LIFE

Life happens.  When we expect it, when we don't, it just...happens.

I can't believe that it has been over 2 years since I last wrote here and probably just as long since I last visited this site.  I was browsing the blogger site recently and I was shocked and saddened at what I saw.  So many of the blogs that I followed daily were just gone. No new posts, no updates, nothing and it hit me, life happens and even though we sometimes feel all alone in this world, our experiences are sometimes totally similar.  While I thought I alone had totally given up on (i.e. neglected) this blog because LIFE, I saw that it wasn't just me and it was comforting in a way.  I'm sad that my blog has sat unattended on a back burner and sadder that so many have chosen to do the same thing, but my only hope is that we have silenced our blogs for better;  for better experiences, for better memories, for better fun, for better sharing, for the living of a happy LIFE.

Maybe I'll be back? Stay Tuned...

A look back

So a year ago, I made a list of 29 things that I wanted to accomplish BEFORE I turned 30.... Needless to say I didn't get a chance to do many of them....YIKES!!! Lets take a look....

1.  Make one new recipe each month.  (January's recipe was last nights dinner-Rosemary porkchops with caramelized onions and garlic. SOOO good and super easy to make!!) SO I didn't keep up with this BUT I did make quite a few new things (just not sure if it was 12)including fresh HOMEMADE bread from scratch so it wasn't a total failure!!! I mean seriously homemade bread?!?! I'm counting this as a win!!!
2. Read 5 new books. Ok, I have a new baby....enough said.  I may have read a page out of a new book and by a page, I literally mean ONE page! lol
3. Participate in at least 2 walks for charity.  (I've always done this in the past and plan to continue to support causes that are important to me) NOPE, I am actually a bit disappointed in this.  The year just went by so fast that I missed all of my usual charity events.
4. Plan at least 1 date day/night each month for Mr. M & I.  (Even if it just means movie night at home!) I'm marking this as a total WIN.  We found time to go to dinner, a couple of movies and even 2 family vacations during the year!! ☺ YAY for quality time!
5. Try 2 new restaurants during the next Philly Restaurant Week event.  Didn't make it to restaurant week, BUT we did try a few new places just not during restaurant week. So a bit of a stretch but still a win!
6. Get 10 new followers on this blog.  (help me out folks!!) Wasn't even close!!! :(
7. Make, try, or buy  at least 5 ideas/recipes/items from my Pinterest boards. Think I made it to about 4...not bad at all!! ☺
8. Have a professional family portrait taken. YES and it was beautiful!!!! Total Win!
9. Take at least 3 more graduate courses.  (With being sick and pregnant, I had to drop my Fall courses..it's now time to play catch up!) I had class last night...enough said!
10. Have a real girls night out or in!  (complete with drinks and snacks lol) Nope and this is DEFINITELY going back on the list!
11. Blog at least 2 times each week. uuummmmm......EPIC FAIL!!!
12. Organize all of the clothes in my basement/laundry area. Did manage to get that done and yet the laundry area is a total disaster yet again!! lol
13. Plan a summer day trip.  (Wildwood, Ocean City, Baltimore, New York or DC) Went to Ocean City, It was a rainy, cold, disaster!! BUT I did get a frozen banana which was pretty delightful!!
14. Create and stick to a household/family budget.  (We need to get back to using the cash/envelope system) Not really, but we are trying again this year!! We did OKAY but we really need to get better!
15. Re-join/start weight loss program.  (Weight Watchers, My Fitness Pal, or just a conscious effort to do better food and health wise) No and this is a constant battle for me!! :(
16. Complete C25K. Not even close!!
17. Have a girls only day with my mom, sister, and niece. My niece had to work but I did get to spend the day with my mom and sister. Lunch and a play!
18. Plan an awesome 1st birthday party for my little girl.  It was the world's most perfect party!!! Perhaps I'm a bit biased but it was really really really nice!
19. Save up for and plan my 30th birthday vacation! We actually decided against a vacation and actually planned a small get together/happy hour for my family and closest friends.  Its tomorrow and I'm super excited!
20. Have a family dinner.  (on a day other than a holiday) The holidays won and we got together as usual on thanksgiving, Christmas eve and Christmas day!
21. Keep my bedroom clean.  (basically making an effort to clean/straighten it up at least once a month...lol) Ha! That was a joke when I even THOUGHT this was possible!! lol
22. Get together with friends at least 1 time each month. I never realized just how busy we all were.  We did get together a few times but it wasn't nearly as often as we would have liked!
23. Wear my hair out/curly more often.  (perhaps its time to invest in some cute clips and headbands) I sorta did this....sorta'.
24. Hit up a few flea markets/yard/garage sales. I think I went ONCE! I blame Mr. M for this one!
25. Buy myself flowers. NO, but I will and very soon!! I DESERVE this!
26. Treat myself each month.  (it doesn't have to be major..coffee, a new shirt, nail polish, etc.) I may have a been a bit of an OVER-achiever on this one!! I KNOW I bought way more than 12 things this year!!!
27. Go to at least one show/play/concert/game. I saw a show with my mom & sister so I killed two birds with that one stone!
28. Make a peach cobbler and serve with homemade ice cream/finally put my ice cream maker to use!! I DID make the cobbler BUT forgot to make the ice cream....oops!
29. Remember to live, love, and laugh. Sometimes, it was a bit hard to laugh, but I never stopped living OR loving and do not intend to stop!!!

So I didn't do as bad as I thought but I definitely didn't do as well as I had hoped!!!
Perhaps this year I can try again!!!!
Gotta love second chances!!

30!!!!

So here I am on the eve of my (*GASP) 30th birthday and I'm just a bit shocked at how fast the last year has passed.  Its been a year of ups and a few DOWNS but I've survived!! I decided to come back to my blog which has been neglected for quite some time now and re-visit the post that I made almost exactly one year ago.  I was excited to live it up during the last year of my 20's and honestly I did.  I may not have gone out and done many of the exciting things that people think of when they talk about "living it up" but that's okay.  I think I've settled into my life as a wife and a mother.  I've gotten to a place where I realize its okay to just BE.  I still have A LOT of work to do in and around the pages of my life's story and its taking me much longer than I anticipated but I'll get there and I'll be a better, wiser, and happier person because of it.  Here's to closing a chapter of my life and opening a new one.  Here's to a new year and a great life.  30 will be as awesome and as amazing as I make it.  Hopefully you will all stick around a bit to see it unfold.

Happy Early Birthday to me!

I'm a slacker (aka Deja Vu)

WOW!! Where has the time gone?!?! It seems like it was just May and now BAM, September is knocking on my door.  I have more than neglected this blog and I apologize, but we all know how sometimes life just gets in the way of the things that we LIKE to do and we spend most of our days doing the things that we HAVE to do.

But I'm still around.  Hopefully some of my readers are too!

I'm promise I'm going to get back into the swing of things (in more ways than one) I get an eerie feeling that I've said this before a time or two three but I'll admit there are a few areas in my life that need to be re-visited and re-vamped and my poor blog is one of them!!

(in my best Terminator voice) I'll be back!!!

Pinky swear! ☺

I'm Still Here...

alive and well!

I know that I have been a bit quiet lately, between home and work, I have been super busy!

BUT

I was inspired by a recent blog post that I saw and will get you guys all filled in on my daily happening via photos!!! That way you can feel like you've been right there with me the entire time!! (ok, maybe not but still....LOL)

Stay tuned....

I'm In "Love With Food"

ok, while this is nothing new for those that know me...thats not totally what I meant!! lol 
I am in love with the "Love With Food" subscription box.  Subscription boxes seem to be the big thing right now...if you didnt know, subcription boxes are basically campanies that ship you a box of goodies for each month that you "subcribe" to their services.  There are makeup subscriptions, food, clothing, coffee,tea, crafting, pretty much any and everything that you can think of.  Google "Subscription Boxes" to see all of the awesome-ness that is out there, I'm sure you'll find something for your tastes and budget (if you are like me---money is always on your mind!!) LOL

So anyways, after hearing about "Love With Food", I decided to try it out for a number of reasons...mainly because, YES, I LOVE food, but also because the box is cheap well within my budget (only $10 a month plus $2 for shipping BUT your box can be even less depending on the length of your subscription), because for every box that is purchased, Love With Food donates a meal to someone in need and because April's box was hand selected by Mr. Bizarre Foods himself, Andrew Zimmern.  Mr M. & I are huge fans of his television shows, so I HAD HAD HAD to try out his picks.  So basically this one was just a win-win all around. 

Even though I've heard mixed reviews...this box DID NOT dissapoint. And after this one...I'm excited to see next month's box which has a Mothers Day theme (OMG---YAY my very first mommy's day!!!) Another great thing is all of the products that are included in your box are available for purchase on the love with food website. That way when you discover something amazing..theres a way to get more!!! If you are interested...definitely check them out!! There's a link to your right!!!

My cute little box.

 

One Box. One Meal.

 

My First look.

Creamy buffalo ranch dip...can't wait to taste this

Green olives with lemon & Garlic. 

I am not a fan of olives At. All. But Mr. M likes them...so this sample is all his!! Lol

Air popped Sorghum Grain.

Andrew actually ate this one of of his shows. Its sorta like popcorn. I havent tasted it yet.

Smoky Chili & Lime chick pea snacks.

Roasted sunflower seed snacks...these were SOOOO good!!!

Fennel Pollen.

I'm not quite sure what to do with this little seasoning packet just yet.  Luckily love with food has some recipe ideas on their site.  Guess I'll have to start there!

BTW...this fennel has a SUPER strong smell..I could actually smell it through the box AND the plastic wrapping.

All natural coconut milk caramels.

I need to eat these like tonight.



Picture My Life.

Back to work!!

My first statement necklace.

Stepped out of my norm with this one and I LOVE it...can't wait to wear it!

I'm getting serious with my coupons!

My new sneakers...so cute and bright.

Maybe these are just the workout motivation that I needed!!

And yet...this is what I had for lunch

Damn you Five Guys.

Another freebie this week...thanks to my coupons!

It's just okay...I like it, but probably wouldn't buy it!