An Angel and a Unicorn...

So it has been a little over a week since I went in for a lift, a reduction and abdominoplasty and let me assure you (despite waking up with a twenty year olds boobs) it has not been all giggling on Percs and trying on tiny new brassieres. Nope. I have been knocked on my unaltered by a knife (and most likely gonna stay that way) ass. The lift alone would have been easy enough to recover from, but the stomach is going to take another week or so to do anything much but lay here watching Netflix and drinking tea. I am super impressed with what my doctor has done, everything is back up North and flatter than it was before I had kids. It may just take a few weeks for me to feel up to slapping on a crop top and doing high kicks in town square. Do not worry, that will happen. Eventually.

I had said I would keep you posted on what I have learned so far...

They sharpie marker a game plan right on you just before they put you under, which I guess makes more sense than freestyl'n it. They will offer you meds right off and throughout your stay in hospital. Don't be a hero, take two of the good stuff every four hours as needed. That being said I don't get what all the hillbillies and housewives are on about re. Oxy's. Maybe I was doing it wrong but it surely wasn't life altering. Be prepared for stitches and staples. A no brainier you would think, but if you are the squeamish type that first shower will be an eye opener. I have a brand new belly button. Yup, the doc fashioned a new one (as the old one would have ended up somewheres on my back with all the tugging and pulling). I am told it was made out of some leftover boobs (mine) he had laying around. Again, vaguely gross, but I once heard that very few good things in this world happen because an angel kisses a unicorn. Pretty much sums up this whole situation quite nicely.

So I am bed ridden for a bit longer. I have my mom here, which is the ideal situation cause only she could make me do things I have no intention on doing. My kids are keeping me entertained when they are not fist fighting on top of me. I am sore, but on the road to recovery. Life is good. 

Some shots from my recovery location...xo

Sunny side up please...

When I found out I was having twins my husband Paul was in South Africa. I waited two whole weeks for him to come home so I could hand him an ultra-sound shot of his first child, and then of his second. Once he recovered a bit I waited about ten mississippi's to yell the following words...
"AND IF YOU THINK FOR ONE SECOND THAT PLASTIC SURGERY IS NOT IN MY FUTURE YOU MY FRIEND ARE DRUNK".

My kids are now five and they are the absolute best thing I have ever done (or will do).  I have 0 regrets carrying them, or feeding them, I will however say this - the little boogers left a hot mess in their wake. A train wreck of a stomach and boobs that resemble two sacks of wet garbage.
I work with a personal trainer, which has been great for certain areas, but the bottom line is - unless gravity lets up a bit, or I figure out how to DIY a zipper into the fanny pack of skin I now get to carry around (therefore making it useful) I will be stuck with a body that makes me unhappy forever. 

So, tomorrow at 7:45am I will be getting a reduction, a lift and abdominoplasty. It has been a long time coming, and I am a little nervous (and certainly not looking forward to a few weeks of discomfort) but also super stoked that I actually just went ahead and booked it. 
I am telling everyone because A. that is just how I roll and B. who is going to believe that I bench pressed my way to size C perkies? Nobody is that dumb.
I will keep you posted on the details as I go along. If you have any questions about these surgeries or the recovery etc. please feel free to ask.

What I have learned so far...

Plastic surgeons are not big on the high five. When explaining to your children what you are about to do you probably shouldn't yell "BECAUSE YOU TOTALLY WRECKED MY BOOBS"! it might come up later in a therapists office. I have an awesome and helpful family. My husband is super happy with me the way I am, and is in mourning a little this week - which just proves that I did marry a really awesome dude.
And finally, in your initial consult if your surgeon suggests that "sometimes when you renovate your kitchen the living room ends up looking a bit shabby as a result" he is fishing for more surgeries. Yes, this is how I decided to go full meal deal - but be careful, from what I understand it is a slippery but short slope to Joan Rivers town.

Wish me luck, talk soon...xo

eggs by g4ll4is 

Love the Love...

I am currently at the tail end of a self imposed stint offline. I am poking my head out a few days ahead to give a high five to Valentines Day and the ones I love...

Happy Valentines Day!

 xo

Hello 2013...

...and welcome! We have decided to embrace this new year with some new and not so new sentiments. Buckle up. 

xo

And to all a Goodnight...

It has been a rather crazy month. The usual seasonal plagues descended upon us with gusto and I was blessed with a "random" (bah-loney) right before Christmas business audit.This craptastic combo has taken it's toll on my stamina and tried it's best to dampen my spirits. 
Despite these one two punches, or perhaps because of them, I have been filled with a steely determination to rise above and make a festive season for all - or at least go down swinging trying. Dramatic yes, (I may be on A LOT of flu medication and a bit of bubbly). It is my j.o.b as Mama to instil Holiday traditions and bring the magic for my kids...even when I just feel like adding a bit of eggnog to my rum and pulling the covers over my head till 2013. 

I hope each and every one of you are healthy and warm and surrounded by folks you love and that love you back. Happy Christmas!

XO!

Customize Me!

So as some of you know I earn my actual living by drawing pictures. I draw stuff for other people, companies, musicians, and sometimes for myself. When I had the kids and my free time turned into no time I took a break from advertising and started my own thing.  Thrasher&Wren began about 3 years ago with a few alphabet posters and I now have about 35 different prints available. 
I get asked a lot to do custom work, particularly involving kids names, and while I am always more than happy to oblige, custom work can take more time and money than some people have budgeted for. 

Well, there is now an online option available - Customizable Pirates - woohoo!

I am a bit pirate obsessed and routinely try to convince my daughter that yes, it's fine to pretend to be a princess, but WAY cooler to be a pirate princess (her jury is still out on that one).

I have a boy pirate hanging out with a giant octopus and a girl pirate setting sail with a boat load of cuddly ruffians. There are two colour way options for each, and the name of the ship can be changed to suit each order. 

They are now available in the online shop in time for the Holidays! Yarrrrrrrrrrrrr!

XO!

Not Divorced Yet...

I posted a photograph of an 8ft pink velvet couch a few weeks ago. A pink velvet couch that I bought on the sly. Not lying to anyone exactly, I just didn't call Paul and ask if he thought it was a good idea. I have been married long enough to know the answer to that would have been a loud "Hells-to-the-No"! 
Who needs that kind of dream crushing action? Not this girl.
So, I bought it and arranged to have it delivered mid-week (on a day I knew he would be home late). This gave me a small window of time in which to find a home for this beauty. A home that was not forced, it had to look like it had been here forever or I would not hear the end of it. 
After about an hour of deliberating I just bit the bullet, disassembled the Halloween side board I had decorated the day before, and set about moving three couches and the heaviest Moroccan daybed in existence. I am at my very strongest when I am determined to be right. 
I had posted a picture of the couch online (knowing full well that Paul would eventually see it) and waited. And waited...
He didn't call all day. Now I was fully aware that a divorce was most likely not going to happen. It did however occur to me that I may have set myself up for a lengthy discussion about my compulsive need to change things and my spur of the moment spending habits. Truth be told somedays I would almost take the divorce over that particular interaction. Happily none of that happened. He was just messing with me.
He loves the couch almost as much as I do. And now the kids and I have a place to snuggle and read, or lay down after a particularly large meal. Win!

The dining room before...

And now with reading / napping option...or perhaps one could eat laying down. The possibilities are really quite endless.

The view (which doesn't look like much) but is actually my favourite window in the house.

And introducing the new edition...8ft of awesome. 

Which happily works just as well as it's predecessor, but with much more panache.

xo!