blurry iPhone photography.

Yes, I know...it's been over a month since I last blogged.  Give a girl a break!  To express my most sincere apologies (and prove how busy I've been) (and show off my cute baby) (and get a blog accomplished), here are some pics from my phone--because let's face it: sometimes the camera just isn't close enough.

 baby toes!

 

snugglin' wit my mama.

 ok, guys. we need to talk.

 oh heeeeeeyyyy. just me, bein' real cute.

 Sophie, try deez toes! dem are so delicious.

 ma, why you always hold that thing up? me jus' wanna eat yo face.

oh hippo! you make-a me so happy!

'nuff said.

hey udder baby Stella.  Howzit goin?

happiest baby on the block.

a real post coming soon, I swear! :)

Craziness.

Um, can we just take a second and gawk at the cah-raziness of these pics of Baby Stella?
                               
RIGHT?!?!?!? Do you see it, too?

Project 31: Day 10. MAC!!!

Topic: What are your favorite MAC products, and what foundation/powder do you use?

Oh, MAC.  How I adore your simply sophisticated black packaging, your slightly insane employees, and the loud music you play on Saturdays at the counter at Macy's.  You are like a drug to me, and after this post, I will probably have to go get a fix.  Here are the MAC products I lurrrrve:

Studio Fix Powder plus Foundation

Love the coverage; love that it's one step; love the sponge it comes with.  Always have a backup one at home so I will NEVER be without.  Amazeballs.

Various Brushes

I don't have all of these, but wish I did.  They are pricey, but SO worth it.  Love the way they feel, and love the way my shadow/blush look when I use them to apply.  Fabulous.

Lipglass

Oh. My. Stars.  I pride myself on the shocking number of lip products I carry with me, but as far as a colored gloss goes, this is hands down my favorite of all.  Love the million different colors they offer; love the texture (it's super thick, smooth, not sticky) and it even smells and tastes yummy.  Like vanilla icing. Holla!

X Mascara

Not clumpy, natural looking lashes.  Also dark enough that an extra coat (or two) make it versatile for day or night wear.  Love the applicator brush, too.

Yay MAC!  Please tell me your favorites so I can consider them on my next purchase. :)



Easter!

After two fun-filled Easter weekend celebrations, I'm POZ you're just dying to get a sneak peek into our celebration.  So ta da! Enjoy!!

 Wide-eyed Baby Stella in her fabulous Easter dress! 

 Checking out her goodies from E.B.

Hanging out with Daddy-O.  He's hilarious.

A nap was essential--too many Easter Peeps

 Checking out another Easter basket with Uncle David...

 who is SO. MUCH. FUN!!!!!!

Happy Easter, from the Price's!

Project 31: Day 9. Valued Virtues.

Topic: What virtues do you value in yourself?

As I mentioned before, I do NOT like tooting my own horn, mostly because it makes me uncomfortable, and it drives me batty to listen to other people toot theirs.  So, I've been putting this blog topic off...but I guess I'll give it a shot.

I would say that my compassion is probably my best virtue.  As a wife, I try to think about what would make my husband happy, and how I could brighten his day.  Since we are both teachers, I try to listen to and understand his days at work, offer advice (if he's interested-ha!), and sympathy because I can totally relate.  Whether or not this is good for our marriage, I'm still on the fence.  Everyone says "leave your job at work, don't bring it home with you..." but sometimes I think it helps us to vent to each other because we can sympathize. 

As a teacher, I feel that compassion is an essential element to being a "good" teacher.  Even when I'm in the most rotten of moods, I try to remember that these sweet babies just need some love and someone to listen.  I try to remember that they are only 8, 9, and 10 years old, and still have a lot of lessons to learn.  I try to model compassion for them, because one thing this world needs is a few more compassionate souls.  Some days, finding compassion at work is more difficult than other days, but I think it's always extremely important. 

As a friend, I always try to consider what I think is most important in my friends, and act the same way.  I think I learned the adage "Treat others as you'd want to be treated" in my early Sunday School years, and try to stick to it even today. 

My compassion towards animals is borderline ridiculous.  I have such a soft spot for any animal--I cannot even go to the Humane Society without crying like a baby.  My heart literally aches for unclaimed, lost, or mistreated animals.  Every single day, I go to this website (it's saved on my home computer--will have to link it later) and click to donate food to animal shelters.  And don't even get me started on the Sarah McLaughlin ASPCA or the Pedigree commercials.  I even get teary at the bank commercial where the dog dreams of losing his bone to that Ray LaMontagne song.  Like I said, ridiculous.  Compassion to a fault, almost.

And as a new mother, I'm learning a whole new realm of compassion.  How frustrating it must be to want to communicate, but not have the words or vocabulary to do so.  And to be completely dependent on someone else to do everything for you--EVERYTHING--requires a great deal of compassion on my part.  So even when I'm beyond exhausted, stressed, etc...I have to remember that this little angel depends on me, and I would do anything to see that smile.

Knock Knock. Who's there? Noone, apparently.

Hi loyal reader(s).  I PROMISE I haven't given up on the ole blog already.  I got stuck on the Project 31 topic I'm supposed to address next, which is listing virtues I value in myself. UGH. I do NOT like people who toot their own horn, so it's REALLY hard for me to do it!  So I just kept NOT blogging.  Then I got back to school...testing...baby...exhausted...you know the sob story.  So I'll put a lid on it now. 

I don't even really know where to begin!  How about a random list of what's new in the life of SJP?  What's that? You can't wait to find out about it??? I thought so. 

• EASTER was busy, but lots of fun.  Pics will come soon once we have Easter at Pat's Mom's tomorrow.
• My baby girl went for her 4 month checkup this week, and did NOT deal with the shots well.  She took forever to get back to her usual smiley self...it was hard to watch and very sad!
• We live in THE MOST REDNECK NEIGHBORHOOD.  I am so very o.v.e.r. i.t.  Today while my sick child was attempting to nap (Praise the Lord), the classy crew across the street decided to REV their diesel engine as loud as possible for a good 5 minutes.  This is following the 10 minutes they did it AT 4:00AM, and the squealy tire show / scream fest they performed in the height of the tornado warning last week.  GIANT EYEROLL.
• I really didn't think I was that interested in the Royal Wedding...until I woke up Friday morning, turned on the TV to watch my secret love local meteorologist Tom Ackerman tell me if I needed to build an arc or not, and BAM--I was face to veil with Princess Kate, sashaying down the aisle.  I COULD NOT STOP WATCHING.  I even listened to NPR on the way to work for coverage so I didn't miss anything, and made my class watch it for like half an hour.  How freakin' beautiful is she??? (See, fancy at heart, but really don't class up the royal monarch much. Ah, well.)  Cutest couple ever.
• It's SO beautiful today!!!! One day of no rain, and 75 degrees.  I can't decide what to do with myself so as not to waste it, but I knew if I didn't press "publish" soon, ya'll would leave me forever!  I promise I'll try to do better, k? 

And, because you probably haven't seen her in a while, a little dose of Baby Stella.  Happy Weekend, ya'll!



Wordless Wednesday: Vacation Edition!

Project 31: Day 8. Beauty is a Beast.

Is it wrong that I get completely jealous when my husband can get showered and ready to walk out the door in 10 minutes, and it takes me between 30-60, depending on where I'm headed?  Why don't boys have to jump through all our fashion hoops?

On the other hand, it's lots of fun to play with hair and makeup and clothes.  One thing I'm most excited to do in Myrtle Beach is my shopping spree at Forever 21! And I've blogged before about my absolute OBSESSION with Sephora...

Sad to say though, I don't really have any beauty SECRETS...I think of them more as weird things I do that relate to beauty.  Here's all I can think of:

• I brush my teeth before my shower so I feel cleaner in the shower.
• I wash from top to bottom because I feel cleaner that way.  (I do NOT roll in mud piles or anything, but I am a slight germaphobe.  And quirky OCD spaz.) Hair, face, then body.
• For breakouts, I put either tea tree oil (love this line from The Body Shop), toothpaste, or diaper rash cream on problem areas and sleep on it.  Try the last two after your hubby goes to bed, or you will get some really concerned side glances from him.  Not super glam, but does the trick.
• Once a week (sometimes more), I do a SUPER SHOWER: make the water super hot, leave my conditioner on for a really long time, and exfoliate everything I can.  LOVES.  Like my own little spa day.

I literally cannot think of anything else.  I guess I just rely on my inner beauty.  GAG. :) 
Happy Friday and Spring Break, my faithful readers! Stay tuned for updates of Stella Goes to the Beach!
Mwah!
SJP

What I'm Loving Wednesday

• I am loving that this Saturday, we are leaving for the beach!  Baby Stella will meet her first waves, sandy beaches, salty air, and fun in the sun--complete with SPF 100 from my mom.  Totally pumped.
• I am loving that my Cats are in the Final Four this weekend!  I so need them to win so my hubbs will be in a good mood for vacation.  C-A-T-S Cats, CATS, CATS!
• I am not so much loving that my baby girl is still sick (it's been a month of stuffy nose, wheezing, and the cursed NASAL ASPIRATOR)...but I finally took her to the doctor (she wasn't acting sick, I promise) and got her some meds, which I thought she was too young for but actually wasn't.  SO, in light of that, I am loving that the top shelf of my refrigerator now houses a blast from my past--amoxicillian--a.k.a. BUBBLE GUM MEDICINE!  I opened the lid and sniffed my way down memory lane.  LOVE me some bubble gum medicine.  Loved Stella's face even more when I gave her some--her eyes got HUGE and she smiled really big.  Treat!
• I am loving that my sweet 4th graders are so fantastic.  Not only did our class have the highest percentage of kids with all their Accelerated Reader points, but they also raised over $1300 for Jump Rope for Heart!!!!!  WOW!  Love their sweet little hearts.

What are YOU loving this wet, not-so-warm Wednesday?

SJP

Project 31 Update

In case you've just tuned in, Project 31 is 31 days of blogging with various topics.  Feel free to link up and join in the fun--please leave me a comment if you do so I can follow your blog!

Happy Reading! :)
SJP

THE TOPICS:

Day 1. What are your favorite beauty products?

Day 2. What makes you uniquely you?
Day 3. A photo that makes you happy
Day 4. Who are your favorite bloggers?
Day 5. Write a blog thanking someone who has made your heart come alive.
Day 6. Your most embarrassing moment
Day 7. Do you believe in the "cry until she sleeps" method?
Day 8. Have a beauty secret (e.g. hair tip, make up tip)? Share, please!
Day 9. What virtues do you value in yourself?
Day 10. What are some of your favorite MAC products, and what foundation/powder do you wear?
Day 11. Post a recipe. Or if you don't cook, try a new recipe and write about how it turned out (pictures please!).
Day 12. Write about what wears you out as a woman.
Day 13. A YouTube video
Day 14. Style 31. Post an outfit pic!
Day 15. What do you wish for?
Day 16. What questions do you have as a mother?

Day 17. Write about 3 things that make you happy.
Day 18. If you could, what would you tell yourself before you had your baby?
Day 19. Write about your significant other
Day 20. Write about your job and why you love it or hate it.
Day 21. Write about your most vivid childhood memory. Post a picture of you taken over ten years ago.
Day 22. What did you do today?
Day 23. Who's your celebrity look alike?
Day 24. What is God teaching you presently?
Day 25. Style 31. Post a pic of your favorite comfy clothes.
Day 26. What do you hope your grandchildren will say about you someday when you are gone?
Day 27. Style 31. Post a pic of you in your favorite oufit.

Day 28. Write about your insecurities as a woman.
Day 29. Your day, in great detail
Day 30. What do you think is going to happen to you after you die?
Day 31. Your favorite quote

Project 31, Day 7. Cry It Out.

I am definitely not an expert on being BabyWise, and letting baby Stella cry it out.  I SO want to believe in the "cry until she sleeps" method...but It's so ridiculously hard.  Luckily, Stella only cried for two nights!!!  The first night we tried it (at about 3 weeks old), she cried for about 40 minutes.  The longest.forty.minutes.of.our.lives.  Pat and I just stared at each other and listened to her cry in the monitor.  It was awful...but we stayed strong and didn't go pick her up!  The next night, she only cried for about 15 minutes.  SO much better.  After that, she may have put up a little fuss, but never as bad as the first night. 

So I guess I do believe in the methods.  I certainly think babies need to learn to pacify and soothe themselves, and this is a good way to do it.  Or can I just say that because it was so easy for us?  It hurt my heart to let her lay by herself in the dark and cry.  It was terrible.  But hopefully it only traumatized us--and she was too young to remember it, and will be a better sleeper in the long run!

Here's to good zzzzzzzz's! 



Project 31: Day 6?. Most Embarrassing Moment

The Tale of the Disastrous First Date.

Characters:

Sarah (sassy and fabulous main character)

Amy (Sarah's skinnier BFF)

David (Amy's bf and James' BFF)

James (Sarah's love target)

    

     Once upon a time in high school, there was a chipper, boy-crazy blond named Sarah.  Among many admirable qualities, Sarah didn't have the greatest self-confidence, and to put it politely, was never considered to be "the skinny one" among her friends.  But she still had a blasty blast, and was up to the usual no-goodedness of high school.

     This particular month, Sarah had a gigantic teeny little crush on a boy named *James. (names have been changed to protect the innocent.)  James was a couple of years older, had a great personality, had his license and his own car (swoon!), and a smile that would melt your heart. 

   One fateful, blazing July afternoon, James invited Sarah, Amy, and David over to his house...with the instruction to 'bring a swimsuit.'  Sarah secretly dreaded hearing those words, but couldn't resist an afternoon with her handsome love.  Sarah and Amy primped and prepped for their hot double date, and off they went. 

     Turns out James' parents had a hot tub on their back porch, and James wanted to hang out there.  In the middle of July.  Sarah was not about to argue with that sweet face, so she hid behind her towel until the last possible second, waited for James to get distracted and turn his head, and dove into the hot tub like she was an alumni member of the US Olympic Diving Team.  Anything to be hidden away and under the water.     
     They chatted.  They flirted.  They laughed and tossed their hair.  Everyone else got out to get something to drink or use the restroom; Sarah was too shy and embarrassed in her swimsuit to get out.
     So she stayed in the hot tub.
     In the middle of July.
     FOR FOUR AND A HALF HOURS.
((A small side note.  For those of you who haven't quite thought this through yet, a person doesn't know that they're sweating if they're in a hot tub.  But they are.  And if you stay in too long, don't drink anything because you don't want to get out to potty, and sweat for four hours in the middle of summer?  Dehydration is uncool.  You see where my story is going.))
   When they were all pruny, the foursome hopped out of the hot tub onto the pebble patio.  Sarah furiously wrapped herself like a burrito in her beach towel, and they headed inside to change. 
     Sarah realized something wasn't quite right.  She looked at Amy, casually declared "I'm about to pass out," and hit the pavement.  She fell backwards into what should have been James' arms, but James was so caught off guard he didn't catch her and let her head hit the lovely pebble patio. (It hit so hard that I Sarah remembers it even though she was unconscious.) When she came to, Amy was screaming, "she needs food!" and shoving a banana into Sarah's mouth.  Sarah did not enjoy bananas at the time, and the mushy consistency made her gag repeatedly and nearly throw up.  And then she looked down and realized her towel was gone.  Bathing suit exposed. 
Embarrassing moment doesn't even begin to describe it all.
Needless to say, that was our last date.

Project 31: Day 5. A Heartfelt Thank You.

Day 5. Write a blog thanking someone who has made your heart come alive.

My Sweet Stella,

Who else would I write this letter to? 

You have changed me completely as a person.  I am not just a wife, a teacher, a daughter, a sister, or a friend anymore.  I have added one more title-- mother -- and it has completely transformed everything about me.  It even affected the way I look at all the titles I had before you.  I'm not the same wife, teacher, daughter, sister, or friend that I was before I met you.  I'm better, stronger, at all those things...all because of you.  I've known lots of people...but never known one little person who could change my life so drastically.  And in such a wonderfully amazing therearenowordstodescribeit way.

Thank you, Stella.  Your sweet little hands and toes are the most precious hands and toes I've ever seen.  Your big blue eyes make me feel so proud inside, and so in love.  Your smile is just like your daddy's, and it makes my heart feel like it might swell out of my chest, just like his does.  You mean the world to me, and I'll do everything I can to protect you and be sure you know that you are cherished.  We both love you so much, Stella Elizabeth.  Thank you for making our hearts come alive.

Love,

Your Mama

Just Go To Bed.

Did you read these books when you were little?

I bought this book today for Stella.  I loved these books when I was little--I have no idea how many of them we had. Or how many million times I read them to myself, or to my little brother when we played school.

But mostly I bought this book because this guy's footie pj's made me jealous. And all I want to do is

go.

to.

bed.