I want to be a cactus when I grow up.

It's hard to pick just one highlight of our trip. Quite literally, every single second was unforgettable. As cheesy and cliche as that sounds, it's true.

But if I had to pick my favorite part, it may have to be our jeep tour into the Sonoran Desert. We got to pick one outing sponsored by my husband's company. There was everything from horseback riding to rafting to golfing to shopping. The horseback riding called out to me, but B insisted on the open-air jeep tour. And since he did win the trip, I agreed to it.

Thank goodness I did. Because between what we experienced as well as reports from the other guests (including the horseback riders), we definitely chose the right one.

We also lucked out with our driver, Mike. Note his two sets of horns. He was a true cowboy and he loved educating us on everything from how to identify fake cacti to how to get yourself out of the desert if you get lost there.


I was a little nervous about the trip even though they assured me they hadn't lost anyone in twenty years. Fortunately, I limited my screams to the off-roading that Mike treated us to, culminating with half a bush in our jeep.


Once we arrived in the desert, the cowboys taught us more than I ever knew I wanted to know about desert life. As they explained, everything out there would scratch you, bite you, or was hiding something that was. One cowboy even stuck a jumping cholla right on his arm and when he removed it, he was bleeding. I can only dream of being that big of a badass. I get teary over a papercut.



But my favorite part was learning about the Saguaro cacti, found exclusively in the Sonoran Desert. These things are as badass as the cowboys, and I have a newfound fascination for them. Their root ball is only the size of a basketball and only goes down a few inches into the ground.




Yet their strength is phenomenal...they've put these bad boys in wind tunnels without them moving. If you look closely, you'll see that they are pleated, which force the wind directly over them. I found them inspirational...they stay strong, acting as a lightning rod no less, with the tiniest support system, no matter what comes at them. If I could only learn to do the same...



I wish I had videotaped this cowboy's gravelly voice and dry sense of humor. At one point, he said, "If you smoke, put your cigarette out and put it in your pocket. If you aren't comfortable putting it in your pocket, let me know...and I'll put it in your pocket for you." He waved around his gun enough to make the crowd laugh nervously, promising to put us out of our misery if a rattlesnake or scorpion got to us.


When I stopped to look around, I really was taken aback by the beauty of the desert. Never did I imagine such a parched, prickly place would be so gorgeous. But it was. It wasn't typical lush, green, brightly-colored allure, but there was an exquisiteness nonetheless.


Who knew desert life could teach me such powerful life lessons?


Namaste'.

The Jewel of the Desert

When I first heard that we would be traveling to the Arizona Biltmore (after my initial freak-out over leaving my boys), I did what any normal girl would do. I googled it. I never was one for surprises, and I had to get the scoop pronto, about "The Jewel of the Desert," as it is aptly nicknamed.

My eyebrows raised at the history...that it is the only Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired hotel in the world. That the Reagans honeymooned there. That it boasts Marilyn Monroe's all-time favorite pool.

And the fact that it has a "going green" section on the website...including recycled corn key cards, local/organic foods, reclaimed water, recycling, etc., etc., etc, well, be still my little heart. I knew that we were blessed to receive the gift of this trip. We hadn't been on a vacation together since our honeymoon, over 6 and 1/2 years ago.

But nothing I read prepared me for the amazingness that met my eyes upon our arrival. I may have let out a girly squeal or two as we pulled up. I even asked B why no one else was as excited as me. (Who knew normal people don't verbalize their excitement so loudly?)

We got two spend two glorious afternoons at the pool. The overpriced pina coladas were perfection.

The grounds were impeccable. We marveled nonstop every single time we walked around the property.

The flowers and fresh-cut grass smelled as beautiful as they looked. I think B got sick of me remarking on how good! it! smelled!

The palm tree/cacti/mountain combination was literally breathtaking. Coupled with the clean, Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired lines of the building...gorgeous doesn't begin to describe it.

The details of the whole property were awe-inspiring, down to the gold-leaf ceiling in the lobby, second only in size to the Taj Mahal.

Did I mention that we didn't pay a dime (except for those delicious poolside drinks)? Yep, blessed indeed.

More to come on the details of our trip . Stay tuned...and namaste'.

Pooltime and Pedis...yes, please!

Apparently, you could all care less about the fact that I'm back on that workout train that ran right over me and all you want is the deets on my trip.

Yeah, I don't blame you.

Because I won an all-expense-paid trip! Little ole me!!

Oh. Wait. My hubs actually won it. Considering only a few hundred people out of hundreds of thousands of people get to go on this trip, which happens once every five years, I should really give him the credit.

His boss' boss nominated him, based solely on the fact that he is a freakin' rock star at his job. Seriously. He just got promoted to a position in which he had no experience and therefore HR was balking at interviewing him. He had managers galore go to bat for him and ended up with the job. Never in my life have I met someone with the work ethic like my husband.

Luckily, I get to reap the benefits.

When I first found out we'd be leaving the boys for three nights, I freaked out a bit. G is such a mama's boy and their allergies alone sent waves of panic through me. Not to mention, I hate, hate, hate to fly. Honestly, I was hesitant to even go.

But B's dad and stepmom agreed to watch them, promised they'd only feed them the food we send, and the fact that their grandma is a retired nurse put me a lot more at ease. Plus, they said that if G is uncomfortable at their house, they'd just come stay at our house for those days.

Then, B got home from work and told me where we were going and I almost died. It's a resort in Arizona with spa treatments I have only dreamed of. The place has won many awards in travel magazines. There are yoga classes and sunset hikes and a gorgeous pool. B and I haven't been on a trip alone since our honeymoon six years ago.

And just when I thought it couldn't get better...I received proof that although B won it, this trip was made for me. Their website has a "going green" section, boasting locally grown/organic food, vegan products used in the spa, recycled materials used throughout the resort, donation of food scraps to the Phoenix Herpetological Society, energy-saving procedures implemented whenever possible, etc., etc., etc.

We leave in about two months. Is it too early to pack my bags?

Namaste.

"In my cousin, I find a second self." -Isabel Norton

My cousin (and L's godmother) lives waaaay too far away from us. Texas is a 12-hour drive, but we braved the road trip with a two year old over the weekend. I just had to meet her little girl, who might just be the cutest thing ever. I know I'm a little biased, but seriously...look at her.

Gorgeous...right? I know. Needless to say, I fell madly in love with her upon seeing her for the first time. I spent a lot of time telling her that, too.

Unfortunately, she had her first fever the whole time we were there, so she wasn't quite herself, but I wouldn't have changed a thing.

You see, L had the worst bout of asthma he's ever had while we were down there. And it was nice, in a very weird way, for my cousin and I both to have kids under the weather and be able to console each other. Saying we are both worriers is a bit of an understatement, so having someone who actually understands me and knows exactly how to help me was priceless.

When my cousin and I were little, every single time we got together, it ended in a blowout fight. She was bossy and I was wussy, and we both desperately wanted the spotlight.

Now that we are older, we have discovered our similarities and they have brought us incredibly close. The ways we are alike, including our love of avocado and Haribo gummy bears, addiction to hot baths, anxiety, extreme clumsiness, penchant for drama, guilty pleasure of celebrity gossip, thoughts on God, organized religion, politics, parenting and legalization of marijuana, a pet peeve of righteousness, right down to the way we talk, is amazing. I don't know many siblings who have as much in common as we do.

I can't say that we have completely lost our bossiness and wussiness, but we've guided those traits into positives now. She owns her own business and I really admire her confidence and grit. However, my big heart and ability to sympathize works well in my own career and I've learned to let her take the lead in our relationship...and enjoy it. On the rare occasion when I don't agree with her ideas, I tell her, and she accepts it. It took long enough for us to get to this place. But it was worth it.

Seeing her play with L warms my heart. Fortunately, I got lots of that this weekend.

Thank goodness L's asthma (which was apparently induced by last week's H1N1) didn't keep him down. He played HARD and loves my cousin and her husband as much as B and I do!

But considering that her husband is also quite similar to B, maybe he just felt like he had two sets of parents all weekend.

One way my cousin and I are NOT alike is in our sewing ability. She made her little girl's costume by hand and it was the perfect companion to our little....

Bam-Bam!! (Take pity on me. I literally don't know how to sew a button on. That bad boy was made with safety pins, Velcro, and Stitch Witchery.) Pebbles and Bam-Bam were not exactly thrilled with their costumes. But we got enough giggles to make it worth it!

Besides the asthma, I had one other worry about L this weekend. He absolutely adored the creepiest Halloween decoration ever...this clown that took his head off! Just...ew. I might have run every time I had to get past that clown. Just sayin'.

The boys went trick-or-treating while my cousin tended to her sick little girl and I (wo)manned the door. I sent the camera with strict instructions to get some good photos of L's first time trick-or-treating. Apparently, L loved saying "Twick oh tweat" and "Happy Hawwoween!" And my cousin's hubby came home giggling about how after every house, L said, "Wook...I got sooo much candy!!"

On our last night there, we all had to get out of the house for a while. The fever and asthma attacks were starting to drive us bonkers. My mom's sister, affectionately known by the kids as Gigi, came over to rescue us with a gift of babysitting while we went out for the best sushi I've ever had. My cousin and her husband have been to Nobu in London and they say this is better. I can't imagine any sushi tasting more fantastic than what we ate that night. I actually took pictures of it to show you all......

This salmon was cooked in vinegar and was ridiculously delicious. The fact that it wasn't cooked in heat wigged me out a bit until the first bite. After that, the lack of heat was not an issue.

But my favorite thing was the edamame. Salty and warm...I could have made a meal out of them. I've been craving them since I ate my last one that night. Sadly, that's not an exaggeration.



Although maybe the meal was extra enjoyable because of the company. Eating with one of my favorite people who I haven't seen in almost a year and a half makes any meal fabulous.

We returned home to find that my little man's coughing had finally let up. He gave me the best possible gifts...snuggles that are few and far between these days. Don't get me wrong...I get lots of hugs and kisses, but he doesn't let me hold him nearly as often anymore.

The next day, we said our sad goodbyes, packed up the car and made the 12+ hour trip, and L was absolutely perfect. I still haven't really gotten over the shock. We did have a portable DVD player, but at one point, he told me, "Mommy, I just sit and listen to your music." We literally had no tears for the entire ride. He napped, he ate, he went to sleep for the night without any fuss. I actually had a more difficult time than he did.

Yeah. I'd say it was a pretty darn good weekend.

Home Sweet Home.

I am home after a 12-hour road trip to Texas.

For a while there, I didn't think I'd say those words. It was quite the journey getting home.

The whole weekend was interesting. Stress, tears, heart-to-hearts, fever, coughing, inhalers, time-outs, hugs, love, sleepless nights, laughing, music, tantrums, sushi, personality tests, costumes, trick-or-treating...all in three days. When you put two eerily similar cousins, their also similar husbands, and their two littles in a house together for a weekend, I guess the madness was to be expected.

And I wouldn't have given any of it up for anything.

I'm too exhausted to blog about it tonight, but be prepared for lots of fun Texas stories...and even more photos...this week.

In the meantime, go check out this awesome giveaway from one of my favorite blog-girls, Heather.

Peace out...my own bed is calling!

Happy Halloween!

I present....Bam-Bam and Pebbles.

Yeah....we were much more excited about their costumes than they were. But you know, whatever.

Many more pictures to come! Hope you all had an enjoyable weekend and enjoyed inspecting your kiddos' candy. I know I did.

Life IS good (especially in Texas)

I'm in Texas.

With my favorite cousin, who is eerily similar to me (even considering our moms are sisters).

And her awesome husband, who gets along with my husband extraordinarily well.

And her four-month-old beautiful baby, who I'm meeting for the first time.

The weather is absolutely gorgeous. I actually got to sit outside, in a tank top, and soak up some rays next to my cousin's pool today. This is extra exciting considering my hometown has had nonstop rain for over two weeks now. Today has actually been the first time I've seen the sun in way. too. long.

So forgive me if I'm absent from the blogosphere for the next few days. I might take a cue from a couple of my blogfriends and repost something for the next couple of days.

Or I might not.

But I'll be back on Tuesday with comments galore, posts about my weekend, and lots of fun pictures! Hope you are enjoying your weekend as much as I am!

Not Me! Monday...California Edition!

I did NOT leave my husband and 2-year old to go on a girls' trip to California with my mom, sister-in-law, and aunt (who happens to live in Texas). I am NOT totally jet-lagged and I should NOT be napping while L is snoozing. However, I do NOT feel the need to post today simply to be entered into MckMama's giveaway. I also do NOT want to relive my amazing trip already!
I am NOT the most starstruck person in the world. The Laugh Factory itself did NOT excite me. That would just be ridiculous. So when Tim Allen was the surprise guest that night, I did NOT have to do everything in my power to restrain myself from reaching out to touch him from the front row!!

When Tom Arnold asked if I was texting or twittering when I was turning my phone off, I did NOT tell him I was sending out a text to all my friends saying how handsome he was. I did NOT talk to Tom Arnold!!!! I am NOT excited about that. He is just a person. Duh.

The show at the Laugh Factory was NOT hysterical. I did NOT laugh until my face hurt. My aunt Gail did NOT get kissed on the lips and halfway molested by this comic. I would never allow that to happen. And if I did, I would NOT take a picture!


I would NOT laugh my ass off when he stripped down to his tighty-whities. Ew. And I would NOT take a photo of him sticking his butt in my mom's face. That is just disgusting and I do NOT enjoy that type of humor.


I did NOT thoroughly enjoy the walk by Grauman's Chinese Theater. I certainly did NOT get my picture taken with people in costume. And definitely NOT my man Barack and his wife Michelle. That's just silly.

I did NOT get my picture taken with Barney, Diego, and Spiderman for L. And I did NOT stop taking pictures after Spiderman because he was way too handsy. That is definitely NOT why I am standing so awkwardly in the photo below. Spiderman would NEVER be a perv. No way.

I did NOT love the touristy Walk of Fame. Ugh. And I certainly did NOT get my picture taken with The Doors star. I do NOT think Jim Morrison was sexy. No way. He was dirty and a terrible role model.

I did NOT eat the most delicious, freshest sushi in the world in Cali. I did NOT accidentally eat a raw one. I wouldn't be so silly to do such a thing. And if I did, I would NOT delight my sister-in-law by telling her it really wasn't bad. (I still do NOT like the cooked ones better.) I did NOT forget to bring extra batteries to the restaurant, so I do NOT fail to have a photo of me eating the delicious sushi. So I am NOT sharing a photo of me and my sister in law there instead.

I did NOT get a tattoo in California!!!

And it was NOT henna. Hee. Good call, Barefoot Blogger! :)

My sister-in-law is NOT extremely pale fair and was NOT battling a bad cold the whole trip. She did NOT want to stay away from the beach, to my dismay. We do NOT have nothing in common. So I did NOT leave her and my mother at lunch and slip away for an hour all by myself at the beach. I did NOT eat kettle corn and Pepsi for lunch. I am much more healthy than that. It was NOT one of my favorite parts of the trip.

I did NOT attempt to take photos of myself for my blogfriends. I did NOT apparently look pretty pathetic, because a stranger did NOT ask if I wanted him to take my picture. I did NOT tell him to take it from my chest up. That would be ridiculous. He did NOT listen. Although I am a bit embarrassed by the photo, I am NOT sharing it with you so that you can get a good laugh, too!

I did NOT get totally and completely ridiculously starstruck by Robertson Blvd. I did NOT go there twice. I did NOT go into Kitson to look for celebrities. And I certainly did NOT buy Kitson mints simply to have something that said Kitson. I am NOT going to keep Advil in the mint case. I am NOT that big of a loser. I did NOT also buy one for my equally starstruck friend.

We did NOT eat lunch at The Newsstand. I was NOT totally distracted while eating because I was looking for stars. I did NOT keep my receipt as a souvenier. And I certainly did NOT take a photo of the street sign. Not me!!

I did NOT walk by Starbucks several times looking for celebrities. I did NOT go next door to the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf simply because I had seen it in US Weekly. And I did NOT throw my Japanese Cherry green tea away because it was revolting. I also did NOT fall on my ass when I missed the step walking outside, because, say it with me, I was looking for celebrities. No way. Not me.

I did NOT embarrass the hell out of my sister-in-law when I asked my mom to take my picture in front of The Ivy. I am NOT that starstruck. I did NOT almost take a picture of the paparazzi across the street.

When we visited the Getty, I did NOT fail to bring my camera, thinking I wouldn't be able to take photos. That would be so dumb....of course you can take pictures. It was NOT amazing and beautiful. Although I was totally captured by the art (Van Gogh's "Irises" was truly breathtaking), I didn't look around for celebrities just in case once or twice. Not me!

I did NOT have to take Xanax before the flight took off. Both times. And I certainly did NOT have to hold my mom and sister-in-law's hand during takeoff. I am 31 years old and that is a bit excessive. I was NOT proud of myself for making it through without panicking!

I was NOT surprised about how happy I was to be home. I do NOT miss that unbelievably gorgeous weather. But I was NOT happy to drive around in the midwest sans traffic (and makeup) today.

My heart did NOT melt when I saw B and L when I walked into the airport. I did NOT miss them so much in four days. Considering L didn't ask for me too much (thank goodness B kept him uber-busy), I was NOT a little worried that he wouldn't care when I got home. I was NOT thrilled to get hug after hug after hug from my little man. And I was NOT a little tiny bit pleased that he would not give his grandma or aunt a bit of attention, just me.

I am NOT beyond thrilled with my California adventure.

Next time, I am NOT going to San Fran!

"California is a fine place to live...if you happen to be an orange." -Fred Allen

Honeys, I'm home!

I made it back in one piece.

California was everything I expected, and everything I didn't. The lack of humidity was heavenly. The traffic was not.

I did happen to see two celebrities. I even shook one's hand.

And I got a tattoo. (Kinda.)

But it's late and I'm tired and I missed my husband terribly so I am off to spend some quality time with him. I'll fill you in on the details tomorrow.

I hope you all had as great of a weekend as I did! Peace out for now!

Aaaaaahhhhh!!!!!!

I.

Am.

Totallycompletelyfreakingout!!!!

I get on a plane tomorrow at 9 am. I hate planes. I hate hate hate hate hate them. I have to be away from Logan for four whole days. What if he misses me so much that he doesn't stop crying? What if he doesn't miss me at all?

Oh god I have to get on a plane in less than 24 hours.

Yes, I do have Xanax. And yes, I plan on using it.

But I am going to Cali. I've always wanted to go there. I can't wait to see where stars shop and play and eat. And I am really really trying to think positive thoughts so maybe I see someone even remotely famous.

Since I am so panicked that I cannot hardly put a sentence together, I am going to let Petra entertain you today. Go check her out. She's a blast. And send me lots of positive thoughts for a safe plane ride, a happy L while I am gone, and a hug from Ben McKenzie. A girl can dream, right?

Random Sunday thoughts

After a week-long hiatus from anything remotely healthy, thanks to our lake vacation, I got back on the exercise wagon yesterday.

And I asked my spinning teacher to coach me through my next childbirth.

Yeah. For real.

She's such a badass and she can get me through anything. I told her that her class was harder than giving birth and added that if I have another baby, it will probably be a lot easier since I've been taking her class. Then I told her that maybe she should just come coach me through the next one.

Her eyes lit up and she said she had five kids and had always wanted to do that and never gotten to do so. So I told her that if I get pregnant again, she'll get the chance.

That's weird, huh? Oh well. I'm still making her and all of her muscles come in and inspire me to not give up. That might have to be my first vlog.

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I chopped my hair off yesterday. It wasn't that long to begin with (see photos below) but I went in to get a cut and color before my LA trip.

(Yes, I am secretly hopeful that I'll get discovered. What? It could happen!)

My friend, dog-sitter, and amazing stylist Michele asked me what I wanted to do and I got a wild hair and asked her what she thought. When she suggested cutting it just below my chin, I agreed. And as the scissors came close to my neck, I panicked...and then told her to hurry up and just do it before I changed my mind.

I like it. B, amazingly, loves it. I'll post a pic soon!

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We survived our first outing with L wearing big-boy underwear today. Denny's was a success.

Too bad he pooped and peed in them when we got home. At least he told B...."Ummmm, Daddy? I peed in my underwear."

Baby steps. Baby steps.

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I have to post just a couple more pictures from our vacation. Em sent me a few hundred more today and I couldn't resist posting these.....

L picked me a flower on our nature walk and Em caught him giving it to me. Proof he can be sweet.

The one and only group shot from the trip, thanks to Em's self-timer. It only took a few tries and I love it!

And perhaps I am a bit biased, but seriously...how cute is this????