some bunny.

what's that? a blog update?

that's right -- hell is freezing over.

anyways, enough about that. 

2013 (the year of less than 15 blog posts, hah) is almost over. 

here's to 2014 -- I have a feeling it's going to be an amazing year for oh-so-many reasons.

one in particular?

we'll have somebunny blue joining our family in march 2014!

here's to becoming a family of four and welcoming a sweet baby boy to the mix! we're beyond excited (and let's get real, petrified). 

thanks 2013 for being awesome in oh-so-many-ways, here's to an amazing 2014!

lately.

welp. life has been pretty uneventful in the best kind of way. the P is growing like a sweet little weed, I am still obsessed with eating cookies and I'm already looking forward to Friday.

lately we've been spending tons of time in the sun [don't worry, we're wearing sunscreen]...

we've been cuddling all over the place...

we've [okay, okay, just me] been eating cookies like they're going out of style...

I know. 

my life is thrilling. 

off to online shop [aka fill tons of carts with tons of clothes and maybe pull the trigger on one of them]

saint valentines...

a glimpse into what my sweetest valentine day yet looked like...

....yup. I'm one lucky gal.

whoopsies.

oops... I.... did it again. fell of the face of the earth that is. whoopsies.

well, I'm done groveling/making false promises of being a better blogger.

truth? I'm swamped.

I don't know when I'm not going to feel like I'm drowning and until then -- blogging is likely to be sporadic. not to say I don't miss my sweet little space on the interwebs. I do. I always think about how I should blog and what I want to blog about (seriously? SO MUCH)... but, alas, time is not on my side.

oh well.

here's to making a conscious effort at getting back at it [who needs sleep?]

with all that being said - here's what's going on....

though life is busy, life is grand.... AND I'm 30. what? 30. seriously? I remember when that seemed so far away and I got anxious about the idea of getting older -- now? I'm thrilled. I am so excited for my thirties and can honestly say I am so content and excited about where I am right now.

I have an amazing family, beautiful daughter, handsome and sweet husband, fulfilling career and a smile on my face.

so what else is going on? well, I don't talk about work/my job a lot on the blog, but I will share that I recently got a promotion! so exciting and just makes me thrilled to know that my hard work did not go unnoticed and all of the hours and effort were worth it. I feel like I'm leaving my mark and my career is taking a turn that is serendipitous and fruitful. BUT, with all that being said -- I am swamped, my plate is full and I feel like I'm constantly going, going, going when it comes to work [hence the lack of blogging].

Ms. Penelope is so fun, so sweet and so interactive - she brightens up our days more than words could ever describe. I feel like it's so cliche and something that we always say but she just keeps getting more and more fun. She truly is a little person now and I love the time I get to spend with her. I feel so blessed that she goes to school the building over from my office and that I am so close. We've been going strong with nursing for the past nine months [another area where I feel so blessed, I know that we've been so lucky to have such an easy time with it and I do NOT take it for granted]. I love the time that I get to spend with her during the day nursing her and I'm so proud of us and our journey [another thing I WANT to blog about, hopefully eventually].

What else? DJ -- oh DJ, where do I begin. I love that man. He drives me crazy, but I love him. We're settling into our roles as parents and this new part of our partnership. I love having him as a husband and I love watching him as a dad - Penny is definitely a daddy's girl in the making. Her eyes light up for him and I love their interactions. I am also so proud of DJ and his work, he has been definitely putting the hours in as well and it is paying off - he continues to grow and thrive in his career and I am so inspired by his drive, creativity and intellect [cheesy, but SO true].


why do I feel like I'm writing one of those Christmas letters to family? barf. with that - I'll stop here. more soon. I promise to post seven & eight month Penelope updates [aka picture dumps] soon and maybe I'll finally finish my 2012 in review post -- considering we're a month and half into 2013. oops.

anyways, I'll leave you with a few adorable pictures of my almost NINE month old (?!)...

until next time - goodnight poodles....

election day.

hope you've gotten out there and voted! DJ, Sweet Penny and I battled the weather and the lines and hit the polls this morning.

this time of year is always exciting - and it's crazy to think this is the first election in 12 years that I won't be spending the evening watching the results roll in on a college campus (2000: freshman year of college, 2004: grad school, 2008: residence coordinator). It's a bit bittersweet to not be spending this evening with college students... but hey, I'm also VERY okay with watching the results roll-in in my sweats, drinking beer with my husband. here's to an interesting night. hope your guy wins - but only if he's my guy, duh.

life, lately.

man. to say I'm due to give an update is an understatement. life has been quite a roller-coaster lately... I was waiting to blog about everything until things were resolved [I didn't want to throw myself a blog pity party] and I feel like we're at a great place and I'm ready to share.

so earlier in the summer (june-ish) DJ and I were on cloud nine, life was amazing - we had a sweet baby girl, great jobs and we were so close to being done with "basement living" - we found an apartment, had a date to move-in and I was SO freaking excited to not have to deal with the commute when I went back to work.

then on the last friday of June, DJ came downstairs after I was finishing up feeding Penny and sat on the ottoman and shared that he had lost his job - the company he worked for was out of the UK and they just called him and told him they were shutting down the entire US division.

shocked? yeah. I was too.

I had no words.

no severance, no notice. no clue if he was going to get his bonus that he had been working towards all quarter. keep in mind I had just gone back to work from maternity leave the day before and we had just got my paycheck for the past month which I basically didn't get paid ($32.00, holler).

did I mention I was in shock?

I was in shock.

My mind was spinning, even now two months later, I can distinctly remember that feeling sitting in the basement with my six week old daughter in my arms... I wanted to shut down. I came close to shutting down... but I had to give myself perspective... first, I was so thankful that we kept our insurance through my job and we didn't even have to think twice about that - especially for Penny. I was so thankful I decided to go back to work early (6 weeks maternity leave, 6 weeks working from home rather than the 8 weeks maternity leave, 4 weeks working from home we thought I was going to take - we literally made that decision 48 hours earlier). so thankful we were still in the basement and hadn't signed a lease. but most importantly, I was so thankful that I had DJ as partner - I (surprisingly) didn't breakdown but, honestly, I was optimistic.

I think my "serenity" had to do with two things - one, Penelope - how could I be distraught when we have this perfect, sweet, healthy creation who brought and brings so much joy into our lives? I couldn't. I realized that even though DJ had lost his job - we still had so much more than so many others and we were still incredibly lucky.

secondly, I was calm because I knew that even thought the timing was shit-tastic and I hate the instability it caused I had and have so much faith in DJ. Seriously, he is one of the smartest, most talented people I've ever encountered. I knew that something amazing was going to come his way and that any company that he got in front of would realize his worth and want him on board.

well, I'm not going to blow smoke and say that the last eight weeks were rainbows and sunshine - they were challenging, trying and at times exhausting and disheartening. but you know what? we got through it. DJ got to finish up his consulting work and side projects that had been looming over the past few months AND he got to do something that not many dads are lucky enough to do - he got to spend every day at home with his daughter for the the first fifteen weeks of her life. Granted, he was working either for his former company or consulting during that time but he still got that quality time that few get the chance to experience.

AND luckily- I was right to be optimistic... I'm happy to report that DJ is starting his new [and in my opinion improved] job on Tuesday and we're moving on Saturday. my job, as always was so supportive - they let me continue to telecommute for two days a week while I was commuting to make life easier/less hellish. I only have TWO days left next week of my 44 mile commute (my new commute to work will be less than 5 miles, can I get a hell yeah?)... and basement living? this time next week we'll be spending our last night as inhabitants of our lovely basement apartment in the 'burbs. I'm so excited to create our first little intown home as a party of four (ollie counts, duh).

so the cliffnotes version of this novella of a post: life doesn't always work out the way you think it will, or even originally how you want it to - but have a little patience and a faith in life and those you love and take deep breaths...

life is good. especially when you have a beautiful baby, snuggly pup and amazing love to share it with.

here's to moving forward and all the amazing things I know are coming are way...

If you really knew me...

I've seen a handful of these posts on various blogs I follow [Stephanie, Megan, Anna and Kristen most recently] and I've loved reading them so I thought I'd share some random bits of me -- 

If you really knew me, you'd know...

I'm left-handed and smudge everything when I write, I'm allergic to cinnamon, and I don't just have one baby - I have two. I truly do consider Oliver my baby. I love him, don't judge.

I don't wash my hair everyday... usually two or three days pass between washings -- let's be real, four days happens quite often too.

I was born in Qatar and raised in Cyprus - I had a British accent until I was eight.  I hate when people ask me "what are you?" my response is usually "excuse me? I don't understand." If people ask me where I'm from, I usually respond Florida.  For the record - if you want to know my ethnicity - I'm half Iranian, a quarter Norwegian and a quarter Irish.

I'm an introvert and I get really uncomfortable in social situations where I don't know people well. I'm really shy, which sometimes comes off as indifferent or bitchy. But yes, sometimes I'm just bitchy.

I read ridiculously fast and I love logic puzzles.  I still balance my checkbook (pretty much daily), like with a ledger and pen -- old school, I know. 

One of the first things I do when I get home for the day is change into sweatpants -- if I don't have anywhere to go that day, I'm likely not changing out of sweatpants the next morning.

I'm 29 and I still consider my sorority a huge part of my life and joining ZTA one of the best decisions I ever made. It lead me to some of my best friends, my passion and ultimately in a round-about-way my career.

I did not want to have kids until around four years ago -- I made my mother cry when I was in high school because I told her she was never going to be a grandma. [I know, total bitch move]

Losing my father was the most difficult thing I've ever been through - I still have days where I would do anything to talk to him. I don't think I will ever fully get over his death.

I had braces when I was a kid but didn't wear my retainer - so my bottom teeth are all sorts of crooked and I'm super self-conscious about it.

I slept with a stuffed bunny until I got married.  I like being the big spoon [hence I swapped out the bunny for a husband].

I love my husband like no other but we bicker a LOT, we're honestly probably really annoying to be around. We squabble daily, but I truly think we have one of the strongest marriages I've ever encountered.

I am not religious - I consider myself agnostic. My father was Episcopalian, my mother is Muslim and I'm married to a Jew.

I am a crybaby. Like - super, super crybaby.

so.

that's me.

what's something I'd only know about you if I really knew you?
those that really know me - what did I leave off?

me & my fan.

so...

I had a moment the other day... 

...with a fan.

no. not this kind of fan...

...though I am a belieber.

{via}

this kind of fan...

{via}

see. I had just worked out [aka huffed and puffed for a mile on the treadmill and then started feeling sorry for myself for how out of shape I was] and came downstairs to take a shower. I gave Penny to DJ and they headed upstairs to have some coffee [just DJ, don't worry, hah]. so I decided to take advantage of a little "me time" and I laid on the floor in Penny's nursery to do some crunches.

well.

I laid down.

and just started watching the fan.

I kinda got lost in it.

I don't know what it was about watching the lights and blades that put me in a daze of sorts.

so there I am,

laying on the floor of my daughters bedroom [crib-room?]... 

crying.  

awesome.

I think I was emotional because I was reading about the shooting in Aurora [or maybe I'm just emotional, hah - yeah that's probably it]. I started crying at first because I was just sad that we live in a world that something like that can be a reality... then honestly, I started having a pity party - there are a few things that aren't quite going as planned/our way currently...blech. not fun.


then. I kinda snapped out if and was crying out of disbelief for lack of a better word -- I had a get over yourself moment and was crying because for all the things that aren't going right - there are so many more important things that ARE going right and I'm pretty freaking lucky... I get to spend the rest of my life with my soulmate [as freaking annoying as he is sometimes, I love him and I'll keep him] and then I can't even get started on Penelope. She's this perfect little ball of joy -- I get lost just looking at her. the love and bond that I feel for her transcends anything I have ever felt [met only by the love I feel for her daddy]. DJ and I created her -- she is us. that still just gets me at the core.  I could write for pages on the love I feel for our sweet p but I'll just say this - I realize how lucky I am that we have a healthy baby, a sweet, happy, giggly beautiful little girl and she makes my heart melt. we have a roof over our heads [granted, still in the basement - but hey, it could be so much worse], we have health insurance, we have love, we have a sweet smelly bulldog [who needs a bath], we do not go hungry, we have nice things.  


I'll be honest, sometimes I get so lost in what isn't right or what we don't have that I just need moments like this to snap me out of it and just come back to earth and realize that yes, while my life isn't perfect it still is pretty fucking great. 


almost always [seriously ALWAYS] when DJ and I fight he brings up the "p" word... perspective.  it's like the DJ version of the following hashtag/twitter phrase #firstworldproblems in my face [it's so annoying, especially because he's usually right, ugh - hate it]. I suppose this time, I gave myself a little perspective and it was just what I needed.

...and then Oliver came and drooled on my face and I snapped out of it and did some crunches... and by some crunches I did 25 and was over it and took a shower.

nothing like bulldog drool to bring you back to reality.

so yeah.

what a rollercoaster.

high highs, low lows.

I just plan to keep on keepin' on and enjoy the ride.

have you had a good cry lately?

birthday week.

happy birthday week!!! 

...to my favorite man on this planet...

hey hey. 

it's DJ's last week in this 20s!

I can't believe that DJ will be 30 this saturday.

I can't believe we met almost 16 years ago.

I can't believe we've almost been married for 2 years.

I can't believe he'll be a daddy in 5 weeks (or so).

I have lots to post about but this is what is is occupying my brain currently...

...trying to think of ways to celebrate my love and best friend.

you see, I'm quite the expert on 30th birthday parties 

[just ask my ex-boyfriend, his was amazing - no really, it was]

so I feel kinda guilty... it's almost like Big Daddy

...but I guess we're even because someone [aka DJ's ex-fiance] had a long-drawn-out-romantic proposal whereas I got - "hey, you want to stop by town hall on the way to work?"* 

....and my ex got the whole crazy surprise weekend 30th birthday bash and a girlfriend that wasn't 9 month pregnant and too tired/exhausted to focus on planning a party... 

[yeah, to say I've been distracted is an understatement]

so yes, we might have "wasted the good surprise" on someone else...

but in the end, we have each other.

....and I ordered 20lbs of crawfish.

so I guess that's pretty great, right?

ANYWAYS.....

happy birthday week to my danny j.

love you jiggs!

more birthday love coming soon.... :)

*yes, there's more to our proposal, and it was sweet in its own way.... and absolutely perfect and I wouldn't have it any other way... I'll tell you the whole story one day...

sweet pea's shower...

just thought I'd share a few more pictures from sweet pea's baby shower... it was a great, fun and relaxing afternoon with family and friends and we are so lucky to have such generous, sweet people in our lives!

fun, bright decor....

I made sugar cookies with royal icing as favors for our guests...

world's best strawberry cookies... 

yummy sangria for those who could partake [aka everyone but me...]

 opening gifts...

and yes -- men drinking beer out of baby bottles... amazing...

thanks to both of our moms, our sweet sister-in laws Summer & Julie, and the always amazing Lindi to making the day such a fun and special one! 

...so that's that - now onto planning the next big shindig in our house....

...that's right -- someone turns 30 next weekend!

staycation...

hellloooo from downtown ATL - I'm currently on a mini-staycation of sorts for the next few days. DJ got back from Scotland on Saturday but he has meetings with coworkers flying in from all over the US/UK so they've setup a "home base" at a downtown Atlanta hotel... which happens to be less than a mile from my office, SCORE.

So while DJ is working hard I'm relaxing and soaking it all up just doing nothing after work for the next few days. I'm staying out here with him and walking to and from work - does that beat a 3 hour round trip commute or what??

so excited for a few days of me-time and post work nothingness until mom gets in town Thursday! heck yes! I'll leave you with some pictures that capture what tonight has entailed thus far [and all that it will entail]....

room service in bed.

yes please.

[can I never leave?]

leap year...

So I know that today is leap day but when I think of leap day/leap year I think about the last 365 days... this past year has truly been a "leap year" for DJ and one where we took a lot of leaps of faith... Starting almost exactly a year ago where we made our cross-country move to Georgia... packed up our charming house, quit our jobs, got Ollie neutered (hah), and moved south.

It's been a year since our journey and the leaps just came on coming - I went back to my education roots and it was a year ago (well March 1st will be a year I guess) since I interviewed for my current job and I am still as happy about that choice as I was a year ago... I'm excited to be back in higher education and working with college students. I'm in an extremely conducive environment for my personal and professional development, I have great coworkers, work with phenomenal students and get to create and make an impact every day... sure there are days that are frustrating and filled with headaches but that's every job.

My love also has made some huge career leaps ove the past year - he did his own thing for the past year and really honed his design, development and marketing skills. Around six months ago he got picked up by a start-up and really helped take them to the next level, and most recently - today, he took his next leap and started his new job as Director of Marketing for all an international company based out of the UK... oh yeah, and he hasn't applied for a job in over six years - people just keep offering him jobs [yes, I picked a winner].  This current job is definitely a leap for him, he's really pushing himself with this position and going outside of his comfort zone and leaving a job, product and company he was extremely passionate about to take further steps to provide for his family... something I will not forget and something I truly appreciate him for.

Oh yeah, and we took our biggest leap of all this year when I decided to stop taking birth control and we started trying for sweet baby j... and well you know how that turned out!

So, I know 2012 is considered a "leap year" but when I think about my life and all the leaps we've taken in the past year - 2011 was definitely the leap year in our little family of three [almost four] [yes, four - Ollie counts, hah].

here's to our next year in Georgia... not necessarily a year that will be filled with "leaps" [well, who knows] but definitely a year of many changes... we'll become parents, welcome a sweet baby girl into the world, say goodbye to our sweet basement apartment and hello to city living....

all in all, as I think about where I was a year ago today - I was filled with anticipation, excitement and anxiety about starting our new life in Georgia... as I reflect on the past year since we made the move I am so happy we made our "leap" - and even more than that, I'm so happy that I made the one big leap 26 months ago and married my best friend.  I can't imagine taking this journey and these leaps with anyone else by my side...

...with that, thanks DJ for your love, support and all of the hard work and sacrifices. I'm so proud of you as you take this next step in your career and know you will be so successful in all that you do - you're one of the smartest, creative and hard-working people I have ever met.  even more important than that -- you make "leaping" that much easier because I know you'll always be there to hold my hand, jump with me and pick me up when if we stumble. 88 my love.

happy leap day everyone - hope you took a leap today, if not - you have tomorrow... trust me, take a chance, it's worth it.

...for more on our "leap year" all the adventures that came with it check out my 2011 year in review...

snapshots....

this is my life. 

so glamorous, I know.