so january was quite the life changing month for me – first, a bra fitting (that may not seem life changing to you if you haven’t read the post)(i’ll wait while you go do that). and then – learning how to create curls with my curling iron without using the clamp via Sarah over at Whoorl. now, i don’t have a funny story for this one, but i’m dead serious that this has made me really, really happy with my hair.
i love that i didn’t have to go buy a new, clampless curling iron. just a few simple changes to the way i already curl my hair and ta-da! much more natural looking wavy curls that look good even the next day, just more relaxed.
today she did a post where she did one side of her head using this method and the other side using the clamp to also make loose waves. i absolutely love how quick and easy it can be to get some pretty waves in your hair. i do this before H even gets up and automatically feel quite lovely.
on another completely unrelated note, my obsession with this video of Kristen Bell flipping her lid on Ellen the other day has reached level orange, bordering on red. i have watched it a number of times that i am much too embarrassed to admit here, yet still crylaugh EVERY everloving time i watch it. send help. and send Kristen Bell, because holy crap she is adorable and needs to be my friend yesterday.
this week started off kuckoo bananas. i found myself in a lovely city (san francisco) for an unreasonably short amount of time (like 31 hours from touch down to take off) doing something so cool i had to keep pinching myself (seeing your name after “talent” on a production book isn’t exactly the first thing you think of when you start a baby blog in 2009). it was a whirlwind that i will never forget and likely never stop feeling grateful for. i will share the finished product with you guys pretty much the second i’m informed that it’s done.
SF welcomed me with gorgeous 65 degree sunshine, delicious food and a king size bed that was so comfortable i felt mocked when my alarm went off at 4:30 am on the only morning i was lucky enough to wake up in it’s gloriousness. it also welcomed me with an early monthly gift (most likely from the self produced stress – srsly i had no idea it was even on it’s way) which produced a really fun TP stuff-and-waddle to the corner 711 at 5 in the morning. nothing like a little pre-dawn humiliation to bring your ass back down to earth, no?
sorry male people?
i also got to meet my friend Meg for the first time, after knowing each other for 4 years. we had wine (hi, duh) and ate the most glorious brussel sprout dish ever to grace my mouthparts. i still can’t stop thinking about them. i know, get a life right?
once i was home, there were massive amounts of cuddles. interspersed in those moments of cuddles were moments of a tiny terrorist trying to plot my death. three is an….interesting age. it’s fun, yet, um, challenging. it’s…ok it’s like repeatedly punching yourself in the face and then jamming said face into a vat of nutella. is what it’s like. super painful and then really sweet. over and over.
but then she drew Goofy (seriously do you see that? i can’t even draw Goofy that well). so i mean.
also, beer.
let’s look at a few things i loved on the internet this week:
e tells tales asked her readers to anonymously comment their honest goals for the new year. 420+ comments later. refreshing honesty from lots of people. pretty kick ace.
this skirt Ellen made for Tessa is sew cute (omg see what i did there just then)! i wish i knew how to sew/had a sewing machine.
a valentine exchange – how fun! probably a lot more fun than in 5th grade when i wrote “i hate you” to the other Amanda in my class on her valentine and got in big trouble. i’m guessing.
the pugly pixel always has AMAZING tutorials and goodies for bloggers and this is one i can’t wait to sit down and try.
i met these two lovelyladies in SF also. you should check them out if you never have.
and one of the better videos i’ve seen in the whole Sh*t Blank People Say meme. funny.
like, the heavens (or whatever) opened up, michael c. hall looked down upon me and smiled. johnny depp did a roundhouse kick while kittens licked a tattoo of a narwhal onto me as an IV drip of the most perfect americano poured into my veins.
i had my first bra fitting.
you guys. LIFE CHANGING.
those of you who have had one, or multiple even, like normal people who don’t put off things like i do, probably just threw your hands up and yelled “I KNOW RIGHT!”. those of you who are in my boat and have never had one probably just covered your boobs at the thought of having someone fit you for a bra.
i’m here to suggest demand each and every one of you run, don’t walk, your ladies into a bra fitting RIGHT MEOW.
i was one of those lucky/unlucky ones who got boobs at the age of like 9 and got to figure out how i felt about that at the same time everyone else got to figure out how they felt about that. it was terrible, awkward, and i have never had a very good relationship with my boobs because of it. i resent them for lots of reasons – they made guys oogle me, take me less seriously, and most recently, they didn’t help me feed my baby when i needed them to. they aren’t my favorite, is what i’m saying.
so i guess instead of trying to make them the best they could be, i punished them by completely ignoring what would help them kick ace. LIKE A PROPER FITTING BRA. so i bought cheap bras at target in whatever size i assumed i was.
i’ve been wearing a 38 C or D for as long as i can remember. where did i get this number? one can only guess.
so last week, i was getting my stuff packed for a very important trip where i’d be on camera a lot. i told Scot there was no way i could go do such a thing with my ladies being all sad and…well, really effing sad. so i went to nordstrom for my first ever bra fitting. at 30 years old. that is approximately 21 years of boob-life without so much as someone measuring me or telling me my cup size.
so you can imagine my surprise/horror/omgwtf-ness as my boob handler matter-of-factly told me i was a 32DDD.
::crickets::
and you can imagine her surprise/HORROR/OMGWTF-ness as i informed her that i have been wearing OH MY GOD NOT THAT SIZE for my whole life. i wasn’t sure if she was going to hit me or pass out. i can only imagine what it’s like for a boob handler to hear how terribly boobs have been mistreated and neglected. it probably hurts their heart something fierce. suddenly in my head, my boobs in a bra too large and ill fitting sadly moped across a screen while sara mcLachlan sang in the background. i had the ASPCA commercial of breast situations happening.
she couldn’t get me the right size fast enough. within minutes my sisters were holstered into the most amazing, well fitting, glorious boob holster i had ever worn. it had memory foam cups you guys. and when i heard the size of my boobs, i was terrified i’d look like some sort of adult film star with the right size bra, but NO, they looked perky and not too big at all and that is when i saw ryan gosling. and he was all “hey girl. your boobies look hot today”.
since i doubt it’s appropriate to mouth kiss a boob handler, i thanked her profusely for changing my life and promised i’d come back to her for more bras in the near future (because let’s face it, i now own ONE bra that actually fits). when i put my old bra back on to go pay and leave, i think i heard my boobs say the f word. it wasn’t until then when i realized how dire my situation had been.
i will be mortally offended if those of you who have never had a bra fitting do not heed my advice to buck up and go get one. ESPECIALLY those of you with larger sisters. your life will be altered forever. your clothes will fit differently, your boobs will look amazing and you will all around be more comfortable. please do it. for the boobies.
tips before you go: shave your armpits and pick the sales person that looks the most friendly. they don’t see everything but you are in a bra-only situation. if you’re a mom, this probably won’t even bother you as everyone and their brothers have probably seen your nipples at some point, amirite? this is actually MILD compared to pushing a crotch monkey out of your nether regions.
be prepared to be at least a little bit shocked at your actual size. i mean, i was wearing a bra SIX INCHES too big for me around the chest. and 3-4 cups sizes TOO SMALL. no wonder my boobs were BFF’s with my belly button. GET THESE TATA’S SOME SUPPORT FOR CRYING IN THE RIVER. i learned that your shoulder straps should never be at the tightest, and same with your clasps in the back. that means the whole party is too big. there is also a correct way to get into a bra that involves a little shimmy at the end so they get into place. i went to nordstrom and had a wonderful experience, but i know a lot of places do bra fittings.
ok, i’m done. i think. hope you could read the post ok over the SINGING OF MY BOOBS. they have never been so happy.
now go back and re-read taking a drink every time you see the word boob. cheers!
i am so excited this time of year is here again! it’s time for the (now annual – you can say that after one year, right?) March for Babies walk. last year i put together a team of bloggers in the area and together we raised over $2400 – with a goal of $1000 set. it blew me away and i really look forward to beating that number this year AND meeting and walking with even more of you amazing bloggers.
participating is easy. you can walk with us, and raise money for our team. you can donate to our team. you can start your own local team if you’re not in the area (go here and enter your zip to find your nearest walk!). every penny helps and it all go towards helping babies. i’m sure we all know someone who has been effected by prematurity or birth defects. this is our chance to help.
so for people in the puget sound area! our walk is in Tacoma again, and starts at 9am on May 12th. i have set our team goal at $3000 and i have confidence we can reach this with the help of friends, family and our blog readers. you needn’t be a blogger to join, walk or donate (but you do need to be actually in the area on May 12th to walk with us to join the team). to join our team, simply:
>> go here to the WA Bloggers for Babies team page and click the “join this team” button.
>> create your personal profile and set your personal fundraising goal. this can be whatever you’d like!
>> grab a fundraising widget for your blog or facebook so friends, family and readers can help you out and keep track of your goal.
>> reach out to anyone and everyone to help you meet your goal, thus reaching our team goal.
>> show up on may 12th and walk with us!
if you know people in the area that would like to join, please forward them this post or the url of the team page. the more the merrier! let’s show people the power of blogging. let’s raise some money for bebehs! if you have any questions AT ALL about signing up, joining the team, using the widgets or donating, please email me (team.mandy@gmail.com).
and for those of you who can’t walk with us but would like to help? please use the button below to donate or on the sidebar widget at any time to contribute. your dollars go towards helping ensure that someday every baby is born healthy. i know my readers are amazing and can make a huge dent in our team goal. i appreciate any donation you can make.
i hope to set up a large giveaway eventually to nudge people into donating, like we did last year. i will keep you all posted, but know that all donors through my page (it’s the only way i can keep track of entries) will be entered, even if you donate before the giveaway is set up (which hi, it’s not yet).
last year was such a blast and it warmed by heart to see our community come together to make a contribution to this very important cause. i am excited to see what this year brings, and what kind of money we can raise in the next 4 months!
ready? let’s do this ish.
andplusalso? if you’d like to start your own BfB team in your city, email me and i’ll be happy to make you an image to use like mine at the top of this post but with your city and date.
today she did a post where she did one side of her head using this method and the other side using the clamp to also make loose waves. i absolutely love how quick and easy it can be to get some pretty waves in your hair. i do this before H even gets up and automatically feel quite lovely.
