Colo-rhino

We just returned from a wonderful trip in Vail, Colorado. ("Colo-rhino" is what my nephew, Owen, calls Colorado. Too cute!).

I AH-DORE my family. I have pretty freakin' cool parents who are a blast to hang out with. And I have two amazing brothers. Unfortunately, they were huge dorks and moved far away from St. Louis. Dan and his cute as bugs family moved to Kansas City (traitor). While my eldest brother, Jeff, moved to Colorado. This past week, we visited the "Denver Coopers" (as we like to call them) and hung out in Vail for a few days.

Could it have been any more wonderful?! I think not. The weather was heavenly. Of course, compared to St. Louis weather - ANY weather besides 115 degrees would be heavenly.

We hiked. We biked (and got caught in rain). We outlet mall shopped. I got to hug and squeeze my niece and nephew. I played leggos and Barbies. I had wonderful times with Husband. We walked and laughed and just spent time together.

There's just something about being with my family that makes me so happy. When we are all together, I breathe this huge sigh of contentment. It warms my heart to hear my little nieces and nephews yell "Daddy!" to my brothers or watch as they (the nieces and nephews - not my brothers) scramble on to Poo-Pah's lap (aka Grandpa). We Coopers are a close-knit bunch and I'm forever thankful to have such an amazing and loving and supportive and super-fun family. The "KC Coopers" weren't able to join us and that was hard on all of us. BUT they are coming to STL next week so I can get my fill of cutie-pies and meet the newest Cooper, Benjamin. 

Needless to say - it was a damn good trip.



~M

Back in the saddle again ...

Do you remember Sleepless in Seattle? The scene where Tom Hanks starts dating again and the song playing in the background ... no? well, trust me its a song. And it was in that movie.

I had a miscarriage last month. My nurses call it a "Maybe Baby" because I miscarried VERY early (like two weeks) and my hcg horomone was too low - but high enough to be "slightly positive." So when you suffer from a miscarriage you must take at least a month off from TTC to let your body and inner lady bits recover.

So that was my June. Recovery. It was a bit bittersweet. I was so frustrated to be put on hold for a month. Once I got my period and the miscarriage was confirmed, I had geared myself back up for another month of treatments. So when they told me that we'd have to wait ... I was obviously upset.

BUT.

I was also exhausted. A year and a half of TTC is so tiring. And I was weary. Of all the tests, examinations, blood drawn ... So a month of not having to go to the doctor every week and just BE - was a bit appealing.

BUT.

We lost a month of trying to make a baby. A bittersweet; double-edged sword.

So now I'm back in the saddle. I went to the doctor today and I have my game plan. Of course, I'm on vacation when I need to be getting ultrasounds and shots (figures). But, if need be, I go to a pharmacy in Vail. I have no problems giving myself a shot. It is what it is ...

I'm emotional and nervous. You have to take a deep breath and ready yourself. I'm trying to stay positive. I'm trying to stay hopeful. Husband believes that I will get pregnant. I wish I had his confidence ... (But once again, I'm so thankful for his amazing husbandness.)

So we shall see. Until then I'll be humming "back in the saddle again..."

~M

Gimmee. Gimmee.

Ahhh-dore.

While reading one of my many blogs, I heard about Noir Jewelry. CLICK! The jewelry is so whimsical and fun! Not to mention gorgeous.






This bracelet will be mine. Oh, yes. It will. I just can't decide! Too many options! CLICK! As usual - I lean towards my color comfort zone (aka black). But I want to pair the bracelet with the bracelet Husband just gave me for my birthday. Black might be the winner because 1. It can go with a lot; and 2. I would wear it more since it goes with a lot. But I do love the other colors ...

Ack! Decisions!

~M

PSA: MOLE!

I love the sun. I love to lay in the sun and I love to get a tan! Back in the good 'ole days, I could walk to the mailbox and come back with a tan. Nowadays, I find myself getting burnt at the drop of a hat! What the heck?!? (Getting older bites.) I'd begrudginly slather myself with sun block (spf 15) and still burn. The days of tanning lotions are long gone for me. spf 30 and 45, even, are now my friends.

A few months ago, I was with my fertility doctor getting a lovely examination when he popped his head up and told me that I have way too many moles on my body. He gave me a stern scolding. When I got home I gave myself a once over and shrugged my shoulders. I'm just a moley freckley person. 'Nuff said.

Then in the course of two weeks I came across a gazillion articles about melanoma (a.k.a skin cancer). And I felt a tugging in the back of my mind. The first article, I read with interest and promised myself to keep up with the sunscreen. The second and third article, I laughed about the coincidence. And by the fifth article - I started to realize that maybe God is telling me something. AND THEN I felt a raised mole on the back of my neck. Proceed straight to panic. I calmed myself down and made an appointment with a dermatologist to get all my lovely moles checked out. Of course, I can't get in to the doc until next month, but at least I have the comfort of knowing I have an appointment and I'm taking care of it. Or going to take care of it.

I know it's summer time; which means lots of pool time, yard work, and playing outside. WEAR SUNSCREEN. And to all those whippersnappers heading to the tanning salons and slathering on their tanning lotions - you may be all pretty now, my little one, but come my age - you could be as leathery as the grandma in Something about Mary. Well, maybe not at my age - but you are heading in that direction!

So in honor of my mole checking appointment in August - here is a little something-something to make you laugh. (Take note how far Beyonce's acting abilities have come. She was painful to watch back in the day. Same to you Denise Richards in that Bond movie. Yeesh. Come to think of it, Denise's acting is still awful ...)

Click here to learn how to spot the signs of skin cancer! Thanks, Redbook!



~M

Reading Rainbow

I love to read. Love, love, love to read. I come from a family of readers... It is no strange thing to find my nose in a book at 2 a.m. (Thanks for that trait, Dad). When I finally jumped on the bandwagon and read Twilight - I pulled four all nighters in a row just to finish the series. I'm that addicted. (to reading - not necessarily Twilight).

I read to escape. Some watch T.V., some go work out. Me? I read. I love romance stories. It just makes me feel so happy in the end. Guy gets girl and the whole happily-ever-after. Not to mention that the men in most romance novels are intuitively sensitive to women's feelings and give said woman 10,000 orgasams (I'm talking to you, Nora Roberts!). But I'm not complaining. I enjoy the drama and the love scenes and the whole feeling of being swept away. I get caught up with the characters and even re-read some of my favorites.

Now, don't get me wrong. I ready other genres, too. I'll read drama, mysteries, self-help, thrillers, suspense, how-to's. But if I'm looking for my escape (and my relaxation) - I steer towards the romance.

This past holiday weekend, I wasn't feeling too great. So I snuggled in with my girlfriend, Kindle. (Best invention ever!). And started reading. I've been going through an 1800's/Regency faze about London Society lately and was starting to tire of it. So I had Kindle give me some suggestions based on my past purchases. (Kindle is really a great invention, people).

One of my top five favorite books is Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. I stumbled across this book quite awhile ago and it is just amazing. It has everything wrapped up in one: romance, suspense, mystery, thrills, and history. (I'm a sucker for historical stuff. I spent almost three hours in the Winston Churchill Museum in London before Husband had to drag me out). I've tried giving people the synopsis of this book and they stare at me like I have four heads. So I won't attempt it here. It is a looonnnnggg book - but oh-so worth it.

Which leads me to one of the books I read this weekend: The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley. The sample I read from Kindle intrigued me so I purchased. And, man, am I glad I did! It was fabulous!!! At one point, Husband came in and I'm sitting on the couch crying. (He's not a reader - so he doesn't get it). It was so wonderful - rich in history and I immediately became attached to the characters. It was one of those books that when I was done I thought to myself: I'm so glad I read that! So I had to share. I've found a new author to love!

Lamar would be so proud.

~M

Lellow!

My niece used to say "lellow" when referring to the color yellow. My husband and I still say it to each other because we thought it was just so darn cute (and my niece is pretty darn cute! Hi, Rian!).

In September, I have the amazing honor of being a bridesmaid in one of my bestest friend's wedding. We'll be wearing grey dresses with yellow shoes (LOVE!) so I've been on the hunt to find something that I could enjoy after the wedding too. Remember, 2011's goal of having more color in my wardrobe? What better way to add color than yellow shoes! Here's a few I've spied:

Winding Waterfalls Sandal - Anthropologie

And for my FAVS! My lust item - the one I saw in Matchbook Magazine (fabulous online magazine!) And started searching high and low. Luuuurrrrvvve.

Rebecca Minkoff Coquette Ankle Straps - Shopbop

Part of me feels, tho, that I should get taller heels - but I'm not so sure how much I would wear them as much as the flats ... I've been eye balling these:

Auri Footwear Layla - Piperlime

Or these. I've tried these on in Navy and they were super cute and uber comfy!

Seychelles Chirp - Piperlime

Decisions! Decisions!

~M