In 3 days I go to Las Vegas for what may be the most highly anticipated (and needed) girls weekend of my life. Anticipated because this has been in the planning now for 7 months and needed because, well as you know, I have a 4 year old and an 8 month old and I work from home. Mama needs to recharge her batteries.

Also because 5 years ago this month, I joined an online community of women all expecting babies in March 2004, and 60 months later, 20 out of 80 of us are converging on Sin City to drink, lay by the pool, shop and hang out IN REAL LIFE. I'm actually one of the lucky few has met a dozen or so of the women on previous occasions, but this is the first time many of us are meeting face-to-face. I mean, I can tell you the names of all these women's husbands, kids, animals, their political views, if they work and what they do and the brand of last pair of jeans they bought. And most of them I've never given a physical hug to.

It's crazy to think about the relationships that we develop online in our communities and how they can touch you in real life. I consider my mommy group, as a whole, my best friends. When I get new make-up or Zoe wont stop crying - these are the people I tell first. I'm thrilled to be meeting some of them this weekend.

Almost as excited as I am for 3 days of not having to give anyone else a snack or a juice box.

Not to turn an anxious note on this heartwarming post, but I'm also leaving Zoe for the (kinda) first time. We did a practice run a few weeks ago when I spent the night at Carin and Hillary's after their bachelorette party, both of us survived. But that was 12 hours, and I was only 30 minutes away. I'm trying not to concentrate on that right now though. She will be in GREAT hands with her Dad for the weekend.. but it's still leaving me a little on the verge of freak out side of the things.

Alas, I'm sure its nothing that a Mandarin Absolute and Red Bull wont help me to forget, right?

Lucky has a new style of jeans available: The Zoe Jean.

Of course we had to take a picture.

And just because she is TOO CUTE FOR WORDS and I want to just eat up her somewhat chubbyish little hands and legs:

July 14th - The Mall report.

I've been a shopping MAD WOMAN recently. Maybe its the weight loss, maybe its having a little financial breathing room, but I'm a-lovin' the shops. I mentioned to a friend that I need to stop taking hand-me-downs for Zoe because I don't have room for all her clothes. She said "Just stop shopping.." I audibly gasped. Go ahead, take all my pleasure out of life.

A few notes to share of my recent adventures..

1) I heart Forever 21. Really. I know you all jest "Beth, you are FAR from 21.." but the name is FOREVER 21 - as in, it's okay to shop there when you are in your 30's. It's great for trendy, cheap pieces. Great accessories and great bright colors. Got a couple of cute cotton dresses and even a little beachy, cowboy straw hat.  They even have the coveted long dresses of the moment, for $30, if you can't afford to shell out $300 but still want to look like Gwen Steffani.

Baby Gap / Gap - everything is an additional 25% off the sales price. Go NOW. Zoe now has almost every item from their summer collection b/c really, when a bathing suit is $4.97 and 25% off YOU HAVE TO BUY IT, its pretty much FREE. They are almost giving it to you. They are saying "please take this and dress your baby in adorable bright colored dresses and matching hats."

Nordies: Anniversary Sale starts Friday. Hurry, run, don't walk to buy coats and sweaters even though its 100 degrees out. Stop by the MAC counter (no, not the Mac store - they STILL have a line 45 people deep for the iPhone) but the counter for their annual sale palates. Also, for you Bare Essential fans, they have a special kit with sparkly summer colors and a trendy make-up bag especially for the sale. Also remember to hit Brass Plum up for some cute shorts and tanks that look a lot like the ones in Savvy, but are about $100 less.

Macy's: Competition! Big sale starting WEDNESDAY. If you like INC., apparently it's almost all going to be 15% off.

If your son is like mine and obsesses over super heroes and wants to wear them on his clothes, but you are a mom like me that refuses to purchase licensed clothing items other than PJs, the brand "Marvel" and "JunkFood" is the answer to all our issues with their very cute vintage looking super hero/star wars/ indiana jones t-shirts. Right now at Bloomies, some of them are an additional 50% off the sales price. Just remember to put your bag IN the stroller or hold on to it and not lose it before you get to your car. No, I don't know what you are talking about, I didn't do that today. (sigh).

Now go! Get to the mall! Save the economy from a massive recession! If you don't shop, we will all die. At least, thats what I like to tell myself.

I can justify shopping any day of the week.

So very LAME these days.

People used to ask me when I found time to blog, they couldn't understand how I managed to get it into my day. I just did.. and couldn't understand how other people did things like run, or go to the gym. Alas, my day has come where I no longer seem to have time to blog. Maybe its the 2 kids, work from home, 2 clients, husband, dog, house, insanity thing? Not sure. All I know is that for the first time in my life - I've been routinely forgetting to eat.

We've had a busy few weeks, and they will continue through August.. small re-cap, I helped plan and coordinate a bachelorette party and  good friends' gay wedding (I'll let Jason tell you a little more about that one), 4th of July, and now house guests.. then a big girls weekend in Vegas.. Oh and not to mention WORK, which is kicking my ass at the moment. So there you have it. No time to be creative and tell you cool and interesting things. So I will just leave you with picture from 4th of July..

It's official. Since starting my WW journey 3 months ago, I have now shed 10% of my body weight. I even got a stylish key chain for all my efforts..