Days Like That

This past weekend we had a friend of our family, Joel, come down for a visit. He brought Emery a gift on Friday night and then asked my parents if he could come over to their house and cook for us on Saturday. And who are we to turn down a good meal? So on Saturday we all came together to spend a lovely (chilly) afternoon sharing good company and delicious food.

We had a lot of good laughs, and danced to Spanish music. The food was delicious, and Joel brought so much of it! There was even some we didn't get a chance to get on the grill because we were already so stuffed. I’m sure I gained about 5 lbs. in that one sitting. Emery was able to play outside for the majority of the day and she refused to nap at all. She had such a blast running around and visiting with everyone that she was out by 7 pm on our drive home. It was such a nice, laid back day. I loved it. :) Made me appreciate everything that I have. Because even though times get rough, I'm still blessed to have days like those. Filled with family, and love. It was truly a perfect Saturday.

About Today: January 28th

Today, it was humid and a bit cloudy. 70 in Texas in January? 

I heard from my soul-mate. 

I found out that I needed to catch up in one of my classes after being sick. 

I decided that I need to save up for a vacation. 

I reflected on my weekend, filled with wonderful family. Post to come. 

I came to the conclusion that global warming is in fact, in effect.
I went an entire day just eating fruits and veggies.
I finally sorted out some personal issues.

And I missed California. Very much. 

The Flu

Since last Monday we've been sick. We were hit with the flu. This past weekend I was hoping to get some things done around the house as well as have some time with friends before our schedule switched back into overdrive. Instead the mini me and I spent it lounging on the couch and bed. Kleenex’s, flu medicine, and a lot of Vick's vapor rub on hand. We’re feeling better this morning but not really back to 100%. My husband has yet to catch it, which is bizarre since he’s been here through it all with us, but I hope his luck stays this way. It has been miserable week and I wish it on no one.

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Book Review- Just One Day

Overview

When sheltered American good girl Allyson "LuLu" Healey first meets laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter at an underground performance of Twelfth Night in England, there’s an undeniable spark. After just one day together, that spark bursts into a flame, or so it seems to Allyson, until the following morning, when she wakes up after a whirlwind day in Paris to discover that Willem has left. Over the next year, Allyson embarks on a journey to come to terms with the narrow confines of her life, and through Shakespeare, travel, and a quest for her almost-true-love, to break free of those confines.

via Goodreads

My Review

First, I want to express how much I love all of Gayle Forman’s books. I love her style of writing. I love how real everything feels in them. I love how she doesn’t always give you exactly what you wanted in an ending but once you get there you realize that she gave you exactly what you needed. You can’t possibly imagine it ending any other way once you finish.

So with that said, Just One Day was an amazing read! I’ve read so many books with all of this “insta-love” and happily ever after’s that they were all beginning to feel a lot like they were....the same? The stories and the plots were all different and of course they were good, but you knew that in the end “I love you’s” would be exchanged and they would wrap up nicely. Pretty pink bow and all. Again, the majority were wonderful reads but I needed something a little different to stir things up. And Gayle delivered on so many levels!!

This book made me feel like I was in it. I could feel the excitement, adventure, sadness, loneliness, heartbreak, risk, and love that Allyson felt. She was relatable, and I don’t doubt that many of us have struggled with some of the same emotions and decisions that she faced. And I loved that about her. Then we have Willem, who’s presence could be felt through out the entire book regardless of whether he was in the scene or not. And for me, this is something I don’t find in books very often. I fell in love with him from the very beginning. I also fell in love with the scenery! All of the places this book takes you are simply amazing. It made me want pick up and go travel to see the world. So it was definitely a wonderful treat. The story was unique to me too. Going in it wasn't what I had originally thought this book was going to be like. It was better! And then I was finished. I re-read that ending almost a hundred times. A part of me wished that if I read it over enough, it would continue. Or part two would magically appear. And then another part of me knew that this ending was EXACTLY how this book should end.

Since I finished Just One Day, I’ve been recommending it to everyone. At least attempt it. I doubt you'll be disappointed. The entire day I would find myself saying “Okay, just one more chapter..”, and before I knew it the day had passed and I had finished the book. I could not put it down! The version I have is an e-book but I plan on buying a physical copy because I feel like I need to be able to touch this book. To hand it down, and loan it. I need it to flip through in hopes that it will hold me over until Gayle releases Just One Year, the companion book in Willem’s point of view, this fall. I seriously cannot wait to see what direction she takes this story in! Patience has never been something I was good at, but I'm sure it'll be well worth the wait.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Wordless Wednesday

Soul Searching

This past year I had very little family time. I was caught up in everything else that I lost sight of some things. Don’t get me wrong, it was a decent year despite all the hardships and I really feel like I've grown into myself a lot. I've handled things to the best of my abilities, and I’m proud of myself for that. I've laid some things to rest and I've also opened up new doors. I've discovered a few things about myself and I hope that this year I get to discover more. But with all of this “newness”, I have to find a way to keep myself grounded. Which means I need to turn the cell phone off, close my laptop, & turn off the TV more often. I need to think before I speak. I need to listen, and learn. I need to make time for what's important and cut out what is not. I need to enjoy the now and open myself up to new adventures.

Currently, my “parenting” (and all that it entails) is not exactly where I’d like it to be. My daughter, who will turn 3 next month, is already catching on to the fact that I spend a lot of time with books, papers, and a computer in front of me. In fact, last week while I was looking at my schedule, and emailing student services she told her father that she needed his help because I was ‘not listening’ to her. Can you believe that? It broke my heart. I don’t want her to think that I purposely ignore her or that I’m too busy for her. So, I need to work on this. I need to set time aside for her, regardless of the circumstances. I need to focus on her, and allow her to have my undivided attention whenever she feels she needs it. And I need to tell myself that sometimes, other things can just wait. My little Ocean, should come before it all. Always.

My marriage is also something that could use some attention. Things have never been easy for us, but this past year we've just been going through it. It just feels like everything has hit us in some form or another. We aren't always on the same page, our schedules are complete opposites, financial stress is at its highest, and communication isn't always our top priority. Now, even though the problems weren't always slapping us in the face, they were right there under the surface. And those are the worst! But we acknowledge it, and try our best to work things out. To understand. Still, it could use some care and attention if we plan on making it till we’re old and grey. Sometimes, things get worse before they get better though. I’m not afraid to admit this either because marriage takes work. And you have to work at it constantly because you're both constantly changing and growing.

And finally I need to continue working on me. For the longest time I felt like I was stuck. Like life was passing me by and I had no clue how to stop it. Confidence in myself and my abilities were at an all time low. The change I craved never came. I kept trying to mold myself into the person, wife, and parent many people expected me to be. I said no, and passed up a lot of things that I wanted to do because I just felt like that was the old me and there was no room for her in my life anymore. I was so unhappy for such a long time. I know it sounds ridiculous but it’s how I felt. I finally made a promise to work on me, and now I feel like it’s paying off. I feel better. Physically and emotionally. I know that there’s still so much more to work on. I know that I’m not exactly where I’d like to be. To be honest, I don’t know if I’ll ever get to the point where I am completely accepting of myself. And there are days when I feel like I’m right back at the beginning. But I’m closer than I was last year, and that’s what I need to always keep in mind.

I feel like this year will bring on even more soul searching, new adventures, and many self discoveries. I just need to be open to them. I need to learn to be quiet, and patient. I need to learn from everything, and others around me. I need to let go of things, and people that need letting go of. And I need to take the good with the bad. I should feel so lucky to be able to learn from any and all of the mistakes I make. They’re a part of life, and the many lessons I have yet to learn. And I’m ready to embrace all of it. I’m ready to move forward, and to grow. You know, carpe diem and all that jazz? So, I’m determined to do this. I’m determined to be a better person, wife, and mother because I want to be. And I’m determined to live the life that I want, in the way that I want to live it.

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Making Time

Damn, I kind of suck at keeping up with this blog, huh? But as I always say, life happens. I've been super busy and super tired lately. Winter break ends on Sunday, and it’s back to school I go. I had planned on doing so much writing, and updating over break and I feel so crappy for not being able to follow through.

So, I've debated on whether or not I should just print this blog out and close it for good? A part of me says yes because I barely ever have any time for it. Another part of me enjoys just writing when I get the chance. Having a place to share my life in this tiny corner of the internet when I feel like it. This blog has always been about me & my family. It’s never been about reviews, advertising, followers, or making money. It’s about making the time to sit down, and write about my day, week, or month. It’s been a wonderful way for me to find other moms, and read about how we all face the same obstacles and triumphs in parenting and life. No matter how different we are. And even though I feel like I've disappointed myself along with some of you for not keeping this blog up to date, I have to remind myself that I’m doing this for me. On my time.

Now, since it’s a new year and all I've decided to just set up a few goals for myself on this blog along with all of my other resolutions. But, I’m not going to pressure myself. I have a private journal, and a journal of letters to Emery that I also keep up with so I feel like I’m doing pretty good with documenting everything. I really need to focus on my education, and my job right now. I’m getting more responsibilities at work and after last semester I really need to bring up my GPA. So this year I really have to get on the ball. I have to find a good balance which means reevaluating my priorities. So, my new goal for this blog is to post at least twice a week. If I have time for more, I’ll post something. But if not, then that’s okay too. :) Please don't be mad at me. I really need to learn how to make time for other things & manage it. Until then, this is all I can do.

Wordless Wednesday

A New Year!

Well, hello there. I hope everyone had a Happy New Year’s! We had a little get together with family and my parents babysat Emery so we could drink. We played a drinking game, tasted wine, and since we’re in Texas it wouldn't be New Year’s without getting to shoot a shotgun at midnight. I myself had a bit too much fun. But by the end of the night the “other Raquel” graced us with her presence. You know, the mean Mexican one? Yea, her. So, I cut myself off before I got anymore rude, and blunt. And then I put my drunk ass to bed.

The next day we went to pick up our baby, and headed to lunch with my brother and his girlfriend. If I told you that I missed my mini me, that would be one HUGE understatement. The house was entirely too quiet, and when we went to pick her up I couldn't stop hugging her and giving her kisses. This was the second time, in her entire life, that she’s done an overnight stay. Before I started drinking on New Year’s Eve, my anxiety was through the roof. I kept texting my mother to make sure she was okay and that she was behaving. Of course she’s completely spoiled when she’s with them so the only report I got back was that she was “an angel”.

The rest of New Year’s day was spent in our pj’s watching movies on Netflix and Hulu. We cuddled on the couch and barely moved all day. It was relaxing. In fact, it was so relaxing that I hated having to get up for work the next day. It’s always hard to go back to “normal” when you get a four day weekend though. But, I’m glad I got the time off. I’m glad that I was able to spend a few days at home, and that I was able to hang out with family and friends. It was definitely needed.

Here's to 2013! May it be one hell of a year. In a good way. ;)