Inside Shauna's Head

I. can't. stop.

2012-01-21T08:27:00.000-08:00

I love good deals. I mean, I really love good deals. And I love thrifting, repurposing and treasure hunting. Put all that together and what do you get?

The Goodwill Outlet.

True story. There is an outlet for Goodwill. Everything is piled in rolling carts, and it's a huge building with rows of carts. It is not organized. It is not pretty. It is chaotic. There are no price tags. You pay BY THE POUND.

Yesterday I found two bags full of treasures - all clothing items - I spent $13. Oh, and how many items did I buy? 35! Thirty five.

I'm a bit obsessed. And you know what? I found this top. It still had Old Navy tags on it. It is also a maternity top. This is not a sneaky way of telling you I'm expecting. The only thing I have in my stomach is a food baby. I just like the shirt. And I like the fact that this shirt cost me less than 50 cents.

Oh Goodwill Outlet, you vixen.

dude gifts

2012-01-08T09:09:00.000-08:00

Dudes are hard to shop for for gifts. Am I right? No matter who it is, if he's a dude and I need to get him a present, I choke. I don't know what guys want. I am not a man. I have never been a man. I don't plan on being a man in the future. Guys are just hard to shop for. Period. I mean, all I can usually think of giving is beer... and that just seems lazy... until...

REINBEER!

SO easy! Pipe cleaners, hot glue and googly eyes and BAM - reinbeer!

I found this idea on Pinterest, from this lovely blog here. I gave this to my father in law and to my soon to be brother in law for Christmas - and it was a HIT! Now I need to figure out how I can get away with this for other holidays besides Christmas.

What's your favorite go-to gift for the dudes in your life?

my new love

2011-12-22T08:10:00.001-08:00

I have a new lady in my life. Sweet Lady Spray Paint.

I can't stop spray painting things. I even dream about it.

Look at the update I gave my sweet and ugly gold owl... now she's perched proudly in the living room.

What do YOU guys like to spray paint??

birthday party ideas!

2011-12-16T18:13:00.001-08:00

Psssst... looking for some great ideas for kids' parties that aren't the same old thing they do at every party?? I am always looking for great kid craft ideas, and I had never thought of doing a craft at a party - brilliant.

Enjoy the great ideas courtesy of Melissa with the Blog Content Guild.

Most Fun Arts and Crafts Activities for Kids’ Birthday Parties

My eight-year-old daughter and her friends absolutely love arts and crafts. Most of them are Girl Scouts, so they spend a lot of time making cool things at their meetings and they’re always in the mood to do more.

For my daughter’s birthday party this year, I got some Super Mario Bros party supplies (because Super Mario 3D Land is her favorite game), and I planned out some arts and crafts activities for the kids to do at the party. The party ended up being a whole lot of fun.

I highly recommend that other parents incorporate arts and crafts into birthday parties they host for their kids. It definitely keeps all the kids occupied and engaged. Here are some arts and crafts projects that kids love for your child’s next birthday party:

1. Friendship Bracelets – Young girls in particular love to make friendship bracelets for each other, but boys enjoy this activity too. Friendship bracelets are not only fun to make. They also strengthen the relationships of the children at the party. Making friendship bracelets is a great way for kids to bond and feel appreciated in each other’s lives. All you need is some colorful embroidery thread to make friendship bracelets. There are several methods of making them. You might have to search around online to find one that is an appropriate difficulty level for the age group.

2. Cards – All you need is some construction paper and markers for kids to make cards at your party. This is the perfect activity for very young children. If a holiday is coming up, they can make holiday cards. The children could also make a card for their parents or the birthday girl or birthday boy.

3. Finger-paintings – Kids love to finger-paint! It helps them release creative energy, use their hands, and get a little messy. Finger-painting is ideal for kids who are around the ages of 4 to 7. If the children at the party are a little older, they might like to paint with watercolors. It will make them feel more grown up, and they’ll have as much fun as younger kids do with finger-paints!

4. Seasonal Projects – Depending on what time of year it is, you might want to work on some seasonal arts and crafts projects with the kids. For instance, my daughter’s birthday falls around Halloween, so we carved pumpkins one year at her party. If your child’s birthday is near Christmas, you might want to make ornaments with the kids. Or you could dye eggs in the Spring.

So, get creative for your child’s next birthday party and keep the kids engaged with some arts
and crafts projects they’ll love!

Thanks for the great ideas, Melissa!

Love,
Shauna

pinterest project

2011-12-06T14:59:00.001-08:00

I will be doing many, many more of these!! Found on Pinterest. You can find the source here.

Steps:
- Buy a piece of wood (I found mine at JoAnn for about $2)
- Paint
- Sand the edges a bit to distress
- Mod Podge a picture to the front

I may put some hardware on the back to hang, but that sounds like work, so maybe not...

BAM! Instant awesome.

getting christmasey and crafty

2011-12-06T13:13:00.000-08:00

I love crafts. That's all there is to it. Here's what I've been doing around the house lately when I'm not making jewelry, chasing Carsten or getting sassed by Taylor.

Mustache Ornament:
Easy-peasy! I drew half of a mustache on a cereal box, folded it and cut it out to make my mustache. I put mod podge on the top and threw glitter on it. Put some yarn on the back to hang it with and BAM, there's a glittery stache on my tree.

Yarn-Wrapped R & Yarn-Wrapped Jars:
I keep seeing things on Pinterest (my newest obsession) that are wrapped in yarn. I own yarn. I do not crochet or knit. Yet I have yarn. I must have known that I'd want to wrap everything in the house with yarn...

smarty pants!

2011-12-06T09:49:00.000-08:00

I was making ornaments with my youngest this morning and when it was time to put them in the oven, I was wondering how I'd make the holes for the string. And then BAM! I found a piece of garbage on my kitchen floor. (I swear I'm not a slob!). But the piece of garbage was a straw...

... As it turns out, straws are PERFECT for making the holes in the dough before they go into the oven. YAY for smarty pants moments, right!?

I can read!

2011-07-26T20:09:00.000-07:00

I didn't think the day would come that I could actually sit down and read. You know. Read a book. Not just the back of the cereal box, or the shampoo bottle, or the facebooks... but an actual book.

I never had tons of free time being a mom to one, and when number two came along (the child, not the poo), I lost even more spare minutes in my day. But guess what... I've read 4 books in less than one month. That is amazing, folks.

Want to see what I read? I highly recommend them.

1. Sweet Misfortune, by Alan Milne (my FAVORITE book!)

2. Fruit of the Lemon, by Andrea Levy

3. Mermaids in the Basement, by Michael Lee West

4. Fishbowl, by Sarah Mlynowski

Over and out, and nighty night.
Shauna

Beyond Bedding

2011-06-16T08:56:00.000-07:00

If you know me well enough, you know that I don't like decorating the boys' rooms with baby-ish themes. I like to pick a color palette and then accessorize in those colors, with a few fun items or decor pieces thrown in that coordinate. I don't like things to be all matchy-matchy, but I don't like it too wild, either.

Recently Carsten got new bedding from Beyond Bedding - in green and brown Hotel Modern (pictured) - and I love it because it's a great staple or foundation. It doesn't have clowns or anything scary, and it doesn't look too fancy, yet looks pulled together. It's a fine line between over-done and not decorated enough, isn't it?!

Beyond Bedding is a great site to find all sorts of bedding from cribs, toddler beds to teens and even have decorations and accessories, too. I don't have a daughter, but if I did, you know I'd be pretty darn tempted to get all wild with the zebra

Like something a little more traditional, but still cute?? Dinosaurs, butterflies and ladybugs are just as fun, among so many other fun choices. Go check out Beyond Bedding and tell me which your favorite is!

Smooches,
Shauna

my morning

2011-05-31T14:45:00.001-07:00

1. Carsten found a bowl of Greek yogurt where he could reach it.

2. Carsten proceeds to condition his skin with said Greek yogurt - to get ready for swimsuit season.

3. Once undressed and while I am cleaning the floor, Carsten comes over and pees on my back.

4. He runs away laughing.

Feels like a Monday.

Preschool Graduate

2011-05-26T17:44:00.000-07:00

These boys, these boys!

Tuesday night was Tay's preschool graduation and spring program - and it was awesome! The kids have grown so much over the past two years and it feels so surreal that tomorrow is his last day at preschool.

time is flying

2011-05-23T18:45:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is Taylor's preschool spring program and GRADUATION! How the heck did this happen?! Sorry I've been slacking on the blog, but I'm hoping to be back soon!!

wise words wednesday

2011-03-16T05:00:00.000-07:00

Absolutely true. But I need to remind myself of this daily.

What words inspire you today??

effin' Jillian Michaels

2011-03-15T11:09:00.000-07:00

I did my second day of Jillian Michaels' 30-Day Shred and you know what? It was easier than yesterday, however, I am so sore that I want to go to a small, dark corner and die.

When does it hurt, you ask?

- It hurts to lift my hands up to wash my hair
- It hurts to walk up and down the stupid stairs
- It hurts to dry off after a shower - and makes me just want to roll around on the bed so the sheets can absorb the water
- It hurts to bend over and pick up Carsten
- It hurts to roll over in bed
- It hurts the most knowing that I have to put that effin' DVD in the player tomorrow and have 25 more minutes of hell

I know this will be worth it. I'll be a MILF in no time flat.

running diaries: waiting to start... still

2011-03-14T10:41:00.000-07:00

I haven't forgotten. I pinky swear. I'm going to start running, just give me a semi-dry day. I really mean it.

Any tips for a beginner?

Also, I just purchased Jillian Michaels' 30-Day Shred DVD, and I'm starting today when Carsten goes down to nap. Pray for my survival. I wonder how many times I'm going to drop the F-Bomb.

Ruffled

2011-03-13T18:22:00.000-07:00

I'm challenging myself to do more DIY projects for myself, for others and for my home. I need something to blog about besides sore nipples, boogers and Lemon Kissed.

So the other day I stumbled upon this amazing blog, Ruffled. Maybe I'm the last person in the world to learn about Ruffled, but then again, maybe not. I feel the need to share. It's a beautiful blog that is all about weddings, and while I'm already married, there's still so many DIY projects that I have found that I want to work on. The pictures are all so beautiful, and it seems to be a great source of inspiration for all things creative, not just for weddings.

I think I'm going to start on this DIY Moss Frame first. (The picture credit belongs to Ruffled). I will share my version when I complete it, and then of course I'll share my sub-par pictures of my own moss frame. Excited? I am. I've never been so excited to purchase a bag of dried sheet moss.

Have any fun DIY projects that you think I should try next? Send them my way, please.

Smooches + happy Sunday evening,
Shauna

keyboard confessions: volume 6

2011-03-11T06:21:00.000-08:00

Carsten is one.

2011-03-10T09:18:00.001-08:00

Well, it's official. I have a toddler in the house. Carsten turned one a few weeks ago and I've been so consumed with other things that I have neglected this blog, once again. I feel like that is permissible, because I'd rather neglect my blog instead of forgetting to take care of the kids. But in a perfect world, I'd be able to juggle all of it - blogging, Lemon Kissed, Lemon Shack Vintage, keeping in touch with loved ones and making sure my husband and kids are insanely happy. I think I need more arms. Or a real hot assistant.

So, Carsten is one. He started walking at 11 months. He started running last week. He started screaming whilst running only yesterday, with his hands in the air for added dramatic effect. He is talking a lot. He loves to call his brother "bo bo", much to Taylor's disappointment in that. He has a hankering for mischief AT ALL TIMES. He is so dang cute, and the problem with that is: he knows he's cute. I need to take him down a notch or two. He so lovingly likes to pull up our shirts to pinch us, all while smiling and trying to tell us that this time he's not going to pinch. Yeah right. If he's grumpy or in melt-down mode, all I have to do is get out the camera. He pauses, composes himself and then smiles for the camera, as he runs his fingers through his wild locks of hair. (I'm really not kidding).

So, my life has been insanely full and happy. That's not to say that I sit here on a cloud of bliss, wearing size 2 pants and shitting show ponies... it's just that I'm learning to love everything that life gives me at that exact moment, and you know what? It makes me a better, happier person, on the days that I can actually remember that whole mantra.

Onward and upward. I can't wait to blog more. And just so you know, I'm considering giving up exclamation points up for Lent. We'll see how it goes, I'm doing a test-run now to see if it's even do-able. Kind of like your mom. Yes, that do-able.

Missed you guys and I know you missed me.

Smooches,
Shauna

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Fundraiser

2011-03-08T19:37:00.001-08:00

Now through the end of April, every time you purchase a purple piece of jewelry from Lemon Kissed, more than one person is benefiting. Not only is purple a great color, but it's going to help raise money to save lives.

Lemon Kissed is donating 50% of all proceeds from purple jewelry sales to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). The money is going towards the fundraising goals of 2 dear friends (who also happen to be the most wonderful and caring couple we know!) who are running in the Eugene Marathon in May to help raise money for the LLS.

If you'd like to donate directly to the cause, you can find my friends' fundraising pages here and here. Thank you, Skye and Joe, for being heroes and for letting Lemon Kissed help in any way that we can.

I will continually be adding more purple pieces to the shop - so check back whenever you get the chance! I have dedicated a special section in the shop to all the pieces that help fundraise for this cause: Charity Benefit.

Thank you for your help, compassion and kindness. I know that together we can make a difference.

Love,
Shauna
{Lemon Kissed}

lately...

2011-02-24T15:11:00.000-08:00

I've been M.I.A lately... sorry, but it's just that the littlest is going to be ONE in 3 short days and that has been consuming each and every moment of my day! He's sick, he's getting like 12 teeth and all he wants to do is nurse or yell at me. My nipples are sore and my ears hurt :)

I look forward to blogging more soon! Stay tuned for my blog post for Carsten. In the meantime, if you wanted a refresher on his birth story, you can check it out here!

puddle jumping

2011-01-21T16:43:00.000-08:00

On Monday night we took Taylor out to a nearby trail and wetland to go puddle jumping, and I thought since I was letting Taylor do something fun, he'd let me take a few pictures of him. He was so happy to puddle jump that he didn't even mind pausing for a few pictures. We had a blast. It wasn't too cold, and it wasn't raining, which for January in Oregon means that it was a nice day out.

I'm feeling pretty darn lucky to be able to call these boys mine.

Happy weekend to all of you!!

be still, my heart...

2011-01-20T13:42:00.000-08:00

What the what?! I am speechless. I am without words. All I want to do is eat this... someone make this happen for me. Has anyone tried this yet?! I may have to order this and VLOG it. Yes, that's right, VLOG it (video-blog, yo!), because I know you'd want to watch video footage of me eating...

decorating help!

2011-01-15T18:02:00.001-08:00

Okay you guys, I'm having a hard time figuring out what to do with my honking huge mantle in the living room. I don't want things to look crowded. Is it too late for that!? I don't like themes. I just know what I like and what I don't like. And I'm just going for relaxed.

Also, I'm going to be incorporating a small deer antler on the mantle, and it's old, so it's almost white-ish. Did you want to know that?! I saw a fake one at Kohl's and I loved it. So my mom went and found me one at an antique store for $15. Is this weird? I have a vision. Trust me. Is anyone understanding me?!

So, I just wanted to see if you all had any ideas for up there. It's about 2 feet deep (that's what she said...), and there's no electrical outlets up there, because that would be too convenient. So, are you up for the challenge of helping me decorate?? Oh, and it has to be budget friendly! (Dumb, huh?! I think so, too!).

Ahem, Kristi, I'm so addressing this blog post to YOU!

a little update...

2011-01-11T14:27:00.001-08:00

... because you are totally curious about what I've been doing - since I haven't been blogging (for months!), and all. Well, grab a cold one and maybe a blankie, then sit back and relax while I lull you into a nice, deep sleep with the tales of me and hot-shot lifestyle.

First, for all of you who have been trying to peep into my windows, or who have been trying to stalk me in the still of the night, or during the harsh light of the day - you won't find me. I'm not hiding from you, so sit tight and I'll tell you where you can find me now. So, we moved. We couldn't handle the apartment any longer - and we moved.

The whole process of finding the rental house (thanks for the link, Julie!), to moving in was under 3 weeks. And it was SMACK-DAB in the middle of December. If you know me well enough by now, you know that change isn't always easy for me. Change is especially not easy for me if I haven't had proper time to plan and worry and get really anxious and scared. This rapid-move was great for me, in a lot of ways. I had NO time to worry, because I had an apartment to pack up and the holidays to prepare for. We are now in a lovely little home, still outside of Portland, in the Beaverton-Hillsboro area, and I'm loving it. I'm slowly getting used to having a 2-story home, as are my thighs. I'm discovering that whatever floor I'm on - my phone isn't. We went from having 950 square feet of apartment to having 1700 square feet of house. All the extra space is awesome, and things don't feel so crapped or tense. I'm slowly trying to get the decorating just right, but I'm a perpetual decorator, so it's never actually DONE. Trask will never understand this, but I don't expect him to, I suppose.

In other news, the boys are great! Taylor is loving school, but just wants to skip ahead to kindergarten. We register him for kindergarten in a few months. I'm excited that he is so excited! I like watching him grow and get more brilliant every day. Now if only he'd stop saying "butt crack" all the time. He's proving to be the perfect big brother - with just the right amount of love, with the perfect dose of torture and teasing. Carsten loves it all, the hugs, kisses, pinches and shoves. And, well, to be honest, Carsten is usually the one who starts all of it.

Carsten is as sassy as a kid can get. He is always up to something, and I think that's what I love most about him. He's sneaky and a little intense, but I like a good challenge. Now it's not that he can't be sweet, because he can, but Taylor is our definite sweetheart. Carsten is more of a spit-fire. I wonder how birth order comes to play in all of this. Carsten is now 10-1/2 months old and has two bottom teeth, and is closer to walking each day. He's mastered 3 steps solo, a few times, and I'm sure in a few weeks he'll have it all mastered.

Well... I just got hungry and I'm going to go grab a snack and try to hide it from the boys so I don't have to share. To lure you back here again (or to make you never want to come back), soon I'll be blogging about a trauma wound from nursing a boy with two bottom teeth.

Peace out and smoochies!

a haunting.

2011-01-09T10:20:00.000-08:00

Around the middle of October, Trask and I found this trunk, just sitting next to the dumpster, waiting for garbage pick up the next day. I get very excited when I find things - pennies, sales, a new use for something old, a new blog... whatever it is, if it is something that I've discovered, I get really excited. This is usually accompanied by clapping or fist-pumping, along with squealing. I'm just enthusiastic like that. And believe me, it doesn't irritate Trask one bit. Never. Ahem...

It was a sunny but chilly October afternoon, around 4 pm, when we drove past the trunk, on our way to park the car in front of our apartment. I caught a glimpse of this beauty next to the dumpster. And if you know me, you know that I adore trunks. I could fill a whole house with trunks. I love their aged look, their beauty, and I love that I can store (or hide) crap inside them, making me appear neat and tidy. I also adore free things. I immediately told Trask to stop the car RIGHT NOW and get out and get that trunk. I was feeling anxious and rushed. I didn't want an unlikely neighbor to swoop in and snatch it in the 15 seconds it was going to take Trask to walk to the dumpster area to retrieve this beauty made of wood. It had to be ours.

Eventually, after Trask telling me to calm down and go upstairs with the kids, he came up with the trunk. It was beautiful! The canvas on the sides was in great shape, and you could tell it was old, but it wasn't battered, especially for its age. It smelled musty, but it wasn't moldy or damaged. The hardware was in perfect condition and I had plans for this beauty.

We opened the trunk and found that it was full of things. It was like finding a treasure chest or a time capsule. There were newspapers in there dating 1909 and 1926, from St. Louis and from Winter Springs, California. There was a beautiful hand mirror, a few old pieces of clothing that looked handmade. little keepsakes, handkerchiefs, hat pins, a doll made out of a wooden clothespin and crepe paper, and papers with the name Rachel Sager on them. There was an obituary about the death of Rachel's mother. We did some research online and found out a bit about Rachel (she worked for the newspaper in Winter Springs) and about her family. We have NO idea how the trunk ended up in Hillsboro, Oregon.

This was AMAZING. I was so curious as to why it was going to be thrown out. And which one of my neighbors would have this trunk, and just cast it aside? And didn't that dumb-ass know that trunks are worth a lot of money?! For a moment it was quiet, and Trask said it was probably haunted. We laughed nervously, or at least I was nervous, but then again, I am always nervous. I suggested that maybe someone inherited it and they kept what they wanted and just tossed the rest, I didn't want to think about ghosts.

Let's stop for a moment here and talk about my passion for the show Ghost Hunters on the Sy Fy channel. I've blogged about my love of ghosts and this show before, here. Go read it real quick and come back... And now that you're back, you know that I love ghost stories and I find them thrilling. YET, it's good for you all to know that I am a huge scaredy cat, as well.

Well, strange things started happening once the trunk came into our home.

At first, it wasn't anything too out of the ordinary, just weird. A few different times when I was up at night walking into the bathroom, while the hall was pitch black, I swore I saw a tiny flash or beam of light, moving all sorts of directions, not just straight, out of the corner of my eye. I would rush in to the bathroom and rush back to bed. It scared me a bit, but I have an active imagination. Some say I'm delusional.

On one strange occasion I was telling Trask goodnight and I laid my head on my pillow, and hadn't closed my eyes when I saw a flash of light down on the floor by his side of the bed, by his head. I told him his phone was ringing (on silent) and was lighting up. He picked up the phone and looked, he hadn't missed a call, there was no message, and besides, it was facing DOWN on the carpet, not up, so I wouldn't have been able to see a flash. THAT scared me. The same night I woke up in the middle of the night and saw that down the hall, Taylor's light was on in his room. His light is a pull-string light, attached to his ceiling fan. I turned it back off and went to sleep. The next day we tried re-creating a situation where the light would come back on (like pulling the string halfway and seeing if it turned on or off, etc., but we found nothing).

We also had Carsten's sound machine turn off at different times of the night, without an alarm being set, and with no malfunctions of any kind. It would just turn off. We'd realize this when I'd get up to feed Carsten and there was no sound coming from the machine. There was also one night that scared the piss out of Trask and I where Carsten's sound machine alarm went off (it was never set!), and not only was it going off, but the volume was going up and down, up and down, until Trask got up and turned the whole thing off. (THIS gives me goosebumps and chills still as I type this).

Another day (mind you, this is all in the time span of 3 weeks) the boys and I were at home and I had an eerie feeling like someone was there. Of course, we saw no one, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. At this time, our security alarm system by our front door (the one that we have NEVER used, turned on, etc.) started beeping. It was quiet, and I didn't know where the beeps were coming from at first. After looking everywhere for a broken toy and not seeing anything, I saw the alarm panel. It was beeping. And the word "trouble" was lit up on the box. No button that I pushed could make it stop. For 5 minutes it did this. I called the maintenance office for the apartments and didn't get an answer, but later found out that this doesn't happen if it needs new batteries or anything, it would just keep beeping or show the "service" light if that were the case. I was hoping it was from needing service, but this was inexplicable, and stopped after that time, and didn't happen again. I was frightened, but not that worried.

At this point Trask and I are both kind of scared. It bothered us that whatever it was went into Taylor's room, and was messing with Carsten's sound machine. If it was just us, maybe it would have been okay. BUT, this is where it gets strange. I was in the kitchen and Taylor was on the couch. Carsten was on the floor by my feet, as always. I heard something down the hall, like something shifting in my bedroom closet. I thought it was just Tay playing in there until I saw that he was in the living room. At the time I was looking at him, he looked at me and said that he saw a man in a white shirt walking down the hall and into my room. This scared the crap out of me. He told me he was tall. I called Trask at work and got brave and walked down the hall to my room. Nothing was there. Nothing in my closet had shifted or had fallen over. What happened to make that noise, I have no clue. No matter how many times I asked Taylor about the man, the story never changed. This was not a Taylor-fib.

So, it was decided that we wanted to get rid of this beautiful trunk. We had sent in pictures of it to a few trunk experts to get the date and some information on it, and found out it was from the late 1800's and was a nice, expensive trunk. We didn't feel right just throwing it out, especially because it had Rachel's belongings in it, and they must have been treasures to her. We decided to ask if anyone wanted it, and disclosed it was haunted.

Trask's boss ended up taking it to her home. The day Trask was going to take it to his boss, I was loading the washing machine and felt someone behind me - a presence. I knew no one was in the room with me, that I could see with my naked eye. All of a sudden the musty, old smell from the trunk filled the laundry room. I didn't have any of the items from the trunk in there, so I knew it was the ghost. I told it that it was going to go with the trunk somewhere else, and when I turned around (scared as could be), the smell and the weird feeling was gone. Trask took the trunk that morning.

The trunk is now at Trask's boss's home. And guess what happened at her home... She had it in the living room and she fell asleep on the couch. She woke up because she felt something pull her hair, hard enough to wake her up. She looked around and saw nothing. She pulled her hair back a bit, in case it got snagged on the couch or something like that, and went back to sleep. She was awoken two other times, from a deep sleep, by the ghost pulling her hair. She finally sat up and looked at the trunk and said "quit it!", and it hasn't bothered her since, that we've heard. She told us she had the feeling that it was a child.

As soon as the trunk was out of our home, the weird instances and feelings stopped. The sound machine hasn't turned off, nor has the alarm sounded. Taylor hasn't spoken of the man in the white shirt. The smell hasn't reappeared. Taylor's light never did that, and I didn't see lights down the hall while it was dark. I'm not sure if others would call this a haunting or not, but I believe it was. I don't think it was harmful at all, but most likely just wanted us to know it was there. I'm so happy it found a new home though, because I'd rather watch Ghost Hunters on TV than experience it in my own home, although I wish Steve and Tango would come hang out with me in the dark...

festive.

2010-10-28T09:43:00.000-07:00

The boys have been sick, so this is as festive as we've managed to get this year, so far! I have Halloween cookies and other fun things planned, as long these kids get to feeling better.

keyboard confessions: volume 6

2010-09-29T10:20:00.000-07:00

birthday wish-list

2010-09-28T15:28:00.000-07:00

This Ruffled dSLR Camera Strap Cover in Blue Serenity by Eclectic Whatnot is definitely at the TOP of my wish-list for my birthday this year.

{Photo from Eclectic Whatnot's Etsy Shop}

I love how simple and lovely it is. The blue is perfect. And I know it would just look oh-so-amazing around my precious neck!

Check out the rest of Eclectic Whatnot's Etsy Shop - it's full of wonderful camera strap covers. I love so many of them, and I know you will, too!

seven months

2010-09-27T15:43:00.000-07:00

Today marks Carsten's 7-month birthday. I can't even believe it's been seven months already! I know I say this every time, about time going by so fast, blah, blah, blah... so rather than me just talking about time, I'll update everyone on what Carsten's been up to lately.

At 7 months, Carsten is already trying to talk. He says 'I need', 'hungry', 'mama', 'dada', 'daddy' and 'hi'. I find it really weird that he's talking, but it's true. Time and time again he says those words, and in the correct context. Maybe he's our baby genius. But then again, he's been trying to eat the carpet fibers, so I could be wrong about the whole genius part...

Carsten crawls. He crawls a lot. And sometimes he does donkey kicks and also likes to pause, look up and put one hand on his hip while smiling at us, and then proceeds to crawl from one destination to another. This is insane to me, because Taylor was a bit lazier and didn't crawl until he was 8 months old or so, and Carsten has had this down for 3 weeks. HOWEVER, Carsten still can hardly sit up by himself at all times. We can get him to stay up, tri-pod style, but when he wants to crawl again, he doesn't know he can go from sitting to crawling on his own. He handles the situation a bit differently, by just crying until we put him on all fours or tip him over so he can crawl. I'm just waiting for him to start pulling himself up to a stand. He's shown interest, now let's just see when it happens.

Carsten still adores his brother, but he has a new love of wrestling with his brother. This involves Taylor laying on the floor (either waiting or totally unprepared for Carsten), and then Carsten pounces on Taylor and usually goes straight for a few things: Taylor's glasses, Taylor's eyelids, and Taylor's neck. He also has this crazy war-cry/baby squeal that only seems to come out when he's fighting Taylor. It does serve a purpose, I think. I think he's trying to make his victim go deaf, as well as any spectators. I can't hear much anymore.

While Carsten hasn't really grown up with a dog in the house, it certainly seems like he has. When Carsten is excited or happy or sometimes just because, he shakes his head back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. Over and over and over, while smiling his gummy, toothless smile.

This little peach still refuses a bottle. This means that he's pretty much attached to me. I've also decided he'll be a "boob man" and not a butt man. Taylor seems to be more interested the rear, although he does like to say boobs. Boys. Refusing a bottle also means that my boobs are tired. I wish my friends would lactate and show some support! Or at least Trask.

My favorite quirk about Carsten? He LOVES to be in the downward dog pose from yoga. I'm not sure where he picked this up, or why he does it, but he loves it. (Sorry for the bad picture quality, they were taken on different days, using my phone). He'll stay like this for minutes, sometimes doing it over and over. I think he likes to be upside down, but I'm not sure. Sometimes he poops in this position, but other times he just likes to hang out and smile at you as you walk by.

Carsten doesn't sleep through the night much at all anymore, but you know what, he's finally learned it's okay to sleep on his side and on his tummy - so hopefully that will get him sleeping longer stretches at night, because Mama is getting tired of seeing the bags under her eyes...

This has been an amazing 7 months. I feel incredibly blessed to have 2 happy boys that I can stay home with, and that mean the world to me and my husband. Carsten has definitely added a lot of fun and extra smiles and joy to our lives.

Happy 7 months, C. We adore you!

hugs,
Mama, Dada

Friday is here!!

2010-09-24T14:25:00.000-07:00

Friday is finally here! It's been one of THOSE weeks. You know, the kind of week where you find out on Wednesday that it ISN'T Thursday, and then time stands still for a few more days!? Friday is really here, I confirmed it with 2 calendars and a few friends! Now I hope the weekend goes by super slow!

Have an amazing weekend... but maybe not as amazing as this:

Smooches!

school is back in session

2010-09-13T10:04:00.000-07:00

..and now what do I do with myself?!

This morning we took Taylor to his second year of preschool (and next year is Kindergarten!! ack!), and he was so beyond ready to go see his friends. I teared up a little while walking out of the building, of course. I just don't know where time is going - I'm so happy for him and all of the fun that his future holds.

And now I'm sitting here, in a quiet house, while Carsten naps, wondering... what the heck will I do with this time? It's too quiet. It feels really weird.

monster cookies. the easiest recipe ever.

2010-09-03T16:16:00.000-07:00

Okay, there was enough interest in the monster cookies that I posted about last week that I thought I'd share the recipe. Now I don't want you guys thinking I made the recipe up - a friend shared it with me. It's a recipe I'm going to use over and over, and I think you will, too.

Monster Cookies

1 package chocolate chip cookie mix
1 package peanut butter cookie mix
1-1/2 cups oats
3 eggs
1 cup butter
M&Ms

Mix all the ingredients together. For the packaged cookie mixes, just dump it into the bowl... it's that easy! Bake in the oven at 375 degrees, and bake for 7-8 minutes, sometimes up to 10 if they're bigger cookie dough blobs.

Enjoy and think of me when you take the first bite. (That was creepy, sorry!)

carsten's first painting

2010-09-03T09:55:00.000-07:00

Yesterday while Taylor and I were painting and stamping with pears, Carsten sat up at the table in his highchair snacking and watching us intently. He seemed interested in the paints, so I grabbed some paper for him and put some paints on his fingers and let him go at the paper.

I was pretty surprised that the gooey paint fingers didn't go into the mouth immediately - he wanted at the paper instead, which worked perfectly! I tried to paint his whole hand so I could get a hand print, but it was almost impossible to get him to uncurl his fingers!

Looks like I have two boys that like to paint - this thrills me to no end!!

keyboard confessions: volume 5

2010-09-01T10:37:00.000-07:00

Keyboard Confessions is not my idea, but I'm going to use it anyway, because I think the best way to compliment someone is by stealing their idea. Or just borrowing it and giving them a shout-out and some credit. You may also find awesome Keyboard Confessions from Kearsie of Sounds Like Tomatoes and from Amber of What The French, Toast.

I like lists and I am very random, so this is right up my alley. Let's begin. This is Keyboard Confessions: Volume 5.

1. In the past 3 nights, I have gotten 15 hours of sleep - tops. Hubs was out of town and Carsten has re-discovered the joy of the boob at night.

2. While the hubs was in Seattle for work, he got me presents. Or nifty gifties. I got two presents. And they were both from Anthropologie. He gets big time points for this. One gift was a beautiful journal/notebook - specifically for me to write my funnies in. (love that he thinks I'm funny!). The other present: a beautiful necklace in two different colors of blue beads, consisting of 1,000 strands each. It's bold and amazing. I can't wait to wear it, when Carsten isn't still on the boob.

3. I have been making some new jewelry - I just need to take some pictures. They are inspired by my friend Marie. I want to be her.

4. I found a hooded light weight sweater at Target, made by Mossimo, and I'm in love. The kind of love where you want to take it home to meet your parents, even though you've only known them (or the hooded sweater) for a day. I had to buy another color - so now I have berry and a fun yellow. I love that it has my three essentials: hood, pouch, comfy + casual. And it's a sweater, so it makes me feel like I'm being dressy. And it's lightweight, so my monster hot flashes won't make me want to rip it off in the middle of an episode.

5. Bought a new hair dryer and all of a sudden I'm having great hair days, despite my 3 inch skank roots. I'm growing out my hair, no easy task, but I'm trying! And soon I'm hoping to make my hair darker - and MAYBE more natural.

6. The desire for a nose piercing is very strong today. We'll see if it happens soon. I sure hope so! Before I chicken out.

7. Going to The Red Light Exchange to try to find some rad t-shirts and comfies soon. I can't wait! I seem to have a knack for finding Trask super terrific shirts, but can't find me any, because my boobies are too big for everything, and why are my shoulders always too wide?! Why do small chested girls get to have all the fun!? Big boobies want a witty t-shirt every now and then!

8. Had a chai tea latte from Insomnia Coffee (right across the street from our apartment, literally), and it brought tears to my eyes. It was delicious. And I'm not just saying that. I really did cry from excitement.

9. And now for a confession, or more like a question. Do they make a specific type of deodorant for your cleavage?! It's needed.

Smooches,
Shauna

miss him.

2010-08-30T08:22:00.000-07:00

When Trask is out of town for work, all I really want to do is eat monster cookies (and not share with the kiddos). Is that terrible? How can it be terrible when it tastes this amazing and right!?

Hurry home, T. I miss you already!

Psssst. Want a totally easy-peasy recipe for monster cookies?! Let me know... if there's interest, I'll blog the secret!

victim of a hate crime. or the sick humor of a 4-year-old.

2010-08-20T11:01:00.000-07:00

About a month back, Trask got new toothpaste. I hate it when I'm not involved in this task, because if I don't like it, it's partially my fault for choosing it. However, T and I are both terrible at choosing a toothpaste, as well as toilet paper. We can just stand in the aisle for a LONG time browsing, picking something up, putting it down, gazing off in the distance, and then I usually get distracted by something shiny down in the next aisle and I take off...

Anyway, that's beside the point. The point is, Trask went solo and got toothpaste.

I tried it the next morning, and was immediately grossed out. I told Trask that it tasted like URINE, and he was never to choose toothpaste again. Ever. (And I'm really not sure how I knew what urine tasted like - but it couldn't be mistaken).

Flash forward to that night, where I SKIP BRUSHING MY TEETH because I'm terrified. I'm literally scared to brush my teeth. So I skip it and hope for the best.

Next morning, it's time to brush my teeth. I get all nervous, but give myself a pep talk. I tell myself that maybe it tasted funny last time because I had juice or something that clashed with the taste of the toothpaste. Sooooo, I tried again. And F*$#, it tasted like PEE! Was I surprised? I guess not. But why!?!?

I then slowly look over to my son Taylor (age 4), who has been known to love cleaning and scrubbing. Our conversation goes like this:

me: Hey Taylor, did you do something to Mommy's toothbrush?

Taylor: (in a cute, sweet, guilty voice) nnnnnnnnnnnno Mommy.

me: Taylor, did you play with Mom's toothbrush? (said kinda panicky)

Taylor: (in a cuter, sweeter and even guiltier voice) yeeeeeeeees Mommy.

me: What did you do??

Taylor: I took it in the bathtub.

me: The bathtub? Were you taking a bath with it?

Taylor: Actually, it was the potty. I cleaned it.

I can't really remember what happened after that. I may have blacked out. I'm not a germ-a-phobe at all, but this was the pisser, and this was my toothbrush, that I put in my mouth.

Needless to say, I have a new toothbrush, and as it turns out, the toothpaste Trask picked out doesn't taste bad at all!

butt dimples

2010-08-18T09:40:00.001-07:00

When do dimples on your butt go from being absolutely precious and cute to being absolutely horrifying?!

Please advise.

flannel + dentophobia + here's why

2010-08-18T07:19:00.000-07:00

I was never scared of the dentist growing up. Ever. But now that I'm in my late-twenties, I am petrified. And it's all because of a giant flannel belly. Let me explain.

2 years ago I found a new dentist up here. He is also the dentist to my husband's family up here, so I thought it would be safe.

It turned out that I needed a LOT of work done. $1,300 to be exact. This dental work happened over the course of a few months, going in every other week. The work wasn't horrible, but it wasn't fun. And I was beginning to dread the appointments. Just imagining them touching my teeth with metal tools was giving me shivers and chills. But I went anyway, until THAT ONE DAY.

THAT ONE DAY I was getting some work done and I was laying back in the chair with my sexy sunglasses on, feeling a little vulnerable. The dentist was on my right hand side, and his assistant on my left hand side.

There came a time when my dentist needed something. A tool or something. And instead of asking his assistant to hand it to him, he leaned over, across my face, and retrieved it himself. All the while, HIS STOMACH IS ON MY FACE. And it wasn't a gentle brush or graze. I'd forgive that, maybe. This was PRESSURE. Constant pressure, against the side of my face. I wanted to scream but I couldn't with all the crap in my mouth. I wanted to ask him,"WHY?! Why aren't you using your assistant?! She's RIGHT THERE. Get your flannel stomach off of my face!! and why on earth are you in flannel?!"

My cries and protests never got the chance to leave my numb mouth. I didn't say anything. But you know what? I haven't been back since. And every month when I am suppose to write out a check for my payment on that $1,300 bill I racked up, I get so mad. So mad that all I can see is green flannel.

Do you guys have dentophobia? Share your trauma!!

wii need an intervention

2010-08-15T18:29:00.000-07:00

After a crazy week of Hubs being away and lots of baking + decorating cupcakes (3 different days), it's time to knock it the hell off and get serious about getting healthy. You know, so I look good for sweater, blanket and hooded sweatshirt season. Duh.

We purchased a Wii Fit yesterday and I've been getting in trouble with Hubs for not sharing with Taylor as much as I should. Something about setting a good example, yadda yadda yadda. Not sure what his problem is, I'm trying to get a smaller butt and gut.

Can I just tell you how much fun Wii Fit is? Or do you all know already because we're probably the last people on earth to purchase it? Well, I've had so much fun. Not only do I like playing, but I like laughing at Trask while he does Rhythm Parade and also when he flaps his arms like a giant awkward bird.

This Wii is going to keep our family together, as long as it doesn't come to blows over whose turn is next.

running diaries

2010-08-10T07:48:00.000-07:00

Have you missed this post series? Have you been wondering what I've been up to?

Well, I'm now able to run 10 miles without stopping.

Actually, that is FALSE. However, I have made a bit of progress. I purchased an awesome green sports bra to wrangle the beasts - so I'm one step closer. Right?

You see, running is tricky. Let me tell you why. I have to put the kids in our BOB double stroller. This thing is AWESOME, but it's a tank. Carsten is still a bit too small to be in it without the car seat, too, which makes it effin' heavy. Also, I happen to live on the 2nd story of our apartment complex, so it's a chore to somehow get my kids, the stroller and the car seat downstairs by myself without falling down the stairs. So my solution is to wait for Trask to get home - and that solution isn't working. Whether it's business trips, working late, or just us both being tired, the evening is not a good time for us to run. And I can't see me waking up both of the boys to go run in the morning, so I'm going to have to think of something. I'm sure we'll be more apt to run when it's not warm in the evenings. I've considered renting a garage solely for the purpose of parking my giant stroller in it. Silly?

While I'm not running as much as I want to (unless it's to frantically get to the bathroom or to a piece of cake), I'm still making strides to being a healthier and hotter me. Get it, strides?!

More later, peace out! I'm winded from typing.

Lemon Kissed: on the front page!

2010-08-01T18:42:00.000-07:00

Lemon Kissed was lucky enough to be featured on the front page of Etsy today, amongst a bunch of pretty cool items! My Bella dangle earrings in sage were the lucky ladies to be featured! A HUGE thank you to Kristi of Zuzu Girl for letting me know that they were up there - you're the greatest, Kristi!

The Bella dangle earrings are pretty fun - they are made from dyed volcanic lava (pumice) and the colors and texture are just amazing!

I am having a lot of fun with Lemon Kissed, and am in the process of getting ready to start necklaces, too. Think clusters of awesome goodness - and then you'll have the same vision in your head as I do.

{Etsy Love} StephieMc Designs

2010-07-30T15:59:00.000-07:00

Just got my 2 Tiny Tags necklace in the mail from StephieMc and I'm in Heaven!

What I love most about this necklace is that it's not super frilly or fancy. It's simple, it's fun, and it has Carsten and Taylor on the tags. I love the hammered edges on the tags and just the cleanliness of the design. I opened up the envelope, took note of the cute packaging, and then put the necklace on my neck right away. So far Carsten hasn't yanked at it at all - he saves his yanking for my hair and my neck skin!

I'm not a new customer to StephieMc Designs, and this won't be my last order. Each and every time I am more than delighted by my purchase - and Stephanie is so super sweet, too! Make sure you go and check out her Etsy shop when you can. (Like right now!).

Thanks Steph!!!

Have a happy weekend!

hump day

2010-07-28T07:19:00.000-07:00

So happy that it's hump day. Which kind of hump day, you ask? I'll let you decide.

running diaries

2010-07-26T20:51:00.000-07:00

Last week I jogged. I jogged with Trask. I jogged while pushing my two sons in our BOB double stroller. I jogged with brand new Nike Shox running shoes (that are grape purple). I jogged despite the fact that my big toe and my pointer toe (2nd toe) are feuding over space in my shoes. I jogged and walked for about 2.5 miles. I jogged with only a nursing tank top on under my Oregon Ducks t-shirt. I jogged, and when I stopped, my boobs were still going. I learned that I need at least two sports bras on to contain the girls. I will go pick those up this week so I can run some more. Because maybe I'll like running more if the fun-bags don't ache the entire time. After that, I'll have to do something about my thighs battling one another for space.

This is the tales of me, trying to love running.

we love our balls!

2010-07-25T19:33:00.001-07:00

...not THOSE balls, sicko, but THESE balls!

Amber of Confessions of a Crochet Addict made these balls for my boys to play with - and boy have they been a HIT! Carsten and Taylor both love them, and I love seeing them on the floor. They don't hurt if I step on them, unlike trains or legos, and they aren't loud and obnoxious, either! I think they are cute and colorful and I already want more!!

Thanks, Amber, for being the crafty, crocheting genius that you are!

You are loved!

too cool for words.

2010-07-25T16:43:00.000-07:00

Apparently all of a sudden, when you turn 4, you start looking and acting too cool for school! Or at least this is the case for Taylor.

Taylor had a super fun cowboy party yesterday to celebrate turning four - and I just had to share this picture that our dear friend Julie took. I will come back and share more pictures from the big day later.

Hope everyone had a lovely weekend!

Smooches!

good bye, fro

2010-07-23T19:55:00.001-07:00

Carsten got his first haircut today (he is 21 weeks tomorrow!) - I was told by many it was time to lose the crazy Cosmo Kramer hair.

He was a great boy and sat still almost the whole time. He liked being sprayed with the water bottle (there goes my future punishments), and he wanted to grab at the scissors the whole time.

I love his new 'do, but miss his curls. I'm surprised to see how super blond he is now - looks all grown up and studly, if I do say so myself, which I just did.

Thanks Shawn, for the excellent first hair cut! We'll see you soon and we adore you and everyone at Ritual Hair Design!!

easy living

2010-07-22T20:01:00.000-07:00

I wish my biggest predicament in life was deciding which fringed cowboy pants to wear.

* note, Carsten is not a cowboy and these are not pants he'd normally wear, he's just getting psyched for his brother Taylor's cowboy party this weekend.

happy 4th birthday, Taylor

2010-07-22T04:00:00.000-07:00

4 years ago today, Trask and I got to meet Taylor, and life hasn't been the same since. It's been so much better!

Random Loves About Taylor:

his infectious laugh, especially when he throws his head back to laugh, and even will slap his knee if it's funny enough,
his negotiating skills - this kid could sell paper to a tree,
his sweet glasses - although hard to get used to my baby wearing glasses at 8 months old, I can't imagine him without them now!
he gets so mad when he finds litter, exclaiming it's so naughty to make our earth dirty - wise beyond his years,
he is an amazing big brother - so caring, and wants to include Carsten in everything he does,
his love of fruit cannot be matched,
his love of trains also cannot be matched,
he loves the water so much, he probably should have been born with gills and fins,
his hugs still make my heart happy,
his snuggles when we read books - and his love for books,
how he says 'nean' instead of 'mean', and 'cool' instead of 'pool',
his love of art and creating things,

Happy Birthday, Sweet Taylor, Tay Man, Taylor Tot, Tay Tay, Cookie, Sugar Buns, Big Boy! We love you so, so, so very much! You are truly a gift to everyone who knows and loves you!

hugs and kisses,
mama

mama.

2010-07-17T20:54:00.000-07:00

When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child. ~Sophia Loren

summer days

2010-07-13T09:00:00.000-07:00

Happiness is summer days and fresh strawberry milkshakes after picking raspberries with the family!

Happiness is also your first baby turning 4 in 9 short days!

This post was brought to you in response to Leigh vs. Laundry and The Happiness Project. Go share what makes you happy!

sunny weekend

2010-07-11T14:27:00.000-07:00

This pretty much sums up our Sunday so far - raspberry picking at Smith Berry Barn and lots of pictures in the sunshine. Seems like the perfect day to me!

Taylor's art

2010-07-10T18:18:00.000-07:00

Turns out that Taylor's art looks AWESOME framed and on my wall!! This is my most favorite of all his paintings ever. We went to the art store yesterday, and I let him pick out 5 colors (and they were dang good choices!), and then I let me attack two canvases with the paint and I just adore what he did. Trask and I just got them both framed- one for our living room and the other for Trask's office at work. I am so lucky my kidlet loves projects as much as I do! And I appreciate the affordable, good-looking art, too!

It's Factual Friday, Y'all

2010-07-09T11:07:00.000-07:00

Factual Friday: random facts, brought to you each and every Friday... starting NOW!

This week's facts are all about giraffes. I love giraffes!! Maybe that's why I married the tallest guy I could find!!

Enjoy your GIRAFFE facts:

Giraffes eat up to 75 pounds of food a day- typically Acacia leaves.

Tongue is 18 inches long. (I'm just going to leave this fact alone).

Although rarely heard, Giraffes can moo, hiss, roar and whistle to communicate with one another.

Giraffes at the San Diego zoo enjoy raw onions as a special treat (funny and gross, but this is Taylor's favorite snack lately! Odd + silly boy!).

Their heart is 2 feet long and weighs about 25 pounds.

Can gallop 31-37 miles per hour (so what, so can I).

They spend between 16 and 20 hours a day feeding (again, so can I).

The riveting and life-changing information you just read was found here.

keyboard confessions: volume 4

2010-07-08T06:33:00.000-07:00

Keyboard Confessions is not my idea, but I'm going to use it anyway, because I think the best way to compliment someone is by stealing their idea. Or just borrowing it and giving them a shout-out and some credit. You may also find awesome Keyboard Confessions from Kearsie of Sounds Like Tomatoes and from Amber of What The French, Toast.

I like lists and I am very random, so this is right up my alley. Let's begin. This is Keyboard Confessions: Volume 4.

1. It's really hot here in Portland today, and so I've been hiding in the house all day. This leaves me very scatter-brained and feeling extremely antsy.

2. I used to re-write my math homework once I finished the assignment, because I wanted it to look neat and tidy. I did the same with all my lecture notes from high school and college.

3. I am trying to get better about going with the flow and not having an agenda, even on just some days, but surprises kind of scare me. I get anxious over the simplest things.

4. I've walked out of a restaurant because I didn't recognize anything on the menu and it didn't have a single picture. My husband can't stand this, I'm sure, but doesn't mock me too much.

5. I get to go to the Nike employee store in a few weeks and I can't wait to buy my running shoes for 50% off, and to start running. Or maybe I'm just excited to get shoes... we'll see.

6. I don't like eating blueberries because of their texture, and that weird b-hole type thing on the blueberry - ick.

7. I can't wait to have a home and build the boys a tree house. I wonder if I'll be allowed in.

8. I hope that when my boys are older, I'll be the hot mom. I better start working on it now if I have a chance. Either that or only let the boys make friends with kids that have ugly moms.

9. Was that last comment mean?

10. I'm working on silhouettes of me and Trask. I'm having a hard time working on mine... feels very strange to be that zoomed in on a picture of myself, and I don't like seeing inside my ears.

11. And back to the other moms... if I can't be the hottest, I hope that I can at least be the funniest. And not the funny where they are just laughing AT me.

12. Are taper legged Lee mom-jeans ever going to be in fashion? I'm worried it may- and that keeps me up at night.

13. It's time to step away from the computer screen and go tell my family how lucky they are to have me.

Have a good one!
Shauna

happiness is...

2010-07-06T13:51:00.000-07:00

Happiness is making progress on my never-ending projects-to-do list!

Yesterday I got to check off a big one - I finally opened up my new Etsy shop: Lemon Kissed and made my first handful of earrings. I love finding new things to enjoy, and making earrings definitely makes me happy - almost as happy as scratching something off my list!!

This post was brought to you in response to Leigh vs. Laundry and The Happiness Project. Go share what makes you happy!

happy fourth!

2010-07-05T12:54:00.001-07:00

I hope everyone had a fun, safe and happy 4th of July!

We spent some time in Eugene this weekend, but not for as long as we had planned. Both of my boys are sick and I'm trying to get them feeling better, or at least not so full of snot.

Hooray for short work weeks!!

It's Factual Friday, Y'all

2010-07-02T05:00:00.000-07:00

Factual Friday: random facts, brought to you each and every Friday... starting NOW!

This week's facts are all about the lovely state of Oregon - my sweet state, with some facts focusing on my wonderful hometown, Eugene, which I will be visiting this weekend!

Eugene was the first city to have one-way streets. (and they're so damn confusing!).

Oregon has more ghost towns than any other state.

There are nine lighthouses standing along the coastline of Oregon. Five are still being used, and the others are designated historic monuments.

Eugene is rated by "Bicycling Magazine" as one of the top ten cycling communities in the United States. (A little Shauna tid-bit, I worked at a bike shop for about 6 years!).

In 1876 the University of Oregon opened in Eugene. Deady Hall was the first building on campus and still exists. (I swear it's haunted! I had a math class in that building and always had an eerie feeling, but it may have just been from having to do math!).

The riveting and life-changing information you just read was found here.

future in advertising + marketing

2010-07-01T08:51:00.001-07:00

Taylor's love for marketing and advertising is very much like his dad's, already!! I see him following in his daddy's footsteps...

Yesterday Taylor and hubs were running errands. Tay asked his daddy if they could stop by Subway real fast and eat fresh.

While driving in the car the other day, Taylor told me if my car breaks down, we should definitely take it to Pep Boys.

Taylor after finding out his battery operated train wasn't working: "Mom, we better get to Batteries Plus, and quick! We need more batteries UP IN HERE."

keyboard confessions: volume 3

2010-07-01T07:53:00.000-07:00

Keyboard Confessions is not my idea, but I'm going to use it anyway, because I think the best way to compliment someone is by stealing their idea. Or just borrowing it and giving them a shout-out and some credit. You may also find awesome Keyboard Confessions from Kearsie of Sounds Like Tomatoes and from Amber of What The French, Toast.

I like lists and I am very random, so this is right up my alley. Let's begin. This is Keyboard Confessions: Volume 3.

1. I just read Amber's Keyboard Confessions and got all excited because like Amber, I used to feed my boogers to Maddie, our rat terrier, as well. And don't judge me, she loved them! Taylor would feed his boogs to her, as well. We miss having her around here, and not just because we have to use more tissues.

2. I wash my hands a lot, so don't be scared of giving me high fives or anything.

3. It seems like I can't stop talking about boogers, but I'll try.

4. Taylor keeps asking for another little brother or little sister. I'm sure he thinks I'll soon move my family out to the country, wear long jean skirts and jumpers and start wearing socks with sandals, with my hair in a long braid. NO MORE BABIES, Taylor.

5. I think it's time that my hubs and I have 'the talk.' The talk about seeing Dr. Snippity Snip. Because I can handle 2 kids and still be an awesome mom, but I'm afraid what a third child would cause me to become.

6. Since I'm done making babies, I'm now going to be the creepy lady who stares and coos at other babies in public. This is fair, because I can't tell you all the weird things people do and say to my children when we're out, especially Carsten.

7. Threw away all my cotton grandma undies. There's no need for them anymore. I'm replacing all of them with expensive undies that don't have a lot of material involved. Finally maybe Allison won't make fun of my Granny Panties.

8. The word 'panties' makes me want to gag. It makes my skin crawl. So do the words: moist, pulp, ointment, uvula and discharge.

9. Now that the sun is out, the ugly people can trick everyone. This happens like this: sometimes someone can look very attractive with sunglasses on, but once they're off, you want to jump back and scream in shock. This happened to me once on a vacation in high school. After a few hours of flirting with the guy leading the boat tour in Kauai, he takes his glasses off at the end of the tour... and I realized I wasted a good portion of my afternoon. Hate that!

10. If I'm having an 'ugly day', I like to trick people and wear my sunglasses. I like to make them feel like fools.

11. This weekend I'm walking the 4.5 mile Mayor's Walk at the Butte to Butte in Eugene, my hometown. Wonder at what mile I'll die of blisters.

12. I'm strangely attracted to Greg Giraldo on Last Comic Standing. I know we'd 'get along' nicely. I just know these things. Something about that face hair, those arm tattoos and that he's so sarcastic - delicious.

13. Anyone have any requests for what you want me to confess?

14. Did I really just ask you all that?

15. I'm out. Time to tend to the sick big boy - juice and movies and cuddles from mama, as I think about killing every chipmunk on Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeekquel.

[oceanside, oregon]

2010-06-29T07:18:00.000-07:00

Happiness is a spontaneous drive to Oceanside to play in the sand on a warm June day.

He doesn't like the sand or anything, does he!? He was born to be on the beach, like his mommy and daddy. Good thing we're only an hour away.

This post was brought to you in response to Leigh vs. Laundry and The Happiness Project. Go share what makes you happy!

It's Factual Friday, Y'all

2010-06-25T08:36:00.000-07:00

Factual Friday: random facts, brought to you each and every Friday... starting NOW!

70 out of 100 people admit to picking their boogers. Out of those 7 people, 3 people admit to eating their boogers. (I've NEVER eaten a booger - even I have to draw the line somewhere).

Eating boogers isn't necessarily bad for you because it can strengthen your immune system. However, using your finger that has germs and bacteria on it to retrieve the booger is not healthy. All the icky stuff on your fingers is going inside your nose. It is also not healthy to later put that finger in your mouth.

Boogers come in all kinds of textures, colors, and sizes. They can be green, squishy, and blobby. They can be brown, dry, and crumbly. (which type is your favorite!?)

It is also possible to get boogers in your eye. That's right, eye boogers! Sometimes in the morning, you might wake up with some build up (made of mucus, dust, tear, and dead skin cells) in the corners of your eyes. Some people call this "sleep" or "crusties", but the medical term is rheum. As with your nose boogers, eye boogers can also vary in texture, color, and size. If you have allergies or an eye infection, you could have more eye boogers.

The riveting and life-changing information you just read was found here.

keyboard confessions: volume 2

2010-06-24T08:06:00.000-07:00

Keyboard Confessions is not my idea, but I'm going to use it anyway, because I think the best way to compliment someone is by stealing their idea. Or just borrowing it and giving them a shout-out and some credit. You may also find awesome Keyboard Confessions from Kearsie of Sounds Like Tomatoes and from Amber of What The French, Toast.

I like lists and I am very random, so this is right up my alley. Let's begin. This is Keyboard Confessions: Volume 2.

1. I am feeling like a grown up today. We get to go sign the papers for our new car. Well, new to us car. But it's the newest car we've ever had. Not sure if being a grown up is super cool or if it sucks. It's a 2009 Honda Element. And if you make fun of me, I'll either cry or lash out and punch you in the crotch.

2. To counter-act the 'grown up feeling' I just had, I just told Taylor to pull my finger. You know the rest. And if you don't know the rest... who do you think you are?!

3. Just discovered Chex honey-nut flavor cereal that is gluten-free. I can't tell you how very happy this makes me. I keep thinking about the next time I can have some (that's what she said [twss]).

4. I have really neglected my lemon drop blog. I'm kinda constipated in the brain with good blog post ideas. Any ideas for me??

5. I'm growing out my hair. Not sure how long this will last, but that's my goal. Also, I cut myself some bangs all by myself a few weeks ago, and you can tell I did it myself. I suck.

6. Really wish my hair was curly. If I just let my hair air-dry, it dries kinda wavy, but not a good kind of wave. Just makes me look horrible. My hair has been rotten lately. I have roots and need to go back to my natural hair color. Wonder what that is!?

7. I'm kinda boring myself as I type this... maybe I should tell you guys something juicy.

8. One time in the summer of 2005 I shared a toilet with a girl. We went at the same time. I was dry when I was done. Not sure about her. This was after too many drinks at Darcelle's show for my sister in law's bachelorette party. I guess I couldn't hold it long enough to wait 60 seconds. Also, I didn't know her.

9. Funny how the only time I can walk in heels is when I've been drinking. I stick to flip-flops and water these days.

10. After reading #8, do you still want to be my friend?!

11. My girl-crush is Heather Armstrong (Dooce). Who's yours?

smooches,
Shauna

time with great grandpa

2010-06-22T05:00:00.000-07:00

Happiness is seeing my son's face light up when his Great Grandpa holds him, and knowing that his Grandpa is smiling just as big.

This post was brought to you in response to Leigh vs. Laundry and The Happiness Project. Go share what makes you happy!

It's Factual Friday, Y'all

2010-06-18T06:00:00.000-07:00

Factual Friday: random facts, brought to you each and every Friday... starting NOW!

You cannot snore and dream at the same time. (this means the Hubs must rarely dream! seems like he's always snoring).

Adults dream off and on, for a total of about an hour and half to three hours every night.

About 80% of neonatal and newborn sleep time is REM sleep, suggesting a tremendous amount of time dreaming. (I really want to know what Carsten dreams about!)

Feet in dreams can symbolize everything from sex to humiliation. They can also represent mobility, freedom, or a foundation. (what about humiliating sex?! - it happens).

The riveting and life-changing information you just read was found here.

keyboard confessions: volume 1

2010-06-17T13:40:00.000-07:00

Keyboard Confessions is not my idea, but I'm going to use it anyway, because I think the best way to compliment someone is by stealing their idea. Or just borrowing it and giving them a shout-out and some credit. You may also find awesome Keyboard Confessions from Kearsie of Sounds Like Tomatoes and from Amber of What The French, Toast.

I like lists and I am very random, so this is right up my alley. Let's begin.

1. No matter what the situation or who I am with, I will say "that's what she said" after an applicable sentence. Example: Friend: "It was stuck. I kept tugging and pulling, but it wouldn't come out". Me: "That's what she said!" zing.

2. I know that I have the same sense of humor as a swearing 5 year old. Sorry. No, wait, I'm not sorry. I'm only sorry that you don't find poop, pee and fart jokes worth a laugh.

3. I pick my nose using my thumb. I pinch the outside of my nostril, thumb in nose and pointer finger on the outside of nose. That's my technique.

4. Funny how I won't let my almost 4 year old pick his nose though. It's probably to get back at him for not letting me pick his fingernails. Don't ask.

5. Every time I get a manicure the lady makes fun of me. I guess I have really small fingernails. She always asks "where you want me to paint? you nails so leeeeetle". I get it, that means you make just as much for doing LESS work. Paint them and keep quiet.

6. I've finally conquered my orphan sock phobia. I have a cute basket I keep them in, and I don't just let them sit there. I match them to their long lost mates every once in awhile. And I don't gag when I touch them anymore, well, unless they're covered in dog hair from hiding under the bed.

7. Even though we re-homed our dog Maddie to my best friend and her family in Eugene about a month or so ago, I still come home and look for her sometimes. Taylor has to remind me she's no longer here. I wonder what will happen when my kids go away to college.

8. My son is watching a Strawberry Shortcake DVD from the library. I wonder about him sometimes, but at least he's taking a break from Fresh Beat Band.

9. I'm becoming an earring lover. And not just my normal diamond earring studs. I am liking dangle earrings! And I just bought some amazing ones from Jenny Bunny, and I can't wait to see them in my ears. Also found some fun ones at Target the other day. I can't stop thinking about decorating my ears.

10. I told my husband last night that he can choose our new car and I don't want to even think about it or make any decisions. I question myself sometimes.

11. Soon I'll get my nose pierced. I wonder if it'll make me look like I'm trying to be younger. It's not like I'm wearing a Hello Kitty shirt at the same time, so I think I'll be okay.

12. If I squish my stomach together I can make it look like a dimply baby butt. I can't wait to get my body back. And I bet Hubs would like me to stop showing him my stomach trick. I'm guessing it's not as sexy as I was hoping it would be.

13. How long am I supposed to do this list? Like what number do I go until?

14. All I ever wanna wear is jeans and a fun t-shirt and flips. I wasn't meant to dress up. I just wasn't. I think I'm fine with this now.

15. I'm done until next week. I'll miss you. See you tomorrow for Factual Friday!

smooches,
Shauna

the post where I gross some readers out. also known as Carsten's Birth Story. also known as the postest with the mostest grossest.

2010-06-16T09:10:00.000-07:00

Before I start writing Carsten's birth story, let's start with a bit of 'practice'. This practice will help determine if you are able to read the rest of this post, or if you are better off skipping this one and waiting for the next post.

So the practice is: VAGINA.

Does reading this word make you squirm? Does it paint horrible images in your brain? If the word VAGINA has you cringing, I'm doing you an immense favor and telling you to stop reading now. Save yourself. If you LOVE the word, that's weird, too, but I'll let you read about it anyway. And if you can read it without feeling a chill and wanting to hurl, then you're most likely safe to proceed with the rest of this story.

Another fair warning. I'm not going to make this birth story all fluffy and magical by saying a beautiful bundle of joy gently appeared from my loins - I'm going to say it like it was. So if you're weak or not up for it, or if you're lame, just skip this post and pretend like you didn't see it.

Friday, February 26th I was supposed to call the hospital at 6:30 AM and see if they had a bed for me or not at the hospital. They were planning to induce. I called and was told there wasn't room for me, but to go to my original 'gina doc (OB) appointment since it was scheduled. I went to that appointment hoping and praying that when she looked down there I'd have a baby hanging on for dear life and ready to drop into her arms.

I lay on the table, already bummed that I wasn't just in a hospital bed spitting a baby from between my legs, but I remained calm and let the doctor check me. I was dilated to a whopping 1-1/2 cm. Big whoop. I had been like that since week 36. I woo the doctor with some jokes, and she takes her skinny ass fingers and violates me some more, trying to 'scratch my membranes', causing my body to go into labor, since she said if I was in labor, they couldn't deny me a bed.

Now I know she was TRYING to help get contractions started by scratching my membranes, but I felt violated and it hurt like a bitch. It felt like I was having sex with the head of a unicorn, and not the kind with soft horns, but more like with a unicorn that sharpened his head stick with a knife blade sharpener, getting ready for a unicorn battle. I got all tense and told her to stop it! She asked if I wanted to go into labor, and I proceeded to tell her to knock that off, and I didn't want the baby out that bad! She stopped. Only because I used our 'safety' word. Our safety word is "knock it the f*** off!". She listened. She almost always does.

So I left my appointment with the instructions to call Saturday morning to see if the hospital was ready for my birth canal. I spent the rest of Friday playing with Taylor, bossing my mom around, making Hubs a tad miserable with my whining, and also napping quite a lot.

Flash forward to Saturday morning. BAM. It's Saturday morning. I slept well and woke up ready to bribe the head nurse into letting me in. I called at 6:30 and they told me to call at 10 when the day-time head nurse got there. At 9:59 AM I called and checked with the supreme head nurse. She told me to get there as soon as I could, because there was a bed ready!

I wasn't really expecting there to be a room available, so I was a little stunned. I told Hubs to get our bags and we were going. My mom thought I was joking, because usually the first sentence I always speak is a lie or a joke, followed by a little truth, and then followed by sarcasm and more jokes and lies. I wasn't kidding around, mom, a baby was coming out of my vagina TODAY! I gave Taylor and my mom lovies and away we went, the 15 or 20 minute ride to the hospital awaited us. I was thankful I had showered and shaved, so my baby wouldn't come out of me thinking it was a slum, but more like a well-maintained yard with a view. First impressions are huge.

I got to the hospital and was checked into my room by 10:40 AM. I was excited to get the room with hardwood floors. Blood looks so pretty against the grain of hardwood. (that's what she said).

My first nurse was amazing. We'll call her NURSEY to protect her identity. She has been a nurse at the hospital for 33 years, and she was fantastic. She laughed at all my jokes, and believe me, I kept them coming. She let me order FOOD because I was hungry and just made us feel at home. We weren't nervous, just wanted to meet the dang baby that had made me SO sick the whole pregnancy. And we wanted the baby to meet us, his awesome parents. He's so lucky.

By noon, I think, I had Pitocin (made of horse semen, mind you), running into me via my IV in my hand. I was having contractions at pretty regular intervals, and Hubs and I were sitting on the bed playing Uno. I was in one of the sexiest hospital gowns ever, with pastel geometric shapes, kinda like the graphic effects some dudes put on the side of their Dodge Neons. I was feeling so hot. Like sexy hot, not too warm hot. My doctor came in to check on me and told me I wasn't hurting enough, so she turned up the Pitocin a bunch. Because she likes to make me writhe around in pain.

Oh, and NURSEY was WAY better at checking my VAGINA to see how my CERVIX was dilating. It was like being taken to a nice lobster dinner first and having some nice beer, as apposed to when my 'gina doc checked me, it was like being fisted by Andre the Giant. I'm pretty sure when my vagina sensed 'gina doc coming, it closed up like a clam shell. Ahem. Anyway.

At about 3:00, my doctor broke my bag of waters. I wish they didn't call it that, because calling it waters is deceiving. They should call it egg flower soups. All chunky and nasty, and warm and gooey. I hated having it broke because it was slow gushes all the time, and felt like I was peeing myself. A bit later I was checked by my nurse and my 'gina doctor and was complimented on my amazing and impressive BLOODY SHOW. Ack! I've never been complimented for bleeding and oozing out of my vagina. I really feel like they were building up my confidence, and it worked. I held my head higher and felt proud of how great of a bleeder my vagina was.

This whole time I was telling inappropriate jokes, making gross and amazingly astute observations and just basically had all of the staff laughing at me. If you don't believe me, ask my husband. I just couldn't turn the damn funny off. I was on. I was on and I was hilarious.

Finally at about 6:00pm the contractions were hurting pretty bad and I wasn't getting any sort of break in between them. I had declined drugs over and over and over again, I just wanted to get straight to the epidural and shoot this baby out of my crotch. Also, the Portland Trailblazer game was about to come on, and there was no way I was going to miss it. I had Hubs turn on the game and had NURSEY go get me the guy who would poke me in the back with sharp long needles and charge me $2,000.

When it was time to do the epidural, my contractions were coming hard and fast, and I was saying a lot of words like 'bitch' and 'whore' and 'F', but never in front of NURSEY, she was too sweet. She told me she's heard every word ever, but I didn't want to disappoint her. She was like Mrs. Claus. They had me sit on the bed, with my legs hanging over the side, and my sweet husband there to support me as I bent and exposed my spine. I had my head turned so I could still watch the game. Priorities, you know. The nurse was there too, to help me out. The whole time I thought I was going to pass out because it hurt so bad, and I was feeling so faint. The poker from behind had to redo the epidural, but once I was set up and in business, I was doing better. And if memory serves me correctly, the Blazers were winning.

Once I had my epidural, I did lots of napping. I'd wake up and see Hubs on his phone, playing a fishing game that I thought was retarded, so I'd go back to sleep. All of a sudden I woke up and knew it was time to push. We got the night nurse. We'll call her NIGHT NURSE and she was equally as awesome, and she laughed at all my jokes, too. Double awesome.

My doctor was next door helping another slow poke try to deliver a baby, but the doctor said it was okay to start pushing with NIGHT NURSE. So I started pushing at about 10:45 PM. I pushed, and pushed. I told jokes, and some more jokes, even with the stupid oxygen mask on. That didn't stop me, it just made my voice sound cool. Between pushing and pooping on the table, I was trying to will this baby out of me. I was told that if he didn't have his head cocked and all funky, I would have had him out in 3 pushes. But he decided it would be fun to wreak havoc on my under-carriage. He'd show his head a bit and it'd go back in. He was playing peek a boo, only it wasn't cute or funny. At one point they had me try to reach down and feel his head. I exclaimed "oh gosh, he has tons of hair" and the nurse replies "no, you're touching yourself". Zing. One point for the nurse.

Eventually I pushed Carsten out. His whole precious body popped out at 11:41 PM. They put him on my belly and cleaned him up and Hubs cut the cord. I was happy he was out of me. And I was so proud when the doctor told me I didn't tear my vagina. But she said I bruised my vagina. I wanted to see what that looked like, but figured she wanted to go home. I quickly got my 8 lb 12 oz baby boy taken away from me because he had swallowed so much amniotic fluid during delivery, he needed to go to the nursery. Hubs followed. I was high. I had the biggest adrenaline rush ever. I felt so strong and amazing. I was sweating liquid gold, I was so amazing. And then I barfed. And I barfed some more. I had the shakes like crazy and puked my lemon lime jello. And then I went back to feeling awesome.

I wasn't even sure how much Carsten weighed or how long he was, and I was just sitting in the bed waiting for Hubs to come back with him. Night Nurse was hanging out with me in the room, and nursery nurse called me on the phone to tell me Carsten's stats. I can't believe I popped a baby out of my vag. I didn't with Taylor, he had to be vacuumed out, so I was feeling triumphant.

Then I met Carsten again. And he was awesome. It was lovely to see my husband holding our second baby boy. And it was so neat to see Carsten all cleaned up. He wasn't a crier at all. And his curls. His curls were amazing. Like Carrot Top's, only not red, and he didn't have an ugly face like Mr. Top. I was starving, and I didn't want an effing dry turkey sammich. So my NIGHT NURSE brought Hubs and I in some pizza that was in the staff break room. And cookies. She was awesome. She complimented me with the best compliment ever. She said I was the funniest patient in all her years of nursing. SHAZAM. That only encouraged me to keep joking around.

Who knows what time it was when we went to bed, or when we slept, because the rest of the time in the hospital is a blur. I remember feeling proud for pooping on my own, and I remember a LOT of breast feeding and NO sleep. I remember hating the hospital bed, but loving the food. I fondly remember my mom bringing Taylor to visit, and seeing my boys look at one another for the first time, and it really hitting home that I am the lucky mom of two amazing boys that bless my life every day.

I guess to end this post I'll tell you the two biggest things I've learned from this. 1., being a mom to 2 boys is amazing. I couldn't be happier or feel more complete. 2., I'm scared to google image search "VAGINA BRUISE", but I kind of want to. Dare me?

15 weeks

2010-06-14T09:15:00.000-07:00

Carsten turned 15 weeks on Saturday and he's constantly a reminder to me to live in the present. Time is flying by, and this is our last baby, so I'm doing my best to cherish each moment and not worry about tomorrow, next week or next month. Time is cruising and apparently it's not waiting for me to be okay with that!

Carsten loves the sound of his voice. He loves to talk, especially to Trask and his Great Grandpa Rogers, and his big brother Taylor. He is full of smiles, and his dimples melt me. He even has dimples when he's upset. I just want to eat his cheeks, at least small nibbles. He is rolling over onto his tummy, where he prefers to be. He also thinks he can go from laying on his back to sitting straight up. I think he's self-conscious about his tummy and knows that swimming-suit season is here. Although I'm not sure if he should worry about his tummy when his thighs are so amazingly gooey and plump, like mine. He's wearing 9 month clothes - beast.

Oh, and he sleeps through the night. He really does. He will go to bed around 8:30 or 9, and will wake up at like 5 or 5:30 to eat, and then back to bed until 6 or 7. LOVE IT! And I deserve this, because Taylor didn't come close to doing this until he was THREE YEARS OLD.

We hope you guys have a great week, and I'll try real hard to do the birth story blog post this week, as well. The details are already so fuzzy, all I do know is that I had the whole room in stitches from laughing so much, I was ON. I wasn't cranky or crying, I was coming up with the funniest material ever. Wish I could do that still.

Talk soon about mucous plugs, bag of waters and a bruised vagina - I know you're all excited!! You've been warned.

It's Factual Friday, Y'all

2010-06-11T08:28:00.000-07:00

Factual Friday: random facts, brought to you each and every Friday... starting NOW!

In Scotland, a new game was invented. It was entitled Gentlemen Only Ladies Forbidden... and thus the word GOLF entered into the English language.

Bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers, and laser printers actually have something in common. They were all invented by women.

Conception occurs more often in December than any other month. (I assume it's to stay warm!)

The riveting and life-changing information you just read was found here.

It's Factual Friday, Y'all

2010-06-04T14:33:00.000-07:00

Factual Friday: random facts, brought to you each and every Friday... starting NOW!

This Friday's facts are all about Rue McClanahan, a wonderful gal that we all lost too soon. You all probably love her from Golden Girls, you know, the slutty one, but I know and love her from Mama's Family (the best show ever made!), as Aunt Fran. RIP, Rue, love ya, girl!

Rue was a life long vegetarian and animal rights advocate. She was one of the first celebrities to support PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

McClanahan made appearances in more than 100 television shows and movies, including “Boy Meets World,” “Law & Order” and “King of the Hill.

As one of the most popular students at Ardmore High School, she was voted “Most Likely to Succeed” by her peers.

Rue made her first professional stage debut at Pennsylvania’s Erie Playhouse in 1957 in “Inherit the Wind.”

The riveting and life-changing information you just read was found here.

rainy days

2010-06-02T12:29:00.000-07:00

It may be June and pouring down rain outside, but we're happy and healthy and enjoying our mini-watermelons indoors for now!!

his little brother C

2010-05-26T09:51:00.000-07:00

Taylor just got done drawing the first person he's ever drawn - and it was of his brother Carsten. As if I didn't cry enough at Taylor's spring preschool program last night. I somehow managed to have tears left to cry a bit after he drew Carsten. This is going to be signed by Taylor and proudly framed and hung in our home for forever.

happiness...

2010-05-25T14:17:00.000-07:00

Taylor's last week of Tuesday + Thursday preschool is this week, and tonight is his big spring program. I'm so happy to watch him grow and change and become such a caring and sweet little man. I know I'll be crying while watching him sing, but it's definitely not because I'm sad, I'm just so excited for this guy and for all he has in store for the world - I've said it before and I'll say it again - he's going to help make the world a better, brighter place, I promise.

This post was brought to you in response to Leigh vs. Laundry and The Happiness Project.

{happy birthday, audrey}

2010-05-24T08:12:00.000-07:00

I wanted to wish a very special girl a wonderful, sunshiney and perfect 2nd birthday today! Happy birthday, Audrey! You are so very loved!

Love: Shauna, Trask, Taylor + Carsten

It's Factual Friday, Ya'll

2010-05-21T08:10:00.000-07:00

Factual Friday: random facts, brought to you each and every Friday... starting NOW!

Children typically grow more during Spring than any other season.

The bagpipe was originally made from the whole skin of a dead sheep.

The Largemouth Bass is actually smaller then the Smallmouth Bass.

In a deck of playing cards the king of hearts is the only king without a mustache.

The average person makes 1,140 phone calls a year.

The riveting and life-changing information you just read was found here.

searching for tiger woods

2010-05-21T07:43:00.000-07:00

Taylor seems to think that Tiger Woods is a place. A forest. A destination. A destination that he must go visit. To Taylor, he is not a golfer or a turd in human-form, but he's a location that Taylor MUST find.

Imagine the confusion at the park as people keep hearing Taylor calling out "Tiger Woooooods?!" over and over, like he's looking for the dude. And imagine the parents that are looking at me like I'm strange, and that maybe my kid is strange, too. My reply to them always is, "he thinks Tiger Woods is a special forest," and you know what? - they still look at me like I am strange. I'm totally not.

It was after days of Taylor begging me to take him to Tiger Woods that I finally asked him if he knew that Tiger Woods was a person. He refused to hear this. Denial struck the kid like lightning. Taylor will not listen to me and insists that T.Woods is somewhere that he really needs to be, and fast. Like RIGHT NOW fast.

I wonder what he expects to find at Tiger Woods, besides cute little panties, golf clubs and a few empty liquor bottles? Did I just cross a line? Oops.

sons.

2010-05-17T16:53:00.000-07:00

It's Monday afternoon, almost evening, and guess what? We survived! It was actually a great Monday! And you know what, I'm sitting here looking at my boys and feeling so blessed. And kinda gassy from too many dried mango slices, but I digress... These boys are going to make the world a better place, I just know it!!

I couldn't agree more with this quote:

You don't raise heroes, you raise sons. And if you treat them like sons, they'll turn out to be heroes, even if it's just in your own eyes. ~Walter M. Schirra, Sr.

Oh, Martha!

2010-05-14T08:19:00.000-07:00

Look at this amazing bookshelf. It's made by stacking benches. I can SO do this project! Amazing. Why don't I ever have these simple ideas that actually work?

Image from right here.

It's Factual Friday, Ya'll

2010-05-13T16:29:00.000-07:00

Factual Friday: random facts, brought to you each and every Friday... starting NOW!

The city of Portland in Oregon was named after a coin toss in 1844. Heads for Portland and tails for Boston.

Approximately two-thirds of people tip their head to the right when they kiss.

The shrimp's heart is in its head.

Today is my 5 year wedding anniversary. I LOVE YOU TO THE MOON + BACK, TRASK!

Information found here.

Whoozit + Ebeanstalk

2010-05-13T15:37:00.000-07:00

Awhile ago I wrote a post about a great website, Ebeanstalk, which is dedicated to selecting great developmental toys for kids. They have a team of moms and a team of child experts that help them pick out the best toys by age, so you can be sure your child gets toys that have been specifically matched to his or her age!

I was sent this Whoozit toy for Carsten to play with (ages 0-18 months) and at first I was surprised at everything the toy had 'going on'. I am not a fan of busy toys, but once I flipped the toy over to see the back of it, I loved it. It had a simple striped pattern that seemed to grab and hold Carsten's attention. Taylor, my 3-1/2 year old, however, was enthralled with the toy and loved it from the get-go. He showed Carsten all the noises it made (crinkly paper sounds, squeaks, rattles) and then Carsten seemed to pay attention. Both boys love it and it holds Carsten's attention if you are playing with it with him.

As a parent, I think this toy would be a great gift. It is easy to attach to a crib railing so they can play, although I would never leave it up at night. I am curious to watch what Carsten thinks of this toy as he grows up a bit and to see if it still holds his interest and to see if he plays with it even more, and discovers what it does on his own, without the help of his helpful and pushy older brother.

It's Factual Friday, Ya'll!

2010-05-07T11:49:00.000-07:00

Factual Friday: random facts, brought to you each and every Friday... starting NOW!

The lemon originated in China.
Lemonade was a favorite of the Chinese Emperors.
Lemons made their way to the United States with the help of Catholic Missionaries and were planted in Arizona and California. Today they produce virtually all of the lemons consumed in the United States as well as about one-third of those used throughout the world.

Lemony facts learned here. Lemony goodness can be found here, and on sale, too!

mom talk: toys. (not those kind!)

2010-05-03T12:27:00.000-07:00

If you've been a blog reader of mine for awhile, you know that I'm a mom. And you know that my son Taylor is ALWAYS playing, and we're constantly on the look-out for great sites that provide safe, fun and educational toys for him to play with. Now more than ever I want Taylor's toys to be high quality and to last a long time, because soon Carsten will be playing with them, too! I'm not a fan of the McDonald Happy Meal toys - they make me want to pull my hair out. What I do like are simple, open-ended toys that let Taylor expand and explore his creativity (and believe me, he's got quite the imagination!). When I come across a good website, I want to share it with my readers.

Ebeanstalk is a toy website dedicated to selecting the best toys by age and kids toys. I truly believe this site sells some of the very best educational toys for your child. Check it out next time you're shopping for a little one! The parents and the child will thank you!

It's Factual Friday, Ya'll!

2010-04-30T07:53:00.000-07:00

Factual Friday: random facts, brought to you each and every Friday... starting NOW!

A hyena gives birth through her clitoris. (yes, this is true and makes me feel weird and creepy typing it - thanks Tami!!)

Go ahead and Google for more information on the hyena, but don't expect to sleep well tonight, or this week!

2 years on Etsy

2010-04-29T06:02:00.000-07:00

I try not to do many self-promotions on this blog, but the month of May marks lemon drop studio's 2nd year on Etsy, and I couldn't help but share both my joy and my big sale with all of you!!

For those of you who didn't know, I was laid off 3 days after returning from maternity leave after Taylor was born in 2006. I wasn't in love with the job, and was dreading going back to work, so this was a blessing. But sometimes blessings don't pay the bills. Slowly but surely lemon drop studio evolved and I haven't looked back since. I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate two fun years on Etsy than by having a sale to thank my customers and friends for being so terrific!! So basically lemon drop studio is having a 2 year birthday, all May long!!

During the month of May, everything in lemon drop studio's etsy shop will be 25% off the listed price (not including shipping). If that wasn't exciting enough, sales over $50 will get any 4x6 print of their choice absolutely free!!

Blog readers may start shopping NOW and save early, just mention you're a blog reader and your discounts can begin today!! Gosh, I just love making you guys feel VIP!

Want to spread the love? Tell your friends and family and maybe even your enemies about lemon drop studio! I'll love you for it!! And in case you didn't know, lemon drop studio blogs!

chubbers

2010-04-27T20:12:00.000-07:00

My baby is two months old today! The hospital and delivery is already a blur! (That reminds me, I need to blog the birth story still... perhaps tomorrow).

Carsten had his 2-month appointment today and blew us away with how much he has grown. I was still a little surprised when the scale read 14 pounds 3 ounces - I mean, I knew he was big, but I wasn't really expecting to see that number! Not only is he hefty, he's tall, too. He has grown 3 inches since he was born, and measures 24-1/4 inches long. This kid is going to be big.

This evening he's been a bit sensitive, not a fan of his shots. He's just extra cuddly (didn't think that was possible), but he's managing to crack some smiles every now and then.

I'll get an updated picture of the chubster up soon - the necks and chins are amazing and ample, just how we like them!

too creepy

2010-04-23T21:26:00.000-07:00

These 'shoes' have me feeling very uncomfortable and twitchy, and pretty agitated just LOOKING at them. I can't even imagine what's going to happen when I see someone wearing them. And in Portland, I'm bound to come across someone in these silly things soon. I hope I don't scream out loud when it inevitably happens. I've always counted on a pair of shoes to make me happy, but never to terrify me! The world is clearly changing. I am not sure who I can trust.

And get this: both my dad and my husband are threatening to get a pair (just to torment me!!) - but little do they know the kinds of things I'll do to get even with them. I always win. They really should know this by now.

Shoes can be found by googling Vibram FiveFingers, or you could support one of my favorite stores, REI, and get them there. If you're considering them, do yourself and me a huge favor, just send me the extra $85 bucks and you won't have dumb feet, and I'll be richer. Win-win.

Happy Saturday!

Factual Friday, Ya'll

2010-04-23T10:53:00.000-07:00

Factual Friday: random facts, brought to you each and every Friday... starting NOW!

To escape the grip of a crocodile's jaws, push your thumbs into its eyeballs-it will let you go instantly.

Facts brought to you by this site, right here.

happy!

2010-04-19T09:11:00.000-07:00

They make me so very happy! It's impossible not to smile seeing these pictures... I'm just a little bit in love with these guys.

All is well and we're happy and healthy. We went to the beach on Saturday, and it rained. It rained the whole time. And it was windy. It was nice the days before we were there, and it was beautiful yesterday, so we had bad timing, but still had a great time! Carsten did great in the car, which was my biggest fear. We were able to visit with Grandparents and of course made the stop to the Tillamook Cheese Factory. Taylor had a fun time and we tuckered him out. Trask and I were able to laugh and talk in the car with both kids zonked out in the back seat, so it was kinda like a date. Kinda.

We're starting off the week super happy because my Blazers beat the Suns last night, in Phoenix. SO happy the Playoffs are here and we're in them!! Go Blazers!!

Have a great week!!

Factual Friday, Ya'll

2010-04-16T08:29:00.000-07:00

Factual Friday: random facts, brought to you each and every Friday... starting NOW!

Chewing gum while peeling onions will keep you from crying.

The pupil of the eye expands as much as 45 percent when a person looks at something pleasing. (go ahead, stare at my picture and see if it's true... if I don't repulse you!)

Bats always turn left when exiting a cave. (Note to self: stand to the right of cave openings.)

Facts brought to you by this site, right here.

dirty little secrets

2010-04-15T15:28:00.000-07:00

I don't even know how to start this confession. I think I'll just come right out and say it...

I fantasize about having a minivan. I'm not sure if they turn me on or not, but they are on my mind quite often - more than I'd ever want to admit.

Readers? Are you still there?! Did I offend you? Are you shocked and/or appalled? Well, let me explain. (Not that I have to justify myself and my secrets to you!!).

Okay, so I adore my Subaru Legacy Outback Sport. I love it's sleek silver beauty, it's soccer mom-ish wagon body and I like that it doesn't look like a minivan, at all. I just don't think minivans look right. Don't ask why, but that's just how I feel.

I love my Subaru, HOWEVER... if you find me in a parking lot, leaning into my car at an awkward angle, you will also see me watching the mom in the minivan parked next to me, watching with jealous, envious eyes. Let's learn why...

The minivan's allure comes from a door that opens for you. It's like a gentleman saying, "Here, ma'am, (or milf), let me get this door for you, because I see your hands are full." My Subaru doesn't do that.
The minivan is the perfect height. I see moms standing up while they buckle their children into their car seats. They don't have to lean at an awkward angle and heave their child into their seat, whilst trying to keep their jeans up in the back so they don't show all of the Target parking lot their g-string.
The minivan can hold a BOB Revolution double jogging stroller (my dream!), and you still have room to fit yourself, and the children (without having to tie them to your roof-rack). My Subaru can't even fit the Chicco stroller inside, let alone a jogging stroller, and yeah right even thinking about a double jogging stroller. Ugh, it's my Subaru's fault I can't get skinny, because the damn stroller WON'T. GO. IN.

I will never drive a minivan, on principle. I will forever lust after the minivan in my mind, but will not succumb to temptation, because what would happen to me next? I'm not hip or with-it to begin with, I have no room to mess this up - my son already wants to sit the row in front of me at the theater, and he's THREE.

Anyway, that's my not-so-secret-now dirty little secret. Are you judging me? Or did I just hurt your feelings because you rock a minivan? I still like you. Hell, I'm jealous of you.

forward, not reply!

2010-04-14T11:58:00.000-07:00

Recently I was looking on Craigslist for someone to come in and deep clean our bathroom and kitchen, because I'm not always amazing at being domestic, and I guess when I get that rare moment that I'm not nursing Carsten, I don't want to scrub the floors.

I found a few good posts and did some emailing for rates and schedules, etc. And this is where I learned a valuable lesson.

The lady responded to my email. And I guess I was expecting a much lower rate, and so I made up my mind that I'd rather save that money than have clean floors. Or I guess I'd clean them myself! And then bill Trask for my cleaning services.

I was on my BlackBerry, and went to forward the email to Trask. Above the message I wrote: "For this amount, I can just clean the house myself and use that money for more shoes!!"

Innocent enough, right? Wrong! After I sent it, I realized that I replied, not forwarded. I guess I'm not terribly surprised I haven't heard back from the cleaning lady.

And no, I still haven't cleaned the floors.

things to smile about.

2010-04-12T09:27:00.000-07:00

Mondays get a bad rap, and it's time for all of us to focus on the positives, and not on how horrible the day we treat like a red-headed stepchild is. So Monday, we're going to focus on the good stuff today, even though you're still kinda lamest day ever.

Here's my short, simple list of things that are making me feel good on this drizzly Monday morning:

HAIR CUT
I get my hair done at the neatest place here in Hillsboro called Ritual Hair Design. All the girls there are WONDERFUL, and Shawn, my lady, well, she always knows how to fix my hair, and even puts up with me changing my mind every 6 weeks and even tolerates me when I have no idea what I want to do with it. LOVE HER!! So today when I was doing my hair, I realized that this hair cut is one that I am just LOVING!! Good hair makes me feel like it draws the eyes up, and people won't stare at my birthing hips... because DAMN!

UNDIES
After nine months of feeling like a knocked-up heffer, it was time to get some undies that made me feel cute again. I found these little ladies at Target this weekend, and at $7.99, it's a cheap way to feel cute and not so bovine. The brand is Liberty of London and it has ruffles and they make me feel like a million bucks, or euros. (and yes, this is a picture of me wearing them, how do you like that, dad?!). I just told a lie...

PEACHWAVE
Trask and I discovered this self-serve frozen yogurt place this weekend and let me tell you - it's AMAZING and heavenly and I can't stop thinking about it. It's inside the Beaverton Mall, just about 15 or 20 minutes away, so not too close to home, but close enough it's worth the trip! Oh Peachwave, make me your sweet lady. They have about 16 different frozen yogurt flavors (a lot low fat or non-fat) and then a whole toppings bar with fresh fruit and the works, and you pay per ounce. We ended up with a bowl of cheesecake and strawberry fro-yo with kiwi, strawberries and mandarin oranges on top, and a few chocolate sprinkles for Tay. We all shared this and had plenty, and it was under $4. HEAVEN!! And you don't feel guilty after eating it! I was on cloud nine after this place, and it was a sweet reward since I'm now in my non-maternity jeans!!

JEANS
That's right, you just read it a sentence ago... I'm not in my paneled, frumpy, worn out maternity jeans!! I slipped on a pair of jeans that I wore right before I got pregnant with C, and it feels so nice to zip and button again! I have only 5 pounds left of my C weight to lose, and then on to another 50 or so to get back to my old 'fighting weight'!! I know I have a way to go, but I'm pretty jazzed that I'm making progress. My awesomeness overfloweth!

SHOES
These little green beauties make my feet smile. Doesn't something green just make you happy!? Pssst... got these little ladies at Old Navy, and right now they're on sale. Boo-yah.

FAMILY
Oh, and you know what, I had a great weekend with my family and nothing helps get me ready for a great week than a fun weekend with my guys!!

So, what's making you happy??

This post was brought to you in response to Leigh vs. Laundry and The Happiness Project.

6 weeks. a Carsten update.

2010-04-11T16:10:00.000-07:00

6 weeks ago little Carsten was born. He's still growing and changing everyday, and if I do say so myself, he's a charming and handsome boy, and just so sweet. He loves to talk, and gave his first real big belly laugh today - those are just the best. He's looking more and more like me each day, and he even has my nose. I'm not sure that's something to be excited about, but he is as cute as a button!

Just had to share a sweet picture of Mister Cheeks from this morning. I still can't believe I haven't eaten him yet. (That was SO not meant to sound barbaric!)

Lovies!
S

bliss.

2010-04-11T12:37:00.001-07:00

To Taylor, cruising around on the bike path is the perfect way to spend his time on a sunny Sunday morning. I can't say I disagree.

SO thankful for a beautiful Sunday morning with my family that makes me oh-so-happy! I hope everyone is having a super-rad weekend. You deserve it.

Factual Friday, Ya'll

2010-04-09T07:27:00.000-07:00

Factual Friday: random facts, brought to you each and every Friday... starting NOW!

King Louis XIV lived and ruled so long (72 yrs) that he is not only the longest ruling ruler of Europe but his successor, Louis XV, was neither his son nor his grandson but his great-grandson.

Information source found from this fun site, here.

Stay tuned... I'll be revealing Factual Friday's special logo soon! (it's here!!)

Win This + Hand It Over.

2010-04-07T07:57:00.000-07:00

Confessions of a Crochet Addict is one of my go-to etsy shop for practically any gift that needs to be given... and it just so happens that Amber, the talent and awesomeness behind this shop, is wonderful, as well! From crocheted hats to dog sweaters to kitty titties and stuffed animals, you can find what you need easily.

Not only does Amber run a fantastic etsy shop, but she blogs, too, and she's dang good at it, too! Stop by her blog today for a chance to enter to win one of her popular Mira Caps - LOVE THEM!!

The Mira Cap pictured in this posted isn't the one she's giving away... because you need to go to her blog and see that one!! (I am picturing one of my faves, though!) If you love buttons, you'll love the hat! Good luck. And if you are my reader and you win, you kinda have to give it to me. Just kidding. Kind of.

Good luck!

Factual Friday, Ya'll

2010-04-02T08:57:00.000-07:00

Factual Friday: random facts, brought to you each and every Friday... starting NOW!

Chuck Norris invented Kentucky Fried Chicken's famous secret recipe, with eleven herbs and spices. But nobody ever mentions the twelfth ingredient: fear.

Information source found here.

One more fact...

I get to meet Amber today, finally. She's only been my Cyber BFF for over a year, and yes, we live in the same city! Another fact: I'm so excited!

god papa

2010-04-02T08:45:00.000-07:00

Last night Carsten got to meet his godfather, and no, not that kind of Godfather, but you know, the other kind. It was a perfect Thursday night with Chinese food, my Aunt Michelle, cousin Scott, all my boys home and the Blazer game on TV.

When it was time to choose a godfather for Carsten, it didn't take long to make a decision. I love all my cousins deeply and they all mean a ton to me, but there's just something about Scott that makes him perfect as Carsten's godfather. We were thrilled when Scott said he would love to!!

So last night was their first meeting, and it was so much fun to see Scott and Carsten together - warms the heart, for sure. And I'm so glad that Carsten didn't shart all over Scott (see, I had to make this post a little less sappy), but also happy he at least ripped a couple good farts on his lap! If Carsten didn't, I'd have to do it, and that's embarrassing!

Factual Friday, Ya'll!

2010-03-26T10:03:00.001-07:00

Factual Friday: random facts, brought to you each and every Friday... starting NOW!

Tasmanian devils give birth to 20-30 young, each weighing approximately 0.18-0.24 grams. When the young are born, they move from the vagina to the pouch. Once inside the pouch, they each remain attached to a nipple for the next 100 days. Despite the large litter at birth, the female has only four nipples, so that no more than four young can survive birth. Those who do not procure a nipple are typically eaten by the mother.

Information source found here.

1 month

2010-03-26T08:44:00.000-07:00

1 month old tomorrow, and this boy has blessed this family more than we could have ever thought possible.

It was scary to go from a family of 3 to a family of 4, and I remember freaking out the first night home from the hospital, while I was feeding C at some ungodly early hour, telling Trask, "why did we have another baby?! Taylor is perfect. we're cheating Taylor." I was misty eyed and wasn't sure where these feelings were coming from, but I imagine it was from the overwhelming exhaustion and fear of how we would handle two kiddos. After a couple seconds of thinking about it, and a hug from Trask, I realized everything is going to be fine. The worries, chores, and doctor appointments will double or triple, but so will the fun, laughter, and joy that comes from these two amazing boys.

As Carsten develops more of a personality, I see that he's a Mama's boy already. He is a passionate, enthusiastic eater, and is ticklish on his back, tummy, feet, neck and neck rolls. He has four dimples on his cute cheeks, just like his Mama, too. I love a boy with dimples, so this is THRILLING! Carsten also doesn't cry too much at all, but he does YELL. An adult yell, too. It certainly gets the point across, but it's hard to take seriously, unless he holds his breath, which he's mastered as well.

Enough mush for now... I hope everyone enjoys their weekend! So happy it's Friday, and so, so happy that I managed to squeeze into my pre-pregnancy Blazers playoff 2009 shirt - life is good!