a good combination

May 15th, 2013 No comments

Life can be tricky.
Things can get chaotic.
Sometimes we forget how awesome we really are.
We need people around who know how awesome we are and will remind us how awesome we are even when we have forgotten that we are, in fact, awesome.

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I’m lucky.
I’ve found my people.
My family is awesome. My friends are awesome. I’m surrounded by the most amazing people and get to hare my life with them on a regular basis. I may not always like where I am, but I always like who I’m with. There is a select group of fabulous folks that I call “my peeps” and they know who they are.
I’ve found my people.
I’m lucky.

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These people remind me on the regular of my awesomeness, but they keep me in check as well. Trust me — there is nothing like a child puking on you in the middle of the night or screaming for you from the bathroom UPSTAIRS to “please come wipe me” or having a preteen politely (yet not so politely) ask you to “stop dancing” at the bowling alley to snap you back into reality and remind you that you are, in fact, a mom. An awesome mom, but still a mom…

Moms are superheros that don’t have capes.
Moms are full awesomeness hidden beneath sleep deprivation.
Moms are doctors with hands on training.
Moms are chefs who’ve never donned the coat.
Moms are public relations coordinators, secretaries, office managers, chauffeurs, house keepers, personal trainers, counselors, punching bags, shoulders to cry on, fashion advisers, personal alarm clocks and we never get paid for it. Unless you count kisses and hugs and squeals of delight when you walk into a room payment — which I do. :)

I’ve been a mom for 12 years now and for the last four years I’ve sort of felt like a single mom with Jason being a full time college student. This week though that all changed.

Jason took his last final on Monday.
Jason graduates on Sunday.
Jason will have a double Bachelors Degree in Accounting AND Finance.
We finally have him back!

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Now that he’s finished with school I can breathe a little easier. We can plan to do more things together during the week. I have some help at home! And the girls can feel a little more secure at night.

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Maybe I’ll even get a little more of this…

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Raising a preteen daughter can be difficult sometimes and adding on the stress of being a one parent household most of the time just makes it that much harder. Hopefully now that Jason will be home in the evenings sharing in the housework, the discipline, the helping with homework and the refereeing Linsey and I can start getting along a little better. Hopefully…

I know that things aren’t going to really settle down. Jason will soon be scoping out a “grown-up” job. We’re in our 30′s with young children, a business, bills to pay, a house to run, lives to lead and none of that is particularly easy, but at the very least now we can control the chaos a little better. In theory anyway…

Life can be tricky.
Things can get chaotic.
Sometimes we forget how awesome we really are.
We need people around who know how awesome we are and will remind us how awesome we are even when we have forgotten that we are, in fact, awesome.

What we really need is a good combination, and I’m lucky enough to have just that. I know I can be a bit of a downer at times. I know I go on and on about my imperfections a lot. I know that I’m sort of that person who is never really satisfied, but I must tell you that I’m always happy even if you can’t always tell.

My family, my friends, my life — it’s sort of like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich — gooey and sloppy and sticky and messy and salty and sweet perfection all smooshed together.

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Categories: Family, Uncategorized Tags: , ,

contentment…

May 13th, 2013 No comments

I had a really great weekend.
We didn’t do anything spectacular.
My family spoiled me tremendously.
I got to spend time with people I love.I’m a happy girl.

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And now for the winner of my “Surprise Prize” giveaway…

Linsey and Regan decided that they liked Comment #1 the best because I’m always complaining about my hair smelling like the deli! :)

So I need Elizabeth to give me her mailing address and I’ll get her prize right out to her. :)

HAPPY MONDAY!!!

Categories: giveaway, Uncategorized Tags:

birthday eve…

May 9th, 2013 No comments

It is the eve of my 34th birthday.
And as a gift to myself I did an extra workout.
I’m becoming that person that believes health equals happiness.

Being surrounded by people who love you and you love also equals happiness. Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow — I am surrounded by people who love me and that I love. Some are here with me right now and others are aren’t here right now, but they all know I love them and I know they love me.

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For my 34th birthday I have decided that I want to get a new tattoo. I got my last tattoo for my 30th birthday and I think that this year I want to spend my birthday money on another one.

First of all — how funny would it be for the grandparents (mine and Jason’s) to realize that the money they sent me as a “Happy Birthday” turns up as ink on my skin?! :lol:

Second of all — here are the ideas I’m tossing around for my left forearm.

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I like butterflies.
I like what they represent.
I like that they make me happy.
I like that they’re colorful.
I like everything about them.They remind me of my family.

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Don’t forget to help me decide on what to do with my hair. Leave a comment on this post and enter for a chance to win a surprise!

the tough choices…

May 8th, 2013 6 comments

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Every year during the week of my birthday I go back and forth about what I’ve done with my life, what I haven’t done with my life, what I want to do with my life still and so on.

My life has been pretty full of major events, exciting happenings, serious changes, making great friends, letting go of not so great ones, creating life, exploring parts of the country, staying stagnant in the same part of the country, longing for the courage to do certain things, coming to the realization that I can’t do it all, etc.

I’m sure this is the same for everyone.

There’s just something about a birthday that makes you stop, reevaluate your life, second guess choices, long for unmade decisions, evaluate the forks in the road and decide which path is next for you.

I spend far too many hours analyzing and reanalyzing and over analyzing things that sometimes it’s just plain exhausting, but tonight the choices that are overtaking my mind are no where near that serious. In fact, they are really quite silly, but as a girl this can be (sometimes!) just as serious as what outfit to wear to an interview or what dessert to splurge on or which pair of jeans goes best with your body type.

Tonight I’m obsessing over hair and specific hair cuts. :lol:

I’m tossing around the idea of either keeping my hair long and flowy like Alanis or short and sassy like Julianne.

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I know, I know… Massive first world problems, but it’s something that I’ve been thinking about and I sort of enjoy the moments when I’m not obsessing over weight or inches or calories or exercises or miles per minute or any number of other ridiculous things I obsess over all the while raising two little girls, working full time, keeping a house, spending time with Jason and keeping my relationships running smoothly with all the other people in my life.

Whoa… I’m exhausted just typing all that!

So tonight all I want is a vote, a vote from my readers, and in the comment section simply reply with either Alanis or Julianne. Sunday night, Mother’s Day, I’ll pick one lucky commenter to win a prize.

Cast your vote now!!

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time to start living…

May 6th, 2013 No comments

This is my birthday week.
On Friday I will be 34 years old.
I’m sort of exhausted because I’m basically the same exact person I was this time last year. I haven’t really changed. I haven’t really grown. I haven’t really become any better than I was last year.

I still whine about my body.
I still long for things I don’t have.
I still dream of living a movie life.
I still dream of having a love like the one in books.

Last year, when I turned 33 years old, I spent time with my family, with my friends, with Andy Cohen and I sent one of my very best friends (and most important people in my life) on a 5 hour drive with Jason to lay his mother to rest with all four of his brothers.

This year, when I turn 34 years old, I’ll be spending time with my family, my friends and missing one of my very best friends (and most important people in my life) because he’s halfway around the world serving our country.

It’s time for me to grow up.
It’s time for me to really change.
It’s time for me to become better than I was last year.

I say this all the time and I may say it a million times more, but it’s time for me to stop obsessing over the things that really don’t matter in the end.

My body is fine. It may never be perfect.
My family is fine. It may never be perfect.
My life is fine. It may never be perfect.

It’s time for me to stop obsessing.
It’s time for me to quit whining.
It’s time for me to keep loving my family like crazy.
It’s time for me to keep loving my friends like crazy.
It’s time for me to start loving myself like crazy.

It’s time for me to start really living…

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