we wish you a merry christmas

and happy holidays and all that jazz.

next year, buy outfits before Christmas Eve if you want them to match or coordinate beyond "both have snowmen on them" (They were an awesome deal for Gymboree though)

Debut

At 22 inches, Avery was really pushing the limits of NB clothes.  As an aside, we have mostly Carters and Target stuff...a quick browse online of holiday stuff shows the recommended lengths on these clothes to be bigger than those at Gymboree, which limits 0-3 to 23". wtf? Avery is below 50% for actual age in length...

But I digress.

The little dolls in their first

the packing problem

I have a packing problem. Regardless of where I go, I fill my bag to the brim. One day at the shore - two changes of clothes in the backpack. Vacation? Every inch of the bag is stuffed. I try to control this by only using a carry on for anything under a week. But I still tend to bring too much stuff. See this weekend:

Including what I wore coming up to Boston, I brought:
my rugby kit (shorts, socks (2), spandex (2), warm up tee, shoulder pads, cleats)
pj pants
sweats
Adidas snap pants
jeans
sweatshirt
3 pairs each socks and undies & 2 sports bras
2 long sleeve shirts
2 tees
1 tank top.
Oh, and my bathing suit.

BUT, though I'm probably a smidge overpacked, I figure its good to be prepared. Since its wet this weekend, I'm going through socks and my Adidas pants are sure to be wet post-game and not good to ride home in (and I don't ride home in jeans!).

And although I'll preface this by saying I appreciate a good shopping trip and hair salon as much as the next girl (probably not as much as the next girly girl though) - and am currently in the market for a nice sweater dress, a couple more sweaters and maybe a nice pair of camel or gray boots - there is something freeing about not even packing minimal makeup (aka mascara) or a round brush to blow dry with. There is enough of all of that during the week.

good, bad and ugly

good:
dad is going home 3 days post-triple-bypass

bad:
I discovered this morning I more or less twitch with anxiety when disconnected from technology. Our power went out at work for 45 minutes and I couldn't find a single thing to do, other than clean my desk, which would have been futile, since none of it can be REMOVED until I complete it...on the computer.

the ugly:
(or at least unpleasant). I haven't lost a dang pound this year and 60% of my pants don't fit. Upside: I haven't gained any more. I also haven't been trying that much (unless you count the 7 cookies + box of nerds I had for dinner last night as counting...).

the gym

I'm thinking about ditching my membership, but that's another post.

For the moment...things that are not appropriate:

Wearing pants so low I can see your underwear on the treadmill. As in the waist band AND the top 2 inches of them. Continuing to wear them so low that every time we cross paths lifting, I again see them. Sigh (side note, this could also have been solved by wearing an appropriately long shirt).

Grunting. Ever.

Talking on your cell. If the call is that important, get off the machine. You're not working hard enough anyway.

Not wearing a shirt. It is NOT that hot in the gym. If its 90 outside and you're running outside and feel ok about it, sure, whatever. Not in the gym.

Sitting on a weight machine chatting. For like 10 min. reps, Rest appropriately, repeat as desired, off.


Thanks!

shopaholic

I am. Sort of. Not really. Maybe. It depends who you compare me to.
But I apparently have an Ann Taylor Loft problem. About 70% of my work clothes are from there. This is directly related to the fact there is a small ATL store 3 blocks from my office where I can pop in and check the sales.

I popped in today.
The woman on the floor asked if I got a haircut (yes).
I am a little embarrassed.

Nothing good on sale, but I did find a cute water-resistant trench I want to get if it ever goes on sale for $50 or less (sale + 40% off perhaps?). I actually want a raincoat, but I'd settle for water-resistant.