Feature.

Happy Monday!

I hope everyone had a great weekend. My brain is slowly deciding not to be a negative pile of burgle thoughts more and  more as the days go. I even stayed home alone while Jake went to dinner with a friend the other night. I was making real progress until we went to bed last night, then I was basically certain there was herd of scary men tromping down my hallway after I heard a creek in the floorboard. Anyway, Thanks again for your comments. It’s funny. I have sometimes felt very frustrated when people compare their medical stories to make me feel better about Piper. It was the hardest in the beginning when she was a premie. We knew she had some serious health issues, but no one could get over the fact that she was a premie. People would tell me that their friend’s cousin’s oldest sister’s baby came way earlier than mine, so there was no way pip wasn’t going to be better in no time. They obviously all meant well, but it just never provided any comfort. What I’m saying is in this case it’s totally opposite. The more stories I’ve heard about people getting robbed or burgled or broken into, the more I feel like one day we’ll feel safe and normal again. Thank you from the bottom of my broken burgled heart.

The real reason I’m writing this post, is that a really awesome blogger named Megan of Greetings From Texas, has featured me as one of her favorite bloggers. It was fun to answer the questions, and brag about my picture with Jay Z.  So Megan is one of those girls who would leave a comment on here that would make me laugh so hard, I would immediately click back to her blog to find out what’s new with this chick. I think her blog is going to do very well. She is coming to NYC in a few months and my friend Jen and I have a secret plan to hang out with her!

Ok, so here’s the feature. Happy MLK day!

Hello again.

Hi guys! Thanks so much for all the comments. It’s crazy how many of you have gone through similar experiences, and some of you even recently! Thank you again for reaching out to me. It has helped so much.

To leave on a happier note before the weekend, I wanted to post this little slideshow that Jake made of 2011! I’ve watched it over and over since he finished it last night. I have had a really rough few days and watching our happy memories on the screen with one of my favorite songs just makes me feel better. The beginning few shots of Piperjane are especially precious to me.

Enjoy, and happy weekend!

Breinholts 2011 in 3 and 1/2 minutes from Jacob Breinholt on Vimeo.

This post should be about our snowboarding trip.

Jake and I went away to Utah over the weekend for a snowboarding trip with a few of our friends. We stayed at a beautiful resort in Snowbird, celebrated my brothers 30 birthday and had a great time.

On Monday night, we took the redeye back to NYC. After dropping Jake off in midtown a little after 7am Tuesday morning so he could head downtown for work, I headed home uptown. I was exhausted and annoyed that I had to stop at 10th ave to get gas. I was very cranky after being stuck in traffic and looking for a parking spot and trying to not fall asleep at the wheel while doing so, I had a quick thought that this morning could not get worse.

Then I walked into my apartment and immediately knew something was wrong.

The first thing I noticed was the the coat closet door was open. I thought it seemed weird that I would leave that open on my way out of town. Then I walked into the living room and put down my suitcases. I looked into my bedroom and saw the cedar chest at the end of my bed had been pushed over a few feet. I thought “why would Jake move that?”. Then I remembered that I had picked up Jake from work before we went to the airport for our trip, and I was the last person in the apartment. Then I looked on the floor and saw my sewing scissors in front of the cedar chest, they were broken. The denial was starting to fade, and the reality that someone had been in my home set in.

I didn’t really know what to do. What if he was hiding behind my shower curtain? Should I call 911 or look up the number for the Precinct in my neighborhood? I decided on 911 and looked for more clues while I cried to the dispatcher. Most anything with a drawer had been gone through. There was a giant shoe print on my white couch from where he came in through the window. The curtain and rods were in pieces on the floor from a difficult entrance (they repelled into my window from my roof). The window to my fire escape was open from when he exited. My beloved antique cedar chest had been chipped and pried open with my heavy duty sewing scissors (which ended up breaking). The cops came within minutes and were thankfully very helpful. My super and landlord spent the day helping me fix up my windows so that it wont happen again.

It’s crazy. In the last day, I have spent every waking moment thinking about it. Someone was in my home. What did they want? I don’t know how I’ll ever think about anything else ever again.

 But, as much as this whole thing has scared me, I feel very lucky that scared is all I am. I’m not hurt or raped or dead. We’ll get over the few things that are broken or missing.

I don’t know how to end this post.

Piper Jane is a tender loving mother.

One of the most adorable things Piperjane does with her little figurines and her blanky, is swaddle them. I guess she just knows how much she likes to be swaddled in her soft silky blanket, so why wouldn’t her little guys? She has swaddled everything from the likes of G.I. Joe to My Little Ponies to her tiny Critters. She snuggles them up all cozy and then snuggles up to me all cozy. It’s the Piperjane version of a hair braiding train…just with snugging instead!

Want to see the most recent thing I wasted money on? It’s liquid leggings in a size 2T for my Pip. They are quite ridiculous, because they can’t be put in the washer, but when I saw them, I just knew Pippygirl had to have them. I saw them in the store and my head went nuts. In these liquid leggings, I imagined that Piper Jane could suddenly talk. She would say quite sultry for a 4 year old “Tell me about it, studd.” and then dance around going “You better shape up, cause I need a man”.

None of that ended up happening, but she looked damn cute in those leggings. And I decided that even though they are the farthest thing from practical, they were a very smart purchase. You know, in a Grease lightening sort of way.

7 Years in New York.

Monday was my 7th anniversary of moving to New York. According to Carrie Bradshaw, 7 years makes you a New Yorker. I don’t know if that is true (Sex and the City isn’t my go-to source for truths), but it is a little weird to think that after this year, I’ve lived here longer than anywhere else in my whole life. I moved here January 2nd, 2005 when I was 20 years old. I can’t thank that little 20 year old Reagan enough, because moving to NY might have been the best decision I ever made.

New York made me grow up. It made me smarter, more cultured and more aware of everything possible out there in this big world. I’ve made relationships and gained experiences that I’d be very lost without. I almost get sad to think about what things would have been like if I hadn’t moved here, almost like the city is a family member or something else that is totally necessary in my life’s path. Before I moved here, I was very irresponsible, and had no goals other than have fun with my friends. I like to think that I was a pretty sweet and innocent young thing, but I was just so directionless. I gave up quickly when things were too difficult and it never occurred to me to work hard for anything.

I came to New York just looking for another fun adventure. At the time I was looking more for young single friends and mini skirts, but I quickly realized how big and open and available everything was. I had 3 international airports just a 20 minute cab-ride away. I could do anything with my career. I had total independence. I could see a museum exhibit or a show on broadway on the weekends. I got a passport. I met Jake. I held a job for longer than 6 months for the first time. I saved money and bought a Vespa. I stopped caring so much about what other people thought of me. I grew stronger and more confident and New York helped me do it.

To me, New York has always been the little encouraging voice that tells me I can do or be anything. Like run a marathon, have a career and be a good mom to a little girl named PiperJane. Things that the pre-NYC-Reagan would have been way too afraid to do. New York taught me the sweet results of working hard and taking risks and getting up again after I fail.

Yes, NYC is that smelly, dirty, inconvenient, overcrowded, rat infested, urine soaked, overly-expensive little voice that pushed me to be better.

And I can’t thank it enough.

Happy Jingle Jingle.

I know we are clear past holidays, but Jake just finished up this cute little video of Piper Jane with her presents on Christmas morning. I thought you all might like to see how that little monkey-frog tore open and examined the various items in her pile.

Piper Jane, Christmas Morning 2011 from Piper Breinholt on Vimeo.

In case you were wondering, my favorite parts are when she knocks over half of the presents to get to the one in that back, and when she leans against the windowsill to look closely at her Calico family.

If you didn’t see last year’s cute Happy Ho Ho then click here per my suggestion.

Happy New Year!

I have a cold. I am obsessed with getting enough sleep at night, and the reason why is because when I don’t get enough sleep I always get a cold. I stayed up late for like a week straight and now I have a cold.

Anyway, I had a great NYE! I worked even though it was a Saturday, because a bunch of my clients wanted me to give them party hair, and it was worth it. After that, Jake and I set up a photobooth in our living room because Joe and Jen were having a party (they live two floors down) and we though it would be fun for people to come up and get some pictures. Jake set up the camera so that we could see the images on the tv which was so fun.

Here are some (a lot) of the photos!

I insisted on doing my/Jen’s/Amanda Blair’s/Tara’s hair for the night. It was very fun and very teasey.

A little grabass for giggs.

Sarah and Zach dancing. PSsst, Sarah is a pro belly dancer!

Jen had an outfit change, so I had to copy. Plus we were already at my apartment anyway and it just seemed crazy not to.

It was fun and silly and we decided we have to have a party for every occasion with a photo booth in our living room. It was a little work since we had to move our bookshelf and chair and coffee table out of the room…not to mention the silver tinsel that was everywhere…but it was worth it. Next holiday party will be MLK day! Hooray!

Do you do New Year’s resolutions? I do. This year, my resolution is to get flexible again. Below is my sorry excuse for a scorpion. I realize I was a cheerleader 10 years ago, but I still want to be able to do all those cool tricks like I could back then. I want my scorp’ to be like it once was…effortless and high and statuesque. Also my toe touches are going to be beautiful. I have a lot of work to do.

Also I want to be nice to everyone, even people who aren’t nice to me. And I want to get up to Piperjane’s house earlier and stay later. And I want to stop eating at chain restaurants, at least cut back (even Starbucks!). And I want to run some half marathons. And I want to go on a few really amazing trips. I want to be a sweeter daughter. I want to give more gifts for no reason. I want to exercise creativity more often. I want to exercise my muscles more often too. Also I want to stop buying cheaply made clothes that I’m only going to wear once or twice. Also keep my apartment cleaner. And eat less processed junk food. Maybe take some cooking classes. And read a few classics while I’m at it.

I love starting a new year.

My favorite things about 2011.

2011 is almost over. A lot of great things happened this year, but I’m happy to see it go. Along with some great things it’s also been a pain in the A.

In order to focus on the good, here is a list of my favorite things of 2011

My brother’s wife, Melanie, beat colon cancer.
This picture was taken right after she got the news that she is in remission. I love her smile of relief.

Piper Jane got to stay at Blythedale the whole year. And aside from a few colds, she was healthy and spunky basically the whole year. Her healthiest year yet!

There were two very very special weddings this year. My bestie Sarah, and one of my oldest childhood friends, Maggie!
PS I did both brides’ hair and they both loved it! Phewww!

(at sarah’s bridal shower that I threw for her..you know, as Maid of Honor!)
Killing it on the dance floor with Maggie at her wedding.

I finally got to go to Europe. And I got to go twice!

Paris June, 2011

Barcelona June, 2011

London October, 2011

Jake and I both left our jobs of 3 1/2 and 5 1/2 years for better, cooler, sexier ones. See ya later smelly jobs!
(i don’t have pics of us at work so this storm king one of us looking happy about new jobs will have to work)

Piper Jane looked like ET when he is in a bike basket! That was a good thing.

Honorable Mentions:

Sitting second row at Betsey Johnson’s Spring 2012 show (seeing her famous cartwheel in person. also nicky manaj was there!).
Turning our rarely used guest bedroom into my own home office. Often used..including now.
Palm Springs in September.
The House Of Blue Leaves and The Book Of Mormon on Broadway.
Meeting Courtney Kendrick and family and holding scrumptious Ever.
Joe and Jen moving into our apartment building.
Chicago with Melanie for a chemo completion celebration.

These songs that will always remind me of 2011:
Mark Ronson Bang Bang Bang and Record Collection
Foster The People Pumped Up Kicks
Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros Home
LMFAO Party Rock Anthem
Britney Spears Til the World Ends
Almost every song from The Shins
Beyonce Run The World (Girls)
Lady Gaga Born This Way and Judas (and seeing her in concert!)

These books that I loved this year:
The Help
Bossypants
Jane Eyre
The Paris Wife
Just Kids
One Day

Happy happy happy new year to my lovely blog friends. Thanks so much for reading! If I could I would kiss most of you!

A few projects

Project 1: Paint this stuff.
I painted that little frame that has pip inside of it gold because that’s what I had in a spray paint can when I wanted it painted.
The mustache plaque is from a taxidermy website and when it’s finished it will have hooks for hanging things! After months I’m excited to have this done.
The oval frame was my Grandmother’s. It’s going to go on the wall with nothing inside because it’s a very odd shape.

Project 2: Hang stuff and reupholster sofa.
This is the sofa I picked up in Boston a few weeks ago. I am going to re-upholster the fabric and possibly paint the wood a white lacquered finish. I’m a little nervous, but Leonardo Dicaprio’s interior designer recommended the guy that is doing the job for me, and something tells me I can’t go wrong if he fixed up Leo’s furniture. Right?
The little pieces on the seat of the sofa are what I’m planning to hang above it (along with some other things). A Tennessee shaped cheeseboard, an antique mirror (see me? Hello!), a Danish welcome sign my Papa and Gummer got on one of their worldwide travels, and three apple paintings that my Gummer did.
It’s going to be a special wall.

Project 3:
Eat these cheese grits.

Christmas Morning

Jake and I got up bright and early Christmas morning to drive up to Pip’s house. She was still asleep when we got there, so I set up her pile of presents. Jake and I noticed that Pippy had a weird tube coming out of her Gtube sight, and when I asked the nurse about it, she said that Pip had pulled it out in the middle of the night and since they couldn’t find the right size they had to use a foley. The tube was long and sticking straight out of her stomach, and I couldn’t really get her dressed with a tube sticking straight out of her stomach. And also I knew once they did change it, fluid would get all over her. So basically I had to whine and complain and be a big old b**** to get them to change it. They wanted to wait two hours and I almost had a nervous breakdown. I started to cry and said “IT’S CHRISTMAS AND WE JUST WANT TO PLAY WITH HER!”

So they changed it. And I was happy. (PS I was right about the fluid getting everywhere.)

I was able to get PiperJane dressed and her hair done while she played with the one present we let her open the day before. It’s these hilarious Star Wars Muppets that she loooooooves.

As you can imagine, Jake and I spent the next several hours watching PiperJane’s romantic morning with her beloved toys.

She carried around as many toys as she could hold in her little pippy hands, and snuggled in our laps cutely.

Her favorite toys are in the figurine category, and it wound up being a very figurine Christmas! Jake and I got her three new calico critter families. I was pretty sure she would be afraid of the hedgehog family because they have huge harry mullets, but they ended up being her favorite, haha. She has been lining up her toys on this ledge lately. When one falls she knows which family it goes in. I’m pretty proud of that little Piper Jane and all that progress she has made in OT!

We had such a great morning with Piper Jane. She was in a great mood and we listened to Christmas music and hugged the whole time.

Hoo-ray.

We missed our families so much. My entire family texted me at the same time on Christmas Eve. I got like 10 texts at the same time and it almost made me cry. I have to try and talk them into coming up here for an NYC Christmas next year!

Oh yeah, last but most definitely not least, a photo of Pippy hiding from Santa.