Home for the Holiday

This exact time last year, we were packing up our house in New Smyrna Beach to head to Atlanta. Our only celebration for the Labor holiday was when we finally arrived into Alpharetta, late on a Sunday evening. I loved the home Josh picked for us. I was overjoyed at how beautiful it was, and I pranced through the halls and up the stairs with happiness. We actually made the right decision to move, I thought, for the first time in weeks. I loved the excitement of a new life, new jobs and new cities to get to know.

A lot can change in a year. It has been a fantastic year overall. The best part has been watching our beautiful daughter grow into quite the most-awesome 2 year-old.

We're headed on the road again this Labor Day. Taking the same drive that we took last September, with our car stuffed full of stuff that wouldn't fit in the moving truck. Except this time, we're headed south back to Florida, our real home.

I am excited to see my mom, aunt and grandmother. I am excited for rest and relaxation.
And when I think back on the stress, heartache and headaches of moving cross-state, I know it was all worth it. Life has never stopped being exciting this year for our little family, and we've been blessed to soak it all in.

Josh, Happy 1 Year Anniversary as a Georgia resident, honey! We made it! (Now, just don't tell the DMV ;)

Settled In

Sometimes I just need a day to catch my breath, however, I like to always be on-the-go. Quite the opposite from Josh. He would sit at home and watch TV every weekend if I let him. To me, that's just no fun.

There were so many things I wanted to do today. Visit Six Flags, the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, or have a day trip to the North GA Mountains, but alas we're sitting on the couch watching Slum Dog Millionaire. Julianna is taking a rare weekend nap, I have a lot of my chores done and the bills are paid.(and it's not even the first yet!) I even had time to wash Julie's daycare sneakers and trim the extra plastic off the bread wrapper. I love feeling totally in control.

When I look back at this time last year, and how crazy our lives were with moving cross-state and finding houses and packing. I can really appreciate having the ability to relax and the vast options of our weekend plans. The best part is that I don't have nagging feelings of being behind in everything!

But I know this is just the calm before another storm. It seems like just as we get settled and in control of life, something happens to disturb our peace. I guess life is just like that, especially for full-time working parents.

My dad used to tell me all the time, "in life don't get too high, don't get too low." It's hard to stay in the middle. Right now, everything is surprisingly perfect (OK, well, except my horrendous commute to work.) I adore my job, our house & neighborhood and I am fortunate that my loves are all happy and healthy.

It's lazy days like today, that make me appreciate our life and all the blessings Josh and I have come to find this year. I am excited, yet apprehensive on what lies ahead...

Secret Toddler Language

Julianna is talking. A lot. Full sentences and all the time. It really and truly amazes me. Since she's talking so well, there's not a lot that Josh and I don't make her ask for. Even if we know what she's talking about, we encourage her to say it. I think I use the words "speak clearly" more than any other two words in the English language these days. I know it probably sounds a little harsh to tell that to a 27 month-old, but I can tell when she gets lazy her pronunciation at times. It's like I'm her mother or something.

It's awfully strange to know exactly what she is saying, especially when it comes out in a slur. It reminds me that I'm her mother.

Before I had my own kid, I could never understand toddler talk. I used to watch my sister identify exactly what my niece wanted when she was Julie's age and I would be mesmerized that such translation existed. I would look over at her and say, "You really got that?" Amazing. Everything that kid said, I would just look at my sister with a look that said "huh?"

I guess when it's your own kid you just adapt to the toddler lingo. Or at least a Mom does. I am constantly translating for Josh. He just misses things. I would argue that it's because I am a tad smarter than he. He would probably say it's not only because Julie is two, but she also has a bit of a Chinese accent from her daycare teacher. He does have an argument. She sometimes sounds very much like her teacher. That's probably a sign that she's at daycare too long. (dang Atlanta traffic!)

Nonetheless, when he, or Aunt Kenzie, or anyone looks over at me, to ask with a face, "What the heck did she just say?" It enthralls me. No one else knows because I'm her only mother. And I think that's a pretty awesome reminder.

These are my favorite phrases that she says these days....

"Mommy I want to Twiller too".... (Twitter)

"Need my bugget shovval".... (I need my bucket and shovel)

"Happy Bi-thhhhday"

"Julie," this, that and everything. She loves talking about herself <---- a trait totally from her Dad

"One more eppp-i-sllluurrrrrrrr"....while holding up her pointer finger- (asking to watch another episode of Blues Clues before Night Night)

I wuvv you. - My absolute favorite :)

Atlanta Traffic Sucks...For Real

OK folks, you knew this was coming eventually. I need to vent about the traffic in Atlanta.

So, I told you how I got this awesome new job about two months ago. I am working for one of the best interactive ad agencies in the U.S. and I really, truly love what I do. In fact, I think I have one of the coolest jobs ever.

Now of course, not everything can be all peaches and cream. Such is life. There is one major downside to my job....Its location. Well, in reference to where I live anyway.

When we moved here from Florida, almost a year ago, (it will be a year in September, can you believe that?) we didn't know where the heck we would live. Josh was working in Sandy Springs and I was working in Lawrenceville. Not knowing anything at all about Atlanta, we simply looked at the map, pointed to Alpharetta and said, "that place looks good." Except really, it wasn't that easy, ask Josh and our extremely patient realtor.

Anyway, it all turned out well. We picked an affordable, beautiful area, with lots of kids, nice homes, and low-crime. If you Google Alpharetta you'll see it's a much desired place. That is unless you're like me and end up leaving your crummy job in Lawrenceville, for a heavenly job in the thick of the city....right where Dowtown and Midtown meet, near GA Tech.

When I started this job about two months ago, all was well. My boss was understanding (and still is, TG) of my schedule with picking Julianna up from daycare, and the 23 miles into the city took about an hour. The perfect amount of time to get in some phone calls to friends, along with a relaxing array of 90's music and Howard Stern.

That was then. This was today. School is in session for Fulton County and I'm guessing every other county and the lovely students from GA Tech are arriving in rapid force. That same 23 miles took 2 hours this morning and about an hour and 40 minutes this evening.

Did you hear that? Oh My GAAAHHHHH, that's what I was screaming by the end of my trips. 3 hours and 40 minutes in my car today...for 46 highway miles. Excuse my language, but that is un-fucking-believable. And I didn't even get to go to Miami. That's what my Daytona Beach mind associates with a 3+ hour car trip.

You know why? Because people in Florida just don't drive that long for work. We refuse. It must have to do with the beach, why would you drive that far for work when you could just go to the beach and be a bum. That's my logic. In fact, Josh and I became roommates three years ago because my 45 minute trip from Port Orange to Orlando was way too far of a drive everyday for work.

But not here. Nope. HERE in Atlanta, everyone is on the road driving. I think the whole city must leave their house precisely at 7:30am, when I do. It's pure torture to crawl at a 5mph pace, watching the smog grow thicker as I approach the city.

A working mom doesn't have time for this BS. So much of my day is wasted. I could be working, writing, spending with Julie, working-out, doing any of my many house chores and property management stuff. WTF. Someone needs to invent a voice-activated blogging system. Maybe then this blog would get updated in a timely fashion.

Is there a solution for this? Will it calm down, when half of these college kids figure out two weeks into the semester that they don't really need to go to class?

I can't say I wasn't warned. Everyone told me my drive would suck when school started. I just didn't think it would be this bad. And don't get me started about any of the a-holes that run out of gas in their brand new BMW SUV's. Then, sit parked in the middle of the 5 lane highway. We know your car did NOT break down. You were just too dumb to keep your tank full. I think I'm going to start carrying eggs in my car for people like that. Would that be considered road rage?

Photo by jwinfred

It's Monday & Not So Bad

It's been a while since I've made a list. Some things are on my mind. I've been wishing....

1) That our trip home to FL for Labor Day weekend comes soon. I can't wait to see my family and feel the sand in my toes.

2) That there's any possible chance that my Bloggers Fantasy Football team will win this season. You see, I had a major computer malfunction and I did not pick well. I know, excuses, excuses. I blame Josh. Unfortunately, This Daddy is going to kick my butt.

3) That Julie would be a little baby again for just a day. She is growing so fast. Talking so much. I can't believe she's so big. When I came home from NY I almost fell over when I saw how big she was. I didn't realize it until I was away for a few days.

4) That I will lose some weight with this new Wii game, Just Dance, that we bought this weekend with a coupon I received at BlogHer. Their stage set-up at the expo was awesome and totally intrigued me to buy. Good job marketing, folks!

5) That I could be independently wealthy so I can spend more days with Julie and Josh. I love the weekends, even though I love my new job. I just miss my little girl during the day so much at times.

6) That I could keep my car clean for just a week. No matter how many times I clean it, it inevitably becomes disastrous.

7) That I could successfully start my own business this year. I'm looking for name suggestions.

8) That we will have enough money saved when the time comes to buy Super Bowl tickets in 2011. When the Jets GO ALL THE WAY!

Hope everyone is having a fabulous week so far!

My BlogHer Trip to New York City

This past February I made the decision to go to NYC for a blogging conference. It was 20 degrees outside, and all I could think about was a summer retreat. I really didn't know what to expect. I thought that even if I absorbed a few new blogging tips, it would be good for my new found career.
My decision turned into a trip that was epic, well for my life anyway. More than two thousand women gathered at the Hilton New York on the corner of 6th and 53th. A great location and a great group of women.
We shared common passions for words, blogs, social media, Twitter and technology. I have never felt more empowered by a set of peers in my life. Not only are many of these women amazing writers, they are some of the most tech savvy people I will ever meet. Smartphones and iPads galore, along with style, intelligence and diaper cream. Although not everyone there was a mom. That's what was also so cool. The rooms and sessions filled with diversity from race, region and lifestyle. I loved it.
And people were nice! Can you believe that? Lots of smiles, hugs, laughter...seemed too good to be true, or perhaps I just wore my rose-colored glasses all weekend. I'm OK with that. Ignorance is bliss.
Some highlights included 1) a private acoustic performance by Gavin DeGraw at the Schick Intuition Kiss and Tell Party, 2) my roommate, @Luxetips, who was simply amazing and fun. 3) meeting some of the writers that I love to follow and who I feel like I know so well from afar.
It was my very first time away from Josh or Julie that didn't involve work. That alone felt uplifting at times. In the middle of the day I went up to my hotel room and laid in bed thinking..."I can do WHATEVER I want right now." That's a perfect feeling.
NYC played it's own character in my trip. I forgot how beautiful the city can be and I enjoyed local treats like vanilla cupcakes from Magnolia Bakery and the city's best asset, my Uncle, who I visited in Queens.
I will never forget this trip. I almost don't want to go to BlogHer 11 because I can't mess with perfection. Although....I am already looking for things to do in San Diego.

Avocados are Fickle Like Two Year-Olds

I used to hate guacamole. Utter the word avocado and the thought of green mush would turn my stomach upside down. However, that was last year. Actually about 6 months ago. Things change. There is one blessing/Ireallydon'tneedtoeatanythingelsethatsfattening thing that the state of Georgia has definitely provided me...a taste for avocados.
Not that we get better ones here in Atlanta. I just think this move came with a change in taste buds perhaps. Because even though I didn't eat avocados in FL...I'm sure the ones there ARE better. I'm just sayin'.
Which brings me to my point. As an avid avocado eater of the past 6 months, I have learned one thing. All guacamole tastes different because avocados are fickle. Don't make the mistake I made Saturday evening while I was out with Kenzie and her mom Rita. I picked Uncle Julio's near the Perimeter Mall to celebrate my post-birthday soiree, declaring..."because they have the best guac in town!"
I became quite the liar.
Not that it wasn't good, because as with the s-e-x word, even a bad one is good in its own way. It just wasn't the OMG you've died and gone to Mexican Restaurant Guacamole Heaven that I proclaimed it was.
Has anyone else experience this before? I mean come on, really, if you think about it. How could guacamole taste different anyway? It's the same ingredients in EVERY recipe...sans a few diced tomatoes or squirts of lime here and there. It's the avocados. They're fickle!
It was a great dinner (thanks Rita!) and we did eat every last bit of guacamole that came in that appetizer bowl. But no one proclaimed, "wow Anne...you were so right."
Not even Julianna, who smothered her lips in green mush the last time Josh and I dined Mexican only about a month ago. She wouldn't touch it this time. Not that it was bad...because it really was good. She just decided that on Saturday, she didn't like avocados, just like her daddy doesn't every day that ends in "Y"
And why would she, when at the drop of dime, she can change. Become unpredictable. She can go from a sweet mommy's girl, to a crinkled-eyed, mommy-hater, just because I give her the un-orange sippy cup. All with this horrible look that says "Mom, did you know that you're too dumb to walk the face of this Earth? I know, why else would you give me this pink sippy."
Did I mention my daughter is only two?
Lucky for me it's mysteries like avocados and Julie that keep life interesting.

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I also wanted to say that I am going to BlogHer this week in NYC! Unfortunately, I will not have a guest blogger like so many people I know who are going. I may blog or I may not while I'm there. Just pretend it's like any other typical month around here!
I am so excited about my trip for three reasons. 1) It's BlogHer 2) It's NYC 3) And most importantly....I am going to see my Dad's brother for the first time in almost three years. Well, since my dad's funeral to be exact. And unlike that Julio...this uncle never disappoints.

Oh Happy Days.