Celebrity Status

Well, not quite, but I did make it onto Pure's website a couple times from the after-party in Vegas. The first pic is awesome ... the photographer captured one of the moments that Nicole grabbed my hand. Of course, you can't see me in the pic, but that is my left hand with the ring and the square-tipped nails and she is looking directly at me! For the record, I honestly am not an obsessed fan, just very excited that I got to be up close to my fave celebrity. And the second picture is of me with one of the guys who let me into the VIP where the Pussycat Dolls were hanging out. Technically he can say "I am with the band." For whatever reason, he wanted the photographer to get our pic together ... kinda wierd, but whatever. I made it onto the website. :o)

Nelle & Lizzy

Remember this? I absolutely loved this little ring the second I saw it on a blog a while back. I drooled over it, scoured the internet for coupon codes, and visited the site several times hoping for a nice little promotion. I even entered in all my details and saved it in my shopping cart a dozen times, but never brave enough to click 'order'. I couldn't justify spending $72 on a ring plus shipping. Bigger purchases scare me ... I can spend $20 here and $15 there, but tell me something is over $40 and I have to think about it for a little bit. I was just determined to wait for a discount on this one - I even joined their Facebook page looking to snag a break.

A few weeks ago, I received an email from Nelle & Lizzy ... they had noticed that I had a pending shopping cart and wanted to send along a limited-time offer for a 10% discount!! Oh the excitement!! I ordered my ring within seconds of the email and just received it this last week! Wrapped in a cute little box filled with dried lavender, my oh-so-cute double ring with my boys' names ... it fits perfectly (definitely have your finger sized before ordering - any jewelry store will do it for you free of charge), and my little guys think it is pretty darn cool that their names are on mommy's ring.

Weak.

I held up a pretty impressive run. And not of the athletic nature - y'all know me better than that! I decided not to drink pop (as in soda, for all you non-Oregonians) for about 2 years. My theory was, after having my second kiddo, my extra bloating issue was caused by drinking the sugary drink. I had already lost my pregnancy weight, so why did my gut still look like I was in my 2nd trimester?

Being too lazy for sit-ups or cardio, I cut out pop totally and only drank water and tea. And why not cut out a meal or two a day to help get rid of the bulge! Yeah, I know. I should write a book ... How To Really Destroy Your Metabolism. So anyways, I quit cold turkey, fought off random cravings, and eventually just hated the stuff. The bloating went way down, but I think I was just hoping for a nice little 6-pack to form. Heck, I'd even take a 4-pack - who's being picky? And it no longer matters how little I eat throughout the day, it is no fun starving yourself to see the scale remain the same the next day. This method used to work me, but now makes no difference in the pounds. And no, I was never anorexic! I love food way too much to go all mental over it. I would just hold off on eating until the late afternoon, then eat all my calories at dinner. For whatever reason, it used to work for me. Don't judge.

So, lately I have been into grenadine ... the cherry flavored syrup you mix into drinks. I actually grew up on Sherley Temples and Roy Rogers (in an Italian bar/restaurant in South San Francisco, in case you needed that detail), and have always loved the stuff. Miss Betsy ... my tiny little bff ... is a Diet Coke fan - if she can drink pop and not swell up like a balloon, then that's what I'll have! My latest little treat of the day ... a Diet Cherry Coke! Mmmm!! I just stick to one in a day, and it has to be grenadine-mixed. Yum!

Partied Like A Rock Star ...

Starting off with a little bad news: my feet may need to be amputated due to 3 (totally incredible) nights of dancing in the clubs in 4 inch heels! Parts of my toes are still numb, and I walked from Pure at Caesar's Palace all the way to our room at Luxor in my BARE feet Saturday night! About 2 miles, on the Las Vegas Strip, no shoes! Don't judge, a girl's gotta do what she's gotta do! Needless to say, those hot black stilettos were left behind in Vegas. Good thing they weren't that expensive, they completed the outfit, but you couldn't pay me to wear those suckers again!!

My Birthday Vegas Weekend was AWE.SOME!! Best time I have had there yet (this was trip #4). I shopped, shopped, and did more shopping! Seriously ... between Juicy and the outlets - oy! Loved every hour of it (and there were a lot of hours)!! Hubby was awesome and such a trooper! Very supportive in my decision making processes, and scored me some great finds!

We hit up the clubs at night ... LAX (at Luxor) the first 2 nights, and my fave Pure (Caeser's) on Saturday night for the Pussycat Dolls After-Party. I love dancing, and Tim obliged my cravings ... staying out until 3am (going to bed at 5am)! Oh yeah!!

Britney's concert was amazing as usual (this was my third Britney concert). The girl puts on such spectacular events!! I loved Pussycat Dolls and so wish they tour on their own ... Nicole is INCREDIBLE and they really did amaze me at how beautiful they sounded live (yes, they actually sing - unlike Brit). After the concert, we were waiting for a taxi to take us to Pure and ran into Pauly Shore (Hey Buuuuudy). He hitched a taxi ride with the girl behind us in line.

Now for the most incredible part of my entire celebration ... PARTYING WITH PCD!!! I will try to sum up all my excitement here .... hubby and I went to the after-party hosted by Nicole and the Girls at Pure ... passed through a couple thousand people waiting in line and was personally escorted into the club by one bad-ass bouncer, danced in the VIP, and got up close and personal with the Dolls!! Nicole (be still my heart - she is GORGEOUS!) grabbed my hand 4 times and returned an 'I Love You, too!' as I was trying not to pass out! OMG!! I danced inches away from her and the girls and had the time of my life!! I owe it all to my man who hooked us up with this awesome trip!! He takes such good care of me!!

Vegas was good to us ... as it usually is. Check out the pics ... I'll be posting more on my Facebook, so go see them there, too (just add me as a friend so you can view 'em). And THANK YOU SO MUCH for all the sweet birthday wishes ... love you all!!

Pure w/PCD

Melody & Nicole


Gettin' my drink on ... PS - I have a new respect for Jagermeister, ha!

Happy Birthday to Me!!

Nope, I am not actually blogging from Vegas ... I scheduled this post before I left. Ha! Just a video in honor of my birthday (and the awesome concert I will be going to tonight)!! Love from Vegas!! xoxo

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Welcome Baby Katie!

Katie Ann
Born April 22, 2009

7 pounds, 5 ounces

18 3/4 inches long

Katie is such a sweetie and both her and her beautiful momma are doing great! Love you guys!!

Vegas Baby!!

Hubby and I are off ... Viva Las Vegas! Promising lots of pics when I get home ... have a great weekend!! Thanks so much for all the sweet birthday wishes!! Muah!! xoxo

Bring It On Anon!

Yay! My very first negative comment from Anonymous! I have read several blogs that have been bugged by these lovely commenters, but until now I haven't had the pleasure. Now, while this particular Debbie Downer didn't offend me personally (it takes a lot), or hurt my feelings, I still wanted to post my first official Anon comment. It was on my parking lot confrontation post I did a couple weeks back, but I just received this comment last night.

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Oh No You Didn't!":
Quit being so lazy and find another spot. You could've been in and out by the time you would've parked..

So thank you, Anon for your thoughts. It is too bad that you are too chicken to post your name and own up to your comments. I sure hope you weren't the lady I was bitchin' about in this post, because that would suck if you were that kind of person who steals parking spots AND leaves jacked up comments on people's blogs.

I ♥ my birthday!

I am definitely a lucky girl when it comes to having amazing in-laws! I have an incredible relationship with my mom-in-law, and my sis-in-law, Jackie and I have become such great friends!!

Check out what Miss Jackie got me for my birthday ... she knows me pretty darn well, and I actually feel a bit honored that she made her very first trip into a liquor store just to perfect my gift! Thanks, Jackie!! I cannot wait to try this martini, and am so excited for the new addition to my glass collection (Shopoholic ... too cute!). I appreciate all the time and thought you put into making this gift fun and special!! Love ya!!

Lunch Inspired Post

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich. Classic. I prefer mine with grape jelly, a side of plain Frito-Lay potato chips (gotta have the salty-sweet combo), and a cold glass of milk. Mmmm ... what's your fave?

Gotta have the Juicy ...

♥

And the winners are ... (based on good old random.org)

Original Juicy - Jackie at Babies...Belly Laughs and Bare Feet

&
Viva La Juicy - C at Wedded Whims
(I'll need your address, girlie to ship off your goodies! Email me at aprilbaker23@yahoo.com)

I made sure I kept tally of referrals and re-posts. Thanks so much to all who participated!! Bummed you didn't win? Keep checking back for another awesome giveaway I will be doing soon for the new Ed Hardy scent ... so yummy!! :o)

Dirty Little Secret

I have a confession to make ... I am a Vin Diesel fan.

Well, let me clarify. Vin Diesel is hot, but only in the Fast and Furious movies. His deep voice, and sexy, bad-boy character in these 2 movies ... oy!! My kinda man! Hubby is well aware of this crush. Not only did he sit through the new Fast and Furious movie with me, but he didn't even make fun of Dom Toretto (Vin's character) or the fact that I was still blushing at the end of the movie. Hee, hee.

Sweet!

Yep, I created this cute (if I do say so myself) little blog award to share with you all ... I am awarding this to every blog on my blogroll - yes! EVERY one of you over in the sidebar. No rules for accepting, just smile and repost if you wanna brag a bit! I updated my faves with more of the awesome blogs that I follow. If I have missed you and you want to be added, please call me out! Seriously! I try to read each update every day and don't want anyone to feel left out!
If you haven't entered the ♥ Juicy Couture Giveaway ♥ yet, be sure to do that asap! Deadline is tomorrow night, peeps!

What were they thinking?

Okay - who is in charge of Coach's new handbag line? Ugh!! So.Not.Cute.

Photo Friday

Me and my Boys

♥ ♥ ♥

L'Oreal EverPure - thumbs up!!

I have been using Pureology shampoo and conditioner for over a year now. It was highly recommended by a salon stylist who once colored my hair. The two bottles I currently have in my shower retail for $55 each (I actually got them for under $30 through a beauty supple store). I was never highly impressed by this brand, but was told it was the best on the market for my colored-hair care. I have recently come to the bottom of the bottles, but definitely not wanting to 'invest' in more of this high-priced line. Besides, my hair is tired of it - literally. It is so weighed down and never looks clean anymore. I do not use any other products in my hair, so there should be no build-up creating this oily look!

So browsing through the local Rite-Aid, I came across a new hair care line by L'Oreal called EverPure. It advertises a 'Sulfate-Free Color Care System, Anti-Fade System, UVA/UVB Filters, No Drying Salts, Natural Botanicals, 100% Vegan, and Exclusively for Color Treated Hair.' Best part? Priced at $6.99. Sold!
Got it home ... tried it out ... lovin' it!! I use the Volume Shampoo and the Moisture Conditioner and absolutely love the results after washing! An added bonus ... the smell is awesome! Rosemary Mint ... so refreshing! If you are looking for a new hair care line, definitely give this one a try!

P.S. Have you entered the giveaway yet?

It's Baaack ... *updated*

My insomnia.

I have a doctor's appointment scheduled for Thursday. Hoping to get a prescription for a good sleep drug. I need to sleep, people! I have had this issue since I was like 7 years old ... my mom used to let me stay up late with her drinking tea and playing Crazy Eights (card game). Fun times, but I blame that as the root of my issue (and the start of my tea addiction). Almost 21 years later, I am still staying up late. Bedtime for me is between 2:30am and 4am EVERY night. No matter how tired I may be, my brain will not shut down. So, we'll see what my doc has to say about it.

Anyone else not sleeping?

** Update: I have been diagnosed as a Chronic Insomniac. Whahoo! I will be on Ambien for 10 days, then will need to go back in for a follow-up. Doc says this will be a long-term treatment process and we will take it a step at a time (no hooking me up to machines at a sleep clinic ... yet). Thanks for all the comments ... I'll keep you all posted! **

Girls Day Out

We Baker girls love our days out ... no kiddos, no boys, just a day for ourselves! Mom is always taking good care of us and on Saturday this last weekend, she treated and pampered us all day!! First stop was the Nordstrom's Fragrance Event ... 2 hours of fragrance, sunglasses and make-up fun!! We girls left Nordy's with new Juicy Couture sunglasses ( I am a bad influence rubbing off on them! ), some MAC cosmetics, and I am now a fan of the new Ed Hardy Eternal Love scent (stay tuned for a giveaway next month!).

From Nordstrom's, we headed to the nail salon for some fun pedicures!! Nothing like getting your feet pampered after walking around the morning in 3.5 inch heels! I went with a purple french ... my fave color and so fun for Vegas (our trip is in 7 days!!!!).

Lunch at Stanford's ... love their salmon - so.yummy! Then we headed out to the outlets for some shopping!! Girls gotta shop, right? We scored some amazing deals at the Coach outlet (I currently carry around a teal and brown purse that I love ... I scored a new yellow and tan one for under $50 for the summer - yay for me!!), Kenneth Cole, and Calvin Klein among the many!


We had an awesome day, and look forward to our next adventure (due in July!). It is so great to be able to take time out, laugh and reconnect together without any distractions. Thank you so much to our guys who took care of the kiddos for the day, and lots of love to mom who is such a generous woman!! ♥

Some girls have all the Juicy ... *GIVEAWAY*

**Giveaway now closed ... thanks for entering!! Winners will be announced tomorrow!**
... and now you can, too!

It's my birthday - haaay! - the fun 28, and I am so lucky to be able to celebrate in Vegas, woot-woot!! In honor of my big day (April 25th to be exact), I am hosting an awesome contest ... a very ♥ Juicy Couture ♥ giveaway!!

There are TWO sets of prizes ... the first, Juicy Couture Sumptuous Sugar Scrub and purse size Purfume Gel ... this original scent is so luxe and gorgeous! The second gift set is Juicy's newest scent, Viva La Juicy, Viva La Shower Gel and purse size Eau de Parfum Viva La Juicy Roll On. Viva La Juicy is such a yummy fragrance ... wild berries, honeysuckle, jasmine and praline.

Two gift sets - TWO winners! Oh yeah!

Here's how to enter ...

For one entry, must be a follower and leave a comment.

For a second entry, post this giveaway on your blog.

For each person that enters that you refered through re-posting, you get an extra entry! Be sure they drop your name somewhere in their comment so I can keep tally!

Giveaway ends Monday night, April 20th at 10pm PST. Winners will be announced on Tuesday morning. Lots of luck!! :o)

Keepin' It Real ... Tagged!

Ya'll know how much I love being tagged - seriously! So.Much.Fun! I was tagged by Miss Am and I am Keepin' It Real. Here's the rules ... take a picture of yourself right now ... no primping or preparing ... just snap a picture. Load the pic onto your blog and tag some people to play along!

Cheese! Here I am!

I got my hair done the other night ... and I chickened out on anything fun and out of the ordinary. No purple streak. Just a shade darker than my own, evened out the color, and added some long layers. Can't really tell I did anything at all, except that now I don't have an orange grow-out. For whatever reason, my hair turns a brassy orange at the roots when it grows out. And yes ... that is a dye line on my forehead ... sigh. Nothing like walking around with a brown streak across my head. Oy. At least is is close to the hairline.

Let's see who else is Keepin' It Real ... I tag:

Ang ... The Creative Mama

Cassie ... Sassy and the Boys

Jodee ... The Pinkston Family

Annie ... This Momma's Musings

Holly ... Multi-Slacking Mamalicious

Amy ... The Seifert's Diary of Life

Have fun, girls!!

He Is Risen!

This is my absolute favorite worship song ... He Reigns! May you and yours have a blessed Easter!

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For the love of eggs!

Oh No You Didn't!

Scene of offense: Target parking lot. Second time in this lot, same row as a matter of fact!

Me: Patiently waiting with my turn signal on for a parking spot. Waited 4 minutes, slightly blocking traffic in the process. Car waiting for finally pulls out. On-coming Tahoe swoops in and steals spot. My horn is now BLARING!!!!

Tahoe lady: Takes a minute to exit vehicle, but is serenaded by the horn of the Hummer. Upon exiting her vehicle, she stares at me blankly.

Me: Yelling and waving my arm out the window, drawing attention from all pedestrians and shoppers (thank.you.very.much) ... "What are you doing? You know that I have been waiting for this spot!"

Tahoe lady: "I am just going to go in there for a few minutes. I will be right back out."

Me: "Are you kidding me?!? That was so messed up! You are so rude! You don't steal parking spots that people are waiting for!!"

Tahoe lady: (in a ghetto attitude .. I'm not judging - it was really that nasty) "Well, I don't see any names on the spaces."

Me: "Well I know you saw my blinker!! You are unbelievable!"

Tahoe lady: Brushes me off and continues on her way.

As I pull away, now too pissed to shop, I see onlookers smiling at me as I drive off.

Warning to any no-class, rude-ass women who wanna be punks in a parking lot: Think twice before pulling a cheap and sneaky move like that! If by chance you do it to this little Italian girl, I WILL call you out as loudly as I can to make sure anyone around is aware of such behavior. Ain't no shame on my end ... I will gladly embarrass you for all to see.

Shut the front door!

Called up Jackie (my sister-in-law) this morning to arrange plans for the day ... meet for breakfast and head to Costco with mom to do some shopping. I had to run our Husky to Groomingdales for her appointment, then I met up with mom and Jackie who were already at the restaurant.

Now, we knew this day could possible come. We bought the same sweatshirt (that we desperately hunted down online when the Duck Stores no longer carried them) - cuz the coffee girl at The Human Bean in Seaside had one that was sooo cute! But we never actually thought we would ever match up our outfits right down to the brown Uggs! Promise we didn't coordinate our looks ... but so funny running around all day together dressed as twins. Ha!

We represent!

U of O!

A little dirt never hurt ...

My boys and I tried to take advantage of the warm sunshine while it was here for a few days. The zoo, park playdates, bbq's ... oh so much fun! Maddox and Sean were thrilled to be allowed outdoors and I enjoyed watching them run wild (and pass out hard at bedtime). Yesterday was our last warm day for a while, so we went out on the back deck and planted some flower buckets. A fun and cheap little project that we do each spring, and has varied between painting pots and picking out pre-grown flowers to transplant, or snagging some $1 buckets and a couple packets of seeds at Target. The boys love to help out around the house and feel so important with their tasks. They will enjoy watering their buckets and watching the seeds sprout and grow into flowers.

What are some fun things you like to do with your kiddos?

Acai Berry

I am all about antioxidents ... anything that I can do to help prevent the chances of cancer, I am 'bout it 'bout it. So when I was introduced to the world of Acai (pronounced ah-sigh-ee), I was thrilled to learn of its health benefits!

Now I am sure most of you have heard of this wonder berry as a diet drug ... a way to lose weight fast. You've seen the tiny, skinny people in ads holding of pants that are 17 sizes too big for them as their 'Before' comparisons. Free trials are pretty tempting for those melt-away tabs and pills, and I will be the first to admit that I actually tried them! Antioxidents plus weight loss ... sign me up! Let me tell ya from experience ... these weight loss products are SCAMS! They do not work for the intended purpose they advertise for, and they are about $90 for a 30-day supply. They are not 100% acai berry either. They are usually mixed with another concentrate, such as cranberry. There has been absolutely no scientific proof that acai berry works as a weight loss aid. Please do not fall for these ads and their 'claims'.
This super berry is pretty awesome for all the right reasons! The Acai Berry is found in the Amazon, and acts as a natural energy booster. Acai is highly perishable and therefore cannot be sold as a whole fruit here in the U.S. Now I can go on and on like a book report on this fruit, but I'll just highlight the reasons why you need to start adding acai to your daily diet:

• Acai is chock full of Omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids, dietary fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, complex carbohydrates, and amino acids.


• Eating a diet rich in antioxidants may interfere with aging and the disease process by neutralizing free radicals.


• Antioxidants may help reduce the risk of some diseases, such as heart disease and cancer.
  The University of Florida studied extracts and were shown to kill significant numbers of Leukemia cells.


• In testing, Acai is found to contain the most potent and powerful source of anthocyanins (flavonoids) in the world.


• Acai is also noted for its healthy fat content as well as its fiber and phytosterols to promote a healthier cardiovascular system and digestive tract.


• Detoxing and cleansing abilities. Acai may also lower cholesterol, stabilize diabetes, promote heart health, boost energy levels, and reduce inflammation, as well as help protect from neurological diseases.
  
• These antioxidants are needed to fight cell-damaging free-radicals that can predispose our bodies to certain types of cancers. Acai Berry is the #1 superfruit with the highest levels. Pomegranates are #2.
  

The Acai berry alone is not a cure-all for health related issues; it is however, highly effective in stimulating the body to achieve health goals. Acai should be the key element you are looking for, veering away from added fillers, binders, syrups, caffeine and artificial sweeteners. A liquid form is accepted into your system immediately. Capsules and pills often contain multiple binders and fillers, and nutrients are destroyed in the processing. I have used MonaVie and highly recommend it. The only downfall is that Acai products can be spendy. Being that these little berries are only found in remote areas and are highly perishable, the price goes with the availability. Be sure to do your research before buying into any particular brand of product. Product reviews are found all over the internet.

How does it taste? Acai is a bit tart - like blueberries or cranberries, in my opinion. When mixed with other fruits in juices, it is fine. Alone (like MonaVie), you only need a shot glass full a day, so it is worth the bitterness.

Any suggestions?

On Wednesday I am getting my hair done - yay! This usually only happens twice a year. Honestly, it is just too expensive. There are only 2 times a year when I can validate a trip to the salon: a) my birthday - cuz the birthday girl has gotta look good! and b) the fall - after the summer sun has fried my hair. Anytime in between, my color comes from a box ... ain't no shame!
So I usually go with a dark chocolate color - yummy, huh? And I add in a few long layers ... I am loving the long hair! With grow-out and fading, this seems to be an easy, not so obvious color as it blends in with my already brown hair. I love the rich tones and the shine. Anyone have any suggestions for my new 'do? I have been checking out celebrities online to try to get a perfect example of what I want, but haven't found anything that stands out yet. Hubby is dead-set against bangs (I already ran that one by him), and I have been debating a peek-a-boo purple highlight. No, I am not crazy! I have seen purple (among other colors, but purple is my fave) highlights on chick-a-dees my age and while I think they can rock it for themselves, I would be way too scurred to go that bold. So why not a little piece hidden underneath that occasionally pops through? Fun? Tacky? Too high school? Whadya think? Throw out some names or styles that I can google, or links you may come across. Thanks, girls!

I'm walking on sunshine ..

Gosh. I cannot tell you how much I am enjoying the spring sunshine break! My mood swings have seem to vanished with the rain, and I am soaking in as much as I can while it lasts! We went to the zoo today with the boys and had a great time. The weather was in the 70's and I loved being in my capris and flip flops. Aaaah ... if only the rain could be done until November! Wishful thinking ... so not complaining. Hope everyone has a great week!

For those not paying attention ...

Okay Oregonians ... something to be thrilled about!!! The sunshine lifted my spirits today - hope you are all enjoying it while it is here!