jackpot!

so on sunday i was cleaning out my wallet,

and i found a bunch of ann taylor loft coupons/bonus  bucks...whatever you call them.

they expired by the end of that day, and jimmy said GO! I've got the girls!!

so i went.

and i hit the jackpot.

and i got everything for WAY less than I should have.

which always gets me going.

here are a few of my favorites:

 The two tops on the bottom are adorable. And the dresses?

Love love love. I got another one too that I couldn't find a photo of.

I also got  a few pairs of capris and a pair of shorts.

I love that Ann Taylor Loft makes clothes for people that are women,

people that have had babies...not alien stick creatures.

Moving on...

I've gotten a few questions lately that I thought I would answer.

1. How is my father?  He is doing great, they put him under anesthesia a couple of weeks ago and took out his bands. He looks a bit more like himself. His hand is still really messed up, he had pretty major surgery on it. And he is SKINNNNNY. Like lost 50 lbs.skinny. But he is here. And I still think that is pretty amazing.

2. How is Louise? Well I called the hospital the day after Louise fell and she was not there. When she fell, she told me that only her face and hands hurt, not her hips or back or legs, etc.  I'm praying they just let her go quickly and that she is fine now. 

3. What camera do I use? Canon Rebel xti and the stupid stinkin' kit lens it came with. If I would have known what I know now, I just would have bought the body...but I didn't.  My 31st bday is in august, and I'll be buying myself a lens. I have a feeling I'll deserve it!! Hehehe.

4. What photoshop actions do I use?  Ummm... I don't own photoshop. I know, stone me now. I'm a loser. Just kidding. I just upload my photos into I Photo and do basic editing there...sharpen them, etc.

I know nothing about editing, and that's pretty clear when you look at my photos. HA!  I will also be purchasing photoshop for the aforementioned birthday.

5. I'm having trouble subscribing to your blog. Why?  I've added a new subscription feature to replace the old one. The link is in the upper right corner.

If you guys ever leave questions in the comments, I promise I'll be better about answering them here. 

Well, I'm off to get Sadie bug and Harper the monkey up, I hear them stirring. 

Did any of you have a hard time transitioning from the damn swaddle? It's killing me. She is so spazzy she wakes herself up every few hours.

We finally got her to sleep on her tummy unwrapped but I'm getting up like every single hour. She shares a room with H, so I can't exactly let her cry it out.

Help me Lord. I'm going to be a zombie while J is gone.

Oh well, atleast I'll probably get skinny.

heheeh.

J has a half day today and then tomorrow off and then we  take him to say goodbye about noon on Thursday. 

I'll leave you with a few random (blurry, grody mommy w/out makeup and messy hair) pictures.

yes, i just said grody.

xoxoxo

s

Comments

[Jen]

grody! hee...takes me back!!
somehow you make grody look very beautiful esp when you are loving on your babies!!!
i like the new SC blinkie you have on the left!!
and yay! for hitting the jackpot and going shopping by your self!!! cha ching!!!
have a happy day dear!!
xo

[Meghan E]

Love the clothes and the pictures! Sometimes just got up/no makeup mommy pictures are the best :)

Enjoy the next few days with Jimmy!

[Chris Dodaj]

That last photo is just precious Steph!!

I'm glad your dad is doing better, I was wondering how he's been. Happy to hear Louise is out of the hospital too!

Yesterday's post made me break out the tissues! Can you tell I love your blog?!?

Have a great day!!

[tara pollard pakosta]

well whatever, "grody" looks good on you then, cute pics!
and i would just go back to swaddling her theN!
my girls slept in bed with me though so i am no help. i was up every hour nursing for 4 years!
tara

[Megan A]

I too love ann taylor loft for the same reason! I swear by their jeans!

[karen]

love the new goodies...i have never bought anything there...will have to try it. great pics of you and the girlies. oh, and don't feel alone. i also have the kit lens for my digi rebel xti and really want a new one. i also don't know much about photo editing. i have ps elements 3 but don't use it very often. my son's girlfriend is majoring in photography and she says photoshop is much easier to use. it is on my list to purchase. i'll be thinking of your fam this week... take care!

xoxo

[doris]

love that yellow top. congrats on hitting the motherload. i must check out the loft. i'm needing some adult what not to wear length straight skirts for work.

you should totally get the 50mm 1.8 asap. it's cheap. and brilliant.

i don't edit at all. i'd like to, but can't afford the real photoshop. and thought i didn't want to bother with pse. but then i saw what pioneer woman could do in pse 6.0. cool stuff. but then there's the time factor. do i have the time to start editing. hmmmmmmmm . . .

glad your dad's better.

sad it's closer to thursday.

precious grody mommy photos. :D

[Sarah L]

Love the pics...very cute!! Good luck taking Jimmy on Thursday. I can only imagine how hard it is going to be. At least you have those two beauties to keep you busy while he is gone. Your in my thoughts :-)
Sarah

[lauren]

your blog always makes me smile!
you chat about the good stuff!! :)
the LOFT is one of my favorite stores! expensive, but every now and then you can catch a good steal! the clothes are worth the wait!
treat yourself w/ new photo goodies on your birthday - you take wonderful photographs! i recently picked up the 50mm 1.8 lens. it's very inexpensive and lightweight. it's worth checking out. a very fun toy!! just don't drop it! haha!
my thoughts are w/ you and jimmy during these final few hours together before he heads off. i know that he will be super, super busy while in afghanistan, but is there any chance he would start a blog of his own? now that my little brother is there, he has started blogging!! my family loves it!!! he updates once every now and then and it helps him keep track of his stories and it helps us keep our nerves calm! :)
just something to consider.
all the best to you and yours.
*

[Victoria]

Grody? Gosh, I wish I looked that "grody" without makeup .

Girl, you are so pretty!!! Are you kidding me?!!

[staceymichu]

Cute finds Steph! how fun! Just want to let you know that i read your blog everyday and really feel for what you are experiencing with Jimmy leaving. Your situation was a part of the inspiration for a layout I just did. I would love for you to see it--it is my way of saying thanks to both of you...its on my blog. Have a good day!

[rhi]

i do not know what grody means!
what is this language you speak?!
x

[Leah]

I get all teary every time I come read your update lately. I have a 21 mo old and a 3 week old and I'm just overwhelmed when I think about being in your position. Just want you to know how much I admire the sacrifices that families like yours make for our country. I wish you the best and know you'll be counting the days til J comes home. A lot of us "readers" of your blog will be counting down with you!!

Will Sadie still sleep in the swaddle? If so, I'd just keep doing that till she wants her arms free.

[Susan Beth Breuner]

Super cute clothes! Great pictures, and proof that you and I have different definitions of "grody." You look beautiful in those photos! My family will be praying for your family on Thursday, and beyond. It sounds unbearable, but you have such an amazing attitude that I believe it will go well for you.

[Amy]

You definitely hit the jackpot. Love the tunic (or is it a dress?) w/ the yellow on the bottom right. Wish I could wear yellow. It washes me out. I'm jealous. LOL.

[aja]

the pics are sweet...not grody at all.
:0)

cute, cute stuff you found...lucky you.

[Carrie D.]

Terrific buys! Get out & shop while you can! Glad to hear your Dad is doing well. And can I say how beautiful Harper looks in her date photos! That's wonderful Jimmy does that. Have a wonderful Tuesday! xoxo

[Kim FAucher]

thats so funny... I went to Ann Taylor Loft on Sunday too.... and I didn't even buy sale items! They had the cutest feminine looking tops... I even got one that was sleeveless!!! lol Love that store!
I'm lucky to have one right in Barrington with a Talbots and Starbucks right next door... a nice "mommy" outing alone! lol
Have fun playing with your new clothes!

kim

[Winks]

If THATS grody...sign me up!
Gorgeous clothes.
Gorgeous girls.
Gorgeous mommy.
:) Jody

[Kimber-Leigh]

cute clothes steph! lol at alien stick people :)

thinking of you this week...

[Vanessa]

Love the clothes!!! I was at Ann Taylor on Sunday, too :-) Loved everything they had... Beautiful photos as always and I'm glad your dad is better.

[april]

glad to hear your answers to the ?'s and i'm so sad about jimmy leaving....my heart goes out to you. enjoy wednesday!

[bluemoon]

Oh you lucky ducky, love the clothes, but never heard of the store lol. You take excellent pictures, I think you should do something with it... born photographer for sure! My heart goes out to you, enjoy your next few days to the max. Thinking of you.

[Brenda Hurd]

what sweet pictures! I seriously laughed when you said grody! Havn't heard that word for ever. Will be thinking of you when your hubby goes.

[Stephanie P]

I haven't thought of 'grody" in years and you aren't what I remember it being. I will be thinking about you and your family this week and will pray for J's safe return!

Stephanie P

[Susan Beth Breuner]

Stephanie,
I just did a bit of a review of your blog with my son (8) and husband to tell them the story of how Jimmy is going away for awhile. They both agreed with me, and we are going to include your family in our daily prayers. My son is very into military stuff, with lots of questions, so this is a great way for us to help him understand that armed services is more than his GI Joe vision, and that soldiers have families that need our support too. I am really excited about this opportunity for us to learn and grow and pray together as a family. I hope you don't mind that your family is our focus. Your blog posts have really just touched my heart, and I felt God calling us to do this. So, you and yours will be loved on through prayer for the next 15 months and probably beyond!

[Katie]

Ahhhh Steph...I feel your pain. I do. My hubby is on his 3rd deployment since our girls were born...and my youngest is only 6. My girls are 23 months apart and I have been in your shoes.
Oh and Grody is the NEW sexy!!

[Abby V]

Good for you! Sometimes, the universe aligns and we (mommies) find EXACTLY what we are looking for! I love it when that happens!

[lisa truesdell]

checkout adobe lightroom, i heart it. it's very (dumb) user friendly. heehee. pse confuses me!!!!

love the pics, so sweet. love loft, too.

[Amy]

I will be praying for you tomorrow as you let your man go & serve our country.
I too would NEVER have bought the lens that came with the camera.
xoxox

[Mandi]

Hey I just found your blog, and I must say- these pics of you and your baby are precious beyond belief! :)

[Cheryl]

Hi Steph - I wanted to let you know that I am thinking of you - come out of lurkerville a bit - and suggest a sleeping bag (not a camp one - one that buttons over the shoulders) for Sadie. It may or may not work since it's not as tight as a swaddle, but it is kind of confining and she won't be able to kick it off. It worked for my daughter for a while.

Good luck to you and your husband.