Wine and Love v29

Posted on September 29, 2011 by Nora

It’s Thursday which means time for the next installment of Wine & Love. I think you know the drill by now, but if not, share your weekly wines (or beer, liquor, soda- whatever your beverage preference is) and then your loves since last Thursday. Join in the comments or participate on your own blog (and if you do, link-up below please so that we can all read what’s on your list this week).

Wine:

* Since it’s my birthday I only really have one wine (well, I do have others but I won’t dwell on them today): that I can’t be with my parents, brother, and close friends to celebrate my birthday this year. It’s hard to get into a different pattern or thought about holidays and celebrations after them being pretty much the same for the last 27 years! Thank goodness for Skype, eh?

Love:

* I’m 28 today and I have relatively little to complain about! (If you want to read my self-portrait as I enter into my 28th year, check it out here).

* It’s officially scarf and cardigan season where I live. I may be adjusting to how chilly (and damp!) it is right now, but I love breaking out the scarf collection.

* October is soon which means all sorts of wonderful things: trip home for work; my first ever completely just the two of us vacation with Knight; friends and family visiting; pumpkin carving; more candy corn; and if all works out the party where Knight and I met last year? We’ll be hitting it up again this year. (This also means seeing some of my very best friends which makes my heart burst with joy!)

* Journaling. I’ve been giving myself a few hours a week to journal and I forgot how nice it is to just let it all out, even if it’s word vomit and makes no sense, even if it’s fears that no one knows of or has but me, it’s great to just put it all out there and then kind of take a breath and let it go.

* Ipmrovising in the kitchen. In an attempt to better stick to our budget and to have more fun with food, I’ve been trying to make more meals out of what we have in the house. Nothing crazy or worthy of Top Chef, mind you, but it’s fun to kind of think outside the box to put meals together.

* I know I said it last week, but Parenthood on NBC. Oh, this show. It makes me laugh. It tugs at my heartstrings, I definitely get teary-eyed. There is just something about it that is comforting to me. Bonus: Darling (aka my mom) and I text during the show and guess when the other person starts to get teary-eyed.

* Alright, everyone, laugh if you must but I have to say this: My snuggie, featuring my college logo all over it. No, I don’t wear it like they do in the commercials (if anything, it maybe worn like a robe, but that’s only if I’m really cold or sick). The rest of the time I treat it like a blanket. It’s so warm and fuzzy and perfect for curling up on the couch after a long day.

That’s all I have for you this week, friends! If you are playing along today link up below or leave it in the comments. I have tomorrow off (too many vacations and too little time so three-day weekend it is) so I’ll see you all next week!

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Self-Portrait Before 28

Posted on September 28, 2011 by Nora

Tomorrow I turn 28.

If you looked in my closet you’d find that I’m kind of in love with Ann Taylor Loft as 75% of my wardrobe is from their store. I’m also very much into stripes, particuarly of the navy and off-white variety; evidently I dig the nautical theme. I also have way too many hoodies and pairs of jeans, but I will keep buying them anyway. {photo credit}

If you look at my hands, you’ll notice I only wear two rings: my engagement ring and then a ring on my right middle finger, one that I had handmade right in front of my eyes at a craft fair several years ago. Both rings are unique, each symbolizing different things. One, love’s promise and future and the other my individuality.

If you ask about my family I’ll tell you that I have two of the most amazing parents who double as my best friends, confidantes and cheerleaders and an awesome, creative younger brother who never ceases to both inspire me and make me proud. And then I’ll tell you about Knight, the man I met almost a year ago (!), the man I moved in with four months ago, the man who has made me a Bonus Mom, has taught me more about myself than I thought possible, and the man I can’t envision my life without. The man I look forward to calling my husband in a little over year. I’ll go on and on about Jack, my furbaby, who has been with me every single step of my adventures post-college and gives more unconditional love on a daily basis than I think some people can give in a lifetime. And finally I’ll talk about my Bonus kids who captured my heart the first day I met them, knowing I wanted to share books and movies, shopping and baking and other adventures with them as their lives progress.

If you were to ask about my life outside of blogging and my family I’d tell you that I love emailing and talking to my friends, nearly all who live far away, as much as possible. And that even though there is distance these best friends understand me better than I understand myself at times, that I couldn’t get through life without them. I’d tell you that I love to exercise; I thrive on the endorphines and feeling confident and loving my body more with each workout. I’m not stick thin and I never will be. As I get “older’ I’m learning to accept and respect my body and that’s a nice change from previous, younger years. I’ll invite you to join me in the kitchen while I try a new recipe or bake a fresh batch of cookies. There will be wine and magazines to flip through, I promise. You’ll find a few books on my nightstand, both of them half read, at any given time; a glass of water next to my bed every single night; and my iPhone there, just in case someone calls with an emergency. I journal which means I have lots of pens and unfilled notebooks, waiting for inspiration and words to fill the pages. I read a lot and thusly my bookshelf is overflowing with books yet to be read. I have lots of cards to send to friends and family just because, or for specific reasons. When possible I love getting together with friends to shop, cook, hang out, celebrate, and catch-up; it’s essential to who I am and rejuvenates me every single time.

You might ask about my five year plan and right now, I can’t answer that. There are likely big changes on the horizon for me (and Knight) but it’s all in the planning stage so until then, I know this much. I want to be smiling. I want to be just as much in love with Knight as I am on this very day. I want to still be best friends with the amazing women I have in my life on this day. I want to be blogging still and truth be told, I’d love to write a book on my experience, advice and observations as a Bonus Mom. I want to be able to travel to visit my friends and family both far and wide. I want to be able to say I visited Paris and Italy before I turned 30 with scrapbooks and pictures to prove it. I want to have a library in my den, two leather chairs and a fireplace. I want to continue to live my life with no regrets, no what-ifs. I want to still be taking Jack and the girls on family walks every evening, curling up with a good book after the girls go to bed, with Knight nearby reading or gazing upon whatever sports have captured his attention for the moment. The rest will unfold, the road meandering and wandering in front of me, and I’ll embrace it because this is my life journey and sometimes the joy is in not knowing what’s going to happen next.

And tomorrow? I’ll celebrate my birthday via Skype with my parents; enjoy pizza and cookie cake with Knight and the girls and be thankful for all that has happened in the last year and all that has yet to come.

I Heard ‘Em Say v3

Posted on September 26, 2011 by Nora

I’ll admit I haven’t been writing down all the funny things Belle and Jolie have been saying as of late, but I figured everyone could start off a Monday with some of the funny things kids say.

The following are brought to you by Belle, our mischevious, hilarious, very observant almost three year-old:

“Do you know what a bercher is? It’s the place where we get a lot of books.”
Note: We have no idea what a bercher is or why she decided it’s like a library.

” I need to get the purple one [referencing a shirt she wanted at Target] because my underwear today is purple and it has to match.”
I tried to explain that we change our underwear everyday and therefore we don’t need to match our entire new wardrobe to the color of undies, but no dice. Almost everything she pointed at that she liked was purple.

“That has Mickey Mouse on it! That means it’s mine.”
This was exclaimed on a grocery shopping trip when she spotted Mickey Mouse on some sort of box. Lately anytime she sees Ariel or Mickey Mouse, no matter where we are or where it is she’s convinced it’s hers.

And lastly, one of her nightly prayers of choice lately, no matter the weather, “Dear God, Puh-lease make this rain go away. And the thunder. Puh-lease God. Thank you.”

And Jolie, who has been a bit more serious since starting kindergarten a few weeks back, makes an appearance with a few random and funny things this week:

“So tomorrow I get to check a book out from the school library. They have like, 96 books! That’s a lot, you know.”

“When you mix ketchup and applesauce, you get strawberry applesauce. Did you know that, Nora?”
I’m pretty sure that’s not what you get and we didn’t try it but she was convinced that’s how you get strawberry applesauce.

“They were 10,6 and 5 and they were all twins.”
On explaining the age of her imaginary friends to me and Lisa a few weeks ago. Lisa had introduced the concept of twins to Jolie earlier in the evening and she wasn’t totally grasping it. That or it was a really long birth for the mother.

Have you heard anything funny from kids, colleagues or others lately?

Wine and Love v28

Posted on September 22, 2011 by Nora

The Wine List:

* Seasonal allergies. Evidently I get them in the fall? Not cool, Mother Nature, not cool.

* I can’t seem to get enough sleep. No idea what that’s about. Must figure it out and work on it though.

* Lack of blogspiration. And then not looking at my google reader. And then feeling out of touch with people.

* The costs of flights. I could really use a quick girl-weekend trip to see my childhood bff that lives in Florida but the price of a ticket is still a little too high.

* The JLo Fiat commercial. I mean, who really gets out of their car and dances to their own music? Bad commercial, Fiat.

* Losing my #twitterball game last week. By a lot. My team really stunk it up big time.

The Love List:

* Parenthood is back on Tuesday evenings! This makes me so happy. I love the Braverman clan.

* When a library book I requested is on hold for me at the library. This time around it was Priceless, a book I heard about through the Slow Readers Book Club. I’m kind of in the mood for biographies and non-fiction lately so I hope it’s good!

* Emails from best friends that make me smile.

* Our wedding website is 75% complete and we have our deposit down on our wedding venue (for both the ceremony and reception). With 13 months to go I feel good about all the progress we have made (I have my eye on a dress, shoes, wedding rings for me and Knight, decoration ideas, our wedding colors and more).

* Seasonal Oreos. I know, not healthy but I love them.

* Jack. It’s that time of the year where we sleep with the windows open so some mornings I wake up to a Jack all cuddly on our bed. It’s rather cute and he’s a great foot warmer.

* My parents. I’m truly blessed to have one of the best sets of parents. So very thankful for them.

* Discovering a new pizza place that’s really close to our house. Some of the best pizza I’ve had in a long time. (This could also be incredibly dangerous in the long run.)

Your turn: What’s on your wine & love list?

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Truth: Our Kids

Posted on September 21, 2011 by Nora

Over the course of the next few weeks I’m featuring a mini-series that I’m calling my Truth Series. Truth about our kids. About dealing with divorce. About being a bonus mom. These posts have been a work in progress for awhile and aren’t the easiest to put out there but I need to share it in some way, and who knows, maybe it will help someone else feel less alone if they are in a similar situation.

When our kids see other children on the playground, they will march right up to them, with all of the might they can muster in their almost-three and five year-old bodies and ask the strangers if they want to play, no matter what their age.

In a room full of adults, our kids will “read” us stories, whether from a hand-drawn book or their own personal version of Little Mermaid. They will bring out toys for our friends’ babies to play with and announce that they love babies crawling all over them. They will always, always, always ask you if you want to color with them and make you pictures to take home.

Our kids ask me and Knight if we will have two kids when we get married because as far as they can understand, that’s what happens when people get married.

They have an intense love for our dog, “big squeezes,” which are nighttime hugs, saying prayers, and family walks. They remember some of the most bizarre and random things, stuff Knight and I have long since forgotten about, but when they bring it up it always brings a smile to our faces.

Our kids will sometimes remind me that their parents broke-up, that they were boyfriend and girlfriend because understandably the concept of husband and wife and divorce doesn’t make much sense (and isn’t the version told them to by some people in their lives). Then they tell me that me and Daddy are in love to which the answer is a resounding yes.

When we go to Church or other new places, our kids wave at the strangers, announcing that this is “My daddy and My Nora.” It makes my heart melt every time.

They love chicken nuggets and ketchup, oodles of grapes, playing outside, Disney movies (cartoons only, please!), Minnie & Mickey Mouse.

They tolerate the shuttling back and forth between the two houses as part of Knight’s joint custody agreement. Some days they do great with it and other days there are more questions, more confusion, more breakdowns which may be from lack of sleep or food or, even worse, proof that the situation is getting harder for them.

Our kids are, whether we like it or not, products of divorce. Stuck in a situation that we attempt to make the best of. In our house, and I hope at their other house, we do not talk about the complexities of the divorce situation in front of or near the kids but it’s there. Complexities, none of which pertain to the children and frankly, things that do not even need to be an issue. I will leave it at that but it’s hard. Hard on Knight. Hard on me. Hard on us. I forever love the children. I do not love the situation that surrounds our little darlings.

I want so badly to protect them from some of the unnecessary information that comes with a divorce, to shield them from the hurt and confusion, but I cannot. Instead, all I can do is hug them harder and remind them I’m here if they ever have any questions or need someone to talk to. I guess I’m really a parent now because when our kids hurt, I hurt and I’d do anything in the world to take that pain away.

Our kids, though not my biologically mine, are still our kids. We are our own version of a family. As a friend of mine once said, “You didn’t know that you had so much love to give that it would be for three people, not just one.” Truer words were never spoken.

Wine and Love v 27

Posted on September 15, 2011 by Nora

The Wine List:

* Being sick. It started on Sunday night after an awesomely whirlwindic (yes, I made up that word) weekend. I woke up Monday with a full-blown cold/sinus infection/virus. ( I say all three of those as the doctor wasn’t sure what it was. Reassuring, no?) Fortunately I’m finally starting to feel better today but man it’s been a bummer and a drag this week.

* Feeling helpless. There are some situations swirling around me in which I can do nothing but offer support, a shoulder to lean on, hugs and unconditional love. Sometimes it is really hard to not be able to do more for those I love, to make all the stupid issues disappear.

* Friends that live faraway mostly because I miss them immensely.

* As silly as it is/sounds, I’m going to miss not being in the STL for my birthday this year. I think it’s the first year in about 17 that I won’t be there. I am thrilled to spend it with Knight and the girls, I just wish we could all be in STL too.

* Thanks to the sickness exercise has had to stop a bit the last few days (doctor’s orders). I will get back on the horse again next week!

The Love List:

* A productive work week despite the sickness (that is a huge benefit of being able to work from home).

* Winning my fantasy football match this previous week. I squeaked by but I think I have a good handle on my players and how they will perform the next few weeks so hopefully I can continue the trend.

* Enjoying an amazing visit with Lisa last weekend. I owe the recap post + photos, but it will probably not make it up until next week. Bonus: Having Nilsa, Sweets, their adorable baby Gavin and their mellow dog SoMi come visit for a day as well. I love hosting and having people around!

* It’s taco soup season! Enough said.

* Finding a book by one of my favorite authors on sale at a local bookstore and subsequently falling in love with it.

* Checking out one too many books at the library as I know I won’t get to read all of them but I love finding new things to read and dreaming of endless days of reading, while drinking tea during this crisp fall.

* A relatively unscheduled weekend save for a lunch with Knight’s cousins and hopefully a trip to Trader Joe’s!

What’s on your Wine & Love List for the week?

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Notes to Self v4

Posted on September 9, 2011 by Nora

Sometimes you let really silly things get to you. I know it’s easier said than done, but try. Try not to let what someone else says or thinks bother you. It’s just noise. It can’t hurt you, and it doesn’t change that you do and give your best every single day. {Photo Credit}

Realize that when other people are being mean, rude, or irrational it usually has nothing to do with you and everything to do with them or what is going on in their life. Try to take the high road, be as compassionate as you can be, smile and be quiet, and then move forward. (No one needs to know that you flip off your computer screen or are strining curse word after curse word together in your head during these situations.)

Don’t underestimate the power of girl time. Even though you don’t get quite as much as you would like these days it does wonders for your soul and helps carry you through. With all the girl time you’re racking up this month, your soul should be good for awhile. Be thankful for your friends who are rockstars and always there for you, no matter what.

Do allow yourself to make frozen pizza once a week for you and Knight. You love to cook and try new recipes, we know this, but at the same time, it’s awesome to have a night of “cheater” dinner, that allows you to relax and space out a little bit. Do make sure that you allow yourself time to workout and write: those are two things that always ground and center you, so don’t forget about them. Do allow yourself a really ridiculous chick littish book every once in awhile. With all the heavy reading you’ve been doing, you deserve some fluff!

Continue to enjoy what’s around you: you have done a great job at adjusting to the slower way of life in a small town and it does surprisingly suit you more than you thought. Let yoursel just sit and enjoy it more (easier said than done).

Remember how you loved to send snail mail? Get back to that. It’s so easy and brightens someones day so much. Get out those cards I know you have and get to writing even if it’s just a one-liner, it will still make someone smile.

And as per usual, don’t forget to smile, laugh as much as possible, cherish the little things, hugs Knight and the girls a little tighter each day, and be thankful for what’s in front of you because even on the most craptastic of days, it could always be worse.

What would your note to self say today?

Wine and Love v26

Posted on September 8, 2011 by Nora

It’s Thursday on a short week! It’s already time for the next installment of Wine & Love. I think you know the drill by now, but if not, share your weekly wines (or beer, liquor, soda- whatever your beverage preference is) and then your loves since last Thursday. Join in the comments or participate on your own blog (and if you do, link-up below please so that we can all read what’s on your list this week).

The Weekly Wine List:

* Not feeling like I can do enough good for my family and for others. Last week in a matter of 24 hours we lost our family beagle and then the next day at a special Rotary Luncheon I attended my dad’s usual waiter informed him that he lost his house, my other boss at work has a very sick son despite their best efforts to make him better and the talk during the Rotary Luncheon was on homelessness. The upside of this is that I’m finding a place to volunteer the next few months, even if one day a month, to try to give back a little bit.

* The bad dreams are back. They are same the cast of characters as before and it’s really starting to get to me.

* We have a relatively small house but it seems like there is always something that needs to be cleaned lately! Maybe it’s just because we have guests coming but lately I’m more of a “Monica” than ever!

* It’s a short work week which means that I have no idea what day it is and can’t get all my work done. Flip side: it’s a short work week which means the weekend is almost here!

* We have the remodeling bug in our house. First it was Jolie’s room. Then it was the deck. Next up is the backsplash (materials already purchased). After that we’d love to do both bathrooms with some simple updating. And maybe swap out our sliding doors for French Doors. And… the list goes on and on. This is only a wine due to the lack of time + resources to make it all happen in a timely fashion!

The Weekly Love List:

* Lisa comes tomorrow! And then on Saturday we are hosting Nilsa and her family for lunch and hanging out. I’m so excited!

* It feels like fall: windows open, cool breezes and still green trees. It’s kind of nice. This also means it’s time to have tea again, enjoy candy corn (YUM) and breakout the fall nail polish colors. And the utility bill will be much lower next month which is an all around win!

* Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake Bites: homemade and fabulous. Enough said.

* Friends is on Nick at Nite. I laugh that I am excited about this since I own all ten seasons on DVD but it’s kind of nice to have a comfort show on if I ever need.

* Speaking of TV, Parenthood starts on Tuesday!!!!! I’m beyond excited about it this.

* Running, again. I’m not running as many miles as I used to so that I can protect my knees, but it feels so great to run, even if it’s just 2 miles a few days a week. I’ve been taking Jack with me more since the weather is cooler and he loves it too.

* It’s football season: College Game Day! Fantasy Football! (Also, who am I? I never used to like football but in the last two years I’ve become a HUGE fan.)

What do you have going on your wine and love list this week?

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Busyholic

Posted on September 6, 2011 by Nora

Hi, my name is Nora and I’m a busyholic. At least most of the time.

I know that I sometimes complain about calendars that are endlessly filling up with social plans and work trips, fun trips, nights out and hosting guests but there are times I thrive on a full calendar with lots of things to tend to. On top of that, I’ve noticed a trend lately: two weeks of insane busyness. One week and most-needed weekend of utter quiet. This pattern allows me to do what I do best: Savor. Organize. Laugh. Smile. Photograph. Reflect. {photo credit}

For example, in the last week I: Went back to STL for work for three days. Saw two of my bridesmaids, held one very adorable newborn, celebrated one awesome brother’s birthday (mine, duh), mourned the loss of our 17 year-old beagle (still doing that, and won’t write about it until I can think about him and not cry), one girl night with my fabulous mother, settled on a wedding venue (hooray!), trained a new person at work, closed a bunch of sales, traveled back to my home with Knight, grocery shopping with the girls, clothes shopping for our youngest, cleaned the house (with the help of Knight), menu planned, hosted Knight’s niece and her husband which meant lots of cooking (which I love), made three new recipes, went for family walks, time with Knight, time with the girls and time for me. Not to mention chatting daily with friends and the everday stuff that we all do.

While there was little time left for some things I love to do such as blogging, I realized after the whirlwind of the last week that I can be at my best when I’m busy as long as I embrace the busyness. I’m on the ball. I stay more organized, the house is a little cleaner, there is more of a pep in my step and once I get over the initial stress of some situations, I feel fulfilled. I feel more in the moment. I take more pictures. I laugh a little more. I take the time to chat about the days’ events with Knight to reflect on what was good, how we felt and how we hope we can do it again.

And on those quiet weeks? I embrace the slower pace of country life. (Literally, I live in a town of 800 people and most of them are retirees.) I read much more. I hang out in and with nature more. I’m content and look forward to bonfires on a Saturday night. I allow myself to be alone with my thoughts. I nap. I de-stress. I prepare. I regroup. I relax. I take a little more time for me and my family, both my bonus one and my family back home.

I consider all of these realizations about myself and what works for me part of the evolution of Nora: I’m growing, changing, learning more about myself as I continue on my journey in my not-so-new-town and I have to say, I like what I’m seeing lately.

What’s your calendar like? Always busy? A combination of busy and slow?

Wine and Love v25

Posted on September 1, 2011 by Nora

While technically I’m slowing down my blog-roll these days, I can’t pass up my time to reflect on the good from the previous week. So that means time for the next installment of Wine & Love. I think you know the drill by now, but if not, share your weekly wines (or beer, liquor, soda- whatever your beverage preference is) and then your loves since last Thursday. Join in the comments or participate on your own blog (and if you do, link-up below please so that we can all read what’s on your list this week).

The Whine-O List:

* Construction, rain and cops, in that order. I drove back to the home office on Tuesday night and between these three things my normal 5.5 hour drive took over six hours. Rolling into my parents’ house at 11pm was not ideal.

* Jersey Shore. Why is it a whine? Cause I’m addicted. It’s like the worst car accident you have ever seen but you can’t look away. Not even a little bit. I joke with Knight that every time I watch the show, my graduate school calls and ask for my Masters back.

* The rain I mentioned above is prohibiting me and Knight from getting the deck railing (well, ok, mostly Knight) wrapped up. We do have stairs and part of the railing! He’s making great progress but would be grand to just get it crossed off the list.

The Love List:

* Doing wedding stuff that makes me smile. And talking wedding stuff with this girl and this girl on a regular basis.

* Lisa is coming to visit next weekend! I haven’t seen her since January and can’t wait to show her our town, the house and just hang out while drinking wine, looking at magazines and you know, just general girl time!

* That even though I have it in my head to chill on the blog, then a bunch of new and fun ideas on things to write about pop into my head.

* Reading a book, cover to cover, in one weekend, even if it was a little disturbing (“Still Missing”, by Chevy Stevens).

* Today is my brother’s 23rd birthday. I can’t believe it! He’s in town as well so we are doing a family dinner to honor and celebrate him and I can’t wait.

* My birthday is a month from today. I’m actually excited about this birthday which is a change for me. Can’t wait to spend it with Knight and the girls, and I have my fingers crossed that one of my bridesmaids and/or parents may come visit close to my birthday as well!

* Labor Day weekend! I’m still not sure when I will be headed back north but Knight’s niece and her husband are coming over on Monday so I’m already meal planning and coming up with fun stuff to make for us to enjoy. I love hosting/cooking/baking. That and a 3-day weekend never hurt anybody.

What are your wine & loves from the past week?

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