Shopping Therapy vs Beerapy

I woke up today with the fear that it was going to be a really bad day. I'd had a rough night arguing with the ex over Thanksgiving which should be my holiday. Of course he refuses to agree which means court...in Gainesville...10 hour drive about for those that don't know. So I woke up grouchy and feeling that panicky feeling that nothing was ever going to be right with the world. I've been SUPER happy lately. Maybe it's just pregnancy hormones but I've been in a state of euphoria and I had no desire to lose that feeling. I'm a smart enough person to try and see this rationally and talk myself out of getting stressed over things I can't fix right now, but I still felt it creeping in. First I had to drive to Pensacola to get forms notarized, faxed, make copies, mail copies, blah blah blah. I needed destressifying and fast!

My normal means of destressifying involve something like that new country song that talks about beer in your hand and your ass in the sand. Well today it was beautiful outside and looked like the perfect beach day and I WAS already in Pensacola. However, it was a little too cold for the beach, and a little too windy, and I'm a little too pregnant for my usualy beerapy where I grab a couple (few, dozen) beers and flop on the beach until I get my mind right. So what IS a pregnant woman to do to destress? I hit the mall.

The mall wasn't open that early of course, so I walked around for 30 minutes with the old people getting their exercise. I did my walking with some Starbucks in my hand though. It is really nice to walk around without the crowds and enjoy the holiday decorations, music, and scents. I sat outside on a bench in the sun by a pretty fountain for a little bit too and just focused on the water and the sun and on not thinking negative thoughts. Breathe in, breathe out...ahhh less stressed already. My mall adventure turned out to be fruitful and my day got gradually better and better and I may have to admit that shopping therapy is pretty darn close to being better than beerapy.

Cost of getting pregnant me from stressed and unhappy to happy again?

Starbucks Venti Caramel Macchiato with extra caramel - $5
I know, I know...caffiene, pregnant, bad, but I gave up BOOZE! I deserve a treat!

Victoria's Secret free panties and body spray - $10
I had a free panty card but if I spent $10 I got a $10 (or up to $500...mystery!) to use in December. So that's like FREE money right?

Old Navy 5 cute maternity tops - $20
I was going to buy two tops on clearance. When I got to the register they were an additional 50% off! I'm like $8? Really? I'm going back for more!!

CVS envelope to mail court crap & card for Jen - Negative 4.00
I had bonus bucks and got an additional coupon with my purchase for $4.00 off the next time! Woooo!!

TOTAL: Pretty darn cheap

My happy mood was back. In addition I found a silly card to send to my sister. I believe that if you have to mail out something unpleasant like court papers, and a copy to your ex certified signature return that costs $5 and he will probably refuse to sign, that you should also send out something pleasant and happy that will cheer someone else up. This is my made up theory of mail karma. Balance the bad with good and all is great with the world.

So that was today and it's only noon. Oh and I skipped class for the first time ever. Technicall I didn't skip much because my first class I finished the work and the instructor said we didn't have to come in if we were done. My second class is my Human Growth and Development teacher who says that stress can kill. So I will write her a letter stating that I needed a personal stress killing day for my own health and sanity and she'll excuse me for sure.

Oh and for those of you that have read this far (crazies) and don't know already we had the ultrasound on Saturday. We took all the kids with us to this ultrasound lady in a cute office that cursed us by wearing a pink shirt.

It's a girl :)