Hello Mexico, It's Me, Brooke

Remember when we checked in here.

For our room here.

And got ready here.

To spend our days here.

After the 9th straight day of rain and snow in my life, I need you. I need you bad.

Nevermind.

The next time you see a picture like this, of your sweet little angel of a niece,

and you feel your heart strings tug because that time of your life is coming when you want one of your own...

Just call your Mom, who is babysitting and hang up the phone 10 seconds later because you can't hear her with the blood curdling screams in the background.

That's enough birth control for the day. Thanks.

Next Time

The next time I find $900 dollars lying in my pocket,

I may invest in these Alexander Wang's.




Some rolled up jeans and a lowcut white tee and we would be in biznas.

29

Thursday was my Birthday.

The big 2-9.

I had to work and was a little bummed, but when I walked in the door, this is what I found.

The door was wrapped in this wrapping paper with a sweet birthday card.

When I looked up, I found these balloons on the ceiling in our laundry room.

And when I opened the door, here is what I saw. My cute Hubs, my sweet Lulu and a dozen roses.

(Sorry about the scary eyes due to the camera phone)

This, is my 'red carpet'......how cute is that?

The table set



And the Hubs cooking a delicious dinner of gorgonzola filets and bruschetta pasta.




How lucky am I?

40 Days

Date: February 16th, 2010

Time: 8:30p.m.

Setting: Our Couch

Thought: Mother trucker, today is Fat Tuesday!

Emotion: Sheer panic

I had planned to give up chocolate for Lent this year since it has become a daily staple in my diet. But the fact that I didn't have any time to mentally prepare for the lack of delicious goodness that I am quite possibly addicted to, sent me into a bit of a tailspin.

How am I supposed to forgo the Hershey kisses consumed everyday after lunch and dinner? How can I not partake in the unbelievable 'secret' chocolate chip cookies I made for Valentine's day staring me down in the kitchen?

After some consoling by the Hubs, I decided, I'm going to do it. I'm giving up chocolate for Lent. But not before I stuffed as much chocolate in my mouth as humanly possible before bed. Yup, chocolate chips cookies, chocolate covered pretzels, butternut crunch, and a few Hershey kisses were thrown into the mix to try and hold me over for the next 40 days.

Pathetic? Yes. But like I said, I have a serious addiction.

Today I had to remove all the forbidden deliciousness from eyesight. I put it in a large bag which the Hub's coined the name 'The Sin Bin'.

Goodbye lover. I'm counting the days until we can meet again.

Sniff..sniff..tear.

My Favs

If Oprah can make a list, why can't I?


So, here are some of my 'favorite things' right now.


Cortex Straightener

This is a bad mamajama straightener. These are the same people that try and make eye contact with you in the mall and if you lock eyes, BAM. They attack you and ask if they can straighten your hair. Tell them no, beeline it for Madewell and then go home and order one on Amazon. I got mine for 50 buckeroos and they can be found elsewhere for two hundy and up! (Yes, I got the Zebra).

speaking of...

Madewell.

www.madewell1937.com

My new favorite obsession. They have the softest tees, bad ace jeans and loads of cute scarves. They are the laid back cool you try to achieve while still being comfortable and chic. If you don't have a store near you, you can purchase on Shopbop.com.

Hoola Bronzer

So I used to wear this awhile back, got A.D.D, and then recently stole it back from my sister. I am hooked again. I have had two people ask how I am tan. That's pretty good for February in Connecticut. It will give you a 'i just got back from the Caribbean look' instead of 'I'm channeling Lindsay Lohan' look. Very fine line there people. If you are going to give it a try, I recommend going after this deal right HERE.

Hoola is normally $28 bucks and this is a whole set with full sized Benefit products for $35. No, I am not being paid by Sephora. Mine should be delivered tomorrow.

Coconut Creme Creamer



Who me? Ready for warm weather? No, I'm just swirling bronzer on my face, while sipping coconut creme flavored coffee while simultaneously pulling my wool socks up.
This stuff, delicious! Tastes like warm weather.

My Life as Liz



Ok, so normally I can't be counted on for T.V. recommendations. (My normal line up includes the Bachelor and Real Housewives), so take this with a grain of salt. But I love this, it's a new 'scripted reality' show on MTV. It's hilarious and reminds you of your teen angst years in high school ,but now that we're old we can look back at those zit ridden, i gained the freshman 15 before I got to college and why doesn't he like me (?!!) years and laugh at them. Hahaha!! Ha. Ha. We can laugh at those years now, right?

Gilt.com

www.gilt.com

The name is slightly ironic, because I do in fact feel guilty every time I purchase off of this site but those are my own issues. (Catholic say what?) This is a website you sign up for but is free and everyday they have ridiculous sales of swanky designers. It gives me something to look forward to everyday at 12pm.


$5 Dollar Necklaces from Forever21


How can you go wrong?

And this guy.




But he's not for sale.

I almost peed

The hubs and I were watching Saturday Night Live on our DVR tonight.

We came across this little diddy.

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/clips/update-garth-and-kat/1199685/

If you have a few minutes, you have to watch.

Get a tissue and some depends.

It's that funny.

Weekend Happy

Here are some things I am looking forward to this weekend.....

A trip to the mall after work (just the thought brings joy)

Yoga class (Saturday and Sunday?? Yet to be determined)

Trying out a 'secret' chocolate chip cookie recipe someone was so inclined to give me

Decorating the house with a little Vday love.

Grocery shopping for the Valentine's dinner I am going to attempt to make for the hubs.

Drinking some vino while attempting to make said dinner.

Snuggling with my Louey.

Watching a chick flick.

Wearing my p.j.'s and slippers all day.

Hugging and smooching the hubs after he walks in the door, back from his boy's trip.

Happy Weekend!! xo

V- Day Cool

Valentine's Day is Sunday.

My perfect V-day outfit would look like this.

Dear Winter Storm

Please make sure you really put your all into it tomorrow.


The more snow, the better.


I am picturing myself,


on the couch,


in my p.j.'s,


eating chocolate,


watching movies,


all. day.


In other words.


Bring it!

I heart my brover

My brother just sent me this song.

Listen to it and just like he said, "it will make you smile"

and it did, and it almost made me cry too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qObiMCsAYo

Happy Birthday Momma!!!

Today is my Mom's Birthday. She is also referred to as Momma by me and Momsawomsa by my dad.

My Mom is my biggest fan, and I am hers. I am so lucky to call her mine, and I am proud to take after her in many ways.

For one, I have her 'ski sloped' nose.

You can see it here. Maybe baby Cameron will be lucky enough to have it too.

I also get my humor from her, which is one of the reasons she thinks I'm so funny. It's almost as if she made the joke herself. One of my favorite things about my Momma is her ability to make me laugh in any situation. I mean any. I can be fuming mad, crying, annoyed, any kind of emotion but happy and she just slips in a one liner about the given situation and all the sudden my nostrils start flaring and no matter how hard I try and can't stop laughing. It's really inconvenient when I am trying to stick to my guns and get my point across, but it works.

My whole family gets our 'non-asses' from her. Seriously. Per my dad, her nickname in high school was T.H. which stood for tiny hiney. And now our family has no butts to show for it. Not one of us has an ass. No junk in our trunks, if you will. Personally, I am super thankful for this one, any part of my body that is small, I am grateful for.

I also get my killer immune system from her. I NEVER get sick. I have to fake sick days to get any use out of them which makes me hive up even when I am lying on the phone about the made up illness. I think I can attribute it to my mom telling me to 'suck it up' when I was young. Being a nurse, she saw everything and unless you had a major flesh wound to the head, (and even that may be questionable) she would tell you take an aspirin and 'suck it up' when you told her you weren't feeling well.

I also have some of the same idiosyncrasies as my Mom. For one, when I am watching t.v. I can be found like this.

The hubs took this picture because he thinks it's funny that i can't help but do this every time i watch t.v.

For some unknown reason, I always have to have the blanket covering my mouth. I don't even notice I'm doing it. This has my mom written all over it. If she is lying down, she can be found doing the exact same thing.

I also get my addictions from her. For one, candy. Lord almighty do I have sweet tooth. If you have any question about who I get this from, just look in the trunk of my Mom's car. That is where she hoards the m&m's and twizzlers so they can't be found by anyone else. Except when I am home of course, then she will share. Gum is our other vice, and I'm pretty certain if aspartame is as bad as they say it is, we are goners.

One more thing that I hope I have inherited from my Mom is her dead on advice. She always knows the perfect thing to say or has just the right insight. She doesn't even have to think about it, it just flows off her tongue and even if I don't like what she is saying it always affects me and I usually do exactly what she says. I hope to have this power over my own child one day.

My Mom knows when to step back and let you learn your lessons. She is not your typical, let me do all of your laundry and baby you even though you are fully capable of doing it yourself kind of Mom, and that is precisely the reason I am the way I am today. She taught me to be an independent woman. (Cue Kelly Clarkson music here). When you do need help though and she thinks she should intervine, she is like superwoman. Really, ask my sister with Baby Cameron. I'm pretty certain, she is stepping back and letting my sister do her thing but the minute she needs help, she swoops in and saves the day. I am so grateful for her, because she is exactly the Momma I needed her to be. I love her with all of my heart and soul.

Thanks for being you Mom. Happy Birthday. I am coming home soon.

My Beautiful Momma

Our Digs

Happy Super Bowl Sunday! (Go Saints!)

Since I had to clean all day yesterday to prepare for our friends coming over today, I figured it would be a great time to show you our digs. Because let's face it, any other day of the week I would be too embarrassed to show you what it really looks like.

Our Bedroom

Bathroom

Living Room

Breakfast Table

Kitchen

Dining Room

Guest Bedroom

Guest Bathroom

Our Deck

I left our third bedroom out because, there is an old desk and luggage in there, and our basement because that is bare too. But, there she is.

Where the Hubs, Lulu and I reside.

YES

This weekend, I am excited to go see this.

I really thought i was going to rope the hubs into going to see this with me by explaining what the story was about.

(spoiler alert, seriously if you don't want to know the ending do not read below)

I said, its a love story (first mistake) and then, the main character John's father collects coins and at the end John inherets those coins and can pay for his soul mate's husbands hospital treatment and in turn saves his life even though that means they can't be together.

So I'm really excited to go see it

with my girlfriend, Lexie.

I should have left the coin part out.

Super Bowl

This Sunday is the Super Bowl!

You know what that means.

An excuse to eat fried foods and drink lots of prosecco and watch funny commercials.

The hubs and i are throwing a party.

Here is what I'm planning on making.

Aren't they fun?

Maybe a few of these:

Oh yes, and these

Crawfish.

A little take on The Saints making it to the big game.

They sick me out, but everyone else seems excited about them, so I am going with it.

Hives

Anyone who knows me, knows that when things get stressful I have a little hive situation.

All I have to say is 'hives' in a deep voice and my family and friends know, something is going down.

Let's just say, hives were in full action these last few days.

Let me explain.

Friday- 2.5 hour, 5 person interview at a new company - HIVES

Tuesday Morning- Offered position from new company - Hives (did I mention it happens when good things happen too? Yah, I had full on concrete thick foundation on my chest for my wedding day, it was lovely. Those suckers were NOT going to be visible.)

Tuesday Afternoon - Break the news to my boss that I am leaving - Hives

Wednesday Morning - Get counter offer to stay with company - Hives

Wednesday Night- Preparing to turn down new company tomorrow and tell them I am staying with my current job - MAJOR HIVES

Thankfully this will be over the phone and hopefully my hives can go and hide for awhile until another uncomfortable situation arises in my life.


So I'm sure they won't pop up again until, say, ...Friday.

Oy

Dear Body,

I am sorry I consumed pizza/fries/chips/candy yesterday. I am blaming it on Sunday. She always tells me, 'I'm your lazy day, it's the end of the week, you can eat healthy tomorrow'. What a biotch. Let's not listen to her anymore, she doesn't know what she is talking about.

In the meantime, maybe you and yoga can work out a deal to cancel all those extra cals out. It would be greatly appreciated.

Yours truly.