This is Thirty Something

Hold my beer, I got this.

ohgraciepie blog posts

Before This is Thirty Something, came Ohgraciepie. Here you can find all my past content and search for posts that you just can't stop thinking about.

Planning a First Rodeo

Hmmm this should be interesting considering I am going to be in Arizona up until the night before the party.
 “Oooooh Mooooooooom, I need your help!”

Party planning is in the works for Little Clarky’s 1st Birthday.
I originally had just planned on having immediate family over for dinner and cake when I got back in town from AZ, but it all kind of took on a life of it’s own.
Friends started asking about my plans for a party.
To which I was completely caught of guard because attending someone’s child’s birthday party is pretty low on my fun list!
Maybe I am just a bad friend.
Hey, I show up and bring gifts and eat your food, I do my part.
But let’s be honest an adult party sounds like so much more fun.
I know half of you mom’s are going to stop reading my blog now for saying that!
I swear I have nothing against your sweet sweet child.
I just…..well, don’t like kids!
Anyway,
I was all like ” Really?!! You want to come?”
They were all ” Um, Yes, if we don’t receive an invitation to Clark’s party we will be very upset”
I’m like ” But it’s his first birthday! He wont even remember it! Or know what is going on for that 
matter”
Them ” Hey, there will be food and alcohol, we are totally there”
Which I guess brought me to view the whole party in a different light.
It’s not really about Clark at all.
It’s about family and friends and spending time together.
It’s an excuse to all see each other and share a meal.
Break bread, if you will.
Now I understand.
I guess I can get behind that.
Watching my kid make a huge mess is just a bonus.
And this is why all of your kids will be getting Drum Sets for Christmas from Aunty Gracie next year.
You’re welcome.
So I began planning and this little family gathering kind of took on a life of it’s own.
I got sucked into Pinterest.
I have like 10 projects going on.
I drug out all the platters and serve ware from my wedding.
I have high expectations for this gathering!
Too bad I will have just a few hours the day of to really prepare for it though.
This should be interesting. 
Also, it’s a backyard BBQ and we are currently cutting down trees in the backyard and knocking over fences.
Hmmmmm maybe I didn’t totally think this through.
No no no, it’s going to be fabulous.
I hope.

brush your teeth and do your homework

Funny pic I found the other day.
Getting ready for Homecoming my Soph. year.
Thanks Mom.
Don’t mind the shampoo bottle  on the counter that my sister wrote on with permanent marker
“And if you use it I will beat you up”
&
” This one’s mine Too”
It was always a love hate relationship.

Baby Bird Baby Bird

No, I’m not talking about feeding Clark regurgitated food out of my mouth like Alicia Silverstone, I mean a literal bird. 
We took out the last tree of a series of 3 in the back yard this weekend. 
After we started sectioning it up we discovered a Robin’s nest in it with little eggies. 
Sad face. 
We didn’t mess with it and set it aside but Steve said they wouldn’t come back for eggs. 
I guess at least they weren’t chicks. 
I would have felt awful!

I wish that these trees didn’t have to come out.
It seems so dumb since we are probably just going to replant more trees where these ones were.
Redundancy is redundant.
I was also told my the neighbor that this Pine was planted by Ethel’s dad when they built the house. 
(1905)
I think that bothers me the most about removing it. 
I know she didn’t want to take it out and had a bit of an emotional tie to it.
It was just becoming a hazard and leaning more and more into the house next door.
Not to mention it blocked almost all the sun from our backyard which has caused it to become a carpet of moss rather than grass. 
It was so large and growing at an angle it also caused the 2 trees next to it to grow sideways because they were trying to get sunshine. 
So now everybody’s trees are goofy and crooked.
Next step:
A new Fence !!!
Then we won’t have to see the Meth Shed behind us or the ugly house next door that desperately needs a paint job. 
Then probably replant new trees
and
A swing set for Clark!!

(And  maybe for me too)
PS- We left the nest out over night and the next morning one egg was missing!
Honey Badger.

2 Weeks down, one more to go

I have reached the weight I was at just after having Clark. I am proud of myself for loosing all that I have so far and sticking to this crazy diet but even after all those pounds, I still feel like I haven’t gotten far! I am just back where I started essentially, not in the negative yet.
 Why is it so much easier to crap on myself than give myself a pat on the back?! 
Exercise 1:
Myself – “This is a great accomplishment Grace” 
Myself replied  “Oh, thanks I worked hard.” 
Meh, that didn’t help.
Lets look at some motivational photos instead.

I like how both of these are the same bikinis! 
Crazy how it can be worn at both weights but look so different!

One week down, two more to endure….I mean, go.

After one week of following the strict protocol of my diet I have managed to loose 12 lbs and an average of 2 inches off of each measurement.
I can’t believe I am posting this but here it goes:
After 8 days I have seemed to have detoxed from sugar and my cravings have stopped. 
When I see foods I am not suppose to have they still sound delicious but I don’t feel crappy without them.
I am still drinking  plain coffee though.
I figured cutting out caffeine along with everything else was just too much.
I haven’t had any carbs or gluten either.
Minus the carbs that come naturally in apples.
I am feeling good. 
Not hungry, just missing food.
I like food & eatting and going out to eat.
Food brings people together. 
I am Italian and enjoying a meal is natural.
Still have about 2 weeks left to go for a total of 21 days in this phase of the diet. 
What life changing things have you learned from dieting?
Right now I just have to remind myself that food is fuel and nothing more.
I have also learned 
More on that later.
Just remember ” If you don’t know what it is, your body doesn’t either”

Bath Time at Grandma’s!

Since our house only has a walk in shower, Clark never gets to play in the tub!
So when we come down to the Lodge ( aka In Laws), he gets to have a bath.
He gets pretty stinky only getting washed when we come to Grandma’s house, but he makes due.
Sike.
He showers with us. 
Like a puppy, making laps between my legs in the shower while I try to shampoo my hair. 
Ethel why did you take the tub out of our house?!
Because you were elderly and a shower was safer and easier? 
That is not a good enough excuse!

No one told me I would gain weight

So after having Clark, I was happy to be nearly back to my pre pregnancy weight in just 2 weeks!

I could squeeze into all my old jeans… they were to snug for me too actually want to wear them out, but I could have if I was feeling extra trashy. 
Sadly though, instead of loosing those last 7 lbs…. I managed to gain 20!
 Somewhere along the way did I got too cocky?
Was it the sleepless 9 months I endured?
Or maybe staying home all day drinking 5 cups of coffee with creamer and taking 2 naps with Clark on my chest because that was the only way I was getting any rest.
Then again, it could have been the postpartum thyroid issues I was having or the fact that some women actually gain weight when they are nursing rather than loose it.

Probably all of the above.
So I decided to get serious and start my diet.
( I am also done nursing)
 I have done this diet twice before and it worked like magic. 
Well, not completely like magic.
It’s a lot like torture… and it took some real discipline and control but it really paid off.
 I am hoping this time around I will have success again. 
The diet is…. dun dun duhhhhhhh
HCG
Yes, the ever controversial HCG.

Note: I take the homeopathic synthetic drop, not the injections.
Although I have a friend who did the injections and was equally as successful. 

As I am writing this, I looked back in my blog at past posts regarding diet to see if I have mentioned HCG before.
I found a post from exactly 2 years ago this month.
I started with ” I finally like how I look”

Oh motherhood, you are a  trickster.
I wanted to post about my diet though because I thought it might help to hold me accountable.
As well as encourage anyone else who is on or wants to try HCG at some point.

I won’t go into all the details and science about it. You can Google that if you are interested. Or watch Dr. Oz videos. You will surely find Dr.’s who oppose it and ones who endorse it.
From my own personal experience though, it works.
In my opinion it is not starvation and it is not a placebo.
And it has not caused a yoyo diet effect with me.
That was pregnancy.

Please follow along so you can all see the pounds just melt right off of me.
Like butta.
mmmmmm…..butter….

Here is me right before Pregnancy:

Yep, that’s me…dressed as Snooki as a zombie, doing Zumba on the Wii. 
Got moves like Jagger.
Then I got Pregnant:
This is post baby 1 month:
( In my smallest jeans)
Then 10 months:
So this is the beginning of the end.
Diet has commenced and hopefully I can get back to where I am happy again.

Really….REALLY? Grace, please tell me you did NOT spend 80.00 on that!

I hope you all know me better than that.
 I pride myself as a bargain shopper. 
I mean, yeah, I am a sucker for kitschy over the top religious junk… but $80.00? 
You know how much stuff I could get at Ross for $80.00?!
This was just a cruel prank to keep my husband on his toes. 
When we came across this gem as the day was nearing an end, I couldn’t believe that no one had already snatched it up.
It was obviously fate. 
Or maybe no one else has the creative vision I have.
OR maybe no one is as foolish as me.
And by foolish, I mean AWESOME!
I bargained down the price from $20.00 to under $10.00 and hauled the awkward thing home. 
After laying out all my goodies from the day on display, I changed the price tag to $80.00 so that when Steve came home he would freak out. 
And he did. 
This was just one of the many treasures I procured at the West Seattle Garage Sale. 
This was my second year attending and I felt like an old pro.
Wheelin’ and dealin’ I bundled my purchases and chopped prices in half.
I only spent a total of $70.00 and got all kinds of good stuff. 
First check out the lovely day it was!
For a split second…a fleeting moment…a shake of a lambs tale,
 I was glad I lived in Seattle.
Here is what I got:
Baby Trend Expedition Jogging stroller
Infant life vest
Little Swedish clog slippers for Clarky 
(plus another pair of shoes)
ABC sign
& 
Adorable reindeer vest for winter
& Little Space Needle plate
A package of Vacuum seal bags 
Med size Bentley carrier
Because she outgrew the Small.
Fatty.
Still in Package train toy 
Old suitcase
Also few baby gates, books and baby proofing products for the house
( not pictured)
These awesome single pane windows
And a delicious scone from PCC.
Paid full price for that, but it was worth it. 

Also along the way we saw 
DOG IS MY CO CAPTAIN 
I love how he is leaning with one arm out.
Like he is wavin’ at chick dogs.
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