Just for today...

Today I want to stop a little more often, and not stress about the little things. I have been running non stop with a huge list of things to do, but never seem to get to finding that list. Crazy isn't it? How did life get so crazy buzy? When do we get to slow down?!

Well I'm throwing that list out the window today. I'm stressing too much about things that need to get done, when today I just want to kick off my shoes and enjoy LIFE! No stress. No worries. Just for today.

For now... I offer you a moment’s peace... Visualize yourself here, on Long Beach in Gloucester... waves crashing in front of you... warm salty breezes blowing thru your hair... soft warm sand sifting between your toes... children laughing... a smile on your face and in your heart…

So who am I to make you visualize this?!

I am me, a simple soul who likes to try and make others happy, as I so desperately want to be too! I have been taking this online RELAX program – and it reminds me that it is so important to take care of yourself. To appreciate the life you have. It may not always be perfect, but it’s yours. You need to nurture it every single day. We only get this one chance to make a difference. Why not make it happen today? Believe in yourself. Believe in your life. Smile Everyday. And life will smile back at you...

CHEERS to you all – May you also kick off your shoes and enjoy the day too!

A flower for you!

Jolie was so excited when she found me this flower! She ran up to me with the biggest cutest smile, and proudly gave me my simple bouquet.

Have a spectacular weekend, and may all the flowers you see make you smile too!

The Easter Bunny Delivered!

We had a wonderfully Happy Easter this year. The weather was wonderful and Jolie & Jude got to experience their very first Easter Egg hunt in Rockport! They were a little dazed and confused by all of the kids, but when the whistle blew they ending up figuring it out, got some great treats and had a fun time!

I had to take a picture of this blooming tree (made me smile)... and I wanted to share it's blossoming bud's with you too!

Easter Sunday we spent over at the Gentile's, it was just wonderful! We feasted on fantastic foods, had several breakfast and brunch stations... I overdid it, but how could I not, so many wonderful treats to choose from. Jolie had a blast with Jordan & Jadyn... they were so cute together...
And then there was Jolie... Just sitting on Frank & Kellie's new gorgeous couches... the sunlight coming in sooo nice... My Sweet Sweet jolie!!! :o)

Tres Jolie!

Tres Jolie... She is silly. She is serious. She is fun. She is happy. She is nutty. She is my little angel, my little miracle... the reason I smile everyday even so much brighter... is because of my Jolie.

Jolie is a happy soul, her smile makes you smile, her ways make you laugh, her dancing well ... she needs to work on her dancing still! But she loves to have fun! And I love being her mom.

It's a Splashy Kinda Silly Happy Day!

It’s raining. It’s pouring. The puddles are forming. Ooooh puddles. They are quite the tempting thing when you are 3, and you’ve got your rain boots on.

This morning as Jolie and I ran down the hill we saw some puddles forming. Puddles that will probably be ready by end of day for that one big splash. I think I need to get me some rain boots!

So family and friends… what is new and exciting you ask?! Nothing.
Actually, everything.

Every day something new and wonderful happens. I have a hard time taking it all in. Life just flies by so fast… one blink and you miss something. So I try not to blink too much, as I am loving these days a little too much! Jolie is growing up to be such an amazing little soul. This morning I snuck into her room… the dreary day had no chance of coming thru her blinds. Her room was still dark, cozy warm, and she looked so snuggly. I quietly tiptoed to her bedside, and saw her sprawled under the covers. Both arms raised high over her head, she sleeps in the silliest ways… Her blonde loose messy curlz amiss… and her little perfect sleeping face. I stared at her for minutes I think… wondering what her little mind was dreaming of? I then snuggled up close to her, and took a deep breath of her… my little Jolie…. She’s got morning breath now… but it’s not the stinky kind… not stinky bad… a kind of stinky good! I snuggled in a little closer, and then I saw her eyes peek open, she knew I was there… her eyes twinkled and smiled (she has wonderful smiling eyes)…and she giggled and then I giggled! It was great! I got my big bear hug happy morning greeting from her, and my morning was complete! I did want to get back into my own pj’s and stay in and have a pajama day… but today is a work and school day… no play for us…. Well maybe after work and school…. Maybe those puddles will still be there… and maybe just maybe… we’ll make some big splashes of our own!

Wishing you all a splashy kinda silly happy day!

Spring has Sprung…

I am smiling today… because of a simple dandelion, and a few purple crocuses. They were peeking thru the brown dried up grass… Little signs are popping up all around… that spring has finally sprung!

Winter’s just drains the color from the wonderful world outdoors… Mind you, I love the white fresh fallen snow… but we didn’t get much of that this past winter… it was just long dreary and cold…. Too long in my opinion.

And so I rejoice… as I know that Spring has Sprung… and Jolie knew it too! We stepped outside this morning and both stopped, smelled the Springy fresh air, and realized our winter coats needed to be hung back in the closet. Today we wore our lighter jackets… no hats, no gloves… just big sunny smiles!!!

It is so amazing what a fresh spring day can do for the soul... To me it brought the excitement of the wonderful days to come… to re explore the parks, the beaches… Jolie will rediscover these places again and love it all even so much more now that she is older. I can’t wait to see her excitement when she no longer has to wear tights, and can let the hot beach sand fall in between her toes, and splash in the ocean waves. I can’t wait for her to put on her dresses with no layers underneath, for the warm breezes to blow thru her hair, for the sunlight to tan her skin, and her smile to beam almost as bright as the summer sun. I can’t wait for deck parties, and barbeques, and afternoon drinks and dinners outdoors! I am so ready for this wonderful weather… bring it on!!!

"To Risk"

"To Risk" by William Arthur Ward

"To laugh is to risk appearing a fool,
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.

To reach out to another is to risk involvement,
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.

To place your ideas and dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss.

To love is to risk not being loved in return,
To live is to risk dying,
To hope is to risk despair,
To try is to risk failure.

But risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.

The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing. He may avoid suffering and sorrow, But he cannot learn, feel, change, grow or live.

Chained by his servitude he is a slave who has forfeited all freedom.

Only a person who risks is free.

The pessimist complains about the wind;

The optimist expects it to change;

And the realist adjusts the sails."

Last weekend we went to a wonderful B&B with our dear friends, and I captured this picture of my daughter and her best friend... Enjoying a simple kiss! Purely innocent, purely wonderful. Kids have their sails set to fly with the wind, to love, to discover, to believe, to dance and sing and just not care!

I forever want to be that kinda kid. In my heart, in my life... I strive to find that happiness, that pure joy...

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Friday just has to be the best day of the working week. 2 wonderful days off just over an hour away! Jolie also recognizes Friday's and says "No school tomorrow???" and then smiles wickedly! Jolie's new daycare is now up above my head, so I can literally hear her and the other kids running around right now... and that also puts a smile on my face. Having her in the daycare here is a bonus! Once we are buckled in my car, it's a short 15 minute drive home... and then bring on the weekend!!! (can you tell I just LOVE weekends!)

The past couple of days we have had unseasonably mild weather. It has been in the mid 50's - crazy for January in New England! But I'll take it. I power walked twice this week outdoors, without a coat - how crazy is that! Today I passed the flower garden by my office, no flowers blooming. Sad empty garden. And I realized just how dreary it gets here in the winters, when the flowers aren't out and about...
I miss the flowers. I miss their color. I miss the smiles they bring me. I miss Jolie wanting to run over and smell them because they just look so pretty. I can't wait till the warm weather is here for good, and not just tease us for a day and let us go out and play in its glorious splendor. Not that I mind the frigid cold snowy icy days... it's just the sunny mild days, well, they somehow make me happier!

Have a wonderful & happy weekend all!!!

The Biggest Loser - Gloucester Edition

With that trend... new year... new start... Several of my friends decided we will begin our very own version of "The Biggest Loser" - Gloucester Edition. We gathered round the table last Monday nite and discussed the hows and whats and such... and we all weighed in. A scary thing revealing those precious 3-digits that you never want to share with your husband, let alone a room filled with your friends eagerly watching the numbers click on to see just how fat you really are?! Well, I proved to be the biggest woman in our group (no surprise there)... but guess what that means? I hope to be the Biggest Loser in the end!

Week One weigh in was last nite... and guess who got to claim the fame for the week as the BIGGEST LOSER? You betcha... ME!!! WoO HoO - I can do it & did... losing 6 pounds, and 3.59% total loss. My closest competition was Frank who lost an incredible 8 pounds, but only 3.10% loss - and the percentage is what we are going for!

This upcoming week will prove to be even harder, but I can do it! YES I CAN!!!

New Year... New Start...

So this is it. 2006. WOW. Life doesn't slow down much does it? So what do you do?

Jump on and enjoy the ride! Care to join me?

This is my year. To make changes in me. Changes I want to make, yet fear. WHY? Because I'm that kinda gal who is insecure in ways you can't see. WHY? Just Cause. So why change now? Top reasons would be: Jolie. Jim. Me. My family. My future. My life... that's why.

How to achieve this? I'm still working on that plan...

So this Blog kinda world will be my place to set and achieve my dreams, and overcome my fears... and keep up with my family and friends!

You are welcomed into my crazy world if you dare!