Jumping on the Bed

I’m sitting here, waiting for my new iPhone to arrive. Yes, I am turning in the ol’ Blackberry.

My husband has been begging me to get the iPhone, which was the plan until last December when my then BB Pearl died. The iPhone for Verizon wasn't out yet, so I was forced to use my upgrade for another BB.

But when the hubs was at the Verizon store the other day, he found out the sales associate wanted to get rid of his new iPhone because it couldn’t do something that the Droid or something not Apple could do. So he sold it to my husband for a discount and it’s supposedly on it way here. It was supposed to be sitting at my doorstep by 10:30 a.m. Nope. I figured at least by noon. Still no. So I am hoping it comes soon, even though my pool day is already ruined. :(

It’s not that bad though, as this will be arriving soon after:

Oh, yes I did.

On another note, remember that commercial awhile back when the guy is surfing the Web and eventually comes to the end of the Internet? That’s what I feel like today.

The Internet is boring me. Then I browse on over to Potterybarn.com, click on "bedding" and once again the world is right. I have a slight obsession with bedding. I know, it surprised even me.

When I was a teenager I remember begging my parents for a teal and purple duvet set (I didn’t even know what a duvet was!) with palm trees from Roxy. I think I cleaned the entire house every week for a month.

During college, I would buy a new duvet every year. And once I moved on my own, with all my borrowed furniture and three jobs, I splurged on two bedding sets (I couldn’t decide. Obviously I bought one, and went back a few days later to buy the other).

And I’m picky. For our wedding, I only registered for sheets, because I couldn’t find a duvet set I, ahem, we liked. A few weeks after the wedding, PotteryBarn was having a sale on bedding, so obviously I had to buy something. The current print:

But I am getting the itch again. Since we don’t own a house, and we will be moving again in the next year or so I don’t want to clutter the apartment with a lot of stuff. So my decorating has been limited to the bedroom. Ultimately I’d love to repaint the bedroom, but we have a four-poster bed and a huge-ass TV on the wall that I’m not about to touch. And I know Mark will not want to spend a weekend at home repainting a perfectly good paint job. So I have been looking at bedding.

Here are a few of my favorites:

I might have to have the decor ... and the room, too.

It's bananas.

Love the pillows too! And the photo arrangement. Ahhh. PB ...

P.S. The phone has since arrived! Off to the Verizon store and much dreaded grocery shopping!

Dress Code

When I met Mark, I quickly learned that pearls and argyles does not a yachtie make. While they might fly at the country club or in the Hamptons, actually working and living on the multi-million dollar floating mansions is a lot less glamorous.

And while Top-siders look great at the annual club cookout, you better be a superior sailor if you wear them on the dock. (Although, I’ve been having a love affair with this pair of Sperry’s:

so I might have to break this rule, ... and fast.)

That being said, preppy, fancy dress and real yachting don’t mix. However, apparently preppy, fancy dress and Miami don't mix either. I’ll give it to Miami that often times it is too hot to even wear a tank and shorts, let alone dress up and slap on make up.

But I’ve been stalking reading blogs of some lovely ladies back from around my neck of the woods and the topic of Lilly Pulitzer comes up quiet a bit.

A few years ago, when I had a wedding to go to every other weekend, I stumbled upon Lilly. And while I adored the clothes, they’re a bit expensive to only wear once. At the time, I worked a job where I could barely pay the bills and have fun, so I had to downgrade my taste to oh, say, Forever 21 or the Gap.

Now, I have no weddings, nor do I go out much, and I live in the frickin’ tropics, so paying even $50 for a dress seems silly (while I do dress up on my clinic days, most of my classmates tend towards scrubs, so business causal is a bit too much).

Some of my favorite Lilly’s are a bit too dressy (ahem, expensive) to wear while acupuncturing.

This might work in clinic, or perfect for a day in Newport ::sigh::

Somebody invite me someplace fancy! Fast!!!!!

I would wedding crash just to wear this dress.

Um, no. Never ... Sorry Lil

But I’m thankful for sites like Ruelala.com! (Seriously, check it out … and Gilt.com.) Last week they had a HUGE sale on some Lilly. And I was lucky enough to pick some up at half price (I love a sale! I could be in the running to be on the next Extreme Couponing. While I was gushing with my steal, my sweet hubs told me if I really liked a this-season full-price dress I can buy it … but honestly, where is the fun in that?)

So ... what do you think?

Perfect for summer and for clinic (... pardon the Kong)

Not too sure about this one. Hubs, what do you think?

Morgan getting some mirror action

If I do keep it, I might have it tailor to make it more form-fitting …. I don't think A-line does much for me.

Loving Me Some ...

Oh! It’s What I’m Loving Wednesday.

1. God (duh!)

I’ve been wrestling with whether I should get a job. I’m in school, getting my Master's in Oriental Medicine (basically, to become an acupuncturist) and it’s an intense, accelerated program. But, as the half of the marriage that put us in debt (a little debt, but debt nonetheless), I feel like I should pull my weight. My sweet husband continuously tells me, at this point in time, I do not need to work. Instead, he says, I need to focus on school and take care of the pup-pups.

As a good Christian wife, I will listen to my hubs wishes … however, since “the perfect job” seemed to pop up the other day I decided to petition the even Bigger Man before bedtime.

I woke up the yesterday morning and checked my email. Every weekday I get a devotional email from my church in Ohio. And guess what this one said, “The problem with desires - even ones that improve our health or financial standing - is that they can distract us from God's ultimate purpose in our lives. ... It's hard to let go of our passions, but without balance in our lives, it can be difficult to follow the paths God has planned for us.”

Ah, yes. I desire for a job. But I don’t need a job. I need to finish school, and do well. In fact, I might have the opportunity to take my boards as early as the end of this year (God planned?). I also need to take care of the pups and be there for the hubs when he does make it home. Our time together is few and very precious.

Oh, and just to be clear: I love God everyday.

2. Miss K Lo.

Miss Kelly is this lovely lady:

And last week I received two unexpected packages in the mail. A signed copy of a book with 100 devotionals in it, along with this lovely card:

And a few days later, this card:

It’s an anniversary, and yes, it’s about three months early, so that means, believe it or not, Kels is actually EARLY! And it's a perfect card.

Realizing how much I LOVED getting mail, I’ve decided to start sending mail to my gfs. I like the idea of sending a handwritten note. So I am placing all the ladies names in a bowl and weekly or bi-weekly, I will be selecting a name and sending a note. Ladies, if you read this check your mailboxes.

3. Vegetable Quinoa

I’ve been trying to eat clean, meaning cutting the amount of processed food I consume. I have been doing pretty well. Eating non-processed foods, means I have to cook. This little gem of a recipe is from June’s Oxygen Magazine.

Vegetable Quinoa, makes 1 serving

3 tbsp. quinoa

¼ yellow onion, chopped

1 carrot, diced

1 stalk celery, finely chopped including leaves

1 clove of garlic, finely diced

½ red bell pepper, finely diced

t sp. Tamari or low-sodium soy sauce

2 egg whites, beaten

1 whole egg, beaten

1 cup broccoli, chopped

½ cup water

1. Cook quinoa according to package

2. Heat 2 tbsp. of water in a skillet. Steam-saute onions and carrots about 5 minutes. Add remaining ingredients, except broccoli. Cover and heat for about 3 minutes.

3. Add cooked quinoa and broccoli to skillet; add more water to steam. Cover for about 3 minutes until the broccoli is bright green.

It’s a lot of food and super good. AND! Egg is a natural mood-booster. The added broccoli also enhances the dopamine production (the chemical that is thought to be linked to the brain’s pleasure center). Eggs and broccoli also have omega 3s, which is helpful for a brain boost. :)

What I'm Loving Wednesday

Ugh! I haven’t done a posting in a while (you’d think I’d be all excited with the new design and all).

Anyway, I’ve decided to jump on the blogger-bandwagon. If you read blogs often, you’d notice Wednesday usually brings a particular type of post: “What I’m Loving Wednesdays.”

Since I’ve been dying to post something, but I don’t have time (I have to rehearse a speech I have to give tomorrow … I actually skipped my class tonight to rehearse, but obviously I am not rehearsing. Mark, I promise right after this post!). So, welcome to my “What I’m Loving Wednesday!”

While I was also not rehearsing, I decided to give myself a little mani-pedi. When "varnishing" my nails (as the hubs calls it) I usually stick to black, navy or dark purple hues. Branching out a little, a few weeks ago I went with this awesome color:

Mermaid Tears from OPI's Pirates of the Caribbean collection

Don’t be afraid. When on, it’s a beautiful sea foam green. I got a TON of compliments. It’s a great springy-early summer color, and a break from the pinks and corals of the season.

So feeling brave, I decided to go even softer:

Dear Diary ... from OPI'S Bridal Collection

I had posted before that the wonderful hubs bought me a makeup case-load of mini OPI nail polishes for my birthday, and this color was one of those little gems.

What will I be wearing with my newly painted tootsies? I LOVE LOVE LOVE these pants!

The Columnist

I bought them at Express over Memorial day weekend! I have been looking for pants like Audrey’s:

But since I’m 5’2” most crops hit me at the ankle or make me look like I have HUGE hips. These not only hit at the perfect spot, they make my legs look about five inches longer!

The hubs has been home for the last five days, and is on a smoothie kick. So every morning, this lucky girl has been served smoothies in bed. He blends bananas, berries and a mango juice together. SOOOO good. I add a scoop of Optimum Nutrition's vanilla whey and it’s like dessert.

The hubs, being a pirate himself, was dying to see the new Pirates movie. I saw it because of this:

yum! :P

And because I love her:

But I ended up REALLY LOVING it (despite the fact we had to see it in 3D). Go see it (but not in 3D).

We also saw this movie:

I use to want to be a comedienne, so yeah for all-female comedies. And double snaps for funny as hell movies that just happen to be all-female comedies.

Enjoy the rest of your week!

Memorial Day and Grams

As you may have noticed, I changed the name, address and layout of the blog. Why? I had initially wanted the blog to chronicle the married-life. However, Mark and my married life is unique due to the “other woman” involved: a 95ft. motor yacht.

Now, I want the blog to reflect our married life and, because the boat is such a big part of our life, the boat as well. There is a different perspective a yacht wife can bring to the marriage arena, same as those that are military wives. There are different situations than what the 9-to-5, day-to-day couple may experience. The title change just seems more fitting for the direction I want to take the blog.

On that note, let me devote the first post of the new blog to a very special lady, my Grams.

But first, Happy Memorial Day! I hope all of you have a wonderful day with family and friends ... don't forget to say a little thanks and prayer for those who have served so we can have this day. A friend posted this on his FB: A day for those who never had their joyful reunion at the airport. A day for those who never returned to enjoy the fruits of what they fought for. A day for those who gave their last full measure of devotion. A day for those who never got to see a world without war. A day for us to remember ordinary citizens who paid an extraordinary price for the rest of us... Remember them today.

Second, I want to wish my Grandma Ruth a happy birthday!!!! While I will not disclose her age, lets just say she hasn't been an octogenarian for quite some time now.

Grams and my mom on my wedding day

Isn't she to die for?!

Three generations

Grams is really an amazing lady. When I first moved down here, Mark and I had a few days together then he left … the country! He went to Hong Kong to visit his brother who lives there. Mark’s parents where also there, and feeling a bit homesick, Mark wanted to see his family. So I was left alone in a strange city, a big city, and I too was feeling homesick. I cried everyday, all day (except for the four hours I was in class. I didn’t want my classmates to think I was totally crazy).

My Grams spends the winter months in Naples, Fla. And thank goodness! My first few months in Florida I spent weekends driving back and forth, across Alligator Alley, to have sleep-overs at Grams. She even let Martini-dog in the house (Grams really doesn’t like dogs).

Grams lost my grandfather a few years back. Immediately after, she started to clean and put her things in order, so to speak. She and we figured she’s go soon after since they had an amazing romance that started in grade school. However, one day she realized she wasn’t ready to go yet.

We both had similar situations. After my Grams and Grandpa got married, Grandpa had to go to war. Thankfully, Mark was not at war, but at away at work. Although, as much as I push that thought, it really doesn't make it any easier when you realize you are still going to bed and waking up alone. So I asked her how she does it.

Grams's Secrets:

1. Get out of the house at least once during the day

2. Say yes: to golf, to lunches, to dinners … don’t turn down an invitation

3. Pray and go to church daily.

4. Always live in the present. Rather than dwelling on regrets, learned from the situation and move on. Be hopeful for the days ahead, something we can lose site of if we focus too much on the past.

5. Dress up. There is no need for full-on makeup everyday, but a great outfit can really boost your ego when you’re feeling a bit down.

6. You are never to old to expand your shoe collection.

For 90-something year young lady, she is truly fabulous.

Veering Off the Path

Ugh! This last week was hard for me. I don’t know if was depressed about not returning to Ohio for a while or fighting off a virus … mostly likely a bit of both.

So excuse the belated blog post. Last weekend (May13-15) was awesome! Friday I met up with the hubs in CVG (the boat’s been in Charleston for the last few weeks, so we had to fly in separate). My parents pick us up and after a quick change of clothes, we watched the Reds win while I consumed two LARGE pieces of LaRosa’s pizza that I had been talking about for weeks! The game was followed by Rozzi fireworks and a concert of what is left of CCR. AND we even make it on the jumbo-tron!

The hubs, me and my parents sportin' our Reds gear

Saturday was Kimmy’s wedding. She looked gorgeous!!!!!

KimmyJo walking down the aisle looking soooooo pretty!

Mark and I had a blast dancing and eating cake (we even scored an extra piece! Yeah!).

It was a bit strange being back in Cincinnati, as it was the first time I felt like I was an outsider. I don’t know if that’s the right word. I LOVED being with the girls, but maybe it was a realization that my life isn’t on the same path as theirs. Somehow in my naivety, I always figured my friends and I would hold hands, skipping down the same yellow-bricked (… actually, hot pink) road of life. It’s not like we don’t all want the same things: career, spouse, house, dogs, kids, etc., it’s just that some are more on the same path while others are checking the boxes in a different order.

Here are some of the wonderful ladies. I heart them!

It was an awakening. Mark and I aren’t in market for owning a house, and we are nowhere near the vicinity of having kids, and while the other half of the girls are focused on their careers, I am back in school. By the time I finish my program and take my boards I will be nearing the big three-0. Not a big deal, except while most of my friends will have spent last eight or nine years advancing their careers, I will just be starting out … again. :(

And while Mark and I have been tossing ideas of where to live after I graduate (Charleston? NC? VA?), I know moving back to Ohio isn’t an option (unless by the grace of God, some tugboat company offers Mark a barge-side of a pay check. Even then, I doubt Mark will be content living so far inland). Knowing that cements that I will no longer even have the possibility of being on their path.

I do know that along my path, Mark and I will find somewhere to settle. Someday when we entertain the idea of parenting, there will be other people around that will be in the same situation, and our paths will merge. I guess being back home was a bit of a farewell. I will only be back for holidays or special occasions – not as easy to just hang out anymore.

I am grateful for the experiences I have been afforded. While I like to think that I always took full advantage of opportunities presented to me, my life in the last three years has been quiet an adventure. I have worked on a boat, been to exotic islands, moved across country, to a city that might as well be in another country … and managed to not get into an accident or completely lost while navigating the "Survivor"-esque roads of Miami. I entered a Master’s program that is WAY different than my previous journalism degree and joined Junior League, so I could feel like I am making a difference in my new "home," whether I’m feel completely home or (more likely) not.

I don’t know if I would have had all these opportunities, and those that await, if I stayed in Cincinnati. I also don’t know if I would have been content not knowing what could be out there. So yeah, my path is veering away from my friends. Which sucks because they are amazing women who make me feel so wonderful that I am writing a blog because it bothers me how much I miss them. And as a control freak I’m a bit envious that a lot of them seem to have settled down, while my future is so unsettled.

I know that more than anything I am so grateful for these women. I want when I say, “Please let me know if I can help,” to it mean more than just words. I want to be able to babysit, help them move, go out to eat or to a movie or sit and talk ... and not have to have it be crammed into a few hours in a way-too-short weekend.

Ugh! No wonder I was so exhausted last week. On a more positive note, my next post will be about my pups. And, I am already plotting two extra trips back to the O-hi-o before the end of summer. They girls may not get away from me that easily after all :)

Wedding Weekend!

I am off to Cincinnati for the weekend! I am super excited to get back to town.

When I was younger, I couldn’t wait to get out of Ohio. I wanted to move to the coast, live on the beach and have a never-ending summer …. Funny how life works out. Now, on most days I would give up the sun and sand to get back to the rolling hills of landlocked Ohio. (Not to mention friends and family, of course.)

I mean, who wouldn’t want to see this skyline on a regular basis?

I will only be in town for a hot minute for my high-school friend, KimmyJo’s wedding. I haven’t seen her since my bachelorette party last summer, and it’s been almost five months since I’ve seen the other girls.

KimmyJo a few years back :)

A few years ago I had a tons wedding over the spring and summer. Now I just have one. And while I’m sad I don’t get to see my friends often enough, I’m also bummed I don’t get to dress up as often.

I’d like to say that what Miami fashion lacks in class, it makes up for in imagination, but if you’ve been here, you know nothing worn in this town leaves anything to the imagination (Mainly because it’s too bloody hot to actually wear clothing.)

The dress I’m wearing to Kimmy’s wedding I’ve had for two years, tags still on. I could never figure out the right place to wear it. But Kim’s wedding reception is at the beautiful Taft Museum and I figure this dress finally found its place in a spring evening wedding.

Here are a few other picks I would wear if I had more places to be seen (Girls, get married. My closet depends on it!)

Central Park West $107

Free People, $188

VOOM $173

Also, on my trip back from DAY on Monday, I saw a girl with these:

Obsessed!

Luckily, I have an awesome husband who, for my birthday in December, bought me a huge make up case filled with tons of little goodies, including the OPI mini-nail polishes from Sephora. And guess what color happened to be supplied? I will be definitely sportin’ some neon this weekend.