more baby shower pics

i finally got to get the pics shane took today. so, here's some of my favorites.


i love that shane got a pic of me taking photos.

daddy and baby madox

derek, shawn, brenda, and i

me with the baby rattle necklace in my mouth attempting to be humorous

derek, shawn, and brenda

shawn and brenda

happy st patrick's day

happy st patrick's day to all. this is the green carnation my boss gave me for st patty's day.

my wish list

i love list making. i don't know if many other people do this, but right now, i have a wish list of clothes and accessories i am looking for right now.

• white sleeveless top-purchased at goodwill 3/14/09 for $2.25

• camel handbag and shoes
• denim pencil skirt
• checkbook style wallet-purchased at burlington coat factory 3/15/09 for $6.99




• black strappy high heeled sandals
• gladiator sandals(i know how did i not get a pair last year.)
• brown handbag
• straw handbag
• bubble gum style necklaces-yellow, navy, white (yellow purchased at plato's closet for $2.99)
• purple and orange shoes
• bright yellow ballet flats
• zippered shoes my faves right now are these from forever 21 which just went down in price to $5.99 but my size just sold out guess i need to search for them on ebay
• cardigans especially white and black
• yellow handbag
• snakeskin handbag
• leopard print shoes
• neon shoes and accessories
• stone necklaces
• fabric shoes
• gold handbag
• new statement ring
• spring scarves
• zebra/giraffe print heels
• dotted items-skirt, handbag, headband i'm not sure

hit me up if you find great deals on any of these. and, i am on the lookout for these.

surprising foods vegetarians don't eat

with meat out day coming this friday, i thought i might get a head start by listing some foods not thought of right off the bat as hands off for vegetarians such as myself. this is in no way meant to be a comprehensive list, more eye opening or a helpful guide:

• anything with gelatin in it. gelatin comes from boiled bones, tendons, and skin of animals usually hoofed animals such as cows, pigs, and horses . this list includes many commercially made yogurts, kellogg's frosted mini wheats, marshmallows but not fluff, jello, ice cream, and gummy candies. you really have to read packages on these items to see if gelatin is listed. agar-agar is made from seaweed and an alternative to gelatin.
• worcestershire sauce and food and beverages made with worcestershire sauce such as bloody marys. worcestershire sauce contains anchovies. vegetarian worcestershire sauce is available in stores. some commercial bloody mary mixes do not contain worcestershire sauce. i actually hand made an awesome bloody mary when i bartended without it.. you really have to ask the bartender or do what i did and asked to read the bottle.
• caesar dressing and hence caesar salads contain anchovies as well.
• red velvet cake, port wine cheese, maraschino cherries, the liquer campari, and many red foods especially meats, strawberry or raspberry flavored foods contain cochineal aka carminic acid or carmines natural red 4 which is made by grinding the scales of cochineal bugs.
• many frozen pie crusts contain lard
• utz's hand cooked potato chips which used to be faves of mine are cooked in lard.
• chewing gum often contains glycerine made from animals although wrigley's uses vegetable glycerine
• hostess snack cakes are made with beef suet

some links with lists of tricky foods and food additives

a list of tricky food additives

a list of tricky foods for vegetarians

a list of animal based ingredients

plato's closet

somehow i never managed to step into a plato's closet store until this past fall. when some friends decided to take me, i realized what i was missing out on. plato's closet is basically a brand name consignment store. due to the current economic malaise, i have limited myself to only 2 shopping trips since. but, each time i find some really cute items at great prices. since its a chain of consignment shops, their website does not
have any items for sale. but, i do recommend checking out www.platoscloset.com to find a location near you. you can also sell items to them. they also have a card you get stamped for every $10 you spend. after 10 stamps, you save 20% on your next purchase.

my first shopping trip, i picked up these metallic blue flats by fioni for $4.

as well as 2 handbags.

last week, i picked up this black fauz snake skin oversized clutch which still had the original plastic on it for $6

and this yellow bubble gum necklace and earring set for $2.99.

i saw a hot pink pair of chinese laundry heels for $8 which i decided against only because i was trying to keep my damage low.

what a score

yesterday, in my search for a white tank top, i decided to stop into goodwill. and, i hit a score. i did find a tank top, but that's not what this is about. i always check shoes any time i am in a store that sells shoes. what can i say its an addiction. look what i see. see the elastic still attached. they've obviously never been worn since they still have the elastic holding the shoes together from the store. they have an inch wedge. i had been looking at purchasing them from target, but couldn't find them even for 75% off this cheaply. they were only $4. so, what can i say, i got them.

pics from the baby shower

finally, here are the pics from the baby shower last weekend. we had tons of food the tub with the blue lid is my pasta salad, and the red tub is my peanut butter cookies. someone even made chocolate truffles and labeled them baby poo.

the cake with a jungle/safari theme was really a madagascar cake

brandy and her son shawn

lil baby madox

brenda with one of derek's oldest friends
brenda, casey, derek, and dawn

derek, shawn, and bren
shawnyboy and brenda

shane helping me out taking pics as well with brenda's camera. i will probably post more pics when i get her photos since i will be in some of those.

the presents

momma, baby, and daddy

derek holding his son

brenda holding her new grandson

dawn opening presents