Merry Christmas From My Family to Yours! #WordfulWednesday

Merry Christmas to all of you! I hope you are spending the holiday enveloped in the love of family and friends!

It's been a busy month and my blogging has taken a back seat. Here is a recap of what I have been doing in pictures:

The day after Thanksgiving we skipped the Black Friday madness and went on a hike
through the Tennessee Valley down to Muir Glen beach with our neighbors. It was majestic.

Then I took a trip to Atlanta (SOLO!) for the 10th Anniversary of Enchanted Closet, a fairy godmother charity I founded in 2003. I haven't been back in five years so I took the opportunity to visit with some friends before the gala:

That's me and Kia from Determined to Be Fit having lunch.
Blogging friends since 2009,we finally met IRL!

I met up with a bunch of my former colleagues for happy hour.

This young lady showed up and made my whole night. She was one of my
high school mentees. Now she is a hard-working nurse. #proud

The big event! In a packed ballroom at the Courtyard Marriott in downtown Decatur, we celebrated 10 years of outfitting girls inside and out:

Add caption(l-r) Me trying to look red carpet ready, me and Bonita Johnson, CEO of Enchanted Closet,
me and the original Enchanted Closet crew. The ladies helped build this organization.

There was no time to rest when I got back. The holiday season was in full swing. There were holiday cards to mail, parties to plan and attend, lots of holiday festivities to take the kids to, and gifts to buy. So that's why I have been absent from this blog. We took in some culture...

I took Marlie to see the production of Cinderella by the African-American Shakespeare Co for our annual
mommy & me holiday outing. It was fantastic and the cast stuck around for pictures!

We made friends at the grocery store while picking up last-minute ingredients for the big feast!

I am thankful for so many people and experiences that made my life extra blessed this year!

Happy Thanksgiving from Marlie and Me! #WordfulWednesday

Happy Thanksgiving from my little butter ball:

Wordful Wednesday: Bathtime Then & Now

Bathtime is the only time they don't whine or fight. Bless these 10 minutes of peace. 
 

June 2012

November 2013

The Kids Stay in the Picture #WordfulWednesday

The fall season kicked off this week, and I miss summer already. Don't get me wrong. I enjoy Autumn... cranberry-colored leaves, juicy nectarines, pumpkin pie, Halloween costumes. It's all good! But I just had to give summer one last salute in a pictorial (with words).

Clockwise: (top left): Marlie celebrated the BIG 0-4 with a cowboy western-themed party and pony rides to boot! (top right): Marlie on an urban hike with her dad. (bottom left): Desmond in the bathtub using ducky to cover up his bits. (bottom right): Desmond is thriving at his new preschool. His favorite activity is art. He is a budding Picasso!

What I Wore: #WordfulWednesday

I had one of those rare days yesterday where I felt like a true fashionista, not just someone who is always admiring another person's fashion sense. Can you relate? I know you know what I am talking about...those days you just love what you are wearing from head-to-toe!

I must brag that I hit it out of the park with this outfit! I am most proud that it is dressy casual; meant to look effortless, but don't be fooled. Look for the small elegant details: 

I look good.

What I wore:
Blouse: Crochet dolman sleeve with pearl collar, $26-from 9thandElm.com
Jeans: $29.99-from Ross
Earrings: hammered sterling silver gossamer leaves-gift

What grade do you give my outfit?

Wordful Wednesday: A Party to Remember

Here are some snaps from Marlie's 4th birthday party that she shared with her classmate. It was a Toy Story-inspired theme with cow-print balloons, red bandanas, and boot-shaped mugs for all the kids. The icing on the cake were the pony rides in our driveway and petting zoo in the backyard. The kids had a truly good time and the parents enjoyed watching their kids go gaga over Sugar, the pony. I really wanted this party to be memorable for her so I went all out. Before you think I spent her college book fund on a party, let me assure you that the whole event was deeply discounted by daily deals, coupons, and prize winnings...never pay full price is my motto! Plus, we shared the costs with another family. Take that savings tip to the bank : co-parties for your kids' birthdays!

Mama's Got a Brand New Bag #WordfulWednesday

If we are friends on Facebook then you probably saw that I am employed again as of last Friday! It's truly a dream job. The work is meaningful, plus the hours a flexible. I'm not saying that being a working mom is going to be a breeze just because my job is part-time. 

These first few days taught me that there is no way to compartmentalize the roles of mommy and employee. I already missed bath and bedtime once this week to attend an after hours work function. And there are going to be times that I have to miss work to care for a sick child. The lines are really blurred.

It's going to be a crazy, but fun, journey! One of the things I am most looking forward to is rebuilding my wardrobe. I have been rocking the over-sized tees and workout sweats for way too long. The office dress code is business casual which is good because I will be able to mix casual pieces I already own with the career clothes I plan to purchase.

My first shopping trip was, um...a trip. I went to Marshalls to buy something to wear to the work event and wound up spending two hours going through the racks and trying on clothes! I am so out of practice, but I think I put together a nice outfit.  

Tell me what you think (I need to buy some make up, I know):

What I bought: 
Max Studio Printed Blouse: $24.99-Marshalls 
Counterparts Light Grey Pants: $16.99-Marshalls 
Poppy Handbag: Franco Sarto $29.99-Marshalls 

What already owned: 
Earrings: Stella & Dot 
Bracelet: Vintage lapis 
Shoes: Naturalizer
 

Anatomy of a Sick Day #WordfulWednesday

This morning I pulled up to the children's preschool at 9:00 am on.the.dot. and Marlie starts to complain of a stomach ache. I try to gauge if it's from gas by asking if she needs to poop. She just repeats that her tummy hurts. I ask her if she wants to try to go to class and have the teacher call me if she still feels bad, but she insists she has to go home because she is "not feeling well" (her words) and she starts to cry. She never wants to skip school so I figure she must really be sick.

I unstrap both kids and drop Desmond off at his class. Back in the car Marlie asks if we can go by the store to buy some "corn on the stick" because it will make her feel better. O_o . Okay. At the store she helps shuck four ears of corn and I am starting to think that I have been had.


Back home she literally watches the pot boil for the corn on the cob. I decide to go ahead and fricassee some chicken breasts for lunch. She eats a whole chicken breast and two ears of corn. So much for the tummy ache. I think she was just hungry. Then she asks to watch TV until I remind her that she is sick and should be resting. She starts to whine. It's only a little after 11 am and I need to think fast. I tell her to grab her tea set and we make "tummy tea."

By noon she is "well" enough to do a craft project and play outside. Miracles! I get to watch most of General Hospital in peace which is important because they finally revealed the identity of the mystery man lurking about town. >>It's Franco<<

At two o'clock I throw in the towel and let her watch television. It's only for an hour before we have to go pick up her baby brother anyway.

How do you spend sick days with your kids? Does yours also make a miraculous recovery when the get home?!

Mother's Day Hangover #WordfulWednesday

I don't know about you but am still recovering from my Mother's Day hangover. My family did SO MUCH on Sunday. Here's how it went:

7:00 am I awaken by kids and greeting cards. Sweet, but sleeping in would have been even nicer. No rest for the weary I guess

8:00 am We are walking to breakfast in order to beat the brunch crowds. I see a few dads out with their kids alone and I wonder if the mommies are still in their warm beds. I feel a pang of envy as I swat Marlie's hands from digging into the food on my plate for the umpteenth time.

Mother's Day Photo. As usual, I am behind the camera.

9:15 am Marlie wants to play on the letters around the corner. I thought this was my day. Silly me.

10:00 am Back home and Damon prepares the picnic basket for my Mother's Day outing of strawberry picking and lunch.

11:00 am pack up the kids and car and head across the bridge. we drive through San Francisco to the California coast and then head south of Pacifica. The coastline is gorgeous. It is a slow (traffic) but peaceful drive and the offspring sleep most of the way.

1:00 pm We arrive at the organic berry farm after getting turned around because Google Maps cannot differentiate between two roads with the same name. Go figure. Note to city planners: there are enough words in the English language to avoid this problem.

1:15 pm We pick strawberries for a while which is fun. But the kids are hungry and it is freezing (perfect opportunity to give me my Mother's Day gift of a new spring jacket).

2:00 pm We park at a nearby beach for our picnic. It is delicious. We chow down while we watch the kite surfers defy the laws of gravity. Then we hit the road for the return trip home but, oh, it won't be as breezy.

3:00 pm As we drift north on Highway 1 I learn that road trips with two small children takes a lot of stamina. Desmond is having a crying fit and Marlie needs to use the bathroom. There is a traffic accident and a section of road where the two-lane highway becomes one causing a significant delay. Our 1.5 hour travel time doubles.

6:00 pm we are finally pulling up into the driveway and I have a headache. I want to flop on the couch but there is tidying up to do, baths to give, and children to put to bed.

How did you spend your Mother's Day? Enjoying alone time or celebrating with family? 

The Kids Are Alright #WordfulWednesday (PHOTOS)

The sporadic posts are driving me crazy! I miss blogging but this mama is busy trying to get a job, which is a full-time job. The bad news is that I am still unemployed. I didn't get that job I was interviewing for. The good news is that I have an interview with another organization next week, one better aligned with my experience and interests. Say a little pray for me! Once I am settled into working, I am going to figure this blog thing out. Meantime, I wanted to share some recent photos and updates of the kiddos. They are blossoming like spring buds.

playing rocket ship

 

Marlie is busy with preschool, gymnastics, and working her parents last nerve. She has added some new gear to her Terrifying Threes toolbox included stomping with her arms crossed, staying up until 10 pm every night, calling her daddy stupid, and telling me she hates me. Oh, that last one cut me deep like a stabbing to the heart. I didn't go off on her or punish her because she was obviously repeating something she heard and wanted to see my reaction. I don't believe she is fully aware of the emotional consequences of that word. I responded like any other time she says something that is not nice. I didn't want to overreact and unintentionally give that word power less she start using it on a regular basis as a weapon to hurt people.

 

Desmond has finally stopped crying when I drop him off at his class. This is a huge milestone. It is also wonderful to and see him smiling when I pick him up. He has two more teeth coming in and he's been using his chompers to pick a chicken leg clean and bite all of us. He's been capitalizing on being the baby of the family. He likes upsies and following his sister around. She sometimes indulges him by letting him play pretend with her like rocket ship or mailman.

Marlie at the top of Lombard Street, the most crooked street in America

We've been taking advantage of the sunny California weather every weekend...sightseeing in San Francisco and backyard pool parties!

Pool party, baby! It was a cool party!

How Do You Finish a Half Marathon? (Wordful Wednesday)

One foot in front of the other. And that's how I walked 13.1 miles on Sunday and finished the Oakland Run Fest with a personal best time of 3 hours 12 minutes (my goal was 3:30). Booya!


I am so proud of myself. Six months ago I set off to walk the whole marathon, but by January that was not looking feasible. I was so disappointed and a little part of me felt like a failure because doing the 26.2 miles was going to be my consolation prize. As a former runner, I used to look down on walking. I suffered some serious stress fractures a few years ago and was told that I needed to switch to power-walking. It took the running snob in me a long time to take walking seriously. That was until I joined the GO WOW Team and met Coach Stephanie and some powerful ladies who walked faster than many runners. They taught me valuable life lessons about real achievement, setting your own pace, and competing against yourself. I was hooked.


You know the saying that slow and steady wins the race? I saw it with my own eyes. I walked it with my own feet. My team of walkers started at the back of the pack, but we started to pass some of the runners as we hit mile 5 and mile 8. By mile 10 there were gaggles of worn out runners who could barely pick up their feet and we just strode right by them, arms pumping. * I wanted to include a photo of me doing the course, but the prices to download images are CRAZY!*

The entire race was electrifying. The crowds of spectators on the roads were so supportive ringing cow bells, shouting encouragement, and holding signs. My favorites: "kick asphalt," "may the course be with you" "Just Finish! (that's what she said)," and "Hey girl, I'm waiting for you at the finish line-Ryan Gosling."

I got teary eyed as I rounded the last mile and a sense of accomplishment washed over me. No time to sit on my laurels though, the next half marathon is in June!

Wordful Wednesday: 24|7 Frenzy Dress Review #fashionistaevents

Husband and I had our first date night in forever the Friday after Valentine's Day and it was so much fun that we vowed to make it a regular occurrence. One roadblock, besides securing a babysitter, is my pathetic wardrobe. My closet is filled with functional mom clothes and my former work clothes. I usually cobble together something passable from these pieces, but I would love to have some outfits that are specifically for nights on the town.

That's where 24|7 Frenzy comes in. This online store offers trendy clothing at affordable prices. I won a gift code to shop at 24|7 Frenzy and was so happy with the dress I picked that I asked them to sponsor a prize for the Spring 2013 Fashionista Event. They said yes and also had me review another item! I picked this printed olive dress with belt. This frock rocks! I dare say I look better than the model. I can totally see myself wearing this to a nice dinner and dancing in the very near future.


What I like most about 24|7 Frenzy is that I can shop for an entire outfit and dress it up from hat to leggings on one site.

Visit 247frenzy.com and check out the winter fashion sale and clearance. They are making room for the spring collection and you can score big savings on coats (as low as $14.99) and other clothing!

Buy It: The Printed Olive Dress with Belt is on sale now for $49.99! 24|7 Frenzy offers flat rate shipping of $6.99 and FREE shipping on orders of $100 or more.

Win It: Come back March 7-13 to enter to win one of five (5!) $50 gift codes to 24|7 Frenzy right here at Marlie and Me during the Spring 2013 Fashionista Event. Hint: leave a comment on this post relevant to my review to earn 5 EXTRA ENTRIES when the giveaway starts! In the meantime, peep at some of the Fashionista prizes in the LOOKBOOK plus get in the giveaway for Rose Quartz and Pink Sapphire 16” necklace from Fine Jewelry by Carol Brodie.

Wordful Wednesday: Swinging

Some snaps from our lazy Sunday at the park:

All three of them on the tire swing.

Faster, daddy! Higher, daddy!

Is that look a mix of fear and excitement? That's my daredevil!

Wordful Wednesday: Here Comes the Hotstepper

Desmond has progressed from taking a few small steps to walking like a drum major in a matter of days. His favorite thing right now is to walk from room to room, the kitchen being his favorite place to roam. I followed him yesterday and captured a few action shots of his moves...

I sneak up behind him as he passes through a stream of light

He hears me and quickly turns around without falling down, he is very agile! 

He notices the camera and gives chase.

Wordful Wednesday: My One New Year's Resolution

You know I don't make New Year Resolutions, but I decided that one couldn't hurt. In 2013 I resolve to take more photos like this that capture the perfectly imperfect moments of my kids' lives because these are the ones with the good stories to tell them later. As in..."this was the day I was trying to get the lighting right for our family Christmas card photo and your brother was pitching a fit and you tried to hold and comfort him but he was not cooperating and you were so distraught by his squirming you said TAKE HIM BACK MOMMY!

Wordful Wednesday: Our Christmas Card Photo...AKA "Hold That Pose!"

BLOOD (hubby cut himself shaving), SWEAT (I was running around for an hour getting everyone dressed in coordinating outfits and setting up the shot), and TEARS (baby was cranky) were literally shed for this photo. I am so amazed and proud that it turned out so well that just I just had to share! I'd like to thank the 3-shot timer on my Lumix camera for helping me capture this one perfect picture.