My Daughter's Taking Me To Paris

Recently when my daughter stayed with my parents, I learned that it's not only about two-ice-cream-cones-before-bed, but that traveling destinations seem to arise in conversation. Apparently, there was a discussion about going to Paris, France. Umm, I'm in! But before getting ahead of myelf here, maybe I should break it down as to how this conversation came about.

Between my four year old daughter and her Gigi (my mother):

Mom reading Audriana a book...

Mom: See that picture on the wall? 

Audriana: Mmm hmm. What is that?

Mom: That's the Eiffel Tower.

Audriana: The fiffil tower? What is the fiffil tower?

Mom: It's in Paris, France.

Dad in the background... "Who wants to go to Paris, France?!"

Audriana: I wanna go to Paris, France!

Mom: Oh, no Paris is more for grown ups not children. (Nice, mom)

Audriana's eyes fill with tears, she lays her head down and sobs. 

Mom: .....what's wrong sweetie???

Audriana (still sobbing): I want to go to Pairs, France...... (sobbing continues)

Mom: Well, maybe Pop (my dad) will take you some day!!

Audriana (sniffling): .......ok.

This is where it was decided that I was partaking in this little Euro-trip. Oh, did I not mention that I actually invited myself? Ok, well I did. So this is how that went:

Audriana: Mommy! Pop's going to take me to Paris, France!

ME: I'm sorry, what?

Audriana: Pop is taking me to Paris, France!

Looking back a dad, he smiles with that expression "yea, that's what I told her" ....

ME: Well, Audriana let me tell you something ... (sternly pointing my finger) ... you can't fly all that way by yourself, so you tell your Pop that mommy has to come with you. Understand?

Audriana: Yes ma'am.

And that folks, is how I weaseled myself into this not yet dated trip to Paris, France. Although I have to credit my daughter for coordinating it all. The tears? Well played, my dear. Well played.

Here's A Fun Game. Or Not.

With Disney being one of my family's most popular getaways, I thought I would do something different in reference to my favorite place on earth.

A post where I use my semi-creative thoughts and define each letter spelling out "Disneyworld". The first thought that pops into my head.

If you choose to not stay around for this one, you may proceed to the exit sign. (What sign?)

D...don't ever expect me to act like anything but a kid when I'm there.
I...isn't this fun?
S...sorry I'm not sorry I love Disney more than my child.
N...no, it's not ok to NOT get a picture in front of Cinderella's castle for the hundredth time.
E...eating everything you want is acceptable, because calories don't matter on vacation or in Disneyworld.
Y...young at heart is an understatement. Or have I not implied that enough already?
W...when's lunch?
O...one, two, three "MEESKA MOOSKA MICKEEEEEY MOUSE!".
R...really, I can't believe the above statement is all I could think of.
L...let's be real now, the idea of labeling each letter in an eleven-letter word was a bit excessive.
D...done.

So that was fun.

I wanted to erase my immediate response to "W", but then I would be a liar. That's literally what came to mind. What can I say, I'm pregnant.

A Complicated Relationship

This post is going to seem like it's coming from left field. Alot of my thoughts usually do, but to verbally announce - or publicly post it, for that matter - is another thing. Regardless, here we are and I'm going to share with you something that could possibly qualify me as the ultimate weirdo.

So... I love food. As most people I know who also enjoy food, that's not really a big deal. A simple fact of life. But when I say I love it, I mean I love it. It can get to the point that I literally savor those last two or three bites until it's all gone. And by savor, I mean I usually wait so long to finish it that the food (if warm) is definitely cold by the time it disappears off my plate. A sad reality my friends.

The picture says it all. It's really that complicated.

So how did I come to own such a ridiculous OCD? I wish I knew. Fortunately, I'm not chowing down on hamburgers or pizza everyday. But even so, it is what it is with eveeerrryyyttthhhiiinngg I eat. Now please don't take this literally. This is not a case where I'm necessarily "so in love with food I want to save it", but it's the fact that it just tastes so good, I don't want it to be gone! Yea I know, that doesn't sound any better. I still sound like a weirdo.

So let's make it more weird shall we. To go into depth on this subject, I will literally stare that last bite in the face, and put it aside on my plate until I'm good and ready for it to be gone. I sound insane. To add to it, I have proof. Like it's really necessary to validate my madness, here's a picture of my lunch the other day (Cantina bowl from TB. My recently healthy cravings). Granted there's no thermometer in sight, but trust me when I say it was indeed cold ... and pushed to the side like a mad woman.

I actually laughed at myself while taking that photo, in amusement to capturing the accuracy of this disorder.

Like I said, this was completely out-of-left-right-center-field, but it was worth sharing because the first step is admitting we have a problem, right? Well, I'm admitting that I have a complicated relationship with food.

Am I alone on this, or is there an OCD you find outrageously annoying about yourself? If so, I'd love to hear about it. Let's be weird together.

Providence STATE FINAL Championship!

I promise this will be the last time I mention my high school history, and Providence volleyball. I like to use the "scratch out", because it makes me feel less guilty of a fib. I don't like fibbing. It's only in those rare occasions when Audriana asks me where the chocolate is, and I tell her it's gone aka I ate it. But that is completely irrelevant to my thoughts on today. So let's just leave it at the scratched out promise, accept it and move on.

TODAY is the day. The day that our girls will heading to Indianapolis, to play in the CHAMPIONSHIP STATE FINALS match.

I just got goosebumps.

As mentioned more elaborately here (by my fellow volleyball teammate, and friend), the meaning behind this match is more than what's on the surface.

Yes, they had a good season.
Yes, they are an incredible team.
Yes, this is special because it's the final match of the season.

But this is the match that's finally come for our dearest Coach. After 14 years of coaching, teaching, guiding, listening, preaching, and 3+ trips to semi-state in her career... she deserves this more than anyone I know. And TODAY IS THE DAY. I wish so badly we could be there to witness this (guaranteed) victory. I don't want to jinx them, but I strongly believe that a jinx can only be casted on people who believe in luck. This my friends, is not about luck. These girls have it, mentally and physically. When it rests in the hearts, the victory is soon to come.

Good luck today, lady Pioneers!!!! I'm cheering for you, even miles away!!!! XOXO

A Good Laugh Never Hurt Anybody

Do you ever find yourself laughing at random things? I mean, seriously randomness. I do all the time. Of course it's always better when sharing that laughter with someone else - that laughing at each other laughing, which only brings on more laughing until you forgot what you were laughing at in the first place. Yea, that kind.

For instance, an almost typical conversation with my best friend has me laughing every time I read it. And it was from... oh I don't know, last year.

But what was it that inspired this little post of nonsense? Trying to brainstorm on ideas to write about - writer's block is a thing with me - I ran across a few photos that had me cracking up. Just sitting here in my living room, alone, adding years to my life with laughter. That's a real thing, right? The more you laugh the more you live? Hope so, because I laugh at myself almost all the time. So if it's true, I'm golden.

Rarely do I enjoy sharing, but I will today. The following photos are what had me chuckling till my abs hurt. Did I say abs? I mean that giant ball in front of me that keeps my eyes and feet from ever seeing one another until after about 5 months. It's quite an attractive laugh I must say. If you need an image of said laugher, think Santa Claus. At 31 weeks, that's about the most accurate display.

Let's begin with this cutie patootie. 

This would make every day way more entertaining if applied.

Story of my life.

I just had to.

And this is the epitome of randomness that would entertain me for days.

That last one really got me. It literally had me like this...

And it is just a coincidence the baby happens to be Asian. I guess it speaks truth in a lot of ways. 

In closing, I'm linking up with one of my favorites and you should, too. Hop on over and get connecting with some newbies - or oldies. Today I'm gon-country wit it, na na na na na na na na. That's what it would sound like if Alan Jackson and Will Smith had a baby. Or at least, that's what their baby would sound like. Either way, I'm digging into my inner country and sharing one of my favorites, because some people need a little reminder. And what better way to express your concerns for people than through music. Listen up people.

What's In My Bag? House Keys That Aren't Mine.

This post was inspired by the fabulous Whitney Yoga Pants. After crossing paths with this idea multiple times - spotting it in gossip mags, but never apply them to a future blog post. Fail - I thought I'd finally test it out and see what I would discover in my own bag. Although this is my everyday purse, I don't know if this was the right time to capture what I had inside because my purse is recently new, only about two weeks old! I know I accumulate more junk after a few months time, but when it's new you always try your best to keep it as "together" as possible.

Nonetheless, I did this little project and sure enough there were still quite a few unnecessary items I was shocked to find. Whether it was makeup products, trash, or my daughter's candy, I laid it all out there to share. Here's what I discovered, in bulk.

My key chain only consists of my gym passes, and two house keys that do not coordinate to my own. I don't even have my car keys attached. What's the point? Then of course, the empty wrapper of my Luna bar (new obsession, Chocolate Peppermint Stick), I'm assuming because there was no trash can in sight at the time. I'm pretty good with throwing my trash away; not that this photo is doing that truth any good. And to no surprise, extra bobby pins in case you need that last second fix up.

Also in the mix is my fun size wallet (love that thing, so light and convenient), and my little red card holder; a gift from my mother-in-law. It consists of everything from store charge cards, to our Zoo membership card, etc. It's quite handy! Not sure why I'm holding on to my recent Target receipt. Probably keeping it as a reminder as to why I need to stay away from that store!!!! Every time I go in for ONE thing, I come out with everything but that one item. It never fails. My husband is just as bad, if not worse. The funny thing... the final items purchased aren't even for ourselves. They're for the kids! I guess that makes us feel a little less guilty. Target, you are my weakness.

Of course, everyone needs two lipsticks, along with lip therapy vaseline. Just in case you aren't pleased with one of the two shades, you can always just go natural. Or just pick ONE and leave the others home right? Right. Although, as I said in a previous post, I usually don't go anywhere without my lip therapy vaseline. No excuse for the lipstick. Moving forward.

The few things I didn't find unusual or unnecessary were my cuticle cream, lotion and hand sanitizer. As obsessed as I am with my nails, I always like to have something near by for some upkeep on-the-go; hints the cuticle cream. I cannot stand when my hands are dry, so my miniature Aveeno is my bestest friend in those times of need. The sanitizer, duh. I have a child, aka germs all day-errr-day. These products usually jump from purse to purse. Although, I have about 4 of those small Aveeno lotions, so they are already in every other purse. Yes, I'm that person.

Last, but not least you can see I like to keep a little back-ups for my daughter. Crayons are always a great tool when we're out to eat, and the sucker or princess snacks (as she likes to call them) are for any other occasion when I feel the need to praise her. Although, I'm not sure why they're in a baggie. I really don't remember putting them in one, but that's how I found it. Who knows.

So that's it! That's what was in my bag. Nothing too exciting, but it was interesting to see that even after a week or two of owning a new purse, it doesn't take much time to fill it with nonsense.