Little Details, BIG Impact!

Selfishness vs. Agape Love

noreply@blogger.com (Mariel Armitage) — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 15:36:00 +0000

Take a moment. Take a long moment and pause and really hear the words I'm about to ask you.
What is unconditional love?

Ignorantly, most people claim to be "unconditional". It's a favorite word among new lovers and BFF's alike.
It's abundantly scribbled out in Hallmark cards without much thought for what that word truly means.
Unconditional:
WithOUT conditions. WithOUT judgement. WithOUT limitation. WithOUT expectations or gain.
Do you really love others this way? All the time?

Do you love unconditionally when the people you love fail you or
do you retaliate in self preservation when you have been wounded?
Are you capable of extending love to the loveless?

I've pondered this query myself a lot lately.

Like many of you, since childhood, I dreamed of the day when I would grow up and marry my best friend.
More than that, I dreamed of sharing a life, of having our own little family. I imagined blending generational traditions with new traditions of our own. [Other than my relationship with God] There is nothing more important to me than family. NOTHING.
It is to me, the definition of success and fulfillment in every sense of the word. I am thankful and feel rewarding satisfaction from what this marriage and this little family has brought to my life.
Don't get me wrong though...

Life hasn't been easy.
Marriage isn't for the faint of heart.

In our society, the norm is that WHEN (this isn't a question of IF, it's a FACT that it WILL happen so just accept it and grow up!) you start transitioning from the initial "bliss" of still-dating during the first few years of marriage to REALLY being married most people toss the relationship aside because they don't FEEL in love anymore.
We start focusing on our differences, the faults, the lack, and we stop investing in the priceless and placing value in the treasure that is in front of us.

Before we know it, Depression storms through the door and takes up residence with it's ugly room-mate: Resentment.
Now, the pity party begins.
Enter Selfishness. SELFISHNESS: Seeking or concentrating on one's own advantage, pleasure, or well-being without regard for others.

Suddenly, our eyes and our hearts wander about and the perception of greener grass elsewhere becomes alluring.

This type of love is infantile, to say the least.
This is the type of love that says "I love you IF you make me FEEL a certain way ALL of the time and
If you don't make me FEEL that way, then I must not love you after all."

In society, the norm is that when marriage gets a little boring or problematic, it is perfectly okay to toss it aside and start fresh with a new person. "Surely, there must be another out there that truly is my soul-mate!", "I deserve to be happy", we justify. Selfishness. Looking out for number one. In spite of who gets hurt along the way.
Isn't that what self preservation is after all?

I have news for you Friend.
Real love has NOTHING to do with feelings. Call me old-fashioned and uptight, if you like, but the fact is that
love is not optional. It is a command straight from God. It isn't a legal contract with contingencies and clauses.
It is an unbreakable, unshakable covenant.

It is the commitment to love in spite of what you feel or don't feel at the present moment. It is a decision. A daily choice.
A person who is ruled by their feelings or lack thereof, has a lot to learn about love. Loving someone is having the balls to look past the current season (& there will be many!!), past the temporary waves and the raging storm and to know that after the hurricane, peace will return. Sadly,
most of us are too selfish to stick it out and we jump ship in order to "save ourselves"...
When in reality, we are simply exchanging our current perceived problems for a set of new ones.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Are you bold enough to LIVE in
Unconditional love?

Christmas, the season for GIVING!

noreply@blogger.com (Mariel Armitage) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:00:00 +0000

Did you know that kids get arthritis too?
Nearly 300, 000 children suffer from serious arthritis in the U.S. Did you know that arthritis can be fatal?

In 12 days, my family & I will be participating in the 2009 Jingle Bell Run/Walk [5k] to benefit children and adults with arthritis.

Our purpose this Christmas is raise money and to run for those who can't!

Please visit the website to find out how you can help so many suffering with our nation's leading cause of disability.

Come JOIN our team or DONATE towards our team goal today, if you can.

www.2009JBROrlando.kintera.org/jjbr

Merry Christmas!

The BIG 4

noreply@blogger.com (Mariel Armitage) — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 16:44:00 +0000

It's official... my little boy is not-so-little anymore! As of yesterday, Aden is officially 4 years old. The Splash Party was a huge success and

Aden had a blast with his friends.

My work here is done! {until the next one, that is...}

Party on.

Splash Party Sneak Peak

noreply@blogger.com (Mariel Armitage) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 22:37:00 +0000

July is flying by!

I've been busy styling the decor for Aden's upcoming birthday party.

Here's a little preview of the custom decor that I've been working on. Check out the awesome table runners

and popsicle cooler painted by [my S.I.L.] Rachel.

Now, as Aden says, all we can do is "Pray for the sunnies"!

Stay tuned !

credits: Invitations by Expressions Paperie, Custom cake topper by Glory Design/Etsy

This ain't your momma's old-fashioned reunion!

noreply@blogger.com (Mariel Armitage) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 03:18:00 +0000

Summer.

Typically, this is the season when families have more free time to reunite with relatives and friends.

Are your family reunions getting predictable? This year, why not host an

"Ol Skool Field Day"?

Kick things up a notch with this fun event that will bring out a friendly competitive attitude even in those that are athletically challenged!

Think back...

What were your favorite races when you participated in the annual school field day? The sky is the limit here, but be sure to select events that all of your guests will be able to safely participate in.

You can keep things simple by dividing the players into small teams in advance. Ask each group to wear a t-shirt with their "team color" or suggest that they create their own shirts.

Inexpensive trophies can be found at your local party store.

We may have graduated from grade school many moons ago, but who can resist the incentive that a gold plated trophy or brightly colored ribbon provides? I know I can't!

Dust off those pom poms and get ready, set, GO!

What better way to enjoy a wonderful day outdoors with family and friends than to encourage an atmosphere of friendship and team spirit!

Tribute to Michael Jackson

noreply@blogger.com (Mariel Armitage) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 13:08:00 +0000

Official Michael Jackson Tribute Song - featuring Game, Usher, Chris Brown, P Diddy, Boyz II Men, Mario Winans and MOST importantly {at least as far as I'm concerned} engineered by my talented husband, Alan !!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKTiSZ0EMYw

My Mother's Legacy

noreply@blogger.com (Mariel Armitage) — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 15:07:00 +0000

It is said that a mother's love can most closely be compared to the love of God towards us. Bold love. Defiant, risk-it all type of love.

I've been fortunate enough to experience the love of such a mother. Mi Mami, truly the most incredible role model a girl could ever have. [She is small in stature, yet a lioness when it comes to protecting her old-ass cubs!]

Just a few days ago, Mami lost her own mother. She guarded the sad news close to her heart until she felt it was appropriate. [Again, protecting, shielding, blocking...]

The angst in her soul was evident, but she held it together. Strong and determined she boarded the plane towards what would be the final goodbye between a daughter and her Mami.

The thought of saying goodbye to one's mother is heartbreaking. The thought of saying goodbye to a mother you didn't know very well is incomprehensible to me. Mami didn't have the fortune of growing up with her mother. For reasons that I've yet to make peace with, they lived apart for the majority of my mother's life... a fact that, if brought up, brings many unresolved feelings to the surface. ["My Surface"]

For days now, I've been sorting through my own feelings of loss.

The loss of my grandmother Claudia. A woman I wanted desperately to know. I only saw her a handful of times in my own lifetime, but every time, I left her presence wanting more of her.

I wanted to know the mundane details of her life, as well as the big events that made her who she was. Questions from one extreme to the other... What really forced her to leave behind her chicks, exchanging them for a lonely life in the Big Apple? What was her favorite color? What things was she passionate about? Questions that perhaps Mami has wrestled with in her heart for many years.

Yesterday, I picked up Mami at the airport. Her countenance stricken with evident sorrow. Her eyes lost in sadness. Her voice soft and subdued. Eventually, she whispered a confession that surprised us both. She sobbed uncontrollably during that long flight home. Thoughts of her mother filled her soul once more...

Reminiscing only on all of the wonderful reasons why her mother was loved by so many.

My Mami is truly worthy of admiration. A fearless woman who pushes hurt aside and chooses to only see the good in people. I hope to one day be compared to her. That is a priceless legacy.

Ol Skool Field Day [OSFD2]

noreply@blogger.com (Mariel Armitage) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:07:00 +0000

The pompoms have been put away & the Ben-Gay seems to be the common denominator among the masses. I am happy to say that OSFD2 was a success.

I have been receiving wonderful thank you emails but I want to say that I didn't do this alone. I was blessed with lots of behind-the-scenes- help. {OSFD committee, You know who you are!}

Without this crew of crazies, I could not have pulled this off... so, thank you!

I would like to give a special "shout out" to Ice Twister for the incredible ice- cream bar, complete with all the toppings! This treat was a wonderful surprise!

If you are in the Orlando area and want something different for your next party or corporate event, do yourself a favor and give them a call, they will not disappoint!

Treat your guests to homemade Super Premium ice cream made exclusively for Ice Twister Company by Big Olaf Creamery. Their ice cream is made with the finest Amish creams and ingredients, producing one of the world’s finest Ice Creams. Known for its natural flavor and exquisite texture, Ice Twister's ice cream has been voted the best ice cream in Sarasota for the last 10 years.They specialize in everything from birthday parties to corporate events.

www.icetwister.com

Call (407) 832-3477

Be Sweet To Your Sweetie

noreply@blogger.com (Mariel Armitage) — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 21:23:00 +0000

Peach Cobbler

Cobbler like mom used to make – now healthified for more health-conscious times. You’ll feel just peachy!

New-fashioned nutrition for an old favorite: and best of all, sweet, sunny taste is still baked inside. Our healthified recipe makes significant strides toward healthiness with 46% more calcium, 39% fewer calories and 95% less saturated fat. One teaspoon of lemon juice provides just enough zing to let its natural flavors burst forth.

"Healthyfied" substitutions:
original all-purpose baking mix > Bisquick Heart Smart® mix
milk > fat-free (skim) milk
1/2 cup butter > 3 tablespoons canola oil
1 cup sugar > 3/4 cup sugar
canned peach slices in light syrup (half syrup used) > canned peach slices in light syrup, drained (no syrup used)

Nutritional Highlights

Calories
460 (before)
280 (after)
Total Fat
19 g (before)
8 g (after)
Saturated Fat
11 g (before)
1/2 g (after)
Cholesterol
45 mg (before)
0 mg (after)
prep time:15 min
start to finish:1 hr 30 min
makes:6 servings

1 cup Bisquick Heart Smart® mix
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup fat-free (skim) milk
3 tablespoons canola oil
3/4 cup sugar
1 can (29 oz) peach slices in light syrup, drained
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Reduced-fat vanilla ice cream, if desired

1 Heat oven to 375°F. In ungreased 8-inch square (2-quart) glass baking dish, stir Bisquick mix and cinnamon. Stir in milk and oil with wire whisk or fork until blended.
2 In medium bowl, mix sugar, peaches and lemon juice. Spoon over batter in baking dish.
3 Bake 50 to 55 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand about 20 minutes before serving. Serve warm with ice cream.
Nutritional Information

1 serving: Calories 280 (Calories from Fat 70); Total Fat 8g (Saturated Fat 1/2g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 190mg; Total Carbohydrate 49g (Dietary Fiber 2g, Sugars 35g); Protein 3g % Daily Value Vitamin A 15%; Vitamin C 4%; Calcium 15%; Iron 6% Exchanges 1 Starch, 1 1/2 Other Carbohydrate, 1 1/2 Fat Carbohydrate Choices 3

Let Them Eat Flan!

noreply@blogger.com (Mariel Armitage) — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 05:44:00 +0000

If you ask me what I am passionate about, my answers will likely include the following: entertaining. food. family/friends. {not necessarily in that order} I confess. I've had a life long love affair with food. Not just the "eating" part either... the "hunt" for the perfect recipe is exciting to me, especially if said recipe is low fat!

I love reconstructing my favorite foods into improved, healthier versions while still maintaining the most important element: it MUST be dulish!

I'll be sharing some of my "treasures" with you. {My personal food make-overs as well as some that I have discovered and adopted from other sources} I hope you'll try one or two at some point and come back to share your reviews with the rest of us!

First things first: Puertorican flan!

Enjoy!

Caramel Cream Cheese Custard (Flan de Queso)

From EatingWell Magazine September/October 2007 --
Low Calorie | Low Sodium | High Calcium

Every panaderia (bakery) in Puerto Rico has many flavors of flan, from vanilla to guava. Reduced-fat cream cheese gives this version a rich, comforting texture.

Makes 12 servings

ACTIVE TIME: 15 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 6 1/4 hours (including 5 hours cooling & chilling)

EASE OF PREPARATION: Easy

1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons water
8 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese (Neufchâtel), softened
8 large eggs
1 14-ounce can nonfat or low-fat sweetened condensed milk
1 12-ounce can nonfat or low-fat evaporated milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Cook sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, gently swirling the pan (do not stir), until the mixture turns golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Immediately, pour the caramel carefully into a 9-inch round metal cake pan. If it stiffens before it completely covers the bottom of the pan, warm the pan in the oven, then swirl to cover the bottom.
3. Beat cream cheese in a large bowl with a mixer at medium-high speed until soft. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until thoroughly combined, scraping down the sides. Add condensed milk, evaporated milk and vanilla; mix until combined. Carefully pour into the prepared pan. (You may hear some cracking; the pan will be very full.)
4. Place the cake pan in a larger pan and pour enough hot water around it to come 1 inch up the sides. Bake until golden and set at the edges but still wobbly at the center, about 1 hour. A knife inserted in the center should come out clean.
5. Transfer the cake pan to a wire rack and let cool to room temperature, about 1 hour. Then cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight. To serve, run a knife around the edge of the pan and invert the flan onto a plate.

NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 247 calories; 8 g fat (4 g sat, 3 g mono); 160 mg cholesterol; 33 g carbohydrate; 10 g protein; 0 g fiber; 192 mg sodium; 478 mg potassium.
Nutrition bonus: Calcium (18% daily value).
2 Carbohydrate Servings
Exchanges: 2 other carbohydrates, 2 fat

Olive Juice Designs

noreply@blogger.com (Mariel Armitage) — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 20:19:00 +0000

www.olivejuicedesigns.net

A mother and daughter team dedicated to providing the most unique and special products to help deal with the loss of a loved one. Born from love after the death of my sister and my mom's daughter to help her children never forget their mother.
Mission:
Providing one of a kind gifts that truly cement your loved one's life in the family tree.
Products:
Journal to record their life from birth to death and everything in between. Memory boxes, photo and name jewelry, scrapbook memorial photo album, and several other things.

Olive Juice Designs Is HERE!!

noreply@blogger.com (Mariel Armitage) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:12:00 +0000

Please visit www.olivejuicedesigns.net & fwd. to anyone you know !

Armitage Online Kettle

noreply@blogger.com (Mariel Armitage) — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 17:41:00 +0000

Dynamic fundraising meter for your Red Kettle campaign.

Armitage Christmas Card

noreply@blogger.com (Mariel Armitage) — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 17:21:00 +0000

Make a Smilebox postcard

More Christmas Adventures - Family Trip To Disney - 12/7

noreply@blogger.com (Mariel Armitage) — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 01:22:00 +0000

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Christmas 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Mariel Armitage) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 02:57:00 +0000

Make a Smilebox greeting

Let It Fall

noreply@blogger.com (Mariel Armitage) — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 19:09:00 +0000

Hello Friends,

Life continues to be challenging these days, and in the midst of all the craziness, I am doing my best to distract the attention from the negative by enjoying those moments that are priceless.

There is something very special about this time of year. October thru December are my favorite months. Most afternoons are filled with little projects suitable for my creative little guy and the weekends are packed with fun activities with the extended family. These wonderful memories are more valuable to me than silver and gold and will continue to produce everlasting dividends, in spite of the recession.

It is my hope that regardless of what you are going through today, you will take some time to enjoy those little things that truly mean so much.

Happy weekend!

The Joys of Motherhood or Barbaric Torture Chamber? You Be The Judge.

noreply@blogger.com (Mariel Armitage) — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:11:00 +0000

Sorry I haven't been here in over 2 weeks.

[Insert lion-sized yawn here] ...I've been living in "Lack-o-Sleep Land".

After 2 years of co-sleeping with our only child, I decided that enough was enough and have been re training him to not only sleep in his own bed and in his own room, but doing my best to make that an atmosphere where he feels safe and happy.

For those of you that know me well, you know how I feel about co-sleeping. It works for some families, but I have always opposed it for my own life.

I believe that a child needs to learn how to soothe him/herself.

I believe it is crucial for them to have their own space in which to wind down in.

I believe that parents desperately NEED that time apart to regroup in order to be better parents the next day.

I believe that sleeping in a king size bed and only having 7 inches of room is absolutely insane!

This is the part where you ask why, after all those strong opinions, we are only 2+ weeks into training Aden to sleep in his own room?!

It's a long story with several sequels, so to summarize, just know that I faithfully followed the professional advice of my many parenting books. I moved Aden from bassinet {in our room} to the crib {in the nursery} promptly at 6 months.

... then again at 10 months, at 12 months and at 18 months.

I don't want to mention any names or point fingers but... I BLAME ALAN!!!! {oh, wait. was that out loud?! I meant that on the "inside"}

Simply put: Parenthood is very unpredictable. You can't plan these things in advance. Each kid shows up armed with their own individual level of independence and neediness, their own agenda and personality and before you know it, all of that planning and preparing goes out the window for the sake of doing what's best for your child. For a person like me, who thrives on planning and the micromanagement of all things Armitage, this was a harsh reality check.

I have been awake now for 16 nights, mostly getting only 2 or 3 hours of sleep starting at 5-6 am. Our nights are now a torture chamber. If you have children, you know how painful and nerve wrecking it is to listen to your child cry inconsolably. Imagine, if you will, listening to that high pitched escalating cry for hours without end, for 16 nights straight!

It's not his fault. He is afraid of the dark and at barely 3 years old, he is also in the midst of another growth spurt which includes separation anxiety. The sobs, screams, pleading for our help, begging for my hand or a hug... it just breaks my heart and brings me to tears as I sit on my bed having to ignore it. All night, I am so tense that my chest is tight and my stomach is in knots.

Every so often, the crying subsides and is interrupted by brief moments of silence. I can hear him reassessing the situation. "Mami, is it morning now? Did the sun come out yet?" Moments of peace, seconds. Brief only enough to let me catch my breath before the next wave hits. Before we know it, the sun is out and he is allowed back into our bed just in time to hear the alarm clock yelling at all of us mercilessly. Time to get up and get ready for pre school.

I go through the rest of the day in a zombie-like daze. Stressed out. Impatient. Drained. Short tempered. Dreading the sun set. Wondering how I'll make it through another night.

Surprisingly, as I type this, and by his own request, my anti-nap kid {he stopped napping at 1!!} is sound asleep in his own big boy bed. Oh! don't get me wrong... I realize that this impromptu request for a little nap will backfire later when bedtime rolls around, yet I can't help but feel like this is one small step in the right direction.

Maybe... just maybe my stay in Lack o Sleep Land is only temporary after all.

Help Protect Our Children!

noreply@blogger.com (Mariel Armitage) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 03:45:00 +0000

Hundreds of thousands of children are victims of sexual abuse each year. Due to the sheer lack of resources, law enforcement is unable to follow up on the majority of leads they have.

The PROTECT OUR CHILDREN Act will:

Authorize over $320 million over the next 5 years in desperately needed funding for law enforcement to investigate child exploitation.

Mandate that child rescue be a top priority for law enforcement federal funding.

Allocate funds for high-tech computer software that can track down internet predators.

Please ACT NOW!

U.S. Senators will be voting on the bill soon, so it is crucial we contact them immediately.

Go to www.senate.gov to find contact information for the senators in your state. Search for your senator by name or state by clicking on the arrow from either drop down menu.

Copy this letter or modify it how you see fit:

Dear Senator,

I know that you believe, like I do, that we must do everything possible to protect children from sexual predators. That is why I am asking for your help.

Last year alone, U.S. law enforcement identified over 300,000 criminals who were trafficking in movies and pictures of young children being raped and tortured. Experts say that one in every three of these criminals has local child victims. Child pornography trafficking over the internet has given us a trail of evidence that leads straight to their doorsteps, but the vast majority of these children will never be rescued because investigators are overwhelmed, outnumbered and underfunded.

As your constituent, I urge you to do everything in your power to pass the PROTECT Our Children Act (S. 1738, Biden-Hatch). This bipartisan legislation passed the House 415-2, but it is now the victim of petty partisan politics.

Now that we know where these children are and how to protect them, there is no excuse for the Senate to fail to take action this session.

(Your Name Here)

ACT NOW! Send your email today! It will make a difference!!

-Information taken from www.Oprah.com

WE MUST NEVER FORGET.

noreply@blogger.com (Mariel Armitage) — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 01:04:00 +0000

September 11, 2001.

Orlando Vice

noreply@blogger.com (Mariel Armitage) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:57:00 +0000

Sunday. September 7th. 2008. 1:50PM

All was calm on Pineda Drive, when I exited my mom's house with Aden on our way to Sunday dinner with the family. I positioned Aden in his car seat and gave him a banana for the ride. Rather than keep the banana peel for disposal elsewhere {that's what I usually do},I walked back to the outdoor trash can located a few feet from where I was parked. Next thing I know, a man was directly in front of me and 2 feet away from my parent's unlocked front door. He was winded and sweaty and seemed startled by me. I looked up at him with my notorious WTF?! stare and without me saying a word he quickly started explaining to me that "he needed to come INSIDE to use the phone because he had just been robbed at gun point, was being chased, and he needed to call his friend". Instinctively, I knew this guy was bad news. There was no time to process what he was saying but I guess my logic kicked in because I boldly said "NO!...that I was NOT comfortable with that and said he needed to try elsewhere".

I walked in front of him and quickly got into my running SUV. I watched this man knock on the neighbor's door. The man of the house starred at him confused as the suspicious character frantically asked to use the phone. The neighbor stepped outside and pulled his cell phone out. I noticed that the man was wearing black gloves (and said to myself.. hmm, that's odd!)which, in retrospect, explains why the neighbor had to dial for him.

The neighbor and I were making eye contact but there was no way to communicate to him that I felt this guy was shady. I wanted to let the neighbor know that my gullible 71 year old mother was inside the house A L O N E! I called my mom and told her to lock the door and tried to explain what I was watching. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that had I not been there, my mom would have let him in, offered the phone, a hot plate of Puerto Rican food and would have prayed the sinner's prayer with him!

After a few minutes, I drove away and proceeded my journey towards R&R's house. As I entered the main road, I noticed traffic was quickly backing up and saw several police cars approaching from every direction. There was a white car on the curb and one of the doors was open, as if "someone" exited in a hurry.

Without giving it much thought, I turned my car around and drove into the lane the police cars were blocking off. I ran up to an officer and asked if they were looking for a man wearing black pants and white t-shirt. I told the officer that I'd just encountered a man that seemed to be running from someone {and when I say "someone" I mean the COPS!} and that he was currently on the phone outside of my mom's residence! I was told this man had just committed robbery and had assaulted an officer!

Before I could blink, they dispatched my mother's address and within a few minutes I was told the man was arrested thanks to the fact that I turned around and told the officers what I had witnessed. Apparently, the officers had lost the man as he fled through the back woods leading towards the housing subdivision.

I signed my statement and felt great about my contribution to society... more so, I felt relieved to have been at the "wrong place" at the "right time" because I know that this would have been a completely different story had my mother opened the door.

I guess it really does pay to watch all those crime/forensic shows I'm addicted to! Seriously though, I take none of the credit, because I know unequivocally, it is only through God's protection and grace that we are safe today. {...Not to say that I didn't want to drop and roll over the hood of the car in my best Charlie's Angels pose!!}

Things that make you go... hmm?!

noreply@blogger.com (Mariel Armitage) — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:58:00 +0000

Something to think about:

"No one falls in love by choice, it is by CHANCE. No one stays in love by chance, it is by WORK. No one falls out of love by chance, it is by CHOICE."

My life list: A work in progress.

noreply@blogger.com (Mariel Armitage) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:55:00 +0000

Sigh... It's that time of year again. Time to add another candle to the good ol' birthday cake {or in my case, brownie}.

I figure, since I am getting farther away from the mid-30's and closer to the "edge" and the start of a new [insert GASP! here] decade, it's time to dust off the good ol' life list and do some personal inventory.

I started this list as a SparkPeople project a few months ago. As you can see by the random number, it's a work in progress.

ps. You know you're getting older when the only things on your birthday wish list are a brownie and a long, uninterrupted nap!

Things To Do In My Life Time { in no particular order}

1. Have a career/job that I am passionate about & love doing

2. Get to ultimate goal weight

3. Be the kind of parent that doesn't yell

4. Shop at a farmers market first thing on a Saturday morning

5. Travel more

6. Tell my family I love them

7. Conquer social anxiety

8. Hug April

9. Donate blood

10. Volunteer for community service

11. Train and complete a 5k/10k

12. Finish photo books for ea. year of Aden's life

13. Go on a REAL vacation

14. Privately renew our vows

15. Maybe have another child

16. Find time to read books (the kind without pictures in them)

17. Go on a real hike (not skipping the hike and picnicking instead -- wink! for Ada)

18. Go rock climbing

19. Take salsa lessons

20. Try kickboxing (C H E C K!)

21. Try Pilates on the machine @ a real Pilates studio

22. Add more random acts of kindness

23. Let go of the past, completely

24. Write my will (and by "write", I mean have someone ELSE write it)

25. Practice yoga regularly (after I learn how to actually do it properly, that is)

26. See a Vox Palma show

27. Continue to take Aden to Sunday school

28. Read & study Bible daily

29. Be positive

30. Learn how to accept a compliment

31. Nurture and maintain life-long friendships

32. Listen, without judgement

33. Offer encouragement to any friend (or any one) who solicits my advice

34. Learn to accept myself for what I am.. yet,

35. Strive to be a better person everyday.

36. Make sure that Aden is fully bilingual & that he understands and appreciates his ethnic background

37. Take gourmet cooking class

38. Explore beyond my comfort zones

39. Forgive myself

40. Forgive others, wholeheartedly

GO Back To Start!

noreply@blogger.com (Mariel Armitage) — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 18:55:00 +0000

Summer is almost over... and so is the end of my exercise hiatus!

Somewhere between Mother's Day and our 9th wedding anniversary, I took a conscious detour that led me {frequently, I might add!} to the 24 hour Baskin & Robbins drive-thru conveniently located right down the road.

"I'll just take a little break", I said to myself. After all, I've been consistently faithful to my "healthier lifestyle" for over a year and have lost over 45 lbs. as a result. I KNOW what I need to do to lose weight... so, I gave myself permission to chillax and let my inner foodie out.

BIG MISTAKE! I'm not so concerned about the few extra lbs. that I inevitable gained.. I am a professional "sparker" after all...

What really sucks is having to go back to start.

Nothing worse than having to lift at a much lighter weight than your muscles were already used to, or to see that your endurance while running has diminished. It's not pretty when you are out of breath and it feels like you've been running for 30 minutes straight... so, you look at the timer and it's only been 5.

One thing I've learned is not to wait for the light bulb to go off before getting busy. That type of motivation {the kind you see in tennis shoe commercials where a chic gets up, jumps out of bed while it's still dark out to jog in the rain} does not happen for me, ever!

In my case, the scenario plays out like a boxing match instead. On one corner, the fat me... on the other corner, the healthier version of me that I hope to be. Those 2 go at it... until one comes out victorious.

Two good things: 1. At least I have a time-sensitive goal. Nothing like the thought of the fat me having to suit up in formal wear in 7 months to get me into the hot @$$ garage for a good 30 minutes of sweat time! That is good, right?!?!? 2. I have all the tools needed for success. [secret weapon: www.sparkpeople.com ]

Moral of the story... going back to start SUCKS big time... so, I will try to remember that the next time a little break sounds like a good idea.

So, off I go to dust of my Turbo Jam dvd... {wink! for April}

Round One's about to start. Ding! Ding! Ding!

Empty Nest Syndrome

noreply@blogger.com (Mariel Armitage) — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:55:00 +0000

It's true what they say...

They do grow up TOO fast. From the second He was born, moments register only on fast forward, sadly anticipating when I will be forced to let him go.

He grew so rapidly that life is often a blurry action picture. I consider myself lucky if I catch a glimpse of babyhood every once in awhile. These days, he needs my hugs less often and wipes his cheek after I kiss it. Life "out there" is just too exciting to be confined to a lap seat.

And so, today was that dreaded day. My nest feels empty, as my son goes out into the world in pursuit of higher education.

Okay, so it's only part time pre-K3....

but, still!