Something Blue

There are very few things in my life that I have missed out on.   When Nick and I decided we were ready for to add a baby to the Lardo family mix, we both felt like we were "ready".  We have traveled extensively, lived in several cities, worked in jobs we loved (and hated) and generally said "yes" to life's invitations.  I hate to miss out on anything.  At HBS they call this "FOMO" or fear of missing out.  I suffer severely from this.  So much so that we had to institute a two plane ticket per wedding rule in our household.  Be warned if invited, I generally show up.

Sadly this weekend I am missing out.  Big time.  My friend Marisa is getting married in Denver and there will be no wedding for this pregnant lady.  Serious tear.  We lived together senior year in Ann Arbor and have remained close since graduation.

She sent me the following card and bracelet a few weeks ago.

Yes, I hang things on (the side of) my refrigerator.  I never thought I would be that girl.  This has been up for a couple of months.

The bracelet Marisa sent me to wear today, so I could be part of her day.

I was beyond touched at the gesture and plan on having a Marisa inspired day today in her honor while wearing my blue bracelet.

I will:

• Go to the pool to get some sun (this will ensure I photograph better at the Little Lardo's birth)
• Have a margarita (okay not really, but I would if I could- a sip of Nick's might have to suffice)
• Watch Lizzie McGuire in celebration of our shared love for the teen genre
• Eat Mexican or Thai for at least one meal
• Do all of my laundry, including my sheets
• Find the energy to do at least a 30 minute work out
• Snuggle Lola  (Marisa has agreed to take Lola if something were to happen to both Nick and me.  She is the only person I know who could love her as much as I do, except for maybe my mom and brother)

Congrats Marisa and Pat! I can't wait to see the wedding in pictures.

Tailgate Invites

I love my friend Catherine because she likes random projects as much as I do.  Sure I have friends who specialize in painting, paper crafts, sewing, and refurbishing furniture amongst other creative pursuits, but to be an equal opportunity doer of all things crafts takes a special type.  At any given time I have about 5-10 unfinished projects going.  I have been this way my whole life.  Seriously. 

This brings me to the Tailgate invitations for Katie & Brent's couples shower in October.  I wanted them hand sewn.  The problem is. . . I don't know how to sew.   Lack of skill and equipment has never stopped me before and I set out to the local sewing store in an attempt to:

1.)  Learn how to sew from the expert staff
Author's note:  No one at a big box sewing store is interested in teaching you to sew, especially when you inform them that your plan is to sew cardstock onto burlap.  Sewing snobs prefer to reserve their expertise for worthy sewing projects like Dallas Cowboys fleece blankets and quilting animal Halloween costumes. 

2.)  Purchase a sewing machine
Author's note:  A nice sewing machine costs more than the $50 I wanted to spend on this endeavor.  Enter into my life, the Singer Craft sewing "machine".  They might also sell it at Toys R Us.  If not they most certainly should look into this added distribution channel.

Sewing Store Mission=Fail

I returned home optimistic that my new less than professional equipment and lack of general skill would still be sufficient to complete the "simple" project I had in my head.  After 30 minutes of attempting to thread the machine, a rerun of Law & Order SVU that I had seen 2x before seemed more interesting.  Insert Catherine.  After inviting myself over to her house, she patiently taught me what a 20 page black and white pamphlet in half English could not.  She also went the extra step of sewing all of the red thread onto the main invites using her machine not meant for child's play.

See below for evidence:

The main invites sewn onto burlap thanks to Catherine

When the invites took 5 days to arrive via mail, I was a bit worried I was over the 13oz weight limit

Enclosure card- supposed to have black and gold overlapping thread, instead it has glue.

I generally hate photo stamps, but in this case I felt it added to the overall theme.  I made wrap labels which I don't have a picture of. . .

My trusty assistant is never far from a project.  She likes them as much as I do.

I returned home with high hopes of sewing gray thread onto the main invites, as well as black and gold thread onto the enclosure cards.  This is when I learned a tough lesson.  The Singer craft sewing machine is not made for 35-week pregnant ladies. The plastic foot petal crumbled under my weight.  Seriously.  And with this I gave up on my dreams of hand sewn invites.  Thank goodness for glue. 

Here are the finished products.  Slightly different than the original concept . . . which bothers me . . .alot, but not enough to bring out the craft sewing machine for many months or until I am back to my pre-pregnancy weight.

Happy Birthday Lola!

Happy Birthday Lola!

Happy Birthday Lola- today you are three!  It is difficult to believe how hard I had to negotiate for you.   Nick really DID NOT want you.  In the end you cost me a birthday, anniversary, Christmas and Valentine's Day present. The best deal I ever made.  I may need to work on my negotiation skills.

Here are the last three years in review as told by my favorite iPhone photos.

Your first picture from when I picked you out at the breeder

You never seem to mind the funny outfits I put you in

This was really a low point in your short life

You have perfected your snuggling skills.  

Car rides are your favorite

Thankfully you are a Michigan fan

Sadly you actually like him more than me

Sometimes you forget that you are only 15lbs, here you are channeling an African Lion

No one ever said you were well trained, the coffee table is a perfectly normal place to sit

A face only a mother could love. . .

Fall Fashion

My coworkers are in New York this week for the Spring Ready to Wear shows at Fashion Week.  34 weeks pregnant=no airplanes for me.  Plus let's be honest, no one wants a large and in charge pregnant lady at Lincoln Center.  I probably weigh 75lbs more than most the models.  I eat models for breakfast.

As my sister and I exchanged text messages last night regarding Fall fashion trends and what she should add to her closet over the next few weeks.  It occurred to me that I have already spent my fall fashion budget and my purchases are anything but fashion forward.

While I should be stocking up on great colored denim in flared/wide leg styles like this:

A package from J.Crew arrived yesterday filled with these:

Seriously.  I am stocking up on sweats and comfortable tees like I am back in the Sigma Kappa house circa 2002.  After graduation I promised myself that I would never again wear sweatpants outside the comfort of my own home.  I anticipate this rule being broken by year's end.  Just call me your formerly fashionable friend*.

*Due to the nature of my profession I still know what's on trend, I just don't physically own or wear any of it myself.   So feel free to keep asking for fashion advice.