Hug your family

It seems like this week, everywhere I turn I'm hearing these awful stories of people losing loved ones or getting terrible diagnoses. Cancer that grows and spreads silently in seemingly healthy people, until one day they get devastating news.... It strikes fear in my heart on a daily basis. It's so unfair, so random, and so cruel for all involved.

That's why I try very hard to never take my life or family for granted, but some days it's hard to stop and think about all that we have to be grateful for. We all have off days (or weeks, like this one has been for me!), and we all get busy and frustrated and short with those we love.

Today I am going to hug my family extra tightly. I am going to eat well and go to the gym (for the first time in months) and try to lose some of this weight that has crept back on while I wasn't looking. I am going to count my blessings.

These pictures were taken by my friend Lauralee last weekend, and they are a reminder of all that I have to be grateful for.







Hug your families tightly. Life is short, but sweeter when we add more sugar! :)

10 things I've learned at the mall

1. Just because you can fit into a certain size of clothing, doesn't mean you should.

2. The people who decide to put kid-traps like rows of gumball machines and quarter-operated rides near the mall exits should be drawn and quartered.

3. There are two kinds of people who eat Cinnabons: skinny people who don't gain weight no matter what they eat, and fat people who just don't give a shit anymore.

4. Teenagers are herd animals.

5. Old Navy clothes are cheap for a reason. Namely, they don't fit right and their fabric tends to be so thin you can actually see daylight through it.

6. They put eau du crack in the Yankee Candle scents. I know they're overpriced, but I cannot stop myself from buying them!

7. The "family room" restrooms are disgusting. I can't think of a more vile place to breastfeed or change my infant. I'd sooner use the mens' room.

8. I've never been cool enough to work at The Gap.

9. No matter where you park your car, you will be at the furthest point away from the store at which you actually went to the mall to shop.

10. Nobody wants a gift from Things Remembered.

That is all.