I must confess, I was not an “Ultimate Viewer” of Oprah until season 25.  I mean, I caught a show now and then, I always tried to tune in when big guests were scheduled to appear and I ALWAYS caught her “Favorite Things” show.  It wasn’t until I had my beautiful baby boy and went on maternity leave in August of 2010 that I began to tune in every day.  Thank goodness that I did.

Oprah has been a big inspiration to me this year…  Today, her last show, was my most favorite show of all.  Better than the free iPads; better than the free cars, and better than the hunky guy jumping on the couch professing his love for Joey.  Today, I took notes.

She asked me today “What sparks the light in you?” 

When referring to the ones I love, she told me to “Validate them.  See them.  Hear them.  Tell them that what they say matters to me.”

She told me to “listen to the whispers in my life and ask myself what they are saying to me.”

I know for certain that Oprah has touched the lives of millions of people year after year for the past 25 years.  This year she touched mine.  Today, I take the three lessons, revelations, inspirations from above and I make this vow to myself – I will try my best to live these lessons every day for the rest of my life.

I may have been 25 years late to the party but I’m sure glad I made it before the final curtain call.

Staying home with Baby B has literally changed my life in so many ways!  I am so fortunate.  Believe me – I thank my lucky stars daily!

I finally got the home-front organized and sprinkled with chocolate-covered-amy-goodness.  Just a few more little dollops to go.

Have I mentioned how much I love Cincinnati?  My summer calendar is already starting to fill up!  There is SO MUCH TO DO in this City!!

If only it would stop raining!

CRUSHING news this evening… ABC has CANCELLED my fav drama… “Brothers & Sisters.”  I am so sad.  RIP Walker Family. #bs

Still really wanting an iPad2… #reminder

Can we talk about Oprah for a moment?  Ok, so, I have watched Oprah episodes throughout the years but it wasn’t until my Maternity Leave in the late summer/fall of 2010 that I became HOOKED! AND it’s her LAST Season?? Nooooooo!  I just love her. I love her. Love her!!! I just can’t imagine my afternoon’s without her… 

In other TV news… My Sis-in-Law has totally got me hooked back on 90210 again.  Yes, I have watched the series about a billion and one times but I am hooked on this run yet again. #ya’llknowIloveToriright? #donnamartingraduates

And oh my sweet goodness. THE ROYAL WEDDING!!! I seriously leaped out of my bed at 3:45 AM when my alarm when off on Friday April 29th.  The prince.  The princess. The dress. The hats. The Union Jacks everywhere. I will never forget that morning.  Such a priceless memory that I will treasure forever.  How handsome was William?? And Kate? Gorgeous on another level. I wish them a lifetime of happiness.

I started Jillian’s workout DVD yesterday.  I seriously need to lose this “baby” weight aka the major poundage I put on in the 2000′s + Baby weight… She is kicking my ass too.. God Bless her!  She needs to whip me in shape asap.

Being a stay at home Mom is awesome.  Just wanted to say it again.

Vera Bradley should totally sell her fabric by the yard.  Can you imagine a bedroom decked in Vera?  And OMG! Burberry should do the same.  Picture a living room spiced with Burberry throw pillows and maybe a rug and a little accent chair. #drooling #suchapreppy

The NKOTB cruise is going on right now…

I bought a gallon of milk at the grocery store about a month ago.  It’s still in my fridge.  unopened and expired. #ashamed #airingmydirtylaundry

Speaking of dirty laundry… Can you come do mine?

I just thought of a cool blog challenge to myself.  I should blog about ALL the awesome things I experience in my first year back in Cincinnati.

Ready. Set. Go. 

Ok – so, to catch up, we left Las Vegas on Wednesday 3/30.  Due to a Baby B having a road- trip ear infection and major episode of congestion, we took our time on the road and arrived back home in Cincy on Tuesday 4/5.  A stop in Denver to see the girls (my cousins) was a nice little pit-stop along the way…

Upon arrival, we stayed at Hub’s Sister and Bro-in-law’s house until our stuff arrived (which seemed to take FOREVER!) 

Monday 4/11 was my BDAY and the very first “alone-date” my Hubs and I had since Monday, August 16, 201o. I was nice but I’d be fibbing if I said I didn’t miss Baby B the whole time.

We officially moved into our new place on Friday 4/15.  Hub’s started work on Monday 4/18 and my role as SAHM officially kicked in the same day!

Since then, I’ve been in major “OMG-I’m-Home-With-BabyB-Every-Day-and-it’s-totally-awesome mode!” We’ve had many outings with Mom aka Baby B’s Grandma, made multiple trips to Ikea and the daily project of turn-the-house-into-a-home’s been keeping us pretty busy. Each day more priceless than the day before.

My days are now filled with Baby B giggles, Baby B tickles, lot’s of hugs, playtime on the floor and plenty of story-time with a little splash of interior design, Oprah, The View and 90210. #pinchme  Everyone always told me to “sleep when the baby sleeps.” Does anyone actually do this?

 I will say that I do put quite a bit of pressure on myself to keep the homefront immaculate.  If there is a pillow out-of-place, or a bottle in the sink, I “Monica Bing” obsess until it’s fixed, clean, taken care of, you get the idea…  As the toy-pile turns into a mountain, I wonder to myself if this obessive behavior will continue in the years to come.

Hub’s loves his job.  He’s happy which makes me happy.  He comes home, we grill out and then look at each other, smile, shake our heads and say “Wow.  We did it.  We really did it. We’re home. Right where we want to be.”

A good friend of mine’s motto in life is “Follow-your-Bliss.” I’ve found mine and I’m not ever gonna let it go.

Hubs is at the Monster Truck show.

Baby B is rolling around in his pack-n-play.

Ames is blogging from her iPhone.

Happy Saturday!

I did.

Made it to Day 9 – really?

I have lots of inspiration so what gives?

Randomness…

Being a Mom is the single most amazing thing ever. #winning

Family Guy is seriously cracking me up right now…

I really want an iPad 2.  In white, with a smart case.  Who wants to buy me one?

Moving/Packing totally sucks but the end result will be worth it

My dog (Sarah Jessica) barks at EVERYTHING! #zipitfluffy #iloveyouanyway

What did I do before the twitter hashtag? #effifiknow

I hope Charlie Sheen is ok #tigersblood

Is there anyone out there NOT hooked on the OWN Network? #teamoprah

Rachel Zoe had her baby!  Very cool! #bananas

I would blog more if I had an iPad. #justsayin

Tomorrow we try squash! OK, Baby B tries squash.

Monster Trucks are loud.  I’ll miss seeing them this year.

What app’s are ya’ll using that you can’t live without?

Duke being out of the tournament just makes the whole March Madness thing kinda suck #stupidarizona

And who the hell am I supposed to root for in the UK vs. UNC game?  #evilvsevil

Baby B giggles = BEST. SOUND. EVER.

Can’t wait for Rosie’s new show to come on

I seriously have NO clothes for spring & summer.  Last spring & summer I was prego so the closet is seriously lacking sunshiney goodness.

LOTS of bitterness on that Kitchen Nightmares show…

Every city should have a 347-1111

Roseanne re-runs are awesome. #thewomancansing

Amy’s opinion on the best baby gear item ever? The Fisher Price Rock-N-Play Sleeper.

Roads would look cooler if they were paved in Burberry plaid

Did anyone ever find Waldo or is he still missing?

Who knew that giraffe’s would be THE thing? #sophie

Even though I say the eff word, I cringe a little when I hear other people say it. #classy

Tori and Dean are back in April! #winning

I have no idea what I want to be when I grow up

Bullying is heavy in the headlines right now. 

There’s a lot of press and a lot of media and celebrity support for campaigns such as thetrevorproject, a toll-free confidential suicide hotline for gay and questioning youth; the NOH8campaign, a photographic silent protest in response to the passing of prop 8 in California and the itgetsbetterproject, a way to show LGBT teens that life does get better.

I’m happy to see these issues getting the attention they deserve. 

Be nice. 

Talk to your kids about bullying and encourage them to be their own person.

It DOES get better!

Let’s love one another not in spite of our differences but because of our differences. 

xoxo

Just so we’re clear, this is a list of twenty of my favorite THINGS.   I probably have hundreds of favorite things but the list calls for twenty and like batteries, people are not included.

My cloud machine

A Diet Coke from McDonalds

Burberry (Yeah, anything with that preppy plaid is my favorite.)

Postcards

Sprinkles Cupcakes

My iPhone 4

The DVR

Hotel rooms

My recliner

My wedding rings

A plane ticket to somewhere tropical

Target

A lounge chair by the pool

Painted toenails

“Bathe” Hair Conditioner by Gilchrest and Soames

A giftcard to Nordstrom

A book by Tori Spelling

A song by U2

Maps

A long weekend

What are some of your favorite things? Leave me a comment and tell me about the stuff you like.

xoxo

 Tomorrow is his 2 month peds appointment – and his first set of shots.  I will be brave for him.  I will hold his hand. I pray that the experience is harder on me then it is on him.  I pray that his pain is non-existent.

Hubs and I are getting a shot too…. The pertussis vaccine…aka whooping cough.  I wonder if we’ll get a lolipop when it’s over? 

He’s smiling in his sleep right now.

My heart melts.

I’m so in love.

Seriously….there are so many.

OMG…ok.  This is going to be fun.

Reality Bites.

THE movie of my generation. MY all-time favorite.

The dialog in this film – perfection.

Some of my fav’s…

Lelaina – “I’d like to somehow make a difference in people’s lives.”

Troy – “And I… I would like to buy them all a Coke.”

Lelaina – “And you wonder why we never got involved?”

And Vickie!! Oh I love Vickie!!

“Would the two of you just do it and get it over with? I’m starving!” – Vickie

“He’s weird, he’s strange, he’s sloppy, he’s a total nightmare for women… I can’t believe I haven’t slept with him yet.” – Vickie

“You can’t navigate me. I may do mean things, and I may hurt you, and I may run away without your permission, and you may hate me forever, and I know that scares the living shit outta you cause you know I’m the only real thing you got.” – Troy Dyer

P.S. I Love You

Gerry. Ireland. Love.  As if I even have to explain.

The Blind Side

The first time I saw this movie I was sitting in the middle seat on a four hour flight from Atlanta to Las Vegas.  I laughed, I cried, I cheered and I didn’t give a damn how annoying I was to the people on either side of me.

Circle of Friends

“Bless me Father for I have sinned” – Benny Hogan

Grease 2

Grease 2…WAY better then Grease.

I want a C-O-O-L. R-I-D-E-R!

The Holiday

I mean, Cameron Diaz AND Kate Winslet in the same film? PERFECTION!

The Sweetest Thing

Cameron Diaz AND Christina Applegate??  Love!  Hilarious!

Rounders

Matt Damon & Edward Norton? Seriously?

Listen, here’s the thing. If you can’t spot the sucker in the first half hour at the table, then you ARE the sucker. – Mike McDermott

I met Matt Damon once.  See Freckles.