Cautiously Optimistic.

The discharge papers we received after our frozen embryo transfer read as follows:

Dear patient, your next step following this transfer is to wait. Anticipating the pregnancy test can be difficult. Time passes slowly and 12 days feels like forever. If this is your first IVF cycle, you may be filled with greater hope than during previous treatments. Managing expectations can be tricky. Patients don't want to be too hopeful for fear of being let down, but worry that not being positive enough can affect the outcome. Being "cautiously optimistic" feels like the goal; but maintaining that balance is tough. Feeling anxious is common and will not impact on the success or failure of your cycle. 

What they should have said:

Dear Patient, are you ready to think of NOTHING else for the next 14 days, other than your upcoming pregnancy test? Are you ready to almost completely lose your mind leading up to what is going to a) be one of the most exciting days of your life, or b) one of the biggest letdowns EVER? Are you prepared to spend the next 14 days convinced that you are pregnant? The fact that you are constantly exhausted, well that is either a sign that your are pregnant or is more likely due to the fact that you gave up those lattes cold turkey last week. Are you are nauseous 24/7? Don't bank on that being a little baby in there, more likely you may be coming down with the stomach flu. Oh, and your jeans are tighter? Please don't think that is anything more than the fact that we have forbid you from going to the gym for the past 2 weeks and since you are banking on getting pregnant I'm sure you have been stuffing your fact with anything in sight. Sore boobs, back, etc. Come on, please don't read into this, don't your remember that you are still stuffing your body full of hormones on a daily basis? Yes, you should still hold out hope, but please desperate baby crazed woman,  don't blame us if this didn't work. Oh, and best of luck to you.

Can you tell I'm losing my mind a bit over here? We are almost one week through the "wait" and for a while there I was doing pretty good. I have a feeling that this next week is going to be a lot loooooooooooonger than this past week was. I am feeling all of the above mentioned symptoms but having been down this road before I can assure you that they are mostly all psychosomatic. Yep, for at least two weeks I have somehow convinced myself that I am preggo, setting myself up for a huge disappointment in the end.

I'm not quite sure that is what they had in mind when they said "cautiously optimistic."

(Photo Credit: From Here)

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!

Peep-Shi.

Okay, I realize that we are a few days past Easter, but I stumbled upon this yesterday and I just had to share this with you.

Peep-Shi!

Yes, someone MUCH more creative than I found an extremely clever way to combine two of the things I love most in the world 1) Peeps 2) Rice Krispy Treats. Throw in a little fruit roll up and I'm sorry but if this isn't reason enough to throw an easter party, than I don't know what is.

File this under ideas that I will absolutely be stealing next year.

(Photo and Genius Idea Credit: From Here.)

So Really You Just Want Tequila On Ice?

Saturday night I made a fatal mistake. Fatal, as in FATAL mistake. Saturday night I switched drinks, Sunday morning/ afternoon/ evening I heavily paid the price. File this under things I will never do again. See over the years I have learned (often the hard way) exactly how much I can drink and still feel okay the next day. Without any complex mathematical equations it usually goes something like this.

1 martini + 2 glasses of wine = ok
3-4 glasses of red wine = ok
2-3 glasses of white wine = ok
3 glasses of champagne =ok
4-5 light beers = ok
2 martinis = ok

Anything outside any of these equations = absolute friggin disaster.

Enter Saturday night.

Saturday night when I was out with my sister-in-law best friend we had a fabulous dinner which was accompanied by 1 martini and 1 glass of red wine. We then went over to another bar where I very specifically said, "okay I can have one, and only one more glass of red wine, then we leave." By the time we were ready to order I suddenly came up with what I though was the greatest idea of all time, "we should order Skinnygirl margaritas," I exclaimed. (Yes, I have been watching way to much Real Housewives of  NYC.) "Um, okay," she nervously replied. I asked the bartender if he knew how to make one, which he did not, and after i quick Google search I learned that it was:

• 2 shots Patron tequila
• A splash of Orange liquor
• 4 limes
• Ice

I handed over my recipe to the bartender who said, "So really you just want tequila on ice."

FAMOUS. LAST. WORDS. 

4 hours, and 3 Skinnygirl Margaritas (that's 6 shots of tequila for those of you counting) later I realized that there was a reason why I stick to my list. At 7 am the next day I really, really, really, really, really remembered why there was a reason I stuck to my list. 

I'm thinking next time I go out I need to pull a Sarah Palin and write down my list on my hand, better yet maybe I should get that tattooed on my forehead! 

BTW, tequila you will NEVER be on that list. It may have taken me 30 years, but believe me I have finally learned my lesson.

The Little Embryo That Could.

Today at 9:55 am we got the call that our little embryo survived his time in the freezer and is very excitedly awaiting our arrival at the fertility center today at 2:30. His bags are packed, and he has said his goodbyes, and soon he/she will be part of our family (for at least two weeks.) After we bring him/her home we will lay low for the next 14 days and then after a quick blood test we will know if he/she liked it here.

We've made all the final preparations, and hopefully he will like the uterus that he is being given. I tried to do a little redecorating, but really it worked for his/her brother for 9 months, so hopefully it will work for him/ her too.

Welcome home little embryo!

I Broke Girl Code.

Saturday night I completely, totally, 100 percent broke girl code. Not just broke it. I actually smashed it, jumped up and down on it, and then threw it in a blender "broke" girl code. 

When I was in the ladies room at Stella  I was asked, quote "where on earth did I get that absolutely stunning bolero" that I was wearing. Rather than telling the super cute girl where I purchased it, instead I lied. Like liar, liar, pants on fire lied. "Oh, it's vintage," I replied. Honestly, I don't even know where the words came from as they were coming out of my mouth. "Too bad," she said back, "it truly is fabulous."

Vintage? Vintage my ass. What I should have said is, 

"Oh this? This is from Zara (the discount retailer) I just picked it up about two hours ago on Newbury. Yes, even though it looks expensive, it is actually retailing for under a hundred dollars.  You should totally go an pick one up tomorrow, it is such an amazing find. Thank you so much for noticing."

Yes, I should have said that, but I didn't. I didn't say that not because I wanted to impress the random stranger in the bathroom, but rather because it is such a cool unique mass produced piece that I wanted to be the only one who has it. The only one not just in Boston, but in the whole world. There I said it. Oh, the shame. 

I woke up the next morning with a serious hangover (more on this later) and a big cloud of negative fashion karma hanging over me. As a girl, and especially as a blogger it is my duty to share such  amazing finds. One can not lie about where they purchased fabulous fashion, it just isn't right. So this is me making amends. Girl from the bathroom if you are reading this you have my deepest apologies. Please go and pick up this amazing piece. It looks great dressed up over a navy frock (which is how I wore it) but it will look equally as stunning with a tank, and boyfriend jeans. For the price this really is a must have. 

You know it's a good thing I'm not Catholic... I really don't think I could handle the guilt.

Happy Easter.

Happy Easter from my little bunny. 

Bunny Prints.

I can't remember when I first saw this idea, but I do remember being a 14 year old girl spending the night cutting out bunny footprints for my three little sisters (yes, even then I was pretty much lacking any "real" social life.) I have shared it with many satisfied parents along the way, and now I am more than excited to pass this on to my little bunny.  The concept is that you cut out all these little bunny footprints and leave them anywhere that the Easter Bunny would walk if he were to come into your house. The upside is that the kids absolutely love it, and you can re-use them every year. The downside is the carpal tunnel that you will get from cutting out a few hundred of these guys. Hey, that's why we were born with two hands right?

Here is a preview of what the little man will be waking up to on easter morning. I chose to use colored paper, but the footprint itself is pink so if you have a color printer and some white paper then you are ready to go. I plan on leading a trail from the front door to the LM's room, and back up the steps to the Easter basket. If I know my little man as well as I think I do, he is going to get quite a kick out of this.

The template can be found here.

Happy cutting, and Happy Easter to you all!

Sometimes I Have To Pinch Myself.

I sometimes think that I take for granted some of the perks of living in a major city. Things like the ease of public transportation, or the fact that there are so many great restaurants just a stone's throw away, or even the awesome shopping that exists in almost every little neighborhood, some for clothes and others for delicious home furnishings.

What I never take for granted? The amazing and talented yoga instructors that I am lucky enough to come in contact with on a daily or weekly basis. We all know that I love Ms. Emily Phillips, but I also have a soft spot in my heart for the person who first made me truly LOVE yoga, Mr. David Magone. If you have ever been lucky enough to practice with him then you know he is unbelievably inspirational. His voice alone sends chills down my spine. Seriously, sometimes halfway through the class I have to pinch myself to make sure that I am really there.

This is why I was so excited to hear that David has created what looks like an amazing Yoga video. It comes out in June and I can tell you I will be one of the first to pick this baby up. David in my home, in my laptop....I die.

 Here is a preview.




The video itself looks as beautiful as his practice and I think it is refreshing to finally find a video that is lacking in the cheesy porn music (if you have ever watched one you know what I'm talking about.)

If you live in the area I cannot recommend one of his classes enough. He teaches at Exhale (where they allow class drop-ins) and at Sports Club LA. The video will be for sale on his website.

- Major city not included.