wanna go gown shopping?

this is going to seem so random, but i keep dreaming about it, so it's clearly in the forefront of my mind. a little back story:

dave and i got married november 14, 2004 in newport at a beautiful castle turned hotel called oceancliff. since we planned out wedding shotgun style and in the off season, we were able to have a wedding that would ordinarily be way out of our league. i mean- this place was and is gorgeous.

this year is our 5 year anniversary, and ever since i saw an interview with heidi klum where she said she renewed her vows with seal every year, I'VE wanted to do the same thing. whatever. leave me alone. i'm hopelessly romantic. of course, i won't be flying my family and friends to bali or anything, but i like the idea of recommitting yourself again and again. so much has changed in our life and our relationship in just 5 years, and as our love evolves (and gets better), what better way to remind each other how important our committment is?

so this year dave and i decided we'd stay at oceancliff for a night to celebrate, and if all goes as planned, we'll renew our vows, just the two of us, in the very spot we did it 5 years prior. and THEN, my sister and mother (ie, the professionals) are going to take photos of us, which is SO exciting. since i had wanted them to enjoy our wedding, and not have to not work during it, i've always secretly wished they had taken our photographs.

and this is what i've been dreaming about- a new dress. i love my dress, but since in the last 5 years i've carried two children in my body, i can't seem to zip my dress past my rib cage. bummer. (maybe if i start corseting myself, i can get in it by november?) i don't want to spend a gazillion dollars on a new dress, by any means, but i really would love to stumble across something beautiful and sophisticated to renew my vows in. preferably not so wedding-ish that i couldn't wear it again, but don't let me fool you- if i found a second hand or clearance rack gown, i'd be all over that like white on rice. or white on brides. although, i'd prefer ivory ;)

so the search begins. if in your shopping or web-surfing travels you come across anything* floor length, silky, lacey, vintage, and/or lovely, let me know, okay?

*to be more specific, anything that she does, any one of these gorgeous things, or something like this or this or this or this or this or this or this or this or this. but cheap. easy, right? ;)

my preliminary findings

i don't know what it is with me today. i'm all hyper, and giddy, and chipper, and productive, and patient, and positive, and...hmm- myself.

weird.

i keep trying to figure out if someone slipped me a mickey, or what it is that has gotten me all high on life. there's a few possibilities. these are my preliminary findings:

a. getting some sleep.
last night piper only woke up once, because she was freezing her little biscuits off, and went right back to sleep, and slept until 7:30 this morning. i had forgotten what it was like to have her sleep. it's a distant memory now. because honestly, the night before, she woke up at 12am and i could not get her back to sleep until 2:40am, and i almost hurt her. but for the grace of God, truly. she screamed and screamed and fussed and kept opening my bathrobe up like it was doors to the refrigerator. sorry, no late night snacks, kiddo. haven't done feedings like that for over 6 months. she was adamant about being awake, crying, and trying to eat. and ask me- did feeding her make her simmer down?? ohhhh no. it was bad. luckily, today is a new day. yesterday, i could not muster up the ability to blog anything free of profanity or rude, ungodly thoughts. i'm glad i waited. too many of my relatives read this blog ;)

b. shopping at target.
i managed to find all the things i needed today without having to be one of "those moms" in the store screaming empty threats at my 3 year old. even though elias concluded wearing a diego backpack means it's yours, and proceeded to throw himself on the floor over a diego slip-n-slide, i managed to stay very calm and firm. as if my son needs anything that will make him go any faster or be any more dangerous. he though it was a pool, anyway. "it IS a pool, mum! me bring dis hommmeeee!" there's no talking sense to toddlers, is there? no, you're right elias, i can't read, it must be a pool. my mistake...(eye roll).
so as shallow and terrible as it may be, shopping, even with two small children, brings me great pleasure. i can't explain it. mostly for clothes, especially for elias and piper. even with the tears and the drama, today, i found some of the MOST adorable things for my cutey beauty. just look at how adorable these are! and oh, so affordable!

c. getting my hair cut. YAY! what's better than friends, starbucks, and getting your hair "did"? amber's bringing baby yuuukas (lucas), as elias would say, so i get to chop this hair, and squeeze a bitty baby, and chat without interruption. i love my husband, who makes all these things possible, and gladly. seriously. i am married to THE most amazing man in the world.

so tomorrow- 12:30, new hair, new me! going bold- going short!

SO nervous.

do i dare...dark hair?

first, thank you all for your feedback on my book list. much appreciated. i love a good book recommendation, and i'm glad that many of you have already read a lot of the books on my list already. now all i have to do is get them and read them all. you know, just real quick :)


now. on to one of my new musings: hair styles and hair color.

as i lay awake at night, as i often do after my sleep is interrupted, i have been seriously contemplating dying my hair brown. or dark brown. or even black. as most of you know, i'm a natural blonde. so this is not a decision to be taken lightly.

here are some of my considerations/thoughts/ramblings:

cameron did it, and she looks great...so i'm thinking maybe i can, too? all i need is someone who has done it and has eventually discovered their natural hair color again. because i really do like the blonde i have- it's multi-faceted in colors and natural highlights; it's not ugly or ratty or anything. it's just boring me right now. who says blonde's have all the fun?! we have to feel all torn up and worried about dying our hair!


if i go dark, i want to chop my hair while i'm at it. well, truth is, i'm still torn about long versus short. in theory i want to have long hair, especially now that i've been enlightened on how celebs get those waves thanks to jessi's new flat iron trick, but my hair is so heavy and so difficult when it's long, and i'm always just sweeping it into a ponytail. but don't we miss the ponytail when it's gone as moms?! what to do, what to do...

but here are some scantily clad famous ladies who have hair similar to what i'm thinking in terms of length. if i was smart and had grabbed that random adorable girl i saw in starbucks, i would have just thrown her picture up here, but i was a wuss and i was trying to have a conversation with my friend, leelee, so i missed my chance.

there you have it. i just don't know if i have the guts to dye it. which is mostly why i'm pretty much daring myself and calling myself a fairy/ninny/loser/wimp and the such.

feedback??