Ja, yes, si, oiu, sea, ken, sim.

If I could say it in every language, I would.  YES, YES, YES!!  

11/16/13 - The beau asked me to marry him.  We were in Amsterdam, watching local people ice skate, laughing our asses off and just enjoying eachother, the locals, the culture, the cold weather, everything.

It is amazing how excited and happy our family and friends are for us.  We are so loved, it's an incredible feeling.  The love we have for eachother is intense.  The love our family and friends have for us is an amazing feeling, and one I hope to never forget and always appreciate.

Oh, I'm such a sap.  I've written this post in my head a few times, but now it just sounds like hearts and love and mush.  Although, I wouldn't have it any other way. 

I'll do an Amsterdam recap later on this week.  Enjoy your Tuesday!

Another year, another Halloween

I love Halloween!  I really love any holiday where I get to decorate the house, but Halloween is fun because I love seeing kids dressed up in their super cute costumes.  The LO is currently obsessed with Star Wars.  And when I say obsessed, I mean it's all he talks about type of obsessed.  So this year he wanted to dress up as an X Wing Fighter Pilot (Luke.)  But that's not all.  He wanted us all to dress up like a Star Wars character.  Seeing as how I've only recently slept through watched the Star Wars movies, I was a little nervous to pull of a Princess Leia costume.  Especially because I decided to make the costume.  Oh, did I mention I'm not even close to a seamstress?  I had my work cut out for me.  BUT the LO was way too excited for us not to pull this off.  The beau made his vest for his Han Solo costume, found some great pants, and I got his shirt from Goodwill. I made a dress and belt for Leia, and we ordered the LO's costume off Party City.  Then, we got dressed up and took a picture in the backyard.  After we took the picture, I was telling the beau how I'd love for it to be photoshopped with the Star Wars background behind us.  Considering he's pretty much a computer genius, he made it happen.  And this is why I love the man.  Because he's awesome and will do anything to make the LO & I happy and smile.  Did you have a happy Halloween?  What's your favorite part?

The roof was on fire.

Well, it wasn't actually the roof, it was a room on the 3rd floor of my hotel but it was still pretty surreal.  Most hotels have those little maps on the back of your room door illustrating where all of the exits are in case of emergency.  I never really pay attention but last night I had to.  I am staying in Ohio for a tradeshow and around midnight I was woken from my slumber by a fire alarm.  The weirdo part of my brain tried to rationalize this, and thought maybe it was some creepy person trying to get the single women to all come out of their rooms and maybe there really wasn't a fire (see, I have such weirdo thoughts sometimes) but then the alarm started blaring in my actual room so it was time to get the eff out.  I opened the door and the hotel manager is yelling for everyone to evacuate...and don't take the elevators.  I grabbed my purse, laptop, and wool coat.  Not even a pair of shoes.  Running down the stairs with no shoes & a cold floor really woke me the hell up.  The closer I got to the 3rd floor, the more smoke I could smell. Homegirl was sitting in the lobby barefoot, with pj shorts & a Star Wars shirt.  I bring the class, let me tell you.  The firefighters ran upstairs & put out whatever fire there was, and we were told about 40 minutes later we could go back to our rooms.  I've had some pretty strange things happen while traveling, but never an actual fire in a hotel.  Has this ever happened to you?  What would you grab if there was a fire in your hotel?  One things for sure, I am going to need a big cup of coffee today to get me through the show!

...and we sat there for what seemed like hours.

25 or so years ago, I sat there.  I remember it vividly.  I was one of the last kids my age to be able to tie my shoes.  She sat there with me, legs spread apart, as I sat in between them, knees up to my chest, trying to tie that shoe.  It felt like eternity to me, hours really,  and I still remember it as if it were yesterday.  I did not know then, what I know now.  She did not have to do those things for me.  She did not have to sit there showing me over, and over, and over again how to tie a shoe.  It seems pretty basic now, but obviously I wear shoes everyday, so everyday I'm reminded that someone that did not have to help me, but chose to.  Oftentimes we forget.  We don't even realize every day when we wake up, get ready for work or school, make lunches, drive, things like that...the days we kind of just go through the motions, we forget.  We forget that we're actually teaching every day just as we were taught.  And that is important, and special, and may seem mundane, but one day the person you're teaching will go on to teach someone else.  And be able to do all of these things for themselves.  I had an "ah-ha!" moment the other day.  Zachary could not tie his shoe.  As I sat there with him after I made his lunch to take to school, the same way my step mother had sat there with me 25 years ago, I realized how special the every day tasks can be.  And he may never remember that moment.  But you know what?  I will.  And that's worth doing a million times over.

So, the days you lose your patience and it feels like it's taking them "forever" to "get" something?  Just remember, it probably feels even longer to them.  We didn't acquire all of our knowledge over night, and neither will they.  Patience and nurturing is one of the most important things to teach.

An Angry Birds Party.

The LO recently had his birthday.  He turned 6!  When my beau was blessed with the LO, he was 3 lbs. 1 oz.  He has since grown to become a smart, super funny, always kind, very artistic, science loving little boy.  He has been obsessed with Angry Birds for a very long time.  So, naturally he wanted to have an Angry Birds themed party.  I spent hours on Pinterest finding some very creative things we could do.  We scrubbed the house top to bottom and the day had finally come.  All of the kids had a fabulous time, and I'm kind of wishing we could do it all over again!  Here are some pictures from the party:

...and we know a post isn't complete without an OOTD shot.  :)

Sayonara to my 20's.

It's true.  My birthday has come and gone.  I can officially say I'm 30 (yikes!)  Better than being 6' under though.  It hit me 2 days ago "holy shit, I'm 30."  It's true that time seems to speed up the older we get.  

I wanted to document some things I learned in my 20's and what better way to say sayonara 20's, and hello 30's than to remember some very important life lessons I learned in my 20's?  

Dear 20-something-year-old-Nicole:

• Go to college right after high school.  Seriously, you will not remember half the shit you learn in high school, and I'm pretty sure your brain is not nearly spongey enough when you haven't had to read text books in 10 years.
• Life goes on after your first love.  Contrary to what you thought as a teenager and half way through your 20's, your life does not begin & end with him.  Do NOT waste any time trying to make something work.  It either works, or it doesn't. Never settle.
• Time is precious.  Seriously.  It goes by way too fast, you spend too much time doing things you have to, so spend your free time enjoying whatever you want to do.
• Your former place of employment, where you had the worst, stinky boss in existence, actually brings you the 2 loves of your life.  Your beau & your best friend aka sister from another mister.
• Say sorry.  Don't hold grudges.  Forgive.  Not for them, but for you.  Resentment will eat you alive inside.  
• Set goals.  Achieve them.
• The person you were, does not have to be the person you are.  You can always change.  It is never too late to be what you might have been.
• Words hurt.  Taste them before you spit them out.
• A Father is someone who should always be there for you.  You will end up having an amazing bond with yours.  Better late than never.  
• Always listen when someone wants to tell you something.  Keep a secret.  Let people trust you. Trust people.
• Broken hearts can be mended.  You have gone through times where it literally felt like your heart had broken in half.  It will heal. 
• Friends come and go, but best friends are forever.  
• Believe in yourself.  You can and you will.
• Do things for people without expecting anything in return.
• Jury duty is not that bad.
• Be a good person.  Have a high moral compass.  Surround yourself with people that support you and praise you, and do the same thing for those people.
• Wear sunscreen.
• Rap music sounds awful the older you get.
• You are at the age you start saying "when I was a kid...."
• Break your own dating rules.  Seriously, it will be one of the best decisions of your entire life.
• Lil Wayne is an idiot.
• Your hair will start turning gray.  Just like your Dad's.  That's okay, there's always hair dye. Appreciate that you still have hair.
• It's true what they say, you are really more confident the older you get.  Don't let anyone take that from you.
• Keep saying your prayers every night.  
• Appreciate everything you have.  The good and bad.  Everything happens for a reason.

My trip to Chicago.

I've been in Chicago a few days for work.  For the last few years, I've come here during the Summer for an annual meeting session in our industry.  It is fun.  Although I am a little ways out from the actual downtown area, it is still nice to get out of the office and meet customers face to face.  

When I was getting ready to head to the airport Monday morning, my boss texted and asked if I was still home. and had access to a printer?  Turns out he bought me a ticket to see the play "The Book of Mormon."  So, the plans for my Tuesday night were in place.  I called a car service to take me into the city.  Upon entering the city I decided to look around at the stores and maybe do a little shopping.  Unfortunately I lost track of time and was not able to grab dinner before the show.  A total bummer because I was really looking forward to all of the delicious food Chicago has to offer.  I drank a beer & hoped that'd tie me over. By the time I got back to the hotel at 11:11 the kitchen was already closed.  This led to a growling belly with nothing to eat.  Next time I won't choose shopping over food. When I entered the theatre I was blown away.  The architecture was absolutely incredible.  The theatre first opened in 1906 so it was as if I was stepping back in time.  The play was pretty funny.  My boss thought it was "omgslapyomomma" type of funny, but I wouldn't go that far.  The show stealer in my opinion was definitely Elder Cunningham.  His wit, talent, and one liners were executed magnificently and it was his performance that made the whole play.  It was my first time seeing a play, and it was a really fun experience.

Today we've got a few more meetings and then I head home on Thursday morning.  I always enjoy a trip to the Windy City and look forward to being here again next Summer. 

Hope everyone is having a fabulous week.  :)

My first 5K run.

I've done a 5K before.  I walked 1 or 2 & raised money for the American Heart Association.  I walked and never even attempted to run.  

That's why the Watermelon 4th of July 5K was a big deal for me.  I had been practicing and training to run it.  I cut back on bootcamp and focused more on running.

Well, the day came and I had butterflies in my tummy.  I actually had butterflies about 2 days prior.  It was all I could think about.  "Am I crazy?"  "Will I do ok?"  "My main goal is to cross the finish line."  Come to find out, I am pretty bat shit crazy, yes I did better than ok, and I 100% crossed the finish line. The energy at the race was intense.

The beau's sister in law & I were the ones who signed up and ran.  She is a natural runner so definitely pushed me when all I wanted to take a break and walk.  I love the fact that she pushed me.  I also love the fact that I threw up.  What happened was...we were in the final stretch of the race and she looks at me and says "come on, let's go!  We're doing it!" and we start to haul ass closer to the finish line.  I am feeling absolutely stinkin' proud of myself.  I start to get goosebumps and then wonder if I'm going to cry.  But nothing came from my eyes.  Instead it came from my mouth.  As I was crossing the finish line I started throwing up.  It was all kind of blur because there were just SO many people, but all that matters is I did it.  And didn't throw up on anyone's shoes in the process.  I am so curious to see how the race pictures will turn out.  

After the race, we found our men - they had unfortunately got to the finish line about 5 minutes after we crossed.  But that was okay.  I was so happy that they loaded up the kids so early in the morning and came to cheer us on.  They had lots of water and tons of snacks, bounce houses, watermelon eating contests, all kinds of things.  It was a fun time for the kids and for us (once we caught our breath!)

We then headed back to the beau's brothers house so we could swim & have a cook out.  It was a lot of fun and I am so happy that I signed up and completed it.

Next on the list?  A half marathon.  We have 21 weeks to prepare.  I will do this.  I will cross the finish line.  Hope everyone had a fabulous 4th!  God Bless America.  :)