Day 24 (8/30/2011)

Happy 6th Birthday!!!!!

Day 21 (8/27/2011)

Maybe??? Do I dare hope???

Day 20 (8/26/2011)

What will tomorrow bring??? 

Day 19 (8/25/2011)

worst news ever...where do I go from here???

Day 18 (8/24/2011)

Giddy with excitement for tomorrow!

Day 17 (8/23/2011)

I had a MUCH needed dinner date with my dear friend Patty!!!

Day 16 (8/22/2011)

I was plotting my latest novel...

Day 15 (8/21/2011)

RAIN RAIN RAIN UGH!

Day 14 (8/20/2011)

New Hair!

Day 13 (8/19/2011)

Today is my best friend Luke's 30th birthday...had he not been taken from us far too soon.  I miss you boy, RIP <3

Day 12 (8/18/2011)

this is what today was..a big !

Day 11 (8/17/2011)

Spent all day and night in excruciating back pain!!!!

Day Ten 8/16/2011

London was sick with a fever alllll day and super clingy! :-(

Day Nine 8/15/2011

Gabby lost her 2nd tooth!

Day Eight 8/14/2011

Where she insisted on having her breakfast

Day Seven 8/13/2011

Playing in a Disney Princess tent during the rainy day storms!

Day Six 8/12/2011

My super b-day present from my awesome neighbor Barb!

Day Five 8/11/2011

what I NEEDED to undo my day!

Picture Four 8/10/2011

London literally does this every chance she gets...hangs upside down and looks through her legs, smh

Day Three 8/9/2011

The look of innocence....nah this is the "I've been caught" face

Topic One

Giving your child an allowance?

1. How old should the child be before starting an allowance?
2. How much is the right amount?
3. Do you think it promotes laziness, greed, responsibility, pride, etc?
4. What do you think a child should realistically have to "do" to "earn" and allowance?

Gabby is getting to an age where I think that she is old enough to start doing things for herself and the household...and I mentioned a reward/allowance system, but I worry that it will promote greed or the laziness that comes from only ever "helping" when there is something in it for her.  What do you think? Help please!

London Isabella

My precious little baby....who keeps me on my toes and is just as naughty as can be! LOL  She is such an incredible little girl....stubborn and opinionated, loving and outgoing, inquisitive and daring....she is simply remarkable.  She broke the mold for sure, and while I thought that Gabriella had set the stage and taught me all that I needed to know about life and being a mommy, London came into the world to let me know that we are never done learning, and there are a million and ONE ways to do things!  She is tiring and hilarious all at once and she keeps me young...while giving me gray hairs!! :-D

Book Club

I love to read...better than watching tv, playing games, anything.  I love to escape through the story and words and see how I come out on the other side.  Reading has always been a source of comfort to me no matter what the story or subject matter.  It has always allowed me to leave this world for a little while and walk in someone else's shoes.  And sometimes it has proven to inspire me to aim higher, reach for the stars to achieve the level of "happiness" the character seemed to have living the life I have always dreamed of; other times it has shown me how to appreciate exactly where I am in life and to give thanks for the blessings I have been given because it could be so much worse and I am so lucky to not have had to experience what some of these characters have.

All in all reading is amazing...but it can be so much fun when you can share it with others.  So, I am embarking on a quest to begin a book club --both online and in person--so that I may share with others what I have found, and even more importantly have others share with me.  I want this to be open and honest, and fun and non-judgemental.  EVERYONE is entitled to their opinions.  So, let's get this bad boy started.  Leave me comments about what books or themes you hope to see make it on the book club reading lists, days that work best for in person meetups, and opinions on books you have already read.  I am always looking for something new to get lost in.  We can discuss authors, poetry, short stories, novels, etc.  Whatever your hearts desires.  Happy Reading everyone!!

Gabriella Alexandra

Cara's Wedding

This page will be devoted to my gorgeous daughter, my original link into mommy hood, and the light of my life,  Gabriella.  She never ceases to amaze me and delight me in her everyday quests.  She is so smart and loving, imaginative and creative, friendly and energetic.  As much as I would love to think that I teach her and had a hand in how amazing she is, the truth of the matter is she is amazing in her own right and she teaches me a new lesson every time I look at her.  I love her immensely and I am so blessed to have her in my life!!!

My Year in Photos Project

....because "pictures speak a thousand words" and I love words, I will embark on a creative experiment to journal my next year in pictures.  They won't always be exciting...won't always "wow" you, but they will always be from the heart and therefore amazing all on their own! I hope you will enjoy them!

Day Two 8/8/2011

Banana splits with Gabby!

Day One 8/7/81

My 30th Birthday 8/7/2011

Happy Birthday to ME! :-D

Blue Heaven Martini
30th B-day

Today is my 30th birthday, the big 3-OH!  I must admit that I was dreading this birthday, and even had a bout of depression leading up to it.  No, not because I was terrified to leave my 20's, but because I had convinced myself that 30 was some momentous milestone that meant I was really an adult and needed to have something  amazing to show for it.  I didn't feel like I had accomplished anything with my life; I didn't have some incredible important job, didn't have a sprawling mansion, loads of money, and wasn't living in the laps of luxury.  And while it seems incredibly silly now, I did let that idea get the best of me and it really took its toll on me.

Then, through the kind words of friends and family, I finally woke up and realized that I had so much more than what I thought I needed to have.  I have a wonderful husband, and 2 beautiful children.  I have an immensely important job as mommy and wife that I should be ridiculously proud of.  I have a simple home that suits my and my families needs and gives us the stage to so many beautiful memories.  And I am rich in love for and from some pretty amazing people I am blessed to call family and friends.  I would say that when you look at my life in that light I have succeeded and surpassed the "goals" and "requirements" that I had ever set forth for myself.

So, to celebrate my "milestone" birthday, I am focusing on the things that matter and learning to enjoy life every minute from exactly where I am at the time.  I am making a promise to myself to get back to writing, and fulfilling the goals and dreams I had pushed to the side in the ill placed idea that they weren't "worthy" or "important".  Through this blog I hope to reveal all of me; the good, bad, ugly, beautiful, crazy, neurotic, ambitious, fun-loving me!  I hope that you will come to rely on this blog for entertainment and solace.  I look forward to sharing my bit of imperfections with you!