Living in a Material World...

and I'm a Material Girl.

Even with the stock market taking a plunge and my 401(K) going bye-bye...I still want to shop. Is that wrong? I mean, I can't change my ways over night, right? I just need a little more time to accept that the fact that our country is in a financial crisis, and I alone can't keep all retail stores in business. Well, maybe just J. Crew and Nordstrom.

Maybe if I just blog about all of the clothing I would like to purchase for either myself or for Ava, I'll stop dreaming about these items...

If I still had to go into the office everyday (Gasp!), I would buy this dress from Talbots and pair it with some really high black stilettos.

Or I would buy this little outfit from Ann Taylor Loft:

But in reality, you're more likely to find me wearing this little hoodie (when it's actually cool outside), with these jeans:

Lucy "Felicity" Hoodie

David Kahn Jeans (at Nordstroms)

As for Ava, well, she prefers to wear nothing but dresses these days. So, here's what I have my eye on to buy for her in the next month or so. (Depending on whether or not the money in our checking and savings accounts are really FDIC insured). =)

Happy Shopping!

Follow The Leader

I'm still in Maryland...and it's not cold here. In fact, the trees are barely turning colors, so Fall is still eluding me. So, I'm escaping out of here early and catching a late flight home tomorrow night!

While I've been gone, Ava's best friend, Kennedy, returned to Tutor Time. Oh, thank goodness! Ava's teacher, Crystal, told Ian yesterday that Ava lined up her entire class in a line and made everyone sing the ABC's in unison and then handpicked kids out of the line. As the class sang the song Ava would dance with them individually and twirl them around and then put them back in line. Crystal said Ava organized this whole effort by herself without any help and the teachers were just dying laughing watching her operate and direct kids where and what to do. Ian's going to reward Ava for her efforts and leadership skills tonight, by treating her to an ice cream cone.

I would have given anything to have seen her orchestrate the song and dance. Why did the other kids listen to Ava and follow her lead? Who knows...Actually, I take that back. I know exactly why...it's because she's magical.

My obsessions...(not in any specific order)

I don't really care what her critics have to say about her...because I think she's awesome. And I'm even willing to overlook the fact that she's a hunter. She's smart, beautiful, articulate, and obviously a wonderful mother. I can't wait to watch her debate Biden.

Not the model--the jacket! Why, oh why, is it still over 100 degrees outside? I want to experience Fall, and I want to wear this jacket! And this one too (below):

I have to get on a plane tomorrow for a business trip to Maryland. Maybe I will see some golden leaves on the ground...and maybe I could find some time to go shopping while I'm there to buy some jackets? Surely the temperatures in Maryland are below 80 degrees?

If you're bored...check out this website/blog: http://goop.com/ by Gwyneth Paltrow and sign up for her newsletter. She'll make you feel totally inadequate as a human being, but she might also inspire you to enjoy life a little more (and maybe even cook some real [healthy] meals for your family). I know I'm working on becoming a better cook, especially now that I'm home all the time and have the ability to get dinner started before picking Ava up from Preschool. (Now Ian, if you're reading this, you can stop laughing now).

And lastly, I've started some home improvement projects. I ordered new french doors to replace our ugly sliding glass doors which lead to our backyard. I'm hoping Lowes will install them in the next few weeks. And when Ian and Ava take off to Memphis for a week in October, I'm staying behind and re-painting the inside of our house. I'm also going to completely de-clutter every closet, pantry, and cabinet. Goodwill is going to love me. And I might even like living in my house again.

Maybe if you're lucky, I'll post some before and after pics!

Take Care of Yourself

Why are people such whiners these days? ("Non-hackers" is what I like to call these people). I'm sure you know what I'm talking about...people expecting the government to bail them out, feed their 10 kids with food-stamps, rescue them from foreclosure, etc. What has happened to being held accountable for your own poor decisions, lack of motivation, and spending above your means? Why are people so eager for a hand-out? How can anyone feel good about themselves when they accomplish nothing of significance on their own two feet?

And now these same people believe Senator Obama is going to "save" them as the next President...unbelievable.

This country was built and sustained by great men (and women) who worked their butts off to achieve the American dream and defend our freedom in times of war. They didn't expect (or demand) anyone to do it for them. Somewhere along the way, people have gotten lazy...and stupid.

Nothing can be achieved without hard work and a little luck. And my belief is that it's much more fun to achieve something when it requires you to push yourself a little harder than you may want to or think that you have to. Something for nothing will always make me think twice.

Take Care of Yourself...and you won't need anyone else to give you hope for a better future--because the future can be anything you want it to be. But you can't be naive or greedy and you can't put your future in someone else's hands. Why? because they will always be looking out for themselves first as well. And let me be clear- I'm not suggesting steping on other people in life to benefit yourself. I'm talking about taking responsibility for your own life, your own decisions, your own family, and your own future. Be smart.
And when you screw up--be accountable, learn from it, and move on.
Just some things to think about...

Finding Inspiration in an Unlikely Place

I've shared with some of you my recent obsession with a couple of blog sites: http://nieniedialogues.blogspot.com/ and http://blog.cjanerun.com/ .
I discovered these blogs after reading about them on this blog: http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/JaimeeRose. You all know how much I love to read about fashion, etc...so naturally I'm drawn to Jamie Rose's blog everyday.

One morning, (while on a conference call for work), I started to read the NieNie Dialogues written by Stephanie Nielson, (who lives in Mesa), and I was hooked. Something about the way Stephanie looked at life and enjoyed life, was such an inspiration and it gave me such joy to read each day. Look at some of the past postings by Stephanie, and you'll understand why. But then one day--tragedy struck this beautiful family...Stephanie's sister posted news that Stephanie and her husband, Christian had been in a plane crash. I was devastated, and I didn't even know this family. Yet, I cried anyway because I felt as if I did know them and I was so sad for Stephanie's 4 little children. Now, I log-on to the blogs every morning (which now includes "cjanerun," written by Stephanie's sister in Provo, Utah), just to get an update on Stephanie and Christian. They're currently at the Maricopa Burn Unit trying to survive/heal.

Anyway, the story has obviously impacted more people than just me...The New York Times even featured a story on the Nielson family.

And this morning, Stephanie's family was interviewed by MattLauer on the Today Show.

It's just a reminder that life can be beautiful and happy, if we just choose to look at our experiences and challenges in a different light. However, it's also a reminder about how quickly it can all change, which is why we have to appreciate and cherish each moment that much more...

Love, Jordan

Raising Ava- The First Year

The first year...to be honest, I don't remember much of it. Maybe that's due to the fact that I rarely slept, Ava was sick all the time from germs at daycare, and I was juggling a full-time job, as a first-time mom. But when Ava turned one and we sang happy birthday to her, I cried like a baby. I couldn't believe Ava was already one years old, and that I had actually survived the first year. And most of all I think I cried because I was genuinely happy. I was so grateful to be Ava's mom and to have someone so amazing in my life. Ava was born July 12, 2005 @ 3:47 in the morning. Weighing in at 6 pounds 14 ounces. From the moment she was placed in my arms, I felt complete. She is everything I could have dreamed of and more.

I knew I was blessed.

For the first month or so of her life, the only way I could get her to fall asleep (and to remain so) at night was to sleep with her laying cradled in my arms, with her head against my chest. I guess the sound of my beating heart and the slow movement of my breathing calmed her. Unfortunately, I wasn't getting much sleep, for pure fear of rolling over on Ava during the night. So, eventually we had to part ways and sleep in our own designated spaces. But I'll never forget that time--it was so special to know I had the ability to make something so vunerable and little, feel safe and warm.

Ava was a happy baby (as you can see from above). Ava's first Halloween @ 3 months or so.

Every stage in Ava's development was amazing to me. Her first words were "Da-Da" and "Uh-Oh!" And soon after she said "Ma-Ma" and then "bubble". I especially loved when she learned to clap her hands and point at things. We had so much fun just sitting and watching her.

The first time I painted her toes! What's the fun of having a little girl if you don't paint her nails? She loved it!

And Ava's hair had FINALLY grown out enough that I could pull it out of her face! This is really getting fun!

Talk about growing up too quickly-- Ava thought she knew how to read already! She loves books!

Summer vacation to La Jolla, CA. July 2006. It looks like we both got a little too much sun!