Favorite Weekend Moments...

A Tuesday Picture Story.

Our NC visitors arrived this weekend and we had a very special time. Some of my favorite weekends of the year are when Dad & Patsy are in town. Low key, Carter House hangin'. That's what it's about. I am thankful to have a home that allows for these kind of memories to be made. So very thankful. 

Thursday counts as weekend right? Darts & Flying Dog Porter @ Liam Flynn's Ale House. 

Grandpa's post-bath feeding.

Cozy living room opens up the floor for good conversations.

OK not really a 'favorite weekend memory' at the ER circa 2:30am. But the Koalas in Space hospital gown was awesome.

Sick Buggy Needs Rest.

Uncle J took over. I had to pee.

Hours of focus. And a lot of wine.

First time in a swing. Didn't quite get the concept.

Breakfast w Grandpa.

BIG bite.

"What you lookin' at tiger??"

Go Dawgs! Watching the UGA game together in matching outfits. 

A nice fall walk @ Herring Run. It's no Burningtown but pretty good for Baltimore City!

No caption needed.

LOOONG kitty.

:)

A Shout-out.

Since June 2011 (the 14th to be exact). I've realized my potential as a strong, fit 28 year old woman (ROAR!). A feeling that was slowly fleeting over the last 3-4 years. Yes, coincidentally around the time I met my now husband. Hey - it happens! You get comfy and you get familiar and you get routine'd and you get?? Chubby. Ding, ding, ding we have a winner!! Or, you over indulge, as I also did, resulting in????? You got it... Double-chub!

Clothes might still 'fit' and pictures might still look 'ok', but you know deep down...well...shit's changing. You have a few options: 1) Get out in front of it. Get off your ass. Create a calorie deficit in order to drop. "Stay hungry". or B) Say screw it and abuse the Monday night Burger special, Taco Tuesday, Wingday Wednesday (mmmmm forever a weakness of mine) and Thirsty Thursday 2 for 1 pumpkin ales. We all know the latter's not REALLY an option though. At least not forever. And not for all of us.

MODERATION. BALANCE. Yup. Words we've all spoken and tried to live. Can be easier said than done. And until I met my influencer, they were words that I struggled to make daily realities.

This brief, later-than-usual post (we all know I need my sleep and a LOT of it) is meant to do whatever it can to thank a very special woman, trainer and now friend of mine. She inspires and energizes and positively influences hundreds of people - both men and women alike -  at the gym, online, in her own family, and I'd bet just in the everyday lives of strangers that randomly and thankfully cross her blazing path. She helps many, just like me, realize their own potential physically, mentally, emotionally,... life potential in general...and it's extremely powerful. So powerful its been tough to not blog about it on the daily to be honest (beyond FB, Twitter, etc.).

Thank you, Charlie. Thanks for effecting permanent change & for bringing it like you do every day.

-Em

Nov3.

Today I'm 28. 28 big ones. I am amazed at the outpouring of positivity this year around the day of my birth. It's truly humbling. And I'm not just talking about Facebook posts -- my own Mom, Sister, Husband, boss, coworkers, etc., seem to be placing quite the emphasis on this particular turned page. I think it's because the last year has been a FABULOUS one (or because normally I plan all of my own bday events and this year I haven't had to do that! Kidding. Kind of.). That's got to be it, though. A truly rockin' year just passed. It's not a monumental age or anything like that. 21 is long gone. 25...bye bye. Not quite to the 30 mark. Just 28. Guess I am in my 'late twenties' all of the sudden. But, that doesn't help explain this overwhelming feeling of.....well ... love. I fully plan on paying it back and forward a million times over throughout this next year that I've been blessed with. 

Something else I've noticed about this year is that sense of settledness that I've written of in blogs of late. That could very well be contributing to my peaceful heart and pep-in-my-step today (and most days).

Wedding -- CHECK. 

House -- CHECK. 

Happy husband -- CHECK. 

Great, stable, not miserable job -- CHECK.

Many good times with many great friends -- CHECK.

Hobbies that complete me -- CHECK.

NOT PREGNANT -- CHECK. 

Healthy self -- CHECK. (UPDATE: almost 20 lbs down from June and steadily entering maintenance mode now!)

Over our grilled filets and Fall salad NOMS tonight I plan on remembering and talking through the many wonderful things that have occurred between Nov 3, 2010 and Nov 3, 2011. Take that time to recall the ups and downs and laughs and cries. The trips to new places and the quiet evenings at home. The new, little lives and special old souls still gracing us with their presence. The first Christmas at Carter and the first anniversary celebrations. Old friends I cherish deeply and new friends I've gained. Special moment with my family. Hurricanes, earthquakes and tornados. A bountiful garden (!!!). The now official piece of important history "The Owl Take-Over of Carter Avenue". Goku & Geta continue to survive and thrive. the list could go on .... 

So, thanks to all who have made this year so special for me -- you know exactly who you are. It's at this reflection point that I hope I have consistently done the same for you. 

XOXOXO TIME A MILLION BAJILLION!

-ERSM

P.S. And now a not-so-brief photo recap of randoms from 11/3/10 - 11/3/11, in no particular order and many left out I'm sure. No offense to anyone! :)

Miss Chuck & Crew at A Very White Trash Xmas '10

Happy 60th Bday, Daddy! April 2011.

Husbot Anniversary Fanciness.

Anniversary Din Din @ The Charleston-Fancy Pants.

Luc & Luke.

A nice little brunch time. E & J & Martini #1.

Fully Thriving Goku Martin.

Terrifying, Geta.

Casey-Kasey Fabulous Duo.

Dear friends <3

Changed my life. June 2011.

Many a Friday night spent at Summer Sounds.

Maine 2011.

Brunch @ Carter. Dear, old friends.

J and his buddy Chuck.

The Owl Take-Over of Carter Avenue. Exhibit 1 of 102 & counting.

Aaahhh mountains. 

Bestie MOH got skillz.

Miss Ella turned 1 & Lynnie was a proud, smiling Mama.

Garden Tastes.

Fave gals.

Walking, talking Chuck.

Luke Marley afternoons at the Pool.

Ding becomes future Bungding.

Happy Anniversary, J! <3

Anniversary Celebration #2 - Oktoberfest @ Manor Tavern w Nick Markakis sighting. Mmmm.

Paulaner yummies at Anniversary Oktoberfest.

Old friends. Old, beaten and battered friends.

A picture story.

 I used up my word quota for the day....er week probably (or life according to Jeremy). Hence, a picture story. And, Rooster, because it's a great song.

Adventures of Bender & Kitty-Bat (...plus some other recents and share-worthies.)

The expectation was high & the knives were sharp. 

Gutted and ready to create!

Guts. Yummy, toasted Bender & Kitty-Bat guts.

Kitty-Bats only fly at night.

Bender: Off the screen & in the (pumpkin) flesh.

Dynamic Duo.

Roasted Root. Send me on my way!

Spinach/Feta Sausage Homemade 'za.

Wine-ot?

Scary visitors. Scary Clementine art. Scary-delicious meal.

All tuckered out on Rach. 

Carter House morning special.

Buttons, buttons and more buttons! A Fabric Place on Falls is great for all curtain-making needs...or if you just need buttons....a whole crap load of buttons.

No caption necessary here.

Girls Night Gone Bad...or very, very good depending on which side you're on.

And....continued. 

WonderFALL. Finally. Bundle on up.

Uggs out, shruggs out!

Delayed Fall is the absolute worst thing I can imagine season-wise. Worse than delayed Summer, even. When the daylight is less and less with each passing sunrise and set, yet I'm still rocking flippy-floppies and a tank top, I get angry. The humidity this September was almost unbearable. Yes, I have forced my new Seychelles boots on a handful of times and my Uggs have made their seasonal debut as of yesterday, but it's been hot and humid and high 80's. It's well passed time to go for mums & pumpkins & spiced lattes, not go back into the attic and unpack our warm-weather wear like we're traveling to South Florida for a weekend jaunt.

That is all (for now), Mother Nature. You and your Indian Summer can pack up and take a hike already and leave the fall foliage and crisp air for us to enjoy a bit before Old Man Winter awakes...inevitably sooner than we'd appreciate.

XOXO
-ERSM