The Non-Mommy Blog

Tagged

2012-03-04T20:37:00.000-05:00

I thought tagging was not allowed ;) In any case, I've been tagged to answer the following questions by Miamihoney. Here are the rules:

**You must post the rules {?!}
**Answer the 11 questions that the tagger posted for you & then create 11 questions to ask the people you’ve tagged
**Tag 11 people and link them in your post
**Let them know you have tagged them

1. If you were a super hero, what would your super power be?
Based on my current abilities, my superpower is my photographic memory... If I have physically placed or have seen an object anywhere, no matter how long ago, I can remember its exact location. If I could have ANY super power, I would love to be able to make things disappear.

2. If money were no object, where would you go on vacation?
I would go on a tour of the Mediterranean.

3. What age would you go back to and why?
20... my college years were awesome. At that age I was already settled into college, made some great friends and I really wish I had done more to enjoy my freedom.

4. What is your favorite childhood book and why?
I don't really have a favorite book from my childhood because my favorite stories always came from my dad (The gay wolf and the little red riding hood). Now, as a Mom, I love reading The Hungry Little Caterpillar. :)

5. What is your go to wow 'em dinner?
Bistec encebollado (chuck beef steak with onions) with tostones (fried green plantains), arroz blanco (white rice) and habichuelas rosadas (pink beans).

6. Beach or mountains?
BEACH BEACH BEACH BEACH.... now please?

7. Who do you admire and why?
I admire my mom and her patience and selflessness. She has taken care of more people than I can count without asking for anything in return. I just hope that one day she will have the time to focus on herself.

8. What defunct tv show do you miss?
Going WAY back... Freaks and Geeks and Felicity.

9. Are you early, on time or late?
Most of the time I'm early or on-time.... I would have a heart attack if I were late.

10. What was the reason for your last big ole smile?
The sight of my dinner in my hubby's hands... SUSHI. It's a rare treat.

11. What is one thing on your bucket list?
Go on a cruise.

I have now tagged... not 11 people. LOL

Kim (CharmCityKim)
Amanda (Mandileen)
Venessa (AaronandVenessa)

1. If money were no object, what would you buy right now?
2. Who is your favorite TV character and why?
3. What shameful habit do you have?
4. What toy do you wish you could play with right now but refrain from because you're an adult?
5. What strange thing is in your purse right now?
6. What talent do you wish you had?
7. What website do you visit on a regular basis? (pinterest and facebook don't count)
8. What state would you live in if you could live in any state in the US?
9. What is your favorite local restaurant? (no chains allowed)
10. Fruity or chocolaty?
11. What weird things bother you that wouldn't bother other people?

Workout Loot

2012-03-04T17:07:00.000-05:00

Today I decided to treat myself to some new workout gear since I've been consistently working out. In 2012 I've done 16 Zumba workouts and about 24 miles. So, I got myself this cute skirt/legging workout pant and awesome Nike+ shoes. I tested out the Nike+ shoes and they're cool... it syncs with my cell phone and keeps track of my speed/miles... I can even set it so people on Facebook can "cheer" me on by liking my workout. I love the shoe colors... they make me happy and will most likely make me want to wear them to work out :) They also happen to match my cell phone case exactly. Here's to more miles and workouts!!!

Play

2012-03-01T22:23:00.000-05:00

I've spent the past few evenings doing Zumba and reading Hunger Games (devoured the book)... tonight I found myself without a book to read and too tired for exercise... so, I picked up my friend, d700. I'm getting to know my new camera more and more... and the more time I spend with it, the more I love it ;)

This is T's prized possession... a marble he found on the floor at Joanns.

Fruity tic-tacs... I thought they would be good... turns out I only like the orange ones.

These crayons were sitting on the table from T's homework.

I don't recall why we have this tiny sea turtle but it was laying on the floor and looked cute enough to photograph.

This gerber daisy has been alive for three weeks or more... not kidding. I'm starting to think it will never die.

This is one of the few frogs that survived from my large frog collection I had growing up. I absolutely love it... it's a hand painted antique from Japan.

Mardi Gras.... a bit late ;)

If you look closely you can see my dirty nails and the picture on the wall upside down inside the marble.

Now... to try to survive one more work day. This month is going to be ROUGH!

Sewing Corner Complete!

2012-02-26T22:32:00.001-05:00

Yesterday we found a new home for our turtle, Mr. T. We had Mr. T for over 6 years and felt bad that he was being ignored with all the craziness going on in our house. He now resides with another red eared slider and has a mud turtle friend. Well, I didn't waste any time finding a use for the space he was occupying! (I'm not heartless.. just opportunistic... wanted to take the space before it was claimed by toys!).

We went to IKEA and picked up my favorite shelves from them to store my fabric that has been piling up in a basket that was way too small for it. I got pink and black bins to hold the fabrics and to match my pink chair ;) I love it! I also love that it's my girly corner in contrast to C's black/silver gaming/computer center in the same room. I may add flowers and glitter somewhere to truly claim the space ;)

Check it out and ignore the bags and laundry ;)

What do you think!?

10 things I'm loving (in photos)

2012-02-22T22:51:00.000-05:00

I know it has been a while since I've posted... I feel like I have to be inspired to write and it just hasn't been happening. Well, today is your lucky day! I've been using my Instagram app on my phone so I can tell you what HAS been making me happy and inspiring me lately:

1. This morning the sky was breathtaking... so much so that I stopped the car to take this photo. I love taking a moment to capture such beauty. I wonder how many people just drove this morning without even thinking one second about how beautiful the sky looked.

2. Today was National Margarita Day... I just had to celebrate. YUM! Can it be a month?

3. On Monday I had a whole day with this guy. We went to the mall and had fun goofing off. I made a mental note that we need to do this more often... it was long overdue.

4. The weather... it has pretty much been AMAZING. I swear I become a better mom in the spring/summer. As soon as the weather warms up I am more energized and more creative and fun... so a random trip to the park is always a must ;) I'm grateful for this warm winter we've had!

5. Receiving a birthday gift in the mail a few weeks after your birthday... best thing ever. I get to celebrate all over again! Thanks S for my subscription. You know, I found myself looking at the photographs more than reading the articles but I think it's because my brain is wired differently ;)

6. My red lipstick. I bought this lipstick about a month ago and I did not have the guts to really wear it out... I wore it in NY for my birthday and I wore it on Valentines Day to work. I got so many compliments... probably should wear it more often! Oh, and this kid.... he's pretty much the best valentine ever.

7. My three year old gerber flower that fooled me into thinking it was dying only to start flowering like crazy. The flowers are PERFECT! Thanks C for the gift that keeps on giving!

8. Speaking of perfect flowers... these came from my hubby. He did good!

9. Spending time with my new friend... I did my first shoot with this last Friday and had the best model for it.... holy crap, it takes good pictures. Well, correction, it's a great camera and I get good pictures out of it ;)

10. Our new popcorn machine. I grew up with microwave popcorn and I didn't know what I was missing. I don't ever need to go to the movies for popcorn again. YUM

What are you loving? What's inspiring you?

Good Things...

2012-02-04T17:50:00.000-05:00

taking a moment to make a list of great things that are happening....

I finally put pictures on our walls that I have taken! It was ridiculous that the photographer didn't have photos on the wall ;) I'm still working on it but it looks awesome so far!
I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of my Nikon d700... thank you tax money!
I've had a few contacts about photography this past week... still amazes me that I don't have to advertise or anything.
I've been doing Zumba pretty regularly and I am starting to see results... loving it! One of the few work out routines that make me feel sexy as I'm doing it... not like a giant sweaty mess.
My proposal for grad class is done and I'm getting started on my internship... oh and thanks to tax money as well, I will be taking the second class in the summer and graduate in the fall! Woo!!
I'm having family pictures taken by my "intern"... it has been a while!
It snowed today and while I'm not happy that it happened during the weekend, I enjoyed watching T run in the snow... and even tried to catch snowflakes in my mouth with C :)

What good things are going on with you?

Well, this is awkward...

2012-01-26T23:01:00.001-05:00

What do you post about when you've neglected to post for a while and have so much to say... all un-related? Guess I can make one giant post of utter randomness. Here we go:

Crafty Me: I am loving quilting and the outcome. These two were unblogged because I did not want the recipients to know what I was up to ;) I made them both with SO much love... I think you can tell.

Getting old me: I declared the month of January as my birthday month for my 30th birthday. I went to NY with C to celebrate and had a fantastic time! I got to see Wicked for the first time and it is now my favorite musical. I took a lot of photos but my favorite were with my phone...

Busy me: My "down" time is officially over as of today. I am starting the second to last class of my graduate career--my internship. I am actually looking forward to it because I want to be DONE... so much so that I'm taking the last class in the summer to graduate then.

Photographer me: I have some photography stuff coming up soon... birthday party, father daughter dance, wedding... maybe a mother's day shoot.

Tired me: ... heading to bed now. I hope to get back in the blogging mode but it's hard to do now that I can't do it at work during my planning!

Before and After

2012-01-14T17:02:00.000-05:00

The first picture was taken during the process of dumping everything out of the closet and fixing a broken drawer.... second is after 14 bags of clothes and 4 bags of trash were removed. I still need to throw away the drawer bottoms and put that laundry away but... looks good! :) Love the feeling of accomplishment after a good purge.

Blessed

2012-01-05T21:55:00.000-05:00

So happy to have so many supportive friends and an awesome husband. I've been having quite the craptastic week and it's good to know that people have my back :)

New Year!

2011-12-30T22:08:00.001-05:00

2011 was a great year for us... my highlights were having my parents visit me at my house over the summer and going to Disney with the inlaws. We were also blessed with being healthy, having jobs, a nice house which we have been improving and blessed with time to be together. Another big thing in 2011 is that I completed a 5k and was not last and racked up 226 miles!

2012... what will you bring? Well, I have a few plans for you!

365 miles... I was so close this year! I WILL make it to 365 (591)
complete another 5K
grow my hair out... still a work in progress and I keep getting the itch to cut it short
FINISH MASTERS! I have two more classes.... TWO!
make my 30th year a memorable one :)

VENT

2011-12-30T19:39:00.000-05:00

I got many lovely holiday cards this holiday season... I can tell you how many of them were from my siblings: 0. I also got messages and calls... from my siblings? 0. It doesn't matter how busy I get, I always make time for the people that are important to me... be it through sending a card to making a call. It makes me so angry that my sisters (forget my brothers) don't take a moment to check up on me, the youngest. I send them cards for more than one holiday and have called them to check up on them. I really don't want anything more than a call... just a "hey, how are you doing?" call. I think my siblings are so dysfunctional that they think the only time you need to call or contact someone is when you need $ or you're going to visit them.

When I do have a moment to talk with one of my sisters she says "oh I know what you're up to through Facebook".... stalking my Facebook page does NOT count as keeping in touch with your sister.

T doesn't even really know his aunts because they don't look after him. Meanwhile I was the one that had a camp for their kids and watched them in the summers... kept up with what they liked to play with and helped my parents buy them toys.

So... all this to say... who wants to be my sister? Taking applications now.

Count Your Blessings Tuesday...

2011-12-27T23:38:00.000-05:00

It's been a while since I've posted... taking a moment to count my blessings for they are many! I am so grateful for:

feeling more human as the days pass (been sick for a while)
a beautiful Christmas with my men
seeing the magic of Christmas through T's eyes
surprising C with a quilt made with MUCH love and much collaboration (thanks Beeps and Jackpot for the help... he loves it!)
busy season winding down and SO grateful for all the business I got
my parents and my daily talks with them. Please keep my Dad in your prayers as he's not well.
my inlaws that came down to share Christmas day with us
friends. The older I get, the more I realize it's not the # of friends but the quality that matters.
an A in my Grad class... and the ability to get on the BA plus 30 pay scale now!
an invitation to Phi Kappa Phi
winter break... only I wish it were longer and that we weren't starting back on a FEDERAL HOLIDAY
making a delicious PRican Christmas feast and having enough leftovers to venture into Cuban sandwiches ;)

Holiday Photo Dump

2011-12-25T21:52:00.001-05:00

Pretty

2011-12-19T21:29:00.001-05:00

This is the fabric I got yesterday for my next quilt :). <3 it!!

Coming Soon!

2011-12-18T19:09:00.000-05:00

Today C and I went and purchased a new fridge! It's coming on Wednesday and I officially got my adult card... got so excited about it. Our current fridge doesn't even have an ice-maker so this will be SO nice to have... no need to remember to fill ice cube trays or shove things into the abyss of the freezer. Yay for clear drawers and adjustable shelves :)

Friday Phone Dump... on a Sunday

2011-12-18T18:38:00.000-05:00

This week's highlights: Aquarium membership from the inlaws <3, good hair day, train garden, Sunday morning sword fights, cute kid on the go, snuggly puppy, silly kid trying to eat a house, awesome ornaments made in school, great gift of 1,600 legos, very bright house with 1,600+ lights, co-worker having a baby girl so I made a pink owl, pretty earrings from my Dad, snuggly puppy... again :)

What are your highlights?

Friday Photo Dump

2011-12-09T22:36:00.000-05:00

Week highlights: Kid is cute, train is up and halls are decked, presents are wrapped, fabric purchased, dog is warm, perfect shade of red lipstick found, hair accessories made, dog depressed, quilt started, treats purchased, men returned home safely, cute shoes worn, veggie/fruit monster enjoyed, beautiful lights visited.

What were your highlights?

Time Alone= Time to Quilt

2011-12-06T22:08:00.000-05:00

I managed to finish the quilt top for my own quilt tonight! I miss my guys though :(

I added the same fabric that's on top on the bottom after I took this pic... I also trimmed the edges to make them even.

This time it's for me!

2011-12-04T19:51:00.001-05:00

Went to Joanns and got this roll and extra coordinating fabric to make a quilt for MOI. I adore the colors and they match my newly painted living room. I have to think about what I want it to look like!

Which do you like? A or B or do you have a diff. idea?

Photoshop Skillz

2011-12-02T23:11:00.000-05:00

I'm going to take a moment to brag about my Photoshop skills. Why? Because I have never taken a photoshop class and it's not exactly the most intuitive program... everything I know I learned through good ol' trial and error. Lately my skills have improved immensely... I can take two photos and merge them to make one (did that the other day when one kid was looking up in one and the other kid was smiling in the other... put 'em together... two cute kids looking at the camera!). Tonight I took a couple of years off of this gorgeous lady's face. I actually won't give her the super duper edit one because I like my photos to be true to life... but check out the difference a little photoshop can make!

Original... gorgeous without any help

Slight edit under the eyes...

Super awesome edit under the eyes...

Now you might not see much of a difference... which is good because I wouldn't want for it to be glaring.

This is the other photo I merged to make one. Unfortunately, I don't have the two original photos that made this one image... but see if you can tell!

This is fun :)

Friday Photo Dump

2011-12-02T19:00:00.002-05:00

Another Installation of Random Thoughts

2011-12-01T20:35:00.001-05:00

One can never have enough Christmas lights unless you're this guy

I didn't realize how many steps I take a day... it's quite a lot! I guess being way in the back of the school helps after all.

I've been having a good hair week... it doesn't happen often so I really have to enjoy it! Check out the curls.

For the past two days I haven't edited ONE photo or done any grad work. Will I regret it later? I don't think so... I thoroughly enjoyed doing something else :)

I <3 my buddies at work that keep me laughing.

C is leaving me this Sunday for business... T is going to Grandma's and I... am having me some ME time! What should I do!?

Friday Phone Photo Dump

2011-11-26T20:39:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite bloggers does a Friday Photo Dump where she posts all her iPhone photos from the week in a collage. I love the idea and although it's not Friday today... I will post my "Friday" dump. These photos were all from this past week.

Random Thoughts

2011-11-20T22:08:00.000-05:00

I do better with lists and randomness so here it goes....

I don't care that Thanksgiving has not passed... my tree is up. I had free time and inspiration and I made it happen. You can judge me if you want but my Christmas cheer will last longer than yours :)
I don't think I've ever been so busy in my life and so not completely freaking out about it.
I am loving my photo shoots and having stuff to edit. I just wish other things didn't get in the way of my editing such as grad work and house work. I will gladly step away for a four year old though!
I have the most supportive husband ever... I really don't know what I would do without his help and encouragement.
I got a call on Friday about a job. Yeah, a job not teaching and a job I didn't apply for. This call came because I gave my resume to someone to review for after I get my Masters degree and they passed it on to a company. They liked what they saw and wanted to talk to me. I will call them tomorrow. I have mixed feelings about this.
I don't give myself enough credit and it's annoying. Like I said before, I have fifty million things going on and what do I focus on? The things that I'm not getting done.
I'm looking forward to 2:30 on Wednesday, a car trip to NJ, some good food and kid-free time.

What is YOUR random thought right now?

Christmas List

2011-11-13T20:46:00.000-05:00

I started to make a Pinterest board as my Christmas list but looking back at the stuff I added, I really don't want that stuff. I feel like I have everything I could possibly want/need but people keep asking what I want.... Ok, blog readers.... what's on YOUR Christmas list?

Third quilt!

2011-11-12T23:13:00.001-05:00

This is the biggest I've made thus far! I had major issues with the fleece fabric I used as backing... Lots of puckering and I had to use the seam ripper a ton while binding 'cause it kept slipping out! I'm sure my MIL won't notice the imperfections... It was made with lots of love :)

X-Mas Quilt

2011-11-07T22:13:00.000-05:00

I started my third quilt tonight :) This quilt is especially themed for my mother in law. The back of the quilt is going to be solid red flannel and I might add a strip of the different fabrics. I hope I get it done in time! (*I didn't realize until I saw the photo of the quilt layout that the star fabric has a stripe so I think they will go horizonal)

Letters to food

2011-11-06T22:14:00.000-05:00

Dear Soda,
   You're the first caffeinated drink I've loved and always will be. However, I am breaking up with you. I know you've tried to be good for me with your diet versions and all but you really hold no nutritional value and you're holding me back. It is going to be hard saying goodbye... it has only been two days and I can't stop thinking about you. I am strong and will survive.
   <3, M

Dear White Bread,
   You're so good and tasty-- especially when toasted with butter and piled with cheese and other good things. I must not see you often-- and if I do, it will be your multi-grained cousin and in moderation. It was hard asking for a burger the other night without the bread but it was just as tasty. I'll miss you but probably not as much as soda.
   <3, M

Dear French Fries,
   Why must you taste so good? I said goodbye to you a little while ago and I apparently forgot during my recent trip. I've started to replace you with steamed broccoli or any other veggie... it's not the same but I have to think of the end result. You will be missed!
   <3, M

Dear Chocolate,
   Ha, who am I kidding? I love you and always will. I will never say goodbye.
   <3, M

Reality Bites

2011-11-02T21:44:00.000-04:00

First with the positive:

MOST AMAZING TRIP EVER
Seeing my little boy's face light up every single day
Amazing food
Warm weather and missing snow
Lots of laughter
Time alone with hubby
Letting go and being a kid again
Bonding with the in-laws
Getting lost in the moment

Now onto reality:

Grades due Monday
Call from admin on my phone at home
Grad work awaiting
Common Core lesson sharing Friday and nothing to share
Tons to edit and more shoots coming
All that food I ate... gotta get back on track... salads for life
Who wants to clean my house?

The silver lining:

I am refreshed and ready to face it all
I have January to look forward to :)

Good Things...

2011-10-24T21:40:00.000-04:00

progress in grading
progress in packing
getting things checked off the loooooong to-do list
100% in grad class thus far
grad work done for the week
a sweet dog that did great at his vet appointment today--two shots, blood draw and... well, something unpleasant and he didn't even flinch
an awesome student with awesome skills that made an awesome costume
seeing the light at the end of the tunnel this week ;)
two more photo shoots scheduled. So popular!
Pinterest... I'm addicted
my hubby... he pretty much rocks... especially when he makes me breakfast
my almost four year old. I am already in love with the age... it's so magical.
life :)

Positives

2011-10-21T14:43:00.000-04:00

I've been down on myself lately-- body image is down in the slumps. So today I'm focusing on what makes me beautiful (other than the obvious beautiful personality! ;) ....

I have beautiful skin and killer eyebrows... pretty, thick shiny hair!

I have the longest lashes out there and I'm perfecting the art of eye-makeup. My lips ain't bad either.

Now I need to work on embracing the rest of this...

Good Things...

2011-10-16T22:34:00.000-04:00

productive weekends
beautiful weather
fun with my men
time with good friends
finished quilts
argyle nails
reminiscing about old times
time for taking photographs for myself
a willing model
pumpkin carving
pumpkin seed roasting
home-made applesauce
evening walks around the neighborhood
the sound of crunching leaves
the sound of laughter and the pain in your side from laughing too much
feeling fulfilled
starting the countdown to a most amazing experience

Living in the moment :) So not wanting to come down from this high tomorrow....

Rightful Owners!

2011-10-16T15:50:00.001-04:00

T got his quilt yesterday and loved it!

W got her quilt Friday and loved it as well.. here it is in the baby's room! It's crazy how well it fits in there with the decor. I only had a photo with the curtains to go by and it turns out I matched the rug as well :)

Now onto the next quilting projects ;)

Bad Haircut

2011-10-13T20:03:00.000-04:00

S will probably laugh at this but... I really DO need to find me someone to cut my hair that doesn't suck. I went Tuesday to see a lady that had cut my hair before. She had done a good job the first time so I decided to come back. Well, this time it was horrible! I wanted a trim and told her to just cut off the dead-ends... she cut off over an inch. I wanted a wash, cut and dry. It takes over half an hour to dry my hair once it's wet. She kind of gave up before it was completely dry and when you leave my hair damp, it gets all wavy. At this point I just wanted to get out of there so once she was "done", I paid and left. I came home to dry my hair MYSELF. As I am drying my hair, I notice she missed two big chunks of hair and I ended up having to cut them. The other crappy thing was I asked for side-swept long bangs and got some sorry looking layer thing on one side that doesn't sweep to the side.
Thankfully, I'm the only one that notices how crappy it is and I am not that attached to my hair. I know my hair will grow back. I just wish I could find someone good.

Quilt#1 and Quilt#2

2011-10-12T22:30:00.000-04:00

I can now blog about my first ever real quilt because it has been revealed to the recipient ;) T loved that one so much that I made one very similar to it but a bit larger and more for a "big boy". Check them out:

Quilt #1:

Quilt #2: Basted and waiting to be quilted and to have binding added. The binding is going to be the same blue as the spaceship fabric.

Photography BOOM

2011-10-10T22:18:00.000-04:00

If you don't see me for a while it's because I'm lost in the world of editing photos. I have 1,034 photos from Saturday and about 300 from Sunday.... and I have more shoots coming. This weekend alone I had two inquiries for Fall/Christmas pictures so I may have more to add to my already packed calendar. I even have a wedding already booked for March!
I can't believe how much business I have right now and I am loving it. I just hope I can work my way through these photos efficiently! And with that, I'm off to edit some more ;)

All Sewn Up!

2011-10-07T23:03:00.001-04:00

T's quilt is taking shape. I need to buy the brown fabric that's going to go on top and bottom and cut up some little fabric squares. I think I will be binding it the same blue as the background in the rocket fabric. I had some issues with lining up the squares but ... whatever... it's imperfectly perfect for T ;)

Quilt #2

2011-10-05T21:26:00.000-04:00

Most of you know I finished a quilt for a special person recently... well, T wanted one after he saw the one I finished. Today T and I went to "Joyannes" and picked out fabrics. I had little say in the fabrics that were picked but I did give him a choice from things that I thought would be ok. For instance, I said NO to the Tinkerbell fabric he pulled out since he might regret that one in a couple of years ;)

I cut the fabric and laid it out.... I think I'm going to do a similar design to the other one but with brown fabric and blue trim. For the back he picked a flannel with blue stars. We'll see how it turns out!

30th Birthday Plans

2011-09-29T17:57:00.000-04:00

I made up my mind today exactly what I'm going to do for my 30th birthday!!! I'm going to New York. My aunt is letting me stay at her apartment which is right on Madison Avenue... central to EVERYTHING.... Fifth Avenue, Bryant Park and Broadway. I am beyond excited. C's parents will be watching T and they also offered to buy tickets for us to go see Wicked. Now THIS is how you bring in your 30's :)

My First Ever "Quilt"

2011-09-28T23:40:00.000-04:00

I made my first attempt at quilting "M-style"... I say M-Style because I like to figure things out myself. This style of trying things usually means I mess up more than if I had followed a tutorial but I learn better this way ;) So, I learned:

1. That I suck at measuring.

2. It's fun picking out fabric and figuring out where I want it to go

3. I need one of my awesome crafty sewing friends to teach me all about binding

4. I need thinner batting

5. The solid pink squares bother me but may not bother me if I had made more squares... maybe?

6. I just made a useless piece of s but I like it

I totally HACKED Chipotle

2011-09-26T20:18:00.001-04:00

C and I love Chipotle.... but we vowed we would eat more at home. Tonight I made a chicken fajita bowl and I swear it tasted JUST like what you would get at Chipotle. I made cilantro lime rice, blackened chicken (left over from another meal), pico de gallo, grilled onions and peppers...topped with a bit of cheddar cheese and a bit of sour cream. It was yummy and fresh and satisfying.

I'm on a roll in the kitchen. This weekend I made green apple and cheddar grilled cheese on sourdough and that was awesome as well. I loved the crunch of the apple and the tart taste with the cheese. I also made pumpkin spice truffles that were delish.

Who would have thought I would enjoy my time in the kitchen?

I WON!! I WON!!!

2011-09-24T09:29:00.000-04:00

I never win ANYTHING and last night at Longaberger Basket Bingo I won not once, but twice! The thing is... I really don't know anything about Longaberger Baskets...nor do I have baskets in my house because they don't go with my decor. In any case, the point is I WON! My coworker who loves Longaberger baskets will kill me when I say this but... I may sell them. Holy crap these baskets are EXPENSIVE!

This was my first win... full of office supplies. I have been informed that this basket is a recipe box.

This was my second win. A fall basket with Bath and Body works lotions and shower gels, bath pouf and bath gloves.

The basket is actually very pretty... doesn't quite go with my decor.

This one has a place for you to put the recipe on top while you're cooking.

I was looking online to see what the big deal about these baskets was... and found the fall one selling for $124 on ebay and that one doesn't have a top! Check it out.

So now I know why when I was leaving Bingo early, the old ladies were heckling me. "That's right, leave so we can win something!" Some of those ladies were SERIOUS... dabber holders and all...

Good Things...

2011-09-22T22:28:00.000-04:00

a successful meeting with the big cheese
TONS of photo shoots booked
taking maternity photos of your BFF... and finishing editing. I am in love with her photos <3
grad work DONE
it's Friday tomorrow after the LONGEST WEEK EVER!
lots to look forward to in the coming months :)
compliments... they're nice
chocolate chip frap from Starbucks.... YUM
my husband... he's pretty awesome. Breakfast in bed for no reason, gas in my car, straightening up the house... I'm living a dream!
T... he gives the best hugs and kisses.

P90X Journey

2011-09-08T18:25:00.002-04:00

You can follow our progress or lack thereof here: http://fluffytofab.blogspot.com/

Count Your Blessings Tuesday

2011-09-06T21:53:00.000-04:00

Today I am grateful for:

staying on top of things at work... I know it's only the second week but I'm off to a good start
fall scented candles... have pumpkin spice burning as I type!
a short bout of grandmatitis... I was expecting a full blown epidemic but it only lasted two days!
a good start to my grad class.... doesn't seem too bad yet
good students... again, too early to call but I am enjoying them.
laughing with T about nothing in particular
lazy rainy afternoons with T laying on top of me all cuddly... gotta take it when I can!
fresh veggies and fruit directly from the farm... never buying at the grocery store again!
a hubby that puts gas in the car without me even asking

P90x... God help me!

2011-09-05T21:06:00.000-04:00

I'm starting P90X this next Thursday along with C and another coworker. I figure this should keep me accountable. I am scared... not so much of the exercises since I've seen what I have to do... it's more HOW LONG I have to do it for. Each workout is an hour long except for yoga day which is an hour and a half! The workouts go in phases... there are three phases and they take place in 13 weeks.

I, of course will probably have to start over once I get back from my one trip but hopefully by then it won't be a big deal. I'll be walking a lot so that should count for something!

Wish me luck!

Count Your Blessings Tuesday

2011-08-30T22:15:00.000-04:00

It's baaaaaaaaack! With grad school starting back up (one out of the last three classes!!! Woo!) and craziness at work, I need to take a moment to count 'em!

Today I am grateful for:

a day off even though it had to come from an act of nature
the health and safety of everyone in my family
a very clean house courtesy of day off and kid free weekend
time alone with C. Totally enjoying laughter and snuggles :)
belting out songs in the car with C
a very thoughtful C... wow, lots of props for him this week!
hearing a very confident and content T on the phone
coworkers that are on the same orbit as I am
an awesome student aide
a good first day back... hopefully it will be a great year!
a good start to grad class-- I was the first to post to the discussion board. Brownie points anyone?

Woo! Lots to be thankful for!

My last hurricane

2011-08-27T18:25:00.000-04:00

Today gave me some time to remember my last hurricane. It was Hugo-- a category 5 and it hit the island of PR. I remember all the preparation before the hurricane hit and I also remember my mom freaking out-- she dragged me and the dog into a bathroom while the rest of the family looked out the window (I wouldn't suggest looking out windows BTW). I did get a chance to look out the window at some point and saw a dog trying to walk against the wind and then was blown away :( I also saw our neighbor's roof fly off and down the road. Thankfully our house was ok. I remember stepping outside after it was over and it was SO quiet-- you couldn't even hear birds. We didn't have water or electricity for weeks and I remember we drove all the way across the island when we could so we could get a cold drink!

The one memory that will forever be in my head though is that of my Dad when we went to assess the damage at his company. Imagine a giant warehouse and my Dad who had always been huge in my eyes looking as small as I had ever seen him crying and completely lost. All the work that he had put in for years was gone in one day. That hurricane changed our lives and is the reason I am here in the U.S. now.

We can plan all we want but there are always bigger things at work.

SHAKIN' IT UP

2011-08-23T17:33:00.000-04:00

So this school year is off to an interesting start already! Yesterday we had a power outage and I sat at my desk in the pitch black before the emergency lights came on scared and wishing I had a flashlight instead of my cell phone. Today? We had a 5.8 magnitude earthquake. I was talking to some coworkers and felt the room shake. At first I thought there were people working on the roof and running but then I realized what it was and hightailed it out of the room. I didn't even look back to see if anyone was following me. I'm scared what tomorrow will bring!

Thankfully, everyone is safe and sound. I was able to reach C and T. T slept right through it and C was fine. I came home to find a few things knocked down in the bathroom and bedroom, paintings askew and one painting fell off T's wall. The dog didn't want to come out of his cage when I got home... poor thing.

Days like today make you realize that you're SO not in control. Count your blessings people!

This Summer

2011-08-17T21:34:00.000-04:00

This summer has been one of the best summers I've had in a long time. Did I go anywhere? No, not really. Did I do something super amazing and new? No, not really. Did I love every minute of my summer? HECK YEAH!

This summer I:

had a visit from my parents which may be the number one most amazing thing this year
learned I can do anything with enough determination (who fixed and stained a deck all by herself? Oh yeah, me!)
re-decorated my living room into a space that I looooooove
read 6 books for PLEASURE
went on my first ever sleepover with a few coworkers and it was nice to connect with them outside of school
re-connected with hubby. It was nice to spend time together without the stress of grad school and work hanging over my head
had days that I did absolutely NOTHING but get up, take a shower, put on makeup and lounge around until it was time to pick up T from daycare and I have NO guilt about it
worked out whenever I wanted to and did about 4 5Ks
had lovely evening walks with the family
enjoyed having lunch with C and sometimes even going out to lunch
caught up with some friends and even some students
had a few photo shoots
went to a museum I've wanted to visit
planned out what we're doing in October ---soooooo excited!!!!
went to the thrift store which was on my to-do list
sewed up some stuff
had time to do nice things for C
got extra cuddle time with T and had so many laughs with him

I am so grateful for my life and all the people in it. I'm ending my summer with a full heart-- my soul has been fed. I hope this happy feeling helps me make it through the school year. Can I bottle it up?

My 30th Birthday

2011-08-11T22:18:00.001-04:00

I know it's a little bit of time from now until my birthday but I'm thinking I need to have my twenties go out in STYLE. I don't know what exactly I'm doing but I know I'm wearing this:

I've decided my goal is to look and feel FABULOUS for my 30s... so I've upped my workouts and I've cut out a few foods from my diet. I don't have any weight goals or size goals... just want to look and feel good! I think it's doable ;)

I'm in love...

2011-08-05T23:12:00.000-04:00

It took us FOREVER to find a couch that doesn't have back pillows but we found it! I love how it looks... I love that I won't have to yell at T or the dog for laying on the pillows and getting them all slouchy and messed up.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Gotta love Goodwill

2011-08-05T13:22:00.000-04:00

While there's a ton of crap to sort through, I was able to find T a nice blue/white striped button down shirt from Childrens Place for $1, an argyle vest sweater for $1 from Gymboree and a black long sleeve polo from Polo Ralph Lauren with a purple horse for $1! All these items were almost never worn. We also found a Rainbow Fish book for 94 cents in like new condition.

I went with T to the store and he actually enjoyed it and understood how the store worked. He said "so when we're done with our things we bring them here and other people buy it!"... then he said "there sure is a lot of junk here" LOL Love the kid.

Disney shirt!

2011-08-02T09:22:00.001-04:00

I made this last night for T to wear on our trip. What do u think?

Planning :)

2011-07-28T15:10:00.000-04:00

Since I have two weeks to wait for the furniture that means I have two weeks to get everything planned :) Check out my Pinterest board with the items I'm either thinking about or have already purchased.

http://re.pn/b/rj7R

In addition to the living room remodel I am also re-claiming the living room as an adult space. This means I'm re-organizing the basement to contain all of T's toys. Wish me luck!

Living Room Remodel

2011-07-27T22:17:00.000-04:00

We just bought these pieces at IKEA today and they'll be delivered in two weeks... I can't wait!!!! In preparation for their arrival, I'm going to paint the wall behind the couch a light color that I have not decided on yet and sew up a few accent pillows... I'll be shopping for fabric as well ;)

Why are we getting rid of the old couch? Because it's THE most uncomfortable POS we have bought. I fell in love with the red and I should have cared more about the comfort of it all. So, lesson learned. We know now we don't want a couch with back pillows that get all saggy and don't support your back!

Have any fabric inspiration for me? I'm open to ideas ;) This is the only one that has caught my attention so far!

Confession

2011-07-26T14:23:00.001-04:00

I am enjoying watching Jerseylicious. I told C that I'm watching it to learn more about his culture. I don't think he bought it.

Things I'm loving...

2011-07-24T20:55:00.000-04:00

My men :) I have two of C 'cause I kinda think he's cute.

Can't forget the dog... ;)

My first orchid. Hope I don't kill it.

My two new chairs. I can have SIX people at my table now! Woo!

Oh and my cute new table cloth. It makes me HAPPY

My new lamps in the living room... less industrial than the ones I had before!

The dog approves.

Spending time with this one. He sat on the couch going over this toy catalog for a while...

Haha... I like the reflection of the plant in the base of the new lamp.

The book I'm reading on the iPad. I must admit I like a real book over this any day but it's cool to not have to go out to buy a book!

Great time with friends :)

2011-07-19T09:39:00.001-04:00

Last night we went out and had ADULT time with friends! Woo! We're really enjoying our time while T is with Grandma and Grandpa. I got all dolled up for the night and taught C how to use my camera on Manual and how much more flattering pictures are from top/down. He did a great job taking some shots of me before we left!

We used the stool and timer for this one ;)

Our friend A's first time at Fogo. He loved it!

A and T before the meat sweats ;)

C and I... I think he's entering a meat coma.

What are YOU doing for fun?

Time to reconnect...

2011-07-17T15:53:00.000-04:00

Thanks to the in-laws C and I have been having a wonderful weekend alone. Yesterday we went to see Harry Potter at the theater and hit up Olive Garden for dinner. Today we had a day trip to Annapolis. I've really been enjoying my time with C. Here are a few shots from our date today:

Recap

2011-07-10T21:20:00.000-04:00

My parents visit = AWESOME! I loved having my parents at home with me... it felt SO right to have them here. I thought I might be nervous or stressed during their visit but it all went out the window. It was great to be able to cook for them and just sit around and chat. I hope that they come again :)

Drama during my parents visit = POOP. I went through Facebook and did a mass delete of all the negativity. I don't keep "friends" that say things like that to me--- nor will I keep family that does that to me.

Time with my men = SWEET! I love being able to see C more often and spending lots of time with T. T has been an angel and he really keeps me laughing.

Now I plan to take some time for MEEEEEEEEEEEEEE. Going to get my hair trimmed this week and maybe fit in a pedi.

What have YOU guys been up to!?

"La familia es una institución"

2011-07-03T21:32:00.000-04:00

The title there is from a Spanish song or saying from my childhood... family is an institution. In my case, it's a mental institution.

As you all know I've been DYING for my parents to come visit me. They surprised me last weekend by telling me they were coming. I was/am beside myself that they are here-- IN MY HOUSE! I prepared for their arrival as if a King and Queen were coming to visit me. I took my camera to the airport to document this MONUMENTAL event in our lives. I posted the photos on Facebook for everyone to see--share in our happy moment.

What do I wake up to this morning? To two messages from one of my brothers in PR. He posted on one of the photos "How great is it to have your Mom and Dad there when I have a brother in a mental hospital" then this long block of text with a message for my mom saying that she should care more about her son in PR dying of a mental illness. I took the comment off the photo and wrote him a private message back saying I thought he was more mature than that and that he should stop blaming Mom for the choices they all made in their lives, etc. Then he writes back a GIANT block of text basically blaming Mom for his childhood and ME for being happy... even told me he doesn't care about me or Mom. I wrote him back one last time telling him his issues were not with me-- that he should have the balls to tell Mom and not take it out on me. I also told him I was done and wished him the best in his life. He wrote back again... I am not replying.

What the F? This is the SECOND time a sibling has felt the need to take out their frustrations on ME. I've done nothing to them. The only thing I did was be born and lead a normal, happy life. I'd do anything for them but that's obviously not going to be reciprocated.

In any case, I am thoroughly enjoying my parents and doting on them. They told me that my house feels like home to them and I'm SO happy to be able to share it with them finally.

Forget Handy Manny

2011-06-29T16:01:00.000-04:00

Handy Me! Who needs a man to fix stuff? Surely not me! In my crazy "let me do three months worth of projects in one week" mode, I attached two rails that were missing to our deck (woo power tools!) and stained/sealed our deck all my myself!

I love being able to get stuff done.

Productivity Level: High

2011-06-27T22:08:00.000-04:00

If you haven't already heard, my parents are visiting soon. This has kick started my crazy cleaning/organizing/decorating spree.

I started with a trip to IKEA to do a project I've been planning in my head. Simple enough... $40 later and a couple of screws, we've got a sewing/craft table. It fits that spot perfectly! I love my pink chair :)

I have a plan of attack for the rest of the week. Just TODAY I de-weeded the backyard and sprayed anti weed stuff. I pulled up dead grass from the front, racked the dirt and planted grass seeds. Began washing clothes (nowhere near done my laundry hell) and cleaned out fridge. I then borrowed a power washer and power washed the whole front of the house including the sidewalk and power washed our deck and siding on the back.

Still left to do: more laundry, more purging, cleaning out the pantry and organizing, buying food and deciding on a menu, cleaning the bathrooms and replacing caulk, cleaning house, buy a couple plants.

That's all doable, right?

Product Rave

2011-06-24T10:23:00.000-04:00

I don't think I've ever blogged about a product I've used but this one is so awesome that I had to take a moment for others to know about it ;) I completely dread going in and paying $10-$15 to have my eyebrows waxed or even $30 to do a face wax. My hair grows so fast and I'm trying to save $ so.... in comes Sally Hansen to the rescue. I paid $6 dollars for this and I was able to wax my whole face and still have enough for 6 more waxes. I was apprehensive when I saw that it didn't use strips for removal... there's no need... the wax goes on easily and hardens fast. The only problem I had was putting on my big girl panties to be able to pull the wax off my face. Once I got over that, it was awesome. Check it out!

* This is not a paid endorsement. I totally love this product.

Operation Save For New Kitchen is a GO

2011-06-22T19:40:00.000-04:00

We have a savings plan, a vision for the kitchen aaaaaaaaand now we wait ;)

Backsplash

Count Your Blessings Tuesday

2011-06-14T21:25:00.000-04:00

I stopped with my blessings posts for a while but I really need to think on what I have going on that I am thankful for right now after a negative start to my week.

Today I am thankful for:

funny life surprises-- like 3 random baby fish showing up in the tank with your ONLY fish
beautiful weather and time outside meeting neighbors
scheduled photo shoots
holding babies... lots of them. I also like the fact I can give them back ;)
knowing that God has a plan for me... not sure what it is just yet but I know it's good
friends who listen and also tell it like it is
the motivation I've found to keep on walking/running (106 workouts since Dec 27th-- 141 miles)
yummy homemade cuban sandwiches with a rum cocktail to polish off the day
summer being just around the corner

Living Room Accent Wall

2011-06-11T21:32:00.000-04:00

We just got this awesome mirror today and I decided I want to paint that wall a diff. color... the other walls will remain the green you see in the left corner and the reflection in the mirror... the kitchen is a light melted butter color. HELP!

Light brown

Burnt Orange

Dark Brown

Light orange

Dark Yellow

No time or inspiration...

2011-06-06T23:05:00.000-04:00

to blog lately. When I do get on the computer I'm busy editing pictures from a wedding (thankfully done as of yesterday) as well as TWO shoots I had afterwards. I'm happy to see that I have business coming even though I'm not really advertising. In any case, back to blogging... I seem to do well with lists so here's a list of what has been keeping me from my awesome blog:

work... new policy in place that does not allow access to blogger
application for a new position (cross your fingers for me)
working on my portfolio for work
photography
working out... those miles on the right require some time! I actually have gone from a 20 min. mile to 14!
trips to Jersey
sick baby who is now thankfully better
awesome hubby's birthday
SLEEP... I'll choose sleep over blogging any time. Speaking of...

Join me October 23rd

2011-05-29T21:56:00.002-04:00

http://www.komenmd.org/2011/wevegotclass

A few things to think about...

2011-05-26T00:08:00.000-04:00

Oprah has been a staple in my life. I haven't watched every show, nor have I bought all her favorite things or tried to live by every one of her words like Robyn Okrant. It was just a cultural presence that was there and it was comforting to know that she was there. Heck, I even remember when I was in elementary school I used to pretend with my friends that I was "Oprah Dog" and my friend was "Sally Jessie Chicky Rafael" (don't judge)-- so yeah, we go way back.
During her last show today she said a few things that really hit home for me so I want them on my blog for me to see:

"There's a difference between thinking you deserve to be happy and knowing that you are worthy of being happy. Your being alive makes worthiness your birthright. You alone are enough."
-- I am enough... simple statement yet hard to believe. Must work on it.

Everyone has a platform, Winfrey said. "Mine is a stage in a studio. Yours is wherever you are, with your own reach."

-- I have a platform... where is it?

"You also have to know what sparks the light in you so that you in your own way can illuminate the world. You have the power to change somebody's life."
--I found what sparks my light and it's photography... love capturing moments for others. I just wish I could do it as my job... like my REAL job.

So... there almost a sense of mourning for Oprah. I'm not sure how long it's going to take before it feels "normal" to not have her around. I'm sure it's not the last we'll hear of her.

Things that make me happy

2011-05-23T22:32:00.000-04:00

a clean house that I did not clean
a mile run faster than before
a vision of smaller class sizes in my future
a long weekend in the horizon
a pedicure date scheduled
a husband that cleans out the nasty stuff in the fridge
a little boy that belongs to me starting to really speak Spanish
a long overdue chat with good friends
a silly puppy that likes to snuggle close and snore

What makes YOU happy?

Totally hooked on this song

2011-05-20T21:22:00.002-04:00

This is acoustic...

Sometimes you just have to...

2011-05-18T23:07:00.000-04:00

let it out. I don't know what happened yesterday to set me off but I think I just needed to cry and let go of the stress of the past couple of weeks. I cried and fell asleep at 9 and woke up feeling a bit better. Does this happen to anyone else? I feel like it came out of nowhere!

This weekend I...

2011-05-16T22:10:00.001-04:00

spent some time with the in-laws... it was nice
spent time with C's friends-- they make me laugh
got my third wedding under my belt
found my favorite alcoholic drink of which I drank TWO of (Malibu Bay Breeze)
became more confident in my ability to photograph weddings... I did a pretty good job and all by myself! (I did miss W, though!)
got to dance with C
found out how much fun it is to photograph and talk to drunk people
made some new friends

Today I...

have an arm that hurts from lugging a heavy camera for 12 hours
have some $ in the bank
have a little boy that I had to take to the doctors for some issues he has been having (all resolved with some meds)
picked up the camera in spite of the pain because that little boy looks too darn cute jumping in puddles
skipped my workout because I think I did enough yesterday
really want another Malibu drink ;)

Tomorow I...

am going to have a lot of work
will have a lot to talk about
will have no time to do it :(

Target + Zappos

2011-05-13T22:08:00.000-04:00

= Cutest outfit EVER

Good things...

2011-05-04T22:04:00.000-04:00

I finished one of my grad projects. (Click to see)
I went in for my first check up in years (other than OBGYN) and was told I'm perfect... as if we didn't already know that! LOL Dr was happy with my exercise plan and stuff :)
I completed most of my portfolio for work
My walk with S was lovely-- oh and S, it turns out we walked 2.3!
Compliments. I've been getting a lot of them lately and it really brightens up my days
Had a nice short jog with the fam this afternoon :)
I see a light at the end of the tunnel... come on May 26th!

MIA

2011-05-02T22:57:00.000-04:00

I haven't been blogging nor taking photos. Work, grad school and housework are taking up a bit of my time. I have everything due soon-- projects, assignments, grades. On top of all this I have to plan lessons, grade things, be everything to everyone and attempt to have some semblance of a normal life. The few moments I have are spent with T and C (as that is never a moment wasted) and in between all that I have to fit in working out. So yeah... you could say I'm stressed.

Things I'm looking forward to this week:

a nice walk with S tomorrow
finishing up my storyboards and reflection so I can be DONE with the one class
bed snuggles
Mother's Day

Numbers...

2011-04-25T22:28:00.000-04:00

60 is the number of minutes it took me to plan my lessons for tomorrow.
40 is the number of work days before SUMMER
30 is the number of minutes it took for me to get sunburnt
24 is the number of work days before Seniors are gone
15 is the number of minutes I was in grad class tonight
8 is the grade I received on my last assignment (out of 10 : / )
7 is the number of days I was in lovely Florida
6 is the number of hours I'll probably sleep tonight
1 is the number of people I missed the most while in Florida
0 is the amount of motivation I have to go to work tomorrow

Eeeeek!

2011-04-22T13:36:00.000-04:00

I just received the greatest news today from a very special friend of mine and I am over the moon happy for her! I can't wait and am itching to go out and buy some awesome stuff already. :)

This is what Spring Break looks like :)

2011-04-21T19:25:00.000-04:00

No other explanations necessary :)

My crippled leg

2011-04-14T20:51:00.000-04:00

I'm out of commission for walking/running for a week : / I now have to take 800mg of ibuprofen three times a day for five days and ice my legs every night for three days. If after a week I still have pain when I exercise I have to go to a physical therapist. Please cross your fingers that it will heal itself and go away.

In light of my current issues...

2011-04-12T21:44:00.000-04:00

Before I forget...

2011-04-09T23:18:00.001-04:00

T said the best thing to me when I finished the race today.... he said:
"Mommy, you won... every body else didn't win."

Love that kid. I did win. :)

My first 5k

2011-04-09T12:36:00.001-04:00

I finished in 50 minutes...I was not last. I would say it was a success and I am so lucky to have a great group of people to cheer me on!

Water Drop Photos = WIN

2011-04-07T21:46:00.000-04:00

Another thing checked off my "photography hit list". Took about 100 photos for me to figure out how to get the drops in focus but I got it!

Shin Splints = FAIL

2011-04-07T20:46:00.000-04:00

Hoping my pain will go away by the 5K on Saturday and that I don't die.

3.1 Miles

2011-04-03T15:56:00.001-04:00

in 45 minutes! WOOT! When I started it took me almost 60 minutes. Maybe on race day I won't die.

Today

2011-04-02T16:09:00.000-04:00

Today I cleaned like my Mami taught me. This involves removing knobs from the oven, grabbing a ladder and taking down lights to clean, cleaning blinds one by one, windows inside and out, moving the fridge to clean the floor.... you get the idea. Now I'm sitting in the living room enjoying the extra light coming in through my clean windows and the fresh smell of a clean house. Sadly I only got through cleaning the living room and kitchen this way today but at least I know it was thorough!

It makes me sad to cook dinner now and mess up my pristine counters. Oh well, at least we can enjoy some bistec with arroz con habichuelas!

The silver lining...

2011-03-30T21:28:00.000-04:00

I had "one of those days" today so instead of venting again, here are things that happened today that make me happy:

T's case of "grandmatitis" seems to be wearing off. We had a good night with minimal tantrums!
I had a couple of students tell me they like having me as their teacher :)
The myth project they presented today was awesome. They're so creative!
My awesome hubby took on some T duty this afternoon so I could get my grad work done that didn't get done last night.
My grad work did not take as long as I anticipated!
I beat my time on the mile by a minute-- almost died doing it but the point is I DID IT!
I have some pretty awesome people at work that keep me sane.

March comes in like a lion...

2011-03-30T08:26:00.001-04:00

And I hope it's out like a lamb. I am over this month. I am having issues at work, been sick, had the furnace break, had grad work up the wazzoo. I am tired and would like a break. Meanwhile I have ZERO sick days and will not get paid for one day already on the next paycheck. Here's to a much brighter April!

Eighty!

2011-03-27T22:20:00.003-04:00

WOo! I reached 80 miles :)

Five Year Anniversary :)

2011-03-27T00:48:00.000-04:00

Just posting photos... you'll get the idea ;)

Count Your Blessings Tuesday on a Wednesday

2011-03-23T09:55:00.000-04:00

Today I am grateful for:

my upcoming 5 year anniversary :)
a nice weekend with perfect weather and good health!
my moon photo... I can't stop staring at it
my date with Beeps-- long overdue and so nice!
patience... I don't really have a lot but I'm grateful for every bit I can muster
the family that C and I have created-- I feel that with all the dysfunctional examples that we have, we've come out unscathed. I love the traditions and values that we are instilling in T
play time outside. I love watching T play outside and talking to our neighbors

Super Moon!

2011-03-19T20:59:00.003-04:00

I've wanted to take a picture of the moon like this for a LONG time. Check off from bucket list ;)

This weekend...

2011-03-18T12:59:00.000-04:00

Nobody will get sick, our heater won't break, it will not be cold and raining and I WILL enjoy it. I'm glad our weekend is not packed with plans other than a birthday party tomorrow and a photo shoot on Sunday. What are YOUR weekend plans?

Count Your Blessings Tuesday

2011-03-15T11:16:00.000-04:00

Today I am grateful for:

LIFE-- it seems so trivial the things I am grateful for when others on the other side of the world are thankful to just find out their loved one is alive or to be able to drink clean water. Click here to see how insignificant these things we have become when this is your reality.

...now on to the "trivial":

C and his thoughtfulness :)
compliments and learning how to take them
SUNSHINE at 6pm-- I come back alive in the Spring and Summer
a little boy who will randomly tell me he loves me and will sometimes crawl into my lap for some cuddles-- how much longer will he do this for?
finding out I have Monday off from class so I can work on the project--woo!
friends that stick by me and understand that I have fallen off the face of the Earth because of my packed schedule... I promise to be back and have a life as soon as I am done with grad school!

Random thoughts...

2011-03-11T22:56:00.001-05:00

I'm glad to be feeling better after laying in bed for two days
I'm sad that my sick days are all gone
I'm glad to have presented at my PD today and have it over with
I'm disturbed by the state of my house after being out of commission for two days
I need a time out sometimes... like a for real sitting in the corner to reflect on things time out
I need grad school to be over so I can actually have a social life-- one where I can meet up with friends and not have to worry about all the extra crap that has to get done
I'm happy to be working out again after my sick days
I'm hopeful that by the summer I won't mind my bathing suit as much
Giving up chocolate so far has not been a struggle.... however, I had a stomach bug for a couple of days and I'm sure that helped!
I need a mani/pedi/wax stat
I can't get Japan and all the destruction out of my mind (keeping them in my prayers)
I am scared to go to work on Monday and find piles of work just waiting for me but in comparison to the above, not so bad

Happy Weekend!

Seventy! Woo!

2011-03-08T22:36:00.002-05:00

70 miles!

Count Your Blessings Tuesday

2011-03-08T09:42:00.000-05:00

It has been a while! I need to remind myself today what I am grateful for... sometimes you need to list it to know!

Today I am grateful for:

health. I just had T and C sick recently and I'm glad to have them back in good health.
creativity in planning. I've been planning some pretty fun lessons. I just wish my students weren't "too cool" to get excited.
actually learning something new in grad class last night.
my snuggle bug of a kid. He's like Jekyll and Hyde lately throwing epic tantrums but then he'll offset that with major snuggles.
In-laws that come to the rescue at the last minute.
a trip to Florida coming soon!