I've met nearly every band I've ever watched live. Starting at age 16, I spent my evenings after school bussing tables at a local Italian restaurant so I could save up money for concert tickets and enough gas to make it to Atlanta and back. It was tough work, but those memories stick out to me more than anything, and it was absolutely worth it. One thing that I caught onto pretty quick was how easy it was to meet the band, from Blink-182 to Dashboard Confessional, Good Charlotte to The Offspring, Scott Weiland to Rancid, I've met countless musicians... and I've been doing it for nearly 15 years.

I Took My First "ME"Cation and Here's How It Went!

As most of you know, I took the plunge and went on vacation by myself this weekend. Announcing this event felt odd, like I was just waiting for someone to assume the worst, and it is, I must say... kind of an odd thing to do, a married mother of 2 vacationing alone. Weird. But, alas, I'm not exactly a typical person (at least I don't feel like I am!).
I left Seattle and headed to Portland on a Friday afternoon. Now, a roadtrip for me means loud music, windows down, and lots of lip syncing... but this trip was different already, as it occurred on my brother's birthday, and if you don't know what happened to my brother, you'll learn eventually.
So I was on the open road, just me and the 405, but instead of jamming out to Rage Against The Machine & Michelle Branch (so hardcore, right?), I spent most of my drive in silence. There was a stillness in the air; a warm, glowing, nostalgic feeling... I felt peace. I allowed my thoughts to flow as I watched the white and yellow road markings pass, I thought about all kinds of people and events and memories, I thought about how I seemingly drown out my thoughts with music when I feel busy & stressed, and how nice it was to feel free of responsibility, and that now I could finally meditate on my thoughts.

Oh darling... let's indulge, shall we?

I am knee deep in my very first "ME"cation and all I can think is- so this is what it feels like to unwind. I haven't felt this kind of hush + tranquility ever in my life. I needed this.
As I sit in my balcony suite in downtown Portland, overlooking the piers + bridges that connect Portland together as one, I am is awe at how peaceful, relaxing, and serene life is at this moment. You see, I have not given myself a break in my entire span of motherhood. I've had a few hours downstairs alone, yes, I've taken vacations with just my husband, yes, I've left the house alone many times for a Target haul, sure... but those are small and timed increments where I am certain the I will be needed any minute now, where I can sit but not rest.
So here I am in downtown Portland in my luxury suite, alone... with only my thoughts, a cool breeze, and my peace of mind.

Why I'm Taking A "ME"Cation

This weekend I'm doing something for the first time in my life, something that is a little out of the ordinary and well deserved— I'm taking a "ME"Cation. A MeCation is a trip you take all by yourself... a time to breathe, reflect, enjoy the things you love, and focus on giving yourself the self-love and self-care you need.

My Mother's Day

I slept in, woke up to breakfast in bed, opened gifts, got my nails done, got a massage, had a picnic lunch, and now I'm relaxing in the sunshine. This has been such a relaxed and loving Mother's Day, what a special day ♥️

Friday I leave for my Mother's Day vacation, I can't stop thinking about it! I booked a riverfront luxury suite in downtown Portland for 3 days, chose the absolute best vegetarian restaurants Portland has to offer, and I have my Andrew McMahon concert ticket for Saturday night at the famous Hawthorne Theatre... it's going to be amazing! Best Mother's Day week ever! Also, best husband ever for planning all this for me!! He gets all my sugar!
To anyone who's never played the role of a Mom, no matter the circumstances... Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day

I've been a lot of things in my life- a waitress, a college student, an art studio director, a social media manager, a retail associate, a real estate broker, a library volunteer, a technology sales guru (RIP Circuit City); but the hardest, most challenging and toughest job I've ever had... is being a Mom.

Mom Blurb

I was just putting Ava down for bed, she is now sleeping 12 hours a night, which is a major milestone for parents. As I was running my fingers through her thin blonde hair and watching her eyes as they grew heavy, I began thinking about how I sometimes looked forward to her sleeping through the night, and how exhausting it was to get up 2-6 times throughout the night at the drop of a pin. But tonight, I realized, those nights are over; I will never get up around the clock to feed my baby again, and now that it's here, now that we're at that point... I can't believe how fast it came, and to be truthful, I am heavy-hearted knowing that the longest nights are behind me. Those long nights also mean long days, long cuddles, long feedings, which is some of the greatest bonding experience in the world. I love being a Mother.
When you see new moms out grocery shopping with a crying baby, or pushing their jogging strollers around the park with big sunglasses on to hide their tired eyes, you might think to yourself-- I bet she's tired, or I know she's stressed! You're right. We are. But what you don't see is when we don't have to "be on" for the public, we can put on our PJs and lay in the floor bra-less with our baby, playing with stuffed giraffes, singing, and brushing their hair, experiencing love in its truest form. Our tiny, helpless babies need us so much in the beginning, and at times those days seem endless, and you may find yourself yearning for just one single night of good sleep, or wanting to eat just one meal without worrying about anything else but how good that Taco Bell is right here right now... but to be honest, and as cliche as this sounds, those tiresome days fly by faster than you could ever fathom, they really do, and when they're over, they're over... and you'll wonder why you wanted it to rush by.
I have carried my last baby, I have nursed my last newborn, I have made it through my final 'first year'... and I would do it over again and again to be able to hold this little baby bunting, who stares up at me with her big blue eyes, I would do it again and again and again and again.