Shopping Carts. All Day.

First things first:

aaaaaaaamen! 

Contrary to what most employees would say, I like when my business owners are here and engaged with the day-to-day activity of our business. We're a small, hands-on mission here, and we are fortunate enough to all work well together.

When the owners aren't here though, it creates a gap that obviously must be filled, and in some cases requires stepping away from the office. What I don't really mind, is when that mini trip away is straight to Sam's Club for an office supply run.

boom. we're good! 

We won. Elisa & I knocked out the entire office supply list, along with the snack list for the team, and walked away loaded up with everything we needed, and spare time to boot. Winnnn.

After work, I headed out to get Sydni, then back home for a night of relaxing, Disney princesses [she still had no idea what's happening on Sunday] and of course, preparing for tomorrow:

she's reaaaaady! 

we're all set & ready to go, kiddos!
... seeee you tomorrow! 

TGIF!

xo | cmd 

This Guy...

Tonight was a mini craft/homework night for Sydni and me, but this guy... provided hours of entertainment that I couldn't help but note:

yeeeeeeup

Ladies, I'm just gonna go ahead and tell ya it's okay to be jealous.
... and maybe a little scared. Hahaha.

Family > Blog tonight.

xo | cmd

Beautiful Kentucky!

So my hand was forced by some unfortunate circumstances today into taking a half-day's worth of road trip throughout the northern part of Kentucky. I set out on my mini-expedition with a chip on my shoulder, resentful of the time I was allocating to this endeavor instead of at my desk managing the daily functionality of my job.

Then my vision shifted from inward to outward, and it looked a little something like this:

kentucky valleys

This picture that I snapped blindly with my phone [I was responsibly eyeing the highway, don't worry] doesn't do justice to the colors that were speckled in front of me. The sun was out, the sky was littered only with puffy white clouds, and like the Bob Ross description I just gave you, I felt happier just for being able to see it.

My office view is of an Advanced Auto Parts store and a parking lot. It's usually brimming with poorly-parked cars and people who drive so obscenely fast through it that it's a human game of frogger and faith every time you step out the door.

This was nice.

back into cincinnati

^ That, is my beautiful city, that since moving to over 10 years ago, I have now claimed as part of me. Driving around like gypsie today may not have been the ideal way to plant my time on the clock, but it was a necessary evil that was outweighed by the beauty around me.

Stay happy, people!

xo | cmd

Pocketfuel : My Instagram Inspiration

I'm a proud, prolific Instagrammer, and one of the many things I love about it are they endless ways in which I can find inspiration.

First, there's all the yogis: Laura Sykora, Rachel Brathen, Gabriella Dondero. The list goes on and on.

Then, there's all the nutritional boosters: healthy foodie pages, exercise guru's, fitness apparel lines offering up encouragement.

The list goes on and on and on. A lot of what I follow includes animals, health nuts and things that remind me of my country-strong roots.

My spiritual development is of course something that takes place outside of the interweb, but it definitely doesn't hurt to find niblets of encouragement in the posts of some Instasources.

Hello, Pocketfuel.
[Go, go now and follow them!]

I won't go into a lot of detail, but I will suffice to say that these are some of my favorite posts from Pocketfuel; there are so many more worth sharing, but it'd be easiest for you to go and find them on your own.

[[[[Mare, you'll recognize some of these! ;) ]]]]

I don't know if any of those will appeal to you in any specific way today, but I know there are plenty of days when I need to see something simple like that; even the smallest reminder that I am sent out for a purpose, from one who delegates me with a task, yet never with a burden I cannot carry. 

It's the small things. Who knew I'd ever be so grateful for an Instagram account? ;) 

BLESSINGS we have in this life... and BLESSINGS we should share.

xo | cmd 

Take.. Me.. BACK

I woke up to this thought:

already?

Yeah. I dragged a little today.
By a little, I mean it felt like one of those days when the feet just don't quite ever make it under the body and I swear I was propelled by force rather than a steady type of energy. I know, that sounds way more complicated than was needed, but I'm still playing catch-up on the day and the brunt of it has already passed.

Long story short: Take me back HERE:

norris lake

OR here:

.. still norris lake, 2nd day. 

I think I should incorporate somewhere into my 10-year plan either a planned annual trip somewhere like this, or find a way to blend my current job that I love with a place like this, that I also equally love.

I think I just found my focus for daydreams this week.. haha.

Just kidding. Sydni's here and it's laundry time. *WHEW. Happy Monday!!

xo | cmd 

There & Back Again.

We're getting good at keeping to a general outline of a routine whenever we make these trips to Illinois now. It usually starts with visiting Rob's mom and stepdad in some fashion, and ends with us visiting his dad and stepmom. In between is the time we spend with friends, usually maximizing the weekend for all it's worth and then some by the time we've gone.

Today found perfect cadence with that routine, when we packed up our time at Dillon's and headed over to Rob's dad for a few hours before we jumped on the road back home.

travis! :) 

It was some time very well spent; I got to help Kate out on a project that otherwise may have taken a few days to complete, and Rob got a special hand-me-down heirloom from his dad:

vintage blues gear! 

The Halloween spirit is striking early this year, I've noticed; even Kate's little kitten was in a test run of one of her little outfits. She's the cutest pumpkin I've seen so far:

darlins! 

Soon enough, we picked up once again and talked ourselves into the drive home. Both the pups were content this time around being in the backseat, after a weekend of confusion in unfamiliar territory. Stella eventually took advantage of the road trip and resigned herself to a 4-hour nap, while Sasha kept on as the ever-watchful [and pesky] backseat sentinel.

and a very intimidating one, clearly... ♥

We made it home in four separate but whole pieces, and that's about all that's left to report.

Monday'll be here before I'm ready to greet it, so for now... good night!

xo | cmd

Sweetest Day..... And Fried Green Beans

It's a tell-tale sign that I'm in Illinois whenever I review my photographs from the day/evening and undoubtedly come across a capture of fried green beans. I can thank Bindy's for introducing me to these; I'm now an addict and make it a priority to get them each and every time I come back.

yep. 

 ^ I for the life of me can't remember the name of the place we go near Holiday Shores with Dillon where these are served, but that's what happened today when we met up with his dad for some lunch. The rest of the night was spent watching the SuperCross race with Kenny, Taryn, Dillon and Matt, followed by some more exploring and an full circle back to our weekend couch bunks at Dillon's.

Oh, and of course, today is sweetest day, so in lieu of going over-the-top and indulging the card and candy companies of the world on this made-up holiday, I'll suffice to say this:

THIS GUY:

One of my strengths may be writing, but when it comes to adequately describing my

.. appreciation
.. respect
.. love 

for someone, I will fall short of justice even in my most lucid moments of creativity or penmanship. Rob has defied all of my expectations sour expectations, and pulled me out of an emotional gravel-pit that was eating me alive. Through no forced momentum, he managed to earn himself the accolade of my saving grace - in human form. We've so far faced trials we weren't sure we'd conquer, and are now building upon what has been, is now and can be if we stay committed to loving each other in spite of what the world throws at us. We have the same expectations of each other, and for the first time in I-couldn't-tell-you-how-long, I realized that I am an equal in a relationship, not an employee. His heart is bigger than his truck is tall; I don't know if there's a thing he wouldn't do for the sake of our little family, his family or a friend in need - without expecting fame in return. He's empowered me to realize my own strength again, something for which I'll forever be indebted. 

Thank You, my favorite lumberjack, for all the ways you probably don't even notice that make me feel loved, respected and deserving of stability, time and effort. I still sometimes can't believe you moved from Illinois to stand by me, but you'd better believe it means the world and then some that you would - and did. Happy sweetest day! 

*****

I'm gonna get beat up if I keep on with my little e-soliloquy, so I'll leave it at that and wish you and yours out there both a very happy Hallmark-generated holiday [Sweetest Da- well, you get it..]! 

xo | cmd