad.
Had our 33 week ultrasound today. Ultrasounds are always fun because we get to peak into Ryder's womb-world. Jenny was our technician again and I think she probably dislikes me as much as I dislike her because I ask A LOT of questions.
Baby Ryder is measuring large. His abdominal cavity puts him almost at 37 weeks old and his head puts him at 36 weeks. His femur length is now normal. Hi estimated fetal weight is between 5lbs 5 oz and 5lbs 11 oz. Holy cow! The kid is almost 6 lbs and all my baby web site newsletters say he's supposed to be 4lbs 5 oz by now.
So, the head is a bit intimidating, I have to admit. But, mommy and baby are both doing really well besides us both measuring a little more than we're suppose to.
It's funny to see him all squished up in there like a pretzel. He's gotta be getting bored by now.
Baby Ryder is measuring large. His abdominal cavity puts him almost at 37 weeks old and his head puts him at 36 weeks. His femur length is now normal. Hi estimated fetal weight is between 5lbs 5 oz and 5lbs 11 oz. Holy cow! The kid is almost 6 lbs and all my baby web site newsletters say he's supposed to be 4lbs 5 oz by now.
So, the head is a bit intimidating, I have to admit. But, mommy and baby are both doing really well besides us both measuring a little more than we're suppose to.
It's funny to see him all squished up in there like a pretzel. He's gotta be getting bored by now.
So cool! We were featured on CNN Money yesterday! The blurb with our picture was on the very top of the home page and it still seems to be rotating in from time to time today.
The writer, Emily, called me the other day and asked for an interview about The Younique Boutique and how we were coping with the recession. I think the piece turned out really well. Plus, it's super neat to see our photo up there. I personally go to CNN Money daily so this was a big deal for me.
We have received some other press lately too. We have been featured on Brides.com, New Jersey Bride and most recently, on Fox 6 News.
The writer, Emily, called me the other day and asked for an interview about The Younique Boutique and how we were coping with the recession. I think the piece turned out really well. Plus, it's super neat to see our photo up there. I personally go to CNN Money daily so this was a big deal for me.We have received some other press lately too. We have been featured on Brides.com, New Jersey Bride and most recently, on Fox 6 News.
We had to put my dog down today. She was 12 years old and not doing well anymore. It was hard but luckily, my hubby took her for me. It's so sad to say goodbye to someone who has been in your life for so long. I'm gonna miss you, Hunter. You were the best dog ever. So loyal, so obediant. Smart in your own way. Always happy - right to the very end, wagging your tail.
Hunter loved nature. She actually smiles when she was in the outdoors. She was such a good dog. You could put a piece on salami right in front of her and if you told her no, she would try really hard not to eat the salami.
I will think of her everyday.
Hunter loved nature. She actually smiles when she was in the outdoors. She was such a good dog. You could put a piece on salami right in front of her and if you told her no, she would try really hard not to eat the salami.
I will think of her everyday.
Sometimes, just sometimes, things work out. I had a few nights available at the end of February at my vacation rental in Mission Beach and posted an ad for the three nights on Craigslist. An hour or so later, I got an email from photographer Amy McMullen up in Portland, OR asking if I would consider a barter. As it just so happened, my publicist (yes, I have a publicist) was asking for some recent headshots of me, me and my mom and me, my mom and Gus and on top of that, it's very in vogue to have a maternity shot done at some point of your pregnancy. So, it was perfect!
We haven't seen all the shots yet but we are thrilled with the ones we have seen. Here they are:
We haven't seen all the shots yet but we are thrilled with the ones we have seen. Here they are:
1) The average bride spends between $1000 and $3000 on flowers. Save this money by creating interesting candle centerpieces. Used, thrift store candles in different sizes, colors and shapes are super cheap. Glass stones, feathers and clear saucers with food-colored water with make a colorful container. Bridesmaids can carry a single flower.
2) A live band, depending on their reputation and experience, can cost up to $5000 for the night. Save the cash by visiting local bars and clubs 6 months in advance. Approach your favorites via their web sites and tell them what a big fan you are. Ask how much they will charge to play at your wedding. Usually, each band member will expect at least $100. A typical 5 piece band will cost just $500 for the evening!
3) The most expensive portion of any wedding is catering. A seated dinner can be anywhere from $20 - $50 a person. Local eateries that may be a little less than fancy (think El Pollo Loco) are used to catering large events for $7 - $10 a person. Disguise the restaurants name by using decorative pieces for your buffet. Fit the food to your theme. A Sunday afternoon affair works well with typical bbq cuisine and can be formalized by the way it's presented. Hawaiian food (kalua pork, coconut rice, pineapple slaw, etc) can be dressed up to be super festive.
4) Brides will spend thousands of dollars on the perfect gown. The dress is worn for one day and once you have worn it and soiled the underside, good luck selling it. Instead, buy a used gown on eBay. You can purchase your dress at auction from a bride who has worn it and dry cleaned it OR better yet, buy one that needs to be dry cleaned and altered and save lots of cash. Buy a dress a size larger than you need and have it tailored for the perfect fit.
5) Invitation set the mood of the your event. Save lots of money buying generic invitations (you can find cheap ones with no frills online) and embellish them yourself. Rubber stamps with metallic ink, die cut 3D paper forms, dried flowers all can be added to create a gorgeous look for less than a fancy designer invite. Save money on postage by enclosing post card RSVP cards instead of cards in small envelopes. You can cut your return mail postage in half by using postcard stamps instead of first class stamps.
6) Liquor can eat a sizable chuck of your wedding day budget. Save a ton of cash by purchasing the following: one keg of good beer; one bottle of discount white and discount red wine per table (Costco or Beverages n' More); one or two large bottles of a decent liquor of choice and two choices of mixers. Skip the champagne toast all together - you can have champagne on hand for those who enjoy it but the majority of guys can't stand it and it always goes to waste. You can have your toast but let folks toast with whatever they have in their glass.
7) Save money by finding a location that costs little or no money for its use. Start with private homes of friends and family. Next, hit up the local city parks. Whatever you do, stay away from hotels. You will be forced to buy their vendor packages and while it may seem like a good deal, the personalization aspect is super low and in the long run, you will be paying for a lot of unnecessary details.
8) Select a respected family friend or family to perform your ceremony. Professional officiants charge hundreds of dollars and often have a set ceremony with little need for your personal input. In many states, you can pay a small fee to ordain a private citizen to perform the duties. In most cases, this chosen person agrees to pay the fees in exchange for the honor of marrying you.
9) Save money and your feet with a cute pair of white sneakers instead of uncomfortable, bejewelled slippers. No one will see your feet under your gown anyway.
10) Skip the tropical honeymoon and take a road trip. Spend some time with your sweetie out on the open road and go explore a little together. Save your cash by packing a cooler and make romantic picnics in scenic national parks. Bring your tent and spend your evenings under the stars. End the trip with a night in a really nice, fancy hotel or resort. There's nothing better than getting real grubby on a camping trip and them taking a long, luxurious shower in a fancy-schmancy resort.
Don't scrimp on the photography, make-up and hair. If your photographs aren't everything you've been dreaming of, you will always have a sour taste in your mouth. Save your money on videography - who wants to see themselves on video anyway?
2) A live band, depending on their reputation and experience, can cost up to $5000 for the night. Save the cash by visiting local bars and clubs 6 months in advance. Approach your favorites via their web sites and tell them what a big fan you are. Ask how much they will charge to play at your wedding. Usually, each band member will expect at least $100. A typical 5 piece band will cost just $500 for the evening!
3) The most expensive portion of any wedding is catering. A seated dinner can be anywhere from $20 - $50 a person. Local eateries that may be a little less than fancy (think El Pollo Loco) are used to catering large events for $7 - $10 a person. Disguise the restaurants name by using decorative pieces for your buffet. Fit the food to your theme. A Sunday afternoon affair works well with typical bbq cuisine and can be formalized by the way it's presented. Hawaiian food (kalua pork, coconut rice, pineapple slaw, etc) can be dressed up to be super festive.
4) Brides will spend thousands of dollars on the perfect gown. The dress is worn for one day and once you have worn it and soiled the underside, good luck selling it. Instead, buy a used gown on eBay. You can purchase your dress at auction from a bride who has worn it and dry cleaned it OR better yet, buy one that needs to be dry cleaned and altered and save lots of cash. Buy a dress a size larger than you need and have it tailored for the perfect fit.
5) Invitation set the mood of the your event. Save lots of money buying generic invitations (you can find cheap ones with no frills online) and embellish them yourself. Rubber stamps with metallic ink, die cut 3D paper forms, dried flowers all can be added to create a gorgeous look for less than a fancy designer invite. Save money on postage by enclosing post card RSVP cards instead of cards in small envelopes. You can cut your return mail postage in half by using postcard stamps instead of first class stamps.
6) Liquor can eat a sizable chuck of your wedding day budget. Save a ton of cash by purchasing the following: one keg of good beer; one bottle of discount white and discount red wine per table (Costco or Beverages n' More); one or two large bottles of a decent liquor of choice and two choices of mixers. Skip the champagne toast all together - you can have champagne on hand for those who enjoy it but the majority of guys can't stand it and it always goes to waste. You can have your toast but let folks toast with whatever they have in their glass.
7) Save money by finding a location that costs little or no money for its use. Start with private homes of friends and family. Next, hit up the local city parks. Whatever you do, stay away from hotels. You will be forced to buy their vendor packages and while it may seem like a good deal, the personalization aspect is super low and in the long run, you will be paying for a lot of unnecessary details.
8) Select a respected family friend or family to perform your ceremony. Professional officiants charge hundreds of dollars and often have a set ceremony with little need for your personal input. In many states, you can pay a small fee to ordain a private citizen to perform the duties. In most cases, this chosen person agrees to pay the fees in exchange for the honor of marrying you.
9) Save money and your feet with a cute pair of white sneakers instead of uncomfortable, bejewelled slippers. No one will see your feet under your gown anyway.
10) Skip the tropical honeymoon and take a road trip. Spend some time with your sweetie out on the open road and go explore a little together. Save your cash by packing a cooler and make romantic picnics in scenic national parks. Bring your tent and spend your evenings under the stars. End the trip with a night in a really nice, fancy hotel or resort. There's nothing better than getting real grubby on a camping trip and them taking a long, luxurious shower in a fancy-schmancy resort.
Don't scrimp on the photography, make-up and hair. If your photographs aren't everything you've been dreaming of, you will always have a sour taste in your mouth. Save your money on videography - who wants to see themselves on video anyway?
