Brazil part III

Hangin' out at Bigogi's bar.

Pirate ship ride... Cheesy I know, but super fun!

This is where we docked and went swimming. Pure awesomeness - highlight of the trip!

This is bigogi. (Big mustache) He owned the bar across the street from the apartment. I can't even begin to describe how big this man's personality was - it totally transcended any language barriers.

Spiderman on the beach selling cotton candy with a horn? Check!

Waiting in line to take the chair lift up the mountain that people para-glide off.

Little ancient stairs

Bar Do Pico. We ate here!

On the way back down. What did you think we'd jump off?

Lizard!

This part terrified me. A person is not supposed to chair lift over a busy road.

What that nastiness you ask? OMG, the most delicious peanut butter chocolate pizza EVER.

"Caution: Drunk Crossing" Outside of Bigogi's bar.

We walked around for a while and I just took photos of beautiful buildings and doorways.

Then we were in the commercial district, so obviously I couldn't resist taking some window shots...

LOVE this place. Ate breakfast here everyday!

On the bus. Sad faces. Goodbye Santos.

Hello Baltimore (DC actually). Hello snow. Blah.

Look how tan I am!

Little did we know how crazy the rest of the year would be... A week later I found out we were pregnant with baby Josie!

The First day of Fall

I usually dread Fall. I have a feeling of panic and anxiety the entire season, while I feel like I should be enjoying myself.

Fall is beautiful. The leaves turn, the sky is bright blue, the weather is crisp, but not too cold. I can bring out cute sweaters and still wear flip flops. I envision myself running through fields of tall grass, taking hay rides (without sneezing), carving pumpkins, picking apples and making pie, decorating the front door with a home-made wreath, enjoying a roaring fire and drinking hot cider and red wine.
I love Halloween & Thanksgiving.
I got married in the Fall.

And yet...

There is always that nagging of what's to come.
The wintery cold and ice and grey. The short days. The feeling of never getting warm. The fireplace just sucks the heat out of the house. I go to work in the dark, and I get off of work in the dark. I slip on the ice. I shiver. I wish I were a bear, so I could just sleep the entire season away. I don't talk to my friends. I stay inside and watch crappy TV. Once the Spring comes, I feel like I'm just waking up. Where have I been? I have seasonal depression.

I don't feel that way this year. This year I am glad to be at the Autumn Equinox - to bid farewell to my favorite season of all. To eat my last ear of corn and my last peach of the summer. I know I have tomatoes from our garden made into sauce in the freezer, I have blueberries frozen and ready to be used for blueberry pancakes. I'm excited about Fall this year. I am worried I will miss it, but I'm happy for it to be here.

This Fall I will give birth to my daughter.


Photos by Lucas Allen via Creature Comforts

Britax Stroller Giveaway

Okay... So I didn't win the Fuzzibunz, but here's yet another awesome giveaway. For those of you with young kids (All 4 or 5 of my readers) in need a a better umbrella stroller, go to Mogul Baby and check out their Britax Blink stroller giveaway.

Half Pint

Nick found this onesie on Northern Brewer, his homebrew supplies website. Hee-hee!

Cloth Diapers - Fuzzibunz!

So, it's probably no surprise to most of you that I am going a bit crunchy with this pregnancy and baby. Our little Tomatillo is due in only 4 weeks! EEK! I am all about growing our own food and making our own baby food, making our own toiletries, wearing baby in a sling, and using cloth diapers. Nick is totally on board - seeing as how he's never changed a diaper, he won't know the difference between cloth and disposable anyway!

So, I know I've referred to this guy Ryan and his family over at Pacing the Panic Room before. They are in Central FLA (yea Florida!) and users of Fuzzibunz. Seeing as how the little one is due in 4 weeks, and I have ZERO diapers in my "stash" I am totally posting about Fuzzibunz to try and win some. :) I have heard a lot of good things about several different brands of cloth. It is so hard to decide when I've never used any! Seriously though, if you're considering making the switch, check out THIS site or even THIS site for a lot of useful info on the pros & cons of each diaper, and laundering info.

Brooklyn Graffiti - My first (sort-of) Mother's Day

Oh, so little - so late. Enjoy!

During the weekend of Mother's Day, Nick, Shaun and I drove to NYC on Saturday morning. Our friends Jordan and Christine where having a before-baby slash going-away BBQ at their home in Brooklyn. (Since then, baby has been born - mother & daughter are beautiful!) They carved out a place for us to blow up the air mattress and sleep in the nursery, which was awesome - because let's face it - those kids can party, and this mama-to-be needs her sleep!

The next day, Christine and my first Mother-To-Be Day, everyone who was still hanging out from the night before called their mama's, put on their walking shoes, and went out to brunch. It was fabulous! I had French toast with bananas and even splurged a little on a cup of coffee. Yum. After brunch, we did a small walking tour of graffiti art in Brooklyn...

Happy Mother's Day!