on a wednesday brain dump.
GUYS.
Yesterday I had to go buy a bottle of bourbon for a recipe while six months pregnant. People still aren’t sure if I’m pregnant – or else they’ve just had it burned into their brains to NEVER ASK A WOMAN if she is pregnant unless it’s like month ten. That was fun.
This is what we’ve done lately!
We moved. I can write a book on the worst way to move. We did it. Trust me.
We went on vacation.
We couldn’t relax on vacation at all, until maybe the second to last day. I do not suggest going on vacation the week before or after major things occur in your life. True life: I sort of like to work better than I like vacation. And I’m not even drinking caffeine now. This is probably a problem.
Next week at this time, I’ll be doing my book tour (omg please come!) and am wondering if I can pull off the white jumpsuit that Robin Wright wore to the emmys while being only 5 feet tall and pregnant. The only thing I think I would look like is a polar bear walking on its hind legs.
People keep asking me “omg aren’t you freaking out” with the whole baby/book/moving situation and yes I’m majorly freaking out BUT the good news is that there is so much going on at the moment that I don’t have the capability to obsess over just one thing. Which is probably awesome? Or it just means everything is being half assed. Let’s hope not that one. But things are good.
I do hate feeling like I can’t be 100% present on my blog right now. I MISS YOUR GUTS.
We moved three weeks ago but went away for one (stupid yet wonderful), and THE ENTIRE HOUSE IS STILL IN BOXES. I am not kidding when I say there is probably no possibility that this house will be unpacked in six months. Not even a year. It certainly won’t be unpacked before I leave for the book tour. And when I come back, um, I should probably buy a crib or something and do some kind of preparation for the baby since we will be like six to eight weeks away. FEAR.
We don’t have a kitchen table. Or kitchen chairs. We still don’t have a bed and we’re sleeping in a guest room. I’ve already destroyed two bathrooms because my stuff is spread out everywhere since it doesn’t have a place yet – meanwhile over half of it is still packed. I can’t find jewelry or perfume. My packing skills ROCK.
The majority of my dishes and blog props for photography are still packed too. I can’t find my rolling pin and have had to improvise with wine bottles three times lately. Yeah – that’s not as easy as everyone says it is. Especially when you can’t open the bottle and take a swig. Whomp whomp.
And learning to take pictures, when you loathe photography to begin with, in a new place and for the first time ever since starting a blog is a challenge! I eat a lot of cheese to deal. I miss my old boring white walls.
Can we talk about this below? Why is it the funniest thing I’ve ever seen in my life? I sing the song with these lyrics now.
I reeeeeeeallly want to do a bunch of vacation posts but I literally have no idea when I would do them. Currently trying to figure that out so I can do a ton of beachy repetitive sunset photo dumps that I can reference when I need to relax.
I also promised you a vision board update, which yes – is still totally valid considering I wouldn’t let anyone touch my vision board when moving and placed it in the backseat of my car, padded with blankets for the move. I can see it right now from where I sit. Maybe I can do that before 2015! Maybe not. I really adore my 2014 board.
I haven’t read a darn thing lately. I started Delicious on vacation but didn’t get very far. After asking you for lots of recommendations, I totally flaked. I DO have lots of favorites to talk about this month but they will come later this week in my beauty and lifestyle faves. Things like water and salad. No, it’s not what you think.
Today I’m filming a video for most of the day and probably wearing too much lipstick. That is all for now, I’m done with this update about me, me, me where I hit caps lock four too many times. What is new with you? Tell me! Can I say that reading your magic moments has made me teary every single day? Man, I heart you. (are we still saying that? probably not.)
47 Comments on “on a wednesday brain dump.”
CAN you write a book about the worst way to move? Because I need to reference it when I most likely have to move (who the hell knows where) in 8 months time.
Laughed out loud at the part about you going out to buy booze whilst pregnant! Awkward.
People are totally afraid to ask a woman if she’s pregnant. Well at least most people. I know two different women who were asked when they were due… And they weren’t pregnant. Talk about a slap in the face! That being said I was one of those it’s-really-obvious-you’re-pregnant pregnant people and co-workers still didn’t say anything until they heard from someone else (I work for a natural food company in its head office, which was out of one of our locations so there were like 50+ coworkers). I was so round it couldn’t even be confused for a food baby, haha.
I hear you on those vacation recaps! I just posted 2 (one today, one on Monday) because there is no other time to squeeze them in and they’re BIG posts! Sunset photos never get old though (or at least not for me.) Good luck with the video today.. I hope we get to see it! :)
While my life isn’t QUITE as crazy as yours is at the moment, I’m due to give birth in just over a month (eeeek!), and we just completed a MAJOR two-month construction project on our house that was affecting basically every room/level of the house. It was awful. Now that it’s done, i figure maybe I should start thinking about this whole baby thing. I just bought a crib. We are still very unprepared. Take comfort in the fact that you are not alone! I also laughed out loud at the polar bear reference. Hahaha.
Aww, I love to unpack boxes and find places for everything! Too bad I’m not closer, I’d offer to do it for you. ;)
Can my magic moment be learning that I’m not the only member of the 5 foot club? When I describe myself, I like to say I’m built like a pinky toe, but I really enjoyed the polar bear visual you supplied.
Seriously though, I have to think of a magic moment – not sure how I missed this awesome giveaway!
I am definitely petrified of moving because I only know how to take photos by my current kitchen window. That’s a good reason to stay in this apartment for a really long time, right?
I have never been pregnant, but a fifth grader once asked if I was when I was sporting a sort of unfortunate sweater dress. Even when I told this kiddo I wasn’t pregnant she did not believe me, because she said my belly looked just like her pregnant sister’s :/. I told her to tell her sister she looked good. I guess kids are the only ones not afraid to ask, but there (luckily) aren’t many of them at the liquor store!
Your crazy … in a good way. I couldn’t handle all your pressures. I’m stocked about your book tour, I’m heading to the Boston signing, and I totally can’t wait to see you in person and give you a big thank you hug for all your inspiration!! Stay Calm and rested lady!,
that should have read stoked not stocked.
OK so the million dollar question is… do you have a kick-ass kitchen in the new house?!
Also, people are definitely gunna wanna know what you’re doing with the nursery… <3
Moving bahlows but there has to be some perk in doing it preggo? “Oooh honey is love to help you lift that but..” *points to bump* “yeahhhh.” I’m hoping I can still use that one during an upcoming move now that my nugget is here. I’ll just tape her to my belly. Or not.
Can’t wait for my copy of the book to come in!
So excited for your book! I have to say, being from Austin, and that’s a stop on your tour… I have to share a few recommendations. You love tacos, right? You have to check out Torchy’s tacos (queso is a must) and TacoDeli! They are amazing, and totally different despite both being tacos. And, there is a little gelato shop that’s pretty new to the area called Dolce Neve (it’s not too far from a Torchy’s either). BEST GELATO EVER! You have to try it. Have fun on your book tour & can’t wait to Seriously Delish out my kitchen!
i was once mistaken for someone who had just given birth the day before. Um, did I really look that bad?! Yikes.
All week long I’ve been looking forward to seeing my best friends and their babies! Hurry up Labor Day weekend!
I have been asked if I was pregnant twice. Once when I was waitressing and wearing a fit and flare dress, so that one made no sense. The guy asked me, “When’s the kid coming?” and I blankly stared at him and looked around the bar for some rogue children. His wife realized what happened first and hit him on the back of the head. I got a really good tip though, but I was disturbed by it the whole day. Especially since I was 22 and there wasn’t even a belly, the day before I’d worn a crop top to work. I walked around the rest of the day sticking out my belly and complaining to my coworkers.
omg seriously you’re 5 feet tall? me tooo! this makes me love you more.
I love these! When you are just brutally honest and lay it all out there. Good luck with everything.
Moving is always the worst! Moving while pregnant really takes the crown though. We had friends and family insist on helping us unpack. My friends unpacked my kitchen the day we moved in and it was SO NICE. My mom came and stayed with me for 2 weeks after Casper was born and helped with more unpacking and insisted on buying/hanging curtains and planting flowers and a little japanese maple tree for Casper. So, basically, if anyone offers help TAKE IT! We still don’t have our dining table, though it is ordered, and we definitely purchased everything for the nursery the week he was born. Insane.
People started asking me when the baby was due in my 9th month and then saying things like, “oh, yeah…I can tell he’s coming any day.” Awesome. I know I look like a beached whale, thanks for the reminder.
I feel so bad for you! I mean it’s all wonderful what’s going on…the book tour, a new house, going on vacation, the baby, but it’s ALL AT ONCE. No one is meant to have all this stuff all at once because that’s well, highly freakin’ stressful! I can comment on moving 4 times in 5 years and each place I’ve moved into with regard to blog photography is it’s own nightmare and 6 month learning curve. You’ll figure it out (obviously) but it can suck in the meantime. My current place has the worst natural lighting I’ve ever had and if you need a light recommendation to make non-white walls look white and brighten things up, email me.
And I wish you ALL THE BEST on your book tour! If you were coming to SoCal, I’d be there, anywhere, you were going to be. And I’d also help you unpack, and go grocery shopping, and just help you! Gosh you sound so overwhelmingly busy!!
people totes still say heart you – I do pretty much everyday. (they still say totes, too, right? RIGHT!)
Can I write the second half of your moving book about all the right ways? I’m so insanely OCCD/type A that I have prepared tip sheets for friends so everything is packed and stacked together, including how to arrange the boxes in your home so that it’s unpacked easiest into your new home. Yah, I’m that girl. My closet, however, it’s a mess. Hello long weekend plans (but seriously).
I have to laugh at the idea of a 6 month preggers woman buying liquor. P.S. are you really 5ft tall? Because so am I (insert high five emoji here) – yay for being munchkins!
I think I’m living the Southern version of your life (except for the pregnancy thing). My husband and I went on vacation…the weekend before we were moving! We moved and the heat index was over 105*! NO joke. We have no real furniture so now we have a big empty house. I’m scared to bake something and take its picture in this house. We have no cable/internet in the house still so…I’m BORED and refusing to bake. I miss white walls. Ugh.
You take all the time away from blogging that you need to! We’ll still be here :) I went on vacation the week before my move this spring and it was also completely terrible
I hear you about buying alcohol when pregnant. I had to do it for a party we were throwing and I got the dirtiest looks. It was so embarrassing. I wanted to wear a sign that said, “Just buying, not drinking!” lol
I’m fairly new to your blog…found you through Pinterest…and I’m loving every post. You’re so funny and so talented with food and now I find out you’re really superwoman with a move and a book and a tour and a baby on the way and probably a million other things we don’t even know about. How do you do it all?!
Thanks so much for sharing amidst the chaos right now! Peace and calm are right around the corner …of boxes. ;)
your “polar bear walking on its hind legs” made me literally laugh at loud… at the office. WHOOPS. Thanks for that!
Ugh, I know the just-moved feeling of not being unpacked and everything not having a place. SUX. Hopefully you can find some semblance of feeling settled soon!!
I’m so excited for your cookbook! Can I just say how devastated I was after planning to come to your Tampa book signing when I realized that Tuesday is the day I have once-a week class from 3-6 and it would take me four hours to get there from where I live and that’s the kind of class you can’t skip because it’s only once a week for three hours!!!! Needed to vent. But for real, you’re awesome and I’m so excited for everything you have going on. Killing it, lady.
Oh my just enjoy this time. Moving, vacation and book are huge! Don’t stress you are being amazing and just don’t realize it.
HILARIOUS about going to buy bourbon!! And the polar bear, DYING.
Moving is no fun! I had to help my sister recently, UGH, she totally owes me big time!
We heart you, too! EEEEEeeeep!
So excited for the book Jessica! Also, you are holding it together gurl!!! Baby, book and on the move?! Wow – inspiration!
My exhusband made me buy him cigarettes when I was about 7 months with the first one. After the looks and rudeness, I told him I would NEVER buy him cigarettes again, and I never did. It’s not like I lit one up in front of the cashier, they were on the counter and he picked them up and said “these aren’t for you, right?” so I said “Um, no.” then he took them and put them away. So I had to explain that I was buying them, but they weren’t for me. He didn’t believe me. ( I don’t smoke, never have). I can imagine the looks you got getting Bourbon. =)
Ohhhhh your making me nervous . Lol.
I am such a clean freak!
An organizer!
A purger galore!
Can i please please please come and help you?!
Lol!
But I like beachy sunset pictures! They would help all of us relax too! POST THEMMMMM!
Oh my goodness! What a crazy stage of life, but SO fantastically blessed too! What awesome stuff going on…wish I could come and do unpacking and organizing for you!! I know how overwhelming it can be :)
I DO plan to come and see you in Cleveland (I think that’s the location closest to me)…yes, I plan on driving 3 hours, one way, to see my favorite pregnant blogger since she couldn’t do one Michigan location (really? Am I going to guilt “my favorite pregnant blogger” too??? Am I??? Maybe just a little…or at least I’m going to whine about it)…I can’t wait :)
You do an amazing job keeping up with us, that’s why we all love ya!!! Please, give us an updated belly shot now and then, though, when you have nothing else to blog….I promise it’ll get a ton of “likes” <3
“A polar bear walking on its hind legs” just made me snort laugh at work… =)
That is too funny that no one even asked about the bourbon, they could have thought you were just being an awesome wife and buying it for your hubby…I know mine loves boubon lol. Good luck with the book tour and unpacking all those boxes.
OMG that post just totally stressed ME out! Can I come over and organize your house?? I’m hoping to meet you at your Baltimore book signing – I can’t wait!
So happy for the move and pregers part!! I have MIA for a while and I come back and I will be ding- donged if u didn’t write a cookbook to boot!! Excited for u and even more excited to c all the newness and changes!!
The last 1.5 weeks of July, I cut a vacation short due to my father-in-law’s unexpected passing/funeral, we bought a house & then I flew to China the next day. We’ve owned the house for a full month and have only moved 1 carload in & watered the new sod. We have a beautiful new house awaiting our arrival, yet are living in a one-bedroom, half-boxed, no food, no clean laundry, dirty floor situation. If you need me to add to your “worst move ever” book, just let me know. We are really good at moving really badly.
already putting in for my vacation day to see you in boston in october.
Don’t be so hard on your self! Reading your post I am nodding along going me, me me!!! While I am not moving, yet, I am trying to have a baby, saving for a house, working full time, trying to change jobs and fitting in family, a social life and a mid life crisis!! My blog as lovely as it is, has taken a back a seat and I feel like I am a failure! So while I have no answers, helpful advice or solutions all I can say is – Hang in there as you are not alone!!!
Take a deep breath and know that WE will be there when you come up for air. You ever present silent friends and support. Those that love you weather you have unwashed hair and yesterdays PJ’s on.
Well I keep telling myself that and praying that its true. It WILL work out and life will fall into some amazingly fulfilling pattern soon.
Sned you love and hugs from my own crazy space xxx
For years I have worked without a rolling pin, using wine bottles only, and my dough always gets these ridges from the bottle, but I think it gives it character!!!
I am beyond excited to meet you when you come to Houston!!!! Soooo soon :)
Polar bear walking on hind legs made me choke a little on my Sprite – thanks for the laugh, I needed it. I most definitely still say “heart” even at 32 years old.
There is nothing strange about buying alcohol when you are pregnant. I didn’t have much of a taste for it with pregnancies 2 and 3, so it was easy to skip drinking. But I happily bought it for others. In fact, it was much speedier, because I didn’t bother trying to taste anything at the store.
Here is a pretty important tip (you can file away for when folks start giving you baby advice): you really have better things to stress out about than what strangers think about you at the checkout counter. Really. Give yourself a break. They’re probably obsessing over something unique to themselves anyway.
The book is also very, very exciting.
I will always remember the time on season 4 of The Simple Life (when Paris and Nicole had to film separately because they weren’t talking OMG DRAMZ) and there was an episode where they had to wear preggo bellies to know what it was like to be a pregnant housewife for a day and Nicole took their mini van, met up with her assistant and ordered shots of tequila at a Mexican restaurant. It was the best ever.