The Bradford Kids @ The Singers

Last weekend we "supervised" Kira while she was watching the boys while E & B went out. Usually this just means that if she needs anything she comes down and gets us. But since it had been a while since Phil and I had played with the kids we brought them downstairs before we put them to bed. First, Mason came down. We had some strawberries out on the counter, and because I know Mason loves strawberries I gave him one. And yes, he thoroughly enjoyed it. A couple of minutes later he says "my body's hungry", we ask "well, what are you hungry for?" He kept quiet and wouldn't say anything. We then figured out he was too shy to ask for more strawberries. So after giving him another strawberry, he said the same thing. He's such a cute little guy.

So here are some pictures from the night. Including videos I took of Matthew crawling around on the floor. He's getting there, but he still needs to figure out the whole moving the legs and the arms at the same time to crawl.

Etsy Shop

I just posted about my new etsy shop over on my other blog, but then realized no one really goes to that blog. So, here's a link. Check it out.

Are you going to go back to your country?

Kade asked us this question last night. I believe he still thinks we're visiting.

Call me...on my new phone!

I got a new phone yesterday! Thanks to M and D having a killer Sprint deal through BYU-I Phil and I now will have a lower mobile phone bill each month, and the best part is that I added unlimited data service for only an additional $4 a month. And since my phone is 2.5 years old, I figured it was time for an upgrade. I picked out the Palm Centro in black (my other options were green and pink).

I was expecting the phone to be a lot bigger than it really is. But its a perfect little size for my pocket or purse. And the greatest thing about having this is that I will be able to access my work email and calendar on it. But before I got it I had to promise Phil that I wouldn't become a phone email junkie. I don't imagine that will happen, considering I am on the computer everyday all day.

What I really wanted the phone for was to access my calendar, which would be really useful. For example, a couple weekends ago I was perusing the sales at the mall and my friend Mel called from Austin. We chatted for a while (as I rested on a rather comfy chair in sears) and then she invited me down for a visit. But because I did not know what my work schedule was like, I couldn't give her a definitive answer. Here's another example...I'm sitting in a meeting at work and the group wants to schedule a follow-up meeting. I am the only one in the room without a blackberry/iPhone/some kind of cool all-in-one gizmo and I have to tell them I will get back to them. Of course, this hasn't happened yet, but it could and I want to be prepared.

In addition to the unlimited data, we also have unlimited text messaging. So for all of those who already text me, keep on doing what you're doing because I no longer have to pay $.20 for each one I get. And for those of you who do not text me...feel free, because I imagine I will be doing a lot more of it!

Motherly-in-law Request

Rita, this is for you!

Last night I had a request from my mother-in-law to blog about my new dress. Well...here it is. It's from Target. And I love it. It was the last dress of its kind and the belt was missing. Which for me worked out pretty well because they gave me 20% off.


I wore it for the first time to church yesterday. I wore a basic long-sleeved white button-up underneath and paired it with brown boots and a white ribbon around the waist.

I find it hard to find dresses which means I usually stick with the skirt because I am different sizes on top and bottom. But this one fit perfectly. I was so excited about this purchase until Phil took the wind out of my sails because he said I spent more than he thought I was going to spend. (I think Phil is still trying to get used to me spending more than $10 on things now that we are both gainfully employed) The dress was $35! Which in my opinion, is a fair (and rather good) price for a dress that fits me well and will serve many purposes. But being the good husband he is, he saw the dress on and agreed with me that it is a great dress and worth the $35.

Newest Purchase

So I made a purchase on Saturday which I don't think I would normally make, except they are absolutely perfect.

The ones I purchased from T.J Maxx for $39.99 look more like the ones on the bottom, but are the leather color of the ones on the top (sorry, I couldn't find a picture of them on the interweb). I usually never buy heels, and never 3" heels . But I couldn't pass these up.

4 reasons why I love love love these shoes.

1. Soft and suptle. My feet are usually prone to getting blisters when walking in any shoes other than a sneaker. I don't know if that's because they're mis-shaped or because they are so delicate (I'll stick with the latter), but it happens. The leather on these shoes is so soft I'm not sure there's any way I could get a blister.

2. Heaven in a shoes. The insole of these shoes is padded. PADDED! It's like a soft pillow for my feet.

3. Lock and Load. There's a huge thick strap locking my feet in. See the problem I always have with wearing high heels is that my foot always slips out...I always seem to just walk out of the shoes. I don't have that issue with these ones.

4. Versatile. They're a very pretty neutral color which I think I can wear with all colors.

Last night Phil and I were playing a lively game of cribbage (which we are usually doing most Sunday evenings, or any evening for that matter...huge cribbage fans) and he caught me looking over at my shoes giving them a contented sigh. Needless to say my husband thinks I am very silly. Maybe I am very silly, but its hard for a big footed, picky shoe wearer to actually find shoes that satisfy. The end.

The Contents of My purse

Because I know you all have been wondering....

• wallet (of course)
• checkbook
• car keys
  
• mobile phone
• pens and mechanical pencils (i use mechanical pencils at work because they write better than the pens they give us...and they always seem to end up in my purse)
• receipts
• chapstick (x5)
  
• gum
• lip gloss
• $5 worth of Dunkin Donuts bucks (have had in there for months now...not conducive to low-carb eating)
• Pay-stub
• bracelet Phil got me in Namibia
• old iPod shuffle, but no headphones to listen to it...darn.
  
• loose change
• various old gift cards, some of which still have some money on them. I really should use those

Well, that's it. By evidence of my purse, I really am not an interesting person. But at least I'm prepared for a wind-chapped trip to Dunkin Donuts where a mechanical pencil is required.

This is not my purse, but wouldn't it be nice if it were?

My new love

I have looked at this website before (thanks Val), but it wasn't until yesterday that I really found my love for it. www.Etsy.com is a site where anyone can buy and sell handmade items. You can find pretty much anything you want (or don't want) on there from handmade jewelry, clothing, to even tie-dyed tightie-whities. Here is one etsy store that I totally fell in love with. She makes the most amazingly beautiful jewelry. I was so enthralled by it that I even went to her blog and left her a message. I NEVER do that! (I sure hope she doesn't think I'm weird) But here are a few of her pieces that caught my eye:

This is a bracelet I particularly love.

And I love the color combination in this necklace.

I love Etsy so much that I've been brainstorming ideas of what I could sell on here and of course I don't really have any of the skills required to do them (sewing, painting, etc). I think having another creative outlet is always good for the soul. Anyone have any ideas? Really, I'm not cfrafty whatsoever. I think the only VERY crafty thing I have done that has worked was a stool that I decoupaged in high school. Right now it seems like my very own Etsy store is not in the stars. But at least I can window shop and gaze at (and maybe one day purchase) everyone else's creative outlets.

Really????

WARNING: the following post is a result of having nothing to do at work and doing lots of internet window shopping and may not have any pertinence at all, but afforded me the opportunity to do something for 15 minutes.

A furry purse and a purse that looks like a school project!? Someone would actually purchase these insanely ugly things? It's amazing that just because it's a Versace or Fendi original people would purchase them. I'm a firm believer of purchasing things if you LIKE them not if you like the label that's on them. These two are good examples of this.

The furry blue number is a Versace that retails for $4,710.00, but you can get it today at Bluefly.com for the very low bargain-basement price of $2,722.54! (NOTE: it is made of fox fur...so if you're an animal lover you might want to stay away from this one) This one reminds me of those furry-topped pencils that Cher on Clueless made so popular. They're so phat.

The art project gone wrong is made by Fendi and retials for $5,190.00 and is on sale at Bluefly.com for $2,699.59. And this one isn't even made of leather...it's woven nylon.

(I don't want you all to get the wrong idea. I DO have a job...they just haven't released me into the water on my own yet. But I have been told that in our department we are either EXTREMELY busy or EXTREMELY bored. We'll see how that pans out.)

Evidence

Here's some evidence of Phil and I's trip to San Diego for Dan's wedding (see...palm trees!). We forgot our cameras and so we relied on others to snap photos for us. I rarely like pictures taken of me, but I think Brittney did a fantastic job on these.

The Singer Brothers (staring into the sun)
Matt, Phil, Dan, and Nate

We had a great time in San Diego. It's funny because every time Phil and I have ever talked about where we want to live California has always been out of the running due to crowded cities and over-priced cost of living (and this is coming from a couple who lives in Boston!? I know our logic makes no sense). But having experienced the pleasures of San Diego we are amending this statement to: "we want to live nowhere else but San Diego!" The weather was wonderful while we were there (mid - high 70's!). In fact, while we were there we dodged the below zero weather in Boston. It was such a relief to slip on flip flops and t-shirts and walk along the beach! And traffic in San Diego is no worse than here in Boston (if not better), and I'm more than positive it's ten times better than L.A.'s traffic. Even if Phil and I never move to San Diego, I think we have decided that we are definitely going back...many many times.

Thanks to Dan and Wendy for having the wedding in San Dieogo and thanks to Rita Clem for making the stay so wonderful!