Fun with free photo shop

I have been wanting photoshop for freaking ever but the real deal is pretty expensive and seems pretty hard to use considering I have seen magazine and books dedicated to helping people learn how to do cool stuff with it. My sister bought an smaller scale edition of it but hasn't used it yet, and I am dying for her to hook it up so I can see what you can do with it. However I came across this link today for a freebie version that is good enough for me for the moment. Here is one example that I did of it today with Rachel. Check out the link to sign up.



https://www.photoshop.com/express/landing.html

Craft showed out...

I went this morning up to Richmond with my parents, my girls, and my nephew Jake to the infamous Bizarre Bazzar craft show. I had a moment yesterday when I found out Jake was tagging along, not that I didn't want him to be with us, but rather with two car seats, and the double stroller it makes my parents car pretty tight and they have the same car Dave and I have, the expedition. So I had some concerns about where I was going to put all the awesome stuff I was going to buy. I threatend to drive myself, but my family told me I was being insane and that there would be plenty of room. Of course everything I bought fit in my Land's End tote so once again I am just going to blame my insaneness on the baby in my belly.

The spring show is never as big as the Christmas show, but its still super cute and good. I was happy that it wasn't as crowded, so that made it easier on my dad who was entertaining the Gile's girls. One booth was selling sheets for your bed, and I may have totally wasted my money on them, as the deal is just too good to be true. They are brand new, 400 thread count, and any size you wanted from twin to cal king was just $22.00. I bought one set as we need sheets for our new mattress for our master bedroom, and I want to see if after one washing if they fall apart. But hey for the price I just need to test it out, and if they work out great! I also found Laura some flip flops. Last summer I paid a crazy amount for some cute ones from Gymboree, and Laura threw a fit and refused to wear them as she did not want anything between her toes. This year however she started putting my flip flops on and clops through the house in them. On my trip to PA I bought her some tacky glittery ones from the Disney Store to test out again, and SHE LOVES them. She tracks them down every morning even after I put her in different shoes and has a fit until they are on. Last night she even slept in her bed with them. Rachel however is going through the same phase as Laura last year, and hates anything in her toes so I didn't get her any flip flops at the show. Shhhh don't tell her...

I got some silver shells. I am guessing that they are real shells diped in silver or something that resembles silver, their pretty regardless, and I want to arrange them in a clear vase or something in the house with these blue shells I got at the Christmas show last December. I also bought some bag that has a liner inside. I can either use it as a lunch bag or a dirty diaper bag, and lots of other stuff. I think it would be also good for putting wet bathing suits in it for the pool or beach. And that's all I got. Dave is going to be so proud of me for not going crazy and spending more. I used serious self control and reminded myself that my work car needs new brakes between now and when I go back to work next week. Damn that car for holding me back lol!

So this weekend I am not sure what we have planned. Dave is working nights so the days I will spend it entertaining the kids, and its supposed to rain all day tomorow which is crummy cause I hate staying inside all day. I rather take the kids out so they can burn off their energy, makes for a happier mommy!

A while back I read a blog on someone I am friends with through Myspace who inspired me to take my own bags to grocery stores. I did it once and then I fell off the bandwagon. I had a moment when I went to Walmart and at the last second didn't take my bags in as I was afraid they would think I was shop lifting or something if they saw me go in with a bunch of tote bags. Silly I know! Anyways, the secretary at one of my units told me she started doing it and she thought the same thing, and also worried that her older kids would be embarrased if she did it in front of them, but she says the stores are nice about it and no cashier seems bothered. I have decieded I will try again. Will be interesting to see how long I last this time. I think the trick for me will be to store some in my car so I have them when I make spur of the moment stops.

Something else I am going to try sometime this lifetime, maybe even this weekend, are veggi purees in food. Jessica Seinfield wrote a cookbook on it, as she had a hard time getting her kids to eat veggies, so she started purreing them and adding it to normal dishes. Think purreed sweet potatoes in pancake batter and you get the idea. I got the cookbook for Christmas, but have not tried anything out. I have never pureed anything in my life either, so this should be interesting. Hopefully it will be easy enough and I will be inspired to make my own baby food for our baby on the way so I can be like my cool friend Jamie who is mom of the year for making her own baby food.

Another Gymborree line coming out....

http://junkjungle.org:80/040308m.html

Bathing suit shopping...

Now in my wildest dreams I can only hope to look like this during the summer while pregnant. Her belly is probably smaller then mine is non-pregnant. Anyways, I came across this shop that is based out of Richmond that has some cute maternity clothes. A bit on the pricey side but I didn't think it was a bad price for a bathing suit. I am a bit nervous that its going to be too small, and since its on clearance there are no returns, so I just got the biggest one they had and will cross my fingers I can squeeze in it, and that it will cover the belly. If all else fails I will just sell the bathing suit to some other pregnant person on Ebay, and be bitter that they are skinner then me.

grrrrrrr

Yepp, my pregnancy attitude is just the best. I can be so freaking irritable when I have a baby in my belly. Monday I had planned to take off since our ultrasound appointment is at 10am, and hopefully we will find out the gender (with my luck we wont), and then I had wanted to get the baby something special to celebrate what it is, and then have a nice lunch with the husband. However, my husbands plan is to go with me, rush back home, get his golf crap together and then meet his BFF for a round of golf. Not my idea of a special day butt head!!! However, apparently they are going to some snobby golf course for free and I hate to disappoint my husband as I know how much he loves golf and how he lets me run off and have my free time, so I can't say anything when I am soooo tempted to just smack him with the mop. I actually hit him with a mop last weekend but thats another story, and I have been asked to work on my temper lol.

I am also irritated as he only has like one weekend off a month with his stupid schedule, and I look forward to them. I don't know why as everyone else in the world wants his attention then as well, but I still hold out an hope to have him to myself with the kids. Of course though he and his brother are making plans to go freaking Turkey hunting at his grannys on that weekend. He hasn't hunted since college, but apparently he just has to go and kill a poor turkey immedialty or hes not a man.

I mentioned the other night that I just wanted one day to lay in bed and watch TV and nap and not have to worry about the kids AND not feel guilty about someone watching them. I don't know what it is, but I get this overwhelming feeling of guilt if someone watches the kids and its not due to me being at work or something else important. I think its a female thing as men have no problem with this. But if I did this, and had my parents watch them, I wouldn't be able to enjoy the day as I would just think what a crappy mom I was for not using a day off to spend time with them. After I explain this to Dave he says he has a great plan, and his plan is to take the kids with him when he goes hunting, in hopes that it is his moms turn to be taking care of his ill granny, and have his mom not only take care of her but also the girls. That idea does not make me feel guilt free and willing to lounge around all weekend while my kids are several hours are away from me. The idea set me off and I in fact told him the idea sucked, and if my kids were heading several hours away I would be with them.

So just a warning that my blogs may be rants for quite sometime, and that I will try my best work on my 'tude, and someone may want to suggest to my husband that I need some butt kissing big time. Like every day.

Monday might be the day!

I never got a really cool 3d or 4d ultrasound with my first two kiddos, and with this baby I decieded I wanted to do it. My docs office doesn't have one of those machines, and at my last appointment he pretty much told me he doesn't like those places that just offer the "fun" ultrasounds places as he feels it should be done only in doc office. I see his point, but still I want to get one done, so don't tell my doctor I am going. SHHHH!!!!!!

I found a place in Chesapeake which is a bit of a hike away that does them, and I called got a message saying to leave my name and someone would call me back in the evening. So I left a message and gave my number where they could reach my in the evening. I got a not so nice message back from them today when I was at work saying they can't call me in the evening as noone is in the office then, and they needed me to call back with more info ( I don't care if they don't but their stupid message said thats only when they call). ANYWAYS, according to their website they can tell you the gender as early as 18 weeks.

I also found a place in Hampton which is much closer that does the same thing. I was a bit hesitant at first as I am not a big Hampton person and was wondering what kind of establishment it was, but after looking into it I think its fine. The owner who is a nurse says she will tell people at 16 weeks, which is where I am almost at and will be at by Monday. OK OK I know there is a possibility that they can totally be wrong at that is pretty early for them to tell you, but I have my main one from the doctor a few weeks later, so I can get complete confirmation then. I know I sound like a complete nut ball, but I just want to know. I don't know how some people go the entire time without finding out. I think it would be cool to be surprised, but I like to prepare. Personally, the gender neutral clothes I got before I knew I was having a girl with my first baby, I never put her in as I wanted her to wear the cute girly stuff rather then a yellow outfit. I also want to have a fun nursery all planned out in a boy or girl theme.

I will confess one thing. I have been looking pretty hard at boy stuff. I don't really feel one way or the other about what I think I will have, but because I never really looked at boy stuff before and I have been thinking about what I would buy if I had a boy and scanning the Pottery Barn baby boy stuff pretty fierce. Regardless though I will be excited and love him or her no matter what!

What not to wear

So I found a new blog I like read and they just did an article that is now making me rethink my work clothing. Read the article first here http://www.blissfullydomestic.com/2008/03/just-say-no-to.html

I work in a pretty casual enviornment. The nurses wear whatever scrubs they want, and other staff like myself which is like 2-3 other people just dress casual. There isn't a dress code, and its just not a dress up place. I guess I COULD wear a nice suit from time to time, and if there is some crazy mondo meeting I do make more of an effort to be pulled together.


So here are a few rules of casual work dresscodes I have broken according to the blog. I have been guilty of wearing flip flops to work. I think I first did this when I was pregnant with my first and my feet were so swollen I just went with what felt best. However, I admit to wearing them when I have not been pregnant, and sometimes it has been because I like to look at my pretty pedicured toes after I get them done. One time when I was pregnant I even wore slippers to work. In my defense they sorta resembled Uggs, or at least I hoped they would. Someone called me out on it. Crocs are also a nono according to the writter. Nurses at the unit sometimes wear them, although they are cracking down on it with them if they have the holes as blood could get in their shoes, but yes I have worn them as well, and yes they are ugly as can be but man don't they feel good? I have also done the tennis shoe bit from time to time.

Don't get me wrong, I know that sometimes this may make me appear to be unprofessional when I am in a professional placement, but in my defense most of my work is done in the privacy of my office as its basically a paperwork job. But maybe I do need to work on my dress especially since I tend to slack on it during pregnancies.