You are my inspiration.
My best advice,
My worst critic,
My guilty conscious,
My personal shopper.
The best chef (well, ok 2nd to Nana)
You’ve moulded me into who I’ve become and continue to guide me daily.
I love you very much.
Happy Mothers Day!
Showing posts with label MOM. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MOM. Show all posts
FAMILY ARE AWESOME
What is better than Mom? Only an awesome combination of an awesome Mom, Dad and sister (brothers and sister-in-laws too!) oh .. well i guess dogs should be included in this one as well. I'm not getting to the point... the point is that my awesome Mom (and Sister) sent me two boxes from home. I received one today!! This might not seem all that exciting for anyone but me... but it's like Christmas - just items I already know, have worn and love! So, golf shoes, hiking boots, back pack and a whoooole lotta ADEA are now unpacked and organized. Since the weather has turned cold I was getting worried that my already limited (current) closet wasn't going to be enough. I can't wait for box #2!!! Mom packed stuff I forgot I even had! She does have the best fashion sense, has the best packing abilities, and really is who I got my superb organizing skills from; no wait, that's just because I love it. Come ooooooooooon box #2!!
THE ENGLISH WAY
What a wonderful weekend to share!
Lee and I hired a car to go camping in the New Forest National Park this weekend. Home of hundreds of (pregnant) wild horses, cows, deer, small villages, and great bike and walking paths. So Friday afternoon Lee and I packed the car with our tent, sleeping bags, chairs, food for a few days and packs with hiking gear (frustrating for me a bit since all my hiking gear stills sits in my parents basement closet). Two and a bit hours after leaving the house and hitting some traffic we came to the New Forest and found our camp ground for the weekend....ah, but it wouldn't be a good story without a twist here! SOOO .. the one which we were recommended to stay at required each camping group to have their own chemical toilet. Right. So off we went to find a store that bought one (thinking we'd buy one to have with no intentions of using it, return it on the way out or sell it on ebay later maybe for a profit!) Well, of course by this time the stores have shut in the villages, and the camp grounds are starting to fill up quickly (it's school vacation week and there were plenty of campers!) FINALLY after driving around and talking with 3 or so camp grounds, we were told to go to Pondhead Farm. Yep, a farm. A real one too! On the way in there was a very large cow to great us (the same cow who's moo's were very stern and territorial). With no showers and lots of brown patches on the ground to be weary about, we set up camp for two nights.
Our final camp site :: Pondhead Farm.
Night #1.
Rain. Guess what... I dont have ANY rain gear. flip flops; that's about it. BUT, with no lamps or big flashlights (aka torches) when the sun goes down, so do we. With every intention on getting up with the sun and starting our day early to hike several miles of the New Forest we slept as bundled as we could - it was very cold this night #1.
SO. Saturday morning comes and goes. The rooster crows and the angry cow moo's her head off. 9:30am I think we finally got our butts into gear.
Following paths thru trees and wooded areas, thru open fields and rolling hills we hiked about 14 miles when the day was finished. Here are some choice photos...
WILD COWS
WILD HORSES
The super bright caterpillar we made sure crossed the road without getting hit (there were 3 cars that came REALLY close)
Super cool pathway
The old lady walking her dog. Almost everyone we passed had a dog or two with them.
WELL .. it doesnt get more English than Tea and scones, right? Here they call it cream tea. That would be tea. scones. clotted cream (to put on the scones) and jam. Very filling. Very tasty - coming from a coffee person..oh, and I highly dislike jam. eww.
Night #2.
Too tired to stay awake to enjoy the beautiful non-rain weather! We watched the sun go over the farm hill we were staying on and with the daylight gone, so were we. 8:30pm I think!? Mom you would be so proud.
All rested and smelling lovely, we decided to head to the coast to Milford on Sea (aka Gods waiting room) for a run and a dip in the ocean. How people swim in water this cold in beyond me, yet there were plenty of swimmers...I got knee deep-ish and dipped my head. Since the weather was gorgeous we stayed the day on the rocky beaches getting some sun and walking the cliff paths.
Typical beach houses to rent for your day at the beach.
All showered and back to city life, I'm missing that mean old cow...
Night #1.
Rain. Guess what... I dont have ANY rain gear. flip flops; that's about it. BUT, with no lamps or big flashlights (aka torches) when the sun goes down, so do we. With every intention on getting up with the sun and starting our day early to hike several miles of the New Forest we slept as bundled as we could - it was very cold this night #1.
SO. Saturday morning comes and goes. The rooster crows and the angry cow moo's her head off. 9:30am I think we finally got our butts into gear.
Following paths thru trees and wooded areas, thru open fields and rolling hills we hiked about 14 miles when the day was finished. Here are some choice photos...
WILD COWS
WILD HORSES
The super bright caterpillar we made sure crossed the road without getting hit (there were 3 cars that came REALLY close)
Super cool pathway
The old lady walking her dog. Almost everyone we passed had a dog or two with them.
WELL .. it doesnt get more English than Tea and scones, right? Here they call it cream tea. That would be tea. scones. clotted cream (to put on the scones) and jam. Very filling. Very tasty - coming from a coffee person..oh, and I highly dislike jam. eww.
Night #2.
Too tired to stay awake to enjoy the beautiful non-rain weather! We watched the sun go over the farm hill we were staying on and with the daylight gone, so were we. 8:30pm I think!? Mom you would be so proud.
All rested and smelling lovely, we decided to head to the coast to Milford on Sea (aka Gods waiting room) for a run and a dip in the ocean. How people swim in water this cold in beyond me, yet there were plenty of swimmers...I got knee deep-ish and dipped my head. Since the weather was gorgeous we stayed the day on the rocky beaches getting some sun and walking the cliff paths.
Typical beach houses to rent for your day at the beach.
All showered and back to city life, I'm missing that mean old cow...
FEARLESS
I thought the flower eating, garden reducing deer in my Mom's backyard were fearless ... allowing my Mom to come just feet away from them in a fight to save her yard's beauty... but these Shrewsbury, MA deer don't hold a buck to the deer in Richmond Park here in London!
They come right up to the road!! (the speed limit is 20mph and usually cars slow down to a halt to have a look when they are next to the road)
I did NOT use the zoom feature to take this photo. I could have touched one, but chose not too ...
There are around 300 Red Deer and 350 fallow deer in Richmond Park. You can drive the 7mile circle, run, bike, hike, walk, picnic..and dogs are welcome! If the weather ever warms up, we'll have a picnic day .. but for now, we'll run and drive thru.
I did NOT use the zoom feature to take this photo. I could have touched one, but chose not too ...
There are around 300 Red Deer and 350 fallow deer in Richmond Park. You can drive the 7mile circle, run, bike, hike, walk, picnic..and dogs are welcome! If the weather ever warms up, we'll have a picnic day .. but for now, we'll run and drive thru.
HARRODS
Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow.
THIS is for the MEGA shopper.
Not only did I feel TOTALLY out of my price league (remember I am still unemployed) I felt completely under dressed! Now, I felt under dressed at the mall in Atlanta Georgia ... ladies in stilettos shopping around. I'm sorry, but that's just dumb. I KNOW you aren't comfortable. But ok, fair enough, you're out there making a statement ...see and be seen! Sure.
But Harrods! WOW .. I must have been in the midst of multi-billionaires! These ladies are out (either in their burka's - which, side note... Why are you shopping for ₤12,000 skimpy dresses??? is it just me? ummmm...) [YES THATS RIGHT FOLKS!! That's the first ₤ sign in my blog! I had to copy it from a symbol from Word! hahaha] or with their wavy hair extensions and designer labels. Now, I'm fairly familiar with designer labels. I don't own most of them, but at least the name's are familiar... well NOT at Harrods. I'd say about 30% of the 'designer' brands I'd never heard of! I am SOOOO out of my league!! Oh, if only my mom were here to browse with me! Yes...browse. ugh, oh to be able to buy at that store.... one day, one day I will!!
THIS is for the MEGA shopper.
Not only did I feel TOTALLY out of my price league (remember I am still unemployed) I felt completely under dressed! Now, I felt under dressed at the mall in Atlanta Georgia ... ladies in stilettos shopping around. I'm sorry, but that's just dumb. I KNOW you aren't comfortable. But ok, fair enough, you're out there making a statement ...see and be seen! Sure.
But Harrods! WOW .. I must have been in the midst of multi-billionaires! These ladies are out (either in their burka's - which, side note... Why are you shopping for ₤12,000 skimpy dresses??? is it just me? ummmm...) [YES THATS RIGHT FOLKS!! That's the first ₤ sign in my blog! I had to copy it from a symbol from Word! hahaha] or with their wavy hair extensions and designer labels. Now, I'm fairly familiar with designer labels. I don't own most of them, but at least the name's are familiar... well NOT at Harrods. I'd say about 30% of the 'designer' brands I'd never heard of! I am SOOOO out of my league!! Oh, if only my mom were here to browse with me! Yes...browse. ugh, oh to be able to buy at that store.... one day, one day I will!!
Mother's Day
Wishing all of the mom's, grandmom's, godmom's and any other mom's a wonderful day. You makes us not only who we are, but better people. We love you.
Spring Cleaning
What a gorgeous weekend we are having! and what a better way to celebrate that wonderful weather than inside at a mall!!! (only slightly joking) Adea had a nice set up at the Atrium Mall Friday for a chance to win a $500 give-a-way! The lucky winner will find out soon!
After weeks of cleaning out the house and filtering thru out all the items in the basement, the closets, the hidden cabinets, the computer extra computer things, clothes, shoes, accessories, you name it... we finally had a big yard sale! up early with the buyers prompt at 7am things were flying out of the driveway! Around 3pm we loaded up the Tahoe with the leftover items and brought them to Goodwill. Not a bad day all in all... Mom and I split the profits, definitely a welcomed padding to the purse after weeks of hard work.
this photo was taken around 9am during a lull from consumer traffic! notice the watchdog always in the middle of the action.
After weeks of cleaning out the house and filtering thru out all the items in the basement, the closets, the hidden cabinets, the computer extra computer things, clothes, shoes, accessories, you name it... we finally had a big yard sale! up early with the buyers prompt at 7am things were flying out of the driveway! Around 3pm we loaded up the Tahoe with the leftover items and brought them to Goodwill. Not a bad day all in all... Mom and I split the profits, definitely a welcomed padding to the purse after weeks of hard work.
this photo was taken around 9am during a lull from consumer traffic! notice the watchdog always in the middle of the action.
I'm a wimp
Now I thought I was pretty in shape… Then my mom took me to a Pilates class!!
With only a few Pilates machines, 1hr classes have up to six students. Upon walking in and seeing these massive contraptions, looking around seeing all older women, I’m thinking…cake. I got this.
OOOHHH was I wrong.
I understand that exercise like yoga and Pilates are what you make of them. You can work very little, for little results, or work very hard and see results, so I’m thinking..big machines, old peeps, I’ll work extra hard. No problem.
Here I am still in my 20’s, body shaking, looking across at the older ladies who a) know what they are doing, b) not shaking, c) if this were a tennis game Id be getting my a** kicked.
Now I’m tired and sore and my mom is running around errands bound!
Fun. Back to the (swimming) lanes for me!
Back in the USA
I’m enjoying some down time in Naples, Florida; celebrating my mother’s 60th birthday and recovering from mono and a new sinus infection from all the flights! There is no better way to feel better than great food, a little sun, and mom’s care. Here’s for mooching off of my parents until I find a new career path!
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