Here is the new look of our living room. I’m still working out the arrangement of other seating and artwork, etc.

I’m cozied up on this new piece of furniture right now. It is super comfortable and very large! Perfect for a cold Saturday afternoon curled up under a blanket. I imagine it will also be good for hot summer evenings when we’ll both want our space.

Surfing on the sofa,

B

This is about the time of year (two years ago) when my brother first started to show signs of an illness. So, maybe it’s just the season. There are clothes I pull out of my closet at about this time of year that remind me of the hospital. The things I was pestering him about right before he got sick are the same things I am pestering him about right now…prom dates and spring break. Even someone’s mention of the March Madness basketball tournament triggers really awful diagnosis memories for me.

I know there are people, who read this blog, who might have been sick themselves or have had a sick friend or family member and so I wanted to share these feelings. For me, it’s better when I can talk about it. Sometimes I feel ashamed that I still spend time reading leukemia research studies, still google drug side effects, still have tears and sleepless nights. But I know I’m not the only one. I find comfort in the community of cancer survivors and caregivers that I’ve come to know, and I know that most of us share the common knowledge that cancer is never over. There is no 100% cure guarantee.

Many years ago when I had just started my first ‘real job’, I came across a quote that I wrote down and pinned to the wall of my cubicle. “The opposite of worry is action.” The mantra helped me to act on projects or goals that were especially challenging…it helped me to not sit at my desk frozen in first-job fear. It’s a mantra that has stayed with me, and one I rely on today whenever I’m feeling particularly overwhelmed.

When it comes to cancer, the actions that help counteract my worries can be as simple as making the drive to spend time with my family or texting my brother or educating myself on a medical condition he is facing. But sometimes, the actions that make me feel the best are bigger. Like, spending time with a new group of OKC do-gooders called the Swab Squad. The Swab Squad came together not long after my IgniteOKC talk (which you can now watch here). We’re working to promote awareness of the need for stem cell donors, and we’ll also be setting up swabbing drives at events around Oklahoma City.

I’m also continuing to help plan the American Cancer Society’s Cattle Barons’ Ball and will participate on my family’s Relay for Life team this June. If you’d like to donate, please visit my Relay page. None of these activities completely replace my anxiety, but I feel better when I am using my mind, body and talents to combat the disease I loathe so much.

xoxo,

B

P.S. Check out what these brave moms are doing to fight back against cancer.

We have strategically shared the news with friends and family over the last several weeks, but the announcement went out to the masses at about 1PM on Saturday via Facebook and Twitter and Instagram. If it was at all possible, I would’ve kept my pregnancy private for the whole nine months….but that just wasn’t in the cards….especially with a growing belly.

Even though I cherished sharing what felt like the sweetest secret with Philip (and wish it could have lasted a little longer), I can appreciate all of the joy and excitement expressed by our friends and loved ones. We had a fun weekend full of phone calls and messages, and it has made us feel supported and surrounded with love.

I made it almost 15 weeks before we felt like our news needed to be shared. How long did you wait to share pregnancy news? I’d love to know.

Expecting,

B

I received these three items as Christmas gifts. I’m loving each and every one, so I wanted to share.

‘Ole velvet is where we curl up almost every evening for reading or blogging or TV watching. It’s really the only comfortable seating in our living room, and we’re tired of feeling cramped. You can’t stretch out. You can’t put your feet up at the end of a long day. Watching a one hour television program can get uncomfortable with such little space, and it’s even tougher to snuggle up for a movie. 

Now, here I am complaining about a perfectly great (and stunning) couch. I’m sorry about that. Please let me continue.

We started to shop around for furniture several weeks ago. Should we add a more comfortable chair and chaise lounge? Or should we replace the couch all together? It’s finally been decided. And, gasp, a replacement has been ordered!

We picked out a gorgeous sofa + chaise lounge at True North Living. If you live in OKC and are furniture shopping, you must check out this shop. However, with all of the upgrades we wanted, the Dakota sectional came in over our budget. We were tempted to just go for it, but not having the chance to see in person or sit on the model we’d be ordering had us hesitating. It was just too big of a purchase for us to make, site unseen. 

The search continued to Dallas last weekend. There was a sofa + chaise lounge model at Crate and Barrel that I’d had my eye on. C & B offered what we couldn’t get at True North — a real live test drive. We took our shoes off last weekend at C & B and lounged on the Davis sectional for a good 20 minutes. It was exactly what we’d been looking for.

I didn’t like the color or the texture of the Davis quite as well as the fabric I’d chosen at True North, and it didn’t come with True North’s 25 year warranty. But we agreed that this piece of furniture isn’t going to be with us forever, and that the difference in fabric was worth the difference in price.

After sleeping on the decision one more night, we made the big purchase online last night! We’ll get to pick up the Davis at the end of this month.

The living room will need some rearranging to accommodate the Davis, but all the fuss will be well worth it. For us, a home is about more than a pretty velvet couch. It’s about being comfortable, and putting your feet up at the end of a long day. Together. Not in separate rooms.

Cha Cha Change,

B

The coffee mugs are warm, and the coffee is self serve.

The specials are usually great. My favorite is the Cinnamon Roll French Toast. Need I say more?

We like to take magazines, newspapers, the iPad and paper for list making. The pace is slow, the coffee is good, the crowd is warm and friendly. It’s a great place to hash out the weekly grocery list.

What’s your favorite spot for a weekend morning breakfast? What makes it worth getting out of bed?

Best Part of Waking Up,

B

Back in 2008, I attended three Inaugural balls as well as the big event in the freeeeeezing cold. I’m not sure I’ve ever been so cold in my life.

Because of fears that the Metro would leave us stuck in a tunnel under the Potomac, we chose to walk the four miles from our apartment in Arlington, VA to the National Mall. Hundreds of other people walked across Memorial Bridge with us. We then converged with the millions of people also making their way to the the Mall. It took some sweet talking to men with machine guns, but we somehow managed to find standing spots much closer to the Capitol than our tickets allowed.

After a full day of standing, screaming and crying then a four mile walk back to Arlington in a crazy Obama mob…we rallied with a Five Guys cheeseburger and got dressed for an official ball.

Later in the week, I was also fortunate enough to attend the Obama for America staff ball. The staff ball was the most fun. It was a great celebration with friends, and a great wrap up to the Inaugural events.

My 2008 Inauguration experience was a once-in-a-lifetime event. It was exhilarating, exhausting and at times down right frightening (I got a little anxious in the crowds).

Only a President Elect Hillary Clinton could get me back on the Mall on Inauguration Day again!

American Girl,

B

Remember my cactus conquest of summer 2012? I grew three mini, but mighty cacti. I have sad news to report….

These pathetic pots were supposed to be brought inside for the winter. I obviously failed as a cactus cultivator, and did not get them indoors before Jack Frost came to town. I really should get out there and dispose of their carcasses. It’s a very sad sight.