Unbelievable

Yesterday, I was stuck in a line of traffic.  There was a Jeep trying to turn right out of his driveway and into the crazy morning traffic jam, so I let him in front of me.  I was so shocked at what I then saw that I had to take a picture.  (We were in a line of unmoving traffic- it was safe, I swear.)

Do you see what I see?

Close-up, with an unfortunate glare from my windshield.

I showed J last night, and he said, "Oh, yeah.  Truck nuts." 

What??  Is this a real thing?  A quick and disturbing Google search assured me that yes, it is indeed a real thing.

What was this owner thinking?  "Hmm...what can I do to convince fellow motorists of my manliness?  I drive a dirty Jeep, up on extra large tires with a light bar on top, but I feel like something is missing.  I know!  I think I'll hang some balls from the back!  That oughta do it!"

Why, men?  Why?  Some things I'll just never understand.

Oscars Fashion Wrap-Up

J rigged the TV yesterday so that I wouldn't miss the Academy Awards...my Superbowl.  Seriously, my biggest TV event of the year.  I LOVE IT.  I got to see the stars walk the red carpet live!  Yay!

Let me start by declaring the ladies from "The Help" the winners of the red carpet.  No matter what happened once they entered the Kodak Theater, they certainly deserve kudos for their amazing fashions on Oscar night.

Viola Davis in Vera Wang.  I adore this gorgeous emerald color, the beaded bust, and the flowy bottom. 

Jessica Chastain in Alexander McQueen.  The gold beading on the black background is a stunning contrast, and you know I'm a sucker for her flowing ginger locks.  Well done.

Octavia Spencer in Tadashi Shoji.  This lady has never. looked. better.  The ruching is in all the right places, the color and beading are exquisite.  She looks like a million bucks.  And I'm so glad she got to take home a trophy.

And then let me move onto the ladies of the 80's.  Did I miss a memo stating that gold lame and over-sized shoulders are back in style?  Because last time I checked, they were a relic from my childhood.

Oh, Meryl.  I am so sad for you.  Sad that you had to give an unexpected acceptance speech in front of a billion people while wearing this travesty from Lanvin.  Funny, it looks so similar to the gown you were wearing when you accepted your last Oscar...in 1983.

Thank God Stacy Keibler had George Clooney as an accessory.  He almost makes up for the fact that she has a GIANT GOLD ROSE on her hip.  This Marchesa gown missed the mark for me.

Mila Jovovich in Elie Saab.  Shoulder pad?  Really?  I think that's all I need to say about that.

Emma Stone in Giambattista Valli.  This would have been lovely, if not for the GIANT BOW threatening to swallow her head.  I wanted to like this, I really did.  But I just cannot get on board with that crazy bow.

Worst dressed of the night?  Definitely this girl.

Shailene Woodley in Valentino.  Somebody get this girl a stylist, stat.  One who knows that SHE'S 20 YEARS OLD!  This dress couldn't possibly be more matronly.  Luckily for her, she also probably got to stand near her costar George Clooney at some point during the evening.

Best dressed?  I know I already mentioned her above, but I cannot get over the beauty of Viola.

The jewel tone against her skin, the earrings, the natural hair...it all just works so beautifully.  Just stunning.

And just to end on a catty note...

The fashion world seems to be in love with Jennifer Lopez's Zuhair Murad dress.  I was not a fan.  JLo quoted Edith Head in her presentation, saying "A dress should be tight enough to show you're a woman, but loose enough to show you're a lady."  HA!  Nothing ladylike here!  I can all but see her nipples peeking out of this gown.  As a matter of fact, the Interwebs are abuzz with the possibility that a wardrobe malfunction did, in fact, occur.  Awkward!

Ick.

Also, Angelina Jolie is one big bore.  She apparently felt that she had to stick her leg out of her way too high slit in order to awaken us from this snooze fest.  Yawn.

This Versace dress is a bore, just like every other dress Angelina has worn lately.

Reveal

Quick iPhone self portraiture at its finest. BANGS! I love...for now, at least. :)

I Didn't Like It, But Now I Do

A few updates for you.

Remember awhile back, when I was so excited about getting side bangs?  And then I got them cut, and hated them?  Well, my need for a hair change was not sufficiently satisfied.  So tomorrow, I have an appointment for BANGS bangs.  The real deal.  None of this "side" malarkey.  Bangs a la Lea Michele, Rose Byrne, Anne Hathaway or Zoe Deschanel.

I've been tossing this idea around in my head for awhile, and then my friend Amanda convinced me that it's a good idea.  I can't wait.  Stay tuned for a reveal.

In other related news, remember when I couldn't quite get on board with TOMS?  Well, I'm finally on board.  I just ordered these, and am now anxiously awaiting their delivery.

I hope they do not disappoint.

And there is your senseless uber-girly news for the day.

Baby Music

For the nugget's birthday, I really hoped he would receive some CDs.

J scoffs terribly at this, by the way, as CDs are SO last millennium.  But hey, they play in the car, and I can still add their music to the baby iPod.  And yes, he has his own, a discarded Nano from my past.  So it doesn't really count as his iPod.

But I digress.

Gabe loves music.  If he is playing and the TV is on, he will drop whatever he is doing to look up and listen to the theme song of a new show.  He has even started to dance, in the way that babies do, bouncing up and down.  I LOVE THIS.

My mom happily obliged, and bought the boy some Raffi discs.  J and I purchased The Best of the Laurie Berkner Band as well as the Barenaked Ladies children's CD.  I've got the disc changer in the minivan loaded up, and when Gabe and I are rolling through town, you can be sure we're listening to some kid's tunes.

Seriously, who is this guy?

The only problem?  I HAVE THIS MUSIC STUCK CONSTANTLY IN MY HEAD.  There is a loop, over and over again.  I can't escape it.  And it's pushing me over the edge.  My quiet time is no longer quiet, as my mind is humming Baby Beluga.  HELP ME!

Fellow mommies, please tell me that this is only temporary, and that once we have listened to these CDs for awhile, I will have tuned them out and ignored their existence.  Please?  

Not Enough Tech

ON THE LIGHTER SIDE
“There’s a new channel called DOGTV that offers 24 hours of programming to entertain dogs while their owners are gone. That’s crazy. My dog doesn’t want to watch TV -- not when I just got him an iPad.” -- Jimmy Fallon

This was sent to me this morning (thanks, Dad!) and it made me think about our household.

Being married to a "techy" guy, we have a lot of tech.  And when I say a lot, I mean a shitload.  Between the two of us, we have two smart phones, once micro-cell, one tablet, and and at least five computers running at all times (we also have other computers that are not in constant use- because what household doesn't need two or three spare computers?).  

Before J, I was pretty simple.  One non-smart phone and one mediocre desktop computer.  I was good.  But now that my nerdy man has introduced me to the wonders of technology, I kinda want more.

SO, for my birthday present to myself, I am using my monies to purchase an iPad. 

"But wait," I hear you saying.  "Don't the Andersons already have an iPad?"  

Well, the answer to that would be yes.  And apparently, one is not enough.  I want my own.  So as soon as this rumored iPad 3 is announced, and the iPad 2's suddenly drop in price, I will be snatching one up immediately.

And just so you know, even though we are fans of the gadgets, we have not yet purchased any tech for our dogs.  It's probably not too far of a stretch, though, to think that Gabe will have tech of his own before preschool...   

And We Partied

Pics from my boy's big par-tay.  Enjoy!

There were decorations.

And food.

And presents.

And mayhem friends.

And, of course, cake.

Good times were had by all.  Happy Birthday, sweet Gabe!

Gabe- One Year

Dear Gabriel Clark,

Today is your first birthday.  Exactly one year ago you came into our lives, and changed it forever.  You have been the brightest ray of sunshine that I have ever known, and I have loved every single day living my life as your mommy.

I remember like it was yesterday the moment when I realized that the cramps I was feeling were the beginning of labor.  I remember feeling excitement and anticipation like I had never felt before.  I wasn't a bit scared about the hours that lay ahead of me- I was overjoyed at the thought that I was finally going to meet my baby.

The final weekly belly shot before you were born!

The moment you were born was like a dream.  It was positively surreal that this being I had grown in my belly for nine months was now a living, breathing boy in the outside world.  When they put you on my chest, it took me a minute to fully comprehend the magnitude of the situation.  Then, I cried the happiest tears I had ever cried.  You and I, in that moment...we belonged to each other.

Those first few months after we brought you home were nothing like I thought they would be.  I imagined that I would feel an extreme exhaustion like I had never known, that I would sluggishly trod through the days, and that I would feel like everything had been turned upside-down.  Instead, I felt the exhilaration of the new life I was leading, the life of a mommy.  Those were very happy days.

As the months continued to pass, I watched in wonder and amazement as you grew and changed and learned all about the world around you.  You smiled.  You rolled over.  You grew teeth.  You laughed.  You tasted solid food.  You crawled.  You played.  You stood on your own two feet.  And just last week, you walked.

Even though you are growing to be a big boy and leaving your infant days behind you, you should know something.  Sweet Gabriel, you will always be my baby.

With all the love that my heart knows,
Mama