Shoe extravaganza!

After deciding today that I may never find a single pair of boots I like, I decided to stop into Ross for the heck of it and see if they had anything good. And what do you know? I hit the jackpot.

Actually got these at TJMaxx earlier this week for only $25 (reg price $40) - Madden Girl.

Roxy - Reg Price $50 - Paid $25

Nicole - Reg Price $60 - Paid $23

Sporto - Reg price $120 - Paid $25 (ignore the mess please)

Close-up of the ones above

Skechers Shapeups - Reg price $90 - Paid $20

SCORE!!!

Boys, Birthdays and Boston

Had a good birthday week with my boys. Although my actual birthday day was a little bit tougher to get through than I hoped. Since my Mom died, this day has held a bit of sadness to it despite how hard I try to deny it. I just miss her too much and especially on a day when I'm celebrating when she gave birth to me. I hate to say that I was not all smiles, but instead had myself a good cry at the end of the night. Still the days before the actual day were wonderful. Just still coping with not having my Mom around, which I'll probably never be okay with.

I got a yummy ice cream cake which is what my Mom used to always get me.

The boys took me shopping for boots and we didn't find any I wanted. Then we shopped for a camera instead and couldn't decide on one, ha ha. But I found the boots I want online so I'll buy them eventually - when it's even cold enough to wear them... October??

Southern California is so weird - so unlike any place I've ever lived before. The weather is awesome but for a girl who loves fall, it makes it difficult to dress like I want for much of the year. So that's why I have to go to Boston again to make the best use of my fall wardrobe. Jennie and now Beth too this time are planning another trip there in November. Can't wait for a repeat of the ridiculousness - tripled.

I made hats for us. For myself, I made a red beret. I'll post a pic of myself wearing it later after I fix my hair. It's pretty gnarly right now.

For Beth

For Jennie Ash wanted to be my model but it looks pretty different on a bigger head.

The boys started school yesterday. Everything went well. They like their teachers and their best friends were actually in the same class with them this year too. So that always makes the transition to a new grade easier. Today, neither of them even wanted me to walk with them to class. I followed Lucas anyway like a creepy stalker Mom. I told Ash that I was sad about it on our way home and he said, "Well Mom it's just you and me." And that made it all better.

Birthdays!

I love birthdays - mine, Bill's, my kids, my parents, friends, random people I meet on the street, my manicurist who seemed a little put off by how happy I was for her 21st birthday when she seemed so ho-hum about it. Every since I was a little girl, it just felt like that one special day when it's completely okay to think of myself and accept a little extra attention. And no matter how everything else is going in life, if the days leading up to the big birthday are not so good, I feel like I at least get that one day to forget it all and celebrate.

Bill thinks I'm crazy but I can actually remember every single birthday I've ever had. I think I remember my 1st birthday too but that would be too crazy right? Here are some of my birthday highlights.

1st - Sitting in a high chair and my mom putting cake on my nose
3rd - BBQ in the backyard, my best friend Bumper
6th - Disneyland
7th - Pink bicycle that matched my best friend Gina's
8th, 9th & 10th - Skating rink!!!
13th - Move to a new city and my only 3 friends in the entire city still make it an amazing day
16th - Dad drove me around the city blindfolded and had a surprise party at a restaurant with friends and family.
18th - Another new car before heading off to college. The Toyota Tercel which Bill would later smash the hood of with his ass after I just met him.
21st - Vegas
26th - 1st birthday as a Mommy
29th - Pink party!
34th - Today :)

Rambling and Doctor Talk

I ended up buying the 4th pair of those glasses because I thought they had the full-on geek factor I wanted. I was waffling between those and #1 since those seemed cuter. But I like the ones I picked. Ordered some prescription sunglasses too.

I've had a rough-ish week. Battling an illness that seemed to never want to leave my system and anxiety on top of that probably made it even worse. Sometimes I feel like I just invite anxiety when it's not needed. Granted, anxiety is never "needed". But being anxious about important things feels justified where in my case lately the stupidness entering my brain was just that - stupid. I said it all out loud to Bill and while hoping to calm myself ended up firing me up even more. I don't know what will come of this.

Despite all of this bullshit swirling in my head, my life right now really is amazing because I have the best family ever. I love my husband and my kids and they are freaking awesome. And my birthday is coming up on the 12th AND I got a Nook color yesterday as an early gift. It is ssweeeet. I like Bill's iPad but I didn't really want one. I kind of wanted an e-reader but I didn't like the screens on most of them. But the Nook color has a screen like an iPad and it has some other cool iPad-ish features, like a web browser and apps. (Woot Pandora!) Plus it was only $250 as opposed to $600. So yeah I like it. A lot.

Now to news I've been wanting to blab about for the last month... Bill is going back to school... to be a doctor. It is super exciting for us. He has found his calling and is so motivated and inspired to do it. And it makes me so happy for him. He will be in school for a long time but if we work it out by him joining the military, then his school will be paid for and we'll have a little bit of a cushion there financially since he won't be able to work full-time once he actually starts medical school. We are really comfortable right now in his current job and our lives but we are obviously not the kind of people are who satisfied with being just content. Although it's certainly nice for a while. We have both gone through life enjoying the moment but looking toward the future and considering what we can accomplish in the grander scheme of things.

Why are we here and what is our purpose in life and on this earth? These are things I think about and helps put my thoughts and life in perspective when I worry about things that are so trivial. And then my brain explodes.

This is the most random post ever.

Anyway - I'm very proud of Bill for choosing this path, especially at age 34 when some people think you should have it all figured out by now. He's going to love being a doctor and will be so good at it.

I feel like my brain just took a dump on my blog.

Which glasses should I get?

I really want some black geeky glasses.

Inspiration...

So here are the ones I'm choosing from. I think I know which ones I want but if you care to share your opinion, please let me know which I should pick. And if you don't think I should get any of them, well... then keep that opinion to yourself, haha.

1

2

3

4

Thanks!

The August Break

Saw this on Dee's blog and I'm going to do it too. The August Break.

I love August. Birthdays, school starting, last days of summer.

Thinking of Fall already

I've been delaying posting since we got back from vacation because I'm overwhelmed trying to catch up on the last few weeks via blog. I think I'm just going to skip it. We had a wonderful vacation, it was a beautiful wedding, I posted lots of pictures and updates to facebook so there you have that. Moving on to new things (are you okay with this? I think I am.) ...

Today is going to be a bullet post and I'm going to get back on track tomorrow with regular posting. Getting this out of the way.

• Did I already say it was an awesome wedding? Well it was.
• Booked our hotel in Kansas City for Vann's wedding. Just need to get plane tickets but seeing them for $200 a piece roundtrip so that's pretty cool. Can't wait to see Vann and Matt again, and watch another happy wedding.
• Looking forward to SuperJenn's wedding in September. We don't have to travel far for this one. Gotta shop for a dress!
• Planning another trip to Boston in November with Jennie and Beth this time too! Wardrobe planning is #1 priority for this one. Compiling lists of style inspirations. Yep.
• Getting a haircut today. I'm totally not showing you guys a picture of what I'm getting in case you think I'm joking and yell at me not to get it. It's going to be good though. I promise. I WILL post a pic after.
• I've been on a mad crocheting hat spree. Made one for Bill, one for me, two for Allison's daughters, one for my Dad and working on another for me. This may be a hat Christmas instead of a scarf Christmas this year. I hope everyone likes hats.
• My birthday is in 15 days. I know what I want but Bill is getting me something I didn't ask for, although it's probably something I asked for before that we both forgot about it until now. This may actual be a surprise even though of course I've been guessing because I'm a ruiner of surprises. I know he's not getting me boots though so I'm listing that at the top of my wishlist. I like these.

This color is cognac but I like every color. In case you were wondering.

Okay that's enough bullet updating for today. More real posting tomorrow.