Bed Rest....

Haven't been around lately due to an imposed 22 hour a day bedrest.
It's one of the hardest things I've ever done.

Everything is on hold in my life and my poor DH is having to manage life without me, while I sit/lay in a hospital bed for another 5-10 weeks.

So, while I lay here and try to take care of the little one growing in my belly, I contimplate this blog.

Where's it going?

What do I want out of it?

What will it become?

It's funny that my last post was titled "In with the good....out with the bad".

Irony.

So I'll be around reading and commenting and maybe writing. This little one will determine it all.

Please keep me in your prayers. I need it.

In with the good....out with the bad

Life since the beginning of February has been....well....tough!

We've had life changing news both good and bad and I came to realize that good news and bad can both be challenging, especially when they are walking hand in hand into your life.

I've been aching to get back to blogging but have had neither the time or the energy and still a sagging lack of motivation.

But here I am. Back after almost two months and with news to share.

First the bad because.... well just because.

My once vibrant MIL is sick....Moderate to Severe Dementia for now but it will continue to progress.

She's only 64 and she is, in ways, like my mother. She has done so much for us and has always been there through thick and thin.

Which leads us to spending all our time travelling 45 minutes away to be with her. Support her. Protect her. Provide for her.

It is all consuming, terrifying, tiring, and sad.

The decisions and communication that go on with a disease like this are immense and I never would have had any idea that at my "young" age I would be dealing with something so HUGE!

64.....only 64......



~Sigh~

O.k. on to the good....

The hubs and I are finally starting our family.

We have a little boy due in August.

We are ecstatic, overjoyed, humbled, mystified, and greatful.

This is a whole new beginning to this wonderful life we have made with each other. I can't wait to see what the future holds and what fun this little "man" will bring into our lives.

The fun has begun with picking out names, choosing nursery colors, nesting..... all the exciting stuff that I missed out on when I lost my first....

I am so happy to be past the scary time and on to the next stage and look forward to sharing my journey with anyone who will listen.


So....it looks like I will be taking care of not one but two new people. My MIL who will soon loose her independance and will be very angry and depressed, and my little man who will soon be the light of my life and will change my very existence in more ways than I can imagine. But in ways that I can't wait to experience.

Sunnier Side of Life

I'm leavin' on a jet plane

Don't know when I'll be back again.


Actually I do know when i'll be back. I wish I didn't but I do.

We're headed to sunny Southern California and I am so ready for the warm sun on my shoulders.

What's that song?

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy.....Isn't it John Denver?

Anyway, the hubs and I are travelling with his mother, who has early stage dementia, so that she can spend some time with her siblings before she doesn't remember them anymore.

Makes me sad but I'm so happy to be able to do this for and with her now before it's too late. The last few months have been a struggle. Neurologists, sleep studies, bloodwork, oh my.... Yes, we need this. As a family. Together and happy.

But, I did tell the hubs we'll have to put our patient pants on. I've been wearing mine a lot lately and it's his turn to join in.

And the sunshine....oh the sunshine. I can't wait.

AND...........

I got my camera. It's locked and loaded and just waiting for all the inspiration that is and will be flowing out of me.

I can't wait to share since I haven't had a camera in what seems like forever.

So Mia is hitting the road and will be out of touch for about a week.

When I return....It'll be a whole new Mia/Bay. I can feel it brimming already.

Sunny Southern Cal....Ready or not....Here we come!

M.I.A

Yep, that's me Missing in Action.

I might start calling my self Mia for short....

I just haven't been motivated. December killed me.

Almost literally.




It was the Hubs last month at his much loved job. That broke my heart.

I had a multitude of cakes for a multitude of occasions(and I made a vow to myself that I may never make another wedding cake-I did say may never....)

We did the ever fun travelling 40 miles, one way, to see my family and the in-laws on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Then, delivered the Wedding cake on New Years Eve to my new cousin, the same 40 miles there and 40 miles back with a topper on my lap and two sleep deprived nephews in the back seat!

And all the while creating while not feeling so creative.

Not really checking in to see what my favorite bloggers are up to.

I think the fact that my camera is kaput is really getting to me too. I haven't taken a picture in a month, and anyone who knows me knows that is sooooo out of the ordinary....

I just haven't felt inspired.

The last week and a half I've had a TERRIBLE cold. Man, it was a bad one. Then the hubs got it and you know men....they don't do so well when their sick! Poor baby....

So I'm forcing myself back and out of this rut.

2010 is going to be a good year....

I'm buying myself a camera I've been dying to get (actually it was kind of a present-the fam gave me moolah for Christmas so that I can get myself a more professional camera-yippeeeee)

But, I haven't bought it yet-which tells you how icky I've been....

I mean, waiting a month to get this:



shows me I need to get myself together.

I have plans....

Families to photograph.

Childrens expressions to catch.

Dogs making cute faces.

Babies to pose.

Landscapes calling my name.

Ice crystals still hanging over the stream where we hike but threating to melt if I don't hurry up.

So it's time.

No time like the present huh?

Heck 2010 is already 20 days gone. I'd better get a move on.

Cause really

Bay Beautiful Bay

I've found myself another absolute favorite!

I've been hinting to the hubs to get this for me for my Christmas decorating.

I keep telling him it'll last forever and isn't just for Christmas. So far he is putting up a front that he isn't going to get it for me but we shall see.....

What is it you ask?

drum roll please....



It's a fresh Bay Leaf Wreath from William Sonoma!

Isn't it perfect for me....I'm mean really isn't it?

They come in two sizes


22"
AND


15"

I personally like the bigger one. Plus, get this, since they are fresh you can use them for your holiday cooking. Just pluck a leaf off of the wreath (from the back honey....) and it's ready for use. Fresh Bay for your soups or stews or what-have-you. Then as it dries out, you have dried Bay Leaves. Do you know how much Bay is at the store? Do you? Well, this much Bay would cost wayyyy more than 30-60 bucks. For sure....

And really the price is right, the 22" is $59.95 and the 15" is only $29.95.

I can see this hanging at my kitchen window from a beautiful ribbon.

Not only is it beautiful but so super useful! I mean who couldn't use a Bay Leaf Wreath, right?

Simply Bay's Place sure could use a fresh Bay Leaf Wreath.

A Marriage made in Heaven.....

Enjoy!

Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes....

It's a beautiful snowy day here in Colorado and I'm in love.

Not only am I in love with the wintry white gorgeousness that is happening right outside my window but I'm in love with this:



Origins Ginger Essence™


My wonderfully sweet sister remembered me oohing and ahhing over it when we were shopping last week and bought me not only the perfume but body butter, scrub,body wash and a roller ball perfume for my purse. Lucky me! (It was my birthday but she went all out and gave me the sweetest card~it made me cry...)

Now, I'm not much of a musky, rich, citrusy, heavy, scented girl.

I love me some light, flower-ish, breathy scents. I adore LOVELY by SJP!

But this sensuous skin scent (that's what Origins calls it- and they're right) is just plain perfect. Fresh, earthy, and light. Listen to their description, or I guess READ their description....sometimes it seems like I'm chatting and forget that you are reading ;)

Ancient Chinese tradition holds that where there's yin, there must be yang. And so the fragrant fire of spicy Ginger is balanced by the refreshing zeal of Bergamot, Lemon and Lime to create a sensuous synergy between warm and cool, energy and calm, tempest and tranquility. Skin is surrounded in an enticing aroma that's impossible to resist.

I love the scent. It makes me smile and puts some spring in my step but calms me at the same time! Yes, it is that wonderful.

So, speaking of favorites....were we speaking of favorites?

Oh yes, that's right I was headed there but only made it past the title....

I was singing some Christmas tunes the other day and found myself singing one of my all time favorite songs EVER, albeit not a Christmas tune.

My Favorite Things. You know, The Sound of Music. It's thundering outside and Julie Andrews sings of raindrops on roses and brown paper packages.

I started thinking of all the things she sings about.

All classic lovely little things.

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with string

Cream colored ponies and crisp apple strudel
Door bells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Silver white winters that melt into spring

Who would have known that all these things would make such an impression on my life. I was just a little girl spinning around in circles singing this song over and over.

Now I'm a woman who loves simple brown packages, copper kettles, sleigh bells, white horses, raindrops on any kind of flower, and well....schnitzel. I love me some schnitzel with spaetzel....But let's not go down that road.

Anyway....

I was thinking about simple lovely things and how wrapped up we can all get around Christmas time.

Christmas isn't about lists of what YOU want. It isn't about finding THE gift for the kiddos. It isn't even about gift giving and receiving.

It's about faith and hope and love.
It's about family and friends and neighbors.
And it's about helping people, giving of yourself, and listening to your heart.

Christmas in our house going to be a simple one.

Simple but lovely.

And that's o.k. Actually it's better than o.k. It's perfect. It's really the way it should be.

So, since I'm listening to my heart and I've seen some amazing stuff in the last couple of weeks. Each week of the month of December I'm going to share some of my favorite things.

I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I will! Now go check out that perfume. I promise you won't be let down. Simple divine!

~Thankful~

What have I been up to for a month, you ask?

Well just to name a few things I've been UP to....

Creating for a show I'm in the next two weekends

A car accident (minor but still ouchy....)

Working for a friend while his assistant has been on maternity leave

Finishing up with Halloween and moving on to Thanksgiving which is now turning into Christmas

Dealing with the fact that my hubs got news his company is closing. Last day January 5th. 6 WEEKS!


Let's see what I have not been UP to....

Cooking

Cleaning

Blogging

Laundry

Working out



But you know what? Today I've decided to be thankful.
A good week to choose to be thankful don't cha think....

I'm thankful for:

My family

My friends

My health

My heart

My creativity

My home

And last but not least Me.

I'm thankful for me.


For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Happy Thanksgiving!