2 Years and 2 Kids Later...

Wow... the last time I wrote a blog post was a week before my first son was born. Now, I have a 2.5 year old and a 3 month old!

The hubs and I just celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary. So much has happened in those 5 years and I honestly can't believe we've had 2 kiddos! I'm 28 years old with a wonderful husband, 2 beautiful, healthy kids, and a sweet dog...life is good. But that doesn't mean it's good everyday haha. With a house renovation, a crazy toddler, a 3 month old who only wants to be held and a sports obsessed husband, things can get nuts around my house.

I want to start blogging again. We will see how long it lasts as P (my 2.5 year old) jumps on back and nearly knocks my laptop out of my lap. There are men banging and clanking around in the background as they hang the dry wall. My 3 month old is refusing to nap and my dog's barking at every sound he hears. So as I cling to my last drop of my Starbucks coffee, I will attempt to blog again. Because I want to remember the good days, the bad days and all those days in-between. I'm blaming grammar mistakes and bad writing on my lack of sleep. Here I am trying to write this post with P in my lap.... (he loves Photo Booth).

To Blog Or Not To Blog...

Clearly, it's been a while since I blogged. It's been so long that maybe I'm just not meant to be a blogger. I'm not a good writer but I do enjoy blogging when I actually take the time to create a new post. So how about one last shot? Even if no one reads my blog, it's a creative outlet (something I lack in my life).


So where do I begin? Or re-begin?


WE ARE HAVING A BABY! And not in 9 months...I could go into labor at any moment! That's right, there's going to be a baby boy Greenbaum! Yes, I will probably be posting things about how cute my baby is or how wonderful being a mom is...just to warn you. So as my pregnancy comes to an end, here is my list of the wonderful/not-so-wonderful things about pregnancy:


Why I love being pregnant:


1. Feeling my little one move is the most amazing feeling in the world! I can't describe it. It's just wonderful and I love it (even when his little feet jab me in my ribs)

2. The "expectant mother" parking spots at the grocery store

3. How much closer I feel to my husband

4. Everyone is nicer to you and doesn't expect you to lift a finger

5. My husband does most of the grocery shopping/cooking

6. Finding a new appreciation for my mother

7. Creating a nursery...baby things are too cute!

8. Hearing my baby's heartbeat at every doctor's appointment. After 9 months, it's still amazing how the human body creates life from one little egg and one little sperm.

9. You actually believe in love at first sight. As soon as you see that peanut on the ultrasound, you're in love. 13 week ultrasound:



10. Becoming a mom. Noah and I always had plans for children. When we got married, we decided to take time to enjoy being married and enjoy each other. We did that for 2.5 years and I LOVED every minute of it. I look back on our married life so far together and smile. There's nothing I would change. Sure we had our fights but that's not what I remember. I remember all the wonderful memories we've created together and with our friends. I will miss our crazy days of pre-parenthood but couldn't be more excited for this new chapter in our lives.

Things I don't love about being pregnant: (Note: no matter what this list says, it's all MORE than worth it in the end. Most of these are just silly. I want to be pregnant again one day!)

1. No drinking: I miss my wine y'all

2. No teeth whitening/spray tans: can't be vain when you're preggers

3. While I love my new belly, I don't love my arms, butt, boobs, double chin and thighs :) You know when you see a pregnant woman and you think she looks so cute? Yea, I'm not one of those pregnant women.

4. Lack of sleep: I don't sleep well and neither does my husband. I snore so loudly that I keep him up :)

5. Using the ladies' room every 5 minutes: I know where every public restroom is in Richmond!

6. Scared of the unknown: What will labor be like? What if I have to have a C-section? What if I can't breastfeed? How do I take care of a newborn? Postpartum depression? Being intimate with my husband again? Raising a child? Having a social life?

7. Maternity clothes: YUCK

8. People's comments: it amazes me what a person will say to a pregnant woman. Think before you speak people!

9. Hypochondria: I have never been a hypochondriac. But now that I'm pregnant, I worry about every little pain, twinge, etc. I've been to the doctor twice because I thought something was wrong. But I'm a first time mom so it's all new to me. It's amazing how I don't even care about myself anymore. The first thing I think about is the baby.

10. Fatigue: I've been tired my entire pregnancy. It's no fun. I don't have the energy to do anything. I miss my friends.

Overall, I've had a great pregnancy. While it was a surprise, it's been wonderful. I am so blessed to have such supportive friends and family. Having said that, it's time for this little guy to grace us with his presence! I CAN'T wait to meet him and see what he looks like :)

My Agenda

I would say that I'm pretty organized. I'm not obsessive about it but I know where everything is :) One thing in my life that HAS to be organized is my agenda. I know I could use the calendar on my iPhone or gmail but there is something about writing down my social events, to do lists, birthdays, etc. that is curiously satisfying. I like to have everything in one place and I love to cross things off when I complete a task. My roomies from college gave me the best present for my birthday last year, MyAgenda. I don't know where I would be without it! This is a great gift idea - they had mine monogrammed with my name. Not only does it come in different sizes and colors, it has monthly and weekly views and areas to create task lists.

Poolside...

It's 80 degrees in Richmond today and there is only one place I wish I could be...at the pool! My favorite place to be in the summertime is poolside. Any chance I get to relax by the pool, I take it! With summer right around the corner, it's time to stock up on great new bikinis. Here are some of my favorite styles this season: "Silk Butterfly" Bikini by OndadeMar (Top $100, Bottom $92)"Verdad" by Maui Swimwear ($187)

"Riviera" from Vix Swimwear (Top $76, Bottom $76)

Nanette Lepore from Saks (Top $75, Bottom $67)

Nautical Bandeau by Victoria's Secret (Top $34, Bottom $20) Neon Bikini by Victoria's Secret (Top $38, Bottom$44)

Embroidered Bikini by Xhilaration ($14.99 Top, $14.99 Bottom)

My DC/MD Adventure

I had a great weekend with 2 of my best friends! My friend, Sally, who lives in DC, is getting married in Royal Oak, Maryland at the beginning of July. My other friend, Margaret, and I went to visit her for her birthday this past weekend and it was quite an adventure...

Marge and I arrived in DC in the afternoon on Friday and explored Georgetown for a few hours with Sally. We hit up 2 of my favorite spots... Georgetown Cupcakes and CUSP by Neiman Marcus. Georgetown Cupcakes' menu changes daily but there are a few flavors they have everyday (check out their website for more information). When you walk into that shop, it smells like heaven! There was a line wrapped around the corner to taste the little pieces of heaven. My favorite flavor was the "Chocolate PB Chip." YUM. As if we hadn't engorged ourselves enough in the cupcakes, we went to Food Wine & Co for dinner. They have a fabulous oyster bar and a pretty great wine list.

On Saturday, we woke up pretty early (you know I don't believe weekends have "mornings") and headed to Royal Oaks, Maryland. It took us longer than we thought to arrive on account of our inability to follow directions or input an address in a navigation system but we got there nonetheless. Upon arrival, Margaret and I got to see where Sally would have her rehearsal dinner and wedding. We also got to eat dinner at the Bartlett Pear Inn (where Margaret and I will host Sally's bridesmaids luncheon) in Easton, MD. Our dinner was AMAZING. Jordan and Alice Loyd, the owners of the BPI, are so sweet and very accomodating. They turned a 220 year old home into restaurant, lounge and bed and breakfast. It was so quaint but had a modern edge.
If you ever need a quiet weekend away, this would be the perfect place.

After a very long weekend of eating and exploring DC/MD, I was exhausted! I am so excited for Sally and her fiance. I can't wait to celebrate with them this summer!!

The Starbucks Barista is my Best Friend

As soon as Noah and I got married, it started...Everyone began asking the typical newlywed question, "so, when are you going to start having babies?" Seriously, someone asked me that at my wedding. I know it's just natural to ask. My friends who've dated their significant others for a long period of time often get asked, "so, when's he going to pop the question?" When they tell me how irritated they get when asked this question, I say, "just wait 'til you get married. Then everyone will start asking about babies." It never ends.

Something happened to me yesterday that made me wonder...how familiar to a person do you need to be to ask the "baby question"? Family? Friends? Complete Strangers?

Here's what happened...

I'm in Starbucks casually reading emails on my Blackberry when the barista strikes up a conversation with me. The way-too-cheerful barista often talks to me about how my week is going, the weather, and other general small talk. Since I don't function well before noon, I answer sleepily with one word answers. But today, she ventures beyond our normal realm of conversation.

"How long you been married?"
"Almost two years" (Still reading my emails)
"You going to have children soon?"
I look up from my Blackberry and say, "I don't know."
I smile and thank her as she hands me my drink. While walking out the door, I think to myself, "did she really just ask me that? Just because she knows I drink a non-fat, no whip mocha she thinks she knows me well enough to ask that? "

In my opinion, asking someone about starting a family is a very personal question. I think only close friends and family should be allowed to ask. Maybe I'm over thinking the whole thing. She was just trying to be friendly. Either way, I get this question ALL the time.

Noah and I definitely want a family but not right now. We're happy where we are in our lives and we've only been married for 2 years. I don't think our lifestyle is conducive to a baby right now. Taking care of Jeter is hard enough. We are out of town a lot for weddings, we like to go out with friends on the weekends, and sleeping 'til noon on Sundays is typical in the Greenbaum household. So to answer the Starbucks barista (don't even know her name)... Can't say exactly when but we definitley want to be parents someday.

Welcome!

When Noah and I first moved into our house, we worked on it every weekend! The more time we lived in the house, the less we did (and the less we had to do). Recently, we did a home project that I am very excited about... a new storm door! (Who would have thought I would be so excited about a door? New Jimmy Choos...Of course! New Door....Not so much). Our original front door had space for a storm door but no storm door. It looked incomplete. So we purchased a storm door and we painted it a new color. Here are our steps to our new front door (I took these pictures with my cell phone so they aren't the best quality):

The original door was a burnt red color and lacked a certain je ne sais quoi. No wait....I know what it's missing! A storm door!

Noah (with a little help from Jeter) put a primer on the newly installed storm door. We purchased a 6 panel wood storm door from Pleasant's Hardware. If you're planning on purchasing a new door, plan on spending around $1,000 (type of door, hardware, installation, paint, etc....it adds up quickly). Luckily, Noah and his dad are quite handy so we saved around $250 in installation fees.

Noah and I paint the new storm door and the original front door. (Jeter is the best supervisor). We painted the door "Snapdragon" by Benjamin Moore.

Improvement? We think so! Best part about the door? Jeter gets to look out the windows (he loves it!). I am constantly using Windex to remove his nose marks. The new color is a little more pink than we had anticipated. But we've actually grown to love it and no one can miss our door! The new door and the new color are much more welcoming...

I don't know what our next home improvement project will be but I hoping to redo our living room. We've painted it, added great bamboo blinds, new lamps, artwork, and an elegant lattice work rug. All we need is a new sofa and chairs. I am a terrible decorator (a skill my mother and sister have and I lack). I try to read magazines and pick out pieces I like but it's pretty hopeless. I have no vision. My mother convinced me to paint my living room a blue color that I originally HATED. But Noah and I absolutely LOVE the color. It brightens up the room and makes it appear larger. I think I will stick to fashion for people and not homes.

Stock the Bar!

These days we are all weddings, weddings, and more weddings. I love it! This past weekend we went to our friends' stock the bar shower. Noah and I also had a stock the bar shower and it was so much fun. Stock the bar showers are great because they include the groom. Since most showers are for the bride, mothers, and girlfriends, it's nice to include the hubby-to-be! It's a great way for the bride and groom to enjoy drinks with family and friends in a more relaxed environment (while stocking up on wine glasses, liquor and champagne flutes). If you're thinking of throwing a shower for a friend, a stock the bar shower is always a fun option. I adore this invitation from Esty. The couple's monogram on the champagne label is so cute!

If you're attending a stock the bar shower, I love these gift ideas:

These are from Horchow but I also love For Your Party. This online store has a wide selection of colors, font styles and motifs for your cocktail napkins. I've ordered napkins several times from this site and I've never been disappointed.

A cocktail recipe book is always fun. It's nice to get something that relates to the couple. I want to get this book for my stepdad who is from Kentucky (so he obviously loves his bourbon!).


We received a monogrammed Lucite tray at our shower that I use all the time! It's great for the summer when you serve guests outside. This patterned one is unique but I also like the clear ones from Personalization Mall.

I just love weddings (and monograms)! My friend, Caroline, looked gorgeous at her shower. You can always spot a bride, she's the one who's glowing...

Will you be my Valentine??

Happy Valentine's Day!! It's a holiday that people hate, love or love to hate but it's also a day when all women should remember what makes them beautiful and sexy (whether it's for themselves or a loved one). Noah and I had our 1st annual Valentine's Day cocktail party last night and it looks like cupid threw up all over our house... The party was so much fun with some of our favorite Valentines :) I LOVE Valentine's Day. Obviously, I have 2 wonderful Valentines (Noah and Jeter) but any day where we get to decorate with red and pink is my kind of holiday!

I thought I would take this opportunity to share with you some of the things that I think make all women sexy and beautiful...

1. Sexy Legs: women who love to show off their legs are sexy in my book! And what better way to show them off with a pair of HOT heels. For this time of year, I love a great bootie (like the Steve Madden one pictured above). Just remember not to choose a pair that cuts your legs off.

2. Red Dress: I LOVE this Shoshanna one-shouldered dress with the gold beaded accent. Check out a similar one at Bloomingdales. Remember ladies, everyone looks good in black AND red!

3. Eyes: I love a smoky eye as much as a naked eye as long as you're wearing mascara. Accentuating those lashes is just plain sexy. My FAVORITE mascara is Chanel's inimitable in noir. If I could only use one cosmetic product, it would be mascara. My eye lashes are long but also blond (haha) so I have to use mascara!

4. Lips: While we are on the subject of cosmetics, a red lip is the perfect Valentine's Day color. Make those lips irresistible! For everyday, I love a neutral lip gloss.

5. Love Rings: From engagement rings to friendship rings, a love ring is truly special. Do you know why you wear your wedding ring on the 3rd finger of your left hand? People used to believe a vein ran from the 3rd finger of the left hand straight to the heart. It's aptly named "Vena Amori," Latin for "vein of love." I love Finn's arrow rings. Be sure to check out their lower end line, Minor Obsessions, for simply chic necklaces and bracelets. Noah gave me their heart & key bracelet for Valentine's Day. It's adorable.

6. Laughter: There is nothing more sexy or beautiful to me than a woman's laughter. One of my favorite things about Noah is his sense of humor. The way he constantly cracks me up makes me feel beautiful.

So ladies, what makes you feel sexy and beautiful this Valentine's Day??

XOXO

Addicted

I started my New Years Resolutions on Monday. That means I made it exactly 39 hours and 57 minutes without diet coke.

Maybe next year (but probably not). I guess I should just invest in this Diet Coke bong and move on...

Resolutions?

HAPPY 2011 EVERYONE!!! Can you believe another year has come and gone?? I'm currently sitting in the Destin, Florida airport waiting to fly back to Richmond. We rang in the New Year with college friends in Destin and had an AMAZING time! Our friend from Memphis has a family beach house in Destin and invited us down to celebrate the new year. We haven't seen him since the wedding so we couldn't resist the opportunity for a reunion. Noah was very excited to be reunited with 2 of his college roomies!! We spent 4 days with 10 great friends from Memphis, Richmond and DC. On New Year's Eve we went to Rum Runners (which overlooks water). When midnight rolled around, we stood on the balcony of the bar and watched what could possibly be the BEST fireworks display ever!!!

So I have a few hours to kill while I'm sitting in this airport.... Noah and I got an iPad for Christmas so I figured I could pass the time with a blog post. I just finished reading my horoscope in Glamour Magazine which says, "This year you'll keep all those New Year's resolutions." I'm very skeptical because I've never actually stuck to any of my New Year's resolutions (which makes me wonder why I ever have any). But this year I am determined to make it happen. So here they are (in no particular order):

1. Be healthy
2. Be on time

Only 2? Yes, only 2 - I just told you I never stick to any resolution so why should I overdo it? Let me elaborate on my 2 resolutions:

HEALTH: Overall, 2010 was a fantastic year! It was our first full year as a married couple and we had a blast. There was never a dull moment and we have some wonderful memories. But with our hectic social schedule, our eating and exercise habits fell to the wayside. Now that none of our clothes fit, it's time to exercise, eat more green things, and give up (gasp!) Diet Coke. Giving up Diet Coke will probably be the hardest thing. I've quit DC several times but it's never stuck. My mom still yells at me if she catches me drinking it. We didn't grow up with soft drinks in the house because my mother thinks they are poison (which I think is a little dramatic). I know it's bad for me but they are SO good in the afternoon and I only drink 1 each day.

Do you know that in the winter your body wants to gain wait? According to Glamour Magazine, here are a few things that most nutritionists can agree on:
- Don't smoke (even occasionally)
- Move 30 minutes a day
- De-stress
- Sleep at least 7 hours every night
- Eat breakfast
- Take a multivitamin daily
- Get 2,000 IU daily of Vitamin D
- Wash your hands for 20 seconds several times a day

NO MORE TARDINESS: I am always late and it's not my fault. I come from a family of people who are consistently late. My father is usually late and my mother is ALWAYS late (I was the last one to be picked up from school everyday - the teachers hated my mom). It's in my genes. I try to be on time (I really do!). This year I am going to try EXTRA hard! It's a terrible fault and it's something I want to change about myself. Noah is also usually late (as is his father).

By the way, my New Year Resolutions start tomorrow because the past two days have been filled with no exercise, few veggies, and lots of diet coke. Give me a break, I was on vacation!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

....and football

Happy November! I can't believe Thanksgiving is three weeks away. I am very busy for the next couple weeks as Roan teams up with the International Hospital for Children every year for a fashion show and auction. We usually raise around $500,000. It's a wonderful event and I'm very excited because we have a new space for the event this year. It's going to be amazing. I chose all the models for the runway show this week and I will fit them next week. Designers are sending in samples for us to use in the show. It's always stressful but it's for a great cause!
For more information on the International Hospital for Children, please visit www.healachild.org/.

You might have noticed that I changed by blog description to "a little blog about life, love, fashion....and football." I felt the need to add football because my life seems to revolve around love, fashion and football. Now I am no expert on football (although I do sometimes surprise myself). I recently read this article about a VA Tech football player and wanted to share it. At first, it really grossed me out. But now I have nothing but respect for this player...which says a lot considering how much I am trained to hate VA Tech.

Even the loss of a pinkie won't keep him from playing!

You may have also noted that I added a picture to the title of my blog. This is a picture of Jeter swimming in the lake at my mom's house. Every so often I take Jeter out to my mom's (who lives in the country)to go on a nice run. He also gets to take a dip in the lake (which he loves). I took this picture with my cell phone on one of the first cool days of fall. It was so peaceful.

Bin Shopping

Preface:

Twice a year, Victoria's Secret has their "Semi-Annual Sale." This is when I choose to steer clear of any and all Victoria's Secret stores. Why? Because of one thing...the bins. For those of you (men) who have never had to endure one of these sales, you have no idea what I am talking about. You see, all of the sale undergarments are placed in bins by size. The customer must rummage through these bins in an effort to find something appealing in the right shape, size and color. I HATE these bins. There is something about pawing my way through panties and bras that I find very unappealing. I think it's gross.

J.Crew Warehouse Sale:

Today at work, one of my co-workers told me about a *J.Crew Warehouse Sale on West Broad Street. She told me that all merchandise would be 80-90% off. I don't typically shop at J.Crew but at those prices I thought it might be worthwhile. I looked it up on the Richmond Bargains website (if you go to the website you can print off an additional 30% off coupon). As I read about the sale, I became intrigued. Until I saw, "Be prepared to rummage! The inventory is all in boxes on tables and on the floor. It is roughly divided into women’s, men’s, children’s, shoes, and accessories; but gets jumbled up." I shivered. Nonetheless, I called my sister and asked if she would join me on my adventure. So we went...

As I walked into the make-shift store, I saw dozens of women (and some men), long tables, and hundreds of boxes. There was zero organization. In a typical bin, you would find mismatched boots, dozens of pants, a shirt, an ugly skirt, a damaged sweater, and a bathing suit large enough to fit an elephant. Bonnie looked at me with a discerning eye. We armed ourselves with the supplied empty garbage bag and dug in. It was my worst nightmare. After 5 minutes, we almost gave up. But then, a navy dress caught my eye.

In the end, I purchased two J.Crew dresses. The original cost of each dress: $188. The sale cost: $15 (with my coupon). I spent less than $40 on two dresses! You can't even do that at Target!

Was it worth it? Yes. Will I do it again? NO. I love a good sale. But I have to draw the line somewhere. And I guess that line ends with bins.

*If you are interested in this sale, it ends Sunday

Ready for Fall!

Wow...it's been a wonderful summer. I can't believe September is almost over! We've been so busy that it's been difficult to find time to just relax. So I am going to try to get back into my blogging. I really enjoy it and it's fun to reflect back on past posts (not that I've done that lately either).

So here's what I'm looking forward to this Fall:

1. UVA Football Games (especially the tailgates). We have 7 season tickets/parking space so I really have no choice but to LOVE football :)

2. Speaking of football - I now love the NY Jets because their head coach is hilarious and their QB is super cute (not as cute as Noah, duh). Fell in love with them watching Hard Knocks on HBO (Cowboys are still my number one team)

3. Book/Wine Club: 12 of my friends started a book/wine club. One month we read a book and the next month we drink wine (well we drink wine at every meeting but you get the picture). We had our first official "book" meeting at my house last week. We read Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert. I could go on a serious rant about this book but I will refrain. I disagreed with most of what Gilbert said. October is "wine" month but instead of wine we are doing beer in honor of Oktober Fest. Our significant others join us on the "wine" months so I'm sure they will like this meeting :)

4. Whiffle Ball: We just joined a whiffle ball team for the next six weeks. Should be interesting...

5. All the weddings, oyster roasts, engagement parties, wine tastings, and other fun events in the upcoming months!

6. CAPTIVA!!! Our family goes to Captiva, Florida every year for Thanksgiving! I can't wait for a week of fun in the sun with the fam :)

7. Blogging...our at least attempting to get back into it! There are so many things I wish I had written posts about this summer!

Is anyone else bored? Maybe my next post will be a little less dull...

8. I ALMOST FORGOT...GLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!! I'm such a Gleek! Can't wait for this week's episode!

I scream, You scream, We all scream for ICE CREAM!!!!

I KNOW I KNOW! I haven't blogged since March! But this Gbaum has been super busy!! What a wonderful spring/summer full of fun parties/vacations/work/friends/wedding/engagements/etc. It's hard to find the time to sit and reflect on life....

Now that I have 5 minutes to look back on the past few months (at 12:14 AM - I should be in bed since I have to WORK tomorrow)....

one of the BEST wedding presents we received was a ice cream maker...YUM!

Once you put the ingredients in the machine, you have to wait 20-25 minutes for the machine to churn it into WONDERFUL ice cream. And since we just got home for softball, I decided to make ice cream for our family dinner tomorrow night. All you need is the Williams & Sinoma ice cream kit (chocolate of course), half & half, and whipping cream!

BON APPETIT!!!!

Quarter Life Crisis

Before I begin, I want to say that this is a whiny post. I realize there are others in this world much much worse off than me.

My best friend is coming into town next week on her birthday. It's her 25th birthday and I want to do something special. As I thought about, I realized that Noah will be 26 ...and then I realized that I will be 25 (oh the horror). Everyone older than you says, "oh you're so young!" But you don't feel that young anymore. When it rains, my hip hurts from an old dance injury.THAT NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE! My metabolism has slowed WAY down. And before you could blame things on being a teenager or a college student. You could say things like, "It's ok I don't have a plan because I just graduated from college." College is becoming a distant memory and I fear I won't remember at all one day...

Typical college day:

Wake up (late) to watch Regis & Kelly

Go to class in a t-shirt, yoga pants, and a sweatshirt

Exercise

Take a dance class

Eat

Go to another class

Take a nap/watch Oprah or Friends on DVD

Study

Eat

Party

REPEAT

Oh the life...

The only thing I had to worry about was me. Now, I'm lucky if anything is about me. From work, Noah, Jeter, laundry, mortgage, dishes, bills, cooking, cleaning, Junior League, etc., I'm on the bottom of the priority list. Don't get me wrong because I love my life. However, it's hard to transition from little to no responsibilities to a million responsibilities.

LIFE.

That's what life is all about. And even though I find more meaning and joy in my life than I did when I was younger, I can feel my youth slipping away (ok that's being dramatic). I guess I'm just realizing that I need to really think about my future. Everything has been mapped out for me until now. Now it's up to Noah and me to plan for our future. Sounds simple in theory but I have absolutely no idea which path to take. I really don't. It's frustrating and confusing. Should I go back to school? What should I go back to school for? When does Noah want to go back to school? When should we try to have kids? When should we get another dog? (most important question in my mind right now haha) You want to do something meaningful with your life.

At the end of the day, I need to remind myself that Noah, Jeter and I are healthy and happy and we have wonderful (and supportive) parents.

And if that doesn't make me feel better, I will count down the days until our next vacation...

Football and Chocolate

Tomorrow is February 1st. For the women, that means Valentine's day is right around the corner. And for the men, the Super Bowl is so close they can taste it (6 days, 21 hours, 59 minutes, and 36 seconds). February combines Noah's favorite thing (football) and my favorite thing (chocolate). It's a good month for the Greenbaums. I have to admit, I'm excited for Valentine's day and the Super Bowl. I haven't decided which team I want to win. I love the Manning brothers (those Oreo commercials crack me up) but New Orleans deserves a win!

Once again, I can't believe how quickly time flies. Where did January go???

Ten random things from January 2010:

1. I love snow (but only for 24 hours- then I'm over it)

2. I've decided that one day I want to live where it never gets below 70 degrees

3. I love the color we painted our living room!

4. Don't attempt to paint your living room whilst hungover

4a. I will no longer be drinking martinis

5. There are some really good, new restaurants in Richmond - Ballicaux (get the salmon) and The Republic (get the macaroni appetizer)

6. My best friend, Sally, introduced me to Three Dogs Bakery (in Stony Point Fashion Park) and bought Jeter a doggy cookie (which he thoroughly enjoyed)

7. Noah and I have become obsessed with the Tudors and 30 Rock (Literally OBSESSED) I tell everyone I know that they have to watch the Tudors. Only one problem...Since it is historically based, you know what's going to happen. But when Anne Boleyn is beheaded, you can't help but cry your eyes out.

8. I've started making smoothies and find myself addicted to them (So easy- 1/2cup of ice, 1 Yoplait low fat Strawberry yogurt, and a banana or 1/2cup ice, 1/2 cup strawberries, 1/2 cup milk, a banana, and 1 T. honey)

9. I suck at dodgeball

10. I haven't stuck to ANY of my "New Year's Resolutions" and, to be honest, can't even remember what most of them were...

Pay it Forward...

I honestly don't know what has gotten into me. I've always been a hopeless romantic but lately I've become even more sappy and sentimental. So here is another one of my touchy feely posts...

My friend got married last week and I am so excited for her! I wrote her a little congratulatory message and she replied, "It's honestly been so busy! We haven't had a second besides the honeymoon to feel like we're married!"

This statement could not be more true. Before you get married you devote every waking moment to planning and preparing for the wedding. You keep thinking, "what am I going to do with all my time after this wedding?" And then...BAM! You're married and you are somehow MORE busy than you were before. You barely have a moment to catch your breath.

So here we are 8 months into marriage and I think, "where did all that time go?"
(warning...SAPPY MOMENTS AHEAD) That is why you have to appreciate everyday.

I have a story to tell you. It makes me take a step back and think about the things that are truly important...

My sister went to the University of Alabama. One weekend she decided to drive to Atlanta to see some friends at UGA. Knowing my mom wouldn't want her driving alone at night, Bonnie promised her she would leave Saturday morning. Not Bonnie...she decided to embark on her little journey on Friday night. Half way through her drive, she stops for gas only to realize her entire purse was back at school. So there she was in the middle of nowheresville, alone, and with no money. There wasn't much she could do even though her friends offered to come pick her up. Feeling lost and helpless, she gets into her car and starts to cry.

Just as she is about to give up, a man knocks on her car window (at this point I would be totally freaked out and ready to call 911). Not Bonnie...she rolls down her window. The man says, "My family and I can see that you are in trouble."Bonnie starts to cry hysterically and tells the man her entire dilemma. Not only does the man fill up her gas tank AND give her $100 in cash, he won't give Bonnie any information. Bonnie begs him until he gives her a business card. He says, "I don't want any money. I just want you to pay it forward."

Bonnie wrote him a thank you note and included a check to reimburse the man. He never cashed the check...

Bonnie had her chance to "pay it forward" over Christmas break. A man from out of town was parked outside Bonnie's place of work. On her lunch break, she saw that the man was clearly distressed. He had locked his keys in his car and couldn't afford to call a lock smith. Not from Richmond, he didn't have anyone to call for help. After lunch, the man was still trying to get into his car. Bonnie knew she had to help him. She called and paid a lock smith to open his car. The man said to Bonnie, "you have no idea what you have done for me."

Bonnie replied, "Oh yes I do...just remember to pay it forward."

There were plenty of people who saw this man in trouble but only Bonnie felt the need to help. She probably wouln't have if it weren't for the man who helped her. We are all busy but that doesn't mean you shouldn't take the time to help others in need.

That is so hot right now...

My first fashion post of the decade!

There are 2 things that are "so hot right now".....Purple and Ombre. For those of you who don't know what ombre is:

Ombre: n. a French term meaning "shaded." Usually a multicolored stripe that fades from light to dark. (fabsugar.com)

Ombre hit the runways in spring of 2009 and has been "so in" ever since! From Lela Rose to Oscar de la Renta, these designers can't get enough OMBRE!

You know what else is so chic this season??? The color PURPLE! Look at this cute Tibi resort 2010 dress:

But which designer combined these trends into one amazing look? Duh, Nike! Look at this uniform:

I mean those ombre pants paired with the purple jersey. TCU, you are one fashionable team!!!

There is one other piece that is essential to everyone's wardrobe right now. My mother got one for Christmas and I am sooo jelous! I want a pink one!

But please, don't take take this trend too far:

I mean that's just wrong...

There is a downside to Christmas

I can't believe the holidays are over :( I need to have one more post about Christmas and I want to share with you our first tree!



There is a downside to Christmas. Can you guess what it is? Yep, taking down the Christmas decorations is officially 2nd on my hate list (right after grocery shopping). Putting them up was so much fun! Listening to Christmas music while trimming our tree made me merry. But after spending 2 days cleaning and taking them down, I've turned into a Grinch. Until this Christmas our decorations, ornaments, etc. were stored in my mom's attic. Now that Christmas is over and mom's attic is no longer available, I have to find storage in my own house. One of the things we love about the house is the immense amount of storage. There are 3 alcoves in the master and guest bedrooms and a small attic. I decided to use one for holiday decorations. Guess what I discovered in our storage spaces? Noah's stuff. He has stuff everywhere! He has more UVA t-shirts, pants, shorts, hats, shoes, footballs, and other gear than anyone should accumulate in one lifetime. Noah says one of the perks of being on the football team was free stuff. I have to disagree with the word "perk." He doesn't wear half of it! It's in storage bins and bags in all of our storage space. And instead of choosing one alcove to store it in, he has spread it out throughout the house. In the guest room closet, I found a huge basket full of athletic shoes and cleats.

So I asked him, "Why is there a basket full of your shoes in the guest room?"

"There's a basket of shoes in the guest room?"



We've been living here 8 months and those shoes have been forgotten about (because his closet is already full of athletic shoes). And even though he just bought a pair of running shoes a few weeks ago, we must continue to store the basket of shoes.



Now ladies, here is a perfect example of "choosing you arguments wisely." I choose to let this one go. There are bigger fish to fry. For example, the garbage receptacle that is Noah's car.



So until next year, our ornaments and stockings are stored neatly with care,
along with the footballs and t-shirts that will forever be there :)