Well, I can finally say that we are on the downhill slide to my family's annual pilgrimage to the beach!!! HOLLA'....Woot Woot!!!!
(Many of my family would have started the count down a while ago, but I had to wait a little while before I actually said it, otherwise I would go nuts.)
Now when I say my family, I mean my parents (2 grandparents), 2 sisters, 2 brother-in-laws, 1 niece, 1 nephew, 1 daughter and 3 dogs...aka...Mom, Dad, Mendy, Alan, Emma Kate, Alden, Caitlin, Mack, Chris, Me, Mackenzie, Darwin, Mille and Sunday. When we go to the beach it's all about chil-laxing!! We rent a house and do pretty much whatever we want. We all chip in for the house, food and adult beverages (although Mom and Dad definitely give the most). We take turns cooking dinner, eat out once and order pizza one night usually. No wild parties, cruising the strip, crazy bars or waking up wondering where that tatoo came from. It's all about beach bumming, pool swimming, game playing, movie watching, food eating, puzzle doing(??) and, of course, beer drinking.
We all LOVE it and look forward to it every year! My husband's been counting down for 16 weeks. It is the vacation where we get to rejuvnenate and rest. We create memories that are truly unforgetable. Here is a quick list of some of my favorite memories.
1. The one where Mendy was the "hint" for EVERY Taboo card. ("This is what Mendy is!"~"This is what Mendy is doing!"~"This is what Mendy will be in the morning!"
2. The one where Chris and I saw a UFO.
3. The one where Mack was almost killed by a crab.
4. The one where Alan knew way too much about make-up and Friends (according to Mendy).
5. The one where Caitlin showed much love to the Bubba Keg.
6. The one where Emma walked for the first time.
7. The one with Hurricane Dennis.
8. The one where Dad played golf with antique clubs.
9. The one when Mom swears she wants to play the game and then falls asleep.
I can't wait for the beach!!!!!!! Only 2 days left!!!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Buying the Bathing Suit
Like most women, I HATE buying a new bathing suit. It's one of the few shopping trips I loathe having to do each year. I spend hours searching the racks for right "style," which of course means the ones that flares away from the spare tire that hangs around my stomach just enough to make the bulge look a bit smaller. Also, it must have just the right "colors" to match my skin tone, which are the ones that use abstract color splashes or large print flowers to mask the previously mentioned excess mass.
Once I've spent 45 minutes looking and have a grand total of 3 to try on I make my way to the dreaded dressing room. This part is torture as well because I somehow always go when there several cute, tall, thin, tanned high school girls or college students trying on bathing suits as well and doing a little fashion show using the dressing room as their runway. They sit and talk in front of the mirrors about which ones they can't get because they don't have enough money to buy them all. Then I come out to the mirror still trying to cover my stomach with my arms and showing off my white ankle socks, feeling TOTALLY HOT! I mean....who wouldn't want to see that?
Finally I decide on the one that does the best job at making me appear closer to what I actually want to look like and make my purchase feeling worse then ever.
Well, today I started to let some of those neurotic tendancies go. Today, my bathing suit shopping trip took a total of 30 minutes. I searched the wildly scavenged racks and found a few tops and bottoms that I could mix and match. I tried on 2 suits and picked one. I feel more confident and satisfied with my purchase than previous years and it only cost $38.00. There's no magic bathing suit out there that will give me the perfect figure, and that's okay. Although I still want to improve my figure, I'm okay with where I am. I'm actually a little proud. I have a beautiful six month old daughter and I have made it back to my pre-baby weight. (Everything didn't go back to where it was before, but the actually weight is the same as it was.) I'm no Heidi Klum, but I feel good about my bathing suit this year.
Once I've spent 45 minutes looking and have a grand total of 3 to try on I make my way to the dreaded dressing room. This part is torture as well because I somehow always go when there several cute, tall, thin, tanned high school girls or college students trying on bathing suits as well and doing a little fashion show using the dressing room as their runway. They sit and talk in front of the mirrors about which ones they can't get because they don't have enough money to buy them all. Then I come out to the mirror still trying to cover my stomach with my arms and showing off my white ankle socks, feeling TOTALLY HOT! I mean....who wouldn't want to see that?
Finally I decide on the one that does the best job at making me appear closer to what I actually want to look like and make my purchase feeling worse then ever.
Well, today I started to let some of those neurotic tendancies go. Today, my bathing suit shopping trip took a total of 30 minutes. I searched the wildly scavenged racks and found a few tops and bottoms that I could mix and match. I tried on 2 suits and picked one. I feel more confident and satisfied with my purchase than previous years and it only cost $38.00. There's no magic bathing suit out there that will give me the perfect figure, and that's okay. Although I still want to improve my figure, I'm okay with where I am. I'm actually a little proud. I have a beautiful six month old daughter and I have made it back to my pre-baby weight. (Everything didn't go back to where it was before, but the actually weight is the same as it was.) I'm no Heidi Klum, but I feel good about my bathing suit this year.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
The Universal Essential
As many of you know, I love Starbucks!! I know it's over-priced and cliche, but it's an indulgence I have. I don't have it everyday, maybe once a week as a treat. (On a regular basis I make coffee at the house and take it into work with me.) For me it's something I can have often enough to feel that I can have something frivolous and not feel like I'm breaking the bank.
Yet, everytime I go I can't help but think that I appear to a yuppie or that I given into the "In" thing to do. A prime example of this was last weekend. As my husband and I (new parents) settled into what we now consider a rockin' Friday night, of reading, playing on the computer or catching up on previously Tivoed shows, I felt the need for a latte. So, at 10:30pm I jumped in the car and headed to Starbucks. I rolled up to a packed parking lot, got my latte via the drive-thru window and headed toward the exit. (Now, keep in mind I am in my car by myself for about 20 minutes on this trip, so of course I'm listening to my music pretty loud, simply because I can.) Had you been in the parking lot that evening you may have seen a short, teenage-looking white girl driving out of Startbucks in a Saturn SL1 will a Skinny Vanilla Latte jammin' to Rollout by Ludacris.
As I realized this, I wondered, "How does this look?" Ridiculous? Stupid? Odd? Hilarious? Probably any or all of these things depending on the spectator. I had to laugh at myself and the situation.
However, I justifed my actions as I thought back on the packed parking lot and the diverse crowd that had flocked to Starbucks to fulfill their indulgence. I felt even better today, as I gave into my need once again, this time for a Caramel Frappaccino. As I waited at the light to turn left, I saw a young teenager dressed in over-sized black jeans, a black shirt and many spike -covered wrist bands......In his hands was a Starbucks cup. It was then that relief hit. I wasn't some silly yuppie or guilty of falling victim to some horrible fad. I was one of many that HAD to my coffee fix every now and then. I was simply having the Universal Essential, Starbucks.
Yet, everytime I go I can't help but think that I appear to a yuppie or that I given into the "In" thing to do. A prime example of this was last weekend. As my husband and I (new parents) settled into what we now consider a rockin' Friday night, of reading, playing on the computer or catching up on previously Tivoed shows, I felt the need for a latte. So, at 10:30pm I jumped in the car and headed to Starbucks. I rolled up to a packed parking lot, got my latte via the drive-thru window and headed toward the exit. (Now, keep in mind I am in my car by myself for about 20 minutes on this trip, so of course I'm listening to my music pretty loud, simply because I can.) Had you been in the parking lot that evening you may have seen a short, teenage-looking white girl driving out of Startbucks in a Saturn SL1 will a Skinny Vanilla Latte jammin' to Rollout by Ludacris.
As I realized this, I wondered, "How does this look?" Ridiculous? Stupid? Odd? Hilarious? Probably any or all of these things depending on the spectator. I had to laugh at myself and the situation.
However, I justifed my actions as I thought back on the packed parking lot and the diverse crowd that had flocked to Starbucks to fulfill their indulgence. I felt even better today, as I gave into my need once again, this time for a Caramel Frappaccino. As I waited at the light to turn left, I saw a young teenager dressed in over-sized black jeans, a black shirt and many spike -covered wrist bands......In his hands was a Starbucks cup. It was then that relief hit. I wasn't some silly yuppie or guilty of falling victim to some horrible fad. I was one of many that HAD to my coffee fix every now and then. I was simply having the Universal Essential, Starbucks.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
No Promises
Blog - Take One. So I'm starting a blog. For me, I feel this will be something like a journal/ scrapbook that I can keep for myself and share with my family. I'll be honest, my sister inspired me to do this. I love reading her blog and I excitedly check it as often as I can. Even though we talk regularly, I always get a little deeper insight into her daily life and it is something I really enjoy. I hope to write often, but I make no promises. I am still learning how to juggle life with a new baby and I'm sure many will agree it take practice.
However, I am excited to do this!! I already have a few ideas of things I would like to add and share with what I am sure will be masses of people. (My family is pretty big. Okay....so, I'm at least hoping that my sisters and parents will glance at it every now and then.) All joking aside, I am doing this for me. My hope is that this will be a release and not a stress in my life. I will write at my leisure and just have fun!! If you decide follow my blog, may you be relaxed and find some moments where You've Got To Laugh.
However, I am excited to do this!! I already have a few ideas of things I would like to add and share with what I am sure will be masses of people. (My family is pretty big. Okay....so, I'm at least hoping that my sisters and parents will glance at it every now and then.) All joking aside, I am doing this for me. My hope is that this will be a release and not a stress in my life. I will write at my leisure and just have fun!! If you decide follow my blog, may you be relaxed and find some moments where You've Got To Laugh.
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