Jet plane

Sometimes a work trip comes when I need a break from regular life. Other times I wish I could bundle Edie and Jeff up and bring them with me. Today is more the latter.
This beauty is heading to my parents' for a few days of TV and candy. Xoxo

Gym Update

I've been wanting to post a gym update, but have hesitated and put it off. Mainly because I sort of hate when people talk incessantly about working out. Especially when they litter their social media status updates with subtle, but braggy tidbits and photos from their cleanse that just make me feel bad about the sandwich I'm eating while reading Facebook.

But I've had a few people inquire, so I'll say this: I have now been attending the gym regularly for 3 and a half months. Definitely a record for me. With only one exception because I was traveling, I have exercised 5 times per week, every week since November 4th when I signed up for my personal training package. This is pretty much mind blowing. That first package of personal training sessions has since been used up and I purchased another to keep my momentum going. And it's working. I exercise with Mike 3 times per week and go in on my own for cardio twice per week. I always thought 5 times per week was impossible, perhaps even overkill, and aimed for 3 during my intermittent bouts of physical fitness, but now I realize that the bump up to 5 is what it took for me to make this part of my daily routine. My days off now feel more unusual than the days I go in. If I haven't made this clear yet - this is extremely novel for me. Historically, my longest bout of regular gym attendance is roughly 3 weeks. Around 3 weeks is when I tend to get a cold and "take a week (or twenty) off".

I'm sleeping well, my back and neck are stronger - which is preventing the soreness I was experiencing all the time and I'm starting to see some physical changes. Pants that were a little too snug are fitting comfortably and pants that were fitting comfortably are a little baggy. The other day I pulled my pants down without unbuttoning them. Jeff was unimpressed when I pantsed myself in the dining room - but he totally missed the point. Also - I can do 8 legit push ups! When I started in November I could do ZERO. I'm fascinated by how this new routine is rearranging my body, rather than just shrinking it. I've reduced my body fat percentage by roughly 6%. And while it's awesome to have lost pounds of pure fat, it's even cooler to have someone be able to calculate how many pounds of muscle I've gained.

In the past, my main gauge of fitness was diet and weight related. But this time around, I'm not counting calories or eliminating categories of food from my diet. I might have weighted a little less than this 10 years ago, but I was also stuffing my face with weird chemical-infused Lean Cuisine entrees cooked in plastic to try and count Weight Watcher "points". And preparing special dinners for myself while Jeff ate more delicious things across the table from me. I'm not journaling my food or measuring my cereal every morning. There's nothing wrong with these things in principal I guess, but they made me a little food-obsessed in my 20's and it feels liberating to mostly just eat what I want - which is frequently healthy, whole foods, but sometimes is also 10 sugar cookies and a piece of chocolate cake at a Superbowl party. I eat out and travel quite a bit for work and it's nice to know that my body is using the fabulous food I get to enjoy as fuel now. It wasn't my original intent, but this process has completely changed my relationship with food. As Jeff likes to remind me - It's not fun to be married to someone who can't enjoy a good meal out and only orders salads. And what's the whole point of life if you can't eat dessert? Edie would agree = dessert IS the whole point, of like, EVERYTHING.

Someone scammed their Dad into buying a new princess dress

This and That

I'm sorry it's been so long friends. Work has felt stressful lately so my evenings are either spent reformatting documents and obsessively rereading emails before hitting send OR watching random TV in an effort to not think about anything other than random TV.

Don't feel too sorry for me though, because I also had a lot of fun this weekend. Together with my amazing and creative friends, we threw a baby shower for Heidi at my office on Saturday. Friends came to town for the occasion and we hosted a gathering at our house on Valentines Day. Those of us with kids were kid-free for the night and it was a great, grown up time. I had this moment while we were setting up my office for the baby shower when I was struck by how lucky I am to have these kinds of friends. And yes, I know I say this a lot. But it's so true! I frequently meet people who appear to not really have best friends. I'm sure there are lots of people fine with this arrangement, but for me, these women are my lifeline and I hope that at times, I am theirs as well. Jeff makes me laugh every day and we have a great time together, but he definitely doesn't want to go shopping with me, he definitely doesn't have any interest in sitting around emoting about our week, and he most certainly is not going to spend weeks brainstorming the best ideas for a baby shower. But my friends do!

I looked around and Kristin was on her knees pulling pine cones and moss out of a bag to make little woodland dioramas in my bookcase. Darrah was arranging vintage books with woodland creatures on the covers as part of the decorations. Amy was stacking the amazingly delicious sugared nuts she made with stamped labels on adorable mason jars, and organizing little shortbread cookies that looked like tiny hedgehogs on a wood platter. Katherine was scattering the confetti she HAND PUNCHED in the shape of tiny owls and stringing the banner she made out of LOG SLICES while I arranged miniature loaves of cornbread and honey butter on the buffet. I mean seriously. It was cute times infinity. For a few hours we were all a living, breathing Pinterest board. And then Heidi showed up with her adorable belly and cute shoes and we all died. From cuteness. Photos to come soon, but these few to tide you over.

Our weekend in photos

We visited Bellingham this weekend to celebrate Jeff's belated birthday with his family. Some photos of Edie and Luna follow.

Oh and I guess the Superbowl happened too. We went to a party and while I may not understand the rules of football, I definitely understand the use of sprinkles and baked goods. Edie, Kathleen and I made sugar cookies to share at the party before leaving Bellingham.

LA

On the plane:

While boarding, Edie ran a bit ahead and turned around to yell, "I'm just SO EXCITED Mom!"

LAX:

Edie made besties with the 9 year old neighbor and her 5 year old brother so Katherine and I decided it would be really cinchy to take them all 3 to dinner on Friday night. It actually wasn't too painful, mostly entertaining. We let them order pretty much everything they wanted and then went bananas:

Photo bomb by Adelle:

Strawberry daquiri sippin:

Levi then needed his photo taken but didn't want to share his straws:

Waiting for our car at valet:

The next morning in the sunshine:

Here we are with an old high school friend and her son who live in LA and came to visit:

Edie: "Take my picture with that DRAGON!"

Donut holes from the farmers market:

On Saturday we drove to Long Beach and enjoyed the beach:

Edie just kept laughing to herself she was having so much fun:

The Long Beach Arcade where I almost lost my sanity for a minute:

The Trading Post (i.e.: giant hipster flea market) near Katherine's house on Sunday:

Katherine let Edie shake glitter from the balcony of her apartment. She could hardly believe her luck:

On Friday, I had meetings in LA most of the day so Katherine and Edie had some alone time. Here are some of her pics from that day: