New Year, New Me

 

So here's the deal. Or maybe I should say here WAS the deal. I have always hated working out. I was never one to wear athletic leisure wear EVER. I didn't go to the gym. I wouldn't ever think about taking a workout class unless a friend begged me to. Cut to Covid. And being stuck in the house. Kids not in school. And Andrew always around. I have turned to the dark side. I am now one of those people that love to work out. Believe me - it's weird. I bought a Fitbit so I can see my steps. I can watch my sleep patterns. And if I haven't moved in awhile - it will tell me to get up and move. I'm sort of obsessed with it.  Who the hell am I these days?  

Malibu Chili Cook-Off (2019)

When Andrew was sick - our neighbor Joanne whisked us away to Malibu for their annual Chili Cookoff. Its always a fun time with rides, sweets, games, and more! I'm sad we missed it this year since it was canceled due to Covid.  But here are pics from 2019 to tide us over until the next time we can go......God knows when that will be.

Mali+Lili Face Masks

My friend Joanne made some really cute masks during this crazy pandemic. Here are a few of the pictures I shot for Nordstrom.  Can you spot Olive?

To buy: click here.

End of the World

 

Between Covid and all the fires in California - it seems like the world is ending. The kids are both doing online school as well as little pods with a few of their friends. So far they have been troopers although I'm sure it isn't easy for them.  It feels impossible sometimes for me so I can't even imagine being a kid during this crazy time. 

Family Pics

On my birthday we did a drive by birthday party (more on that later) and had a photographer come and take some "porch portraits" of us. I hardly ever get pictures of us as a family unless I'm doing it myself. And unfortunately it gets frustrating because the kids are always fighting...or no one wants to do it. With a photographer - everyone is on their best behavior! 

Mexico Day 4 & 5

On our last days in Mexico we pretty much spent the majority of our time at the beach and the pool. I'm pretty sure I had one too many cocktails at the pool bar. We ate homemade ice cream, made more crafts, and had dinner at the Thai and Italian restaurants. There weren't a ton of pics to post so I'm just going to use my favorite one from our entire trip.

May 25th, 2020

On May 25th, 2020 George Floyd was killed by 4 police officers. I don't think it will be a day that anyone forgets. The idea that police officers - who are sworn to serve and protect  - could have absolutely no regard for another human being is beyond me. I mourn for George Floyds family. I mourn for every other black family who has lost a loved one to this sort of senseless brutality. It isn't right and IT HAS TO STOP. On Sunday I went to Santa Monica to show my support. Of course, I forgot a memory chip in my good camera so I was stuck with these pics from my phone.

Mexico - Day 3

Our 3rd day in Playa Del Carmen started off pretty rocky. At breakfast both kids refused to go off the property for any excursions....and it was pretty much the only thing I wanted to do. Buster and I both had meltdowns. Andrew tried to keep the peace. And Olive just felt bad about it all. I sat by myself for a little bit and tried to focus on turning the day around. Thankfully Andrew gave me some alone time and by lunch - all was better.

After lunch we did a little photoshoot on the beach. Andrew and I weren't really feeling being in the pictures so we just focused on the kids. The water really is gorgeous in Mexico. It's still one of my favorite places.

After the photoshoot we got ready to go to a cooking class at Casa de Rosa. The kids were able to come and cook which made it even more fun (and also not as fun too...hahahahaha). 

The kids were actually really really good during the cooking portion of the night. The helped make empanadas, tamales, and salsas. The dinner portion of the night - not so much! Olive ate the tacos, but Buster hardly ate anything. All in all I'm glad we did it. It was a super fun experience and we spent time cooking as a family.

Mexico Day 2

Our second day in Mexico was fun...although there were a few tears from everyone including me! You know when you've been looking forward to something for so long....and then something happens that just ruins everything? Well...that happened on more than one occasion for me. From the kids fighting to no one wanting to go on any excursions. To not being able to get into the one restaurant that I was dying to try to not being able to go into the ocean. Etc etc etc. The hotel did have a lot of cool features though. There was a homemade ice cream shop, nightly shows and live music, loads of good restaurants and a gorgeous beach.

See what I told you about the tears. This was one of a handful of times that Buster was not happy. It's hard to be 6 sometimes!! The food was really good. I had these fish tacos a few times on the beach while we were there. 

At the pool you could buy inflatable toys - so of course the kids had to have one! I secretly wanted one too. They also had this really fun spot where you could make crafts. Honestly - it was so fun we did it almost every day. And the finished pieces were pretty amazing. The guys running the crafts added a lot of details that made them look like ceramics sold at the gift shop!

Dinner was always hit or miss. Andrew and I loved it because everything was included.....but sometimes it was hard with the kids. Their palates aren't quite as refined as ours. 

New BLogger!

Soooooo.....with the quarantine, and homeschooling the kids, and trying to finish the yearbook, and working on the friday assembly videos, and all around trying not to lose my mind.....I haven't exactly had time to do any blog entries. I logged on today and the entire thing is different. It's taking me a little while to figure it out......

Mexico Day 1

After New Years we headed to Mexico for the trip we postponed when Andrew was in the middle of his chemo treatments. I'd never been to Playa Del Carmen and was excited to see what it was all about. Unfortunately we booked a red eye - since it was the only direct flight I could find.  Let me say this - NEVER AGAIN WITH THE KIDS.  Andrew and I couldn't sleep....and it was a lot harder than taking a day flight.  Oh well - live and learn.

On a side note - this was the only day I went into the pool.  The water was so cold and believe it or not - it was the warmest day when it was raining.