Santa Fe, Part II! (And MORE maternity clothes!)

October 4, 2017 Mary Catherine Scott

And away

GO!

(Billy on the Street? Anyone? Anyone?)

Wednesday - Sommelier Throwdown and Geronimo

What a fun and, if I'm being honest, bougie day. I mean let's be real folks, Jordan and I are doing fine and all, but we're a quarter of a million dollars in debt and don't often get to do things where the word "sommelier" features prominently in the title.

This was actually a really cool setup - the week we were there was the Wine and Chile Festival, so all over Santa Fe were sommeliers and wine masters. If you haven't seen Somm on Netflix (which is a mistake you should remedy RIGHT NOW because it's so amazing and will suck you in even if you hate wine), which is where all my knowledge of sommeliers comes from, the highest title in the game is Master Sommelier. To earn this title, you basically have to be a Rainman-level genius who knows pretty much everything (not an exaggeration) that there is to know about wine. There are only 100 in the United States, so it was EXTREMELY cool that we got to meet four of them (!!) that week.

The structure of the event was: two wines are poured - one having been chosen by the Master Somms to go specifically with the dish; the other, a similar, decoy wine. Audience tastes wines. Audience is served a course of food to accompany said wines. Master Somms introduce both wines. Audience votes as to which is their favorite. And then the "game" is: did the audience favor the wine the Somm chose? Meaning, did we have good taste?

Most of the time, the answer was yes!

That was probs way more than you wanted to know, but it was so cool that I had to write it down (mostly so I'd remember it in a year).

Here are some photos of the gorgeous food!

Okay but the most exciting part was yet to come. Emily and Parker immediately figured out that Fred Dame, the biggest deal in the somm world in the US, was one of the Master Somms at the event. On the way out, we happened to run into him. Here's a transcript of the conversation:

Me: Thank you so much, Mr. Dame! This was really fun.
Frank: Did you drink??
Me: (pointing to my belly) I sipped!
Frank: Ahhh, I see. How did that happen?? (Also points to my belly.)
Me: Too much wine!
Frank! (laughs, we high five) I know all about that. That's why I have an 11-year-old and I'm 64.

Aaaaaand scene, kill me, it made me so freakin' happy.

Then it was time to walk around!

Sweater is from ASOS, runs a bit small and is available here. Maternity jeans from Target and are so comfortable! And the booties are Old Navy and are ALSO super comfortable.

Dinner that night was at a famous SF restaurant and was probably my favorite meal of the trip. Geronimo is so beautiful, so elegant, and so CRAZY FREAKING DELICIOUS. There were 4 desserts split among 6 of us at the end of the night. I say "split" as though it was even.

...it was not.

Then we all died of joy and fell asleep with our mouths open.

Thursday - Cafe Pasqual's and Meow Wolf

Okay, simple part first: we had breakfast, it was fantastic, Emily and I match.

Red stripe-y maternity shirt is from ASOS, available here!

NOW for Meow Wolf.

What the hell is Meow Wolf, you might be wondering?

I can't even explain it to you. I don't even know, still, and I was there for almost five hours.

Mom and Dad would only tell us that Thursday afternoon was a surprise. We knew absolutely nothing. I've never pulled into a parking lot, looked at a building, and STILL not been sure what it is.

This is us being unsure. Even after we were inside.

All I can do is upload my Snapchat story to you and let you see what this was. You're going to ask me questions like, "WHAT?!" And I have no answer. The best thing I can say is that it's an experiential, experimental art exhibit that spans an entire house and is basically like being inside someone's acid trip. Beyond that...well, just see for yourself.

Enter through the refrigerator:

I know.

I don't know.

I'm not kidding when I say we were there for almost five hours. I didn't even feel it go by. Could've stayed for another five. If you're in Santa Fe, Meow Wolf is a must. MUST.

Friday - Riesling Seminar and Lunch with Rick Bayless

And by "with," I of course mean that he cooked it. He didn't like, hang out. Which would've been the best ever.

So in continuation with the wine and chile festivities, we got to sit in on a REALLY cool riesling seminar in which some somms gave us three flights of three wines each, described them, and then let us taste them in a particular order. It's the coolest to get to taste different wines, all under the same umbrella of general name, and see how wildly they can vary. I sipped and spit (mostly, but I mean a couple were really good so I just sipped) because there were fancy spit buckets. BECAUSE I'M A PROFESSIONAL WINE TASTER NOW, Y'ALL.

After we (they) got good and sauced up, we ran off to our lunch plans with our old buddy Rick! Rick Bayless' restaurant Topolobampo in Chicago just won the James Beard award for Outstanding Restaurant, so we were in for a HUGE treat to have tickets to a special meal (paired with wines, naturally!) cooked by the man himself.

We also had some seriously charming company - Glenn and his wife Allison, the couple at the end of the table! Glenn, fun fact, was a writer for a bunch of awesome cartoons like Doug, Scooby Doo, Adventure Time, The Smurfs, and a couple others. Cool, right? He actually was nominated for an Emmy for Doug! Obvi I loved talking to my boyf Glenn.

The blue and white striped top is an Old Navy tunic button up in a large. Black maternity jeans are from GAP with stretch paneling in the sides so they fit any belly! Shoes are those Vince Camuto loafer mules that I'm now realizing are sold out, but you get the picture. Slides = the best.

That last photo is Mom and Rick! How awesome is that?!

After lunch, we drove around a bit per some recommendations and stopped by Tesuque Village Market for some pastry and to tour the sculpture gardens. Here's Parker making himself into an "F" so that he could spell the word 'fart!' Because we're CLASSY!

(It was my idea.)

And just like that, the week had flown by. We capped off the night by celebrating my dad's birthday a day early with the tres leches cake from our first day, hot tubbed, got takeout pizza, and soaked up the last rooftop experience by lighting a fire and enjoying each other's company.

Thanks, SF!! We love you so!

Free Fallin'

October 3, 2017 Mary Catherine Scott

In light of a LOT of events that made my heart ache yesterday, I wanted to share this. In the midst of cleaning our basement, I found an old iPod of mine that, when I hooked up to power for the first time in years, played this cover that I'd done in 2011 as the first song on shuffle.

My dear friend Andrew and I are a couple of amateurs, but I remember this being such a wonderful show and a simpler time in my life, as a 22-year-old college grad with a certainty that the other 22-year-olds and I could bring about change in the world. Life's a bit more complicated now, as an adult. Things like the Las Vegas shooting give us grown-ups lots of moral issues with which to wrestle; lots of realizations that people aren't always good.

I guess that makes it all the more important to try as hard as we can all the time.

Sitting in the melancholy of these gorgeous chords today and thinking thoughts of hope. Click the link below to listen. Thanks, Tom Petty.

Screen Shot 2017-10-03 at 8.04.30 AM.png

Santa Fe, Part I! (Also, maternity clothes that aren't awful!)

October 2, 2017 Mary Catherine Scott

WOW. So it turns out Santa Fe is freaking incredible.

Each year, my family takes a "big trip." We kicked off this tradition last year with Charleston and Kiawah Island (which you can read about by clicking those respective links) and had an incredible time.

We are a group that enjoys each other's company for long stretches, so the opportunity to all be under one roof for a week is heavenly - especially since my brother and his girlfriend, Emily, are in Nashville, we're in Asheville, and my parents are in Tulsa. This is pretty much the only time all year that we have a guaranteed chunk of time together, and we really live it up!

This year, we all headed out west for an adventure like none other. Jordan, Parker, Emily and I were all newcomers to this part of the country and were gobsmacked immediately with the beauty of the landscape. I'm gonna run it down day by day, since we packed so much in that glossing over feels like cheating.

I also wanted to highlight some maternity clothes that I've found! If you've ever been pregnant, you know that shopping for maternity clothes is often a huge drag because you end up looking like a blimp or some kind of sugary cake topper. ASOS, GAP, Old Navy, Target and (believe it or not) Forever 21 have really helped me out in this department, so I wanted to pass along my finds in case they were helpful to any other mamas-to-be! I'm not making money off of this, PS. Just thought I'd share the wealth 'cause the best things in life are plagiarized. That rule accounts for half my Amiright, girls?

Saturday: Baby Shower in Tulsa

Before we went to Santa Fe, Jordan and I flew out to Tulsa for a precious baby shower hosted by parents' wonderful friends, Frank and Mary Quinn Cooper. The love and friendship these folks have shown mine is beyond compare, so I wanted to include a few photos from that incredible night!

I also have to tell you about the most precious thing Mary Quinn did for us. You'll see a photo below of a binder labeled "Raising Baby Scott." Weeks before the shower, Mary sent sheets out to all our dearest friends and family members asking them to write back with advice for Jordan and me as parents. We thought the contributions in the binder were from the guests who were physically at the party, so you can imagine the tears that started flowing from both our eyes (sorry, Jord, but it's just true!) when we recognized the handwriting of our grandparents, parents, and best friends. It was one of the most touching gifts I've ever received and is, of course, chock full of incredible advice from those whose opinions we love and respect the most. Cue the tears!

Outfit details: The blue dress is the most comfortable thing I've ever put on. Available here. I'm wearing a 4 - runs true to size. The shoes are old J Crew Factory Vans that I'd also recommend if you're pregnant - slides are way easier than laces and buckles!

Monday: Travel to Santa Fe!

My brilliant mother orchestrated the trip so that Jordan, my parents and I (who were all already together from our weekend in Tulsa) would meet up with Parker and Emily at the airport in Dallas, then we'd all travel together to SF. It was the greatest feeling to get off a place, walk a few gates down, and see their smiling faces! YEAH!

After a few hours of flying, renting a car, and driving from Albuquerque (haaaaay, Breaking Bad!), we stopped for lunch at Tune Up Cafe, where I had the MOST INCREDIBLE tres leches cake of my life. Stupid good. Two forks good.

This pair of overalls, which you can't see very well in these photos, is so comfortable it'll make your eyes bleed. Basically an adult onesie. Buy it here.

We then arrived at what would be our new digs for the week.

Y'all. Welcome to Casa de Musica (no, but really, that's what it's called).

Since we'd had a big day of travel, we decided to stay in for dinner, which turned out to be a great choice as the weather was a little dicey the rest of the week. Tequila shots (except me, obviously) on the roof and watched the sun turn into millions of stars. It was pretty magical.

Tuesday - Hike and Wilco

After a night in the world's most comfortable bed (you know the kind where you lay down and it just kind of of pillows up all around your body? Mmmhmm.), we had breakfast at the house, then ventured out to hike at one of our host's recommended spots: Bandelier National Monument. The drive there was almost worth the experience by itself just to get more of a taste of the landscape, which is SO wildly different from what we're used to in the Southeast. It blows my mind that all of this exists within the same country.

The hike was along mountain paths that wound through the homes of ancient Pueblo People, so if you wandered off-trail, chances of finding pottery shards were good. There were a few elevation changes that took place by ladder (which made me feel like Indiana Jones), and around every corner was a new, breathtaking view.

After the hike, we were drained and also starving, so we may or may not have stopped at McDonald's. Don't judge it. We had our orders taken by a touch screen robot, so apparently that's a thing that's happening. Strap in, children - it's the end of register service as we know it.

Back to the house for a quick change, then to downtown SF for dinner at Sazon, where we enjoyed a mole tasting and the literal best soup I've ever had in my life. (PS - Mine is a mocktail, nobody panic.)

The top I'm wearing is another magical piece that actually doubles as a nursing top. It runs a tiny bit small, so I'd recommend sizing up. You can look at that here. I've also got some maternity jeans on from Target, which I highly recommend, and easy black mules from Vince Camuto that are a pregnant girl's dream. I walked around in them all day Friday without the slightest bit of discomfort.

To our total delight, a family-favorite happened to be touring in SF that night: Wilco! We've been listening to them at Chez McAnnally since Parker and I were in middle and high school, respectively, so it was an insane treat not only to get to see them together, but to get to see them at The Opera, which is a gorgeous indoor/outdoor venue. It was kind of a dream. Jordan, Emily, and I had never seen them live!

A next-level show and two encores later, we piled back in the car with all our blankets (it gets super cold at night!) and skittled on back to the house to rest up for Wednesday.

Check back in tomorrow for Part II!

Ch-ch-changes!

September 22, 2017 Mary Catherine Scott

Well, if we're changing one thing (bringing a new life into the house), we might as well change something else major at the same time, right? Seems like a good idea. We'll let you know if we've totally lost our minds in a few months.

Today marks Jordan's last day with the practice we moved to Asheville and started with. That plural pronoun is on purpose - we were both adopted into the Carolina Smiles family.

Lots of people ask us, "Why Asheville?" The truth is, after Jordan finished residency in Birmingham, we decided we'd have us a little adventure. We didn't have children and didn't own our home, so it seemed natural that if we wanted to strike out on our own for a little while, that was the time to do so. We chose two final options: Denver and Asheville. Jordan flew to Denver, interviewed with a practice there, then we both road tripped to Asheville for his interview with (what was then) Carolina Smiles (and is now Hendersonville Family Dental).

It was a no-brainer. The fit in Asheville was like a hand in a glove - I'll always remember that first dinner out with the staff from Carolina Smiles: how warm they were, and how they made us want to move right then!

While it will be so wonderful to have him closer to home, as his current practice is 45 minutes away and his new practice only 10, we will TERRIBLY miss the incredible people at Hendersonville Family Dental. One of the things being married to a dentist has taught me is that a lot of people are really, really scared of the dentist. I don't think I understood fully how much of a phobia it is for folks - fear alone keeps them out of the chair for decades sometimes. HFD takes extra care in making sure their patients are comfortable, not only in the dentist's chair, but before and after. The team is like no other and I know I speak for Jordan when I say that we are both so deeply grateful to have lucked into such an incredible group of folks. It doesn't happen that way for everyone right out of dental school, and we never took that for granted. This practice and the people who staff it have been etched into our hearts.

On an even more personal (and potentially embarrassing to him) note, I have been so touched (and may be teary-eyed typing this) at how deeply Jordan has bonded with the women with whom he works. It is such a precious relationship, and I know those friendships will last beyond their tenure in an office together. It has made me a proud wife, as I always am, to hear how many patients are disappointed he's leaving, and to have so many staff members pull me aside to tell me the same thing. UGH, SO MANY FEELINGS -- damn you pregnancy, it's too early in the morning to be weepy!!

Yesterday, the office threw Jordan a surprise goodbye potluck and invited me along. True to form, they also threw us an impromptu baby shower (how wonderful are they!?)! By the time the hour was over, we were all crying from laughter together, had stuffed bellies and Jordan and I had a stuffed car full of incredibly generous gifts.

Liking who you work with is such a luxury, and these last two-and-some-change years have been life-changingly special to us both. Thank you for the amazing memories, Hendersonville Family Dental. We love you so much!!

It's A....???

September 20, 2017 Mary Catherine Scott

Jordan and I decided at the beginning of this ride not to find out the sex of the baby ahead of time. We thought, "There are so few true surprises in life, and we can always find out early with our future children...why not wait?"

Little did we know it would start to drive us crazy around week 27. We are DYING to know!

We've had several friends recently who were absolutely certain they were having one thing, only to discover their baby was the other.

This question is looming so large in both our hearts right now - picking out names for a boy and a girl, wondering what special little touches to add to the nursery - that I thought I'd share a post about the old wives tales that "predict" the baby's sex.

'Cause if it's all I can think about, by God, I'm gonna make you guys think about it with me.

(Also I'm using pink and blue for this post because it's a fun visual and not because I think boy = blue and girl = pink and gender roles and sexism and blah blah blah so cut me a break.)

1. Where are you carrying?

Low = boy; high = girl.

This test predicts that if your baby bump sits up in your ribs, you're having a girl. If you're swingin' low, it's a boy. Mine has been l-o-w this entire pregnancy, so signs would point to boy.

2. What are your cravings like?

Salty = boy; sweet = girl.

Really, I've had both. But first trimester and third trimester, they've been tending back toward the sweet - I've been able to put away sweets (even incredibly rich sweets) like nobody's business. I've also been reaching for fruit or fruit juice a lot, which is definitely in the "sweet" category!

3. Fetal heart rate?

> 140 = boy; < 140 = girl.

I (eek!) can't even remember what the fetal heart rate was the first time we got to hear it, but I do remember thinking, "That's a boy!" So...boy, I suppose. Also this is not scientific so it doesn't matter.

4. What's going on with your skin?

Clear skin = boy; breakouts = girl.

They say that girls are supposed to "steal your beauty," which supposedly means you break out more, your hair thins out, you have terrible morning sickness, etc. Apart from the occasional few breakouts here and there, my skin has been normal!

5. Morning sickness?

No = boy; yes = girl.

As I was saying. The girl babies evidently want to make you miserable, according to these old pieces of nonsense. I was certainly nauseated and had some food aversions, but never actually got sick during my first (or any other) trimester.

6. Ring on a string!

Circles = boy; back and forth = girl.

This test is very witch-y and fun. You pluck a strand of hair from your head, loop it through your wedding band, and have a friend dangle the band over your belly. If the ring swings in a circle, it's a boy. If it swings back and forth, it's a girl. We repeated this test several times at one of my best friend's bachelorette parties, and it was always the same result for me: circles! Interestingly, we did the test on other people and it swung back and forth. So it felt accurate - even though, you know, it's a piece of hair around a ring. SCIENCE!

There aren't two options to choose between on this one - you have to chart the date your baby was conceived against your own birthday. For whatever it's worth, that math = a boy for us.

8. Which side are you sleeping on?

Left = boy; right = girl.

I have definitely been favoring my right side in these later months. That's the side I fall asleep on in bed and the side I end up lying on on the couch while binging episodes of VEEP with Jordan every night.

9. Dad's weight gain?

None = boy; a little extra around the middle = girl.

As much as it would thrill me to watch my very trim husband pack on the pounds with me, alas, Jordan's still very trim (dammit).

I have to say, from Day 1, I've been feeling like this was a little boy. Early on in pregnancy - like, maybe week 8? - I went to a meditation session in Asheville (I know, SO very "Asheville" of me!). The intention I set for the meditation was to "get to know the baby." About halfway through the meditation, I started seeing a deep blue pulsing in front of me - sort of in that way that immediately after you close your eyes when you look at something bright, you can still see the shapes and colors of what you were looking at.

Weird, right??

Anyway, ALL of these (even my meditations "blues!") are just silly and fun, but they're something for us to focus on while we very impatiently wait to see exactly who it is we'll be spending the rest of our lives with. Most signs point to boy! But who. even. knows.

HURRY UP, DECEMBER 15th!!

Fetch or Wretch? Emmy's 2017!

September 18, 2017 Mary Catherine Scott

WOW.

As a TV nerd and a diversity nerd, I am pretty blown away by last night. When Best Male Actor in a Comedy is a category that includes, among six nominees, two African American actors, one Indian American actor, and a guy playing a post-transition transgender woman, it makes me proud of where we've come in the entertainment industry. Not to mention the two big winners of the night, The Handmaid's Tale (Hulu) and Big Little Lies (HBO) are stories that focus on the lives of women.

YES, AMERICA. YES!

Also, if you haven't watched those two series, you need to GET ON IT. Those are two of the best things I've seen on television in a long time, and well worth the time you'll sink into them.

But kids, we're not here to discuss how far we've come in creating diverse television. We're here to rip some fashion.

LINE 'EM UP!

FETCH.

Can someone be deemed "fetch" just because of their bone structure? Because DAMN. Also, I really like this dress (even if the neckline is just a teeny tiny bit too wide for me).

michelle pfieffer.jpg — Michelle Pfeiffer

I am so over the "sheer overlay/nude shell" look, but Michelle Pfeiffer is serving some chic pre-Halloween witchiness and I'm here for it. It just works.

kids from stranger things.jpg — Kids of *Stranger Things*

millie bobby brown.jpg — + Millie Bobby Brown

The children are slaying. I think that dress is perfection on her and the boys are GIVING ME LIFE. Look at those jackets, people!!

I don't watch Blackish, so I wasn't sure what show this chick was on, but OMG. I think she might actually win the night for me. This is so ethereal and gorgeous.

Now listen. I'm not saying this is my favorite dress of all time, because it's certainly not (slits up to here, sheer/non-sheer, sparkles...there's a LOT going on). But when a woman who is an "untraditional size," whatever that means, looks and feels this good on the red carpet? Fetch. All day. Christian Siriano, you have found your calling. She is absolutely glowing.

julia louis-dreyfuss.jpg — Julia Louis-Dreyfuss

...will always be on the Fetch list. The End.

I'm not even gonna pretend like the lower half of this dress isn't problematic, ill-fitting, and unflattering. 'Cause it is. But Kate McKinnon traditionally doesn't have the greatest track record on the red carpet, and she won some Emmys for being a badass, and from the waist up we're calling this a win. Go, Kate!! Take it and run! (BTW - my husband has an absolutely enormous crush on Kate McKinnon. He saw her in this dress and said she looked, and I quote, "So great." Kate, you're wrecking my marriage.)

The boobs are a lot. Let's just get that out of the way. But like, the hair. The lines on the dress. The fit of the bodice. I may be in the minority with this pick, but I think she looks fantastic.

I feel like my theme of the day is "Okay but hear me out...". This is another one that I think could have probably been a bit better from a structure standpoint (her boobs kind of look like they're being held for ransom), but this color on her/those earrings/that head styling = a win.

Blah blah blah they all looked great let's get to the real reason we're all here today.

Congregants? Please rise for the

WRETCH.

Yeeeeeeeaaaaaaahhhhhh I know. I went back and forth on this a LOT. Here's what I ultimately decided: Jessica Biel is such a striking siren of a human being with an abnormally beautiful face and body that she's tricking us into liking a garment that is...just pretty tacky, if we're all being honest with ourselves. That train is picking up all kinds of lint and cat hair. I don't even know if she has a cat, but you know there's cat hair in there. I don't mind the top half, but the bottom half is bad. I did have to cover up her head to reach that conclusion, though, because Jessica Biel's face is impossible to resist.

It is actually impressive that a dress in which the lines on the bodice are designed to make the wearer appear shapely could end up looking like a big, blocky-ass Gumby. That is not a slam about Samantha's bod, that is a slam to whoever designed this thing. It is unflattering in the worst way, and the center split only makes it worse. I wanted to like it, Samantha Bee. I did. But I do not.

What I am about to say is blasphemous because Jane Fonda is a QUEEN AMONG QUEENS and I will do penance for it later, but....JaneyouaretoooldforthatdressandthathairstyleI'msosorryI'llseemyselfout.

Another one that I really debated on. I mean, first we just need to acknowledge that homegirl looks like she hasn't aged a day since Elle Woods. Those legs? That skin? Gimme a break, she looks incredible. I just don't care for the oversized-men's-blazer-as-a-dress look. I even have to give props where they're due, because it's perfectly fitted to her, it's just not my favorite.

Ballerina gone wrong. I get the irony of wearing a very twee color/style to an awards show at which you're being honored for playing a feminist resistance leader, but this is just too damn close to her skin tone. It looks like she made a dress out of twin. Also, it doesn't really fit. But congrats on the Emmy! (Also you are a Scientologist and it makes me so sad.)

EXPLOSION AT THE TEXTILE MILL! Brave Ellie Kemper ran back into the mess on a rescue mission, but didn't make it out unscathed. Kemper suffered an electric shock while trying to dismantle the Old Lady Lingerie Machine, resulting in permanent Miss Frizzle Head and scores of cheap blue fabric welding to her own skin. Kemper was forced to wear this look to the 2017 Emmy's and her handlers ask that no one say anything about it. She is a hero.

WE'VE SEEN IT. WE'RE BORED.

Not the night for ladies in emerald green. Great color on her, absolutely terrible everything else. It looks like the dress Cinderella is wearing after the stepsisters come and tear it to pieces on their way to the ball. And girl? Ya got bugs.

It's not fair, but I just HATE IT.

A couple more categories...

Bitch Stole My Look!

And finally,

SLAY. ALL. DAY.