Blogmas 2017 - Vol. 5

Oooohhh ooohh you're my best friend, you make me live!

Today is blog of gratitude.

For the amazing army of women who surround me.I personally think they are the most amazing women who have ever lived.  Some of them I've known for years and some for only months.  But they each play a perfect and specific role in my life. And I really do have an army of them -  I could write for days and days about each and every one of them.

But today, this blog is a love letter to my twin sister from another mister.

E and I met in college through another dear friend.  It's amazing that our paths had never crossed before but the minute we met we clicked.  It was like finding the other part of my soul.  We suffered the same bizarre medical oddities.  We loved the same things, had the same terrible sense of humor, and many of the same neurosis and anxieties. (for better or for worse)

 

We have seen each other through graduations, heartbreak, family problems, birthdays, babies, new loves, surgeries, weight gains and losses, travels, job changes and and and... 

She has been the witness for essentially the entirety of my adult life - holding my heart tenderly in her hers.  She is the friend who always calls or texts to make sure I'm ok. She is the friend who would drop anything and literally show up on my doorstep.  

E has the best laugh and the worst singing voice - but sing she does!  And it is the most incredible show :)  E has the sweetest most loving heart.  She is the hardest worker.  If anything she could learn to care a little bit less.  She is a freakish overachiever.  She can rock a side pony tail with the best of them.

Most importantly she can love you like you are the most important and wonderful person that ever walked the earth.  She has listened to me cry in person and over the phone more times than I can count.  She has laughed with me until we can't stop crying (or spitting beverages everywhere)  

When SP and I got together I made it clear right from the beginning that she would have to deal with the other women in my life - and that come hell or high water these women would be with me for the rest of my life.  And while SP is the love of my life - E is my platonic soul mate.  

E you are a gift to this world - beautiful in and out.  This life has thrown you some VERY hard curveballs and you have weathered them with strength and grace. You are selfless and kind.  Joyful and quirky.  Most importantly you always always show up - in every way possible.  Thank you for being my forever friend, for holding me up when I'm falling down, and for jumping for joy with me in my most happy moments.

I can't wait to grow old with you on the island of warrior women!

I love you, my friend!

XOXO,

Friendsie face

SBL - Goodbye July!

Hey Yall,

 

Remember when next week was August.  Remember how in the WORLD did that happen already?!  This summer is just FLYING by!  Which is so sad.  Except when it's been 108 degrees for multiple days in a row the trappings of Fall don't sound all that terrible...coats, pumpkin, baking without sweating to death...even rain sounds good.

 

But alas, I digress.  July has slipped past and here's a quick account of what we've done:

 

Swimming Lessons!

Done and done.  And let's not lie - they were...TERRIBLE!  Baby girl hated essentially every second.  They were so bad I seriously (seriously) considered quitting after the first week.  But I'm proud to say that we persevered through the full 2 weeks (and the water didn't feel half bad to mama!)  The last couple of days were definitely the best in that she didn't cry the WHOLE time...just part of the time.  I'm still glad we did it though.  I really think that it is important for kids to learn to swim and I have high hopes that she will learn to like the water in the future!  Hopefully!

 

 She looks so happy...until we actually get in the water!

 

Another Brunch!

Oh yes we did.  I have no pictures but we had some good friends over for another delicious brunch and it was just further proof that we basically need to do it all the time because it's the best eating we ever do.  Home made quiche (me) our friends made baked french toast - bomb - and we had bacon.  I mean really, what else could you possibly ask for.

Prep for Baby #2

This is sort of stretch but I think it counts.  We also babysat our good friends' 3 month old for a day. Good practice for having 2 babies at the same time...I think yes.  Also a good reminder about what the infant stage is like - I had really forgot how blobby they are!  This sweet babe was such a fun, beautiful chunk.  And the best part was that Baby Girl was IN LOVE with her.  She wanted to get all up in the baby's face. She kept saying "hi" and trying to hand the baby toys.  She was very perplexed by why she wouldn't play back...But all in all - Good Things!

 

 Baby cuddles are the BEST!

Giving the baby knuckles!

 

And...getting all up in baby's face!

And if this doesn't make your ovaries scream I don't know what does...

 

 

Overall we're making some good progress!  Can't wait for camping next weekend!!!

 

1) Go Camping (Next weekend! - w00t!)

2) Baby Girl Swimming Lessons

3) Summer Vacation Trip!

• Beach Day
• Zoo or Sea World
• So many so-cal burritos
• Tide Pooling
• Pageant of the Masters

4) Day in San Francisco

5) Day in Sutterville (or other small town in the area)

6) Fix up master bathroom (work on this is potentially commencing this weekend!)

7) Get counter-tops or floors done (or at least prepare to do them) (Been looking into it! Think floors are 1st)

8) Clean up backyard (In Progress thanks to my amazing wifey pants)

9) Mom's movie night

10) Brunch with friends (monthly?)

11) Keep my tomato plant alive (Yeah it's dead as a door nail...)

12) Organize Garage (In Progress!)

13) Hiking

14) Professional baseball game

15) Swimming/ Play at the new Splash Park (Walked by the splash park and baby girl cried; swimming at our friends pool tomorrow! Yay!)

16) Movie in the Park - maybe this isn't going to happen since our kiddo is going to bed at 6pm these days! (yay!) (I think this one is dead dream - staying up late for swim lessons has been hard enough)

17) Do a 5k? (depends on our schedule...and my laziness! - It is too D@MN hot!)

18) Overnight at the Beach - sort of done? (we did do this in so cal so I'll call it marked off and hope we do another one!)

19) Prep for Baby #2 - Setting up doc appts and trying to cut down on the amt of crap I eat

20) Family Pictures

Wonderful Wednesday Vol 2.

I know I know...I'm officially the worst at days...put me back in pre-school asap!

Wonderful Wednesday Series

We NEED more positive in this world. It does not have to be elaborate, though that is always welcome, and can be a simple picture or a short few sentences of something, someone, anything, that you think is wonderful. If you feel inclined to do the same

I've never been one of those people who has a LOT of friends.  I'm mean I'm friendly don't get me wrong (friendly to a fault sometimes).  But true, good, deep friends - there have always just been a handful.

Someone told me once that you pick up one or two really great friends from each stage in your life - and I would say in my experience that's true.  And some of those people have to go after that stage is over for various reasons, but a few they're in it for the long haul.

So what I'm trying to say is I'm lucky enough to have a few of those. 2 of them (sisters) I've known for literally 20 years.  And there's something to that I have to say.  Because that in and of itself is a lifetime.  A lot happens in 20 years. These women have seen ups and down and every bit of the roller coaster in between - and against all odds they still love me.

The 3 of us haven't been in the same place at the same time in quite awhile (10yrs?!) but it doesn't matter, because we're sort of always there. It is hard though when these long held friendships, the witnesses to your life are far away.  Especially because I find it harder to make these deep and lasting friendships as time passes...but that's another musing for another day.

But to help bridge the gap one of these ladies proposed (forced?) a google hangout book club.  So now once a week (give or take) we "get together" and drink wine and talk about the book we are reading, or don't talk about it and instead talk about life.  But it doesn't matter what we talk about or don't talk about because we're in the same "place" at the same "time" and it makes the missing them just a little better.

Some of the not discussing the book portion...also I'm sure I'm in big trouble for posting this (Sorry not sorry!)

Isn't technology amazing? I'm so grateful that we have this wonderful gift to help us stay connected.  But mostly I'm grateful for my wonderful sisters - it would have been a sad 20yrs without you!  Here's to 20 more!

Happy Wonderful Wednesday my friends, near and far, old and new!

72 hours of Denver Love

Back in January, as a little birthday treat (oh yeah…I turned 28 by the way…I don’t think I want to talk about it…)  I flew out to Denver to spend a long weekend with my sister from another mister.  And to feed my soul…and my belly.

I flew from a balmy nor cal to a not quite polar vortex Denver bright and early on a Friday morning.  Mi amiga major picked me up from the airport and we hit the ground running.

We started with a lovely trip to downtown and a walk around the art museum – as they were having a Parisian art exhibition and we know how I feel about Paris.  Although I have to say “The Holy Toaster” may have stolen the show for me.  I mean really, how many kinds of awesome is this?!  And then my friend proceeded to walk me all over downtown.  Literally the whole thing.  I didn’t know I could sweat so much in freezing weather but I definitely did.  Denver is beautiful.  Shiny, cold, bright and pretty hipsterish.  Not the crazy hustle and bustle of say NYC but enough bustle to make you feel like you’re in a city – a city surrounded by some amazing mountain views.  After a trip to a brewery and a jaunt into the Brown Palace Hotel to see the Christmas decorations we went home and I collapsed into sleep.

 Some crazy Art!

My Fav - The Holy Toaster!

Beautiful Downtown Denver

Brewery Tour - yum!

The next day we braved the mountains (as far as we could manage without actually having to drive in snow of course, because lets face it, we’re both from California and we don’t do that nonsense…)  We did however see some adorable mountain towns, hit another brewery, ate some amazing candy and watched people race cars on a frozen lake.  Oh yes, you read that right.  Some crazy people were driving vehicles (at fast speeds) on frozen water.  I was scared enough to walk out onto a frozen lake let alone be on a frozen lake in a giant vehicle.  Oh did I mention that it was also insanely windy.  Like one of the cars BLEW over while it was racing.  It was definitely another adventure.  We ended the night at Red Rocks for some amazing views!

Friends in front of a frozen waterfall

Another brewery, another yum!

So much mountain cuteness

 "Chillin" on the frozen lake!

Crazy ice racers!

I kept looking for Simba!

Beautiful Red Rocks!

Sunday, my final day, was spent eating a delicious birthday breakfast, checking out some of the art district, and lying in bed talking and talking and laughing uncontrollably.  These are the moments that remind you that you’re home.  Even when a little piece of your heart lives far away.  This particular friend and I have known each other since the 3^rd grade and have been truly soul-ly connected since middle school – so we’re going on 20years of friendship – most of our lives.  Which is incredible if you ask me.  And it is also the most amazing feeling of being known.  Of being loved.  Of being perfectly me. 

Birthday breakfast doughnut holes!

So Thank You Denver for a perfectly lovely weekend.  And Thank You Diane, for 20ish years of true love and true friendship. I’m blessed beyond measure to know you and to have you walking beside me (sometimes in body and sometimes in spirit) all the time!

My beautiful frozen friend!

And that’s a happy birthday if you ask me!

What I Liked About Today - The Day Off Edition

So this one should really be titled - what I liked about yesterday but you know how it goes...

-watching morning news shows with a mug of peppermint tea

-leisurely walk with the pup down my favorite street, marveling at the Victorian houses and the giant trees

-leftover pizza for lunch

-watching my favorite movies over and over and over again

-laying in bed and on the couch and in bed again

- baseball games with my favorite people 

-popcorn and cheese 

-sunshine that is gorgeous but not too hot

-nextdoor neighbor baby puppies! 

-NOT being at work! 

My snuggle furbaby!

Popcorn, cheese, and artificial sweetner - only the best for me. 

Baseball goobs 

I could get used to baseball in a private suite.

Baseball bingo!

Gorgeous skyline

A much needed day off and now I'm back and feeling a little bit more like myself each day. And there was a chill in the air today...fall? Is that you? I'm ready for ya!