Royal Wedding Party!!!

So my really good friend Erin (owner of She to Shic Beauty Lounge in Kerrisdale) hosted a red carpet event in celebration of the Royal Wedding last night and CBC NATIONAL was there...I'm on TV!

First Video

This was broadcasted LIVE last night while we were at the event!

Second Video

This was broadcasted tonight on CBC National News!  

So happy to be on TV....I can cross off another thing to do before I die!!  Here are some photos of the night!  It was so cool because there were tons of wedding dresses for people to wear and a photographer who did an impromptu shoot with those who dressed up as a bride!

LOVED Kate's look!! She was so beautiful and the new couple seemed so sweet with each other! So happy for them!  

Inspiration Boards for BOYS!

I told you I'm having baby fever!  Double post today! If I ever have a son these would be my inspiration boards for his nursery!!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this photo.  The rug and accent wall are both amazing.  How about that 2-toned furniture combo?

The blue, green, yellow colour combo is very spring-like!  I think the stripes and dots together is kind of cool!

Grey, white and baby blue are a good combo too!!!!  I love this blanket...I love the alphabet in general so I think might use that idea!

Baby Fever!

It's official.  I've become one of those mom-to-be's who has gone ga-ga over everything baby!!  I've been looking online non-stop at all things babies! Sites I love so far are...

I'm still trying to decide which BRANDS I love best for big ticket items like strollers, cribs and things like that...so share/educate me!!!!

The Motherhood Dilemma.

Such a touchy and personal subject but it's definitely something I've been thinking about for a LONG time. I've always wondered how someone decides whether or not they become a working mother (you drop your kids off somewhere;grandparents, daycare, nanny, babysitter, head to work for 8 hours, pick up your kids around 6, get groceries and manage to put dinner on the table all the while doing all the daily chores that need to be done in the home) or a stay at home mother (drop your kids off school, hit the gym, get groceries, get some chores done...pick up the kids after school at 3...take them to the park for an hour or two...go home and get dinner ready). Of course for the first 5 years of your child's life you're not dropping them off at school...you're spending the ENTIRE day with them!

I used to find it really hard to accept that women actually would choose to be a working mother (from how my descriptions above sound).  But as I'm heading towards motherhood, reality sets in.  Can I even AFFORD to be a stay at home mom?  This question probably has the biggest weight to this dilemma.  Will I get super bored when I'm home all by myself with the kids, especially when they're not school-aged?  Will I wake up one day and feel resentful because I had to give up everything that going to work rewards you with? 

 On the flip side, if I become a working mom,  would I end up just hating work because I wish I could go to my kids' class' Valentine's Day party with cupcakes in hand?  Will I be forcing my kids to miss out on things like swimming lessons after school because I wouldn't be able to take them?  Will I wake up one day and feel regret because I gave up being able to put 100% into my children while they were growing up?  

Can a mother really 'have it all'?  A career, family, money AND children?  For sure the answer to this question varies because no woman is the same.  I work with kids and I've had the pleasure to witness many different family dynamics in many different families. I've seen everything from total stay at home mom/soccer mom types to total career driven moms/CEO mom types and everything in between.  My job for the next few years is to figure out where I stand in the big stretch.  Any decision will have some gives and some takes.  My goal is to make sure that I don't give away something that my child can never get back and to that I don't take so much that I won't be able to hand it.  

What are your thoughts????  I'd love to hear from the experienced ladies!!!

Go Canucks Go!

Playoffs started today (watching the last 2.5 mins of us kicking the Blackhawk's butt) and of course I sported my Canucks gear at work today.  It got me thinking about all the little baby Canucks gear I could (and should?) start hoarding.  Here are some awesome ones.....GO CANUCKS GO!!

And game 1 of 7 is done!!!!!  3 more to go!!

I Dream in Two's...

I'm going to admit I have a greedy wish.  I want TWINS.  I've always wanted twins.  And my maternal grandmother had twins so technically I have a chance.  Whenever people learn this about me they think I'm crazy.  They tell me that it'd be so much harder having twins than one baby blah blah blah.  I honestly don't think it would be THAT big a difference and if anything I'll have TWO reasons to be a happy!  I WANT TWINS...but of course I'd settle for one really healthy baby!  

I'm going to up my greediness and even say I want boy/girl twins!!! HAHA It'd be awesome to have one of each and get it all over with on the first go eh??  Yes yes super greedy!!! But come on.....isn't this super cute?????

What I DON'T want is........

....now THAT would be crazy!!! This STROLLER is crazy!!!

I <3 babies!!!  RIght now I know 5 people who are pregnant (5 that I know of that is!!).....yay!!!!!

Figuring out the Ovulation Period....

So at my pap appointment my doctor schooled Ed and I on ovulation.  I've read about it many times and obviously know what it's all about but never totally fully understood how to figure out MY date.  My doctor drew a little number line for us....I redrew it and here's a photo...

I love my doctor because he's always so good at explaining things to me!  Basically there is always 14 days between the day you ovulate and the day you get your period.  If I chart my period for a couple of months I simply just have to count back 14 days from when my period starts to figure out the day I ovulate (and to be safe give or take 2 days).  The only thing he told me that might throw this off is if one's periods are irregular.  I'm hoping that they're not as irregular as I think they are because I've honestly never charted it in my life so I just really 'think' they are since I never know when I get them and perhaps because I don't get the aches and pains of it UNTIL I get it.  So yes that's the super fast 101 of ovulating HAHAHA


I've already started counting back and kind of have an idea which days it is but like I said in my last post I'm going to have to wait for my next cycle and hope that it's about the same day as last month!  

Pap Day!!

Today's the day! I'm going for my first Pap Smear ever.  Totally not looking forward to it but can't wait for it to be over as well.  Gonna rush home after work and take a quick shower (how gross would it be for the doctor when people don't??) and Ed's coming home right at 4 with Tobey and then we're off to the doctor's office!!  Hope the wait isn't too long and that the appointment will be quick!  I'll update when I get home about the experience!


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K so after my appointment yesterday we went to my mom's for dinner and didn't get back til late so I didn't have a chance to update!!  So the appointment went well!  In terms of pain it was painless til the end.  And a few hours after my pap my thighs are butt became sore (and still is!!).  I think I was just so tense during the entire time so my muscles are now all sore!  Ed was great he stood right next to me the entire time and I was grabbing his hand.  I'm so glad he was there cuz it was kind of a mini preview of what it might be when we deliver??  HAHA  


The doctor says that there's nothing as of now to be worried about and that we're a 'go' for baby making!  There's no history of any types of female cancer in my family so he's pretty sure the tests will most likely come back negative.  


He talked to us about how ovulation works and how I can best determine (without an ovulation kit) when I ovulate.  For once I can't wait til my next period later this month so I can count back 14 days and mark my ovulation time (it'll be give or take 5 days of the date I land on).  He also asked me about my periods and I told him that they're usually irregular (at least to my knowledge) and that I get cramps all the time.  He warned us that people with really irregular periods may have problems conceiving but reassured me that my periods are probably a lot more regular than I think they are.  1 month in between each is a long time and unless I've charted them religiously (which I haven't) it might SEEM like they're irregular because so much time has passed between each one.  So let's hope that won't be an issue!  After all my own mother and both grandmothers had a crazy number of kids (4, 6 and 6) without really even trying so I think my baby making genes are good?


So yesssss we're good to go!! Can't wait til my next period...which is so weird....and HOPEFULLY just MAYBEEEEE it might be my last one before I'm a mommy????  I sure hope so!!!!!!!  

T-Minus 1 Month....Possibly.

So next month once I begin my cycle and hit the ovulation period....Ed and I will make our first fertilization attempt.  With that in mind the only thing I know to do right now is eat as many of the non-edaibles (food I won't be able to eat for the next....year? of my life).  The past 2 days I've had nothing but Sashimi and Raw Oysters for dinner!  And don't think I'm going to stop just yet!! I figure I have a good 3 weeks left to indulge in all the non-edibles that I love eating and can't imagine living without!!  I'm going to drink as much wine as I can, eat as many raw foods as I can and just PRAY that I won't miss them too too much once I'm officially with child.  

I'm honestly kind of freaking out about all the non-edibles I'm going to have to give up.  Sushi and rare cooked steaks are all I know but once that golden (more like blue?) line appears on that lovely stick that I'll be peeing on I will have to eat nothing but fully cooked and healthy (what's that?) foods.  SUCH SACRIFICES!!! I hope my future child reads this and can feel my pain. Ed on the other hand doesn't understand why I'm making such a big deal.  This is coming from a guy who of course hates alcohol, raw fish and undercooked meats!!!  

3 weeks.....I should really make a food plan to get in as much as I can eh??!!   

The Name Game!

Lately Ed has been randomly telling me about names that he likes!  I'm not going to disclose anything yet because some things should be a surprise!  But when we were in Baby's World over the weekend the cribs section had showrooms and in those showrooms were names on the walls like this....

I just think it's so cute how he's always telling me that he he really wants a son but that if he had a daughter she'd be super spoiled and he'd melt everytime she looked at him the way I look at him when I'm requesting something.  It makes me really start to think that we should really look into our baby book (the one up top....I've had this FOREVER) and start making a list of boys/girls names that we love!  YAY FOR THE FUN STUFF!!!!

Getting started with the FUN stuff!!!

Ed and I were out and about over the weekend and after our weekly IKEA $1 breakfast (technically $2 cuz we always order 2 plates) we were driving back home when we drove past BABY'S WORLD!  I begged him to stop so we can go take a look (this wasn't the first time we've driven past and I wanted to go in....he's been putting it off because he wants to BE pregnant before we start looking at baby stuff) and to my surprise he said yes!  So in we go and once we were inside the first thing we see are strollers and car seats.  I melted seeing all the baby stuff and ran over and started pushing a stroller.  I'm going on and on about how they're all so cute and how if we had twins (it's in my genes!) we'd get 'that one'.  The sales lady came over and asked us if we had questions and we said 'no, we're just looking'.  But she didn't go away.  Instead she started talking to us about HOW to choose the proper stroller and how we'd really use it more than our car!  She totally schooled us about strollers.  


Strollers:
Apparently most parents end up with an average of FOUR strollers.  One that's the basic, big one that comes with the little carrier for your newborn.  Another that's a lightweight easy to access/fold away one.  Another to replace the big one that you got before your baby was born because once using it you'll realize it doesn't push as easy or it just doesn't work for you. And yet another to replace the lightweight one because most people usually buy a cheap version since it's a 'to-go' stroller.  If most parents were to take the money spent on all 4 strollers and put it towards a higher end, multi-purpose and well built stoller, they would have spent LESS money on strollers.  


Car Seats:
I went on to ask her about car seats.  She replied with 'When are you due?'.  I told her I wasn't even pregnant yet but we were going to start trying next month.  She told me to not bother getting one until a month before my due date once I know.  APPARENTLY....car seats have EXPIRY DATES???!!!  I did NOT know this!!!!  I was so surprised!  Car seats have a 5-8 year life span.  AND if you get pulled over and they check your car seat(s) and it's expired, you can get a TICKET!  The reason they have expiry dates is because car seats are not built FOR the car you have.  They're built FOR cars but not for a SPECIFIC car.  And because they're just strapped in there, there is wear and tear that will take place from it shaking all the time while the car is moving at high speeds.  Also you car seats often STAYS in your car.  The extreme hot/cold weather will warp the plastic/materials and thus making the car seats safety features diminish.  


Cribs:
There are so many things to think about when buying a crib!!  Planning for a 2nd child?  Get a better one so it'll be good enough to be reused.  Want something for your baby to grow up in?  Get a transition crib which can later be converted into a day-bed and then into an actual bed!  SO COOL!  And there are also changing tables and drawers that all come in a set with the cribs!  And most people get a bassinet for their newborns' first few months so they can be in their bedrooms rather than down the hall. 


All in all that 20 minute visit has got me all giddy and excited!!!!! There is so much that Ed and I have to research on in terms of baby furniture before we even decide which ones to get!!  Haven't even thought about high chairs, play pens, bouncers and whatever we haven't thought of yet!! FUN!!!


Also within 2 days, 2 of my co-workers have announced that they're pregnant...one with TWINS!! BABYS EVERYWHERE!!!!


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Check out some gems that I have my eyes on....

This stroller comes with a car carrier/car seat!  It has one hand steering as well!!! 

Crib...

...daybed...

...full bed!

Oooooo projects!!!!

I have so many projects coming up in the next 6 months I'm so excited!!!  I love being a BUSY BEE and here is a preview (it's really a check off list for myself hehe) of what's to come...other than hopefully becoming with child!!

Many of you already know but aside from working with children with special needs I have 2 mini businesses on the side as well!!  The first one is...Love Notes Designs! Check out my blog too!

Love Notes Designs was created because when I got married, I couldn't find the kinds of invitations I wanted....at a decent price!!  I ended up hand making all 180 cards myself and LOVED it!! So of course being me, I ended up making all 100 ceremony programs as well with all 20 table numbers, 200 name cards, 20 menus and 40 bridal shower cards!!  I loved making all my wedding stationaries so much that I decided it'd be worth my while to start up a business doing just that...seeing that I had such a hard time finding affordable ones...I figured other brides would have the same issues!  But of course weddings are kind of seasonal....so....my big summer project is to make cards for all occasions and have them up on Etsy for sale!! 

My next project also has to do with Love Notes Designs!  You know all the Groupon, Living Social, Social Shopper, Dealfind, Good News....the list goes on....companies that are out there right now??  Well Weddingful (I'm a vendor on their website!) started doing wedding deals and I'm in the process of being featured with a deal!  Just need to get everything in order and work out the numbers and fine print!  SO EXCITING!!  I'm also planning to see if I can get a table at a wedding show sometime this year...or next!!  We'll see!!!!

My last project has to do with my OTHER side business......Scentsy!!!!!!  

I became a Scentsy consultant back in October 2010 and have had so much success...thanks to all my family and friends!!!!  I've begun setting up a store in my home office for the bars so I'm going to continue building my inventory and hopefully be able to do both home parties and a store at the same time!!! FUN!!!

K I know this entry seemed like a self-promotional one but like I said...this is just kind of a small check list for myself....plus it's another side of me you all now know about!!!!!

I LOVE the quote from Clueless when Cher (Alicia Silverstone) squeals and says "Ooooooo project!!!!!"