HOME for 2015

Usually our return trip from Illinois is a lot closer to the day of arrival, but not this time.
[Thank you, holiday vacations!]

They're also never quite this.... packed.

loaded up to the max! 

Hahahaha. So that's a combination of dog stuff, our stuff, and our new [Christmas] stuff. Poor Lexi didn't know what hit her until she was slammed to the ground with a full trunk and about 600 lbs of living cargo for the trip home. You're a trooper, Lexi ;)

Unfortunately for our tentative itinerary, the snow started to set in pretty early in Illinois; if there's one thing Lexi won't cooperate for, it's snow, so that rendered us with the decision to risk it or get a head start. Head start it was, which deleted the time we had alotted to stop by and see Rob's dad again this morning, but also landed us back in Cincinnati at a very reasonable hour.

These trips don't really phase us anymore, which I think is both a great thing and a small curse ;), but either way, we're home safe and sound and have even managed a full grocery run to boot. It's just now turning into evening, and I'm happy to spend it planted here and unwinding before the inevitable onset of Monday-after-holiday stuff tomorrow at work.

That being said, I couldn't have imagined a better holiday season overall: friends, family, fur-kids, lots and lots of presents, and something about an engagement to top it off. :p. This has been the best one yet. The pups think so, too!

Here's to wrapping up the holiday and making 2015 the BEST yet!

xo | cmd

Let's NOT Forget

Yes, I remember where I was when the first plane hit the World Trade Center in 2001. I will never forget the confusion, fear and anger that spread out over all of us, two states away in classrooms that would never feel the physical aftermath of the buildings collapsing to the ground. I was stunned. The entire world was stunned.

And now, it's 13 years later. Thirteen years later. I hope that amount of time does nothing to dull our sympathies for the families whose loved ones never returned that day, and that we will remember what that day meant for our nation as a unit to respond and band together with each other against the enemy.

Facebook of course was teeming all day with pictures to commemorate the 13th anniversary of that horrible event; two of them stood out to me and I hope they might resonate with someone out there, as well.

the twin towers

a light against the sky.. we will not forget

For the service personnel and rescuers on and following that day in 2001, and for the families of those who never reported back: Thank you, from one person and her family here in Ohio, for the sacrifice you endured to uphold the safety of our nation and all of us in it. We are indebted to you.

In our daily routine here, it was the standard workday followed by picking up Sydni and heading to the store for some last minute dinner items. Sydni specifically needed some noodles and green beans, so she bought, bagged and carried her own groceries.

little grocery shopper

Yep. That's my little Toms-wearing, canvas-bag-toting, wind-blown-hair child marching out of Kroger like she just bought the place. I. Love. Her.

Tomorrow is Friday and that is fine with me.

xo | cmd

Weekend Prep

I know I could complete a solo [grocery] shopping trip in half the time it takes to do it when Syd's with me, but let's face it - it's way more fun when she's there. It's even better when we have multiple stops for a range of things, and she replaces the irritation of shopping in general with funny observations.

Our very first, and very crucial order of business?

princess. fishing pole.

Yes, that's right. We were on the hunt for a princess fishing pole, for the princess herself. We have at least 2 scheduled outings on the boat for this weekend, and I've promised Syd that she'll have her own pole for the excursion. That being said, we're starting here, with pink princesses. Haha. Gotta start somewhere, amiright?

We also stopped off at Jungle Jim's, which, despite it's massive innards and lengthy traversing time, was actually fun with Sydni. I asked her to tell me tales about every country aisle we passed. Some of them were pretty creative. On the way out, she wanted to take a picture with the gorilla and the rhino, so of course we did.

eat more bananas.. and give more hugs!
[this world would be darn near perfect, huh... haha]

rhino!

Nana & Pappy [aka, my parents] will be here first thing tomorrow, so we've decided tonight will be pretty low-key. Syd's been a huge help tidying up her room for Nana & Pappy, assisting me with laundry and even swept off the front porch with her broom. Now I see why people have lots of kids ;). Joking..... joking.... sorta... ;)

Anyway, the weekend's sure to be a fun-filled few days, so we'll leave it at that for now and relax here until Saturday sunshine meets us in the morning.

G'Nite!

xo | cmd

Sydni Sundays [My Favorites]

It was a bit of a split decision this morning to go ahead and brave the rain for church. The back deck and stairs were already glazed over, proven so by the dogs who took a tumble down the two stairs on their way to the yard [they're ok].

The sleetish rain was here this morning, in full force. Some of my friends from IL reported that their church services had been cancelled due to the weather, which of course made me nervous knowing that Rob had a homeward commute through it this afternoon.

Fortunately, Sydni and I made it to and from church with no issues, and even made a stop at the grocery store to stock up on some waffles for the house.

It's these little moments that remind me every single time why I love her more than I thought I could ever love a person:

her.... hahaha..

 ^ I'm calling this creature a fournager.

FOURNAGER - n. - The four-year-old adult who today advised me that "multi-grain waffles are what big and strong people eat, not the chocolate ones, mommy."

FOURNAGER - n. - The four-year-old adult who today advised me that "multi-grain waffles are what big and strong people eat, not the chocolate ones, mommy."

Welll, how dare I not know that... ;)
She's hilarious.

We got home and swore off the rest of the day until Rob made it home; our time was filled with Despicable Me 2 on repeat.


And yes.. it's as funny the first time as it is the third time, I've decided.

Rob made it home in the early evening [phew], and as we eyed the weather moving into the later evening hours, I decided that rather than risk both us of heading to Milford in the morning, Sydni and I would make that trip tonight and she could stay at her dad's house for the night. I hate to cut any of my time short with her, but I'd rather be safe than sorry....

Let's see what this storm has in store for us tomorrow.
Winter winter go away....

xo | cmd

Lettuce Learn .... & Love!

Woops.
In my quest to continue eating like a rabbit while at work, I've made it a habit now to pick up a new salad mix each week. I've been pretty good about it, and thought I had this simple thing checked off my list for this week, too. Haha.

Welp, folks, here is what happens when you leave salad mix [sans dressing, mind you] in your car overnight and the temperature drops down to -5°F:

gaaahhhhhh.... no. no good.

I checked over this melted mess of a salad that I purchased yesterday, and quickly realized there was no salvaging, unless I was down for some soggy, slightly icy but certainly saturated spinach and greens. Thanks, but no thanks.

*Sigh. Idiot.
Fortunately, Cincinnati has no shortage of groceries, so the first few minutes of the lunch break meant getting a replacement.

all right. let's try this again....

Setting the two cartons beside each other zapped up any remnants of doubt I may've had on the original salad...


nice work, cori. womp womp womp...

Moral of the story: Don't accidentally leave your salad in your car overnight when the temperatures drop below freezing. You won't want to eat it in the morning. Or ever. Say no... to soggy, browning greens, and yes to the cool, crispy stuff.

yummmmm (:

^ And yes... say yes to rabbit food (:
Just kidding. It's delicious if you ask me, and definitely fits in the regiment of things I should be eating while sitting around at a desk for most of my day.

The workout today was one of those grueling days, primarily because my legs are still in protest of any added range of motion. We finally managed to loosen up some and get some work done before I practically crawled out of there. #WHOOPED.

And then home..
And then dinner..
And then caving to my inner helpless-romantic and watching The Vow [or could it be because Rachel McAdams is the perfect portrait of the classic-but-angsty woman?!]

rachel mcadams [#wcw - sure, why not?!]

The dogs were happy to curl up with me and watch this with me; there was a lot of estrogen in the house tonight.. haha. Stella especially, who is usually my stoic, loner pup, seemed unusually clingy and wanted no more than a couple of inches between us for most of the evening. I obliged, naturally, and Sasha managed to wriggle her way into the mix before too long.

couldn't help it. sometimes i can't handle her.. haha ;)

^ She cracked me up. My Stella, the regal beagle [#butnotreally] of the two, literally hugged me for the entire movie. Yes, I was the little spoon to my dog. I captured this selfie of the moment, and quickly realized there was no resisting the Step Brothers pairing. ;)

Speaking of pibbles, Rob was with Kyle tonight and sent me pictures of his new bully, [appropriately-named] Blue. And Blue... is... beautiful!

hi, pretty booooy!!! [blue, that is. blue. sorry, kyle.. haha]

Whew. This day is gonna end early. Tomorrow's Thursday, which means it's almost Friday, which means.... a whole bunch of stuff.

Goodnight, from us!

xoxo! love, pitties & me!

Stay warm, friends!
G'Nite!

xo | cmd

Easter 2013 ✞

It is EASTER. Today I celebrate the resurrection of a savior who gave his life to save mine, and rose to live again over mine. I am saved, redeemed and blessed because of the sacrifice and resurrection, and I give Him all the honor, glory and praise today. He is not here; He HAS risen!!

amen.

I had promised Rob over two weeks ago that we would be back to Taste of Belgium on our next visit to the Nati, so I had to make good on my word. It was a piece of cake [or rather, chicken & waffles!!], and coercing Catie, Andy & Adam into going along required no convincing at all anyway. It was a slightly drab start to the day, but we made the best of it and enjoyed every bit of breakfast at our beloved TOB (:


taste of belgium | hardcore parkour? ... no.... not really....

Drab days after long nights call for naps. We're all really good at that, so once we'd conquered brunch, we went to war against tired eyes and heads and snuck a good nap into the middle of the day. We came out of that coma a few hours later and made a trip to the new Kroger in Newport to grab some food for a stir fry night, headed back to the apartment, made & ate dinner, and are now settling into cozy couch spots for a funny movie marathon [Hangover & Step Brothers? WIN!]
My eyes are starting that whole groggy flutter thing again... I think that's a wrap tonight (:

xo | cmd