Warning: Video contains mature language. Well, just one five letter word that describes male genitalia. But still. Probably not suitable for children.
My 40th Birthday is less than 60 days away, folks. As I do with any major impending event or rite of passage, I get a little wiggy. I do weird shit in hopes of shedding a few pounds and looking my best, as is demonstrated in my latest video blog. (more…)
click here to check out the whole series...
I cried at a parent/teacher conference yesterday, at my five-year-old’s preschool.
No shit. Full-on cried.
If you know me personally, this will not come as a shock because I have been cursed/blessed with an over-zealous sensitivity gene and over-active tear ducts, both of which I inherited from my mom, and I have a tendency to cry a lot.
I call it a blessing and a curse because I really love to cry. Crying, for me is an expression of emotion, sometimes sad, but many times happy. It’s a release of angst. It helps me purge myself of the shit that gets bottled up inside me and typically, when I’m feeling wigged out about something, all I need is a good cry and then I’ll feel better. But it’s a curse in a professional situation where I am expected to hold it together, like in a parent/teacher conference.
Which brings me back to the story at hand.
When I walked into the dimly lit, feng sui’d classroom (our preschool, though Lutheran, also has a certain Zen-like quality), I felt a little 
Santa was good to me this year. I got comfy PJ’s from Victoria Secret, the newest perfume by Issy Miyake, and was surprised with an iPad that I’m now addicted to. I lucked out, big time! I’d have to say, however, that my favorite gift of all was from my best friend, Mern, who always gives me jewelry. This year she found a little shop on Etsy called Little Green Room, by Amy Aguirre, and ordered me these little personalized rings with my daughters’ initials.
Personalized Rings from Little Green Room on Etsy
They are delicate and darling. Another reason why I love Etsy and why I love my BFF.
Check out some other cool items by this designer that would be great for the next holiday coming up, Valentine’s Day.
Valentine's Day Gift Ideas from Little Green Room on Etsy
I cannot get enough of Etsy and all the funky, unique gifts it has to offer! Thanks Mern, for my thoughtful and darling gift!
Yes, January is the month of new beginnings and goal-setting, but for me it is also the month of playing-catch-up-on-all-the-crap-I-neglected-because-of-the-holidays. Counting how many times I said, “oh that will have to wait until January” would be fruitless because I would lose count somewhere between gajillion and bajillion. It would also take time away from doing all the things I need to do now that January is here. So, I won’t. Instead I’m going to just get to work on said things, pray I don’t forget anything and hopefully somehow get better at time management.
One such thing I’m working on is a photo montage of my mom’s old photos for her upcoming 80th birthday. I have been procrastinating this video for months now, only to realize today that I have one month to get it all done. I went to her house the other day to look at all the old photos she had pulled and had a blast going down memory lane with her.
Some of my favorite pictures were of her days as the social chair at the Arizona Biltmore back in the mid 60’s.
The pictures all showed off her bright strawberry blond hair and her effervescent personality. She was a real life Julie McCoy, which is exactly the nickmame many of my friends have used for me over the years.
Every time there was a special event, my mom would dress up to match the theme, like this Luau . . .
And of course there was
I want to fly like an eagle, to the sea. Fly like an eagle, let my spirit carry me.
- Steve Miller Band
It was 11:00am on the first day of 2012. Feeling surprisingly un-hungover and sufficiently satiated from our breakfast burrito/Bloody Mary brunch with friends in Lake Arrowhead, I began to comprise my mental list of resolutions, goals and intentions for the new year. Somewhere between questioning whether I should throw a big party or get a boob job for my impending fortieth birthday, I heard my friend Hayley calling my name from outside.
Considering that only fourteen hours prior that same friend had spotted a mountain lion a few houses away from our rental cabin, I was a bit hesitant to run outside. But then I heard her more clearly,
“Mary, come quick, it’s a bald eagle.”
She pointed up to one of three lithe pine trees outside our cabin and described where exactly I should look. After a few seconds of trying to eyeball through the needles and cones, I spotted it.
I am not usually one to be swept up in awe over animals or nature, unless there are jazz hands involved, but this beautiful specimen had me captivated. I ran inside
10. Ten Year Anniversary in Cabo San Lucas – In March, Steve and I took a much needed vacation to celebrate ten years of marriage. I am now madly in love with all-inclusive resorts like our hotel, Zoetry, with their all-you-can-eat nachos and all-you-can-drink Coronas.
9. Duran Duran Live – For one night, my friend Benjie and I were able to re-live 1984. And? Simon’s still got it.
8. Making an ASS of myself in front of Jim Carrey – Early in the summer, I was invited to the press junket of Mr. Popper’s Penguins. I met some incredible bloggers (like Chelsea, Whit, Andrea, Niri, Kim, and Lexi), had the opportunity to interview some celebrities like the legendary Angela Lansbury, and embarrassed the heck out of myself in front of Jim Carrey.
7. Riding Matterhorn with Lily at night – This year, on our annual trip to Disneyland, my five year old wanted to brave the famous white mountain top known as The Matterhorn. We rode at night, just as the nightly fireworks display was going off and it was a magical moment, a rite of passage, for my daughter and me.
6. Interviewing Will Reiser, writer of 50/50 on the red carpet of the San Diego Film Festival – After having a friend diagnosed with cancer in 2010, the movie 50/50 hit close to home. Before the screening at the SD Film Festival, I had the opportunity to interview the writer of the film, Will Reiser. It was a thrill and an honor. I am pulling for this movie during the award circuit in 2012.
5. Las Vegas for Steve’s 40th - Heading to Vegas a few weeks ago with my husband and some of his best buddies was definitely a highlight of my year, specifically the Beatles LOVE show, our night at the Foundation Room, and my star sighting of Puckerman from GLEE (not Puck from The Real World).
4. My weekend at La Costa Resort – Three years of blogging was all worth it this past October when my family and I were guests of the La Costa Resort for their big preview weekend. Getting my ass kicked by Jillian Michaels in a 30 minute workout was painful, masochistic thrill, and one of my best memories of 2011.
3. The BlogHer Flashmob – My entire weekend of BlogHer ’11 was memorable, but the process of rehearsing and pulling off Operation Glory, aka the BlogHer ’11 Flashmob, was definitely a highlight of my entire life. All of us Operation Glory dancers have a bond for life.
2. Publishing my book – Holding a hard copy of my book, Dead Dads Club, in my hands a few weeks ago was a surreal moment. The book is my labor of love, an ode to my dad, and an attempt at helping other women through the difficult process of losing a father. It’s now available on Amazon.com.
1. The Miracle of Amy & Olivia – In 2010, one of my best friends was diagnosed with a terminal form of liver cancer. Her only hope at life was to receive a liver transplant from a living donor. In early 2011, one of Amy’s family friends, Olivia, bravely stepped forward, offering up part of her liver and in February the two of them underwent a liver transplant surgery, ultimately ridding Amy of her cancer. It was a miracle, one that reminded me how precious and incredible truly is, and definitely the best moment of my entire year.
I am grateful for the wonders and the fun of 2011 and look forward to many more memories in 2012.
Happy New Year!
Early in their relationship, my sister-in-law and brother-in-law started a tradition to commemorate the special occasions in their life. Anytime they uncork a bottle of champagne, wine, or anything with a cork really, while out with friends for a particular celebration, they write with Sharpie the details of the occasion and throw it in a big vase.
Now after years of being together, they have a décor piece for the center of their house, filled with countless, possibly foggy, love-filled memories.
New Years Eve is a perfect time to start this tradition. If I had good handwriting and I were organized enough to know where I put the cork, I would totally steal this idea from my SIL.
What are some of your New Years Eve traditions?
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