Good news.  The 3 months of bed rest I endured during my second pregnancy worked wonders!  On January 19th, 2015 - MLK Day - we welcomed Gabriel King McGazi into our family.  He is my angel, a mama's boy through and through.  Check out this future heart breaker's picture!  Cheeeeeks!!!!! Nom nom nom!

In other news, I am back to work and it feels so good to be singing again! I have resumed my schedule at Seasons 52 three times a week. In addition, I am performing at the Oriental Wok on Thursday nights.  Thanks to the Wong Family for this opportunity.  If you've never been to the Wok, you should come visit us - it is truly a beautiful place and the food is delicious!

As always, I have plans to continue work on my next album project, but it is slow coming - one of the sacrifices of motherhood.  I promise that it will be worth the wait!

That's pretty much it for now.  It doesn't seem like there's a whole lot going on does it? Well, let's look at it from this perspective...
2011 - released debut album
2012 - got married
2013 - had a baby girl
2014 - bought a house
2015 - had a baby boy
There's been a whole HECK of a lot happening in my world.  I have not slowed down for even a moment...in years!  I'm glad to be sharing it with you.  Thanks for reading :)

GREEN TIP OF THE MOMENT:
Invest in a washable/reusable liner for your recycle bin.  I have two, that way when one is being laundered, the other one is ready to go.  This doesn't apply when you're using the "old-school" rectangular recycle bins, but if you are using trash bags in a trash can to collect your recyclables, I bet you'd be really pleased with a reusable liner.  They come in different sizes and colors.   


 

Many of you have probably noticed that I've been MIA.  I went into preterm labor on October 24th and was admitted to the hospital.  The doctors were able to stop labor from progressing and I was released after three days.  I have been at home on bed rest ever since.  So - no work, no play, no nothing, pretty much.  I am incredibly blessed to have my mother here to help care for Lola and the house, my husband who is able to support the family while I'm out of work, and the thoughts, prayers, and positive energies of so many of you who care about me.   

As much of a challenge as this pregnancy has been physically, it has been much more challenging mentally.  Sitting in a lazy boy recliner all day everyday may be dull, but it's not hard.  What's hard is to watch my daughter run around, play, laugh, throw fits, and grow so fast while I just...sit there.  My mom takes her out to the park, the library, the mall, etc... and I'm still just sitting here.  Thank goodness for camera phones and grandmothers (who always love to take plenty of pictures and videos), or I would miss out completely!!!  I'd be lying if I said that I haven't cried a lot and felt utterly depressed some days.  

Luckily, it's not everyday.  Maybe it's the Libra in me that requires balance.  I've managed to get some projects done or at least underway - ones that have been on my to do list for years and would've remained that way for at least several more!  For instance, I've organized 5 shoeboxes full of loose photos into albums or scrapbooks.  Who has time to do that?!!  

The good news is that my baby "Will" has been healthy as a horse this whole time.  So have I been, in fact.  Everything is normal and stable at each of my check ups.  I simply can't be active the way I was when I was pregnant with Lola.  When they preach that every pregnancy is completely different - they preach the truth!!  It could have been so much worse!  I am deeply grateful.  AND, I wrote a song called, "Baby Will You."  I look forward to performing it just as soon as I can get through it without crying.  It's a good thing - I cry when I write all of my best work (toot toot :)!

My son's arrival is only a few weeks away now.  We've already made it through 2 full months of bed rest.  I will write again at some point after Will is born - once I get the hang of 
1) NOT sitting around all day everyday
2) juggling a needy newborn and a toddler who's headed towards the "terrible twos"

In the mean time, I wish you Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, and a Joyful and Prosperous New Year!!  (I like ALL of the season's greetings, so there :) I'll be seeing you again in 2015 - can't wait!!!!!!!!

XOXO

Last time I wrote, I'd just auditioned for The Voice.  I've pondered the meaning of it all many times since then, further searching for the rawest truth within myself, in order to answer some of the questions about the direction in which I'm headed.

Ever since I got married and had a baby, my life and priorities seem to have been split down the middle.  Never before has anything meant as much to me as music always has.  Then, all of a sudden, I turned a certain page and a completely new chapter began.  Now, I put so much energy into being a good wife and mother, I struggle to find time and energy leftover for creating music.  

I suspect that I will gain some of my musical momentum back once Lola is in school and out of my hair a little bit.  But, now I AM EXPECTING A SECOND CHILD - A BOY!  We'd always planned on having two children and I've never imagined my life as a childless woman.  So, everything is as it should be.  It's just that when I was imagining this life, I never realized how incredibly deep the sacrifice of having children could be.  I wouldn't trade it.  I've tried to fight it, recording for a few hours, here and there, with months passing between sessions.  

So, there it is, the BIG NEWS - I am pregnant again.  For those of you who are wondering, I will be on maternity leave for most of February and March.  I am also writing to officially admit to myself and you something that I have tried to avoid.  I am a mother first.  If my next album is to be created as an independent artist, like the last one, and I want it to be a quality product...I must put the project on hold until I have the proper time, money, and energy that my songs deserve.  But, for now, I must put these three things towards my growing family.

The desire to write, record and share my songs is one that burns like the sun.  I have no worries that I won't continue on passion's path.  I've just finally recognized the true meaning of the lyric "to everything there is a season".  It is my season to start a family.  It is a very special time in anyone's life.  I am grateful that I get to experience this incredible beauty.  I look forward to putting this beauty to music one day...in the future, when the season is right.

As always, thanks for reading.  I truly appreciate your time and value your opinion.  I hope you can be patient, as I am trying to be.  Keep on coming out to support me and other local artists, and I promise, I will have another album for you one glorious day! 

I don't know about you, but I'm soooo ready for Spring to show it's bright 'n' bushy face! I'm sure those of you in the Cincinnati area are singing the same tune.  Not only do I look forward to the snow melting for GOOD, but little Lola Pepper will be celebrating her first birthday on March 4th! How exciting!!   

Here are some other things worth mentioning so far this year...

PERFORMING
I am still performing exclusively at Seasons 52.  I ran into serious vocal fatigue issues in late 2013.  Singing 5 hour shifts four nights in a row each week will eventually catch up with you, no matter how many breaks you take! I decided to quit my Wednesday nights and I'm now there Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays 5-10pm.

I will be featured at the Home and Garden Show at Duke Energy Center on Sunday(s), March 2nd and 9th from 2:30-5:30pm. I was so excited that they invited me back! Last year, I performed in the afternoon on March 3rd and was scheduled at the same time the following week, but my water broke about a minute after I sang my last song on March 3rd, so I had to forfeit the second booking.  I am absolutely thrilled to be returning 26 pounds lighter this year!!

The Voice
As some of you are aware, I auditioned for the NBC TV show, "The Voice" on 2/02/14.  Many of us had high hopes for me turning some chairs and all that good stuff.  Well, first you must realize that attempting to "turn chairs" is something that happens in Hollywood - your whole family gets flown out there and that is actually Round 3.  I went to Nashville for Round 1. I didn't mess up, nerves didn't get the better of me, I gave a performance that I am very proud of, but I did not get called back. I'd like to tell you a little bit about my experience, because it was actually quite positive.  

I got to hear about 50 singers - none of whom made me feel threatened - which shocked me, especially in Music City (Please know that this is not coming from a place of conceit, but a newfound confidence) In fact, when I practiced my song in front of other singers, there was quite a reaction. So, by the time I got to the audition room, I was absolutely ready and excited (surprisingly not very nervous). There are ten rooms, one "random" (not famous) judge per room, and contestants are admitted in groups of ten per room. I was in THE last group of ten people...for the YEAR! (Nashville was the final city for The Voice auditions this year) Maybe they'd already heard enough?? I don't know. I am a big believer in "everything happens for a reason."

As the weather Gods would have it, we had to stay the night in Nashville due to a snow storm...and this is where it gets good. I ended up singing four songs at Troubador's on Music Row that night and... I LIT IT UP!! I had the room in the palm of my hands, all eyes on me with each performance, people were coming up to talk to me upon exiting the stage, etc... It was liberating! I am so used to being behind a piano that I had no idea I could preach it to a room like I did that night. In a nutshell, I failed at the thing I'd set out to do in Nashville, and yet I came home more confident than when I left!!

During the 4 hour drive home the following day, I received an email from "Music Dealers" that one of my songs has been submitted to a client as part of a playlist for possible licensing. It dawned on me, that I am right where I should be. I am a singer/SONGWRITER.  I get to do what I love for a living. I am not in a race against other artists, I am on a journey to be the best artist I'm capable of being. My experience in Nashville offered me a clearer glimpse of my full potential.  I am absolutely rejuvenated with motivation and inspiration. Thank goodness for adventures like this :-)

RECORDING
I get to the studio when I can...still plugging away at my sophomore album.  It's coming along slowly, but I don't want you guys to think that I've given up!  What can I say?  Lola just needs her mommy!!

GREEN TIP OF THE MOMENT
If you are planning on planting Broccoli or another cruciferous edible, you can get started just as soon as the snow melts - before starting your earliest plants of the season. These greens like it chilly.  If you plant them early enough and then let them fully mature, you can get two sprouts - one in the late Spring/early Summer and one in the late Summer/Autumn/early Winter.  I never plant mine soon enough. I always end up with a garden full of wilting fruits and veggies...other than the broccoli and brussels sprouts that are finally coming around in November!! By this time, I'm tired/cold/whiny/over-it. So, I have yet to enjoy home-grown broccoli. Maybe 2014 will be the year!! Good luck with this! LOL!!

THANKS FOR READING!!!!






  

As usual, it's been a while!  I'm just trying to keep up (with Lola Pepper)!!  Here's what's been happening in my world...

GERMANY

My husband and I had the pleasure of visiting Germany for the last week of October. I made a special appearance as a surprise guest entertainer at the 70th birthday party for one of the founders of an international company called Flottweg.  What an honor it was to be invited!  

We stayed just outside of Munich, in a Bavarian town called Landshut.  We were very well taken care of during our stay.  Our German friends are so hospitable!  The authentic Bavarian fare was delicious.  I would call it comfort food, but I was so uncomfortably full the entire time, I'll just say that it was the type food that could keep you warm all winter long.  We visited Munich for a day - parked the car at the BMW headquarters/museum, took the train to the Glockenspiel, had a beer at the ORIGINAL Hofbrauhaus, ate lunch in the window of a restaurant over looking the action packed square by the opera house, and finally went to the top of the tower at the Olympic Park, where we could see the whole city and the Alps in the distance.  The next day, we went to the Alps, enjoying a visit to the lake at ground level and then taking a bus ride to the top of a mountain, where Hitler's famous "Eagle's Nest" has been turned into a restaurant/tourist hotspot.  Oh, and did I mention that we each got to drive a BMW M5 reeeeally fast on the Autobahn heading to/from the Alps?!!


It was a short trip, but we packed it full of activity and purpose.  We might have stayed longer, but we missed little Lola too terribly much! (Plus, I only had about a week's worth of pumped milk saved in the freezer for her!)  She was left in the capable hands of her grandmother, "MaBelle" and great-grandfather, "Nonno."

What an amazing and unforgettable trip!  THANK YOU to everyone at Flottweg who helped make the experience possible.

RECORDING

Well, it's going slowly, but at least the wheels are in motion!!  I am still in the beginning stages of the album process.  I am determined to release a sophomore album.  My goal is 2015.  I hope it will be sooner, but I have to be realistic and I don't want to set myself up for disappointment.  Being a mom really IS a full time job!!  Unfortunately, this means that my recording time must take a backseat.  I'm doing what I can and every moment in the studio with Craig feels great!! 

PERFORMING

I am really loving my gig at Seasons 52.  Come see me sometime! I'm there every week WEDNESDAY-SATURDAY 5-10pm.

GREEN TIP OF THE MOMENT

This is coming at you a little bit late, but you can keep it in mind for next year.  Don't waste your pumpkin!!  When you are in the thick of your carving craze, set aside the seeds and big chunks of pumpkin "meat" (not the stringy stuff) into two separate piles.  You can bake the seeds in the oven until they're crispy - whatever flavor you like (I do half cayenne+salt and half sugar+cinnamon).  Boil or steam the pumpkin meat (no skin), mash it, and then use it for baking pumpkin pie (or I like to make pumpkin chili - just substitute 1/2 the tomatoes for pumpkin and I SWEAR even the pickiest eaters would never know there's pumpkin in the pot)!    

THANKS FOR READING!!

Hello again!!  It's been a while.  I am so pressed for time these days as a new mom!!  I will try to keep this short and to the point for both of our sakes!!

LOLA PEPPER - 
Is now 5 months old.  She can smile, laugh, roll over, hold herslef in a crawling position, scoot in a full circle, eat off of a spoon (sort of slurping in her own fashion), recognize the key players in her life (especially MOMMY :), and even pee and poop in her potty (seriously, she's a natural and she loves it!).  Cloth diapers, breast feeding, "elimination communication" (infant potty training), and now homemaking baby food are all going as well as I could have hoped!!  I have gotten the hang of things so far and she is an absolute angel.

RECORDING -
After putting it on hold for a wedding, a pregnancy, and a newborn...wheels are in motion to rehearse and FINALLY start recording album #2.  I will be working with Craig Wilson at the Wilsonics Studio again - I just couldn't imagine doing it any other way!!  I am so looking forward to this process.  Wait til you hear what's in store!!!!

PERFORMING -
As you know, I have been singing at Seasons 52 in Hyde Park for some months now.  I was also trying to keep a regular schedule going at John Phillip's, singing with Molly and the band.  Seasons 52 expressed an interest in having me perform more nights with them, and I have decided to take the offer.  I am now performing there exclusively every week WED-SAT from 5-10pm.  It is truly a dream job - with nice, early hours, more suitable for a mom, not to mention the great exposure that comes with being featured at a large venue in such a prime location.  Again, I completely owe this opportunity to Craig, who got me the audition. (Really the only down side is that I can't play with Craig, the gig is piano/vocal solo only). 

Sadly, this means that I am saying good-bye to John Phillip's.  It was a wonderful experience and I will miss everyone there!!  Best of luck to Rick Kinman, Molly Marksberry, Les Palmer, and Brian Hogg, who will be continuing without me.

GREEN TIP OF THE MOMENT - If you have flies in your kitchen like I do during the summer, you can handle the situation without dangerous pesticides by keeping a bowl of sugary or soapy water on the counter. The flies are attracted to the "food" and will drown once they land in it.  

Hope you enjoy the rest of the summer!!  Thanks for reading!!

Well, I'm gonna write as much as I can, but my daughter could wake up at any moment and then "whatever Lola wants, Lola gets!" ...at least while she is an infant.

For those of you who don't know, Lola was born at 6 lbs 1 oz on March 4th, 2013.  She sure knows how to make an entrance!  She came 3 weeks early.  My water broke at a performance, believe it or not!  But, this little beauty already possesses amazing "musician's timing," because not only did she wait until my maternity leave had officially (JUST) begun - she waited until my last song was over (I was packing my equipment).  So far, I get many comments on what a beautiful baby she is, how big her eyes are, how long her eyelashes are, how strong she is for her age, and...(not surprisingly) what a delightful voice she already seems to have - even when she cries, it is such a sweet sound.  

As you can tell, my whole world has changed.  If you ask how I am doing, I will probably answer with, "Well, my daughter..."  Motherhood is much harder than I imagined, but I treasure each moment. 

I am back to work now - happily so.  It is nice to get dressed up, get out of the house and into the spotlight once again.  My schedule has changed a bit.  I am still at John Phillips, but only two nights - Friday and Saturday.  Craig Wilson is no longer playing with the band and I do miss him!!  We still have Rick on guitar/vocals, but we have added a bass player - Lesley Palmer, a horn player - Brian Hogg, and another female vocalist - Molly Marksberry (she is absolutely spectacular!!). I play solo from 8-9pm (you leave for two months and then you return as the warm up act! hahaha) and the rest of the band joins from 9p-1:30a.  Come check out the new line-up!!  

My other two nights (Wednesdays and Thursdays 5-10pm) are being enjoyed at Seasons 52 in Hyde Park, across from Rookwood Commons.  Here I am a soloist at the piano bar - literally a bar built around a rotating piano.  The food is awesome!  Everything is fresh, grilled, and seasonal, featuring a weekly menu (hence the "52"), as well as the main menu which changes with each season.  Every single dish is under 500 calories, but I can promise you that the flavor is BIG!!!!  (By the way, for those of you who are wondering, Craig is also playing at Seasons 52 on certain nights.  In case you're missing him like I am, go check him out.  You might be able to find his schedule or get in touch with him at www.wilsonics.com ) 

Uh oh...I can hear Lola stirring, which means she is waking up momentarily...I better wrap this up.
It's good to be back and I hope to see you soon!!

GREEN TIP OF THE MOMENT: Gardening counts as excercise (it is one of the exercises they recommend for pregnant women).  It also provides fresh foods which promote a healthy lifestyle.  Being in touch with the Earth and food source is proven to be good for the mind/soul as well.  It has even been proven that children who plant a garden will be more likely to try/like the fruits and vegetables that it bears.  So the green tip of the month is...Go plant a garden before May is over!!!  On so many levels, you'll be glad you did :)

The countdown is here.  My first baby should arrive sometime in the next 4-8 weeks.  Before I plunge into motherhood, I wanted to let everyone know about my schedule changes and plans for the future.

SEASONS 52

A few weeks ago I got a call from a booking agency in Orlando, FL regarding an upcoming audition.  There is a new piano bar/restaurant opening up in Hyde Park called Seasons 52.  Some of you who travel or live outside of Cincinnati may have heard of the place, because it is part of the DARDEN family of chain restaurants, such as Olive Garden and Longhorn Steakhouse, which are all over the country.  

I auditioned on a Saturday afternoon and it went very well.  The following Wednesday, I got the call that they would like to welcome me into their "Seasons 52 approved" musician circle.  I could only offer the venue limited dates for now, as I am 8 months pregnant,  already booked 4 nights a week, teach 2 nights, and expect at least ONE day off!  (Please note the schedule changes on the SHOWS page)

Come check it out!!  The restaurant features seasonally inspired dishes, healthier portion sizes, NO DISH over 500 calories, an award winning International wine selection...and ME!!!! 

MATERNITY LEAVE

I am scheduled to take my maternity leave from MARCH 3rd - APRIL 30th.  So the last day to catch me singing at John Phillip's is Saturday, March 2nd, and my first day back will be Wednesday, May 1st.  This is not set in stone, because I may want to work further into March if I am feeling well enough or come back earlier than May if I am ready.  But, these are the dates that have been agreed upon by me, my fellow musicians, and my boss.  

FUTURE PLANS

After my two month hiatus, it is my intention to continue a schedule of performing 4 nights a week, most likely Wednesday - Saturday, similar to how it is now.  The difference will be that I will be splitting my schedule between John Phillip's Restaurant and Bar and Seasons 52.  I will try my best to keep a performance schedule updated at www.cybelesings.com and hopefully I'll find the time to continue with these lovely newsletters (...but as a first time mom, I will have to play it by ear, I really don't know what I'm in for yet!!)

GREEN TIP OF THE MOMENT

If you, your roommate or your kids have a caged pet (guinea pig, mouse, rat, hamster, etc...), save BIG money by turning the pet into a LIVE recycling/composting machine!  We have two rats - I know, I know...most people say EWWW!! ...but they're actually really cute and have ALOT of personality.  We don't buy food for them, they will eat ANYTHING.  We feed them mostly nuts, cheese, crackers, fruit and veggie scraps, bread...seriously anything goes.  We also have a paper shredder, so we shred all junk mail and unwanted paper and this becomes their bedding.  Maintaining these animals is absolutely FREE.

I HOPE YOU STAY WARM UNTIL SPRING BLOSSOMS - THANKS FOR READING!!
==================================================================

2012 turned out to be even more eventful than 2011!!  2011 was all about career - independently releasing my debut album, "MEDICATED AMERICA" kept me incredibly busy.  One could definitely conclude that 2012 was just the opposite - all about personal/home life.  

2012 started out still very focused on career.  I was trying to finish what I'd started the year before - or at least continue it.  I wanted to make my attempt at marketing the album that I worked so hard to create.  I decided to travel to one major USA city each month and perform at Open Mic Nights, trying to reach new audiences and get my music out there.  So, this was supposed to be 12 cities in 12 months.  The "Open Mic Tour" took me to Nashville, Chicago, St. Louis, and New York.  

By May, I started to realize how quickly my wedding was approaching and that I still had LOTS of planning to do.  So, I decided to focus my energy (and funds) on this "BIG DAY."  I do not regret the decision to put off my career and focus on my personal life for this time.  My sweetheart of 6 years, Billy and I tied the knot at the Vegas Wedding Garden on 07/21/12.  We drove across the country with a caravan of 3 cars for the event.  It was absolutely unforgettable!!

They say, "First comes love, then comes marriage, then..." - the day after we returned from Las Vegas, I discovered that I was already pregnant with our first child.  So began the 8 weeks of morning sickness (all day nausea and lethargy in my case), which I spent laying on the couch, watching all 8 seasons of "Desperate Housewives" from start to finish.  No kidding.  I NEVER thought I would watch that show, but as I perused our Netflix catalogue, utterly miserable and stuck at home, it seemed all too appropriate.

Once I entered my 2nd trimester, I began feeling revitalized.  I purchased a Prenatal Pilates DVD, and have managed to work out 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week with this video - keeping me healthy and lean throughout this (mind and) body-altering experience.  I am very proud to boast that my extra 15 pounds is ALL BABY - so far so good.  By the way, we are having a girl, and she is due in March.

I rang in the New Year during the first week of my 3rd trimester.  I am 28 weeks, or 7 months pregnant.  If you do the math, 40 weeks is actually 10 months - I don't know why they tease us with the notion of 9 months gestation!!  So, yeah, I still have 3 months to go!!  

I guess it's sort of weird to be blogging about all this baby stuff on a website that was set forth to house my music, and all things "Cybele - the artist."  But, part of Cybele the artist is now a wife and mother.  I hope these wonderful life changes will inspire some great music that I will share with you in the years to come.

My first masterpiece was an album called "Medicated America."  I am working on my second masterpiece right now.  Her name is Lola Pepper and she kicks IN RHYTHM, believe it or not!!  In case you're wondering, I do have plans for a third masterpiece.  It is a sophomore album called "Muse." Most of the songs are written and ready to record, I'm just...a little pre-occupied for the time being.  

For those of you who are local, thank you so much for your continued support - and, keep in mind that I will be on maternity leave from 03/01/13 - 05/01/13, so get your song requests in while you can!!  Below are some wedding photos, as well as a few images from the 3-D ultrasound that we had on 01/02/13.  Enjoy!! 

Have a happy and healthy 2013!!

GREEN TIP OF THE MOMENT: If you have live, fresh herbs that you keep in pots on your kitchen window sill and you live in a cold climate, only keep them in a SUNNY window sill during the daylight hours. I was wondering why my basil hasn't been doing so well.  First of all, it is far too cold in the window sill at night.  On top of that, when I close my curtains at sundown, the plant receives no air flow, which is almost as important as sunlight and temperature.  It also helps to TRIM LEAVES OFTEN, so that the plant doesn't have to work as hard to keep so much foliage in tact.  This gives you an excuse to cook up some yummy herbed dishes, which will surely keep you warm all winter long!!    


  

So...I haven't written in a while!!  What can I say?! Some periods of life are so action packed, there is hardly a moment to share!!

CAREER
I recently performed at THE COFFEE POT in Greenville, OH.  This town was so lovely, I am just dying to go back.  There is nothing like playing to a room full of new faces!  Thank you to Amber Garret for finding me on the web and inviting me to play!!

This past weekend, I also played a few gigs with my partner, Craig Wilson at 
Belterra Casino & Resort. It was soooo nice to play on an actual stage, in an actual theater!!  There was even a "techie" (sound/lighting guy), a greenroom, a stage load-in entrance, etc - it was sublime!!

PERSONAL
I GOT HITCHED!!!!!  I am now officially Mrs. McGazi, loving wife of Billy Ray McGazi.  I actually married Billy McGuire, but we created our very own "hybrid" last name, fusing my mother's maiden name - Gasi (pronounced in Italiano like GaZi) and his mother's maiden name - McGuire, to make McGazi.  We are an Irish-Italian entity.  I think the whole idea started, because people have been referring to us as "CyBilly" for the past 6+ years.  So, now, we are (appropriately) named "CyBilly McGazi."  

I GOT PREGNANT!!!!!  Yup.  The baby is due March 26th and the McGazi family couldn't be happier!!  This is part of the reason why I have not written in a while.  I have been taking it easy, dealing with all the "wonders" of the 1st trimester.  When I first found out, I was thinking, "I'm gonna work out at least 3 times a week, blah blah blah..." hahahaha...NO!!  There was a good 5 week span where I was nauseous and tired CONSTANTLY.  I have been queen of the couch.  I can't help how out-of-it I feel sometimes! Now, I am thinking to myself, "I don't even feel like the same person!"  I am loving this baby inside me, don't get me wrong.  But, I have definitely also thought, "How the heck did humans become so over-populated?!!  Pregnancy is not fun!!"  I know it will all be worth it in the end :)

GREEN TIP OF THE MONTH: 
You can plant some seeds for next spring NOW!!  Grass seed is a good place to start, if you want to experiment.  Some people say this helps the seeds to sprout early enough in the spring to avoid pests who haven't yet emerged.  Technically, this is the way nature intended, and it can make for a stronger, healthier plant.

Thanks for reading!  Enjoy the crisp air of the changing season!!