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Friday, July 23, 2021

Hello

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 It has been a while, hasn’t it? I honestly didn’t think I’ll make it back here again. 2020 was a difficult year as I know it was for many; so the last thing on my mind was to blog. But yesterday, Sean said that he wishes I would blog again. He said he visited my blog and found himself disappointed that I stopped blogging. He said he enjoyed looking at it and seeing my updates and the way I’ve documented our lives happenings. He wants to know what we did in 2020 and now 2021 because he wants to see how we lived our lives during a rather difficult time.
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 So it got me thinking about how I could possibly rewind a bit to document a few things that happened in 2020. For the first time in my blog’s life I did not do a recap year. And I’m most likely not going to do it but I hope that Sean’s comment from yesterday pushes me in the right direction. Also, a few weeks ago, a reader reached out to thank me for my Vegas recaps as she went to Vegas for the first time and used my Vegas blog posts as a guide. I have to say that it was such a nice thing to read and it did make me want to blog again; if only to be helpful to someone in some way. So this isn’t my declaration that I’ll be back to how it was … but I’m hoping this is my declaration that my blog won’t be abandoned like so many before me.
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 Life has been difficult, very difficult. I’m in a very hard place right now and I’m trying my best to take it one day at a time. Maybe at a later time I’ll be able to come back and write down some of my feelings but until then I sincerely hope that you all are doing well. And Sean if you’re reading this … I’ll try my best 😊

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

Our 2020 Christmas Tree

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This year I managed to be the worst blogger I’ve ever been. But I won’t scold myself because this year was rough and honestly, I just did not have the willpower to give attention to my blog. Do I have things that I wish that I had blogged? Yes. Will I get around to sharing it? I really hope so. The thought of a year void of memories on this blog makes me a little sad. One thing I did tell myself is that I have to document our Christmas tree. Why? Because when all else failed I always, always shared our Christmas tree and I can’t allow this year to be the year I don’t. So I haven’t been a great blogger at all this year but here’s our Christmas tree + a few extras because once I'm in the mood to take pictures I can't help myself, haha.

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Monday, November 2, 2020

Checking In

IMG_7036-2 It has been a while and it wasn't planned. I'll admit that I do feel bad about not updating regularly but mostly for myself. This blog has been such a great way to document my (our) life since 2010. Granted 2020 hasn't been my favorite year but some good things have occured and if anything it would have been therapeutic to write about all the feelings; the good and bad. I might end up blogging several things that way it is here for memory sake. I can't say for sure that I'm going to get better. I want to get better but lately have not had that drive to blog. I may have to find a new outlet but not sure what yet. Until then, I figured I stop here and let you know (if you even care because who reads blogs these days?) that I'm well and I hope that you are well too.

Here are some pictures of flowers I took over one month ago. Today (all last week in fact) has been incredibly rainy, grey and chilly so these pictures perk me up a bit. I hope to write again soon ♥.

P.S. If the desire to blog never comes back it may also be due to this new blogger layout. I kinda hate it and have no desire to learn a new format. Blogger, 2020 was not the year.

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Wednesday, August 12, 2020

August 8th

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August 8th marked 5 years that my mom has been gone.

5 years. Half a decade.

Sometimes it feels like she has been gone for so long and some days it feels like it was just yesterday. Each day brings its own new set of challenges to be honest. Especially now when everything seems so out of control. She was always able to bring me back down. The best listener I've ever known. So although I am not crying every time I think of her these days, it still is incredibly hard because I need her. There is no one like a good mother; no one.

I tried to make sure that I had a few things to look forward to on the day that way it would hurt less if that makes any sense. Earlier this year, my sisters and I were happy to see that my mom's birthday and August 8th fell on a Saturday because it meant that we could all be together on both days. Well, COVID-19 (2020 to be honest) had other plans and with the precautions my family and I are taking that wasn't going to happen.

So, Sean and I decided to drive to see my mom, drop off some beautiful flowers, let her know how much she is missed and loved and then prepare a nice dinner for Sean and myself. Kinda off topic but it was actually the first time that I did not cry to and from her grave. My mom loved to cook, her favorite place was in the kitchen (she would kick us out when we were younger because it was her me time) and I thought preparing a nice dinner would be one way to feel close to her on that day.

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I shared this post on Instagram and felt the need to share it here too.

My mom's favorite place use to be in the kitchen and it makes me cringe how often I would tease her for that. "Dad can cook his own food", I'd say. That was my attempt to convince my mom that she did not actually enjoy being in the kitchen and was just conforming to traditional gender norms. Little did I know that as I'd get older it would become my favorite place too. Being in the kitchen, deciding what new recipe to try, chopping vegetables or hearing that sizzle ... it all has become therapeutic to me. Today marks five years that she's been gone but I love that cooking is another way I feel closer to her; a way to keep our connection alive.

If only I could tell her I understand it now; if only.

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Thursday, August 6, 2020

An espresso poolside

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Having a pool during quarantine has been such a highlight and I've happily admitted that Sean was absolutely right. However, I'm not feeling that way at the current moment as we've run into a problem with our pool. Crazy considering that we've only enjoyed it for four weeks ... but it's 2020 so what should one expect? But I'm telling myself that this isn't a major problem in the grand scheme of things. Things could be worse. I allowed myself to feel all the things yesterday and now we'll do what we need to do to get it fixed even if it means we can't use our pool again until next summer.

It's funny because last week I was telling Sean that any con I had about owning a pool was was crossed off because being able to take a dip when your central air has chosen to go kaput during a heat wave ... well, I don't think I need to say much more.
But after this week, I can certainly share some cons, haha.

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Anyway, I hope you're all having a great weekend and that you have wonderful weekends! ♥

Wednesday, July 29, 2020

The weekend that was good for my soul

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This tree in front of our house blossoms beautifully in the spring.

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I intended to post this quite some time ago but Izabella ended up getting hospitalized (thank God she is getting better everyday!) and then the ever ending disregard for Black bodies just took over and it was all I could think about. I just wasn't in the mood to talk about that one good weekend. Although my mind seems to be thinking of one thing (justice for Black people) these days, I still want this post to be here as a reminder of good days. That although life can sometimes be so ugly that there is still beauty and we can always find good if we choose to.

I think that weekend was the best one since quarantine began. As time drags on because people refuse to do their part (I know this because I can compare where other countries are compared to where we are) we’re having to find ways to do the things we enjoy while still being safe. Friday evening, we took the dogs for a drive (they love car rides!) and it just made me so happy to see how thrilled the dogs were to have their heads out the window. They truly savor fresh air.

Saturday morning we woke up to perfect weather so I started meal prep early that way I could enjoy the rest of the day in the sunshine. I made this dish and I found it to be an easy recipe and so delicious. Burrata cheese is my new favorite.

In the afternoon, the pool company came out and set measurements in our backyard that way we could see exactly where the pool is going. It’s kinda crazy but it’s happening. We were actually suppose to have the pool done Memorial Day weekend but with all the restrictions that were put in place that had to be placed on hold. Construction begins on Friday!

(That's how long ago I wrote this post because the pool is done, lol!)

We took the dogs out for another ride and then to the lake since it’s their favorite place to be. OK, maybe Izy’s favorite place to be. When we dropped our dogs off, Sean and I went for a walk with my camera in tow and I snapped the three images below.

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When we got home I made guacamole for the first time. I know, what?! I've just always ordered at restaurants and didn’t bother to make at home. It was sooo good and probably one of the easiest things I’ve ever made. I’m going to make some again this weekend because now I’m obsessed. It’s definitely going to be a regular thing now.

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The tomatoes were for the dish I mention above with burrata cheese.

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We also made strawberry mojitos and they were so good! Sean said, "I'd pay $12 for this drink". It’s actually incredible to me all the things we are figuring out to do by ourselves now.

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In the evening, Sean grilled burgers and hot dogs for dinner which we enjoyed out on our deck. At the end of the evening, our kitchen definitely showed the evidence of a rather great day. It looked like we threw a party for just the two us.

Sunday morning, we had BEC on a bagel and then worked on our front lawn. Watering plants and trimming our overgrown Japanese maple tree were the highlights. I won’t say we did an amazing job but it definitely looks better than it did.

After the yard work, I completed meal prep and then sat in my hammock (even fell asleep) for the rest of the day. My sister recommended that I read “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” even though I’ve watched the movie on Netflix way more than I can count. I started on Sunday afternoon and was done Monday evening. It was actually the fastest I’ve read a book in the longest time and I was pretty surprised. Now I’m going to get the second and third book because I can’t leave myself hanging.

I hope you all are finding ways to keep yourself sane and happy and that you all are having wonderful weeks! ♥ xoxo

** And while on that note, I'm going to try my hardest to get back to updating this blog on the regular.
I can't let something I enjoy doing slip away the way I have. **
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