4 More Days!!!!!!!

Okay... is anyone out there more excited than we are about this? In our house it's like the Royal Wedding, the birth of baby Gray, and Christmas all rolled into one!

 4 more days!



P.S. Is Disney not a marketing genius??? We now have new Lightening cars, pajamas, Kleenex, Cheerios, mac and cheese, and . My kid has taken to screaming out the names of the characters in his sleep!

P.P.S We pre-ordered tickets for a group of 12. I was on some sort of fan mailing list so we know the second tickets become available, and this weekend I double checked with the manager of the movie theater that I hadn't missed out on the sale.... and, 4:15 Friday... IT'S ON!!!!!

Big News Tomorrow...

Hello my lovely readers! Just a quick note to let you know that you do not want to miss tomorrow's post!!!!  Not only will I be highlighting an AWESOME event coming to town next week, but there will be one of our biggest giveaways EVER!!!!!! (See all those exclamation marks? I'm serious about this one!) For anyone with kids you do not want to miss this one!!!

Now that I've got you all intrigued... make sure you come back early and often!!!

Sweet dreams... xo

Currently Loving.

There are so many random things that I am currently loving that I figure the best way to share them to put them together in one post. Don't worry, I'm pretty sure if they met each other in real life, they would definitely be friends (or at least pretend to be on Facebook.)

These are the things that right now are making me smile.

abc's The Bachelor Pad. This show found a way to steal my heart. Although I was never a huge fan of the Bachelor franchise, this spin off absolutely gets a rose from me. Alcohol, competition, hotties, and 20+ people sharing one room? Seriously, what is there not to love? If you wonder who I'm rooting for to win the money, I went to high school with Kiptyn so you know I have all my money riding on the home team hero.

Source

Eat, Pray, Love "the movie." I am one of those people who hated this book (as discussed here early and often.) I found Elizabeth Gilbert to be self loathing, overly dramatic, and downright boring. Julia Roberts as Elizabeth Gilbert? Well, I found her to be endearing, intelligent, and a heroine who I could wish only good things upon. Throw in Javier Bardem's character... well, let's just say that Bali is now on the top of my must see list. I have seen this amazing movie the last two weekends in a row, is it wrong that I'm considering another viewing this Sunday? Nah.... Julia (ahem Liz) would do it!

Amazing furniture, on sale. This weekend's sale at one of my favorite furniture stores in Boston, Hudson. I am always loving this store, but their high prices usually keep me more in the "looking" rather than "buying" mode. Well, this weekend, until August 31st, they are having their semi-annual sale, and since we are in need of a few pieces for our home, and we happen to have a guest staying with us who is also an interior designer, I am loving that I will have an opportunity to hunt for a bargain with a real professional. I also came across this website www.ebiza.com which is kind of the Gilt of the furniture world (or is trying to be.) They had my dream mixer up yesterday, for half the price, and I am super excited to see what will come up next. You know how I love a steal!

Source

Dark grey nails. What can I say, I am officially on the grey/ greige (grey + beige) nail polish bandwagon. For fall I am thinking I am ready to embrace the dark grey nail. It's not as "emo" as black, and not as expected as dark burgundy, and it truly does go with everything. I'm waiting until after Labor Day to decide if this is one trend worth rocking through the winter months, or if it just makes my nails look, how should I say, infected?

The weather for the next 10 days. After the last 4 days of blinding, cold rain, I was quickly reminded of how close we are to another 6 months of crappy weather. I wish you could have see the smile on my face when I pulled up the weather forecast for the next week. 80 and sunny, without a cloud in the sky. 

Oh Summer, I love you.

Blurb. Blurb is the coolest self publishing website that I have ever seen. While they can help you to create and publish almost anything, right now I am currently loving the book that I am making which details the first three years of the Little Man's life. Their formatting is to die for, and if I can find this easy to create, trust me when I say anyone can do it. Can you say awesome Christmas present?

Source

Lastly, I am currently loving my mortgage company. Seriously, who says that? Not only did they help us secure a mortgage 2 years ago, when others considered us a risk... but now after one call, I was able to lover our interest rate by 1.3 percent in under 5 minutes with no change to our existing terms. When I asked the lady if I could hug her for all the interest payments she just saved me, she said no.... it's just part of the job. You have to love that!

So that's what I am currently loving... what's putting a smile on your face right now?

What Are You Listening To, Part Two.

A few months ago I wrote about how I was completely out of touch with what was happening in the musical world. After a year year of listening to Raffi and Elmo I truly was completely lost, and I really had forgotten what it was like to be obsessed with a song or a band. Soon after I began to make a conscious effort to try to find new music that would again inspire me. In my quest, I stumbled upon this band Wakey! Wakey! and I found myself in love (like head over heels in love.)

Stumbled may not quite be the right word. I am ashamed to admit but I was actually watching one of my guiltiest pleasures, One Tree Hill, and this band was featured on the show. Their music was probably the best I have heard in years, and they immediately became one of my favorite bands. I recognize that the show is geared towards a younger audience (and I should totally be embarrassed by the fact that I never miss an episode,) but I can assure you that this band is not your teenager's band.

The vocals and lyrics are completely heartbreaking and wonderful at the same time, and the band itself is nothing short of amazing. There are piano and strings mixed in most songs (something I love) and I am honestly shocked that these guys aren't more of a sensation. For a while I was only able to find a hand full of songs on iTunes, but my prayers were recently answered as they finally came out with a new cd. I believe that they tour frequently, and I am making it my mission to see them live sometime this year. If you want a sample of the magic that is Wakey!Wakey!, here are a few of my absolute favorite songs. 










Love, love, love.

The band's website can be found here.

We Love Liam!

We all know that I have a soft spot in my heart for little boys, and even more so for little boys named Liam. A few days ago a friend of mine stumbled upon this blog, and ever since I have been telling everyone I know to enter this giveaway to help this sweet little boy to get a new bathroom. Liam will be turning 6 at the end of April and he has a neuromuscular disorder called Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 2. His amazing family has created this website to help them raise money to remodel a bathroom for him this summer. There are some wonderful and generous artists who have donated thier services, and they have a great raffle set up to help raise the funds needed. I encourage you to go check out their website.

From one mother of a Liam to another, I wish you guys the best of luck!

It Is Decided.

After seeing the new Sex and the City 2 trailer it is decided, I absolutely must see this movie opening night in NYC. The fact that my sis-in-law recently moved to Carrie's street means that it is meant to be. May I add that my b-day is only a few weeks before and my husband has already gifted me a weekend away meaning that the timing is nothing short of pure destiny. Throw in that this movie opens Memorial day weekend meaning I get not one, not two, but (wait for it) three days to live my Carrie Bradshaw dream.... well if there is any reason to believe in god, then by all means this is it.

Without further ado may I present the second greatest trailer of all time. (The first of course being the previous trailer for this movie.)



One word: Aiden.

Second word: Aiden.

One more word: Aiden!

I didn't think it was possible but this movie just got 1 million times better!

20 Random Things.

In honor of my 100th follower, thank you Elena of The White Picket Fence, I figured I would share with you 20 random things that you may not know about me. Hopefully after you finish this list I won't have scared any of you off!

Gulp, here goes!

1. I cannot stand when my toe nails and fingers are different colors. They are always painted exactly the same.
2. I have three little sisters, the youngest is only 15 and the oldest is 21.
3. My favorite song is Don't Stop Believing, by Journey. When my Little Man was a baby he wouldn't eat unless it was playing.
4. My favorite food is black olives, I can't stand green ones unless they are in dirty martini (which is my drink of choice.)
5. I have never been bowling. Never.
6. My favorite movie is Forest Gump. I have seen it at least 200 times and I still cry at the end.
7. I not-so-secretly dislike dogs, but love dog owners.
8. I get seasick. Bad.
9. I moved in with my husband after 5 months of dating, 2 of those months he lived in another country.
10. I have worn the same perfume for 16 years, Allure by Chanel. My husband now hates the smell.
11. If I could do anything I would go to culinary school.
12. I was *madly* in love with my college professor Dr. Nichols. He had a ponytail and an earring.
13. I would never date a guy with a ponytail or an earring.
14. When I was 14 I changed the spelling of my name to Robyn. 2 years later I changed it back to Robin.
15. I consider myself to be "from" California, but I actually spent the fist 12 years of my life in Colorado.
16. I think Steve Colbert is the sexiest man alive... followed closely by Anderson Cooper. Yes, I have a bit of a nerd fetish.
17. My favorite day of the week is Friday because that's when my US Weekly arrives. I won't open it until I can read the entire thing in one sitting.
18. I am living the exact life I always planned on living. Sometimes that freaks me out.
19. I sleep in an Gore 2008 T-Shirt every night.
20. I think about (and miss) my old job every day but I have never once considered going back.

So there you have it, 20 completely random things that you may not have known about me.

Thank you all for reading every day!! Muah!

What Book Were They Reading?

What book were they reading?

Maybe the better question is what were they smoking when they were reading that book and where can I get some?

See yesterday I had the pleasure of seeing the trailer for the new movie based on Eat, Pray, Snooze err Love and I have to say that it looks pretty good. Like really good. So again I have to ask what book were they reading?

As I have said here before I had really high hopes for this before I began reading it (yes, Oprah convinced me it would "change my life too.)"Eat I liked, because, well, I like to eat but somewhere in the middle of "Pray" I just simply lost my resolve to push through to "Love" (which I heard is not all that bad.) After writing that post I was elated to find out that I was not the only one who felt this way (thank you all, even if you were lying to make me feel better.)

I have picked it up a few times (um, once) since writing that post and in the end I figured I would just wait for the movie to come out to see how it all ends. This once anticipated torturous event has now turned into something I am actually looking forward to.

Really good trailer or possible awesome movie? You be the judge.

Oh Eat, Pray, Love... I just can't quit you.

Separated At Birth?

I wish I could take the all the credit for this one, but it goes to my very hilarious friend K.A. While I was traveling she sent me and email showing the newly cropped Shiloh Jolie Pitt with a tag line that she was a "dead ringer" for my little man. When I saw the picture I had to laugh out loud, could it be possible that these two were separated at birth?

Right???????

So does that mean that I resemble Angelina Jolie? Yeah, I didn't think so. I guess then the "Brad Pitt like" gene carrier goes to my hubby.

A husband that looks like Brad Pitt? I'll take two please! (sans beard of course)

(Photo Credit: From Popsugar.)

What Are You Doing For NYE?

What I won't be doing is:

1. Getting dressed up (to be honest I am already in my PJs and it's only 3:30pm).
2. Wearing any type of high heel.
3. Leaving the house.
4. Standing outside in any line.
5. Freezing my butt off in the snow.
6. Watching the clock strike midnight.
7. Watching Dick Clark (is he still alive?)
8. Waking up tomorrow with a massive hangover.

What I will be doing is the exact same thing I have done almost every year for the past decade:

1. Snuggle up with my little man in our PJs.
2. Have a New Year's toast (his sippy and mom's champagne) at about 7:30pm.
3. Have a nice relaxing dinner with my hubby (spicy shrimp and white bean stew, asparagus, and arugula salad.)
4. Watch something that we have been saving on the DVR (this year it will likely be a 30 Rock marathon)
5. Drink one too many glasses of champagne.
6. Be in bed by 10 at the latest.
7. Wake up tomorrow sans hangover and hit up a 12:00 yoga class with my favorite yoga instructor.

For me this is the perfect New Year's Eve! Whatever your plans are I hope all of you have a happy and SAFE evening! For those of you who are going to be out hitting the town, I salute you. Please have a drink for me!

See you all in 2010... I have a feeling this is going to be one great decade!

We Wish You a Merry Christmas!

From our family to yours, we would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas filled with love and laughter. The little man and I are patiently awaiting the arrival of Santa who will not only be bringing in goodies this year, but also my brother and sister-in-law (yay!) We are very thankful that we are spending a quiet Christmas at home this year and are looking forward to spending a long weekend with our family and a little boy who is *full* of Christmas spirit.

As much as we would of loved to send all of you a holiday card this year, that is a lot of stamps to lick and the little man's tongue wasn't sure if it was up for the job (that and I do believe that we have some pretty strict child labor laws in this country.) So we are sending you all our card virtually, wishing you the happiest of holidays.

I Know What I'm Doing May 28th!

154 days... I think I can, I think I can...

Best. Trailer. Ever.

An Email From Santa? Too Cool!

All you parents out there (who celebrate Christmas) have to take 5 minutes and fill this out, it literally blew my kid's mind! It is... (ta da)... an emailed video message from Santa complete with stats about your kid, what they have been up to, what they want for christmas and it even includes a picture of your little one. Amazing!

To get your own personalized video click here.

Some Sunshine On This Cold Day.

This may be one of the funniest things I've seen in a while. Happy Friday!

12:08 Go Martha!

It's a big day here in the Yummy Mummy household. Today is the day that we finally were able to cast our vote for Martha Coakley in the democratic primary. I can't decide who was more excited, me or the little man? He woke up this morning yelling "MARTHA COAKLEY" at the top of his lungs (with a full Boston accent which he did not get from his mom I can assure you of that.)

Here we are on our way to the polls.

Casting our vote.

And proudly showing off our "I Voted" stickers.

Now we all just anxiously await the results. Go Martha!

The Girl Effect.

I saw this the other day and can't get it out of my head. If you have a daughter or are a woman I imagine that this will resonate the same with you. It's time to stand up together for women around the world. Who will join me?

For most of my family and friends you are getting a chance for Christmas this year. Actually you are giving one, in your name we are giving a girl out there a chance to succeed. Sorry I didn't wrap it first.

For more information click here.

I Know I Said I Didn't Want Anything For Christmas.....

Dear Santa,

I know I said I didn't want anything for Christmas this year, and truly I meant it. Both the Husband and I agree that we equally spoil ourselves enough during the year and there is no reason to buy any extravagant purchases for each other just because we are supposed to. Believe me, a trip to Fiji is more than enough and the last thing I want to do is seem greedy. But you see the problem was that I agreed to the whole "no Christmas present" thing before I saw this!

The Sigg Om water bottle from Lululemon.

Not only do I heart yoga, but I also really really really heart this water bottle. It's only 25 dollars so do you think we could make one small exception? I mean a girl has to stay hydrated in style right?

PS. Because there is free shipping I could also really use a new yoga mat. No pressure, just trying to save a few trees by having you order it all at once.

PPS. I would also like to point out that I have been a very very very very very good girl this year.

Yours Truly,

Yum.

Hi- Lo. Thanksgiving Edition.

In a nutshell the following were the highs and lows from Thanksgiving (not necessarily in the following order.)

Highs

1. Food. Just when I thought I couldn't eat any more somehow I would. Turkey, turkey, turkey.... I now dream of turkey. Oh and pecan pie. I LOVE pecan pie.
2. Uncle Chet's spiked egg nog. This started as a serious high, but soon landed me in the low column.
3. This was by far the best trip we ever took the Little Man on. He was great on the plane, great on the drive, and amazing at his great grandma's house. No whining, no clinging to mom, no tears. I think he is finally at the age where he can be flexible enough to again join us on our adventures. I spent all day yesterday scheduling trips for us before baby number two comes. Disney World in February, back to California in March and then a family trip to Columbia (the country not the school) in July. Throw in our trip to Fiji in January and a possibly trip to India in April (for mom and dad only) and we are looking at a very busy next few months. The only thing slowing us down is the need to be here fore the IVF. Now I am really pulling for success in the first two months. Please, please, please, please.
4. I finally saw New Moon. Even though it had only been out a week I was starting to feel as though I was the only super fan who had yet to see it. The movie? Not bad. Edward? So worth sitting though all the werewolf bs just to see him. Swoon.
5. Family, family, and more family. I love my Husband's family; all 30 of them. Add in the fact that one of my very best friends is my sister-in-law and I had a great time seeing everyone. My sister-in-law and I also found a way to get into some trouble, mostly due to the egg nog. Hey, at this point it is tradition!
6. I was able to pass on my love of Monopoly to the next generation. I am super/ hyper/ insanely competitive. No game allows me to be nastier than Monopoly. Not only did I get in some adult time, but I also brought the Jr. version for my Husband's little cousins. For 6 and 8 year old little girls they turned out to be quite the little sharks. I have never been happier to lose a game, repeatedly.
7. Coming home. I love walking in my house after a trip. Love sleeping in my own bed, eating my own food, and just being in my own space. I think sometimes you have to leave to appreciate what you have when you get back.
8. We can FINALLY start talking incessantly about Christmas aka "The most wonderful time of the year!" This year the gift giving is going to be small at best which means I can focus on the things I love the most: decorating the house and tree, making cookies, listening to christmas music, and watching movies re all things Christmas. Yes, I am an addict. No, I don't care.

Lows

1. The food! Between the pastries, pies, and potatoes I ate way to much junk. I'm not one for cleanses but I seriously feel like I need to detox. Starting today, fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and no alcohol until my upcoming girls weekend starting Friday where the food/ alcohol cycle will begin again. That and yoga, yoga, yoga, yoga, yoga.
2. Oh the egg nog. Man that stuff will really sneak up on you. There I was having a conversation, playing some monopoly, and drinking lots and lots of egg nog. Next thing I knew I was "sleeping" aka passed out on the kitchen table. After a 20 minute power nap I was able to rebound, but not before everyone saw me "sleeping." Lucky for me my sister-in-law was in the same boat. Whew.
3. Sleeping with a two year old blows. I can't believe people do this by choice. He squirms all night, and wakes up more than anyone should. Not only that but he talks in his sleep (he definitely got that one from mom.) 3am he would yell out "juice box" or "fire truck." If I wasn't so damn tired it would have been really funny, but at 3 am not so much. Add in the fact he had a pretty nasty cough and not a lot of solid sleep was had by either of us.

As you can see the highs greatly outweighed the lows. I love this time of the year and am very grateful to be a part of such an amazing family. I hope you all had an equally fantastic Thanksgiving. Take it from me this holiday season....... stay away from the egg nog!

The Land That Bill Gates Forgot.

Tomorrow we embark on our annual Thanksgiving trip down to Snow Hill, Maryland for 4 days filled with family, food, and quite a bit of wine (yay!) I always love this time of year, mostly because on Friday we can finally start the Christmas countdown, but also because I love the idea of everyone, everywhere (in America) taking the time out of their busy lives to spend time with family thinking about what they are grateful for.

This year I'd have to say that I am most thankful for my friends, old and new, virtual and "real." Those who are tied to me by blood, and those who stay with me by choice. The ones who I see every day, and those who I see once a decade. My mommy friends and my childless friends who have truly been there for me this year. I feel very blessed to have such amazing men and women in my life and I honestly don't know where I would be without them.

So I will be raising a glass to all of you this year. Maybe two, three, four. Thank you all for standing by me and thank you for being such an amazing group of people. I consider myself very very lucky to know you.

I will be back on Saturday, and back to blogging Sunday. Snow Hill has everything a girl could need, everything except a reliable internet connection. Yep, it seems to be the land that Bill Gates forgot. Of course I can't go too long without you all so I will still be on Twitter and Facebook. If you are not yet a fan, you can click here.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Dear Santa (from Mom).

How cool are these? I was planning on painting a chalkboard wall in my little man's room and possibly getting him a art table for Christmas, but after seeing these I'm thinking why waste all that space (and money?) Besides the cork board one is perfect for all of those new school projects that are piling up on my refrigerator. I'm just glad that I am still the one who gets to write out the little man's wish list. Dear Santa.....

These are made by Pottery Barn Kids and can be found here.