Nursing Bathing Suit

The pool opened this weekend and when I went to try on my bathing suit, it was seriously lacking in coverage and support. There will be no bikinis this summer, either. I went online to look for a nursing swimsuit. Horrors! The choices are very limited.

There are the super matronly floral mom-suits:





Then the mostly black, shapeless, sporty mom suits:




This one manages to be both girlie and matronly at the same time:


They had some that were too maternity looking. I can't get the image to copy, but trust me.

This one, was o.k., but a little too sporty for my taste and not very forgiving on the tummy:


Finally, I found this one and this is what I ordered:


This suit has a little style/shape and looks like some coverage and hopefully some support and is the right price. But, can this really be the best there is?

There is definitely an empty niche in the market. The other thing is that it is often hard to find a size small. I ordered a suit from Motherwear in medium (the smallest size) and it was more flattering than it looks, but the colors were a bit too bright and it was too big so I passed it onto a slightly bustier friend who could fill it out better. At least I got it on summer clearance so I didn't pay that much for it. But, I am trying to make better purchases now.

I supposed I don't really need a dedicated nursing suit, but most bathing suits either don't have enough support or have underwire. They seem to either have zero butt coverage or too much so that it is saggy or matronly.
Just have to hope my swimsuit gets here soon. My drugstore.com order was placed almost 6 weeks ago. Very annoying. I need that California Baby Sunscreen!

Equal Exchange Fundraiser

I hate fundraising. I would much rather write a check than ask friends, family, acquaintances and strangers to buy crap they don't need. However, my mom just sent me my order for Ian's last Montessori fundraiser and the chocolate is truly delicious. Not only delicious, but fair-trade and organic through Equal Exchange. They also sell coffee, tea and more. The coffee was good, but the chocolate was stellar!

Capturing the Elusive Smile

Eva smiles, but when I get out the camera, I get looks like this:


Or this:


Or this:


And then when I get close, the camera slips like this:


And finally, I catch it:

Time for a Serious Purge

Moving is always a good time to purge, no sense in moving stuff you don't need. I went to look for a bathing suit in my things and found a whole lot of clothes that I had forgotten about. Most don't fit now and most of those I haven't worn in years anyway. Time to admit a few things:

1. The nursing clothing I got on clearance for "great deals" does not fit. Time to pass it on. It is never going to fit, but could be very useful to someone else.

2. I cannot wear underwire bras while I am nursing. In September, I will have been nursing for three years and I anticipate nursing until at least March of 2011. I hope to be pregnant with baby number three by then which would mean another two years of nursing. Who knows what size I will be at the end of all that? Many of the bras are from college when I was a bigger size than my current pre-pregnancy size.

3. Some of the clothing items are either dated or just never fit right. It is not going to change.

4. Other things are costume-type or special occasion things that I may keep, but need to keep separately so I can find my useful everyday items easier and find the specialty items on the rare occasion that I need them.

5. Some of the clothing is not wearable during nursing. I did just order a strapless nursing bra which could expand possibilities, but somethings just need to be relegated to my youth. Time to move on.

6. I have some business suits that were purchased when I thought I was going to law school 4 years ago. I thought I might have occasion to wear them, but I never did. Not once. I think I will let my sister (in med school) try them when she comes to visit and she can them if she wants. Otherwise: donation pile. If I ever go to law school or return to a business/school environment where suits are needed, I will need new suits since those will be too far out of date. Playgroups and yoga school, do not require business suits.

7. Sock and underwear: out with the old and in with the new! I will probably not report how many pairs I pitch (too embarrassing), but at least they are old and have been acquired over time.

Since I am going to try to start sewing Eva's clothes, I may keep some things to use for fabric, but if I don't use them within a year, I will pitch* those, too.


*Except for socks and underwear, I will donate or pass the rest of the clothing.

For my own knowledge, I will sort everything and count the number of pieces I have to get rid of. I may not be brave enough to share, but I think that will help me from making purchasing mistakes in the first place like:

1. Buying things that aren't quite right but are a really "great deal".

2. Failure to return: I hate dealing with returns so in the past I would convince myself that it would be alright and then never wear the item or be unhappy when I wore the item.

3. Waiting until the last minute to buy what I need and then having to get whatever was available even if it wasn't quite right.

Luckily, one of my mom-to-be friends is planning to have a "Naked Lady Party" this summer where everyone brings the things that aren't quite right. Anything that isn't taken by another guest is donated. Good deal.

Anyone else have this problem? Are you disgusted with yourself for over-consumption and STILL having "nothing" to wear?

Our Real Estate Agent Hates Us

That's how I felt after apartment/house hunting today. We saw one house that was perfect. It is in Hannam and the kitchen and bathrooms have been redone. They aren't as nice as the highrise apartment buildings, but they are nice enough. The floor plan is open enough for our things and the way we live. It is partially furnished which solves our lack of livingroom furniture issue and it is walking distance to several schools for Ian. The problem, the reason we can afford it, is that the garage is short. In fact, it is too short for our Hyundai Tucson. The guy owns the house above ours and we could park up there, but then it is a steep walk down through the top property to get to our property. Our 1991 Kia Pride (Curt's car) will fit in the garage, but I like my Hyundai. I don't want to drive the hooptie. I think we are going to have to wait. My friend Sarah, suggested a complex and when I asked the real estate agent she said,"Ah, yes. Very, very big. You cannot afford." We may end up looking in Sungbokdong or the dong next to it that begins with a P. It would be more of a trip for Curt, but we can get more space for less. There is also a new complex opening on the other side of the river that we will look at soon, so maybe that will be the answer.

We'll be in the next place for two years so we really need to make a good choice. All I want is lots of pyeong, open floor plan, place for my American large appliances, easy driving access, easy parking within the LQA. Is that too much to ask?

Yoga Teacher Training in Seoul

Magic Pond is gearing up for another Yoga Teacher Training Course. Details:
Teachers Course (Level 1) (2009-2)
Starting Date: Sunday, 23 August, 2010
Finishing Date: Sunday. 23 January, 2010
Day/time: Every Sunday, 2 Sessions
(Total of 40 Sessions, each 3 hours, totaling 120 hours)
- Morning Session : 10:00~13:00 (3 hours)
- Lunch break : 13:00~14:00 (1 hours)
- Afternoon Session : 14:00~17:00 (3 hours)
Contents: Exercises (Asanas), Energy control (Pranayama), Detachment, Concentration/Meditation
Fee: 1,090,000 won (10% V.A.T. included)
- Registration fee: 300,000 won to be paid at registration during/after open day or before 15 August, 2009))
- Remainder of 790,000 won to be paid in full before the start of the first class.
Application before: 15 August, 2009 (Sat)

Open day: at the Lotus Room
1st: Sunday, 28 June, 2009 from 14:00~15:30
2nd: Sunday, 9 August, 2009 from 14:00~15:30
Contact : E-mail(yoga@magicpond.co.kr) or
Phone 010-3689-1799(English), 02-798-1799(Korean)

Motivated student can be hired as a regular program instructor upon finishing the course.
Completion of Teachers course level I results in a 200 hour certificate which allows for international registration (200 hr IRYT = Internationally Registered Yoga Teacher). International Registration at IYF after verbal and written approval from Ron and is at the initiative and cost of the student. Registration is granted when student proves to understand the nature and goal of Yoga and shows to have undergone a transformation as a result of regular training and study. When after registration students repeatedly do not uphold the principles of Yoga or defile the science of Yoga in any way registration can and will be canceled.
Class will be taught in English. Study materials will be supplied before class.

Check out Magic Pond's website for more information on the course and style of yoga taught.

I think Sundays will work for me and since Eva will be almost 6 months old, it will be easier to leave her. Curt will be able to be there most of the time on Sundays which makes things easier on me than thinking of leaving her with someone else. Need to start practicing with the bottle again.

Basketball Hoop

We just bought a Little Tikes Basketball Hoop to give him something to do indoors on yellow sand and rainy days. He loves it! It adjusts up to 6 feet tall so it should last. It is not electronic and does not require batteries or make noise. It is just a simple hoop. Curt did have to tape the net on so it would stay, but it is pretty stable and Ian is having lots of fun.