being Mom2Amara | a Cleveland mom's blog

dear cancer (sticky post)

2010-10-21T23:12:00.000-04:00

You won't find me here for awhile.I haven't stopped blogging. I'm actually still writing but not yet posting what is going on.This letter may be able to help explain a bit.

who's at your kid's school?

2009-11-06T11:38:00.000-05:00

I'll admit. Given the situation with my Mom, I haven't been that involved with Amara's school. But imagine my surprise when Amara ran to me as I entered the house and handed me an autographed poster of Esmee.Who?I have no idea who Esmee Denters is. But Amara informed me she was discovered by Justin Timberlake. And she apparently performed at House of Blues last night. Well duh. Guess I should

Zing Zang Zoom

2009-10-21T22:39:00.006-04:00

My family needed a diversion.So when we were invited to see Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey's Zing Zang Zoom, I was happy to oblige!We arrived later than I would have liked. And that meant missing the huge, free All Access Pre-show on the circus floor.Elephants came out to play soccer. Guests could try on different costumes from the Ringling wardrobe. Clowns taught children of all ages

brillance

2009-10-16T06:30:00.000-04:00

Not much inspiring me lately. But this is brilliant.

shelter in the time of storm

2009-10-09T09:53:00.003-04:00

It's poetic and literal at the same time.Cleveland has seen many rainy days the last few weeks.Fortunately we were in Florida for most of them.But today, it's soggy and cold out.It's kinda how I feel about life right now.It is too difficult for me to express in words how I feel.But I just find very little to smile about.But when my friend posted his song on YouTube, I just had to click.And

Thursday 13: Things I'll do in October

2009-10-01T07:00:00.003-04:00

I rarely do Thursday Thirteen's.But being the first day of the month, I think I can make an exception.First day. So much hope.Go apple picking.Take a hay ride.Knit a scarf. (I'd love to make one like Laurie's.)Scrapbook at least a page from our current Disney trip. (No, I haven't scrapped the last trip yet.)Bike in the park at least one more time before snow hits the ground.Finish My Sister's

Halloween costume FAIL

2009-09-29T07:00:00.004-04:00

Would you let your 6 year old daughter wear this?Don't worry. I didn't let Amara walk out in this outfit.I was actually appalled when we hit the dressing rooms this past weekend and this costume didn't cover her belly.But I still had to take a picture and call it a major FAIL!All she wanted to be was a cheerleader. But the costumes had either too-short skirts or looked really gaudy. So we tried

the circus isn't just at your house

2009-09-28T07:00:00.005-04:00

I often feel my life is a circus.So it's really nice when the circus does come to town.It's brings me a sense of normalcy. [smile]And nostalgia.Hey Cleveland moms, want a chance to prove to your kids they have nothing on the pranks that real clowns do?Miss the popcorn and peanuts from our childhood? Rings of fire? Parading elephants?Here's your chance.The Greatest Show on Earth is dropping by

self portrait

2009-09-22T07:00:00.001-04:00

I'm always amazed to hear how Amara describes herself.Sometimes she has the ego the size of Montana. She'll say she's a "hot mama."Other times she'll shame me by saying she's an "ungrateful, horrible" child. Yes, not my prettier moments.But truly, honestly. Amara makes me proud.For Girl Scouts, I had the girls make faces representing their own.Amara made sure her face was glammed up.Big

29 words

2009-09-21T07:00:00.000-04:00

In observance of my recent absence from the blogosphere, I will do my best to summerize the last 29 days in a post of only 29 words (excluding the prior sentence).Growing like a weed.That was from one seed!First grade attitude.Planning another Princess visit. This time with more family along.Finally riding a two wheeler.Life's good.

first day out of hell

2009-08-24T08:00:00.000-04:00

I went M.I.A. again, didn't I?And I can tell you I wasn't running or at spin class. [pout]There was a lot of going on with Family2Amara.But we were simply not prepared for what happened Friday.I was at work when I got a call from Dad2Amara. He hasn't been feeling well and reluctantly went to the doctor's. The next thing we know, he's being sent to the hospital.It's very unsettling to be following

when life hands you lemons

2009-08-18T07:00:00.003-04:00

If I only had a dollar for every person you and I know that has cancer.It's so sad to think about. But day in and day out, there are patients fighting this ugly disease. And there are people looking for a cure.I ran the Path to Progress 5K for the American Brain Tumor Association in honor of my mom, Lola2Amara.And it's no secret I fundraised for another charity and ran the Napa2Sonoma half

does this backpack make my butt look big?

2009-08-17T07:00:00.003-04:00

This used to be one of my favorite times of the year.It wasn't that I was excited to go back to class.And heaven knows I never had my summer reading completed.But did I love back-to-school shopping.Lola and Lolo2Amara would take me and Aunt2Amara to the mall. And we would come out of the stores with mounds and mounds of new stuff.Did we have the latest fashions? Ripped jeans or straight leg?

am I still running?

2009-08-14T07:00:00.005-04:00

It's been three weeks since the Napa2Sonoma half marathon.And the question I hear the most nowadays is: "Are you still running?"And as a newbie runner, I didn't know what to expect after that experience.Would I still want to run?Would I be motivated to continue even if I no longer had the "charity" aspect hanging over me?The answer, surprisingly enough, is yes.The summer heat has finally arrived

Midwestern tourist

2009-08-10T07:00:00.002-04:00

I went M.I.A. again. I know.But I had a very good reason: my cousin came to visit.Oddly enough, I met my cousin for the very first time last Friday when I picked her up at the airport.She grew up in the Philippines and then moved to England.Me? Cleveland girl, born and raised.I wanted my cousin's inaugural trip to the United States to be memorable.But everywhere we turned, people would question

free for all

2009-08-03T07:00:00.001-04:00

With Dad2Amara's recent job loss due to the current state of the economy, you can say that most of our summer plans have been put on eternal hold.No Mickey and Minnie.No trip to the Jersey Shore.Roller coasters at Cedar Point look unlikely too.But who says nothing's for free?Everyone knows I've taken advantage of the fountain at Crocker Park.But this weekend, we hung out at its Kids Park event.It

she says she kissed a girl, dad didn't like it

2009-07-31T07:00:00.001-04:00

Ok. So the songs I listen to are not G rated.Amara and I tend to share the same taste in music. So when my 6 year old is in the mom-mobile with me, I don't flinch to change the station.But when Amara decided this week to belt out her best Lady Gaga, Dad2Amara had had enough.It came out of nowhere.Let's have some fun. This beat is sick. I wanna take a ride on your disco stick.Oh boy.How do I

the cycles of my first spin class

2009-07-30T07:00:00.001-04:00

I was afraid.I was surrounded by women in little shorts and tank tops and men with muscles.I found myself in a similar situation a few months back. And I had walked away.But this time, I stuck around.I was entering my first spin class.I don't want to hit runners' burnout. So I forced myself to try something different.And by the end of the 45 minute class, I found myself loving what I had

mahalo

2009-07-29T07:00:00.000-04:00

I'm grateful for so much this week. I'm just wishing I were faraway for a little break. Just sayin'.

when are you supposed to let go?

2009-07-28T07:00:00.004-04:00

Last week I received an unexpected email.It was composed by Friend2Amara's mom. The note was long and involved.Its message was simply put.Yet it pierced through my mommy heart. Friend2Amara would like to bring Amara to the amusement park next Friday. We will leave in the morning and return home at 11 p.m. What?!?!Amara's only six!And they want to take her to an amusement park 45 minutes away? All

a 'fair' weekend

2009-07-27T07:00:00.001-04:00

Talk about mommy guilt at its best.While I am not envious of Dad2Amara's untimely job loss (and trust me, it's hurting our family financially...a lot), he does get to spend the summer with Amara.I've never been lucky enough to spend 3 months uninterrupted with my daughter.So when I have a day off, I try to squeeze in as much F-U-N as I can.I had to work one day this weekend so Mom2Amara had to be

Chinese takeout anyone?

2009-07-23T07:00:00.003-04:00

I am attempting to get back into the swing of things now that the half marathon is over.And that now includes watching what I consume on a daily basis.Because apparently I was eating us out of house and home while I was training.Of course we all crave what we can't have.And when I got home from work Wednesday, all I wanted was fried rice and dumplings.Little did I know Amara had my back.When I

13.1 miles to Sonoma

2009-07-22T07:00:00.003-04:00

It was certainly an experience to remember. Completing the Napa2Sonoma half marathon made me realize the potential there is in all of us.Sappy, I know.But I saw runners that finished the race in just over an hour.And I witnessed people who walked the route as if it were the last 13.1 miles they had in them.I was utterly amazed by the breathtaking views.This picture was taken at the starting line

how I feel today

2009-07-21T07:00:00.002-04:00

I crossed the finish line!I completed my first half marathon. And I promise to write about it once I can.But hopefully you'll forgive me from taking a break from blogging today. Because this is how I'm feeling...

I almost didn't want to leave

2009-07-17T07:00:00.004-04:00

Yesterday morning, Amara took the opportunity to run into my arms and cry."I don't want you to go! I'm going to miss you!" she sobbed.And at that moment, I felt all my excitement for my upcoming trip drain from my soul.For nearly five months, I have trained for this.I've skipped church every Sunday for group runs.Dad2Amara would make our daughter's breakfast so she could get on the school bus on