Thursday, October 28, 2010

Three Things Thursday- A Halloween Confession!

Truth? I strongly dislike Halloween. Or I mean, I strongly dislike certain parts of Halloween. I loathe dressing up, or when people try to make me dress up. NO THANKS. I think the only time I've ever dressed up past the age of 13 was once. In college. The only reason my roommates convinced me was because I was well into my bottle of Riesling. And by "well into" I mean I had taken it to the face (sorry mom)! Ughhhhh. And don't even get me started on how Halloween is just an excuse for girls to dress like a total Skank-o-saurus Rex.

Maybe I don't have the fondest feelings toward Halloween because people have never really bought what I was selling in the ole' costume department. When I was in 3rd or 4th grade I dressed up as....A CARROT. I remember my mom making the costume out of orange and green felt. ORANGE FELT FOR DAYS!! I was basically an orange triangle with a green stem. And I was proud. Mama Nixonsleeve was proud. But much to our dismay, no one seemed to get it. I remember knocking on one lady's door and she said, "Awww, what are you supposed to be? A deformed pumpkin?" Ummm excuse me madame, I most certainly am NOT a deformed pumpkin. I happen to be one of the most delicious and crisp root vegetables in all the land, athankyou.

Fast forward to 8th grade when a friend and I dressed up as cats. I will admit, it was a sub par effort on our part. We wore all black, threw on some ears, painted on a pink nose, whiskers and called it a night. BUT at least we were dressed up! My friend Katie and I went trick-or-treating in her neighborhood (some houses gave out FULL SIZE candy bars. Score!), and everything was going swimmingly until we hit one of the last houses. We knocked, a woman opened the door, "Trick or Treat!!", we said. She smiled, looked at us and said, "Aren't you alittle OLD to be trick-or-treating?" We were crushed. Yet flattered. I remember  simultaneously thinking, "I'm only in eighth grade!! But I need to hang out with this lady more often because she obvi knows I'm going places." We told her how old we were and she says, "Well looks like this will be your last year then, huh?!" WOAH, OK PUSHY McPUSHERSON. WE GET IT. We are past our prime. Our trick-or-treating biological clock has expired. JUST HAND OVER THE FULL SIZE REECE'S CUPS AND NO ONE GETS HURT.

(Wow. Sounds like someone is riding the Bitter Bus that they are preggers this Halloween season..............) But seriously. Let's take a look at some of my options:


Anything that suggests wearing white pumps= no.


I'm pretty sure this would make me the least appealing Geisha on the block. Although the socks are a plus.

Oh please. I would never insult Lady Liberty like that!

She's trying to cover feeling like a loser with a big smile. I applaud her.  (P.S. That bun looks super questionable)

I'm also annoyed by the people who try to rep Halloween like it's a real holiday. I mean it is in that it's nationally recognized...but it's not. Because when you're competing with holidays like Christmas (the Supreme Holiday in my opinion) and Easter, trying to justify the day people dress like fools and tools is just sort of redic. I sound so negative BUT ALAS, here are three things I LIKE about All Hallows Eve...

1. Kids dressed up.







Ummm...amazing. Next question.
 2. Halloween decorations.

Pottery Barn could possibly turn around this whole, "Halloween is for the birds" thing I have going on. They have the best, most sophisticated, Halloween decorations around.

 






3. Candy!!!


This is pretty much an open and shut case. Everyone whose anyone likes candy.

I hope I don't sound too blah about Halloween. Truth be told it's probably because the thought of getting up every time a little one knocks on my door is just too much for my old pregnant bones to handle. (Joel you have door duty. Kisses!) However there are some Pros. And despite the strong emotions Halloween conjures up in me, I do hope everyone has a fun and safe holiday!!

If you need me you can find me at home. I'll be going as the-uncomfortable-pregnant-woman-who-refuses-to-change-out-of-her-bathrobe-even-though-it's-4 o'clock-in-the-afternoon. Cheers!

Have fun & be safe! :)

-Charlie

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Wordless Wednesday-Weddings!

Two of my friends got married recently...Here are a few pics of their BEAUTIFUL weddings! (And a few of my own wedding--I couldn't resist!) ;) Enjoy!

Jenna and John October 16th, 2010








Trish and Bennett August 2nd, 2010






Charlie and Joel February 14th, 2010






Ohhh weddings are the best, aren't they!? Love it!

xo,

Charlie

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

A Good Deal From Piperlime!

Happy Birthday, Piperlime! When it's Piperlime's birthday everyone wins!



Since my ever-growing Frodo Baggins feet can't be trusted right now, I ended up getting this lil' guy...


Hurrah! Get over to Piperlime today, and treat yourself! YOU DESERVE IT!!!!

xo,

Charlie

Friday, October 22, 2010

Friday!!!!

Hello hello! T.A.I.F.!! I hope everyone has an exciting/relaxing weekend planned :) I'm looking forward to carving pumpkins, watching Joel clean out the garage (!!), and going to a Baptism. Pretty relaxed but that's what we need. Hurrahhhhh!

Here's some Natalie Dee to kick off the weekend...


Via

Go forth and have a super weekend! See you next week :)

-Charlie

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Three Things Thursday- The Jose Edition!

Time for some Three Things Thursday!

1.   Sorry I haven't posted recently! We have been in full Mock 10 Status (I don't know what that means but it sure makes everything sound serious) with the baby preparations. I feel like every free moment I've had has been spent laying on my bed watching marathons of Teen Mom at a doctor's appointment, baby prep class, or hospital tour. (By the by, we keep getting these total Milktoast McGees in our baby prep events. I will tell you about them all at another time.) We also pretty much finished the nursery this weekend, and I'm so excited to get someone with a legit camera to take pictures of it! Joel and I feel proud of the results. It's still missing a few essential pieces like, ohhhh I dunno....the crib mattress but everything else is in order. I can't decide if I want to put up pics before or after the baby comes. It would be a really nice effect to have a baby physically in the room for pictures. Am I only thinking of how I can use my baby as a PROP for the nursery photoshoot, and not how it will bring joy to this dark dark world? Yes. I am already a bad mom.
A lot of THIS happening in the NixonSleeve house
2. In other news, I met the smartest man in the world a very nice gentlemen yesterday. In window #1 of the Wendy's drive-thru. His name was Jose, and I think I love him. (Sorry Joe-L.) As he was reaching for my money he said, "Should I congratulate you yet?" and I was like, "For what? Downing a largo #10 with Diet Coke?" And he says, "No, for the baby! Is it a boy or a girl?!" Now secretly I was thrown off because I didn't think he could even see into my car that well. But who am I kidding, the belly can probs be seen from the space shuttle at this point. (Sidebar: I now weep thinking of all the times I've worn my bathrobe through the drive-thru because I was too lazy to change for my late night fast food run. And I thought, ohhhh they don't notice, they are too busy asking me what kind of sauce I want. Right? Wrong. They saw me. And they judged me.)
Employer of Champions. Judger of bathrobes?
So anyway, I told him the gender. (Sorry to all my friends who we haven't told, but if I say, "It's a secret!" to strangers they look at me like I'm a loser. And I'm OK with that because it WOULD sort of make me a loser.) And he says, "Well congratulations! You're baby is going to be magnificent!!" Oh Jose. You slyyyyyy dog. I loved this on so many levels. One- I could tell he didn't use the word magnificent for just anyone. He said it with such GUSTO...I was so happy to be The Chosen One. Two- Magnificent is an extremely under used adjective. Jose and I are going to bring it back...right after our candlelight dinner. Three- He is right. My babe IS going to be magnificent. Truthfully the whole interaction was super precious and I just wanted to rip his little head set off and plant a wet one right on him! Wendy is looking down on you Jose, and she is proud.

3. This is a two part process....

One- WATCH THIS it's called The Hair Petting Game and it's the most hilarious/disturbing thing ever. It's not gross or bad disturbing, just weird and awesome disturbing. I found out about this YouTube video a few years ago, but randomly thought of it yesterday. I watched it again, and it does not disappoint. Get out there and pet some hair!!

Two- Tell me if I'm loco for wanting these...
Juicy Couture- $100
They just look so warm and inviting and water resistant!!! I feel as though $100 is a good price, but I could be wrong. I need your help ATOTS readers!!

Tonight is the second half of our baby prep class. If all goes well we will score a seat next to the Russian Mail Order bride and her albino husband. That always makes for a good time.

xo,

Charlie

Monday, October 18, 2010

high/low 10.18.10

High: We had a great little trip-ski to Williamsburg over Columbus Day Weekend! Charlie, Mama Nixonsleeve and I were away for a girls weekend for the holiday weekend and this was a brilliant idea that really should evolve into a tradition. Fun, fun, fun. We even ran into a old friend from my high school! Small world--shout out to the Oakies!!! Here are some pics to prove we were there..and not just at the outlets. Great news there, I got some CHRISTMAS GIFTS!!(for other people) Aren't I the best?  A few people are already done on my list. I never start so early so I feel sooo good about this. 

Anyhow, we saw a lot of interesting things in Williamsburg.
Note the authentic Indians that I snapped a picture of. My hands were trembling, it was the best I could do.



 


Too bad about the hairy elbow that couldn't/wouldn't get out of the way for the pic.

See??....remember The Last of the Mohicans...scary, right?


Low: I dropped my iPhone on the ground on the last day in Williamsburg and the screen shattered! Booooo....
High: Got a new iPhone 4 when I got home!
Low: Lost 7 voicemails when they transferred service to the new phone. Yikes! Hope it wasn't HGTV letting me know I was finally picked for a FREE backyard/home remodeling TV show...hope that call comes this week.

High: Koenig, the 6 month old wonder dog, is much, much better following his puppy pneumonia! Hip hip hooray!!! For the loyal readers out there, you may recall...he was on antibiotics for WEEKS after his episode. 
Low: Koenig pooped on the floor of PETCO on Sunday...not cool. Like, you never think YOUR dog will actually pull that one on you. It was a 5 alarm fire in my mind and the man who worked there was like, 'why are you even telling me that' because he sooo didn't seem to mind.

High: Mr. Lulu had Friday off this past week--which made for a great weekend!
taken in a dimly lit Panera...with my iPhone 4 that has a FLASH!

A mixed low/high at the same time:
While I was out Saturday, Koenig knocked over my favorite lamp in our den...kind of looked like this one. BUT he also texted me while I was driving home to tell me he was leaving a blank check on the table where it happened so I could replace it. Not kidding, he really did text me that.

High: 
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MAEXNH0nVoU/TIY6yr1_EqI/AAAAAAAAGv0/2D7lTEoDEQo/s1600/Mary+Kay+nail+polish.bmp 
Mary Kay Limited Edition Nail Color in INTENSITY. It's the dark purple color. It is SO awesome--on shorter nails filed square shape. Duh, like I have to tell you fashionable readers that. But the color is so cool--dark at first glance but such a good combination of shiny purple/ metallic. YOU WILL LOVE IT! And their colors have always been long wearing--ask anyone, they are chip resistant which is so essential with the dark colors!

xoxo
Lulu


Wednesday, October 13, 2010

My Guilty Pleasure Song of the Week

I was going to post a Wordless Wednesday about my love for ZGallerie but something more pressing has come to my attention, and I feel it's only fair to share it with you, the ATOTS readers.

Since I didn't seem to have an issue just coming out with my J.Biebs U Smile I Smile obsession last week,  I decided I'm going to start a new segment every Wednesday called Charlie's Guilty Pleasure Song Selections That Make Her Loved Ones Hang Their Head In Shame (working title). So without further ado I present to you this week's guilty pleasure...



Flo Rida-Club Can't Even Handle Me ft. David Guetta

Yes. I won't lie to you people, I LOVE this song. Why? Why NOT? Could it be the punchy beat? Catchy lyrics? ("You know I know how, to make 'em stop and stare as I zone out...The club can't even handle me right now...watchin' you I'm watchin' you we go all out...." Move over Shakespeare, Flo Rida is in town.) Who knows. All I know is whatever Flo is selling...I'm buying.

See, I sort of have a problem with liking rap/hip hop music. I mean it's not really a problem other then when I start to rap to songs, in the car for instance, and Joel looks at me with eyes that say, "If you don't stop immediately I'm going to pull the car over and make you walk home. Run and tell THAT!" I blame my many years of AAU basketball where perpetual wearing of sports bras, combined with my Allen Iverson bball shoes made for one GhEtTo FaBuLoUs little blonde girl. I'm seeing someone about it, OK? And his name is Doctor...Dre. ZING!!

This
+
This
=
Woopsies!
(Ew, no. Neither one of those lovelies is me. How could you even think such a thing? Everyone knows my chest tattoo is on my left side, duh.)

But let me just settle one thing real quick. I am by no means a "clubber". I'm pretty sure the last CLUB I was at was The Old Firehouse circa 9th grade (shoutout to any NOVA people reading). But that doesn't stop me from being obsessed with this song and everything it represents! Was I JAMMING OUT to this song on the way home from work today? Yes. And was my yet-to-be-born-but-totally-with-the-program baby silently judging me in utero being like, "Really mom? Fist pumping?! Really? 'Beating up the beat'? Isn't that alittle 'Snooki' of you, ma?! I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed." Well...yes. But I say pish posh little baby. This is just THE START of the many things I will do that will embarrass you through out your life. Welcome aboard.

So am I alone on this one? Help a sister out!

-Charlie