Mr & Mrs Smith

Shopping can easily become an annoyance. So here is what I have found works for people like me (Tall really isn't that rare!) Old Navy - bless them, seriously bless them . They sell TALL pants AND tops and they really mean it. They have largely improved over the years with fit although they still run larger and sometimes their tops are too thin BUT you can't beat the fit for the price. I LOVE their Diva fit jeans. Now I just need them to come up with a good pair of kaki pants that look good front & back. Express - for quality work pants. They have a ton of options although it seem their Editor line is preferred (thicker pant). I just ordered a couple 50% off hoping one will fit. JCPenny - Although I feel like online is your best chance at actually finding Tall, I hear it does exist and they have the coupons that come in the mail. So out of department stores, JCPennys wins. And that's about it folks. There are several places that sell "long...

I got a job offer this week and I accepted. I'll be working part-time as a Technical Administrative Assistant for Certiport, a Pearson VUE business, starting January 5th in American Fork.  Although I will miss east coast pay rates, Pearson offers full benefits even for short-hour employees (and this position offers flexible and eventually remote hours). I am excited to see how the learning curve goes. It seems my two previous positions tie into it well minus I need to step up my Excel game.  They create the certification tests for such programs and software, and I definitely need a refresher from being out of the workforce game. I don't want to work full-time right now, but part-time is a great opportunity to challenge myself and hopefully improve many skills that keep me in the game. I am hoping this will make my time more scheduled and focused on Alexis when I am home instead of much of the idle time that currently occurs. Change and adjustment are hard and intimidating, bu...

I didn't take any pictures on Thanksgiving.  I didn't quite manage the famous Amy sweet potatoes, but I tried. And I swear next year I will use a wider, shallower pan so the topping isn't still gooey after an hour (and I might include less topping altogether). If I don't write these things down, I'll forget. Connie made a lovely meal for us all; as she always does. My parents came into town that day for Lexi kisses. She only speaks now, is all. Two months can change a toddler. She is saying phrases; she is relentless with "hey mama" "here go mama"(or daddy). She is adorable so she makes it an exciting adventure. Speaking of, she swallowed G-Grandma's blood pressure pill. So that was a terrible incident of trying to make her throw up which ended in a gag reflex and the poison control promising she will be ok since it was just one pill; watch for mild stomach discomfort that expanded into the nastiest smelling, green diaper of all times. I...

We just finished our taxes. Yes, I realize it's April 8. Thank you Turbo Tax for not prolonging the agony. And thank you Alexis, for allowing us a portion of those dollars back. But to be fair, it's the grad student loan interest & dental work that emptied pockets last year. Next year, I have a feeling it will be medical costs. Due to having to get our own individual health plan, future children are more expensive, like really expensive (but they are priceless). I'm not pregnant. I only want to be-ish. But my nursing child is sucking all the nutrients I need. Pity party. Let's dance. (but really I look malnourished…) This year, I hope we get a break from surprise "life" costs. But I doubt it. Life wouldn't be life without them. But all this talk about money has got me thinking about what life would be like if it were any different. Because I think the natural man does think the grass is always greener in some ways. We pay tithing as a reminder th...

I feel like this is what we want to do for us , right now . I'm sure things will change over time. Or maybe even tomorrow. But it's good to have specific, attainable goals in the beginning . . . We want to become more self sufficient and experience a whole foods, well balanced lifestyle. We can't grow a large garden and live on a farm, currently, but there are other things we can do. So, some of my current Food Goals: 1. Only buy whole wheat pasta, bread, brown rice and other whole grains with one exception, some recipes still need a mix of wheat & white flour so I will still by the unbleached from time to time. 2. Buy a wheat grinder and more hard wheat so we can have whole wheat flour whenever we want it: homemade tortillas, rolls, baked goods even. All that will be new for us. I'm not sure about tortilla chips, but there are whole wheat options there too. 3. Make sure fruits and vegetables make up 70% of my weekly shopping cart and my weekly groce...

Soooo I thought I did a baby list of things I loved as a first time mom. But apparently I didn't. I know I emailed a few people but never blogged about it. I know I did a " things I've learned " blog at 7 weeks and I will probably add more "hindsight" points as well. I guess I will skip some of the obvious things like having two kinds of pacifiers. Not caring the crap about nipple confusion. Give them that pacifier or bottle whenever you think it will help! I'm so beyond having every person tell you how you're going to screw up your child for doing this or that. Just love them and don't drop them or shake them even when it's tempting.  #1 multiple pacifier clips . cute ones, because they will wear it with every outfit. #2 I didn't use my Medula pump as much as others have due to the fact that I didn't go back to work BUT I really liked using it during the engorgement phase. that phase you think will never end and you can ...

This is for my cousin, Shannon: It doesn't look like I've changed much . . . but alas 6.5 weeks to go! And on that note, those big purchases will be coming soon, next in priority is a breast pump . Can't get much weirder than that. So, ladies, is this what I want? Medela Advanced I'm not sure why there are such big gaps in some of the Medela choices. Then there are ones like Ameda Purely Yours AND others . . . (I really don't like researching them) I really don't even want to make this purchase or even think about what this means. But alas, I know it must be done. [And I know some of you say manual is just fine. I don't believe you. I also know some of you say rent from the hospital until you get nursing down, but I think I'm straying away from you too.] I also understand I can find a used one and buy the parts, so if I get lucky I'll go that route, but I still need to know which one, from you, mothers, who have gone before...

Finally!   28!!! 3rd Trimester!! Oh I don't really like this picture much, but it's a time of celebration nonetheless. almost there people!! (kinda not) Mr Smith & I decided it's time for a budgetary game plan.  This weekend we're going to sit down & plan out meals We'll begin cash only grocery shopping & stick to the allotted amount. It's going to be tough folks, but I've been wanting to do it for awhile. I've just been lazy. Not anymore! It's time to count those pennies each month and live smart. So grocery shopping is phase 1 of the live smart plan.  (especially now since we kinda have food storage...stored) However, I'm super glad Mr Smith insisted on a body pillow splurge at Walmart ($8 for pillow, $8 for cover) I am all over that pillow at night. It's just marvelous! And maybe it is helping with the back pain. Oh I ...

Alright, I'm going to admit I'm crazy, but you already knew that! I'm going to show you my list. 3 months before the due date and I already have 100+ things on the list! Oh dear, but let me explain myself . . . These are things you won't find on the list  ( see Mr Smith, I'm restraining myself!) actually some of it is cause I already bought it =) soothing sound system + bassinet + changing table because it all came with the pack and play which is also why I don't have a crib. The one I'll eventually get is cheapest at Walmart so honestly the mattress + sheets aren't super urgent either. Crib set is overrated. plus Mom also got another popular bassinet thing for the first few months. My mother brought a swing  too so that's done.  Monitor - we don't have a big place. You can hear. Wipes - just got 1120 at Costco and that's a good start Wipe warmer  - she won't be a pansy Dresser (craigslist) & Lamp (T...

Oh and I forgot to announce. I now own a size 38D. (I'm pretty sure the cup size runs small) I mean how do you go from 34B to 38D - it just made me feel...fluffy. Cause I swear my boobs didn't grow (I'm cursed), they just became swollen and needed more space without wires and padding. I didn't realize my rib cage was also gathering some extra fluff. Whatever. It feels SOOO much better. We'll see what happens in three months.  Mom, maybe that will be a mission for you when you come (one of many). I'll need nursing attire, but I will NOT want to go and try things on. So you can pick out the gray, neutral colors that you think will fit best. How to be comfortable, but not frumpy while being easy to get to if you know what I mean. I don't even want to think about it.  I can already hear Mr Smith's response to this post "really kayla?" Outside of my father, I think any other possible readers are definitely women. it's a big deal...

I like lists. And I plan on doing a baby one later on. I have been through several lists of other peoples thoughts and I'm excited to discover what I appreciate for myself. So I did this with the wedding registry for those who may be heading that way. Sometimes, it's just hard to know what's most important. So here's my list of "I'm so glad people bought me this when I got married" 1. Non-stick pots&pans set . Target? BBB? Can't remember, but I LOVE THEM. I am so grateful to my coworkers who pitched in for those. 2. Silverware . I sometimes wish we took more time when picking this set out, they don't stay all shiny/new for long, BUT they are strong. And we use them every day. Durability. It's great. 3. A trashcan . Because some awesome friends in VA knew me just enough to get me the trashcan of my dreams. I love it to this day. The lid pops up with your foot. No lid that pops off or pushes down. What were people thinking with...

I think this is the lamp I want to go on top of the baby dresser except for the fact that you have to purchase the two parts separately! No longer a good deal. UPDATE - found a pretty $20 white one at Target. These are also cute (if Mr Smith would decide on a name)  and what site doesn't offer free shipping these days? apparently that one. Land of Nod-a For everyone else, this is a good site for deals: http://thekrazycouponlady.com If you want to try couponing, they make it easy for the people who aren't so great at it (me) For example, I would totally do this if I had the Smart Source coupon on the pasta.  But we're getting some Ragu cause I don't make my own sauce. And is this too good to be true at Costco? Are these Huggies wipes bad or something? Can't you see I'm obsessed with shopping these days? sheesh. I wish I'd get obsessed with photography again, but I'm busy making my model. It'll come...

Okay Okay there is cinnamon chocolate chip banana bread in the oven. The apartment smells glorious right now all thanks to my rockstar self. I'm so glad I finally just sucked it up and made something of those dying bananas. Something that's going to rock my fluffy world. Guess what - it's 25 weeks ! And no, I don't have a belly picture for you. Cause guess what. I come home and the first thing off is my bra. And then I just give up and pick my feet up. They feel so heavy after walking up and down the baby isles. I found a Baby Depot on the way home today. Here's to the next best thing . . . A $70 diaper bag for $35.  I could have peed my pants. (seriously, all it would take is for me to sneeze) And that's how exciting my life gets these days. It wasn't my #1 pick, but it was #2 and it turns out the price factor trumps. My pregnancy: "Mr Smith is dying because I am not feeding him" "I have gone all day with...

Oh and by the way . . . if you're interested . . .  I got Huggies Snug & Dry for 10 cents a diaper (on sale $40.79) for a 258 box count: Click here to view product $2 off using the manufacturers (ecoupon) 20% off (if it's your first diaper purchase) with code OHBABY20 $10 off if new customer using BCEXPECTS I doubt they'll let you use OHBABY20 and the BCEXPECTS together but worth a try? I used another $3 off code instead of OHBABY20 but it expired last night. {I know that the ecoupon and BCEXPECTS will work for sure which will give you 11 cents/diaper} I'm looking for Pampers newborn & size 1 discounts - it looks like Amazon mom might be my best bet - but 10 cents a diaper for Huggies aint bad! Costco has the same diapers but in size 2 right now for 14 cents each. Free shipping on both sites; however, at diapers.com the order has to be greater than $49, so I threw in some destin & lanolin cream I know I'll need.