The zoo, and a very large totebag...

I remember my first official elementary school field trip. We went to the zoo. I don't remember a lot about that trip, but I do remember we did a lot of walking. Most of the stories are retold by my Mom (she remembers the early days a lot better than I do).

Yesterday, I took off a day of work, laced up my walking shoes, packed a bag that I swore I would regret carrying (more on that in a sec), and joined the commune of (mostly) SAH Moms for the Kindergarten extravaganza of excitement and torture... otherwise known as the "trip to the zoo".

Fifty 5 and 6 year-olds, two buses, and 12 chaperones.

Oh, the bag... I must tell you. I didn't want to bring the Coach bag, so I switched to a Vera Bradley tote instead. The contents? Plentiful for student emergencies. I had wipes, tissues, band-aids, sunblock, water, tylenol, extra clothes, an umbrella, snacks, camera, napkins, and about 5 other miscellaneous items that made the bag so heavy I could have used it as a lethal weapon.

Overkill? perhaps.

But then as I met and started talking to some of the other moms, I realized they were carrying small purses or NOTHING. Which kind of intrigued me.

Let me tell you a little bit about my son's catholic school. Most of these Moms have LARGE families. If you work full-time or have two or less kids they marvel at you like you are some sort of endangered species. So, I have to wonder, why pack so light? I thought they would be the ones hauling the stuffed backpacks and acting in line with the Girl Scout motto... "Be Prepared!" But no, not the case.

So what if I told you I used EVERYTHING in my bag? Oh yes. I administered first aid once (to one of my assigned kids), donated all my napkins to another Mom cleaning vomit, dispensed all my band-aids, and used up my sunblock, used all my wipes (when the bathroom ran out of toilet paper), and donated a shirt to a poor little guy who got sick on himself. I strategically used all my snacks to bribe two kids to sit quietly and stop bugging each other on the bus.

I even became the staff photographer when several moms forgot their cameras.

The kids had a great time, the only downside was the zoo we went to was more than an hour away, so our time actually IN THE ZOO was compressed to three hours (and we had to build lunch in there too).

It was a nice day. And, after trolling the zoo looking at zebras, snakes, and alligators keeping track of a herd of kids (and saving the day with my two ton tote) I think I would qualify as a mom deserving of more than one kid, don't you?

Should I ask my RE to transfer a litter of donor embryos?

Whatcha think? lol.

Old habits die hard

Because I wanted it and have denied myself for too long:


And because I had a $250 gift card I decided, well, how about some sandals for my upcoming vacation?

Because I deserve it.

Screw the budget for just one day. I am happy.

Look, a new handbag!

So I am patiently waiting for the big afternoon. Meanwhile, as to not forget the origins of this blog, I needed to share my latest Coach handbag acquisition:


I'll admit, it's a splurge, even by Coach standards... but considering the medical debt I am in, what's more money? lol. In all honesty, if you are a regular reader or know me IRL, you know I've not spent a penny on a handbag in like, 9 months. That is a record for me, and records are made to be broken!

Don't judge me, I am in a weak state at the moment...

I've got baggage

Last weekend I used up the remaining gift cards from the holidays. Of course I bought a purse. I think I deserve this one. This may be the last personal purchase I make for quite awhile. lol.

It's finally Friday. The end of a very loooooooong and challenging week. I hope you all have a nice weekend.

BagMomma loves: The PurseSitter

I'm excited to share with you the most adorable handbag accessory find.

The PurseSitter!

What a novel idea. It's literally a stylish purse hanger for your handbag. No more putting that expensive/fragile purse on the floor of a restaurant or bar and subjecting it to gosh knows what. Ewww, let's not think about it. Not to mention the security issue of having your bag at your feet or on the back of a chair. Truth is, I've spent many evenings with my handbag on MY LAP for an entire meal because there was no way I was going to set my beloved purse on the floor.

When ChicFashion contacted me about this gem of a product, I literally jumped of my chair (really, I did). And then I oogled over the styles and colors. One to fit every woman's personality. And they are exquisitely handmade with Swarovski crystals and enamel.

My Mom, who is the purveyor of ALL things fashionable (and the 'original' BagMomma) will be getting a few of these for the holidays. Finally, a gift I know she would LOVE and doesn't have!

Please take a moment to visit the official PurseSitter site!

And start some early holiday shopping... for YOURSELF and then maybe your mom, sister, cousin, daughter, best friend, hair stylist, nail technician, babysitter, your children's teacher, etc., etc., etc. You get the idea.

Purse truths

Click to enlarge

Purses don't have to be functional

Please add to my 40th Birthday wishlist...
Love, Shelli

The Dean & Deluca Pink Purse Cake
Sweet Couture*
A DEAN & DELUCA EXCLUSIVE. Created by a baker who worked at some of the most famous pastry shops in Paris, our large pink purse cake comes complete with handles, gold accents and zipper. It's a layered Tahitian vanilla bean cake, with chocolate fudge and white chocolate butter cream, covered in pink fondant. This is a sweet must have for those who simply can't have enough purses

I'm not normally this crabby, I swear

Thank god this week is over. I can't even put my finger on what's been REALLY bad about this week, it's just the overriding panic about everything that has gone wrong lately.

It's catching up with me. I just can't get my ass out of the rut I am in. I haven't even switched over to my newest handbag I bought two weeks ago. It's sitting in the bag, wrapped tenderly, saying "OPEN ME! You spent good money on me and I am the IT color for the Fall season, and FALL will be over before you know it!"

I've not been eating particularly well. I've been drinking a lot of coffee and soda. I have not exercised in three weeks. I have skated through every day of work in the last 4 months. I have washed and rewashed the same load of laundry all week because I can't remember to put it in the dryer. I have an intense need to drown myself in chocolate, but I don't have any.

I am the dog tied to the bumper of Chevy Chase's moving car in the movie "Vacation". Beat up and forgotten.

ok, bad analogy, sorry.

And let's talk about yesterdays blood draw. Thanks to everyone WILLING that hCG number down, it did go down (again) to 12. No Metho yet. Crazy as it sounds, I am happy about that, although I know that zero may still be far off. I am still technically pregnant SINCE MAY. I may hold some sort of record I think.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record. Let me sum up the year: pregnancy in January, miscarriage in January. TTC in March, April. Pregnancy in May. Miscarriage in JULY. THREE MONTHS LATER.. still not near a new cycle.

Add it up folks... I've only had AF TWICE this year. And I wonder why I am crazy. It's pent-up hormones. I feel like an android. I think my body forgot about me too.

If you live in NJ, and feel rumbling under you feet today.... it's not an earthquake. It's just me exploding from my nuclear meltdown.

I promise to get back to myself next week.

I just need more time here in the dumps.

Next visit to the vampire lab is Monday.

Gotta Snickers bar?

V.ery I.mportant P.urchase

I did end up going to the Coach store on Sunday. You knew I would.

I just couldn't keep myself away with that invitation staring at me.

That and Holly Marie, or was it Marie Holly, or Marileah? called me on Saturday and left a desperate message on my voicemail that I MISSED the VIP reception (heavens!), and if I stop by this week they will honor all the goodies I missed.

It's nice to be loved by someone. Even if it's a commisioned Coach employee who could give a crap about me.

Wait, I pay for Coach to love me... that's so wrong isn't it?????

....anyhoo, S. wanted to take a ride since it was such a beatuiful and cool day here in the Northeast. So, we all jumped in the car and somehow ended up at the Yankee Candle store (good Fall scents there btw), and then Starbucks, and then Coach.

I bought a Fall purse:

And I got a free gift and perfume.

Damn you, Coach.

I wish I could quit you.

Friday funk, I said FUNK people!

Well, thank goodness this week is drawing to a close. Work was insane this week (I did get through all of those e-mails btw), and now I am winding down my day.

I am also waiting for Nurse T to call me with my hcG blood draw results from this AM. Since it's only been 48 hours since the last one, I'm not holding out much hope that it's a lot lower. I'd love for her to say ZERO! but you and I know that would never be the case in my wildest dreams. I'll settle for anything less than 30.

Husband S. hasn't been able to sit on the patio yet. He managed to develop a sinus infection (again) and he's sick. Which sucks all the way around for me since I become handmaiden for the little guy and my 'big' little guy in the evenings. It's a tough job but somebody has to do it.

And, of course we can't leave out talking about last night's episode of Big Brother. What a letdown! Just give those two the money, why bother with the finale? And the bigger question, WHY did I invest 72 days watching this show? why? why? why? And, who to vote to win? I have to say ED, because he looked like a sad little wet puppy standing on that carrot for 7 hours and losing the first competition. In reality, you KNOW dude was just dying for a cigarette. That is one fierce chain smoker. And if his daughter won, well, I'm not convinced she would even share that money with him.

Lastly, I opened my mail today and read that I was invited to the super-secret-positively-awesome VIP party at the Coach store (25% off and freebies at the store). While normally I yell like a silly schoolgirl when I get my invites twice a year, my heart is not in handbags today. Shudder the thought, but it's true. It's not that I need a handbag, well, ok.... I really don't.... but I never miss it, and today.... well, I am missing it.

So carry on, people, and enjoy your weekend. Think AF thoughts for me, will ya

Update: hcG=23.... well, I guess I'll take what I can get. Next draw will be Wednesday.

And in news unrelated to fertility... :)

The current situation has been taking up a lot of brain and blog space. This weekend was pretty relaxing, consisting of a lot of doing "nothing".

Which is nice.

I putzed around my Target store, bought a couple of needless items that were on the dollar rack. (is it me this year or was the Target Summer 'seasonal' section underwhelming?)

I also took the opportunity to go to the Coach store for the VIP event, and I got a new purse (and wallet) 25% off!
You can't beat that with a stick.

I am going on record to say that this summer is going to be crazy. I have a bazillion social commimtments (something going on each Sat. or Sun.) every weekend through the end of August. The thing that bums me out is there always seems to be conflicts. So although it's nice to be social, it sucks when you RSVP to something and then get another invite for the same day. I hate to miss out on people and fun.

And on the fertility front, my pregnant self is still here. I went for another beta this morning, and am feeling less stressed about the results.

It will be or it won't... worrying won't make it better.

So, I'll be back later today with news. Good or bad.

IFFGD Celebrity Handbag Auction

Some notable celebs are giving away their handbags in an effort to raise research funds for The Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders.

The IFFGD Celebrity Handbag Auction is running right now through Wednesday, May 9.

Go forth and bid my friends!

For more information about IFFGD, visit http://www.iffgd.org/.