Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts

21 November 2012

On: Being Busy!

It's been all "go, go, go" and not enough time to slow down. My fatigue finally gave way and I've been trying to get in as much as possible before it surely returns.

On friday, a wonderful friend took my car while I was at work, left me his, and I arrived at his house to mine working perfectly! I am so thrilled I'm not going to have to sell the Volkswagen. We have been through a lot, that car and I. Most major decisions of my life, too. Up and down the entire East Coast, Maine to Florida. I'm getting all sentimental now, but really, the GTI has been hangin' in there with me better than any guy I've ever dated ;]


This weekend was a good one! Of course spent with great friends, having some drinks in Providence and lots of laughs. I've been having the best mornings too, it's so nice.


Monday night, Ari was with her dad, so I headed to Providence once more. My friend Paul and I decided to meet up for drinks and to see a French film at the Cable Car Cinema, a small little theater downtown. We went to Centro to visit one of our friends, and then headed to the XO Cafe, the cutest little place. If you're looking for somewhere to go for drinks, and want an intimate but somewhat vintage experience, definitely try that place out. They even serve complimentary homemade potato crisps- amazing! After finishing our drinks {Whiskey + Amaretto Sours = love} we headed down the street to the film. Holy Motors is a film apparently about a man travelling through different lives. It was in French, and although with subtitles, very easy to follow. The plot was a lot more confusing. If you can view this film, do it! You will not be disappointed. When it finished, we of course stopped at Muldowney's and for a monday night, it was surprisingly packed. I didn't stay too long, but overall it was an awesome night!


I've been going wild at home- cleaning everything I can, organizing, whatever I can do before I burn myself out. Last night alone, I did mostly all of the dishes, seven loads of laundry, brought to the recycling about a months worth of cardboard and bottles. I'm feeling accomplished and it's a nice change, haha.


Tomorrow is Thanksgiving! It came so fast. I can't say I'm a big fan of the holidays... too many people crammed together making small talk, is not really something I enjoy. I am, however, looking forward to having the day off and spending my morning with Ari, as they are few and far between. I can't wait to let her wake up on her own time and cook her breakfast! We're doing something small this year, as things have been kind of hectic in my immediate family. Friday is the real special day, though- A will be three years old! Time has flown, and it makes me so sad; I miss baby Ari. At the same time, it's an amazing thing to see what an awesome little girl she is and is turning out to be.

Tonight, Lorena and I are taking our little girls bowling- Ari's first time! It's going to be the cutest thing to see. Photo update soon!


OH, and I am still committed to NaBloPoMo, I just needed a tiny vaca, haha.


Xoxo

01 November 2012

November! Currently....

It's the first of November! Ever since Ari was born in 2009, November has struck a chord with me and we've had a truce; things seem to work out well for me now, whereas pre-baby, it was a month just begging to break me down. Here's to good times ahead; Ari turning three, Thanksgiving, my family moving home to Rhode Island, and my niece being born.


NaBloPoMo November 2012


You may be wondering about this strange icon above? I've decided to participate in something called NaBloPoMo, also known as "National Blog Posting Month". For the entire month of November, I will update every single day. That's thirty posts! I can't promise that every post is going to be something of substance, because face it, we all get burned out sometimes. However, starting today, I do promise you a variety of content to keep you entertained throughout the month. What would you like to see? Recipes, more photos, links to like, music?

I want to get this blog back to where it was before, but I think it's time for an identity change. While I am still a young mama, writing about life, I've realized I'm so much more than just a mama. Expect a complete update of this site in the coming days.


Anyway, because I'm feeling all gung ho about this here project- I'm going to take a page from one of the blogs I love, Sometimes Sweet, and do a 'Currently' post! It's a sweet little reminder of daily life, and maybe will become a mainstay in the future~



Watching: Boardwalk Empire! I cannot get enough of this show. It's based in Prohibition era in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The gist of the show is along the lines of the Sopranos, based on profit from crime and the sale of illegal alcohol. Steve Buscemi plays an awesome Nucky Thompson, although my favorite character (Spoiler: before he was killed off) was Jimmy. It's on HBO sunday nights at 10pm est, get addicted!


Listening to: I've been drifting from my usual, finding a variety of new music and re-discovering some old. The new Gaslight Anthem album is awesome, as well as Violent Waves, Circas newest. To get me in a working mood, I've had Name Taken stuck on repeat and some Skrillex. The east coast has been experiencing some less than pleasant weather as of late, so for those rainy day moods- DeYarmond Edison, Gates, Cassino and Cary Brothers. I'll elaborate more on this in an upcoming Whats on my iPod post.


Thinking about: How I'm going to blog for an entire month! I really do think of blogging like, all the time. What sucks is that I'm on a computer working for 40 hours a week, so by the time I get home, the only thing I can bring myself to do is browse other blogs and wish I had the time/energy to write haha. As I was saying above on an identity change for this blog- I just want to make this space as cozy as my home feels. I want an uninhibited spot of the internet where I can just go off on my thoughts and have them all in one place to eventually reflect on one day.


Loving: I've been absolutely in love with onions lately. I know, weird. But I want onions on everything I eat. I'm also loving the fact that this weekend we get to change our clocks back! I enjoy the dark, I love being at home when it's winter and cold outside. Saturday night, folks!


Reading: I'm in between a few books right now. It's not usually like me, but after finishing the 50 Shades series, I've been jumping head first into any and all reading materials. So currently, my list is "Sundays at Tiffanys" by James Patterson {re-reading because it's that good}, "1984" by George Orwell {re-reading} and "Siddhartha" by Herman Hesse.


Making me happy: The fact I have a tidy home right now! I used to be a super cleaner, OCD about everything. Now, being a single mama and still fighting the fatigue from mono, I could care less. I worked up the energy to completely clean my house {except my bedroom} and it's just so nice to get home after work and not feel overwhelmed by the amount of stuff that accumulates. Oh, lifes small pleasantries!


*One out of thirty posts down! Let's see where this exciting month takes us xo

28 October 2012

Pumpkin Patches and Indian Summers

A couple of weeks ago, my family went to Schartner's Farm in Scituate for a nice day outdoors, enjoying the autumn weather. Lucky for us, the weather was gorgeous! We ate yummy grilled food and hand cut french fries, went on a hayride, found our way through a corn maze and lolled around in the soft grass drinking locally produced root beers. Schartner's Farm also has an on-site mini grocery store (housed in a big old farm stand) selling their fresh produce, local milk, cheese, honey- even coffee syrup and other Rhode Island-esque treats. We all agreed it was a perfect, even relaxing day. Ari has so much fun, running in and out of the corn stalks and eating raw yellow peppers from the stand.


There's just something about autumn in New England that's so special.















Ari enjoyed the hay ride, even though she was a little nervous






Covered wagon shenanigans with her Baba



Ari is already quite the actress.... I can't stop laughing at this photo haha









{my dad's shirt.... hahaha yeah}









{All of this corn is for the farm animals}



Ari was obsessed with this fake horse haha she did not want to get down















{The only photo I had taken from the following day at Scituate Art Festival- Ari manges on Gabe's corn on the cob. The weather was less than pleasant and I didn't want to risk my camera getting wet.}


I hope all my East Coasters stay safe and hunker down during this storm; we are fully prepared with food, alcohol, candles and books! Aren't those the essentials? ;) xo

03 August 2012

{july photos.}



ari petting the rooster









water culture!

















R.I.P. Ralph





old sewing machine base



still in use well, for fresh water!



baby chicken



Ari's first sparkler!



Veronica and Ryan, sister and brother in law






Awaiting baby M!



Laura and the rooster



The cutest!


xoxo

09 May 2012

Life Lately! v.?

It's been almost a month since I've last blogged. Typing my thoughts feels somewhat new, as I've been writing a lot instead. Truth be told, I needed the little break -felt guilty everyday though! ;] Thoughts and life has been so tumultuous over the past month, I'm forever glad that April is over. November used to be considered my worst month, but for the past three years April has taken that spot.


Things have been moving along. Work has gotten better now that the entire department is finally together. Love my work girls, we're always laughing and making the best out of it.


Unfortunately {or fortunately?), I've been taking into account the people I allow in my life, and due to circumstances, I've downsized about three, maybe more?... but as some friendships grow weak, others grow stronger and I've been having a bunch of great outings with some old friends. I can't wait to do more as the warm weather starts to roll in.


Ari. My little peanut is so not a peanut anymore. She tells me herself, "Mom. I am not a baby, Im a big girl". Like, really? Kid, you're two. But as she keeps getting older, I find myself and Ari becoming a team that kinda transcends the usual mother- daughter relationship. Maybe every single mom feels like this, but I feel like we're both finally adjusted to it being only her and I. She's such a trooper too. Ari walks up to our 4th floor apartment if both my hands are full, and she doesn't even complain. She loves Bon Iver, Band of Horses {still} and Gotye right now. Loves dressing up in her princess dress up clothes and heels. Loves to draw + paint {on everything}. Loves vegetables, cheese and vegan chocolate cupcakes. Ari had a taste of spicy noodles at Thai Garden and she did not like that LOL. She still has texture issues, hates having dirty hands, and absolutely despises if one of the cats goes in her room at night because "it wakes her up". She is not fond of mornings whatsoever, or going to bed for that matter. But it's never a big issue, the kid loves sleep. She has a pretty good sense of fashion, loves owls on clothig + jewelry, and knows which shoe goes on which foot. I am totally enthralled by her! She's such a happy girl, and to see it makes me feel like I'm doing alright.

Things are different at my house compared to everywhere else Ari goes. I haven't had cable tv in over a year, and I honestly don't even miss it. I had a dvd player, ONE, in my bedroom. It broke somehow and I don't want to pay $20 to replace it haha. I have movies on my laptop, which is my last resort now, and life must be against my use of electronics. How does a full can of Arizona iced tea just fall off a solid surface onto my computer? HOW?? ugh, yes. That did happen. Anyway, the best part of all this is that Ari just accepts it. Tonight it made me sad when she told me "we need a tv". Uhhh, no! We don't. She's usually so busy coloring, painting or playing she never asks to watch television. We listen to music, paint our nails among everything else. Her new thing is to chat before bed. It's so funny, I can picture doing this 10 years from now. I'll sit down with her cup, she'll start asking me random questions with her hands tucked behind her head on her green turtle pillow {seriously relaxing}. We'll chat a little bit more. She wants more glow in the dark stars stuck to her bed. Tomorrow after we go to the movies for her first time ever (!), her bed will most likely be bright as hell in her bedroom haha.


Things between Gabe and I have been decent, don't know what we're doing, but who does, right? I love him, he knows that, so yeah. Everything's alriiiiight!


This past weekend was such a fun weekend. I'm not mexican, I'm French, but I appreciate margaritaaaas! I worked at Spectrum Indias table at the first ever Thayer Street Festival. It was just strange to charge folks $15 to come into a gated area and pay for everything full price... hm. After I got out on saturday I met up with Kammy and we went back to Providence to celebrate Cinco de Mayo! We started off at the Celtic Lounge. I figured it may have been like the last time I ordered a margarita there, pure alcohol for $8. But no. The bar was full, so we sat in a little table next to the bar and squeezed in near the door to the kitchen. LOL. We ended up leaving that place for Thayer. The sun had finally come out full force after a week of non stop miserable weather, so we went to our seemingly favorite bar, Shark. We got to sit outside, sweet. Somehow we made a cigarette break friend, and when they were leaving, the waiter brought out anotherrr drink and said it was on them. So cool, especially considering their prompt depature, which left Kammy and I to suck thst margarita down fast as hell because we both wanted Cheese Fries really, really bad. It was a fun night haha.

Another cool thing: I'm gonna be an auntie! My sister is due December 11, which is disgustingly weird considering that was my due date as well! But yeah, my first nephew {says Laurie the gypsy}, and I wish Aly would consider the name Athol as maybe even his middle name?? But I'm very excited, and I can't wait for Ari to be a big cousin!


Overall, things are just fine over here in this attic type apartment in little Rhode Island. I'm hoping for nice weather to come, because I'm dying to picnic, and get a new bicycle, and do summery things including riding a motorcyle and wearing a shitload of sunblock everywhere forever. :]


Photos to follow soon! xo

02 November 2011

Life Lately pt:1

I really have been slacking with my blog and for that I apologize! I've had so much to say, but time is fleeting and I can never get around to doing what I want to do. The past 2 weeks have been full of adventure and fun, busy and trying all at once. I've been constantly editing photos and slowly clearing out my house, thanks to mnmlist.com for getting my butt into gear! More on this later. November should be a productive month for this blog, I'm vowing to make at least 3/4 posts per week.

So here it is! I'm going to have to break this into two posts because of the photos, but I'll start from the beginning! On monday the 17th, my parents, little sister V and I took Ari to the Pumpkin Spectacular at Roger Williams Park Zoo. Basically it's a huge display of Jack'o'lanterns spread out along a path through the zoo, carved and colored and decorated. It was a clear, cool night and we all had a good time. Ari was hesitant to go near any pumpkins, but she still got a kick out of the few characters she recognized on some of them.


















Skip to the following friday, the 21st - Circa Survive concert with Gabe, and probably one of the best nights of my life! It was a 2 hour drive to Northampton, but good music and conversation made the time pass. Talk about the cutest little town! The street we parked on was buzzing with people darting from one bar to another, with names like the Toasted Owl or the Tunnel Bar (which is an actual bar inside of a tunnel!). We got to the show about ten minutes before Circa came on stage. Anthony Green is just so perfect, he was sober and the music was amazing. Because of my straining at Deer Tick to see, I opted to not bring my camera in and just enjoy the music. I should have though, because I had a clear view of Anthony Green the ENTIRE show. They played all the songs Gabe and I listened to the first time we saw them :) We left the show a little early and ate breakfast for dinner at about midnight at this old diner car, then headed home. Suchh a good night, and I wouldn't have wanted to be with anyone else <3


















The following morning I had to be up early (aka miserable) for a Vendor fair at my sisters school. After getting home around 230am, I was not thrilled to be up at 730 but I did promise to be there. I ended up enjoying it, selling Adini products is always a good time! It was a successful day, I purchased a beautiful bird painting on glass, and two pairs of beautiful handmade earrings, along with the awesome Adini stuff I scooped up :) Successful day!




















Sunday the 23rd was Broke.Down, and one of my good friends Kammy came with! I was so happy she could join, we don't hang out much anymore due to life in general, but when we do get to see each other it's always a fun time. We left Broke.Down early, and good thing we did, because we got lost for literally 4 hours. Exhausting! But fun anyway.

During the week is always the same, always rushing, no time to just stop and enjoy things; after working a full shift, I'd like to just lay down and hang out with Ari. But no. Dinner needs to be cooked, baby needs a bath, house needs cleaning, blah blah blah. But we did order Thai food one night, and I bought Ari new chalk for her easel! It was a nice unordinary night to break up the monotony :) We also had our first snow of the season!























pt2~ tomorrow!