That cute blog with a funny name
Did you see the lovely Kendi today? She is rocking some amazing Seychelle shoes. One of my favorite brands. I rocked them this weekend too….wait, no I didn’t. I wore these from Target that I got on sale for $20!! Funny thing, even Kendi linked to the Target ones. They are a dead ringer. Go buy some!
I haven’t posted much about the new house on here, but if you follow me on Instagram you know that we are up to the HVAC stage. So to me that means time to buy new bedding….too soon? Yea, maybe I should have waited on sheet-rock Anyway…
It started with this duvet from Restoration Hardware. And I can’t seem to get an image of it that I can post. It is medium grey and soft. It feels like a blanket verses a typical duvet cover. I love it. I am pairing it with white sheets and this Organic Cotton Blanket from Target.
I am thinking I will paint the wall behind our bed either a darker or lighter grey than the duvet. Any opinions? I would also love to find a patterned yellow pillowcase to use. We aren’t very formal…I am not one to make the bed with a gazillion of pillow that need to be taken off. I like to use 2 pillow for each side but have them be ones we sleep with. I also “make” my bed where the comforter is folded half over so the blanket is visible…hence the pretty blanket. Right now I have a set of “love” pillow cases that we use that Melissa gave me. The light blue writing might look great with the yellow.
So there you go. A house update of sorts.
I have always had a fear of fire, and therefore cremation kind of creeps me out. But….my general “spiritual” philosophy is that of everything in the universe being connected and being part of the circle of life (to simplify and shorten my views a bunch…anyway…) So today I saw this:
Your ashes are planted along with a tree. I am sold. Bios Urn is one, and The Spirit Tree is another.
I do wonder about actually planting it though. Are there laws? Aren’t human ashes considered a bio hazard? I think you need special permission to carry them on a plane. Can I just plant myself (you know what I mean) anywhere?
What do you think? Want to live on as a tree? I do. Consider this an addendum to my will. And I will know clap twice and turn in a circle to make sure writing this post didn’t conjure up any bad juju for myself.
Rad posters via Design Mom
A very well put explanation of why you should credit artists.
I’ve had my eye on this table for months. Months.
Holy cow I love these City Quits (via Design Crush.)
and on the potty talk post from a few days ago….a friend suggested I try underwear under a pull up. He can feel the sensation, but it limits the mess and saves the sheets. Genius. We are battling a bit of a sore throat over here, nothing major – but I think I’ll wait a few days for that to pass and then give this a try. Combined with taking him potty before I go to bed, I think it’ll be a good start and a barometer for where we are…then I can move to full on no pull up in a week or two, maybe over fall break. Booyah…I have a plan.
This week I earned my Orange belt at Pride Mixed Martial Arts. I signed Bonham up for karate never knowing what an impact it would have on us overall. I wrote about Pride and Bonham’s experience there last month. I love that we have made such good friends there. That we are part of their family of families. Bonham started in late August 2011, but I didn’t start right away. After a few months I started the TRX classes, but that was it. Then I decided to try the MMA classes. I do the morning classes, so I do one day of Kickboxing and one of Self Defense. I was so scared to start them. I am not a confrontational person. I am not a person who likes to try new things. I am not particularly athletic. But I tried anyway. I assumed I would hate it – but I didn’t. It was almost like a switch flipped inside me and I wanted to challenge myself. I wanted to be outside my comfort zone. I wanted to learn something new.
I am slow at learning the footwork, but they tell me everyone is. I have to think before I start a combo, my mind doesn’t just go into auto mode. It is not natural for me. It is that fact that keeps me going back. The fact that I am doing something that is hard. The fact that I am having to struggle. Being in the classes has also been a great mother/son thing. We do not take classes together, but I can sympathize with his struggles (it is hard to remember to keep your hand up!) and I can review combos with him and encourage him…and he knows that I am not just saying the words and giving sideline commentary. He knows that I am struggling with the same issues, that I am working just as hard. I like that he is watching me do this.
Kickboxing is hard for me because of the footwork. Oh, and the sparring. I have only done that once. Next time I plan to hit and not just be hit. Yes, I said next time. That’s the thing, I dreaded doing it but now I have a need to get back in there. To try again. To try harder. To do better. I don’t ever aspire to compete, but I want to improve my skill set. I want to personally get better.
The Self Defense class is hard for me in a different way. I am not a physically combative person. The idea of having to defend myself or my family scares me….but learning how seems logical. Just knowing how to move and what I can or could do, it’s just prudent. As I talked about with Bonham’s class in my other post, we are taught to take a hit. If I am ever in a situation where someone strikes me, it will not shut me down. It will not be the first hit I have felt. It will instead set me into motion and allow me to fight back.
The fitness classes have changed some since I started at Pride. I now do a bootcamp 2 days a week which is TRX as well as general strength training. The other 2 days I do a KO bag class…basically cardio kickboxing but more bad ass. This isn’t the kick in the air type class that some are, this is on a hanging bag and using the footwork and combos we learn in the Kickboxing class. So yea, I am there 4 days a week. Fitness 4 days, with an added MMA class 2 of the days. And you know what? I miss it on the weekends.
What I love most about all of this is the feeling of strength. Want to run Warrior Dash? Sure…I can, I did, and I will again. That isn’t something I would have done years ago. Instanity? Did it this summer, and just started again this week. Why? Why not. Challenge is good. I may not ever be as skinny as I want. And I may always struggle with running (I want to love it, I want to do more…but I always end up hating it) – but one thing I can be, that am, that I am working on…is STRONG. Pride has helped me be stronger both mentally and physically by challenging me and my limits.
That picture at the top is in honor of Oakes. He was mighty. He and his family inspire me to BE MIGHTY. And so I wore that temp tattoo this week when I was presented with my belt. And I will wear it in Feb when I climb to the top of the Chase Building (let me know if you want to join the OKC team!) And I will wear it anytime I need to be reminded to be strong. To be mighty.
Pride is compensating me a bit for these posts, however all opinions are my own. I have loved being part of the Pride community for over a year now and will continue long after this post series is complete.
Over the past few years there have been many stories that touched my life, my heart. These 3 stand out. Hang on to your hats and get out the kleenex…they are heart wrenching, but beautiful. This Thanksgiving I am thankful for those people who share their stories. Those people who move us to tears with their emotion and words.
Baby Oakes. To read the short version of their journey, go here. I can’t express to you how moving it was to read Becky’s daily posts on her blog. One day I hope that she will compile them in a book so that people who did not follow along as this was happening can read and benefit from her, his, their…story of love, strength and family. On tough days, I think to myself, BE MIGHTY. One day I hope to share the story with Bonham. He watched me cry many mornings as I read the updates. One day I want him to really understand how Mighty the Ortyl family is.
Maddie James. I know Becky in person but have never met her husband, nor did I meet Oakes or Isla. Maddie James and her family I have not met, but a dear friend is family to them (Sarah wrote about it here) The strength this family had, the smiles and laughs they gave to Maddie before she passed, truly inspiring. And the Seaside Learning Center they have created in her honor is incredible.
Madeline. I read the book Two Kisses for Maddy. It is beautiful. This brief post tells you what happened. Reading about the day in the hospital is heart wrenching. Ugly, heaving, sobbing while you read it. But going on and reading about the beautiful life Matt has created with his daughter is uplifting and inspiring.
Hug your loved ones. Enjoy life. And realize that even in tragedy, there is light. Even in darkness there is hope. And that even in this strange place called the Internet, there is love and sharing.
Happy Thanksgiving.
For the first annual Style All Over Gift Guide I was assigned gifts for your Mother in Law. Head over and check out my picks….
Of course this Pencil Shavings tray is on the list, Reverie Daydream as well and a few others.
Every once in a while I make a purchase that helps everyone, well….all 3 of us in this house at least. This time, I invested in some Snapware containers.
Waaaallllaaaaahhhhh……Bonham can now get his own snacks without making a mess. Simple decision. Simple purchase. Big benefits.
Would you believe me if I told you that I have been searching for new coffee mugs for a year now? No, seriously. Last year I asked my sister for some and I picked out some great ones from Anthropologie. They said they were 12 oz….but in person they seemed sooooooo much smaller. So I sent them back. I have mug issues. I love the wide mouth ones when I am in a coffee shop…like this Bennett Cup from Crate and Barrel…
but not at home. I need more confined structure at home. Something that hold the warmth more and can keep my coffee while I am doing other things, like reminding Bonham that getting dressed means pants and a shirt and yes, socks and shoes too.
I like more of a shape like this Halo Mug.
but not the handle. I need a better grasp than that. And I want pattern. Something different. Something colorful, like these from Anthropologie.
Ok seriously…..why can’t I find new coffee mugs that I like?!?!?!?!? I am pretty sure this, in addition to my lame coffee order from last week (non fat, no whip, 2 pump salted caramel mocha), is proof that I need to take a breath and mellow out. Clearly the fall rush is getting to me. Or maybe I am just OCD, Type A and high strung and I need to embrace “me” for who I am.
A few quick things for my locals….
There is a self defense class at Pride MMA on Oct 6th. The cost is a $10 donation to charity which is well worth it for this 2 hour women’s self defense workshop. I have taken it and I highly recommend it.
I did some early holiday shopping a Chirps and Cheers last week. If you have not been in this lovely store, you need to go. As soon as possible.
The Drugstore used to be my favorite burger in the city. Then when they closed I found a lot of love (which I still have) for Tucker’s Onion Burgers. Right now, the Black & Blue from S&B Burger Joint is my obsession.
It was a rainy weekend here and I loved it. I am so ready for boots and scarfs. Of course, next week we climb back into the 80s…but hopefully soon I can stop with the summer clothes!!! I hope your weekend was filled with Fall weather and activities.
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