Monday, July 14, 2014

productivity, wraps, and secret-keeping

We had a productive and relaxing weekend. I saw some meme or something the other day that said something about how when you're in your early twenties, you measure your weekends by how 'epic' they are, how hard you party, and how exhausted you are on Monday morning. But by your late twenties and thirties, you measure the success of a weekend by how productive it was. I'm definitely there. I'm pretty sure I was there in my teens and early 20s, too, but that's beside the point. My weekend was productive and therefore successful.

We spent as much time as possible practicing our baby skills with Eliana, our 7-week-old niece.


I give myself an A+ for Getting Her to Fall Asleep.


But Matt got an A+ for Getting Her to Smile, which is possibly even more exciting. Either way, we were a good team. 

On Saturday morning we visited some yard sales and thrift stores. We picked up a few things to fill out the nursery, but nothing super exciting. The best deal of the weekend was one I found on a local baby-stuff-for-sale Facebook group:


A very gently used K'tan wrap!! I have been really wanting a K'tan, but haven't had any luck finding one (in my size, which is the tricky part...that they aren't one size fits all) secondhand or to borrow. But this one popped up Friday night and I jumped on it! Naturally, I immediately had to test it out with the only pseudo-baby I had on hand, my trusty childhood stuffed bear Booboo (if you have an astute memory, you may recall that Booboo also got called up in the fall to assist us in stroller-training Lola, among other things). I'm pretty sure I don't yet have the knack for properly wrapping the K'tan, but their web page is full of tutorials and videos, so I'm sure I'll figure it out eventually. I also have an Ergo that I bought in the fall, so I have to give myself an A+ in Baby Wearing Readiness. All I need is the baby.

In case you haven't heard, the World Cup is (FINALLY) over. I successfully managed to never watch more than 3 consecutive minutes of a game, so it looks like 2014 won't go down as the year I learned to appreciate soccer. Oh well. At least it's the year that I read Harry Potter! And now our TV will be available for much more important programming, such as the final weeks of The Bachelorette and the finally-on-Netflix Season 4 of Pretty Little Liars.

Last night I decided give the 'coconut oil as deep conditioner' thing a whirl. My hair has been really dry and icky this summer...I was planning to buy something fancy and expensive to try and remedy the situation, but my sister, Ms. Fancy Pants Expensive Hair Stuff herself, actually recommended the coconut oil thing. It kinda blew my mind. Here I was giving her carte blanche to recommend some ridiculously overpriced salon-professionals-only product, and she tells me to get something that NATURE created and that only costs like $8??? I nearly keeled over. I think that the pregnancy hormones must be making her brain go wacky or something. But anyway, I did it, and I must say...my hair is feeling quite sleek and shiny today! I even wore it NOT in a ponytail! I may be a believer yet.

Can't you tell how soft it is today? Ha.
Ugh. Okay. So have you ever had to live with a secret for a really long time?? Like the kind of secret that you can't tell on the internet because then the People That Want it to Stay a Secret could find it and then sue you because you had to sign a lengthy non-disclosure statement saying that you wouldn't tell their secret?? No, WELL I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE. And it's really hard, friends. Matt and/or I have had a secret of this sort since MAY and we still won't be able to tell for like THREE MORE MONTHS and it is eating me aliiiiive, I tell you!!!! So now I'm writing this really annoying paragraph of vagueness because I want it to eat you alive too. HA. Also I want you to be mentally tortured with what the secret might be and how awesome it's going to be when it is revealed. I can tell you a few things that might help you guess/alleviate your stress (because I know you're probably losing sleep over my ridiculous drama, ha).

1. It has nothing to do with babies, adoption, pregnancy, or families.
2. It is extremely unimportant, really, in the grand scheme of things.
3. It has no real bearing on our lives, careers, or future.
4. As a reward for what we may or may not have participated in + keeping the secret, we were compensated a giant sum of money less than $200. Womp womp.
5. The opportunity came about because of our proximity to Atlanta and the ability to take off work at short notice.
6. Machine guns were involved.

Okay. I feel like I've let out enough to make me feel better now. Take the edge off the secret-keeping, you know? Phew. Only threeish more months til I can come clean.

Have a great week!!!

31 comments:

  1. Were you extras for a Hunger Games movie??? Or Divergent??? Because if so, that is the COOLEST thing ever!!!! Okay, now I'm off to read the rest of the post. I just had to find out what the secret part was!

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    1. Also, when your post title came up and the mini-pic was of you holding a baby I thought maybe you had gotten your baby this past weekend! Ha! That's why I had to skip straight to the secret part. I finished book 1 of PLL about a week ago and have number 2 sitting on my shelf. After I'm done with Gilmore Girls, PLL is next on my list of things to watch. (By myself, that is. Together Dave and I have quite a few shows to get through!)

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    2. Wow...this girl is good! I never would've thought of that! But I'm totally hopping on Natasha's guess here because I think she could be right!

      Also, Eliana?? A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E! I love her name, too!

      Sounds like a great weekend was had -- here's hoping the next one gets here sooner than later!

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  2. With the label I am wondering if you were an extra in some type of TV show....hhmm maybe Ulta obsessed people or something?? haha Seriously though my guess is something TV related. Anyway, I am sure I have said this several times but Eliana is the name I would love to have for a baby girl If I were to ever have one, I just love it! I haven't really heard it too much and then in the last week I have seen it on two different blogs.

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  3. Can I guess??? We can have a code, one blink for yes. Two for no... except I can't see you blink, so maybe we can do this over lunch. But no excessive blinking, that's confusing. I'm guessing you were an extra in something that comes out this fall... maybe The Walking Dead because it's in GA and has Machine Guns... Or, OMG Mockingjay?!?!? I will die off jealousy.

    Glad your weekend was productive... mine was too, but after 13 consecutive productive weekends, I've created a new measuring stick. Success is measured in minutes lying on the couch or in the pool.

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  4. My guess: reality tv. Or an extra on a movie. Hunger Games. Done.

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  5. I am going to guess Walking Dead even though I don't know anything about the show (except that it's filmed close to the ATL and it seems violent to me, thus requiring machine guns.)

    Also, yea for the k'tan! I have a k'tan and I love it. LOOOOOVE it. JB still insists on being worn, and so we're still rocking it at 9.5 months. (However, I will say this is probably the upper end of what's comfortable. Now I'm toying with getting an Ergo or another carrier, but hoping to score one used like you did!)

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  6. Secrets aside, your niece is precious. I've been hearing a lot about the coconut oil and have been curious. Do you find it makes your hair soft without making it heavy or a little greasy? Does it make you smell like summer?

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  7. Ok you have a part in a movie and that's super cool and I'm saying this because I just know I'm right! That's all!
    Booboo has been such a great childhood bearfriend. Not only did he/she (unsure of gender) keep happy as a child, but he/she is the best stand in while you wait for your baby. Who knew a stuffed bear could be so versatile!

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  8. Secrets = not cool! Love your new wrap and love the facebook garage sale deals!!! I use coconut oil for everything else, I'm surprised I haven't tried my hair yet :)

    Niece = adorable!!

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  9. I definitely think you were a movie extra (and I came to this conclusion all on my own before reading the other comments. Just thought that was worth noting because in general, I'm bad at guessing games so I was very proud of myself for all of my astute deducting).

    Also, three cheers for baby-wearing! I guess people in Georgia have high-end yard sales? Let me know if you find a Maya ring sling. I'm still trying to talk myself into plunking down $80, but I really, really want one!

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  10. I can't wait until you can put your baby wearing supplies into good use!! Wahhhhh so sad the world cup is all over :( Where did you get this coconut oil as deep conditioner?? I want soft hair! Anddd my guess for your secret is that you guys were extras on The Walking Dead??

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  11. I definitely think it has to do with you being on some sort of TV show, regardless I can't wait until you can share!

    Your wrap and hair look fab. I just got home from vacation and all of the salt water and chlorine has taken it's toll on my hair so I might need to go get myself some coconut oil.

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  12. Ummm...not nice!! BUT I totally get your want of others being all "what's going on?!?!?"...now I will stalk your blog...bwahahaha!!! (Ok...I'm really not creepy.)

    Yay for the k'tan! I've heard great things about those. And

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  13. I can only assume from your extensive clues, your sudden interest in baby-wearing, and duh, machine guns, that you are the lead actress in the sequel to the Atlanta-based film "What to Expect When You're Expecting." With Georgia being pro-life and pro-guns, it's a brilliant platform! Don't worry, I'll keep it a secret. But when you win your Oscar there be better be an epic party!!!

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  14. Score with the K'Tan wrap. Baby wearing is awesome. My girls loved the Moby wrap and my youngest practically lived in it the first few weeks. The youtube videos on how to "wrap" it are super helpful... the instruction manuals seemed really confusing to me and there is def a learning curve and some practice needed. I am sure Booboo loved it.

    My guess: extra in Real Housewives of Atlanta

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  15. Are you gonna be in a movie?! I hope you are my new famous friend.

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  16. So I saw that "secret-keeping" was in the title of the post and the thumbnail was a picture of you holding an unidentified baby... so for a moment there, please allow yourself to imagine where my brain went.

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  17. You definitely have my interest with the secret!! Also, I love love love coconut oil! Have you tried oil pulling? It sounds really gross, but it's not that bad!

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  18. So not fair! You're such a tease. You totally can't do that and not tell us for 3 MONTHS. What the heck, girl?

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  19. I thought that was your baby, ah! Hahah such trickery! She is sooooo cute though! You will looooove the K'tan, miracle carrier i swear to goodness! Your secret sounds awesome and based on the comments I am hoping it is a movie/tv show set thingie too. Sounds fun!

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  20. Well I must say our nieces look so much a like. Hair and everything! J also held her for the first time this weekend and I snapped a picture because it was an awe moment.

    If you came out in the walking dead I would so play that over And over lol

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  21. I don't like your stupid secrets, jerk face! Please continue oversharing about everything in your like like I do so I don't feel alone.

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  22. First, Eliana is adorable and look at that head of hair!!

    Second, you're killing me!!! I hope your secret has to do with some sort of reality TV show! Ha!

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  23. I love your niece's hair! She looks like a baby Snow White. And like everyone else, I hate your secret.

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  24. you know what's great? knowing the secret. MUWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHaaaa.

    also, i need more details on this coconut oil thing. instructions please.

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  25. I WISH!!!!!!! Oh my gosh, LOVE that!!!!! :)

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  26. You were totally an extra on a movie! I hope!!

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  27. DYING to know but SOOOOOOOOO hoping you'll be in an awesome new movie!

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