Sunday Social

1. What is your dream job? I would love to work in the National Parks Service. Ideally I would like to summer in a hugely popular park, like Yellowstone or Yosemite, and winter in the south, Like Arizona or So Cal. 

2. If you had just won the lottery and didn't need to work for money, what would you do with your time? Buy an RV and travel around. Occasionally we'd park the RV and go abroad. I would probably eventually end up doing my dream job (above) after finishing school. 

3. When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? I don't remember, probably a vet, or a teacher, isn't that what all kids want?

maybe not a math teacher though, I really suck at math.

4. What piece career advice would you give to someone just starting out in your field? My current field is retail, so my advice is be nice, all people want is someone to be nice to them. Think when you are a customer, if you are asking a question it's because you don't know the answer, so don't be snide or rude to people, even if they are asking really stupid questions. 

5. Biggest Pet Peeves either in life or in blogging or at work.

Blogging? i hate captcha, You know where you have to type in a word in order to post a comment, yeah I hate those. 

Work? I hate smelly people. I am shocked at the ammount of smelly people I come in contact with every day, and this isn't just a pregnancy "oh I can smell everything" pet peeve, this has been an ongoing issue since I started working in retail since returning to the sates. Shower People!

6. Biggest Fears. I worry about baby a lot. All I want is for her to be happy and healthy, and to live a long and beautiful life. 

-Alana

Thirty in Thirty

1. Have a Baby! 

2. Go fishing and catch something

3. Try (really try) to enjoy our last winter in Montana.

4. Go to at least one national park. 

5. Loose the baby weight, however much it may be. 

6. Learn to play my Ukulele.

(not me, fyi)

7. Knit cute winter clothes for baby.

8. Grow my hair out, at least enough for a ponytail.

9. Dye it pink again. 

10. Learn to coupon.

11. Get family portraits done. 

12. Boost my blog following (Ideas on how to do this are welcome)

13. Get my FASFA done.

14. Register for fall classes. 

15. Walk the dogs more often. 

16. Either a. learn blog layout design, or b. pay someone to make me a new blog.

17. Get rid of HUGE amounts of our stuff to prep for moving next winter.

18. Re-read Harry Potter.

19. Go hiking again.

20. DIY decor for babys room via pinterest ideas.

21. Knit two baby blankets (0/2)

22. Visit my sister in Albuquerque
23. Learn some photo editing software

24. Stop being a recluse.

25. Have friends over for a BBQ.

26. Cook more & Eat out less.

27. Remember birthdays/ holidays and send out cards on time.

28. Get better at keeping up with the housework.

29. Take lots of FUN pictures of our little girl!

30. Thrift more.

I got this from Karen @

-Alana

Just a quick click-
 

Busy Busy Busy!

I've been hella busy this week.
I worked an 8 hour day and almost died.
I cleaned the house.
I cleaned the carpets.
then I had a birthday!
It was my Dirty Thirty little B's!

So here I am, 21 weeks pregnant, 30th Birthday, and I got a haircut!

So how about a little preggo update?

I kidnapped my questions from Let Them Eat Cake, She is just a few weeks ahead of me at 24 weeks pregnant.

How far along? 21 weeks
Total weight gain/measurements: I haven't been taking measurement, but gain I am up about 8 pounds, but if you count the weight I lost when I was sick way back in the begining I've gained about 13 pounds. 
Maternity clothes: Oh Hell Yes! I love maternity pants. When I traveled home to Tucson a couple of weeks ago, the main goal was shopping for maternity clothes, because it's slim pickings here in Helena.
Stretch marks? Nope.
Best moment this week:My birthday and eating ice cream cake!
Miss anything? Lately I've been missing sleep, I haven't been sleeping well at all. Also I mis margaritas.
Movement: Yeah, I'm pretty sure I am feeling her and not gas now.  
Anything making you queasy or sick? Today I was bending over at work so my head was below my waist and I felt like everything was about to come up. 
Cravings: I could really go for a big piece of steak or prime rib and a baked potato right now. I've been super in love with carbs.  
Gender: Girl!  
Labor signs: I'm 95% sure I have been having Braxton Hicks contractions, they aren't painful per say, but when I have them at night I feel like shit in the morning.  
Symptoms: I have been exahusted, work has really been taking a toll on me. Monday I worked 8 hours and felt horrid Monday night, Tuesday I still felt pretty rough. 
Belly button in or out? In. 
Happy or moody most of the time: I am usually a very chipper person, and I think I have been for the most part, but holy hell that can change in an instant. 
Baby purchases: I have not bought anything myself.   
Looking forward to: This weekend I think we are going to start prepping her dresser. We are using a dresser we bought 5 years ago in Mass. We are going to paint it and put it in her room. It's so pretty and big, it's got 6 big drawers and 3 little ones, and a huge mirror. It also has a matching nightstand. 

I've got a few posts in the works so stay tunned.


-Alana

p.s. I just joined picket fence blogs, so click on the link below to show me some love!

Week in pictures

Incase you don't follow me on instagram (alanamarie26) here is a quick picture update:

Renji, pretending to nap during his nap time.

Aiko however can't keep her eyes open at bed time.

I made spinach and swiss stuffed porkchops with asparagus and garlic shells

Sunday my doggies became Doggie School Graduates, and graduated their Petco Dog Training.

Here at home they sit and patiently wait for their stuffed chicken toy.

I cross stitched a little Totoro for babies room
(free pattern here: Totoro-Chan)

Renji has to sleep on his dad, with his legs in the air.

and today the doggies had some sunny spot nap time, the weather is gorgeous and there is a nice cool breeze. I have all the windows open and I am trying to get some housework done so I can clean carpets tomorrow.

Have a lovely day, and remember to find me on Facebook!

-Alana

Tucson Travels Part 2

When I left you yesterday I was wearing a cute fake preggo belly, oh that was fun, and hysterical.

It didn't take long for my sister to get into town, she showed up a few days after me. And our first stop as a family was SUSHI!

Sister had Orion, and I hate her for it :)

Daddy doesn't do raw so he had Yakisoba, and it was fun to watch him try to use is trainer chopsticks.

(I am really sad I don't have any pictures of mom, She was there though, I promise. I do have some pictures from mom from this trip, but if I posted them she would surely kill me. Right mom? and I love your dress from Ross, I think blogworld would too)

sister and me.

(mostly cooked) Rolls!

That's about all I am supposed to have, but I did eat some sashimi, and I lived and I can still feel the little nugget moving inside my belly so she is fine too.

On the way home we took some pictures of another Tucson Favorite, Lucky Wishbone, sadly I didn't get any steak fingers this trip. Maybe next.


One of the afternoons we had an awesome, but short Monsoon storm, it broke daddys boat tent

Sunday we had an almost surprise baby shower for me, I don't have the pictures from that, so that'll be yet another post. 

Well I do have this picture. 

That's me eating the Reeces Peanut Butter cup out of a diaper, I lost the guess what chocolate is melted in the diaper game, but I won for grossing everyone out. 

Monday Mommy took sister and me out to get Pho, it was my first time having real Pho, I've had the instant kind, real Pho is way better.

mmmm Pho

And then Tuesday I left.

 Sister and I left at almost the same time, I am 99% sure she was sitting on that plane as I was taxing out on mine.

Bye Bye tucson, I'll miss you and your mountains!

During my flight to SLC we flew over the Grand Canyon

and some cool clouds

SLC terminal E (the small regional delta terminal I think) is quite nice, but usually packed.
The flight on Tuesday I was quite surprised to enter the terminal and find it only about 2/3 full, it's usually like packed sardines in there.

I had a great clear shot of the terminal, then this guy sat down
This terminal is about as big as Helena's whole airport. 

Then I flew the rest of the way home

we flew in just under a wicked looking T-storm

Hi Helena!

Paul brought my doggie doodles to the airport to get me! They were so excited to see mommy.

Renji and Aiko

And now I'm home, back to trying to eat healthy, cleaning up a weeks worth of laundry, and all the other mayhem in this house that I left behind.

I love Tucson, But I am happy to be home, I just wish home wasn't so far away from everyone.


Have a lovely day, and remember to find me on Facebook for all the quick little updates that don't make it here!

-Alana

Oh My! Where have I been?

Tucson Travels Part 1

If you follow me on  Facebook, you'll know I was traveling.
I went home to Tucson, Az to see my family and to do some much needed maternity shopping.
Some of these are Instagram photo (I'm alanamarie26, leave your name in the comments here and I'll follow you back on Instagram!) some are Camera+ photos, but all are from my iPhone, I didn't have enough room to bring the Nikon.

all my shit

Helena is a redonkulously small airport, 4 ticket counters, Delta, United, Alaska and one I've never heard of. The entire length of the airport is about the size of a football field. There is one small restruant, and one luggage conveyer. Once you go through security (which is only open when there is an outgoing flight, so 3 maybe 4 times a day for an hour or so, you go into the terminals, there are 4 two upstairs and two down, each pair are in a room that has enough seating for about 100 people, and the downstairs has a small concession with typicial airport prices ($2.75 for a small bottle of soda)

My flights are typically uneventful, I hop to SLC, then to Tucson. I always sit next to some very interesting characters. I'll save that for another post though, I can type a whole page on weirdos on the airplane.

Mom picks me up and the adventure begins.

Pregnancy cravings havent been bad, but there have been things I wanted that I just could not have here in Montana. One being Eegees. It's hard to explain eegees, they have great sandwiches, but they also have their trademark drink, the Eegee, it's like a slurpee that doesn't melt as quick. And the flavors are way better. July flavor of the month is Watermelon. And it's just amazing.

Watermelon Eegee

Ham and Cheese, no Tomato, Extra Pickle!

I have also had a hankering for Wienerschnitzel its a hotdog chain that has the best commercial chili dogs ever! I had been craving their chili cheese fries. So my first night I had eegees and wienerschnitzel for diner. Yeah, I'm that pregnant lady.

not much to look at but trust me, what they lack in beauty they make up for in amazingness.

Being at home means I get to see my family, Even my hairy brother and sister.

This is Sir Chunk Alot, We call him Chunky. He's my little brother, he's 14 years old, he's a dirty little shit, who cries all the time because he can, his favorite time to cry is about 3 am. I love him though, he slept with me every night. His hairy sister is mean and won't let him sleep with my parents so when people visit that's the only time he gets to sleep with humans. 

And this is Dedra Dawn, she was my replacement. When I moved away about 7 years ago, it didn't take long for my mom to bring her home. She's a holy terror. But she loves to snuggle and eat the food you drop. She also loves to whine and has that super awesome terrier whine that makes you want to gouge out your eardrums with a dull knife.


Mom and I finally got down to shopping and we had so much fun!

Motherhood Maternity has a fake belly you can try on, and I cannot wait to be this cute!

I don't have any other pictures from the clothing shopping, because lets face it, even pregnant trying on clothes is not fun. It's only fun if you've just lost a bunch of weight are are rocking an awesome bod. Which I am not, yet...

Join me tomorrow for more Tucson Travels!

-Alana