Speaking of Being Fertile....

I'm pregnant!

As our love fern grew big enough to get re-potted (see last weeks post).... my belly also grows!!!
I am SOOOO excited to finally share the news with you! I am 16 weeks along and feeling great! Baby is due April 11th, 2012.
This is by far the longest secret I've ever kept (and the most important)! I can't even get my head wrapped around being a mommy- it really blows my mind and completely changes my life!
Daddy-to-be is very excited too!

So since August we've managed to:
Move from Maryland to NY
Hubs started new job in August
I started a new job in October
.... and now have a little munchkin on the way..... talk about lots of changes all at once!!!!

I've managed to bust out the Belly Band this week, although I'm not sure I "popped" yet, I def. don't fit into my pants. I'm loving the Liz Lange maternity section at Target and found some cute clothes and bathing suits for work!

Now that "morning sickness" is gone, my appetite is back in full force and I'm thinking I better watch my diet. I haven't gained any weight yet but I have no clue how that's possible?! I'll just count my lucky stars for now!

Speaking of morning sickness, I am sure a man coined that term... I was sick in the morning, sicker in the afternoon, and my sickest at night for about SIX full weeks (weeks 6-12). I am SO happy to be out of that phase- and all you ladies out there that were never sick believe me you didn't miss out- you are the lucky ones!!!!

We plan to celebrate this good news with all of you for a long time. We are truly blessed to have such wonderful and supportive people in our life and can not wait to be parents!!!!!

I hope you have a Fab-U Friday!

Re-potting Our Love Fern

So after travelling to NJ for work this week, I am so happy to be back on the Island!
Jersey is only about 40 miles away but in rush hour it took a whopping 3 hours for me to get home! I'm starting to get used to my new job as an Aquatics Director. It's definately a transition period for this company and its staff so it will take some time for me to get my feet wet (no pun intended)!! I'm sure all will be worked out in time, just like any other new job. The people I get to work with are really great and have SO much energy! I love the vibe I get and am really happy to have such fun co-workers!

If you go back in time on this blog you'll catch a story I wrote about an aloe plant the hubs gave me many years ago which is fondly named our "love fern!!"
It's been very well taken care of and we've watched it grow, and grow, and GROW over the years....

Today it's time to take our giant bundle and re-plant it. It's really outgrown it's space so we're going to attempt the re-potting (my first time trying this) and give a small peice of our aloe to family/friends (really to anyone who will take it!!!)


 Besides re-potting this weekend, we have plans to travel to PA for a wedding tomorrow!! It's our cousin who is getting married and we're excited for our day trip! Next weekend I hope to take a trip to Bear Mountain NY to see the fall foliage at its peak and see some "upstate friends" who can come with us to the Oktoberfest they have at Bear Mountain every weekend in October:)

So pretty! I can't wait to go see this!!!!

I hope you have a Fab-U Weekend!!!!!

Fall happenings

The weather has turned fall on us here on LI quickly! Last weekend hubs and I went to a far
Out east for pick your own produce! So much fun- we have eggplant, corn, pumpkins, and plenty of peppers.... All freshly picked by us!
I'm also adjusting to the new job- very different from the old job!
Anytime I start a new job I just keep an open mind and take it one day at a time.
This time I am basically my own boss (or at least that's how it seems for now) which is a brand new concept for me. Next week I get to go to the armpit of America (j/k love all my Jersey friends and readers!) but yes- NJ for training and the Ramada Inn for a night. Bizarrely enough I'm not stressed at all about work.... Only about my fear of bedbugs at hotels near NYC! Praying that it's unjustified fear but bringing my own pillow and blanket for my own sanity!!!! Am I crazy or are there other people out there that think about these things too???
Another thing that's blowing my mind is Regis leaving Live! after all these years. I love Kelly Ripa (a Jersey girl herself) but I love her with Regis.
I've come up with my top replacement for Reg that I think would be a good fit for Kelly:
Bethany Frankel (from RHONY)
Who's your pick?
I hope you have a Fab-U Friday!

Freddy's Two Week Round-Up

These past two weeks have been filled with many adventures in my house (or should I say my teeny tiny little love cottage)! Last weekend the hubs and I made our way to Baltimore via the Amtrak from NYC. This was my first Amtrak experience and (eventhough it's a little pricey) it was so worth it! I looked for a car that wasn't too crowded and we ended up in the "Quiet Car." They have this sign that says "No cell phones and no loud conversations" which scares the normal American away from the quiet car. I found this sign to be a nice little invitation to 3 straight hours of relaxation. It was fun! The hubs and I whispered and giggled and then he napped. It was such a great way to travel- highly recommended!!! I wish Amtrak would endorse me for writing this so I could travel in that amazing quiet car more often without the heavy price tag!

Once in Baltimore we saw my in-laws and the whole family including my adorable nephew who is starting to speak and says Belbow instead of elbow and it just makes your heart MELT!!!! We also went to a wedding of some good friends who tied the knot! They had an Indian-American wedding to mesh their two cultures together and it was AWESOME!!! The ceremony was nice and everyone dressed in fancy Indian clothing and then they changed into their party clothes for the reception where the food, dancing, and good company was had by all until the wee hours of the morning (or 11pm which to me is very late now)!!!!

Also last week I got a new job offer on the table. Still mulling it over but it looks very enticing and it might just be the right thing for me.... I will follow you up with more info on this soon!

Can we also talk about Target mayhem this week with the opening of Missoni. I didn't get involved in the madness but heard it was like Black Friday in stores and obvi the website crashed. Target will get more shipments in as the days go by and I might just pop in to see whats on the racks.
Also, Kohls- I love this place!!!! I'm newly obsessed with Lauren Conrads collection and the new J.Lo collection. Must get coupons..... oh speaking of coupons, check out some deals to take advantage of this week:

Macy's $25 giveaway via Facebook
30% off American Eagle Clearance!!!
30% off entire purchase at Hollister
NY and Co. 30 % off entire purchase
Friends and Family weekend at Puma 40% off wooo hooo!
Massive Toys R Us coupons
25% off at Ruby Tuesday-very good possibility I could eat that salad bar tonight... !!!!

I hope you have a Fab-U Friday!!!

Freddy's Fab-U Labor Day Weekend

We are all safe and sound up here after Hurricane Irene flew through the Island and battered many trees and flooded many communities. We were some of the lucky ones who had power the whole time and only had to clean up some tree damage. I hope that's the first and the last hurricane we get this season.


On a lighter note, this weekend marks the end of summer.... and that's why it needs to be a great weekend filled with friends and fun times. We are hosting our first out of town visitors this weekend. Luckily it's the hubs best friend and girlfriend, who happen to be very easy going and tons of fun, so I can't wait for the company!

There's so much to do and we figure we'll start by going to the Quicksilver surf competition in Long Beach tomorrow. The prize for the winner of the competition is $1 million dollars!!! It's getting alot of hype and there's tons of people coming out to watch so we might as well drive the 5 minutes and check it out!

I would also love to take our friends to my hometown of Port Jefferson. Its such a cute little town with one-off shops, a nice marina, and restuarants. There's plenty of sight-seeing to do!!!

Then there's always the big city... I would be ok with going to see a matinee on Broadway if the weather doesn't hold out.

I hope we play the part of good host and hostess....

Some Labor Day Sales you might want to take advantage of are:

Chick Fil A Free Breakfast all week... see details
10% off entire purchase at LL BEAN
20% off at Babies R Us via facebook
Lots of Kellogs coupons when you sign up
My personal fav (again!!) 30% off at COACH OUTLET

I hope you have a Fab-U Friday!!!

Flea Markets Aren't Just For old Ladies

Guest post written by Kim Finn

I used to have this impression of flea markets that they were just filled full of old people. That may have been because I once went to one with my grandma, but I guess something like that will probably do it. Now though, I go a lot with my friends. I don't buy things every time I go, but it's fun just to see all of the things that you can find there.
Sometimes I'll use my wireless internet Maui to look up how much I can expect to pay for something elsewhere that I bought at a flea market, just as another way to enjoy the flea market. I've picked up a few vintage pieces that I found similar ones on ebay of for much more than I paid at the flea market.
But I also like to buy some homewares there too. I found a really interesting bench there once that I use as kind of a bookshelf and place to put a whole bunch of random things in my apartment. Stuff like that is so much better when you get it for dirt cheap.

Go Away Irene

Anyone on the east coast knows this week has been crazy.... an earthquake and now a hurricane!!!
The hubs and I live 5 miles north of the "barrier islands" that are being evacuated. We have friends coming up our way to wait for the storm to pass, so hopefully we will stay a little drier on higher ground. NYC plans to shut down all mass transit (like the trains that take hubs from LI to NYC) by noon tomorrow. I really can't ever remember storm preparation like this in NY.




Bracing for Irene!


So this morning I made my way to the grocery store to stock up on milk, water, gatorade, nonperishables, etc... so we have a 5 day supply. The store was basically stripped of all milk and water, but luckily I got some of the last containers. People really do go crazy stock piling, and that makes me crazy... so if everyone could just calm down please:)

One thing I do have to commend New Yorkers on is that everyone is on their best behavior. No one in the stores is being pushy or angry. Everyone is so polite- it really is like the calm before the storm!!!

I'm just really hoping we don't lose power. All of our power lines are above ground so slim chance of that happening. I've got cards and board games ready:) I hope everyone in Irene's path is prepared and stays safe this weekend.

Wherever you are, I hope you have a Fab-U Friday!!!!