A Mother's Day Sentiment
Happy Mother's Day to my Mom, my own personal angel.I totally lucked out when God gave me to you. Thank you for teaching me to love unconditionally, to be loved, and to love who I am. Thank you for teaching me about perseverance and how to dust oneself off when life knocks you down. Thank you for teaching me about joy in the simple things...Like fresh picked strawberries, or swimming out to the deep end, even if you're scared, because the water is cooler there, and there's nothing like floating on your back in the middle of the ocean.
Happy Mother's Day to my Grammie, who listened to me tell stories where Princesses rode giant panthers through dense forests, and for helping me spy a leprechaun when out for a walk. Thank you for always having an ear, or a story to tell of her own.Thank you both for teaching me to always find time to dance - to throw up my arms and spin and it's OK if you've got two left feet, there's Grace in that.
love always,me
Venice in the rain...
Last weekend we planned on going to Venice. We awoke early and just kept getting delayed. The biggest delay coming from our youngest son who got car sick a block away from the train station. We returned home of course and cleaned him up. We then had some lunch and meandered around our TLF for a bit. Around three o'clock we ventured out again. We drove around familiarizing ourselves with the area some more, we visited a local grocery store (our first time) where I found the most delicious cookies, and then got back into our rental car and just drove around some more. When we found ourselves in the exact spot where Evan had thrown up all over the place-thus halting our trip. My husband turned to me and said, "You're gonna see Venice today." He then turned his head and said, "Boys, I promised your mom I'd take her to Venice, and we're going."
I was less than compliant because it was already so late in the day nearly five by then and the forecast called for rain in Venice that evening. Not to mention my "maybe all of these hiccups today mean we're not supposed to go" argument. But my protests fell on deaf ears and before I knew it we were all aboard a train to Venice. The city I'd dreamed of. The city I longed to see for so very long.
We arrived at twilight as a light rain began to fall.
My husband snapped as many photos as he could before night fall.
I was simply trying to soak it all in. Even as the rain began it's more persistent fall that would last through out the night.
We walked around for a few hours and when the kids began to complain a little too loudly we stopped in a cafe for pizza. After which we ventured out into the wet cold night, which in a city like Venice, made it much more ethereal to me despite the bustling of people. We ventured into the maze of buildings, following the echoing of church bells, found our way out and treated our boys to gelato.We all ended up with soaking wet shoes save for my husband who'd worn his waterproof hiking boots. We were cold and chilled to the bone, but still we were in Venice and knew she would be but a train ride away.Love & Seeing Venice in the Rain,nicole
Ways To Save While On Vacation
Spring is nearly here and in South Florida it doesn’t mean the grass will be green once more, or flowers will be blooming. What it means is that vacationers will be flocking to our Sun and Sand and warm weather. It also means that many of us natives will be making our own plans for a get-a-way.
Taking a vacation, or even a long weekend, can get costly. I’m all for enjoying life but I don’t think a vacation should result in a person requiring debt consolidation to pay for it!Using credit cards while on vacation is sort of a given, however debt management must play a key factor when planning how and when you’ll use your credit.Using your credit card to pay for airline tickets is smart (especially if you pay them off quickly.) Using your credit card to pay for the $7 coke at an amusement park is probably not the best idea.Saving for a vacation is the smartest thing you can do. A well planned and well thought out vacation can help you determine how much money you’ll need to save. Once you’ve figured out how much you need, budget each month and put money away. Having a vacation savings account will help. Or, simply put away a bit of cash and don’t touch it. Many credit counseling services can also provide you with great tips on saving money for special things, like vacations, and other general items. Fiscal responsibility is so important, and a vacation that doesn’t end with you being in a lot of debt, will be a vacation much more enjoyed!Here are some ways I save while traveling.My best friend loves to stay at fancy hotels. I enjoy a nice hotel too, but I don’t enjoy paying for it. I often use travel websites to either “choose my own price” or find a bargain on hotel rooms. I usually get a much nicer hotel room this way.If you have small children, bring your own stroller. Renting a stroller at amusement parks is expensive.Pack light. More and more airlines are charging for baggage.I’ve lived in some of the biggest “tourist” cities in the U.S. including Las Vegas and D.C. Trust me when I tell you; a coupon is your best friend. Look for coupons for meal discounts, amusements, hotels, travel, etc.Also take advantage of any discounts you may be entitled to from memberships in things like AAA or AARP. My husband is in the military, one of the first questions I always ask is “Do you offer a military discount?” I’ve actually been given a discount sometimes when the business didn’t usually offer one just because I asked politely.Meals can get costly. Lunches are usually cheaper than dinner, so if there is a “fancy” restaurant you want to enjoy, opt to dine in for lunch instead of dinner. Having a kitchenette or even a mini-fridge in your hotel is a good thing. You can store breakfast-y items in it. If you’re traveling with children, see if you can find a place where the kids eat free or are discounted with a paying adult. If you’re not a “big” eater, share your meal. I do this a lot with my kids because I am never able to finish those large meals served at restaurants.If you’re traveling to a city where you know people, stay with them. Staying with friends, or relatives is a great way to save while on vacation. Even if your stay is for a night or two it can add up to some real savings.
The preceding was a sponsored post. All views and opinions are my own.
My "Lady Gaga" Make Over
I've been at my aunt and uncle's house for the last few days and as an added bonus I've gotten to spend some time with my little cousins. My boys have never been around many girls and as such, they've never had the opportunity to see girls in action (other than myself of course).Last night, my son-and from what I gather-with out the influence of his two big girl cousins decided he'd like to "work at a spa" and so he gave us all make-overs.He says he was inspired by Lady Gaga herself.Here we are...
Yes. We are little monsters!xo,
Long Separation In A Big, Big World
My husband left this morning and as I write this I'm feeling okay. Ask me in a few days...or even in a few hours how I feel and that-of course could completely change. I am, right now more worried about our children. My eldest seems perfectly fine at the moment but last week he was one hot mess! He'd lament to me about how much he was going to miss me, while at school big wet tears falling uncontrollably from his eyes. I had the sinking suspicion that it was not me he was really going to miss but his father. Then one night...as we both put our boys to bed Michael, crying and we-unable to calm him down finally expressed what he'd been holding in. He said in the most heart wrenching fashion, "I have a big hole in my hear
t." My husband and I could only stare at each other over the top of his head as it rested on my shoulder. It was not what we expected to hear from our precocious six year old.
We gave him a great big hug and loved on him till he fell asleep. In the morning he seemed better and his crying at school eased. Today there were no tears when I dropped him off at school-but I think that's because we were running late and there really was no time for tears.
I'm sure I didn't help matters much when he saw my eyes well up with tears when we dropped his father off at the airport. This is the first long term separation our family is going to have in five years. Michael will eventually understand what we mean when we say Daddy's got work to do for the Air Force.
Later in the day I got on Google Earth and showed him where his daddy was going and he seemed to get it. It was still a virtual representation of the space and distance between us and that is when I remembered this old globe (it's from way back when the USSR was around) we discovered while moving in and cleaning up my brother in law's old bedroom. I traced along the states from our location in Miami and then the great big Pacific to where he was going and then I showed Evan. I think Michael finally understood just how far away he'll be and that we couldn't drive there. As for Evan, he just asked when we were going to go pick up his daddy at the airport.
I couldn't tell him when, so I just told him not today. He then asked if he was at our apartment and I told him no. I think he may be getting it that his Daddy is actually far, far, away.
The world seems really big right now.
It could be worse. We'll get to talk and email and Skype, a lot of military families don't have that luxury right now. I'll take it!
Christmas Haze
I don't want the Christmas haze to fade. I want the scattered toys to remain where they lay, to be picked up and played with at any given moment. For the magic that is Christmas to linger with us...The twinkle lights, merry carols, and anxious countdown of my children all lead up to my favorite part of the whole day. When on this early morning while snow gently fell I received the best gift a mom could get I got to see the joy and amazed expressions as they unwrapped their gifts.Unfortunately the Christmas haze has to fade. We've got so much to do before our move to Miami and six-teen days to do it. I've got so much I want to write and say before 2010 is behind us, but for now, I'll leave you with a photo from this Christmas and a little haiku.
Christmas haze please staySurprised face you can't mistakeMagical Christmas!
I Do Impersonations
Highlights from last night's Trick or Treating escapade!We opted to do a short run with regards to Trick or Treating this year...We zoomed through our neighborhood in about 45 minutes when we decided to call it quits as our bellies were grumbling (must have been the chilly air and the bag full of delicious yum-yums). We decided on Chinese take-away and a spooky flick all in the comfort of our nice and warm living room was the way to go. Before we picked up our dinner we stopped at Target as my husband as was in need of some cough medicine.While he was gone the boys and I danced in the car to Lady Gaga's Paparazzi. My son Michael convinced me to hand him the camera and he took this picture.In case you didn't know...I do impersonations. There never really any good-but that doesn't stop me. Here's my impersonation of a Rockette.