Be Quick!

I seriously think my baby girl has an internal connection to me that senses when I'd like to do something that doesn't include her. She'll be sound asleep and I attempt to write a post, and suddenly she's awake! Like right now for instance. I see her on the monitor...beginning to squirm. "Hmmmmm....mommy isn't thinking only about me. I can change that!" And there she goes...

I'm going to make this a quick one. On the Nine West site, there are currently some great bags on sale.

Nine West Gabby Hobo - $59.99

Isn't this a snappy bag? It's like wearing fun jewelry. It puts some zing on your shoulder. It comes in black and blue as well.

Does a giraffe change its spots?

At last! It took several visits to Diaper Bag Boutique.com to make my choice. Decided to go with an OiOi diaper bag. No idea how to pronounce OiOi other than the obvious, but their bags are fantastic. Created by a new Mom (of course!) when she realized there was a lack of diaper bags that were functional, yet stylish.

The hobo bag has over 30 different colors, patterns and fabrics to choose from. I chose the giraffe print because I liked the contrast of black and white. Black for the functionality is always a good choice, but Elle's stroller is black and my winter jackets are mostly black. The pattern is a great way to break up the usual. Plus, it reminds me of the Michael Kors Giraffe print bags. I think this year he's into zebra print. Oh well, guess I'm behind a season.



Ooops! This is all I got for now - I see baby arms flailing in her bassinet. Back again soon.

It's a....

GIRL! I'm watching my beautiful baby girl sleeping peacefully. Tomorrow, she will be 4 weeks old. It's been absolutely heaven getting to know her and love her. And the love she gives back is unlike anything my handsome husband and I have ever known.

I'll be back next week with a new post! In the meantime, hoping more friends show up with coffee.

A New Vintage Bag

I was at the Fossil outlet store last week looking at their handbags. Definitely casual, but they are built to last. Most are robust leather, quality stitching and solid hardware. The price point is higher ranging $100 - $200, but definitely justified.

I popped on Fossil.com to see what they're featuring and saw this great vintage-like bag. It really does remind me of the old Classic Coach. It's like a mini-saddle. Very cute. A great one for jeans on a casual Friday or weekend wear. Not sure how long the strap is, but likely it's cross-body.





Check out a Fossil store or outlet -- you'll be pleasantly surprised. I'm a fan.

The Quest for Diaper Bags

Okay, I've been somewhat distracted lately. Patiently waiting for baby. My due date isn't for a few more days, but still...anytime would be great! I am ready to meet our baby. Going for a loooooong walk tonight.

In the meantime, we've been busy nesting, if you will. It's been a lot of fun getting furniture, car seat, stroller, bottles and more. And now finally, I've started searching for the diaper bag.

It's trickier than I thought it would be. More to consider than I thought. For one, does it function for me as well? Would Daddy be good with carrying the bag as well? I've come to the conclusion that a bag for him is not necessarily what I would like to carry. Here is an example of a bag that I absolutely love.

1. It looks like a regular tote, not a diaper bag.
2. It doesn't have a crazy pattern that matches the baby's "sleeper".
3. It's functional for me and baby.

Nest - Canvas Diaper Bag in Khaki with Black Trim - $220



A bag for Daddy, it's definitely not. Here's one more his speed.

1. It's black.
2. It does not look like a purse.
3. Did I mention it does not look like a purse??

Skip Hop - Duo Deluxe Edition Diaper Bag in Black - $53.99




Oh, and it actually clips to the stroller.



You see the dilemma, not an easy decision. Or, do I start using some of my own larger totes and just buy the change pad. Both of these bags are on Diaper Bag Boutique.com. And they deliver to Canada.

Perhaps I should wait to make a decision when I'm thoroughly exhausted and up for the middle of the night feeding. My guess is that I'll feel quite justified in buying both. In the meantime, I'll continue to search the site for more great finds.

Thinking Pink

Last week was cause for celebrating. On Wednesday, I officially crossed the 5 year mark since I was diagnosed with breast cancer. A very happy day. I spent the day with good friends and then celebrated at dinner with my amazing husband.

When I thought back to when I was initially diagnosed, this day seemed impossibly far away. Surgery, chemotherapy and many other challenging days were still to come. It was impossible to see at the time, but there are precious gifts in the cancer journey. One of the biggest is the love and support from family, friends and community. Another gift is that life will never be the same. Things you assumed were important - aren't. Things that you thought were solid - weren't. Things you thought would happen - didn't. But there are so many blessing in all those lessons. Easy for me to say that now.

That was Wednesday. The very next day, I took my Mom to the cancer clinic to talk to a radiation oncologist about treating her early stage of breast cancer. Fortunately, due to her diligence in getting regular mammograms, she found her cancer very early. She's had surgery and will require 20 radiation treatments. Her Doctor told us this would not affect her life expectancy. We're so very thankful. But it was scary walking through those halls again. It didn't feel like 5 years ago since I'd been there. It felt like yesterday.

When I was parking the car after dropping my Mom at the doors to the clinic, the parking attendant asked me where I was going. I told her the cancer clinic. I watched as she looked down at my baby belly and said, "Pregnant?!" Like she couldn't possible believe I would be going there. I put my hand on my belly and said "no, it's for my Mom." I know a woman who was diagnosed in her last month of pregnancy. All the hormones can really contribute to the growth. I only have to look at my baby rolling around in my tummy and it brings tears to my eyes about how blessed and thankful I am.

I'm not recommending a bag today, instead, I'm reminding you to do monthly self exams and get a mammogram! Don't neglect your breast health.