So the other day i hit hollister. not my usual type of store, but i had heard their t-shirts are the nicest ever. my sweet husband lives in t-shirts and likes nice ones…but will not buy himself anything that was not on the old navy clearance rack for 6.99 or less!

my impressions of the uber-tendy store:

1. loud. too loud. my poor charlotte was freaking out. the sweet seconds between songs were only an evil prelude to louder songs. i am not an old fogey who must have elevator music, but this was ridiculous.

2. also dark. very very dark.

3. and they spray some sort of surfy air-freshener. it smells nice, but is just not right for migraine sufferers like me.

4. I took a little peek at the women’s t-shirts. they only go to size large (which would, by the way, fit kate moss on a  salt retention day perfectly). apparently hollister girls aren’t allowed to be chubby. the boys are though, since dude’s t-shirts (yes, they call them dudes) do go to XL.

5. really though, nobody at hollister is allowed to have any fat whatsoever. i bought the man a large. he is 6″1, about 170lbs, and usually a medium is baggy on him-but required due to his height. the hollister  large is too small on him. now i have to go back to hell hollister to exchange it.

6. since hollister is so damn small, there are old size extra-small and  smalls left. finding a medium is like a needle in a haystack. finding a large is like a broken needle in a haystack. extra large? a grain of sand in a haystack. it took me an hour to find the large one got my man. i am not looking forward to returning to find an extra large.

5. hollister is hell for strollers. it is a big store, but for some reason it is separated into about 8 tiny, crowded wood panelled rooms…all with the same stock. i got stroller locked about 8 times, and at one point curled up in a corner to cry a little,  convinced i would never escape and would die there. i was so lonely i tried to make friends with a beach ball, but he ignored me to talk to the skinny girls.

7. in spite of my own feelings, a lot of (young, skinny, beautiful) people really like hollister. so much that 10 of us waited line at the registers for about 20 minutes. for these 20 minutes, there was actually not a cashier at the registers. at yet we waited, without even grumbling about customer service. had i been shopping for myself, i would not have bothered. but for my man, i’ll do anything.

8 . the t-shirts are the thickest, softest, ever. I actually want to keep the too small large one, and just snuggle with it at night. is that wrong?

Oh well. it was an adventure, and now i get to go back and exchange…unless i put the man on a diet, which i just may do to avoid returning hollister forever!

disclaimer-if you are from hollister, don’t hate me. i, a 36 year old chubby mom to 2,  am not your target market anyways….and if my girls do not end up chubsters like their mom, i will allow them into your skinny clothes haven and encourage them to buy your soft as silk t-shirts. i promise.

*sorry for the bad typing, this post was brought to you by my left hand,  a nursing babe in arms, and a computer that freezes between every word.

Those of you that know me, like, at all, know that I am the least crafty person out there. One of my mottos is “I don’t make things, I buy them”. In the past, I have generally meant buying them from mass market retailers, or from individuals who are selling things they bought from mass market retailers.

Recently, though, I have started buying more and more hand (or home) made items for my girls, and myself. Accessories and diapers are excellent items to get from those in this world that are craftier than I am. Generally you can get beautiful and unique items, and at reasonable prices.

I love to shop at Etsy. It is a fabulous place to find some great stuff. I especially enjoy buying from Canadian sellers, just because it is nice to support my fellow Canadians. It also means faster, cheaper shipping and no customs.

Here are a few of my  favorite Canadian sellers on Etsy:

Northern Baby 
Northern Baby makes wonderful diapers. I have several fitted diapers from this shop, and LOVE them. The Organic  Bamboo Velvet used is super soft and only gets softer everytime I wash the diapers. I also have some washcloths that are so soft that even though they are for Charlotte, I use them on myself too.

Someday Sarah
Sarah is super local, lives in my city (well, the city next to mine!). She makes wonderful recycled clothing from wool, fleece and cotton, as well as doing some of her own knitting. I have some adorable Wool Shorts and Soakers from her, as well as these awesome Fleece Longies that make sure Charlotte’s diapers never leak and keep her look ing so hip!

My Sunshine Designs
Beyond adorable, well made hair clips are what I’ve gotten from this wonderful WAHM (Work At Home Mom). She also makes lovely ribbon paci clips (great for clipping teething toys to within reach as well), and other girly accessories!

Time Designs
Dawn makes beautiful Jewellery, mostly focused on mothering though she also has some unique boutique pieces.  I have an Amber Teething Necklace for Charlotte (google it, and yes, it does work!) and a Nursing Necklace from Dawn, and recently ordered  an Amber necklace for myself, in hopes that it may calm my headaches and other aches and pains.

First there were 2. the Aria, beacuse it matched the car-seat I wanted and looked nice and lightweight, and the InStep Ultra, for jogging (since I jog…or have jogged, anyways) and to keep in my enclosure for neighborhood walks since I find dragging a stroller in and out of the trunk while holding a baby in my arms is a huge PITA and prefer to have a stoller just for this purpose. I know, I like things too easy!

Anyway. There were 2. Then I discovered that the Aria, though awesome with the car-seat, did not have good long term potential for me, due to the fact that when the car-seat is not used, the stroller on it’s own is so light that it tips over everytime I take Charlotte out of it, which I do often. The only way to avoid tipping is to never hang the diaper bag or any shopping bags or anything on the handle, which is not an option as I need to carry things and though the basket is generous, it is not generous to carry my diaper bag, my purse, outerwear, baby carrier, and any and all shopping bags I may fill on a given trip.

So the search for the perfect stroller began.

It started with the I’coo Pico, from Once upon a child. I loved this stroller because it is cute, sturdy, has a huge basket. However after a few days, I decided it was not quite right, since Charlotte cannot face me in it, and it does not steer well one handed (I often need a hand to hold onto the girl’s hand, or carry Charlotte).

So I found the I’coo Infinity  (not online, no longer made) on Craigslist and got it. Almost perfect. This stroller looks great, faces rear or front, steers like a dream. Not perfect as it can be a bit tippy (not nearly as much as the Aria though), cannot carry the carrier car-seat (which I still like to use in the mall if it is raining or if Charlotte is sleeping in it…so I started carrying the Aria in my front seat and Infinity in the trunk just in case one of those things happened), is very big and difficult to get into my trunk (once it took me 10 minutes in the rain, needs to be just right to go in) and the basket was smallish. Even though the Infinity was not perfect, I was planning to keep it since it seemed good enough and I knew some of the issues (car-seat, trunk) would resolve as Charlotte grew out of the carrier car-seat and I got more accustomed to fitting the stroller in my trunk.

But then I went to Safety Superstore  to get the new car-seat I ordered and saw  the Kolcraft Contoursstrollers. I have seen these online and noticed them, they are super popular in the U.S and have a great reputation. I asked about it and learned it was quite affordable ($199 for the 3 or 4 wheel model). Then I went home and obsessed and obsessed, as well as researched and researched. I finally decided to put the Infinity on Craigslist and if it sold for enough to buy the Kolcraft, do it. I got 3 responses right away, and started tyo make arrangements for the potential buyers to come see the Infinity.

While I was waiting for the Infinity to sell, I went to play with the floor models at the store and make absolutely sure this is what I wanted to do. It was. I loved the stroller and it had everything I wanted-sturdy, huge basket, reversable seat, better fit in my trunk, car-seat adaptor I can use with my seat, nice look, great steering. So, with my decision made, as I was leaving the store to go sell my Infinity, they offered me the floor model of the one I really liked for 30% off. I LOVE floor models. Not only for the price, but also since it mans no boxes, packaging or assembly to deal with. I HAD to do it.

Of course, now no one has followed up on the Infinity. So I have the Kolcraft in my trunk, the Infinity, Picu and Aria in my enclosure, and the Jogger in my basement.  The Jogger (since the new Kolcraft is a 3 wheel and can be used for jogging-and I really doubt Iwill jog with the baby anyways, I like to jog alone late in the evening) and Infinty are still for sale. The Kolcraft is my everyday stroller (and I am SO happy with it, it is perfect!) and I am still deciding if I want to keep the Aria or the Picu as my “stroller in the enclosure for neighborhood walks”. I am leaning towards the Picu, since it is really cute and has a great basket and I am getting better at steering it. Or maybe the Aria, since it is lightweight and easy to throw in my trunk and will be good in a year or so when I no longer want a big heavy stroller for Charlotte and no longer carry a diaper bag big and heavy enough to tip it. Oh well, I’ll figure it out.

The moral of my story. I have none. I do have 5 strollers though.

P.S. My new stroller:

My long-term readers and real life friends will know that I have been loyal to the CHI Flatiron for years now. They last about 1 year each (just after the warranty expires), and everytime one dies, I try an (cheaper)  alternative, then return it to buy the beloved CHI since nothing else has lived up to my expectations.

Until now.

A few weeks ago, my CHI died. I bought a GHD on craigslist, and it was fake. In case you are curious, do not EVER buy a $300 flatiron for $90 from a guy that meets you in an apartment building lobby. That is all I will say about that. It is just too embarrassing.

The fake iron was actually not bad, but I was terrified that the fakeness of it would also mean it is cheaply made, and that it would burn my house down.  SO off the Trade Secrets I went, to buy another CHI.

The sales person convinced me to try the Avanti Ultra Ceramic Tourmaline Flat Iron, on sale for $70.  So I bought it, knowing it would be returned the next day, when I would shell out another $100 to upgrade to the CHI.

Well, I didn’t have to. The Avanti is awesome. Straightens as well (or maybe even better) than the CHI, at a fraction the price. Also has a 2 year warranty to CHIs one year

IN OTHER NEWS:

1. Here is the girl on her way to a birthday party yesterday. 6 going on 16, to be cliche:

2. My new TV series is Dollhouse. Love it. Harper’s Island is also so evil it is awesome!

Admiral Road is a Canadian Company that makes the most beautiful personalized fleece baby blankets. I bought  one for the girl way back when she was a newborn, and have gotten them as baby gifts for several friends (though I don’t usually anymore, as they are pretty pricey and have gone up about $20  a blanket since I first discovered them…but for someone very special, I totally recommend them as a gift). They are so soft, and so cute. About $60 a blanket…but a luxury I love to give my babies. The girl still loves her’s…it is currently in the bed she made for the cat which is an honour as that cat-bed is her pride and joy!

The girl’s blanket is bright pink with a bunny rabbit. I’d get Charlotte the same one, but it is no longer in their line up. I am choosing between these two (with Charlotte’s name, of course)! Any preferences? I am leaning towards number 2 I think:

Or maybe the monkey. Argh. Decisions decisions.

In other news: Charlotte ate 3 times last night, and I was very glad to have her out in the NICU as she did not want to go back to those silly lights. Her levels are lower again this morning, but I am not sure if the doctor will be ready to try her again without the lights today or wait for another 12-24 hours? Either way, she is again going in the right direction and getting feistier by the minute.  I am not anticipating being home Tuesday? I am so ready…

As for me, I have one t-shirt left,  and look like a porn star in my low-cut ruched v-neck with my rather…large…girls!

Nothing going on here. Just waiting for the midwife to come take my Blood Pressure and maybe do an exam.

We saw The Tale of Despereaux  yesterday. It was good to get out of the house and find a way to keep the girl (who was bouncing off the walls for some reason) entertained…but not a great movie. I enjoy kid’s movies, but I prefer ones that are bit more clever and funny:  Shrek,  Nemo and  Ice Age are favorites of mine. Despereaux  was just eh.  If you must see a kid’s movie, I’d recommend Bolt over Despereaux.

Today I am considering going shopping…just at our local mall.  Not sure what I need…maybe boots? Baby clothes…but until this little one comes, I don’t know what flavour.

I have been watching loads of  True Blood episodes, and am up to 7.  I am loving this very twisted Vampire love story…and Anna Paquin has grown up in a very good way!

Oh, did I tell you all about our new toy? We got this.

We don’t have a router yet, but we can still have 2 of us online at once, and it has been great for watching DVDs. We’ll get a router soon.  If only the man would finish the computer nook so we could get the old desktop (which we decided to keep since the girl likes using the computer now) out of the middle of our bedroom we’d be computer happy.

I guess I could go router shopping.

Nothing new. Nothing you don’t alrerady know. Just whining. My calves, pelvic area, ligaments under my uterus,  lower-back and neck always feel achy no matter what I do.  My hands and wrists are stiff and achy. Add the non-stop exhaustion…and I am just so done! Oh well…only a few more weeks.

In non-pregnancy related whining, I am mad at Sephora! A few weeks ago I got a $15 gift card from them online for being a Sephora insider. Today I decided it was time for some retail therapy so I went to use it…only to discover (and it does say this on the e-mail) that I cannot use it in Canada or for orders to Canada. Grr. This makes me so angry, since when I applied for the Insider card I had to give my address (and they have it,  I get snail mail from Sephora regularly).  They KNOW I am in Canada, so why would they be so cruel as to send me e-mail offers that are not applicable to those in Canada? Evil Evil Sephora.

My pride and joy. None of it full price either…everything is either from Ebay (at a significant saving off of retail), or bought with gift certificicates/discount letters covering at least 1/2 the cost, or bought for me by my mother at outlets in the States!

I LOVE my new red bag. I have wanted a nice red bag forever, and after the 40% off letter and the gift certificates I got for my birthday form my mom, it was a steal! Thanx Mom!

Yesterday I decided to do my first load of fluff (cloth diapers)! It is all so cute, isn’t it?:

I am planning to start out with disposable diapers (since I have them already, and figure having a brand newborn is hard enough without creating more laundry) then start to add in the CDs at home, and switch to full-time CDing once the disposables run out. Now I am ready to start using them as soon as I feel up to washing them afterwards (and, ummm…have the baby!). These are BumGenius All In Ones (AIOs)  and Mother’s Touch AIOs.  I decided to make life easier for myself and start with my AIOs (they are like disposables, only they go in the laundry instead of the trash-no covers, no liners, no stuffing-though you can add a liner to any diaper if you want more absorbancy), adding in pocket diapers (which have a pocket you stuff with an absorbent insert) once I get used to the AIO’s and the habit of washing diapers.

BTW, if you were wondering about the nursery, the wall behind the basket is the nursery wall. I love apple greeen, and it goes well with brown (if we have a boy) or pink (if we have a girl) accessories!

Yesterday was my first day off work, and I spent it nesting. I did loads of baby laundry, and spent a 150 gift card at Wal-Mart. We now have ALL the baby things we need. If only we could get the damn computer out of the nursery so we could get it all set up. We do have the dresser/change table set up already, and I have organized all the drawers.

As for today, I have a chiro appointment and then a mid-wife appointment. After that, I plan to hit Coach as I have a “40% off one item” letter and a $125 gift certificate…so I can buy something pretty! I think I want a red purse, since red bags look awesome with jeans and are great for all season. I am eyeing this one:

P.S. If anyone is curious how I got the letter, I sent in my Hobo to Coach for repairs (it had some loose stitches on the handle) and they sent it back to me with a letter saying since they could not repair it to Coach standards, and that they were giving me 40% off any one regular priced item instead. I then took the strap from the Hobo to a shoe repair and had it fixed up to my standards (it looks great!).