Endorsements

Song of the Day: Right Here Right Now by Jesus Jones

Quick blog today to let you know where Fitz and I stand on certain things. Below are two of our favorite products of all time. They are both fairly recent purchases, but we anticipate being loyal consumers for a very, very long time.

This is Fitz's pick. He swears this is the best toothpaste he's ever used. We are huge fans of the baking soda. Actually, this is not the exact kind we get, the CompleteCare, but you get it. Arm & Hammer rules.

This is my pick. I bought it yesterday, and I can tell you now, I will be taking this everywhere with me. This is the Snoogle. It's a body pillow that supports your back, knees, hips, and head while pregnant, although I'm sure I'll have it around after Baby B arrives. Even after one night, I'm completely sold.

Hoarders: Barringer-Style

Song of the Day: Red Light by Jonny Lang

I really, truly believed that during our last move we did a good job sorting and donating and throwing out. It appears that towards the end of that sorting-donating-throwing-out process, I just threw things into bags and said, I'll get to it later. Well, later has arrived, and yesterday, I finished the job I started a year ago. I think.

Both Fitz and I hang onto things. We're both hoarders, but in different ways. I tend to keep paper. I still have instructions for how to set up my voicemail on my work phone back at Kenan-Flagler Business School. I have old pay stubs from 2009. And I have cards. Mountains of cards. Cards I got in the mail when I was a freshman at Carolina. Now, disclaimer: I can't throw the cards away, I'm just going to put them in a box neatly. For instance, I have a card from my grandmother in Charlotte thanking me for bringing Chick-fil-A for lunch and my new boyfriend named Fitz by to meet her and granddaddy. No way I'm throwing that away. That's sentimental and lovely.

But I could part with the voicemail instructions. And the pay stubs landed in the shredder pile.

Best gift ever to a law school graduate: a shredder. Thanks Mom!

Now, Fitz's hoarding is of a different kind.  Let me show you what I mean:

Shampoo, conditioner, lotion, soap, shower caps. We could start a B&B.

And these are the ones he's keeping. The others made it to the trash before I realized we should document this.

They do come in handy when we're traveling.

Also, in the back of Fitz's side of the closet lay hidden a bag containing at least a dozen pairs of new socks. This is why the old, holey socks must go. Because he already has replacements, still in their wrappings.

I won't even mention the golf balls.

OK, there were A LOT of golf balls.

I have a hard time letting go of the past, i.e. "Oh, remember this bookmark that I bought back in 2005?" and Fitz has a hard time letting go because of the future, i.e. "One day this shower cap will come in handy." We're working towards meeting in the middle in the present. I don't need a bookmark, and Fitz has never once in his life used a shower cap. If he does, I'll document that, too.

Chaos Theory

Song of the Day: Queen of California by John Mayer

So, this is it folks. Our time is ticking down here, and fast. We've been trying to sort through all the stuff we've amassed over the past year, well, really years. I could have sworn we did a decent job donating things we didn't use or need last year when we moved, but evidently there's more to give away. Or just throw away. Nobody needs old, holey socks. Or a broken cheese grater.

What's truly sad is that it usually takes a move for me to actually go through and sort all my things. As both our moms would say, it's because you have to touch everything. Moms are so right (remember that, Baby B!). I have to say, I'm proud that I have finally gotten around to organizing my jewelry. My whole life, my jewelry has sat in tangled clumps. Well, not anymore. Again, it takes a huge change for me to even contemplate such organizational strides.

Is this what organization looks like?? It's beautiful! I see it so rarely...

Why yes, those are my hair clips as well that are now organized.

So, I'm pretty proud of my new plastic containers with dividers. It's the small victories, people.

Hodge Podge Blog

Song of the Day: Glory of Love by Big Bill Broonzy

Once upon a time, Fitz and I decided to be boyfriend and girlfriend. And as boyfriends and girlfriends often do, we decided to watch a movie together one evening. That movie was Intolerable Cruelty. It remains to this day one of our favorite movies, and when we can't quite figure out what to watch, it's usually the first movie that's suggested (unless we haven't seen Batman in a while). If you've never seen it, we highly recommend it. Here's a short clip:

We watched it last Saturday night, and because we're now an old married couple, we couldn't stay up to finish it, so we watched the last half yesterday. Again, if you haven't seen it, rent it today. Or Netflix it. Or whatever it is you young people do these days.



Check out our awesome pumpkin designs.

On a side note, this, I believe, is our first picture taken together, ever and as bf/gf. It was our first Halloween together (see the pumpkins?), and it was also the first time Fitz met my parents and my brother Allen, also in the picture. Mom knew Fitz was a keeper when he helped give out candy to the kids ringing our doorbell. I knew he was a keeper because he wore an orange shirt. He takes Halloween very seriously, which is a must for a good and proper husband. I think we had already watched Intolerable Cruelty by the time Halloween rolled around. 

Last night we made Pioneer Woman's Chicken Spaghetti. We have a ton leftover, which is not a bad thing. In fact, it's a glorious truth because it means we don't have to cook again for dinner tonight. It's really good, and it definitely will make the fall/winter rotation, joining other winners like Vegetable Soup and Chili. It's just good comfort food that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy and cheesy inside. In fact, all this talk about pumpkins and candy and cheese is making me very excited about the fall quickly approaching...

Do You Know Any Lawyer Jokes?

Song of the Day: Youth By Daughter

Well, after today, Fitz has only one more week at the courthouse. It's been such a great year, and I think Fitz would tell you that he learned a lot. Like, A LOT. And he really enjoyed it. Let's take a look back to about a year ago, graduating law school and getting sworn in as a real lawyer...

Right before the graduation ceremony...I can't tell you how badly I want to get that little string off his glasses, didn't notice it at the time, obviously totally taken in by his charming smile. I will be photoshopping that string out at some point.

Yay Fitz! Get that diploma!

After the ceremony, Fitz takes a picture with good law school buddies.

Fast forward through the bar exam, there's Fitz getting sworn in at the state courthouse.

You can tell Fitz takes these things very seriously.

Taco Sauce Makes Everything Better

Song of the Day: Working My Way Back To You by The Spinners

Last night, Fitz and I made Rachel Ray's Mexican Lasagna, and we've decided it's a keeper. Of course, we switched out the ground chicken for ground beef (there's something about ground chicken that weirds me out, like it's supposed to be in breast or leg form, not little tidbits). And no, we didn't use spinach tortillas. We could have, but we didn't. Maybe next time. All the same, it turned out pretty well and it was super easy to make.

While cooking...
Fitz: What's that going into the beef?
Me: It's just taco sauce.
Fitz: (After sampling a little bit) Oh wow, I could pour that stuff on anything and everything.

I was about to laugh and say "yeah, right," but then I realized, I could too. Taco sauce is AMAZING.

There's hardly an hour that goes by these days that I don't feel Baby B kicking around. However, after our beach weekend, we feel like there's more evidence to suggest he's a shy kid. Whenever I'm around a lot of other people, he goes real quiet, but almost as soon as I leave and find some quiet space either by myself or with Fitz, Baby B performs some amazing acrobatics.  I also think Baby B really responds to his dad's voice whereas I think he's probably tired of hearing my renditions of every camp song I can remember. But we do like to play the "poke" game. I'll poke my tummy a few times, and within seconds, he'll poke back in almost the same spot.

Well, the countdown continues as we are rapidly approaching the end of our year in Winston-Salem. We've really loved Winston-Salem, and who knows, maybe one day we'll find ourselves back in this town. But we're getting pretty excited about moving to Charlotte. Hard to believe it's actually happening!

Too Much Information

Song of the Day: Morning Comes by Delta Rae (I enjoy this music video a lot for some reason)

Fitz and I went for a short weekend at the beach and had a wonderful, wonderful time. Fitz was able to play golf, I was able to relax, and we were both able to spend some time in the ocean where I discovered, no, my belly does not make me more buoyant.

This morning, I had to go back to the doctor's to get my RhoGAM shot, which is just a shot for mothers who are Rh negative like me (my blood type is A negative). Not a big deal, just a shot in case Baby B is blood type something positive. So I went by myself, no big deal, and I dressed appropriately: my long comfy strapless dress with a cardigan I could easily remove so the nurse could administer the shot to my arm. Shots typically do not bother me because I've had to get used to needles donating blood, and the needles they use to suck the blood out of your arm make anything else looks silly and tiny. So I was ready for this shot, no big deal.

As I sat in the waiting area, I wondered why I didn't have to sign in for the lab, and I was even more curious as to why they were putting me in my own room. The sweet nurse came in and asked, "Well, what can I do for you today?" Obviously, she knew why I was there, but I answered I was there to get my RhoGAM shot.

"All right then, if you would just lean over the table and pull up your dress..."

What??

This shot was going in my hip, and this needle was not kidding around. And worse still, I couldn't for the life of me remember which pair of underwear I had on. I just prayed they weren't the ones with holes in the waistband.

"Now, this is going to burn a little. Do you want me to go a little at a time or all at once?"

Trying to shut out the anxiety that was rapidly infiltrating my thoughts, I answered, "All at once. Let's do this."

She stared at me and said, "If I could make a suggestion, we'll just take it slow, OK?"

Two minutes later I came out and delicately sat down in my car seat and drove home, starting to understand that this was only the beginning of losing "privacy." And I also decided I would go out shopping this afternoon for some new unmentionables that I would not be ashamed to show off.

Reading/Listening Rainbow

Song of the Day: Suspicious Minds by Elvis Presley

Fitz got up this morning at the crack of dawn and set off for a day in Charlotte to attend a class for lawyers who have recently passed the bar. He'll be back later tonight, and then tomorrow, we both will set off for a day in Charlotte and a fast weekend in Myrtle Beach.



The Geek Squad

I have been told numerous times that on our upcoming road trips that we will be listening to a book on tape that Fitz just finished, and because it was so good, he doesn't mind listening to it again. It's called Unbroken. He's been listening to it on his runs and many times has come back home saying either, "I couldn't help but laugh out loud," or "I almost started crying listening to this book...it's fantastic." So I'm really excited to be able to share in this story that Fitz loves so much. I believe Fitz has now moved on to listening to Lord of the Flies.  

I just finished reading The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels. I read it in hours, and I loved every second of it. It's so nice knowing that other women out there remember certain events by what they were wearing. And it was such a sweet story about Ree Drummond, the Pioneer Woman, and her boyfriend-fiance-husband and how they met and got together. It was the perfect summer read for me and a nice change of pace from all the Agatha Christie I had been reading earlier. The only hint or contemplation of murder in this book is when Ree is inquiring after her boyfriend's previous relationships:

I was a girl. I simply had to know.
"I was...," he began. "Well, I was dating someone else."
I'll kill her with my bare hands.
(from page 112)

Can't deny I've ever thought that. But that was the only murder/violence bit. No funny egg-headed Belgian men showing up on a cattle ranch.

Sugar Rush

Song of the Day: Somebody Told Me by The Killers

This morning Fitz and I went to the doctor's office to take my glucola test, a test that will help catch gestational diabetes. I'd been referring to this test as a "glucoma" test for while, I suppose confusing it in my head with "glaucoma." Whoops. The test consists of drinking 8oz. of a sugary sweet concoction, waiting an hour, and then having your blood drawn. I was a little worried about stomaching this juice, but actually it tasted like flat Orange Crush, and really, that's not so bad. It reminded me of something I would usually drink at a picnic or cookout, some kind of sweet Kool-Aid that could have been watered down a tad more but hey, it's free so who cares.

This morning, Fitz made me scrambled eggs for some good protein before my test. Fitz makes awesome scrambled eggs. He always add some milk to the eggs when he whisks them, which makes them fluffy, and then nukes the crap out of them without browning or burning them, low and slow in the pan.

Everyone has their own way of making scrambled eggs. My mom's are like fluffy clouds, and my dad's are a bit browned and usually fried in the leftover bacon or sausage grease. I honestly can't remember the last time I made scrambled eggs because either Fitz, Mom, or Dad is always making scrambled eggs for me. I live a good life.

We discovered this morning at the doctor's that Fitz and I somehow got a little off in keeping track of how far along Baby B is. The due date is still November 10, but on Saturday, I'll officially be entering the third trimester, the home stretch! No wonder in the morning, trying to roll out of bed, I'm starting to feel like this:

Fitz, Tantrums, Knives, and Mike Tyson

Song of the Day: Pickin' Up the Pieces by Fitz and The Tantrums

Two disclaimers today:
1. Katherine here, bloggin' on her own today!
2. I'm pretty much obsessed with Fitz and The Tantrums. I'm obsessed with Fitz Barringer as well.

For as long as we've been married, Fitz has been the ultimate sous-chef. I try to look like I'm busy stirring the pan on the stove top while Fitz busily chops up everything. And, of course, once he's chopped up everything, he starts cleaning up the dishes. Meanwhile, I try to look absorbed and busy in what I'm doing, tasting everything multiple times, saying things like, "Oh, I think this tastes good. Maybe a little more salt..." Because a little more salt could never hurt anything, right?

Fitz is master chopper in our family. He has a Japanese knife that he received for Christmas last year which could probably chop shoe leather, not that we've tried (yet). Lately, Fitz has been chopping up fruit and storing it in the refrigerator. Makes for a great, convenient snack. Especially if you're pregnant and equally starving and lazy.

Sorry, Fitz, I ate a LOT of the fruit this morning.

And yes, that is DECAF Earl Grey tea in a Christmas mug. I love our eclectic collection of mugs. Christmas in August! I feel merry every time I see it. Merry enough to hum Jingle Bells this morning.

Fitz and I wound up at the library on Saturday to check out some books...well, Fitz checked out books, I looked through the DVDs. We did find a book which will hopefully be the answer to our prayers:

We'll most likely need The Complete Idiot's Guide to Parenting as well.

Baby B is kickin' up a storm these days. We call him our little soccer player, but yesterday Fitz said that maybe Baby B is more of a Mike Tyson. All I could envision was our kid biting the ear off of another kid in preschool. I think I will go ahead and order that Idiot's Guide to Parenting.

A Thousand Words, Give or Take

Song of the Day: Murder of One by Counting Crows

Well, it seems that the Olympics have consumed all our free time that we have neglected our blog! To make up for it, here are a bunch of pictures we've come across lately, whether we've taken them on walks or flipped through old files as we transfer info onto a different computer.


Wait Chapel...a lovely picture Fitz took on our walk from Reynolda to Wake Forest.

Our beautiful wedding cake!

Katherine and her best W-S friend Denis at Reynolda House.

Flowers that Ma and Da brought us today as they made their way back from the mountains today.



Roses that Fitz bought Katherine on Monday for no good reason besides missing her as she traveled to Durham earlier in the week.

The Emmas from Ireland, Katherine, and Karyn (and Baby B)

Emma from Ireland, Katherine, and Karyn from years ago.

Fitz with the Capitol in the background, circa 2009.



Our engagement photo; we look so young!