Today I will be happy, dammit.

I had a remarkably crabby day yesterday (there was much discussion of stabbing someone with my letter opener, but somehow bloodshed was avoided) and in an attempt to create a much more tolerable day today, I'm pulling out all the stops to manufacture happiness:

- wearing a new sweater ($9 on the clearance rack at Motherhood)

- wearing new (to me) corduroy pants ($4.99 at Goodwill!)

- accessorized with blue sparkly necklace (bling = happiness) and striped socks

- looking forward to the cheesy but addicting "Vampire Diaries" season premier tonight

- put together the rest of my new dining set last night! The table looks fab, went together very easily, and I can't wait to start using it.

- lunch with Dad! And on a day I forgot/was too lazy to scavenge for something to bring!

- hubby and I caught up on the MOUNTAIN of laundry we had accumulated. It's still not put away, but at least it is a CLEAN mountain now

And I'm spending my morning looking at all the cute things on Etsy that I covet for my Pirates & Mermaids themed nursery, such as:


Walk the Plank print on vintage dictionary page from Etsy seller Winterberrycottage:



I love this because it fits the theme, but also because books and reading are so important to my husband and I (both English majors), and we hope that same joy will be found by our little one.

I have always been fascinated by these folded stars, we had some on our Xmas tree when I was growing up - how fun are they for a mobile?



From Etsy seller Starcraft, I'm drawn to this even though it doesn't necessarily fit the theme, the colors are so great and bright. Plus, compared to shaped mobiles which are ridiculously expensive, this seems much more my speed!

This melts my heart a little:



Mermaid Hugs print from Etsy Seller RubysBrush, it's just too sweet for words. I actually have a couple other mermaid prints I bought YEARS ago that I'm excited to find and frame for the nursery as well - I'm thinking ornate thrift store frames could be really fun.

I haven't bought anything yet, but just the "window" shopping and planning is fun. Plus, How could I be in a bad mood after looking at such pretty things?

Here's hoping your day is bright and bearable...

H.

THE SQUEAKY WHEEL GETS THE GREASE! or, the truth of cliches...

Yesterday I started a bunch of whiny posts about how close Halloween is getting and how little energy I have to put all my party dreams into reality. Luckily, the handy dandy "delete" button saved you from having to skim over them, because honestly, I know nobody cares. Suffice it to say, I had a momentary freak out over the weekend realizing that I have less than 2 months and STILL have not gotten started on things I'd planned almost a year ago...oops.

BUT! I'm not saying I didn't get ANYTHING accomplished this weekend, because I summoned all of my energy for the following:

- Replaced the mesh screen on the washing machine discharge. That took about 12 seconds (and another hour to chip off the old one, which was so full of lint it looked like a blue sock. Not sure which blue clothes have disintegrated, but that's a problem for another day...

- thought really hard about all the other things I WANTED to do, but didn't have the energy for...

And that brings us to yesterday, when I actually/accidentally had a pretty big accomplishment: I learned the truth in an important old adage:

THE SQUEAKY WHEEL GETS THE GREASE!

(and the unspoken afterthought - the Minnesota Nice wheel who stays quiet and polite gets treated like crap until it breaks. The End).

But seriously folks, two little anecdotes on the importance of pushing for satisfaction, even though it seems the world of customer service is waiting to quash you at ever turn.

Story #1, remember my table? It was supposed to look like this:



but instead it had a giant crack, a crack that had clearly happened while the holes were being drilled, and some lazy worker still threw it in the satisfactory pile. It was a fairly cheap table, from a notoriously crappy retailer, and I really just wanted the thing up and working so I could get the box/extra pieces/old table put out to pasture, and I briefly considered just sucking it up and living with a cracked table. Briefly. Then I called the manufacturer, Whalen Furniture. They were IMMEDIATELY responsive! With zero attitude or red tape they processed my request for a new tabletop and it arrived yesterday! I don't have to deal with sending the broken one back, and while it was a little inconveniencing to wait another week + to finish assembling the set, I'm really satisfied and applaud their customer service. Which I don't do often or lightly. Thank you, Whalen Furniture, for not being the douchebags I expected! I'm very excited to have a "real" dining room set up, for the first time in my adult life.

Story #2, I've had my T-mobile WebConnect Rocket for around a month, and despite my high hopes, it wasn't working well. And if anything, it was getting worse. I was past my 14 day trial period (which flew by, so even though I waffled on taking it back right away, I didn't make it), and this thing wasn't even loading my Gmail, was kicking us off ever 2-3 minutes, and overall was the worst piece of crap since whatever came before dial up. And I had paid $200 for it, plus $40/month. Having some experience with the world, I just assumed I had been sold a line of crap as so many retailers do these days, but I was so irritated I finally called T-mobile to complain:

"Either I was completely lied to, or this thing is defective! Harrumph!"

"So sorry ma'am, it sounds like something is definitely wrong. Let me check the settings on our end..."

Lo and behold, someone changed some numbers in some computer, and the damn thing started working. WORKING WELL. Like really well, as well as our Qwest service had worked but cheaper and without requiring the phone bill. Whoa. Should I have HAD to call and make them change settings? No, they should probably make sure everyone's settings are right if they are in the business of selling this product. The little tech guy who helped me was really nice, despite the clear ire in my voice, and he resolved the problem, but if I hadn't called I'd still be pissed off and struggling.

So the moral of both stories is clear:

Don't settle for crap products or crap service. You shouldn't HAVE to complain, in an ideal world companies would take pride in their businesses and only offer the best - but that has gone by the wayside as cheaper/faster/more surpassed quality. And while it takes a little more time and effort, it's worth it to get the item you thought you were paying for - otherwise I'd have a cracked dining set and no Internet, while still being out my hard earned money.

We came, we saw, we got GaGa-ed

Note: click for larger photos - if you link to my photos, please give me credit

Our seats were amazing. We could even see shoes (very important at a GaGa show!). The crowd was hilarious - same vibe as the mermaid parade, as far as glitter and lack of clothing, but somehow I'm even more impressed to see it in my own home town. Way to go, St. Paul. A few memorable fashions:



Light up headpieces = love.



Homage to "Telephone"



There was so much sparkle, shine, and glitter in the Xcel center, I'm guessing if you shone a strong light on it you could creatures on other planets. I ended up going a little more subdued, with a vintage-inspired polka dot dress, feather fascinator, and pearl accessories. I did choose the ugly but comfortable shoes, and I'm glad I did, a few times up and down those Xcel stairs and I would have been done for in heels.

I definitely got my fill in the VIP lounge:



Fun schwag bags filled with a beach towel and GaGa glasses:



Totally hated the opening band, so we'll skip them entirely - instead, a tiny peek at the Monster Ball in case you missed it:













I counted at least 15 costume changes, we got to hear the world premier of a new song from the upcoming album, lots of half naked backup dancers, an animatronic headpiece with matching wings, and the outfit I most covet (and Ryan could definitely start making...):



FULL BODY GLITTER JUMPSUIT. I bet it's made of something stretchy, and would totally adjust to maternity sizes. As long as I don't have to wear those heels with it. :)

I was a little worried about the babe during the opening act (someone tell this dude it's SINGING not SCREAMING! AAAACK!), but she didn't give me too much trouble:



Definitely a once in a lifetime experience, thanks again to my crazy Dad, Happy B-day to my BFF Ryan, and kudos to all the Little Monsters for the entertaining people watching. Peace, Love, and GaGa!

My baby can beat up your baby...

We've been lucky to receive a lovely assortment of cards and messages since announcing our big news, and a week ago came our first baby gift:



MOST AWESOME BABY GIFT EVER!!! Yep, those are temporary tattoos for your infant. My infant. My living breathing dress up doll, at least until she can start ripping off pieces and complaining about it. I can't wait to lovingly apply these images to pudgy baby arms:



I think the pacifier with the spikes might be my favorite, I love the juxtaposition of the cuddly baby items with the hard core twists of thorns, metal, and barbed wire. Perfect for the natural faux hawk stage all babies seem to go through. Now where do I get baby roller derby outfits?

Thanks, Amy! Love them!

Feathering the Nest - Dining Room

Somehow the list of things to accomplish before the B-bomb (aka, infant) drops into our lives is getting longer each day, and both my funding as well as energy to complete them are dropping drastically. Ruh-row, to quote the great Scooby Doo. I'm beginning to think I'll never finish another project again...

But that doesn't stop me from starting them :) Last week I ordered a cute little dining room table set, nothing elaborate, but it met my lean criteria of being 1. cheap, 2. counter height (aka - above the dog's tongue...until he jumps), and 3. $0.97 shipping (meaning I didn't have to wrestle it into my car).



I sat down to put it together this weekend, and once I had pried open the box of course I found all the hardware spilled out loose and bouncing around the gigantic carton, which also had some major holes and punctures. I was sure half of it had fallen out along the way, so I started counting up screws and washers, and somehow, everything was still accounted for...except the table top had a huge crack around the apron where the wood had clearly split when the holes were predrilled. Boo! Fail! Daggnabit!



I snapped a few photos and sent them with an email to the replacement parts department right away, but they're only open M-F and on Pacific time, so no word back yet. Hopefully they are cool. I still put together all of the chairs (got to strike while I have energy!), and I really like them, so hopefully they'll send me a new table top ASAP!

One of our goals with the B-bomb is to cook more, and eat as a family, so getting a dining room table was a big first step towards that. The hubby and I actually have never had a dining room table that we sat down to eat at in our 10+ years together, but lounging on the couch in front of the TV is not the example we'd like to set if we can help it. The research on family dinners and healthy kids (both physically and mentally/socially) is overwhelming, so this was pretty high on the list.

Now I just have to learn to cook. And like more than 4 foods myself...

The fear of being boring...and the lady who didn't wear pants.

I had big plans to make some fabulous ensemble to wear to GaGa...

and somehow 4 months flew by, I exploded out of all of my "real" clothes, put a death grip on any frivolous spending (I hear these infant things get pretty expensive), and lost 90% of my energy and endurance.

Gulp.

Yesterday I had a momentary panic realizing that the concert is TONIGHT and I have nothing to wear! My book club compadres are all receiving A+ scores for creatively stitching and combining odd fabrics into what I am sure will be hilarious and fun arrangements, but my situation is a little complicated:

1. I'm huge. Even the clothes I *thought* would still fit (i.e. the random plus-size halter I was counting on from Torrid), don't, as of last night. Hmmm.

2. I'm weak. The idea of standing for hours is already killing my back, and that's before figuring in any sort of cute shoes (I've never sat in a VIP section before, but I'm just figuring we'll be on our feet the whole time again, sadly.) But cute outfits NEED cute shoes. I can't wear a vintage inspired dress with chunky new balance sneakers! My only comfy sandals are brown, but all my outfit choices are black...I have some chunky Mary Janes but even they kill my back after a while if I'm standing. Pregnant ladies + cute shoes = not my reality. But I don't want to spend the whole time worried about my back and not having fun. Hmmm.

3. I'm broke. There is no last minute shopping spree option on the menu, nor any real time to do so.

4. I'm out of time. I'm also working all day today and will have less than an hour to get ready, so as Tim Gunn would say, this is a "make it work moment!"

I'll let you know what I came up with tomorrow...don't hate me if it's completely boring, I'll take photos of people dressed much more boldly to make up for it.

“A year from now, I could go away, and people might say, ‘Gosh, what ever happened to that girl who never wore pants?’ But how wonderfully memorable 30 years from now, when they say, ‘Do you remember Gaga and her bubbles?’ Because, for a minute, everybody in that room will forget every sad, painful thing in their lives, and they’ll just live in my bubble world.” - Lady GaGa, via Vanity Fair Daily, The 10 Strangest Lady Gaga Quotes from That New York Magazine Piece

NOLA Costume Ideas: True Blood's Sookie Stackhouse

True Blood is half the reason I picked theLouisiana theme for this year's party, and there are TONS of fun characters that would be really easy to whip together costumes for, such as the central figure, telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse. She's had a few fairly memorable outfits, but in my opinion it's best to go for the easily identifiable costumes and avoid the "who are you?" discussion. Each of these should be pretty recognizable, easy to put together, and on the cheap side as far as costumes go.

Sookie's usual look is her Merlotte's waitress uniform:



This would be pretty easy to make with a white t-shirt, green half apron, and black shorts. Print out and iron on the Merlotte's logo, or if you're feeling less DIY and more Shop-Till-You-Drop, buy the supplies at HBO's online store - t-shirt is $25, apron is $20. Throw your blond hair (or wig) in a ponytail, add a couple vampire bite tattoos for good measure (you know she can't get enough of it). Even if you buy all the pieces, you're only looking at $50 or so, a bargain with today's costume prices.

Really want to be a fairy, but trying to fit into the theme? No worries! Sook's a fairy too, and in her story they wear lots of random floaty fun, anything from tulle to fur, just as long as it's white.



The easiest way to capture Sookie's fairy look would be to buy a floaty white nightgown, some sequin trim, and a glue gun. I'm finding good gown options on Bonanzle or eCrater for under $30. Sequins, rhinestones, appliques, and other trim can be expensive - consider recycling embellishment from other costumes/dresses you no longer wear, or buying a heavily adorned gown at the goodwill just to chop off the trim. You might want to wear a slip under it too depending on how sheer the fabric is, but the trim will also add some structure and coverage.



This could also be done for under $50 without a problem. Fairies in True Blood don't have wings, but we wouldn't fault you if you really wanted to add a pair. I know accessories are hard to resist.

Looking for a little harder edge? How about Sookie's undercover look when she infiltrated the Werewolf bar, Lou Pines:



You can look for leather/pleather pants and a halter at the Goodwill, Ebay, or Hot Topic, or re-purpose more general costumes like catwoman, or a punk rocker. Rub on some fake tattoos, go heavy on the eyeliner, and add a black bobbed wig (you might even angle it up a little more with your own scissors)



This was actually one of my favorite Sookie looks to date, but nothing rivals her travelling dress:



Chic on the Cheap put together a similar look on their blog, and the comments have some additional helpful resources for finding that floral cardigan. It reminds me so much of my grandmother's curtains. If you can recreate this look, make sure you accessorize with single serve liquor bottles - "They're like BOOZE for DOLLS!"