the wish list

My second post for the entire month of November and instead of being about the many, many things I have to be thankful for this year, it is a wish list? Classy. But in my defense, my mother requested it (hi, Mom!). And this year it is all about giving this stay at home mom turned photographer some much needed style.

After six long years I no longer have children in diapers, which I think is a milestone worthy of a new bag. I am loving all the pretty, shiny things over at Kate Spade this year. I especially love the lines of this bag.

Necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Not the expensive stuff, but fun every day stuff to dress up my jeans, platinum rolex and basic black. Like the many oh so pretty things at White House | Black Market and Banana Republic.

Idole d'armani. Because it smells real pretty. And I like to smell pretty.

The Phillips iPod Docking Table Radio. Because our home is in need of more music, and this little guy is an iPod dock, CD player and radio all in one good looking little package.

The Sephora gift card. Simple and oh so fun to use.

And because my list would not be complete without a couple of photography related items:

The Nikon 50mm 1.4 lens. An upgrade to my beloved 50mm 1.8, offering better glass and all the potential of 1.4.

Since I have a bad habit of leaving my bulky, heavy and not so stylish camera bag filled with gear unattended in parks and on beaches while I shoot, I am thinking a shootsac would be a good investment. And that black and white cover is just plain adorable.

And because no list would not be complete without one ultimate fantasy item, the D700. A full frame pro camera body with insane high ISO capabilities. Isn't it just so pretty?

a little dose of sunshine

What is that up there in the sky? That bright thing?

And am I ever going to see it again?

Just a little dose of sun flare from our day and a half of sun this week, since it looks like we are not going to be seeing much of it any time in the foreseeable five day forecast.

beth is...

Beth is... in the mood for chocolate.

Beth is... putting off doing her taxes.

Beth is... totally lacking inspiration for her daily picture.

Beth is... in awe of the fact that so many of her high school friends still live in her hometown and still hang out on a regular basis. It is like a parallel world that just continued on without me. I am jealous. Sort of.

Beth is... very happy with the path her life has taken.

Beth is... head over heals in love with her sexy husband and two beautiful girls.

Beth is... grateful for all the new friends she has made.

Beth is... going to watch Heroes tonight.

Beth is... making chicken chili for dinner tonight.

Beth is... horrified to discover that a spot in the butt/crotch area of her favorite black sweat pants is worn so thin that it is almost see through.

Beth is... an over sharer.

Beth is... in desperate need of a trip to the hair salon.

Beth is... concerned that Facebook has taught her to refer to herself in the third person.

it's on the wall

"Mommy, what's so funny?"

"Daddy just wrote something funny."

"Where? Show me."

"It's on my wall."

"What??... Where??... Mommy you're weird."

*****

Yes, I finally gave in and joined Facebook. Yes, it is yet another online time sink. Yes, one of the first things it did was suggest I friend my high school boyfriend. Yes, I am putting off actual real life things I should be doing like filing my taxes and enrolling my daughter in Kindergarten to look at old pictures of people I am glad I lost touch with (no, of course I don't mean you).

And yes, it is kind of fun. You should totally join too. And then blog about it. Because that is what all the cool kids are doing.

Less than a day on Facebook and I am right back in high school.

almost classy

So this morning I was feeling pretty good, classy even, as I filled my shopping cart with fresh herbs for my homemade lasagna and aged cheese for my homemade mac & cheese. What a mom. What a wife.

Then the pajama clad two year old in my cart spied an enormous pineapple display and shouted "Look mommy, SpongeBob's house!!", causing a woman shopping nearby to laugh so hard she showered herself with coffee.

And it was right back to being the mediocre mom that lets her two year old watch too much Nickelodeon and rarely changes her out of her pajamas.

*sigh*

-------------------

In other news, the preparations for Abby's birthday party are in full swing.

Cake anyone?

this mommy's favorite things

With the holiday season approaching, there has been some demand for me to share my holiday wish list (okay, really it is only my mother demanding). Of course, the health and happiness of my family is always at the very top of this list, but since that can't be bought and wrapped, I have managed to come up with a few additional items.

I love my Nikon D70 and as my passion for photography grows, so does my lust for new lenses. The Nikon 50mm f/1.8 lens and Nikon 18-200mm are at the top of my wish list due to their versatility and all around wonderful reviews.

I know, UGGs are ugly, but I love my boots anyway. Maybe it is the ridiculously cold weather here, but I would love to be wearing a pair of these right now. Yes, they are slippers. And yes, I would wear them for school runs and errands anyway.


And while we are on the topic of the cold, I could also use some new gloves.



Bath & Body Works. Lotion, body wash, bubble bath. I love it all.



Frederic Fekkai. Simply the best hair products, especially the hair mask and deep conditioning treatments.

And on a related note, Sephora. Anything Sephora.

Rosemont Estate Pinot Noir. Can't drink enough of it. Kidding. Sort of.

Ina Garten's new cookbook, back to basics. I have each and every one of Ina's previous cookbooks and I have never been disappointed with one of her recipes.

An iPod speaker system, so we can all share the iPod love.


Calphalon One. I am one 12 inch fry pan and one stock pot away from a full set of these fabulous pans. Love them.

And finally, for my health and all, no fancy cream truffles, just dark, dark chocolate please.

how evil are you?

After seeing this over at Kelli's place, I just had to find out...

You Are 36% Evil

A bit of evil lurks in your heart, but you hide it well. In some ways, you are the most dangerous kind of evil.

How Evil Are You?

Yup, that is me. Dangerous. Be very afraid next time you see me at Walmart with my two kids.

Okay, so in reality, most of my "evilness" took place well before I became a wife and mother. Now about the only thing I am guilty of is "You've said something so mean it made someone cry" and seriously what mother can honestly say no to this one??