Spring Clicking

On days when I'm not feeling so hot from the chemo, I like to click around on web and do a little virtual retail therapy. Fortunately, I generally utilize quite a bit of "virtual will power" by not purchasing anything, but for some reason just looking around at all the cool things out there makes me feel a little better. And I don't have to take off my PJs or put on my wig to go look at them. Here's a few things that I've been doing some spring clicking on lately:



1. This camera bag that doesn't look like a camera bag from epiphanie bags. It is big enough to hold my camera body, lenses, flash, and assorted gear, but it doesn't scream "I carrying all my expensive camera gear in here!". Plus, the aqua color goes perfectly with the branding colors for my photography business.

2. Um, these are CROCS. And they're cute, and probably very comfy, and probably wouldn't make my feet look like giant life rafts, like the traditional Crocs do.

3. Ah, Anthopologie, how you taunt me. Such cute things, such ridiculous prices. Actually, the price for this necklace is pretty reasonable, but the problem is I can't decide between the turquoise and coral versions, and buying two kinda' blows the whole "reasonable" angle.

4. Thank you for all the votes you have submitted for the Oaks Survivor's Parade. My numbers look really good and there's a pretty good chance I'll get to go! Of course, if you're going to the Oaks you have to have a fabulous hat. I love the ones made by Del Mar Hats, but the price tags have me thinking I'll just make the loaner from my mom work.

5. There is no shortage of Star Wars toys and collectables in our house, and yet I'm having trouble fighting the urge to add to the collection by making each of these little guys from the patterns sold by Lucy Ravenscar on etsy.

So there you have it, a glimpse into how I amuse myself while trying to not think about puking. And as long as I keep from clicking the "purchase" button, I figure there's no harm in a little continued spring clicking.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Here's hoping you all are feeling lucky on this beautiful St. Patrick's Day. Casey drew this picture, and my favorite part is how he added a jaunty little bowler hat to the C in his name. My first round of Taxol went as well as it could have yesterday, and although we wont be partaking in any green beers here I might just feel up to sipping a little Guinness later on.

Canvas the Area

Many of my photography clients ordered gallery wrapped canvases for Christmas this past year, and I was always so jealous when they arrived. They were so pretty, and I really wanted one for myself of our kids. But I didn't think I had a photo of them that was "worthy" of a canvas. I finally had a little session with them last month, and at first I didn't think I got anything good. Then, the more I looked at this photo, the more I realized that all the things about it that weren't perfect were what made me love it all the more. The kids' hair is messy and all over the place. Connor is in the middle of trying to tickle Casey. Riley is barely smiling, and her shirt is slightly pulled up and everyone's collars are askew. But it is so them. I decided that capturing who they really are right now was better than a "perfect" shot, so I bit the bullet and ordered a 16x20 canvas. It arrived this week, and when I opened it I got tears in my eyes. It makes me so happy every time I look at it, so I feel like I made the right choice. Now we just have to decide where to hang it!

A few random notes:
- Our little video of cutting my hair has received over 9,000 views on YouTube! It has been viewed in Japan and Europe, and I've had so many people around here tell me how much they enjoyed watching it. Thank you for all the support and encouragement - it makes me feel like we're doing something right!
- My girlfriends have nominated me to be in the survivors parade for the Kentucky Oaks. For those who don't know, the Oaks is the race run by fillies the day before the KY Derby. Last year the Oaks began an association with breast cancer charities, and the day is considered a "Pink Out", where they ask all race attendants to wear pink in support of raising funds and awareness about the cause of breast cancer. Online voting has begun to select 136 breast cancer survivors to attend the race and participate in a survivors parade around the track. It is a real honor, and one that I would feel very blessed to receive. Please consider casting a vote for me at http://www.kentuckyderby.com/oaks/nominees. You have to register on the website to cast a vote, and then scroll through the nominees to find me - the girls selected the photo of me with my "punk mommy" look to accompany the nomination.
- I start Taxol on tuesday, so I am inching closer and closer to being done with chemo. Yay!

Four on the Floor

Just popping in to gleefully announce that Tuesday marked my 4th and final round of A/C chemo! For the most part, the rounds were tolerable, thanks to some good drugs and lots of help from family and friends. For some reason though, this last round has been a little rougher - I felt sick before I even got out of the chair Tuesday. It's almost as if the chemo was saying, "Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out!" Anyway, I have a two week break and then I begin 12 weekly rounds of the next drug, Taxol. Even though that's 3 more months of chemo, I feel like I can see a light at the end of the tunnel. And I feel like Spring might be just around the corner, and there's always hope implied with the arrival of warmer weather and more sunshine.

I didn't really have a photo that went with this post, but I did a little session with the kids a few weeks ago and thought I'd share this one of the boys. Once again, Riley was less than enthusiastic about being photographed, but I loved this one of the brothers.