Great Deals at Hip 2 Save

Working from home has been great for snagging shopping deals! I love the Today Show and especially the segment Steals and Deals! Via that segment and a co-worker I have since found www.hip2save.com which posts multiple deals through out the day, including:

Free $13 item w/$10 purchase from Bath and Body Works

2 photo calendars, 100 holiday postcards & 140 address labels $10.07 shipped

Hallmark $5 off $10 purchase

and much, much more! From one friend to another...ENJOY the deals!

Gobble, Gobble, Gobble!!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!!!!


Today was a GREAT day! I am oh-so-happy to report that I not only survived my first Turkey Trot but I completed it, without walking, in just 35 minutes and 17 seconds!!! Not too bad if I do say so myself!! I had a great time with Michael, Mark and Paul...can't wait to do it again next year :)

Next we headed back to the Johnson's house for a wonderful, home cooked breakfast--mimosas, waffles, sausage, bacon, cinnamon rolls, and a little fruit. Yummy! Needless to say, I managed to eat all the calories I ran off (and then some). Good thing it's a holiday and calories don't exist today ;)

Our next stop was Gamps and Grandma D's house for a delicious turkey dinner with all the fix'ns! Yummmmmmmmmy! After dinner we played a few games with the fam, at some yummy pie/cake/brownies and colored with Abby.

Now it is time for a loooooooooonnnnnnnggggggg nap so that I can get up at 5 a.m. in order to hit Joann's at 6! Happy Turkey Day to all!

BPA Report

Well, just when I thought I was doing a good job of avoiding (or limiting our exposure to) BPA, I hear about another BPA study/spotting. Take a moment to read this if you like to get a receipt after every transaction:BPA in Store Receipts.

I'm thinking twice about touching that receipt--in the bag or with you just took on a whole new meaning!!!

Spanx a Lot!

For the love of Spanx!!!

Like most of you, I have been wearing Spanx for years now (I wore them while pregnant...no worries--they make maternity Spanx --and refuse to wear dress clothes with out them post baby and I assure you that they were worth EVERY PENNY--check it for yourself!!), but today Spanx took me to another dimension...QVC!! Yes, I have placed my fist (and only) order on QVC because of Spanx....YIKES--does that make me old???

QVC debuted a ruched, lace trimmed cami today (and is only avalibe via QVC til October) and I just had to have it along with another pair of my must have item-Higher Power--which I seemed to have lost since Easter....hummmm! Now that I think of it, Spanx Higher Power is defiantly a Product I Can't Live Without!!! I will let you know if the new cami is worth ordering on QVC ;)

Nursing Bras for Women Like Me

Ok, to start I have had a hard, no--almost impossible-- time finding nursing bras in my size, let a lone finding one that does not look like a "grandma" bra. Being a 34G sucks! I did find a place on line back in November that carried some options. I ordered on 11/8 and got about half of my order and was told the others would ship in 3-4 days. Well 12/30 rolled around and still my order was not complete. I had to call and see what was up. Stephanie helped me out by letting me know that the bra was on back order and would be so for the next 2 or so weeks. I canceled that item and ordered 2 more in 34H and would be sending the rest back due to "muffin top". So I sent all the bras back in the box that I received it in. I also ordered two of the bras in a 34I to see if they fit any better than the 34H. Apparently upon packing my return, I made the FATAL mistake of placing another bra on top of the "molded cup" bra. Here is the e-mail I received regarding my return:

SCANNING DOCUMENT, WILL POST TOMORROW

So, because I placed another bra on top of this oh-so-special-molded-cup-bra I have damaged it beyond saleable condition??? Really?? What is best about this is that I got this e-mail on 1/12 and still have received the bra back nor have I received the two 34I bras that I ordered. Again, I had to call to see where they are and guess what....one is on back order (the other does not come in that size)! So, company that prides itself on customer service, where is the notice that I would yet again have to wait to receive my order???



At this point, I have canceled all orders, will be returning the 2 bras that I have (guess I will be eating the cost of a 34G that does not fit) and ordering from another company that appreciates its large chested, nursing customers.



In the end, I DO NOT SUGGEST ORDERING FROM Linda the Bra Lady!!!

$10 off at Diapers.com

Hey there! If you are in the market for diapers/baby stuff check out Diapers.com. I just placed my first order (thanks Kristi, you will see your credit soon) and found some good deals! Plus, how great is it that they come right to you instead of having to drive to the store to get it.

If you are interested in saving $10 on your first order at Diapers.com just enter this referral code at check out: KELI6544

What's the catch? You have to spend more that $49 and it has to include diapers, but hey if you need them you might as well save some dough! But the bonus is that you get free shipping on order over $49 anyway (2 day shipping!!). You can also use the code: PLUS10PCT to get 10% off most of your order (not on diapers and some other stuff, but worth a try) if you are a first time user. Just thought I'd pass on the deal. Hope enjoy it!

What a Difference a Day Makes

Well, by Friday evening I was feeling pretty good! No, I'm not 100% yet, but my sore throat is gone, most of my coughing has subsided and my stuffy/runny nose is to a manageable level. I am so thankful that this summer cold did not stick around for long!

On another note, I started the cutting the curtain last night and hope to get at least 1/2 (if not all) of the sewing done today. I am on a mission to get the nursery "done" in the next two weeks. By done I mean curtain sewn and hung, random items put away, dimmer switch installed and maybe the bumper cover sewn. We'll see if I can get it all done in time without killing myself!

I have been out and about this week searching for some misc. items such as baskets for the living room, something to wear in the hospital (that looks good enough for visitors to see me in, has easy access for nursing, doesn't cost too much and is something I won't get attached to in case it gets ruined) and decorations for the nursery. I would like to say "Thank you" to Michael's for the basket (FINALLY), Marshall's for the CHEAP night gown and robe, and Target for the new knobs for the dresser. MJ and I had talked about getting something different b/c he did not care for the ones that came with the dresser, but I had little hope of finding something we liked that did not cost $7 each. Here is what I found for $4.99 each:

Love them!

So Excited!!

MJ always manages to give the BEST gifts!!

I came home last night to find a special package wrapped in brown paper in the swing. I ask "what is this?" only to get a shrug of the shoulders from MJ. So, I sat down to open it, a little confused as to what it might be. As I tore the paper away I tried to figure out what it might be...I couldn't think of a single thing. As the soft, green contents were reveled I slowly realized what it was: A diaper bag!!! Ladies and Gentlemen, this in not just any diaper bag...it is a FABULOUS, hand crafted, one-of-a-kind bag by Kelli and Kristi's cousin Lauren Talicska!

Let me give you the back story on this: Kristi got a blue one at her shower and I fell in love! I wanted one of my very own! I had been looking at bags and hadn't found a single one I liked (most of them look too much like something an 8 year old would take to school or boring and stuffy, no fun!). But this was the perfect size and full of fun colors and fabric. I asked Lauren if she took orders and Kelli said that I couldn't order one because maybe one was already on order for me. We laughed, I touched Kristi's bag (wanting to smuggle it out of the shower and play dumb when Kristi realized it was gone.). That day I came home and told MJ all about the bag and how I hoped I might get one to call my own.

Time passes, my shower comes, I got WONDERFUL gifts. The Talicska family gave us the highchair (among other items) that could only be bought on line (which I thought for sure we were not going to get because of the fact) and we are VERY grateful for the wonderful purchase (we will think of you every time we feed Peanut in the highchair).

MJ and I were at Babies'R Us a few days later and I realized that I still needed a diaper bag. I thought to myself Shoot, I was hoping to get a bag like Kristi's, I loved it so much. "Guess, I should look for a diaper bag while we're here (a small, selfish part of me was sad when I realized I would not have a fabulous diaper bag. Bad Keliann, bad)." MJ picked up on my tone and asked what was wrong. I told him again about the bag I wanted as I looked at what they had to offer. Nothing I liked.

Fast forward to yesterday. Emily and I met up in Canton to do a little shopping. We were in BuyBuy Baby and I stopped by the diaper bags to see what they had. Again, nothing. I told Emily of the bag and my selfish disappointment (bad Keliann, bad). "Oh well, I'll find something" I told her.

So, here I am opening this mysterious package at 10 o'clock at night, realizing that I have the BEST husband EVER! He never ceased to amaze with what he picks up on and how he manages to surprise me with thoughtful gifts. I am happy to report that I LOVE my diaper bag! It is every thing I hoped it would be! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Here it is:

Round Out the Week

I'm back! I must apologize for the lack of posts, it has been a busy two weeks. Since I posted last I have been to a Bachlorette Party, a Tiger's game (which they won!), worked 44 hours in 4 days (yes even while preggers), went to a fabulous wedding in Holland (Congrats Sarah and Jason), purchased a "little something" for the nursery (promise to show you in a later post) from a CUTE shop in downtown Holland called Tip Toes (sorry no website yet, but if you are ever there it is worth a stop), visited Emily and family in Paw Paw, emptied out the office and set it back up in the basement so Kelli had a room of her own for the summer (I am so excited to have her as a roomie for a little while), cleaned the house from top to bottom (well except for our bed room...maybe this weekend....), picked up our new laptop from Dave who helped get it cleaned up and on the wireless router (What a life saver you are Dave--Thanks so much!! And thanks to the Johnson's for helping us out with the purchase so MJ could have a laptop for school and get all A's...), worked another 37+ hours, shopped for a shower dress (thanks again Mitzi), grocery shopped and did a few thank you cards. Yeah, not bad for 2 weeks!

"How are you feeling" you may ask, like every other person who sees me? I feel good for the most part. My back is starting to hurt on a more regular basis and I think I am starting to lose the definition in my ankles...yikes! Heartburn is only a rare issue, thank heavens, but the waking-in-order-to-roll-over stage is setting in. Other than that, life is good. All in all I really don't have any complaints.

Peanut is still on the move. I can feel her rolling over and adjusting on a regular basis with an occasional elbow or knee jabbing my insides. She is big enough now that I can actually see her movements...that is a little strange and sometimes creeps me out, but I love it at the same time. Well, enough said, here we are at the end of 29 weeks:

I am growing for sure, but if I hear one more person's surprise when I answer their question of "when are you due" I will strangle someone. Example: today while shopping with Mitzi for a shower dress, three DIFFERENT women asked me when I was due. "August 9th" I replied, only to hear 1) "Oh..."(imagine a "yikes" face), 2) "Really..." (imagine a "Oh" face) and 3) "August?" (imagine a "are you sure" face). Comforting. Thanks for the reassurance people, have you ever been here and had to listen to comments like that??? They really don't help with one's self confidence. And to top it all off I have to share with you the Comment of the Week--"there is no way you are going to make it to August". Thanks. Thanks a lot.

Oh well, what can I say other than "love me the way I am people" :)

Lunch with Grandpa Bill

T.G.I.T. Yup, Thursday--I don't have to work tomorrow :) (but I do have to work on Saturday) That is the only reason I am posting at 11 p.m. (Yes, I took a short nap on the couch while MJ watched Lost. I will have to catch that later).

I went to lunch with my dad today, so fun! Grandpa Bill got me a book--What to Expect the First Year! I was so excited to get it (I just put it on my registry on Tuesday), I even started to read it today....along with the 4 others I am currently reading. I am happy to report that ONE of them is NOT a baby book but a Nicholas Sparks book. I figured it was o.k. to do a little "reading for pleasure" since MOST of what I've read the past 6 months is for "knowledge".

We have a busy day planned for my day off...we are headed to Ann Arbor tomorrow to get our rocking chair re-upholstered, hope to stop by Ikea, hit some maternity re-sale shops (my wardrobe options are getting rather low), check out 2 daycares and get working on the nursery bedding. More on that later, I am off to bed. Enjoy your Friday working!!!

Yikes!

Michael and I started the hunt for baby furniture in January and it proved to be as difficult as agreeing on our own bedroom furniture. We have come to realize that when it comes to decorating, each of us has to give a little...well more than a little. It always seems like what I like, MJ does not. The same is true for what MJ likes, I usually say "yuck" with a crinkled nose. So, since the beginning of our search we have heard the word "no" a lot.

One day in early March we were out and about doing a little shopping and MJ suggested we hit A Baby's Room in Sterling Heights. I agreed to look, though I did not have much hope for finding something we could agree on. Now mind you, at this point we had perused the obvious and not so obvious: Babies "R" Us, Buy Buy Baby, Art Van, JC Penny's, Burlington Coat Factory, Target, (Walmart-online only--I swear!!) and either could not find anything we could agree on or no options at all (boo to Penny's and Art Van for not having ANY to look at).

So, in we went. Much to our surprise we both like, I mean really liked, the second one we saw there! What, you like this?!? I like it too!!! The longer we looked the more we liked it. Yes, both of us were giving a little on what our "perfect" crib and furniture would be--MJ did not LOVE the front of the long dresser and I was hoping for white, but hey other than that we AGREED!!! That in itself is sometimes something to celebrate! Now, those of you who know me, and I mean KNOW me, realize that I can't just buy something...I have to shop around before I commit. Hey, this is a long term investment. I will have to look at this set for the next 20 years or so, so I have to be absolutely sure I like it AND know that I got the best price. Besides, at this point I realized that I wasn't able to say much about the wonderful customer service at this store, so on to Direct Buy we went (Yes, I am a member and Yes, you do save money).

Lucky us, Direct buy carried the manufacture so we were able to compare prices. Once again, Direct Buy was the cheaper route :) but resistant Keliann kicked in again. What if the dresser is too long? What if we get it in and I don't like it? What if we find something we like better once we order it? I made MJ wait before processing the order. Home we went and out came the tape measure. I don't say this too often but, Michael was right. The dresser would fit and we really did not have many other shopping options to explore--if any. So, Saturday, March 7th Michael and I ordered baby furniture! Unfortunately, the shipping time was 6-8 weeks. Well, we will have time to decide on bedding and paint before it gets here, I thought.

Boy was I wrong! MJ picked up the furniture this week!! Yes, its here! We have BABY FURNITURE!!! Crap, time is flying by...from order to my house in 6 weeks, and that was with it sitting in the warehouse for almost 2 weeks!!! And no, I have not committed to bedding yet. That is actually another post of its own! Well, here is link to what what we picked: Bonavita

We went with the dark cherry (room 1) not the black. The crib converts into a toddler bed and a full size bed (yes I made MJ order the nightstand too, though he did not understand why at first. Hey, what do you expect a teenager to put his/her alarm clock on??), the long dresser in the back (without the hutch top) and the tall dresser (right side of the picture). We will have to put the nightstand and tall dresser in the office/spare bedroom for now, but we will have the full set when the time comes. We are SO excited that the nursery is coming together, we have a rocking chair too (that is also another story to be told) and have the bedding narrowed down to two options (though they both require my sewing abilities...we will see how that goes). MJ tells me we HAVE to decide this weekend so he can get to painting before his school and work schedule gets too crazy--but I don't see the rush since the furniture is gassing off in the garage for now...but wish me luck on this decision!!

Peanut's Wardrobe

Hello! Yes, I know it has been a while since my last post....what can I say? Not much has been happening, so I guess I will share some of the fun things we have purchased and received since finding out we are going to have a baby:

This was the very first baby thing I got! Michael purchased and wrapped it for my birthday :) When I opened it our friends found out we were expecting! Here is a close up:

Here are some of Daddy's other purchases:

This cute, little hat is from Grandma and Grandpa J:


These next few are from Aunt Stacey, Uncle Mark, Julia and Gracie:

Here is the first thing Auntie Emily bought for us:

Emily came over this past weekend and was also kind enough to bring with her three LARGE bags of cloths and baby items...Peanut loves having twins born in August "in the family"!! Lots of goodies in those bags, too many to share! Thanks Charlotte and Emerson! :)

Peanut's first Disney item was from Auntie Kelli! She was in Disney running a half-marathon when we made the announcement! She came home with Mickey:

This is what we purchased right after finding out we are having a girl!

It is an organic cotton gown, which makes changing Peanut in the middle of the night SO much easier. I just hope we don't have too many rolling poos, right Emily?

But my favorite item of all was purchased on day-two of our "We're having a Girl" shopping trip is this. I was hoping that this would be the outfit that we bring our little Peanut home in, but I am scared it will be too big...

YES...that is Peanut's first pair of shoes!! I just had to have them! They are just PERFECT!

Needless to say, we have TONS of other things--too many to post all of them. If I posted all of them, you would be here all night looking. Thank you so much for the love you have already shown this little girl. She is so lucky!