The List - May Update

Last year, I made it a point to revisit my list of goals for the year at least once every three months, so I could see what sort of progress I was making towards them. This year? Things have gotten away from me a bit.

Between the new baby, an overactive toddler, and a job that takes up more of my time (and causes more trouble) than both of my girls combined, it's all of a sudden May, and I have no idea how we got here. So...an update:

1) Lose the pregnancy weight. - I have lost about 20lbs since the start of the year, which is excellent. Less excellent is the fact that I gained more than 20lbs with Caitlin, so I still have some work ahead of me.

2) Give up meat for a month. - Not yet.

3) Complete the Couch to 5K program. - I keep trying. And I keep injuring myself, outside of the whole running thing. First, it was slipping on the stairs at my in-laws' house, and messing up my ankle. Then, it was falling in the parking garage at work, and tweaking my quad muscle. I'm sure, once my leg stops hurting every time I awkwardly squat to pick something up, I'll manage to throw my back out, or something.

4) Run an organized 5K. - Not if I can't quit falling while doing absolutely nothing athletic, I won't.

5) Clean/reorganize my closet. - I bought some skirt hangers that I love. That's about it.

6) Take a belated anniversary trip with Steve, a long weekend somewhere without the kids. - Still in the works.

7) Make a meal entirely on my own (I don't cook, so this might be the biggest one of the year!) - No.

8) Create an art wall in my staircase. - I've bought a bunch of frames. And I have them laid out on the floor of the front room. But that's as far as it goes right now.

9) Organize a workspace for me. - No.

10) Attend The Blathering in Charleston. - I REGISTERED! I'M GOING!! I'M SO EXCITED!!

11) Read at least one book a month. - I guess, since I didn't specify that the book a month didn't have to be a book I'd never read before, I'm actually ahead of the game on this one? Actually, even without that clarification, I'm still kind of on pace, but so far I've read: In the Garden of Beasts (Erik Larson), Wild (Cheryl Strayed), and Discovery of Witches/Shadow of Night (Deborah Harkness), plus I'm currently reading Wedding Night (Sophie Kinsella). So...five, right?

cough*Plus I reread all 7 Harry Potter books, just because I wanted to*cough

12) Take Brigid and Caitlin to South Bend for a weekend (preferably a football weekend). - We're currently trying to get up there for Labor Day weekend.

13) Research/practice meditation. - No.

14) Find a yoga studio and start taking classes regularly. - No.

15) Find a 'mommy and me' class of some sort for Brigid and I to attend. - Brigid is currently enrolled in a ballet class at the Atlanta Ballet Company, where I get to go sit in class with her while she 'dances'. I don't get to dance, though, and I think the ABC is really missing out on something special here by not letting me participate, but whatever. What do I know, right?

16) Write something, anything, not blog related. - No.

17) Take one lunch break a week, even if it's only 15 minutes, to sit somewhere quiet and recalibrate/reflect/replan the next few days. (when I go back to work...) - HA! HAAAAAAAA! No.

18) Start taking outfit photos again, in an effort to wear everything already in my closet instead of shopping for new items. - Once I fit into more than three items in my closet, I will get RIGHT on this.

19) Be more consistent in updating my family blog, because my parents give me a hard time when I let it lag, and my personal blog, because I'm not as happy with myself when I let it lag. - I can usually manage to get something into the family blog about three times a week, even if it's a throwaway picture post (because, let's be honest, that's all my family cares about, anyway), but this blog has been sadly neglected this year. I need to change that.

20) Start reading my favorite blogs again, since I haven't even LOOKED at my reader feed in months, and I miss keeping up with it. - I transferred everything to a new feed reader! And I added a few that looked awesome! But...to read them? I'm still trying to find a better balance for my time.

21) Find a general practitioner and get a physical. - No. Although having one might have come in handy when I thought I had pinkeye, but still...no. Not yet.

22) Throw Brigid a NYE party next year, complete with hats, noisemakers, and fun food, since she was really excited to stay up until midnight this year, but I was so tired from the baby's schedule that we faked midnight for her at 11PM. - I have a few more months on this?

23) Send more mail...thank you notes, birthday cards, and 'just because' messages. - Sort of. It comes in spurts, and I am not consistent at all. But I'm trying to be better about it.

24) Try a juice fast/cleanse. - No.

25) Decide, once and for all, what I want to be when I grow up, and formulate a plan to get myself there. - I know I want to spend more time at home with my girls. I know I don't want every waking moment to be consumed with work, to the point that I am using my personal phone as a wireless hotspot to work from the car as we're driving home from Indiana on what should be a vacation day, because there is some work emergency that needs to be addressed. I DON'T know how to get there, though. So...uh...TBD? I guess?

Fun With Make-Up

Last weekend, I spent Saturday night out with several ladies much, MUCH younger than myself, in honor of my soon to be SiL's bachelorette party. It was fun, and exhausting, and a little crazier than my 33-year old body can handle these days. And I learned that while I still like to talk to just about anybody who will have a conversation with me while I'm out, I now find myself doing things like discussing career paths with the 29-year old engaged bartender who is studying to be a chiropractor and giving parenting advice to the guy who's wife is pregnant with their first kid (a girl!) at the bachelor party drinking next to us. So, you know. I am a BLAST to have at parties, obviously.

Anyway, as I've gotten older, I've started using a lot more make-up in my everyday routine, to try to mask a few of those telltale 'yes I have a baby at home, and no I haven't had a decent night of sleep in something like 10 months' signs, and let me tell you...the rabbit hole that is internet make-up advice is just as fun/exhausting/crazy as any bachelorette party with a bunch of mid-twenties people in attendance. But! Most of the time I don't wake up with a splitting headache in the morning after looking at you tubed make-up tutorials, so I'll have to give the nod to the internet on this one.

My newest obsession? Tightlining.

It's an eyelining technique that involves lining from underneath your lashes, to accent your eyes without the heavy handed look you (or I, in any case) can get from regular eyeliner. I followed the advice I found here, and for my first attempt, I was pretty happy with the results:




Of course, the look took A LOT of Q-Tip clean-up, because I had eyeliner all over the place, but it's definitely a look I want to keep practicing, because I think I could make this an everyday thing for myself, once I get a better handle on it.

Side note: The other night, I was watching Two Weeks Notice with Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant, and all I could focus on was Sandra's eyeliner. Because in almost every movie she is in, I always love the look of her make-up, and now? I AM TOTALLY IN ON HER SECRET! Watch your back, Sandy. I'm coming for you.

(Because, the only thing separating me from Sandra's superstar life is the eye make-up techniques, right?)

Side note, the second: I used this Stila Smudge Pot and a flat eyeliner brush for my first attempt.

Remember Me?

I signed up for this absolutely awesome thing that Doing My Best has been hosting for awhile now, a 'Crappy Day Present' Exchange. The thought process behind the exchange is that we all have crappy days, and wouldn't it make that day just a little less crappy if you had something fun from someone nice to open when you're feeling blue?

The answer, of course, is yes. And even though this is my first time participating in the exchange, I've had so much fun shopping for the person I am sending a CDP package to, I think I can already claim that this whole thing works like it should. Except...

Well, I was supposed to do a 'getting to know you' post for whoever has my name to look at for ideas. And I kind of got busy. And I kind of forgot. So, I kind of failed on that part. But! Better late than never? Maybe?

1. What time did you go to bed last night and were you alone?
Around 11PM, and no. Not if you're counting one husband, two dogs, a remarkably brave cat, and a rogue toddler who joined us at 4AM.

2. If you could be given ANY gift what would it be?
A free house so that I could stay home with my girls. That would be awesome.

3. What was the last film that really moved/disturbed/thrilled you and why?
If I say the last Harry Potter, does that make me really, really behind the times? Because it was. And I am.

4. What is your favourite TV show of all time ie you've seen them all, can watch it over and over again and quote lines from it?
It's a toss up between Gilmore Girls and Seinfeld.

5. Whats your favourite way to wake up and whats the first thing you do?
On my own (ie not by one of my girls waking me up way before I'm ready). Check Twitter and drink coffee.

6. What would you call yourself if you could choose your own name?
I don't know. I've been Tara for long enough that I think I'd have to stick with Tara. Unless...could I call myself Kate Middleton? Would that make me Kate Middleton?

7. If you had to do a bushtucker challenge (you have to eat insects/grubs etc) what would be the worst thing you had to eat?
I couldn't do it. They would ALL BE TERRIBLE. Except maybe ants. I could probably do ants.

8. Whats the worst/most embarassing CD/Album you've ever owned and do you still have it?
I lived in Cincinnati when the Reds opened the current ballpark, and they distributed this CD of songs by Blessid Union of Souls written specifically for the team. It was terrible. SO BAD. And yet, I listened to it A LOT. And I made other people listen to it. And I still have all of the songs memorized. But I don't know where it is right now, and that makes me sad.
 
9. what would be your dream vehicle (bikes, cars, boats, batcar and millenium falcon is allowed!)?
Ooooh, a boat. A really nice one. Because if I could have my dream vehicle, I'd also like to be living in my dream location, so I'd need that boat to get around in Venice.

I deleted question 10 because it was dumb, and I don't want to renumber all of these.

11. What characteristics do you dislike in yourself?
I get flustered very easily. If I only have a few seconds to make a good impression, I don't. You need to have prolonged exposure to me to fully grasp my charm, I think.

(Also, I'm very sarcastic. But I actually kind of like that about myself.)

12. Your favourite item of clothing and why?
My gray scarf from Land's End. It's the perfect piece of travel clothing, because it doubles as a wrap, it dresses up any outfit, and it keeps me warm on the plane.

13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would it be and who would it be with?
Europe. All of Europe. I want to go to Ireland/Czech Republic/GermanySpain/Portugal/Greece and spend more time in France and go back to Italy.

14. If you could have any animal/creature, What would be your ultimate pet be?
I want a Harry Potter owl.

15. What did you want to be when you were little and do you think you ever will be?
An novelist, and probably not. I don't have the creativity...

16. Whats the next planned event you're looking to in your life?
A beach vacation with my family.

17. What were you doing before you started this?
Working

18. What was the last thing you ate that you really shouldnt of ?
A Reese's peanut butter egg.

19. If you were an ice cream/haagen daz/ben an jerrys flavour what would you be?
I have absolutely no idea.

20. Who was the last person you spoke to that you didnt want to talk to?
I don't think I should answer this one...

21. What was your favourite toy as a child  . . .and now?
I was less of a toy person and more of a book person as a child. Now? I'm an iPhone person. ALL. OF. THE. TIME. on my damn phone.

22. When was the last time you cried laughing and why?
I don't remember why, but I know it was only a couple of months ago. I was pregnant at the time, so I might have been a little hysterical? I feel like it maybe involved dirty jokes...

23. What is stashed under your bed/mattress?
Does cat hair count? What about dog toys? ALL OF THAT STUFF ENDS UP UNDER MY BED.

24. What did you dream about last night?
I didn't. But my husband dreamt he met my golf crush, so I want HIS dreams next time...

25. What are you really afraid of?
Anything happening to my children. Terrified.

Luck of the Irish?

My St. Patrick's Day outfit, sponsored by my favorite maternity skirt, which I ABSOLUTELY intend to keep wearing as long as the elastic holds up, and a pair of Spanx, which I also intend to keep wearing as long as I can still pass for slightly pregnant anytime I wear anything that isn't loose and flowing.

The tank top is a maternity find, too, from Target, and I would kind of like to keep buying every color that they make, because I love how long they are. But also? I would very much like to quit wearing maternity clothes because, you know, I do own other clothes that I would like to wear again someday...
Skirt: Motherhood Maternity Tank Top: Target Cardigan: Banana Republic (outlet)  

(The cardigan! The cardigan isn't a maternity item! That sort of counts, right? Even though I was wearing this cardigan at the end of my pregnancy?)

 

(Whatever. I'm getting there. There are more non-maternity clothing items that fit me now, compared to where I was at the start of the year. I just really wanted to wear jeans and boots to the St. Patrick's Day festival we went to on Saturday, but that wasn't an option. I'm tired of it not being an option, that's all...)

Welcome Back

Today is a hectic day. Once again, the concept of a deadline seems to be something that most people just don't understand. But, I'm trying to be better about managing my stress. I'm trying to take it all in stride. I'm trying to remember that I can tell people what needs to be done all day long, but I can't actually do it for them.

I'm trying to relax.

And it seems to be going better than I thought it would.

Over the last several weeks, I've realized that I never knew what a miserable pregnant woman I was until I stopped being a miserable pregnant woman. My hormonal tendencies during pregnancy are...not good. I was angry, all of the time. I was annoyed with the slightest little thing. I didn't want to be around people. I just wanted to stay home in my sweatpants and play with Brigid. I honestly thought that nothing would make me happier than quitting my job to stay home with my girls. And honestly? I'm still not entirely convinced that this isn't the case.

My twelve weeks at home were awesome, and I'd have no problem going back to that place in a heartbeat.

But at the same time, I like my job again. I like having responsibilities outside of the home, and I like the adult interaction that being in the office provides. Things are crazy today, but I am not the ball of rage over other people's actions that I would have been six months ago, and that makes me happy.

I'm finally starting to feel like myself again.

It's about time...