Past, Present and Future

Over the past several weeks I have been "Friend Sick" which is my version of home sick.  Missing and wanting to spend time with my friends from Alabama, Jacksonville, Tampa, Canada and the ones who have moved and traveled all over. Familiar voices and personalities, people that know who I am and love me for just that. People that I share common interest and funny memories with. There is something to be said when you can call a friend and say lets meet up for a run, dinner, drinks, coffee, a play date, it's warm and comforting.

I have really been blessed with meeting and knowing some cool, smart, crazy talented and caring individuals. I love seeing the people I care about flourish in their dreams and watch how they enjoy life. And that is one of the reason why I love social media so much, it allows me to feel connected with the people I know or knew and helps me find out more about the people I am  getting to know.

So I got to thinking about my past, present and future friends. The people that were once friends and have either drifted  away or abruptly left my life, the friends of my past that have gracefully grown with me into my present and then friends of my future. Its crazy to think about who you were close with 5 years ago, 1 year ago and who you are close with in the present moment. I often wonder how will the people I meet today affect me tomorrow, will a "It was so great to meet you"  naturally  evolve into a new friendship or just be someone passing by?

Plain and simple I miss my friends and even though I can't see most of you as often as I would like, I think of you fondly and I do wish I can put everyone I adore in my bubble so I can see you all whenever I want!

To friends; past, present and future!

Life is so much sweeter

When you decide to be the sugar.

It's not news to everyone who knows me that this year I have had my share of changes in my life. From a new move, to new jobs, to a new school (for Everly), to moving and expanding a business, changes in relationships and the development of new friendships. To me it is an understatement to say a lot has been going on and to say it has been easy would not be true. With change comes challenges, obstacles and opinions, and I had to choose on how I would handle them. Honestly sometimes it has not been very gracefully but my heart reminds me that every experience is a journey and to embrace, hold on tight and try to have fun. So when I read this quote "Life is so much sweeter when you decide to be the sugar" I smiled and made that choice to be the sugar.

This life we our given is amazing, surround yourself with people that make you laugh, tell you the truth, place no judgement, want to see you happy and gives a good hug! And remember to do the same for them.

Does anyone speak toddler?

Because if you do I need you to teach me. I got the baby stage down and over with for now and I am pretty sure I can handle the talking stage because she can actually communicate what she wants. But this toddler land is something I have no clue how to navigate and to be completely honest, I am not really fond of toddlers. They scream, they are very demanding, they pull you in every direction, they throw things, they are always sticky....oh this list can go on and on. But when they aren't being taken over my aliens, they are so sweet and cute filled with love and snuggles. I think God created them that way so you don't run away to your local drinking establishment.

This post is sponsored by my amazing husband, who actually does speak toddler, and the nice glass of wine I finally have when she goes to bed! I couldn't do it without you both!

In the morning with her cereal and juice
What you don't see is all the cereal on the ground and Lily eating it
Thank you Lily! 

And this is how it went down

On my way to drop little E off and some guy came up to the car and asked for a ride. I politely said no and have a nice day and Everly said good bye and blew him a kiss. Then I saw a women advertising her passion parties on the side of the road, all before 9am.

Off to the office I go, met with my editor and boss, pitched a few ideas, all received very well. And I am out of there and on my way to For the Girls , I get a call from my boss with some amazing news on a new project, which I will go into more detail on a later blog, and I am beyond over the moon excited. Have a meeting with my partner at Bridal Gallery and a wedding vendor about a few events coming up. Picked up the little from school with snacks armed and ready for consumption, note to self and all people providing snacks to kids in a car, don't give them the squeeze pouch fruit  stuff because certain aged children thinks it would be a fun activity to squeeze it out all over the car. And to be honest, if I was not the person cleaning it up, it would be a fun activity!

Finally home but have so much excited energy I desperately need to go for a run. My runners are on and playlist ready, go out side and find 2 guys in a truck selling meat. And of course they approach me and say, "Excuse me but do you eat meat?" I lied and said, "no I am a vegetarian" ( oh how I wish I was still a vegetarian because maybe I might have been convincing) and then they said, "Really? You don't even cheat?", this conversation goes on and it ends up with me looking in a freezer, on the back of a pick up truck, viewing variety packs of meat and cheesecake. I finally say thank you for showing me my options but I will be passing on the meat and cheesecake purchase.

This was my random day that ended in a run and a much need cocktail!

Drinking a blue moon out of a wine glass,  yes that is actually happening

Happy New Year

I like to think of birthdays as my own personal New Year. A time for me to get my priorities and goals together to make that year a memorable one. So I've been thinking about what I would like to shift around in my life to make that possible for year 32.

Here are a few goals I would like to strive for...

Live my life envy free and without jealousy.
Speaking up for what I believe in even if it is not the most popular choice.
Learn and try something new everyday.
and continue to add and cross off my "to do list"

1. Learn Italian
2. Cook out of my French cook book
3. Take a cake decorating class
4. Go rock climbing
5. Drive a stick shift
6. Organize and print my digital pictures
7. Make Everly’s baby book 
8. Finish Everly’s first year video...I am on to the second one now
9. Remember birthdays and send cards to family
10. Start my bridal business  This one is a work in progress 
11. Read more books 
12. Start my blog
13. Learn to snowboard
14. Grow a garden
15. Sell our house in Jacksonville...Almost
16. Buy a new house preferably on the west coast 
17. Run a ½ marathon 
18. Plan a surprise trip for Justin 
19. Learn photoshop 

I love reading this list and I look forward to doing everything on it as well as adding more fun stuff to it!

Happy New Year to me!

A lot of new

2012 has been the year of change for me and my family! Each month several new and exciting opportunities have presented themselves and it's only March! Last month Justin decided to take on a new job and move us to Daytona Beach. So within a few weeks we found a new place to live, packed up our live's in boxes again and loaded a truck to our new destination! We are finally unpacked and somewhat settled. I was extremely excited to move, not only would I be closer to my mom but I would have more of an opportunity to be present with building our new business For the Girls. 

I also decided to make few more life changers when we moved:

1.  It was time for Everly to branch out, meet new friends, start learning and acquiring some independence from mom and dad.
2. I wanted a new job, one that was flexible and would allow me to network for the shop, meet new people in my new town, cover Everly's school and bring in some fun money a long the way. 

And the search began! After much googling I started to bookmark schools I wanted to visit. A lot of research, several tours and a few recommendations later I found Everly her first school! I wanted a daycare that had a curriculum and much needed structure and I am very happy with the decision we made! 

On to life changer #2, I was looking for some new advertising and networking opportunities for the shop, again  a lot of time on google and a few Facebook searches when I came across a most interesting opportunity. I found Floridian View, a magazine I was not familiar with but I knew I wanted to get  For the Girls involved in some way. After learning more about the magazine I found out it was only a year old, a start up company by a group of young professionals wanting to showcase their community in a different way. After liking them on Facebook I noticed they had a job opening and jumped at the chance to submit my resume. A few emails later I had an interview the week after we moved. As soon as I met with them I knew it would be a perfect fit and apparently so did they since I was offered the job on the spot. It all worked out so perfectly.

So while Justin continues to work hard at his new job, Everly and I start our new jobs Monday, April 2. Change can be a challenge but I gladly except the challenge and looking forward to the new experience! 

Reason, Season or Lifetime

We are moving to Daytona Beach tomorrow, I am so excited, nervous and sad, a lot of emotions going through my mind. This week has been tough as I give my hugs and say goodbye to the people I love. My friend Amy said to me the other day..."its not goodbye, its see you later" and I like thinking about it that way. You would think for a person who has moved around a lot in the last few years it would gets easier to say goodbye or see you later , but it doesn't.

Even though we were only in Tampa for a few years it has been great. I  have enjoyed being closer to my Dad, Grandparents and extended family. And it has been great meeting new people and learning from so many. I am truly blessed because with each city I end up in I have been given these amazing friendships that I cherish, truly authentic individuals that are supportive and uplifting. With each move I always think about a poem that I read when I was in Birmingham, Reason, Season or Lifetime, People do come and go in your life for a reason and hopefully you learn from each them.

To new adventures, new people, new opportunities and new lessons!

Reason, Season, or Lifetime

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.
When you figure out which one it is,
you will know what to do for each person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON,
it is usually to meet a need you have expressed.
They have come to assist you through a difficulty;
to provide you with guidance and support;
to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually.
They may seem like a godsend, and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.

Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time,
this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.
Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.
What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON,
because your turn has come to share, grow or learn.
They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it. It is real. But only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons;
things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.
Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person,
and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.
It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

— Unknown

Sweetheart Party

My special Valentine and I went to a sweethearts party at  Lil Peeps' Playhouse this year. She was dressed up in her heart tutu and rocker pink pants of course and handed out "be mine" valentines she made with a little helping hand from me.

All the kids had some free time to play and explore, then it was songs and circle time, followed by a small craft and then topped off with decorate your own cupcake. It was a great day and a fun way to spend Valentine's day with my little sweetheart.

Crawling through the tunnel 

Sophia is ready for her road trip 

Pushing a truck

Building in a tutu

Andrew all dressed up

Target Tuesday

On the first Tuesday of the month the Glazer Museum has Target Tuesday which is free admission sponsored by Target of coarse. I have been wanted to take Everly there for a while but wasn't sure if I really wanted to spend the money since her attention span is well, like a small child. So when the mom's group was planning our next meet up at the museum I was super excited to explore what it had to offer.

The Glazer Museum has so much for  kids of all ages to do. The first level your little one can explore and learn about water and rain storms, build sand castles, drive a cruise ship and much more. On the upper level they can tap into their creative sides in the art smart center, go shopping at Publix, learn to take care of animals at the vet clinic and learn at many other play stations.

It was a great little Tuesday at the museum and all the kids and adults had a fun time. I would recommend taking advantage of Target Tuesday if you are wanting to learn more about what the museum has to offer and to see if your kids will enjoy it.

With a Smile

I ran my first 1/2 marathon this past weekend and I did with a smile and had a blast! I NEVER would have thought I could run 13.1 miles but I am thrilled to announce I can cross this off my "things to do list". To start I would like you all to know I am not a runner and I do not enjoy the act of running alone. With that said I do enjoy running with a group and with friends because I have had the most interesting conversations when I run and I have made some amazing friends running. So I guess you can say I am officially a runner as long as I have a buddy and a Starbucks after a nice run.

If you are friends with me on Facebook you all know I have been training for this race for a few months now and you have already been experiencing this with me through my many status updates, photos and videos but I would like to take you back to how it all began.

I knew that if I was going to participate in a 1/2 marathon it would be at Disney, I mean the thought of running through the Magic Kingdom just sounds like a great time! After talking about it with friends and family on various occasions I decided that 2012 would be a great year to complete my first 1/2 marathon. Like I said before I was not a runner so I started slowly running the galloway method, the way this method works is you run for an amount of time like 1 minute and then you walk for 1 minute and alternate run/walk, this method helped me build up my endurance. When I joined the Y a few months ago my lovely tour guide Leslie told me about a running group that met up on Saturday mornings, I jumped or ran at the opportunity to join the CORE runners. Every Saturday at 7am my friend Amy and I would meet up with the CORE runners and have an enjoyable run followed by a more enjoyable Starbucks. This seemed like such a great way to get ready for our 13.1 miles we needed to train for. Eventually 7am turned into 6:30am and maybe even earlier as our training miles needed to increase to meet our goal. But no matter how early we needed to get up or how long we need to run that day it was all worth it since you knew you had a goal and someone to hold you accountable. One of the best parts of running with a buddy is the conversation, because really when you are with someone for that long and you are trying to pass the miles by, nothing is of limits and you talk about it all. From babies, to food, to sex, to bodily functions, through memory lane of your past and all your goals for your future, there is never a dull mile.

The morning of the race started at an early 2:30am but that didn't matter because I was to excited and nervous to sleep. With our tutu's on and cameras in hand we were ready! Me, Dawn and my Mom made our way to our assigned corral. I was franticly trying to get a hold of my running buddy Amy so we can try to meet up in the sea of 26, 000 runners  (and we did meet up). The count down began and the fireworks went off  and we were on our way! On a runners and sensory overload there was something to get you motivated at every mile. High school bands lined the streets, volunteers cheered you on as they gave you refreshments, characters were available for pictures, spectators screamed your name in encouragement, if you didn't have fun on this race something was wrong with you because it was amazing! And to my surprise we found my fan club (Justin, Everly and Aunt Lisa) and Amy's fan club on more than one occasion, hats off to all the support!

My goal was to run with fun and a smile and finish under 3 hours but I came in at 3:01:30 but hey I was to busy laughing, singing, wooting and cheering. It was an experience of a life time and I can't wait to do it again. Thanks to all who have taken this journey with me and for all the encouraging words and motivation!

Cooking Blunder

I love cooking, food, shows about food and anything to do with a culinary adventure for my taste buds. And not to honk my own horn but I have occasionally made some creative and tasty dishes in the past. However the last two nights I have failed miserably in the kitchen/cooking department, so bad that Justin had to band me from the kitchen and start over completely. It could be I am getting slight overwhelmed with activities throughout the day, keeping Everly entertained and trying to decode what she would like to eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner and lets not forget snacks. Plus trying to come up with something other then my five go to dinner recipes.

So my baby yoga mommy friend Julie has turned me on to e-meals, you get to pick the meal plan that works best for your family and they provide meals and recipes for the week, as well as a shopping list! I signed up today and can't wait to get started. We shall see if this will help me be slightly more organized for 2012.