And by problems, I mean this:
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| renovation time! |
The good news? I found a new book trilogy on which I'm quickly becoming obsessed.
I blame Nikki...haha.
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| divergent! |
So until thennnn.... g'nite (:
xo | cmd
Friday, September 6, 2013
First World Village Problems & Things That Are Nikki's Fault
And by Village, I mean the Village of Fairfax, where I live.
And by problems, I mean this:
^ Anyone recognize that? If not, well, it's the Skyline on Wooster in Fairfax. I don't know how I didn't notice this yesterday, but apparently the thing is now closed facing renovation.. until mid-October. This doesn't phase me in a major way; it is after all a chili joint and I don't eat there often enough for it to bother me... but I do feel for all of my little village neighbors who I see pulling their distinct vehicles into that place 3+ times/weekly. Womp womp...
The good news? I found a new book trilogy on which I'm quickly becoming obsessed.
I blame Nikki...haha.
We were discussing books a couple of weeks back and I mentioned the fact that it's difficult for me to latch on to any series; I have a very limited window of interest that is either tamed or bored within the first 20 pages of the first installment. For this reason, coupled with the fact that I'm not into many of the bigger sci-fi franchises [Harry Potter, Twilight, Star Wars, Star Trek, etc.], I've been sticking to non-series reads. Knowing I'm a fan of The Hunger Games, she suggested I try this out. I caved and bought it today.. and I haven't put it down yet. As much as I'm enjoying it though, it begs the question of why I'm so fascinated by novels revolving around steel-willed teenagers in apocolyptic landscapes...haha. Oh well. I'll have this finished by tomorrow.
So until thennnn.... g'nite (:
xo | cmd
And by problems, I mean this:
The good news? I found a new book trilogy on which I'm quickly becoming obsessed.
I blame Nikki...haha.
So until thennnn.... g'nite (:
xo | cmd
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Life's A Beach!
To say that today is an improvement from yesterday is something of an understatement.
I feel... exponentially better than I did this time 24 hours ago. Though still stuffy, my head has stopped pounding and I can actually breathe through my nose today. Wiiiiin!
To celebrate, we got a big job order at work today, thanks to Nikki, who is rockin' this boat and turning my day back into what I'm used to: a challenge! [in a good way!!] In staffing, your sales team is a building block that you must have, and to say that Nikki is solid in that regard is barely scratching the surface. We're on a roll!
Oh, and Nancy surprised us with some love from her most recent trip to Florida. It's small, but adorable and oh-so-Nancy of her. I love it.
^ Each of us got one; Elisa and I have started the countdown to the minute when one of us knocks this thing over and sand goes everywhere. We're both clutzy often enough - me way moreso than her - I'm preparing myself now to clean up a mess. Haha. It's cute though, and completes the little paradise in the corner of my desk: Sydni, Rob & me, my orchid, a thank you card from Elisa, owl from Ali and now my little beach. It's the small things (:
After work = volleyball!
We're out, after falling just short of victory in tournaments, but I'm not that mad about it. It was our first season together, and again - Keif's never played volleyball before this, Beth hasn't played since high school, and Kalyn & I haven't played on a league together in 3 years. All things considered, we did just fine, so we hopped across the street post-game for dinner at Fifty West. It was... a unique experience.
Not a bad way to end a Wednesday. Now all I have to do is get the lawn mowed and pick up a piece of dry-cleaning that's been sitting there for nearly a month because I'm too lazy to stop and get it.. haha. {First world problems} Is it bad that I've already started anticipating my next weekend trip to IL.. at the end of the month? Hah.. oh boy.
Thank goodness for 4-day weeks, yeah?
xo | cmd
I feel... exponentially better than I did this time 24 hours ago. Though still stuffy, my head has stopped pounding and I can actually breathe through my nose today. Wiiiiin!
To celebrate, we got a big job order at work today, thanks to Nikki, who is rockin' this boat and turning my day back into what I'm used to: a challenge! [in a good way!!] In staffing, your sales team is a building block that you must have, and to say that Nikki is solid in that regard is barely scratching the surface. We're on a roll!
Oh, and Nancy surprised us with some love from her most recent trip to Florida. It's small, but adorable and oh-so-Nancy of her. I love it.
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| {a tiny} day at the beach {for everyday here}! | thanks, nancy! |
After work = volleyball!
We're out, after falling just short of victory in tournaments, but I'm not that mad about it. It was our first season together, and again - Keif's never played volleyball before this, Beth hasn't played since high school, and Kalyn & I haven't played on a league together in 3 years. All things considered, we did just fine, so we hopped across the street post-game for dinner at Fifty West. It was... a unique experience.
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| fifty west brewery |
Thank goodness for 4-day weeks, yeah?
xo | cmd
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Some Light On a Sick Day
I knew it. Sydni got me sick. It's rare that I ever fall ill, but when I do, it's usually because Sydni's passed along some new strain I've never had before. Go figure.
Today started off by me missing my alarm all together. I got to work at 8:30, as opposed to my usual arrival time nearly an hour earlier than that. I spent all morning and the first part of the afternoon in a cloud of bland haze, with my head pounding and my sinuses threatening to black everything out. My bosses finally beckoned me to call it a day, an hour and a half early, and I was in no shape to argue.
Within 15 minutes of being home, I was curled up with my favorite blanket in a heap on the couch, fast asleep. I woke up a few hours later and threw together some homemade chicken noodle soup [delicious, despite the irritating head-throbs from standing up at all]. Then it was back to sleep for another couple of hours. It's nearly 10pm and I just woke up. I still feel awful.
The good news today: I came across the video blog links for Sadie Robertson [Duck Dynasty] and her best friend, who have started a series of video devotionals. If you haven't seen Duck Dynasty, well, I won't get into explaining it aside from saying that it's hilarious and if you're anything like me with a dry sense of humor and affinity for downhome country things, you'll love it.
Oh, and if you're a Christian, or really even a parent of children you hope will model their lives after something with more substance and class than the recent meanderings of Miley Cyrus and other followed starlets, then I would certainly recommend you and your family look into Sadie's videos. I know I will be doing the same; I truly admire Sadie and her friend for the courage it takes to stand up for this, for the God we love, and for their beliefs in a world that will, without blinking, do everything it can to bash them and destroy what they're creating. Amen, girls. And thank you.
Thanks, girls. (:
We'll be following TheNewDifferent and its positive message! The world could use more encouragement like this, especially to our youth, who now face more trial and decision that even my generation did when we were teenagers.
*sigh. Now if I could only shake this sinus bug I've got, this would be a perfect evening. I'm on my way to my fail-proof method of the poor man's remedy [aka, sleep]. See ya'll in the morning...
xo | cmd
Today started off by me missing my alarm all together. I got to work at 8:30, as opposed to my usual arrival time nearly an hour earlier than that. I spent all morning and the first part of the afternoon in a cloud of bland haze, with my head pounding and my sinuses threatening to black everything out. My bosses finally beckoned me to call it a day, an hour and a half early, and I was in no shape to argue.
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| i barely recognized my own eyes today for how exhausted they looked... |
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| homemade soup. win. |
The good news today: I came across the video blog links for Sadie Robertson [Duck Dynasty] and her best friend, who have started a series of video devotionals. If you haven't seen Duck Dynasty, well, I won't get into explaining it aside from saying that it's hilarious and if you're anything like me with a dry sense of humor and affinity for downhome country things, you'll love it.
Oh, and if you're a Christian, or really even a parent of children you hope will model their lives after something with more substance and class than the recent meanderings of Miley Cyrus and other followed starlets, then I would certainly recommend you and your family look into Sadie's videos. I know I will be doing the same; I truly admire Sadie and her friend for the courage it takes to stand up for this, for the God we love, and for their beliefs in a world that will, without blinking, do everything it can to bash them and destroy what they're creating. Amen, girls. And thank you.
Thanks, girls. (:
We'll be following TheNewDifferent and its positive message! The world could use more encouragement like this, especially to our youth, who now face more trial and decision that even my generation did when we were teenagers.
*sigh. Now if I could only shake this sinus bug I've got, this would be a perfect evening. I'm on my way to my fail-proof method of the poor man's remedy [aka, sleep]. See ya'll in the morning...
xo | cmd
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
A Laborious Labor Day
I forgot to mention on Friday last week that Sydni had started a nasty cough earlier that day. Joe brought it to my attention Thursday night, but by Saturday afternoon it seemed to have disappeared all together. I know better though. I could sit in a SARS unit for days and probably come out unscathed.. but when my kid sneezes on me? I'm down for 3 days.
Sydni - 1. Mama - 0.
Rob did what a boyfriend beyond what I deserve would do, and stuck around for a couple hours past what he'd planned, just to take care of me and try to alleviate some of the energy Sydni had. He took her out on her bike for a little bit; I managed to join for a few minutes after laying in a crumpled heap on the couch. He's awesome like that.
When it finally came time for Rob to leave, Sydni was deep in a nap and I wasn't far behind. I did have to laugh at a few of the messages we had on his way back to Illinois...
Reasons why that's so funny:
1. Earlier today, we had a discussion on the fact that a) men don't cry, and b) women don't poop. The unspoken notions crack me up, especially when I meet someone who refuses to acknowledge either or both.
2. About a year or so back, I was parked outside the gas station in Glen Carbon before work, and a stranger came bouncing out of the gas station, on the phone and distracted, and jumped right into the passenger seat of my car. It wasn't a threatening situation at all, as it was a busy morning before work and I'd been to that station over a hundred times. I felt more bad for the poor guy who hopped in my car and didn't realize it; I could see his female companion in the car right next to mine frantically waving and yelling through a closed window at him. We had a good laugh but it was still funny that it happened to Rob today, too.
Anyway, Rob made it home safely, Sydni is tucked in, and I'm going to call it a night in efforts to ward off whatever advancing illness I think I feel. Hopefully it works.
This weekend was more than I could've imagined. I .. am.. BLESSED.
xo | cmd
Sydni - 1. Mama - 0.
Rob did what a boyfriend beyond what I deserve would do, and stuck around for a couple hours past what he'd planned, just to take care of me and try to alleviate some of the energy Sydni had. He took her out on her bike for a little bit; I managed to join for a few minutes after laying in a crumpled heap on the couch. He's awesome like that.
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| my big four-year-old on her birthday bike |
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| .. of the many reasons we get along so well... (: |
1. Earlier today, we had a discussion on the fact that a) men don't cry, and b) women don't poop. The unspoken notions crack me up, especially when I meet someone who refuses to acknowledge either or both.
2. About a year or so back, I was parked outside the gas station in Glen Carbon before work, and a stranger came bouncing out of the gas station, on the phone and distracted, and jumped right into the passenger seat of my car. It wasn't a threatening situation at all, as it was a busy morning before work and I'd been to that station over a hundred times. I felt more bad for the poor guy who hopped in my car and didn't realize it; I could see his female companion in the car right next to mine frantically waving and yelling through a closed window at him. We had a good laugh but it was still funny that it happened to Rob today, too.
Anyway, Rob made it home safely, Sydni is tucked in, and I'm going to call it a night in efforts to ward off whatever advancing illness I think I feel. Hopefully it works.
This weekend was more than I could've imagined. I .. am.. BLESSED.
xo | cmd
Monday, September 2, 2013
09.01, Part Two: Cirque Du Soleil's Totem
Finally!!
The countdown to this was over today, when Rob and I set out from Mt. Vernon to Columbus for our first big show together.. and Rob's first Cirque du Soleil experience. A few weeks back, I indulged a bit on some tickets for the Totem show, which is in Columbus for a couple of weeks. It worked perfectly into the existing schedule of us being up there for the weekend, so I figured it would be the perfect end to a north-central Ohio run.
It was totally worth it.
And I mean totally. worth. it.
Bad news: I didn't take any of the following pictures.
Good news: We were in the 4th row, so had I been allowed to, I could've captured the exact same angles from our seats. Needless to say, we did have these views, and they were.. incredible.
This is what we saw but weren't allowed to photograph for ourselves...
The countdown to this was over today, when Rob and I set out from Mt. Vernon to Columbus for our first big show together.. and Rob's first Cirque du Soleil experience. A few weeks back, I indulged a bit on some tickets for the Totem show, which is in Columbus for a couple of weeks. It worked perfectly into the existing schedule of us being up there for the weekend, so I figured it would be the perfect end to a north-central Ohio run.
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| hello from the grand chapiteau! | ohio expo center | columbus, oh |
And I mean totally. worth. it.
Bad news: I didn't take any of the following pictures.
Good news: We were in the 4th row, so had I been allowed to, I could've captured the exact same angles from our seats. Needless to say, we did have these views, and they were.. incredible.
This is what we saw but weren't allowed to photograph for ourselves...
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| opening sequence! |
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| comedic relief: the "clowns" pippo & bubba |
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| the "tracker" & his devil sticks act [ante ursic] the "scientist" & his LED tunnel juggling act [greg kennedy] |
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| ring trio act: yann arnaud, olli torkel & alya titarenko fixed trapeze act "lovebirds": sarah tessier & guilhem cauchois |
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| the "amerindian" hoop dancers shandien larance & eric hernandez [who replaced shandien's brother nakotah!] |
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| pavel saprykin : the hand balancer |
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| the "wedding ceremony" [roller skates] [real life married couple!]: massimiliano medini & denise garcia-sorta |
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| unicycles & bowls ... probably my 2nd favorite act.. be sure to youtube this! |
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| the "crystal ladies," aka girls who can spin rugs on their hands & feet twin sisters marina & svetlana tsodikova |
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| my forever favorite cirque act.. the russian bars |
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| some of the totem cast .. look at the costumes!! |
Rob & I agreed that we would absolutely see another one of these together if the chance comes along. I was so happy I could be a part of his first Cirque show, and really, I had no complaints, either! We even met a great couple from New Albany who sat next to us.
After the show, we made the quick hop over to Easton to do lunch with my parents and Sydni at the ever-trusty CPK [California Pizza Kitchen], tour the new American Doll Store [.... whoa.] and even cross random paths with the Feasels [so great to see you, Megan!] before Rob, Syd and I loaded up for the trip back to Cincinnati.
.. And that's where we are now. I just got dinner ready and we're in for a night watching Brave [thanks to Maricor & co. for the gift!] with Sydni and relaxing for the rest of the evening.
I feel a cold coming on, too, but I'm telling myself it'll pass... we'll see.
G'Nite!
xo | cmd
09.01, Part One: I Have a 4-Year-Old!!!!
01September2009:
I woke up around 6:30am, with the same achy, cumbersome sensations I'd had for the past couple of months. My lower back still felt strained, my ankles were nice and swollen, and my feet.. well, I hadn't seen them standing up in a few weeks so I wasn't all that concerned. It was not unlike the many days leading up to it, except that it just... felt... different. I knew at 6:30am that day that I would be having a baby.
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| 09.01.2009 & summer of 2013 |
I woke up around 6:30am, with the same achy, cumbersome sensations I'd had for the past couple of months. My lower back still felt strained, my ankles were nice and swollen, and my feet.. well, I hadn't seen them standing up in a few weeks so I wasn't all that concerned. It was not unlike the many days leading up to it, except that it just... felt... different. I knew at 6:30am that day that I would be having a baby.
My mother-in-law and sister-in-law at the time showed up at my house unexpectedly, which looking back was a Heaven-sent arrangement; I was home alone and unsure of what every minute would hold. My best friend Kalyn called saying she got a new puppy, and was on her way over. Fifteen minutes later, Kalyn hadn't been at the back door for more than a few seconds when it was go time, and the four of us were out the door.
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| my sweet girl ♥ |
Every single day has been an adventure with her; there isn't enough room on the internet for me to chronicle every detail, but there are some highlights...
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| 09.01.2009: i look absolutely dazed, but i will never forget this moment.. |
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| a [brand new] whoooo-dey bengals baby! |
6 months old: Syd's dad left for basic training for the Air Force; for the next 11 months, it was her and I, laughing and crying together and sometimes wanting nothing more than to our space [and yes, I had a 7, 8 and 9 month old who made it very clear when she needed her own space.... nothin' like her mama, right?? ;) haha] No worries though; we had a blast visiting cousins in Columbus, playing outside and putting that running stroller to work!
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| {re-blog} sydni & her cousin madison.. exactly 1 week apart |
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| 09.01.2010: happy FIRST birthday! |
It wasn't long before I was indulging her with things she probably didn't need.. but hey, Tiny Toms are so stinkin' cute... I told myself, "she'll only be this size ONCE." I'm glad I did.
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| age 1: first pair of toms (: |
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| Christmas 2011 with Santa-Pappy! |
By Mother's Day 2012, we were all living in Belleville, IL near Scott Air Force Base, for Joe's military career. It was our 5th relocation in 3 years, and it lasted not even 2 years before he opted out and we all moved, again, back to Ohio. During our time there, we were however blessed to meet some incredible families and people, have some memorable experiences and of course visit many places we may have never chosen to go if we hadn't lived nearby. We found a church family unlike any others we'd ever had, and even had the chance to celebrate Sydni's birthday with another boy in the church close in age.
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| mother's day 2012 |
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| 3rd birthday! |
Visiting home came few and far between when we were living 8 hours away, but we made sure to get back when we could, especially for holidays!
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| Christmas 2012 with cousin Emmie |
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| my nature girl : hiking 2013 | cinci nature reserve |
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| & camping! 2013 |
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| august 2013 : turning into a bookworm like her mama (: |
It's been a long road, and she's already been through a lot in the last four years. The good news now? No more moving, no more wishing that both parents were around all the time, and some new, incredible people in our lives to help us move forward. Sydni, I love you more than you will ever know, and I am so proud to be your mama.
Happy birthday to the love of my life.. little monster. I can't wait to continue watching you grow and amaze us all.
I love you, Sydni!
xo | cmd
Sunday, September 1, 2013
IIIIIIIIT'S PARTY TIME!!
So just as I'd imagined, today was a blur. It started off with us loading up the gear for the next couple of days and me driving us up to Mt. Vernon. Rob made the off-hand comment that it was the first road trip we've taken together on which I did not need the GPS. Ihad to laugh at that, but he's not wrong. First time for everything I guess? Hah.We made it to good old MTV without much fuss at all. I have to stop & stress for a second just how significant today was, for many reasons. Most of my family came in for the weekend, from all over, as far out as Pennsylvania. Aunt Toni & Uncle Norman, Aunt Cindy & Uncle Gary, my cousins Steph, Mark & Tyler, my cousin Maricor & her girls Sophie & Madison, my nephew Jonathan, his sister Cynthia, her husband Brian and their girls Emmie & Hanny, and of course my parents and sister. That's 14 adults and 4 children.. my family.. that Rob has never met...
...until today.
I felt so bad for him; he had every right to feel nervous walking into it all, even though he had no reason to. I know I would've been just as anxious if it were my first time meeting his family... in its entirety. However, just as I'd expected, my parents love him. As far as I can tell, he's won the rest of them over, too. I know it took a lot for him to do this for me, but I wouldn't have brought him into it if I wasn't certain they'd like him. Big steps for us today, and I couldn't have been happier.
Back on track, it didn't take long at all to get started in on the birthday party preparations. I made cake fondant for the first time ever today, and realized that.. well... I am not a baker. Haha. It wasn't awful but I definitely have some tweaks I'm mind for the next time I try this.
Fast forward to the bulk of today.. the party!!
Pictures, as usual [stay tuned for the rest of the collection!] (:
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| balloons |
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| top: rob & brian [&their helper, miss sophie] bottom: my uncle gary & my cousin mark |
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| cousins! [madison. sydni. sophie] |
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| cake & favors |
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| nana & pappy ♥ |
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| candids! |
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| my birthday girl! |
Seeee ya tomorrow!
xo | cmd
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| the beautiful girls (: madison. emmie. sydni |
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| my one & only. i am heart over heeeeels for this guy. |
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| pin the tail on rainbow dash [made by me!] |
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| with my pretty niece cynthia |
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| "mr. rob, you be the birthday hat monster & i'll be this pink pony" - sydni |
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| in love over and over again with her... happy birthday, my little [growing-way-too-fast] girl!!! |
Today = Ahhhmazing.
Tomorrow is Syd's actual birthday. It's hard to wrap my head around it all but I'm working on it. (: What an incredible little girl I've got, and the perfect little weekend we've got going! ♡Seeee ya tomorrow!
xo | cmd
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