Welp... I did it...

My hair is gone!

I know a lot of people cut their hair... and they go to a fancy salon and tip the shampoo girl... but for some unknown reason, that type of scenario faded away as I grabbed the barber shears at Target. While I was at it, I grabbed a Crushed Garnet haircolor (flashy without being too "look at me!")... and went home. I did my dye job... found a friend and a barstool... and closed my eyes...

Here's what was left!

I actually think it looks pretty good... and truth be told, it was the kick in the pants I needed to stop looking like a frazzled mom... I wanted to look more pulled together, and more fun... and I think this did it!

Not to mention the affect it had on other areas of my life... ;o)

Thursday Thirteen!

One of the other blogs that I read participates in this weekly fun called Thursday Thirteen... and since I am still trying to figure out how to be an awesome blogger, I am jumping on this bandwagon!

Thursday Thirteen, #1
13 Places I'd Love to Visit, in no particular order... I was going to put a little blurb about why I'd want to go to these places, but I'll let the photos speak for themselves... and let me say, I'd love the food in every place! :oP

1. Washington, DC












2. Jackson Hole, WY












3. Athens, Greece












4. San Francisco, CA















5. New York, NY













6. Normandy, France












7. Barcelona, Spain




















8. Dublin, Ireland












9. The Great Barrier Reef, Australia












10. Seattle, WA














11. Beijing, China

















12. Venice, Italy












13. The Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

I'm a coke addict...

And as far as I am concerned... it really shouldn't be legal...

I had the worst headache all day long, and it finally dawned on me that it was likely due to the lack of caffeine I have been having this week. I normally drink 2-3 cans of coke a day... but my sweet hubby picked up some Izze drinks for me. They are basically just fruit juice and carbonated water... and dang tasty... So, I've been drinking those for the past 4 days... and my body revolted against the lack of caffeine (I don't drink coffee... so no other sources of my drug of choice). After popping tylenol and trying a nap... I gave in...

A 6 pack later.... I am feeling great... :o)

Earth Day... from a Non-Conservative Conservative...

Today is Earth Day... and I normally don't care... I mean, I am the person who uses things because we have them, sees plastic bags as a convienence, and doesn't care too much that the only things that end up in my recycling bin are the boxes that don't fit in the regular trash.

But this year is kind of different, not really sure why though. Maybe it's the fact that I am a mom this year, and I am worried about what the world will be like when Ryan gets bigger... or maybe it's because we are living on one salary now... who knows... but in any event, we are making some big changes around our home.

For starters, Ryan is now officially a cloth-diapered baby! Before you freak out and say "Lady, you are crazy," let me explain... these aren't your average burp cloth type cloth diapers... no sir- these are state of the art cloth diapers... we chose Fuzzibunz... go ahead.. giggle. :o)

These things are pretty awesome... no diaper pins, no funky covers to try to wiggle him into. It is shaped like a disposable, but you wash them in the washer... and no dunking in the toilet, Grandma! Couldn't be easier... well... unless you were trashing them... but at least I won't be running to Walmart in the middle of the night for more 'sposies...

I have a few other goals for this year to be more "earth friendly...

- I am giving homemade/handmade gifts in 2008... this is as close as I can get to start getting people to realizing that commercial processes and items are lacking in creativity and full of waste... I am not sure this is really that "earth friendly" (maybe 'reduce'?)... but at least it's fun!

-I am not buying any gift wrap in 2008! Not one roll of wrapping paper... I have to use what I have (reuse) or find someway creative to wrap things (recycle).

-1 day of laundry a week... right now we do laundry every day... so our loads are mispurposed... with a goal of 1 day of laundry, we can get rid of all the extra crap clothes that we are washing just to have a full load so we can wash some socks for work tomorrow.

-Organic... never thought I'd do this (well.. never thought I'd do cloth diapers either) but I am doing my best to buy organic produce (especially for Ryan- I make his babyfood)... less pesticides.

What are you doing for the earth in 2008?

My Type...

I know this is a knock off from those Johnson and Johnson's commercials... but still... ;o)

I used to always go for the blond hair, blue eyed guy with great teeth.

Who would have thought that a toothless brown-eyed brunette would steal my heart?

My Type...

I know this is a knock off from those Johnson and Johnson's commercials... but still... ;o)
I used to always go for the blond hair, blue eyed guy with great teeth.
Who would have thought that a toothless brown-eyed brunette would steal my heart?

What I do all day...

Today was a Friday... and Friday's are days that I meet with my Breastfeeding Mom's Support Group. Normally, we meet at the hospital, with a lactation consultant who provides us with a topic for discussion. I love this group... and I honestly believe that without this group, I never would have made it as far as I have with nursing Ryan(but I'll save that for another day).

Well, we found out a couple weeks ago that we weren't going to be able to meet at the hospital this week because our normal meeting room had fallen through due to a scheduling glitch. The LC suggested a park day... but due to the 90+ degree days we had been having, I offered up my living room as a place for our babies to get to know each other as much as babies actually do... and for us mom's to catch up.

In preparation for this... I cleaned my house... big time! I even bought a steam cleaner to do the carpets... and to make a long story not so long... 10 am (our meeting time) came and went, without anyone arriving. However, about 10:15, my good friend Mia showed up with her baby... and then 2 other ladies showed up at 10:30... one complaining about bad directions while the other gushed about great directions, go figure.

Well, we sat there and played with our babies... when one mom turned to me and said "What do you do all day?" I thought for a second... did she not see my sparkling clean house? My well behaved dogs playing in the backyard? She must have missed that I have a 5 month old this entire time... but alas, the question was still unanswered...

"I hang out."

It was honest... and in all actuality, it was kind of sad. I mean, please tell me that I know I do more than 'hang out'?? I wanted to say everything that I was thinking... but at the same time, I was trying to figure out why I needed to justify what I do... I have a huge job, nay, career, called 'Being a Mom'. Although it doesn't seem like much to some, I am shaping a tiny little man into a great gentleman. He is going to be the guy that a girl is happy to bring home to meet her parents. He's going to make his community proud by doing things to contribute... and things that are actually worthwhile. I am teaching him how to converse on topics that he has yet to imagine are important. I am showing him compassion everytime I hold him when he is sad. I can see his love for animals every time he laughs when the dogs lick his little face. I can even tell he is going to have his mother's love for food... reaching for everything in site... and expressing his love or disdain with his ever expressive eyebrows. I am molding him into who he is going to be... and it's not always easy.

"That's it?" she asked.

"Yep... for now."

2 Magical Years

Today marks Dustin's and my 2 year anniversary. Yep... only 2 years ago we were standing in front of all of our friends and family saying about how much we planned of loving each other always and forever. Although Dustin wouldn't stop crying the entire time... I know that we both had a blast...

We have done a lot in the past 2 years, including buying our first home in Gilbert, AZ, giving birth to a beautiful little boy, and grown even closer than we had thought possible.

As a tribute to our 2 years together... I decided to post a copy of our vows here... enjoy!

I, Dustin, choose you Tabitha as my soul mate and companion. I promise to love, honor, and cherish you for all the days of my life. When times are hard I will be there to protect and care for you. When you are weak I will be strong, and when you are sad, I will be there for you to lean on. I will show you the true love you deserve; for life I am yours. As we walk through life together I promise to never walk in front of you or behind you, but instead to stand beside you and be your life companion. Tabitha, I truly love you. You are a gift from God. You have added a piece to my life that is truly great. You are my everything; my heart, my soul, my life and for that I give myself to you whole heartedly. I love you, today, tomorrow, and most importantly, forever.

I, Tabitha, choose you Dustin as my best friend, my love for life. I promise you my deepest love, my fullest devotion, my most tender care. Through the pressures of the present and the uncertainties of the future, I promise to be faithful to you. I promise to love you, to commit to you, and support you. I pledge to respect your unique talents and abilities, to lend you strength for all of your dreams. You have shown me what love feels like and for that I thank you. You are everything I need and at this moment I know all of my prayers have been answered and that all of my dreams have come true. I praise God for you Dustin: for all of your love and constant friendship. I know that our love is heaven sent and I promise to be here for ever and always. From this day forward, you shall not walk alone. My heart will be your shelter and my arms will be your home. As I have given you my hand to hold, I give you my life to keep.