I still like to play pretend.

If I were really a SUPERwoman....

***

my super ability would be to run on NO SLEEP.

Yup, I said it, NO SLEEP! Don't get me wrong, there is almost nothing I love more than slipping into my warm, comfy made bed after a long, eventful day. Better yet, afternoon naps. I used to love me a nap, back when I was still able to take them. You know, those stolen moments after a bath when you're still wrapped in a damp towel; throw in a warm summer day, an open window, and a cool breeze...ahhhh, bliss (loved those kinds of naps. ok, maybe not so much being wrapped in a damp towel, but I'm sure you get my drift.) Back to my case in point, there is just not enough time in the day for me to get everything I need to get done accomplished. Can you imagine how much one person could accomplish in a day if they could run on no sleep?! I get excited just thinking about it!

Then, up until a few days ago my desire for a NO SLEEP super ability got swapped out for the ability to zap my son into utter silence and complete stillness with the shot of a stare. This being the direct result of a fifteen-hour car drive with two kids under the age of 7; broken up into two days of course.

And yet again, the super zap strength of a stare super ability was replaced. After watching Oprah's last show ever (teardrop, I know). My super ability morphed into an ability strong enough to sense and identify the type of energy people poses when in my presence, either in direct relation to the energy I am generating, or simply toward me. I am curious, more often than not, not so much what people think of me but instead, what they feel when they are around me. I would love to know what they feel when they read about something I’ve done, hear something I say, read something I write, blog, tweet, etc. Does the energy I encompass make others feel happy, at peace, and motivated or annoyed, indifferent, or envious. Hhmmm, I’m left to wonder.

Quote I heard on O,

"Be responsible for the energy you are bringing into my space."

Love it so much, it's getting printed, framed, and placed somewhere in my home. You can keep your bad energy at the door, right next to your shoes {wink, wink.}

On a side note, I'm so happy to back! I've missed you my little blog. And, isn't this ABC Superheroes Art Print adorable and perfectly in theme with this post?!

***

Perfect enough to hang in a growing superhero's room.

xo,

LIFE

via

We create mental lists and add to them daily. The things we’d change about our lives if we could, though there are so many things in this LIFE to be grateful for. We are surrounded by beauty. People and things perfectly placed around us to make us smile, if we only allow them the opportunity. I WISH I could sew a quilt. I’d make it out of warm moments, interesting people, special places and all things beautiful. I’d go on to weave in dreams, intricately stitching in the details of each. And when I’m done, I’ll wrap myself in it. Create a fortress like the ones we all made as kids, using two chairs and a blanket and hide away beneath it. LIFE. I wish I could eat and savor each bite of it. I wish I could drink it and feel it run through me. LIFE is a gift! So, this weekend go out and enjoy it! Taste it. Savor each moment, then go home and wrap yourself in it. Be bright. Be beautiful. Laugh hard and often.

Update - The In Betweens

I don't carry my camera around half of as much as I'd like. It's just one more thing for me to forget remember. This has posed as quite a problem, considering I set out to document my attempts in curing this malady of the in-betweens! Believe me when I tell you, that I have indeed, been partaking in activities that are definitely helping to ease away these blues.

Here is my best attempt of recording my progress {via my camera phone}:

Last week was just beautiful! Chicago was flaunting Spring in our faces with a sunny sky, warm temps and soft breeze, than being the rude witch she is, she hit us with cooler temps, rain and even snow later on in the week. YES, snow! So much for it being the first week of Spring. So, as we attempted to enjoy the fine days thrown our way, we spent one of them with a trip to the park and then moseyed on over for lunch at a local hipster joint to enjoy us a delish meal.

The Peach and her best bud, Maximus the Brave.

They are absolute darlings, always so well behaved {don't we wish!}.

And,

us mommas, we each had a beer. We are allowed, aren't we ?!

"The In-Betweens" {Part II}

The Balancing Act.

via

It's a daily struggle, balancing the duties of being a wife, a momma, and a professional. I feel like I'm constantly being pulled in a million different directions. Something or someone always needs tending to. I'm still trying to figure out how I can take care of everyone and everything while pursuing and tending to my own desires. I try and keep to a tight schedule during the week, sometimes steering off course to take the lovie out on a playdate or to do a little shopping but come three o'clock when my little guy gets home, we get serious, real serious. You see, when he gets home from school, there is a snack to be prepared, homework to be completed, dinner to be made, baths to be given, stories to be read and songs to be sung. Tig, almost always makes it home in time for dinner but the nights he doesn’t, {I hate how much he works} I’m left to complete all these tasks on my own. This can prove not so nice when you throw a couple of tired, whiny, and uncooperative little participants into the mix. Case in point, I’m left with little time for myself. Finding “me time” always proves the hardest considering everyone else's needs seem to exceed those of my own. How the heck do women with larger families do it? Better yet, why?! {I'm kidding, kind of.} Now, throw in work, the {slow} start-up of a business, daily workouts, time to get pretty, a reading list, and a blog. Ummm, why didn’t god construct me like an octopus?!? Life could be so much easier.

I have a bad case of "The In-Betweens" {Part I}

I have a serious case of the in-betweens, and thanks to Kathysue of Good Life Design, I can now put a name to this malady.

Many nights, I turn to some of my favorite blogs to unwind after a long and hectic day. On this particular evening, I accidentally, but thankfully, came across this post. Having come across Kathysue's assessment for what she named the in-betweens, could not have come at a better time.

Her description of these symptoms are as follows:

Feeling tired.
No ambition to do anything.
Lack of excitement or enthusiasm.
The need to stay home and cuddle up with a blanket.
When looking around one’s home, nothing looks right.
Feeling the need for a whole transformation of one’s home.
Nothing seems to inspire you.
Avoid looking in the mirror.

Um, I read these and answered yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes! Get my drift?! To my dismay, I am not the only woman suffering from this. Naturally, I left a comment and she so graciously responded {love this. comments seem to sometimes get lost in blogland. don't love this.}

Kathysue's recommendations for easing these blues:

Enjoy cuddling under the blanket by adding a cup of your favorite hot beverage and a good design book or magazine.
When grocery shopping buy a bouquet of flowers and a couple of new house plants to brighten up your space.
Place pretty fruit in a bowl on your counter.
Remove a few accessories from cluttered areas to open up the space
Start making a list of projects starting with the small ones
Go to an antique show or a garden show to get inspiration.
Take a walk and enjoy the beauty around you.
Look in the mirror and spruce up a little. Blush and lipstick go a long way in helping us look a little perkier.
Make a lunch date with a good friend and talk about how you feel.

So, in my attempt to rid myself of this malady, I am taking her up on her recommendations and I'll share them here. I feel doing so will hold me accountable, and I can use all the help I can get. This is a little embarrassing, but what the heck...

I started with a home facial. Yes, I didn't completely apply the mask on my forehead. I never do, and to be honest, I really don't know why. I did though, apply it on my neck. I think I've mentioned that I'm nearing the big 30 so I'm trying to preserve the elasticity in my neck for as long as I possibly can. I figure it can't hurt.

And, as far as the, "Look in the mirror and spruce up a little. Blush and lipstick go a long way in helping us look a little perkier," I already do this, so much so, that Tig threatens to throw out every mirror we own, ha. I'm thinking in place of this I'll aim switch out my yoga pants for some skinny jeans. Ya, we'll see about this one.

"I don't understand how a woman can leave the house without fixing herself up a little - if only out of politeness. And then, you never know, maybe that's the day she has a date with destiny. And it's best to be as pretty as possible for destiny.”

-Coco Chanel

I don't know about you, but if destiny is waiting for me right around the corner, I want to be sure I'm looking pretty damn good!

Yes, I believe in destiny. I became a firm believer of the cliché, "Everything happens for a reason," after the birth of my son. My life took some exciting turns after I became a momma. Some of which were unexpected, while others were ones I was brave enough to take on, on my own. All in all, they have lead me to where I am now, and do you know what? I am exactly where I am supposed to be at this time in my life.

I have this horrible tendency of over-analyzing EVERYTHING and have found comfort in the cliché numerous amounts of times. I am enthusiastic for all that lies ahead. So, "destiny I'm waiting,” as fiercely and patiently as can be.

Image: ***

Today we celebrate our little peach's 1st birthday! Just the four of us. a little cake. some homemade decorations. and sofie's "today I eat cake" birthday hat, bought for her before she was even born, by her Ma, to wear on her first birthday!

My Dearest Sofie,

Twelve months ago today our little family was blessed with your arrival. You came to us on a cool, sunny, Sunday morning. You woke me up around 5am as your little body embarked on its voyage down the birth canal, preparing to make quite the exit. Three hours, an ambulance ride, and a very beautiful and natural birth later, you arrived, in all your wonder. You were more beautiful than I had ever imagined, all 5lbs of your rosy little body. Instantaneously, I felt you fill the gap we weren’t even aware existed, but it must have been there all along because since your birth things have never seemed more whole. With your brother I was eager and often times impatient to experience each and every one of his milestones, but with time comes experience and knowledge. Since then, I have really come to understand exactly what people mean when they say “enjoy every moment because they grow up fast”.… actually, too fast. So with you, I try to savor each moment of everyday we spend together. There is not a day that goes by that I do not count my blessings. You are perfect in every way. I am inspired by your curiosity and your tenacity. You have a contagious laugh and a smile that melts my heart. For the past year I have been hard at work trying to set the foundation for a great, life-long relationship and friendship. I hope that we are, forever, as close as we are now.

You are ONE today my lovie! Happy Birthday! I love you!

Love, Mommy

Dear Stephen,

I hope you have fun in High School. I had fun being in school with you since kindergarten. Continue to be the person you are and don't let anyone bring you down. It's ok to like country music.

Love,
Rocio

And so went the message {or at least something close to that} I wrote in Stephen's autograph book a couple days before our eighth grade graduation.

It killed me to hear so many of our classmates poke fun at him because he openly expressed his love for country music. I always thought, "Who the hell cares what kind of music he or anyone else listens to! Get over it!"

Till this day I have little patience for ignorance and malice. Even at thirteen, I felt it extremely important that I express to him just how I felt. I really wanted him to know that he was "cool" regardless of what others said to or about him.

***********************************************************************************

This reflection---this sharing of a bit of my past, was inspired by last night's CMA Awards. I thought of Stephen for a brief moment.

As I posted here, I'm a little bit country. This fact, is one that quite possibly only my mother and Mr. Tig know. Though, I am not a truehearted listener of country music, I do have some favorites. I love cowboy hats and cowboy boots and wish I could rock them. I believe I can pull off the cowboy boots quite well, but I'm not so sure about the hat. And just how lovely is Tim McGraw?! Mr. Tig cringes at how I swoon over the man, but boy does he have him some swag. I mean c'mon Mr. Tig, I'll never be Halle Berry, so I guess that makes us pretty even. Don't you think?!

With all that being said, I dedicate today to music, to you, & all the stephens out there.

A popular country tune for ya'll...



Enjoy!

Image: flickr

I'm a little bit country.

I'm a little bit country.

This high-heeled wearing city girl definitely has a little country in her! As much as I enjoy city life there is a part of me that often wishes I owned a couple acres of land. A place where I can live simply in nature.

Autumn has this effect on me. The cool air and faint smell of winter falling near, leaves me yearning for lazy days. Days spent sitting, reading, falling lost in deep thought.

Only over-sized sweaters and hot cups of coffee, tea and cocoa to keep me warm.

I want to curl up under big blankets with my little ones and spend the evenings drinking wine under the stars.

Here is to a relaxing autumn week. Cheers!

Images courtesy of Vogue

Reflections

I've been "stuck" in a funk for a few weeks now and am having a hard time shaking it off. This morning I had somewhat of a revelation though. "I am much stronger than this! I can totally beat this!" When this little voice called wisdom so rudely slapped me in the face with these words of encouragement I quickly texted them to Mr. Tig. He so beautifully responded, " Yes you are my love." With love and support like that who could possibly wallow in their own misery. I'm pulling up on my boot straps and getting to work! As I work towards shaking these blues I will be making it a point to immerse myself in the things that make me most happy, writing, laughing & falling lost in contemplation. So now I ask you, when life's got you all twisted inside out, what do you do to straighten yourself back out?

Images:High-heeled Momma,Vi.Sualize