My Garage Sale Victory: Savvy Seat

I love rummage sales. Love them so much that I’m so happy to finally be living in an area that actually participates in them. We lived in a couple of cities that didn’t really seem into them. Not around here! It’s hard to track them down ahead of time–there’s no real newspaper for the area–but Craigslist has proven helpful, as is just driving around until I find them.

Anyway, I’ve only been able to go out once, and I was striking out over and over again. I was looking for baby stuff–anything, really–and there was nothing. And the sales are pretty pathetic in general. Minnesota is the land of hotdishes, “yah, you betcha,” Spam, and amazing garage sales. I’m spoiled, to say the least. And I personally believe that if you don’t have lots and lots of stuff to put out, don’t waste your time (or mine) by holding a garage sale. Sorry. Pet peeve of mine.

I was about to call it a day after about an hour and a half dozen sales (it took me a while to track them down via their signs because I don’t know the area that well) when I saw a sale with a stroller out front. Yes! I hit up one that was closer to where I parked (another time waster), and then I walked over. This young family had a little girl and a baby, and there were only a few baby things left (they had held the sale the day before too), but I found this gem:

It’s a Savvy Seat, which can be used to cover shopping cart seats or restaurant high chair seats. They’re really nice, especially since we live in such a huge, heavily populated area. It was $5.00, but I knew it ran for more (I wasn’t sure how much more), it was green (we didn’t know the sex of the baby at that time), and it was unopened. Seriously, it still had the sealed tag attached. The woman said she had never opened it. I was sold!

I brought it home, and out of curiosity, I Googled it to find out how much it retails for. Even on Amazon.com, it’s $39.99! What a great deal. Now I’m going to go rummage saling every weekend! Next weekend, the hubby and I will be going together, so we’re going to have to plan it all out. Yay for great deals!

Master’s Degree = Done.

I just have to send in my portfolios to my reader, Ann, but other than that, I’m all done! There are a few pages that keep getting cut off on my typeset version, so I have to wait for the little sister to get back from partyin’ hardy in Duluth (she’s at a wedding) this weekend to get them fixed, but other than that, it’s all set. Everything has been printed and assembled. I just have to put in the cover for the project and the porfolio and about 5 pages worth of project, and I’m set! Yay!

It felt weird this morning, when I started to plan my day, and it didn’t involve sitting at my computer to write. I’ve been MIA from everything else for a while, and that’s because every spare minute at work and at home was spent writing and revising–over and over again. It was worth it, though. I’m really proud of how it turned out.

Both grades (my independent study class and my master’s project) were submitted well before the deadline of May 29th, so now it’s just a matter of a couple of months, and I’ll have my diploma in hand!

Now I can get back to “normal” life–whatever that is. I’m getting caught up on my freelance editing (a big thank you to all of you who have been so patient while I finished this up), and I can start sewing and crafting again. I have lots of blankets, quilts, toys, etc., to make for a couple friends’ babies and for my own little girl.

I even got a chance to bake this afternoon–Blueberry-Yogurt Muffins.

Blueberry-Yogurt Muffins

They’re delicious. And so is having time to be.

Baby V at 18 wks 4 days

Here are the photos from our ultrasound today. The baby is growing well, is healthy, and everything looks normal. Good news all around!

And we’re having a girl. We’re so excited!!

Profile

Profile 2

Face, belly, and arms/hands

Feet (she has them stacked.)

16 wks 1 day

Baby V, 16 wks 1 day

As promised, here is a picture of my baby belly. Bean is 16 wks, 1 day here. Sorry about the massive hand in it–don’t ask me why it looks so darn big here. I’ll try to keep up with the pictures from now on. Enjoy!

Preggers

I am 15 weeks pregnant. We’re thrilled. Absolutely and completely. Baby is doing great. Heartbeat clocked in at 150 bpm today at our monthly appointment. We find out the sex of the baby in a month (or three weeks, depending upon when I can get in for an appointment). I’ve gained 1 lb. since my first appointment at 8 weeks, and the doctors are really pleased with the progression. I was worried I wasn’t gaining enough weight, but they said no worries! Baby is healthy and so am I. That’s what matters to them. They’d be concerned if I was gaining weight too rapidly.

Our due date is October 24th.

According to the old wives’ tale, the heartbeats are indicating that we’re having a girl. I’m not sure. No feelings either way right now. We’re just so excited to be pregnant.

I’ll post pictures soon enough. I’m not big into naked pregnant belly pictures. More power to women who are, but I just can’t do it. But you can see the baby belly through my clothes, that’s for sure.

I felt the baby move early this morning–I was still in bed, laying on my left side. That or it was gas. It felt like someone ran their finger very lightly and briefly across the inside of my uterus. Crazy weird. Could’ve been gas, but I hope it was Bean (that’s our baby nickname).

That’s all for now.

Travel

I desire adventure. Something new. Something different. I think it’s the traveling bug that bites me about once a year (sometimes several times a year). The vast majority of the traveling I do these days is home to the great state of Minnesota. And as much as I love love love that beautiful, graceful state, it’s nothing new. It really isn’t. I went to Stratford, Canada, with Erin last year, and that great trip filled the urge to move for a while. It was an amazing trip, filled with walking and architecture and Shakespeare’s merry men.

Perth Country Courthouse, Stratford, Canada

Stratford Shakespeare Festival--costumes

And, as I’m sure you all can tell, I’m back to that itchy state where I’m ready to jump in the car and just start driving. But there are too many responsibilities holding us (the hubby and I) here, and plans have to be made well in advance.

I wrote about San Francisco a few months back, and I believe that’s still on the table as a possibility. Where else should we venture this summer? With the swine flu swimming around our country, I’m not as apt to be mobile in the southern states–they seem to be getting hit with the brunt of it. There and New York. Really, it would be great to go overseas. But where? And can I really swing such a trip within just a few months? *sigh* Money and plans can really and truly be a pain.

Ah, I’m rambling now. I don’t want to seem like I’m complaining about my life. I’m not. We have a great life here, but every so often I feel that desire, that itch, to get moving, to see something new, and to just go.