If I don't make Mexican food at least once a week, my husband goes a little crazy.  This will definitely be added to our menu soon!





Cameryn loves this book so we must do this soon!

Pretty Place, SC.  It speaks for itself, huh?



I adore this, apart from the orange!

Hey, people, do me a favor.  Enable your email, please!  I've received several comments that I cannot reply to and that frustrates me.  I may be slow in replying back to you, but I'll do it IF and only IF you enable your email. 
Here's how:

Log into your dashboard and click on 'Edit Profile'
There's a little box that says 'Show My Email'
CLICK IT!

See, it's that easy.

And, while I'm thinking about it, one more thing... it's no secret that Blogger has issues with comments.  Have you noticed?  Sometimes your sucked into an endless loop.  So, the easiest (note:  not emotionally safest!) way to fix that is to enable "anonymous" comments... Scary, huh?  Just remember that by doing so you leave yourself vulnerable to all of the crappy people in this world! 
Here's how:

Log into your dashboard, and go to the 'Settings' link
Click on the 'Comments' Link
Who Can Comment?  Anyone

Thank you for your attention.  This PSA is now complete.

Here's the recap for week two of my half marathon training plan.  I'm not following the plan exactly, I like to base my workouts on how I am feeling that day.  I also ran a lot more last week thanks to our current living situation (two more days people, two more days!)  Currently, I'm battling shin splints so I may have to pull back on the running for a little while and focus more on strength.

Monday - Bob Harper's Cardio Conditioning Video
Tuesday- 2 miles
Wednesday- 3 miles
Thursday- 3 miles
Friday-  Rest day!
Saturday- 4 miles on treadmill
Sunday- Rest day!


What I learned this week:

1.  I need to focus more on strength.  The Bob Harper video kicked my butt.  It's amazing how you can feel so strong while running and so weak when doing lunges and kettlebells for an hour!

2.  I need to pay attention to my body and listen when it tells me that it is tired or hurting! 

3.  Treadmill runs are so much easier.  I felt as if I could have run for several more miles at a 10 min or less pace but I stopped only because we had errands to run that day.  However, my knees hold up much better outside than on the treadmill which stikes me as odd!

Need to catch up?  Here's week 1.

Respect.  Such a difficult thing to gain and such an easy thing to lose.

I am currently struggling with respect issues at my house.  Not with my husband or child, but with roommates.  Yes, roommates.  (And no, I am not worried about them ever reading the blog.  At this point, there's nothing left to worry about as our friendship is probably six feet under anyway.) 

Remember college?  When living with other people was so much fun?  There was always someone to talk too, always someone to hang out with, always someone to help cook dinner and clean with.  I've decided that roommates are overrated and I am much too old to share my house with other people.

Several weeks ago, Chris approached me and asked if one of his childhood friends could come live with us for a week or too.  He was moving from PA to SC and just needed a few days to get on his feet until he could find a house to move into.  His wife and kids would not be coming down until October.  I was a bit hesitant at first, I mean, how much of a "friend" could this guy be if I hadn't met him in the 11 years that we have been together?  It seemed a little odd to me, but I've moved before and I know how stressful it is, so I agreed.  Chris assured me that it would be temporary and that it would fine, I would like him.  The friend moved in with us on Aug 7.  A week later we get a call while we are at Great Wolf Lodge, the friend is on the way to Myrtle Beach to see his family while they are on vacation but his wife (who is supposed to be on that vacation!) and two dogs are in town and are going to be staying with us as well.  Umm, what?! 

That's when it started to go downhill.  I should have listened to my instincts and put my foot down and just said no, it's too much. 

Week 2:  (the week of my birthday) They find a house but it won't be ready until September 1, which they tell the landlord, is fine, because they have a place to stay.  They assured us that they would probably be out before September 1, but as of today, it's not looking good.

Week 3:  At this point, I am 100% about to lose it.  Every night Chris and I cook dinner and every night they eat with us.  Tuesday I walked into the guest bath to grab some of Cam's things and I was disgusted.  I like a clean house and it's pretty evident as soon as you walk in the door, so I just assumed that they could clean up after themselves.   I immediately put on my rubber gloves, grabbed the bleach, and started scrubbing.  Later, I walked into the laundry room and tripped over their laundry basket because naturally, they have dirty clothes.  I just didn't realize that I was to supply the detergent, downey, and dryer sheets.  Oh, and the milk, diet coke, dinner every night and leftovers for them to take in their lunch, plus a place to sleep, a garage to keep boxes in, and a carpet for their dogs to pee on.

Apparently, I need to grow a pair and tell them what I am feeling.  Chris knows how I feel and he also agrees with me that this is just too much, it's not what was expected, we both thought that it would be different.  Both Cam and I are not sleeping well (she has to be at work at 4am and he leaves around 6am.) so we're headed to my mom's this weekend to escape.  I need to get out my house, because I don't even want to be home (isn't that terrible?)  Thursday cannot come soon enough. 

I am a good friend, but I do not run a halfway house, nor am I a chef or maid.  I know that when you take things for granted that in the long run, the things you are granted are usually taken.  I also know that when you stay with someone, whether it be your parents, your grandparents, or a friend, you pull your own weight, you offer to help, you contribute financially if staying for more than a week.   More importantly, the lesson that you learned in kindergarten still holds true:  Treat others with the same level of respect that you would like in return.  Obviously, this lesson is lost on them.  Ironic, since he's a teacher.  And sad, too, because the high hopes that we had for their friendship have officially crashed and burned.

Last night I was introduced to a mindless time suck that had me laughing for the entire length of the video.  Apparently she's been around for awhile and is pretty popular with the younger crowd.  Hmmm, who knew.

Enjoy, friends!

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{via} Inspiration!

{via}  What a cute teacher gift!

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My dad lives in Vietnam so we email a lot.  I always get a little excited when I see a random email from him in my inbox.  That changed today, the email was titled "Last Wednesday's Dinner" - I almost dropped my phone and lost my breakfast.  This was just too much for me at 6am! 

What hell is that?

Before I forget, Coffeemate Peppermint Mocha + hazelnut coffee = Christmas in a cup. Just sayin'.



This week can best be described as "Gone Running."  I stared a training plan for a half marathon (which I probably will not run!) and my legs are tired.  I like to run and would do it here and there for fun, but now I find myself looking forward to my run every night, making goals for each split, and then trying to beat the split before.  Last night, I realized that I am an idiot, I went too fast out of the box and was forced to slow down on mile two, I even walked the hills!  Argh.  I let my head get in the way, thinking that I could pace myself for 4 miles the same that I would for 2 miles, and I ended up pushing myself through 4 pitiful miles.  Lesson learned!

Here's the re-cap for week 1 of my training plan:

Monday - 3 miles
Tuesday- 2 miles + strength
Wednesday- 3 miles (my second split was 8:56!)
Thursday- I opted for wine, pizza and cake for my Dirty Thirty.
Friday-  2 miles
Saturday- Swimming + strength
Sunday- 4 miles

Today I am planning on a light workout of yoga or pilates to stretch my super tired muscles  (I'm sure that those who know me well are gasping because me doing yoga is like asking a toddler to sit and be quiet!) and will hopefully be prepared for a short and sweet 3 miles tomorrow.

I'm going to do this.  I will complete this program.  The extra push when I am tired, or feel like my lungs will burst will pay off in the end!

Believe it or not, they were thrilled to be there!  Really...

Cameryn loves to play hide and seek.  We play at least once a day.  She loves to be the seeker, even though when she looks in the first spot she (usually) will start to cry if we are not there (she always looks in her room first!)  Occasionally she will want to hide too and, of course, we act as if we cannot find her.  This is her favorite spot to hide.

 Can you find her?!  HA!

Dress + skirt + dirty shoes + hamster accessory = 2 yr old Fashion

Alshon Jeffery, Bruce Ellington, Marcus Lattimore & Stephen Garcia I'm loving this pin... It would be even better in Cameryn's room.

{via} I'm loving this idea.   I was just thinking last night that I wanted to find something to corral our remotes.  Who would have thought that an old Kleenex box would do the trick?  Note to self, find a stylish Kleenex box... I'm loving this little girl (and her daddy!)  Sassy attitude and all. I'm loving and living up! the last week of my roaring twenties.

Last year, I said that I had a recurring trend in my life that I would like to kick to the curb.  And after eight months, I have realized that it's not going anywhere.

I used to have awesome friends.  I'd like to think that they are still my friends but sometimes, I just don't know.  Isn't that sad?  We got married. We moved away. We had babies. We got new jobs. We have new lives and new friends that became more important than our old lives and our old friends.
We push aside emails, phone calls and texts because we could always answer them later, but never do.  We scan the social media sites and read the latest status updates.  We read them but never anything more.  Staying in touch is just too difficult.  Funny, huh?  All of this new technology and it's still too difficult.  So what does it take for people to stay in touch? And when do you reach the point of no return?  When do you say enough is enough and stop reaching out because you have constantly received nothing in return.  How do you decide what friends to "keep" and what friends to "let go"?
As I get older, I find that this is happening more and more, and I wonder, is it just me? 

Am I the problem? 

I haven't spoken to my best friend from high school and the maid of honor in my wedding in two years, since we went to Vegas for our reunion.  Our lives are different and somehow it's just easier to let our friendship go.  She lives glamorously out in LA, as a celebrity publicist.  I live a simple, small town life.  Our lives are no longer intertwined, we have very little in common.  We'll always have a bond as third culture kids, we'll always be able to share stories of high school.  She'll forever be in my wedding album.  But after that?  Our story ends.  Sad, maybe.  But it seems right.

I have a group of friends from college that I adore.  I think about them and I immediately smile.  Our lives, on paper, are similar.  Put us in the same room and it's like we haven't ever been apart. Our stories are the same.   Our hugs are warm.  Our laughter is genuine.  Our goodbyes are sad.  We occasionally text, chat, and email yet sometimes I wonder if we are emailing because we want to or if we are emailing because we think that we should?  The scary thought for me - if I am even questioning this, does this mean that they too will fizzle, that I am giving up?  They are worth it, 100% without a doubt worth it, but why is it so hard?  Why does it feel so strained?  Why do I have to miss them when I don't want to?

I met with a friend a few weeks ago, someone that I used to see quite regularly.  And honestly?  It felt forced.  The conversation that used to flow freely lagged.  Where there used to be laughter, there was just silence.  I actually heard things that I had no clue about, which shocked me, because usually I would have been one of the first people to know.  I left our meeting feeling funny inside, like something was off.  And I realized that it was because "we" were off.  I miss her, I miss the bond, I miss the friendship, the laughter, the support.  I realized that though we could pick up where we left off, it wasn't the same, now we had things to catch up on, big things.  I used to email or call everyday.  I would reach out and try to see her, but was constantly shot down for one reason or another and eventually I just stopped because I just refuse to always be the one who extends the hand.  But I do miss her and I still hope that this one doesn't get away.

I wonder, am I the problem?  Is it me that has the issues?  Am I the one driving people away?  Am I a terrible person?  A terrible friend?  Or is my life just evolving and therefore my friendships are too?  It's difficult to say, really.  I guess only time will tell. 

Being a parent to a toddler may be the most challenging "job" that I have ever had.  I, generally, don't let my title as a "mom" define who I am, but being a mom is part of my life on a daily basis.  I, as a "mom", have a responsibility to teach my child the ways of the world and how to become a well-behaved, polite, and loving human being.

However, there are times that I would rather put a sign on her body "Free to Good Home!  Bring her back when she starts kindergarten!" and place her on the nearest corner.  (Side note:  I WOULD NEVER DO THIS!)  Sometimes I just want to wave the white flag.  We've all been there.  The screaming tantrums.  The incessant whining.  The constant need to be entertained.  Every age presents its own set of challenges.   Currently we're in the preschool stage, and preschoolers can be physically and emotionally draining. 

The best way to describe Cameryn is intense.  She's sensitive.  Serious.  Perceptive.  Determined.  Sweet, when she wants to be, and overall, a good child.  She listens to other adults, besides her parents.  She shows empathy towards others.  She is kind to animals and babies.  These days her temperament leaves much to be desired and I have found myself dealing with more daily tantrums that I have ever before, it has been quite the challenge.

....because she didn't want to leave the birthday party at our neighbors house.  It was the first time we'd ever been over to their house  She ended up grabbing a white blazer that was sitting on a near-by couch and attempting to use it as a blanket.  I had to pry it out or her hands and make her leave.
...because we refuse to let her fill her body with unhealthy food 24/7. 
...because Mommy told her to go to bed and Daddy wasn't home to stop Mommy from doing it.
...because she didn't want to go to school.

Always because she doesn't get her way.  Shocker.

Speaking calmly goes right over her head. You cannot reason with a two year old. For the most part, we try to give her choices (peas or carrots? milk or water? target or wal-mart?), to ask questions instead of commands, to let her know what's on the agenda for the day or for the next few hours but it seems that no matter how hard we try, tantrums are inevitable. 

I'm struggling to teach Cameryn how to deal with her emotions of frustration, disappointment, and anger. ( I have yet to learn THE LOOK that will obliterate the bad behavior.  My mom had the THE LOOK and it scared the daylights out of me.)  For example, this morning, after she had an accident she cried, screamed actually, because the matching shorts to her pjs were now soiled and I made her take them off, and therefore ended up in her room until she could calm down.  We have told her over and over again, to use words to tell us when she needs help, feels sad or scared, but in moments of toddler duress, words are slim to none.  I know that she felt as if she was spiraling out of control this morning and I wanted to comfort her (I know what it feels like when I get upset I can only imagine how it feels for someone her age), but at the same time, I cannot, and will not, condone her behavior of crying and screaming.  As usual, I ignored her as much as possible and waited a few minutes before I went in to hug it out.

I've discovered that most of the time when Cameryn has one of these freak outs, that the most effective way for the both of us to regain control is to simply just be quiet and give her a hug.  A big firm hug.  After our hug, we can talk calmy to each other and go about our day.  Why a hug?  A long time ago I read something about how autistic children benefit from a hug when they are feeling out of control because it causes something in the frontal lobe to trigger and help them calm down, so I tried it and, gasp! it works on toddlers too.  Most of the time a hug is the last thing that I want to do but it works for us, for now. 

This "job" as a mom is tough, it is constantly evolving.   I don't always have the answers.  I don't always want to care, or want to be involved.  But I do.  I am.  Sometimes it takes all that I have not to laugh at her when she's crying over something ridiculous.  But I do.  Sometimes I'd like to lock myself in my closet and ignore her when she's crying, oh wait, I've done that too.  Many times my "job" as a mom kicks my ass.  But, as long as my kid turns out okay - well behaved, polite, loving, maybe, just maybe, I've succeeded. 

And, maybe, just maybe, my title as a mom defines me so much more than I thought.

I have this thing with white shoes.  I don't like them.  I never have and I never will.  I don't like white shoes after Memorial Day. I don't like white shoes before Memorial Day.  I don't like white shoes with heels.  I don't like white shoes on men, women, or babies.  I don't like them in the store.  I don't like them on my floor.  I don't like them in the mall.  Damn it, people, I don't like them AT ALL. 

If I see you in white shoes I will say something, probably out loud, about how ridiculous they are.  White shoes make your feet look big.  White shoes stand out no matter what you have on.  White shoes scream first day of school.  I will be sure to comment on how clean they look because you know that the people who are rocking their white shoes are also the ones who go home and clean off the scuff marks because their white shoes have to be bright white.  Like white out for your feet.

Just check these out...