Weekend Wrap Up and More...

I hope that all my lovely readers had a wonderful Easter...I know that here in Jersey the weather has been beyond fantastic and it just feels soooo good.  It's literally been perfection.  About 75-79 degrees, slight breeze and all sun! That is good livin right there my friends.  And the forecast predicts similar weather up and until Tuesday of next week! (well, with the exception of potential rain on Friday but I'm ok with that).

Friday was a G R E A T  day for me...I passed my State licensing exam and am officially a real estate agent in the great State of Jerzeeee now! woot woot. I'm so excited to embarq on this new adventure and see where it takes me! I don't plan to invest a ton of time into real estate right away but I am definitely eager to get my feet wet...so if you or anyone you know is planning on buying or selling a home in New Jersey any time soon...

Grandma decided to keep the booger throughout the rest of the night Friday which allotted even more celebratory time for moi - I headed over to my girl Nic's house for some wine antics and gossip and it was very fun! By the way, shout out to Nic, who doesn't even read the damn blog - because she is loook f-i-i-i-i-n-e! Good work on the exercise, eating right and keepin in shape you're doing a great job girl

Saturday we (booger, hubbs and I) headed to the Phila zoo again to enjoy the weather and show the booger a good time.  It was really nice, we all had a great time and stopped at this Ah-mazing buffet on the way home where I gorged like a gluttonous crazy person (ew).

I <3 that one of my boys - booger always does that to hubbs when he's on his shoulders - I don't think he quite understands why you can't walk with your eyes covered, especially when carrying a child.

Here's some more animal shots - that monkey was staring at me for a good 10 minutes lol

Then Sunday, of course, Easter was just as eventful for me - as a mama these sort of Holidays are much more entailing then for those sans kids - you make a HUGE deal about dying eggs, getting to bed for the bunny and then hiding eggs, toys and a basket all over the house all while snapping photos before you even get coffee...Here are some of my favs (after coffee, dressed all nice) and ooh thanks to Ms. E at Strawberry Swing and Other Things for the cutie Arden B. skirt it was perfect for the weather and the occasion:

My Dad came with us, he was so cute!

Me n Boogs and then boogs reachin for Eggs scattered throughout the house with Spidey basket in tow

Had a great weekend with friends and family - looking forward to this week's weather and hopefully staying on track with the gym...the countdown is on ladies only 55 days until Memorial Day aka the begin of swimsuit season

How was your weekend, your Easter? Enjoying the weather?

xoxo

Had to post

I couldn't finish my day without posting this.  I got an email from my son's teacher a few moments ago and this is what it said

"Hi,
I just had to tell you a conversation I overheard Justin having with his friends.  The arm came off the 3-D glasses he brought in.  The boy who took it off was upset adn Justin told him not worry because his dad could fix it.  The boy asked Justin "Your dad won't be mad? How come he won't be mad" and Justin replied "cause he's a nice daddy and he is good to me".  It was so sweet to hear those words.  Justin said them with such love and conviction that his dad loves him and takes care of him.  We don't get to hear these things as enough as parents and I wanted you to know how much he loves his dad.
From Mrs. Teacher

::::tears welling up::::
I'm enitrely too lucky to have this family!!!

Holy Tuesday!

Well the weekend sure flew by - I cannot get over how absolutely gorge the weather was.  We, my fam, tripped it out to the Philadelphia Zoo on Saturday followed by City sightseeing and sushi dinner so it was a good day for us.  It was a stunning 79 degrees here in Jersey/Philadelphia and Sunday was no disappointment either.  I believe the high temp throughout the day on Sunday was 77 degrees.  I absolutely love love love this sunshine and springy weather.  Although yesterday was a rainy mess the clouds are beginning to break today for what looks like another day of sunshine :)

You bet yo arse I was wearing flip flops and tanks all weekend.  Which brings me to tanning - it is officially time.  Although I'm not much of a fake baker I usually do it for about a month in April (so we're just in time).  I'm naturally very fair and unfortunately the ultra ultra fairness that winter brings is not nearly as cute as a base tan.  I'm not talking Jersey Shore color, my friends.

Speeee-aking of which....who caught the premier episode of the ULTRA ridiculous 'Jerseylicious' on the Style Network Sunday night? I find it incredibly hard to believe that any of this show is even remotely real and that there are actually people who act like this who have jobs, let alone careers.  Here it is in all its ugliness. 


I feel bad for these people, seriously.  They are being mocked beyond control and I honestly don't even think they realize that.  Oh well.

On a separate note, since I didn't post for yesterday's 'Manday' here is a snippet of who I would have otherwise featured...because he is freakishly hawt...Gilles Marini (Mr. Marini is currently starring in the ABC series Brothers and Sisters on at 10pm EST on Sunday) you may also remember Gilles as Samantha's LA sex craved neighbor on SATC the movie?? Ya know, the one with the tight buns who showered naked on his back porch - the one who Samantha watched nightly?

And if you love SATC as much as I do, then you already know that

S L A T E D   F O R    R E L E A S E   M A Y   2 8 ,   2 0 1 0

yay :)

That's all for now....xoxo

Questions - Answered!

Well, although I though no one would ask any questions, someone did.

Here they are answered for all your viewing pleasure:

1. How did having a child change your life? This is a question that I could write thousands of answers to.  But most directly, I will say that having a child gave me a HUGE sense of compassion that I never otherwise had.  I never understood real love and care until my son was born.  I never realized how truly whole you can feel.  After Justin was born I developed a sick sense of responsibility.  I was always pretty responsible, even when I was a teenager but after him, I grew ten fold.  I am naturally a bit of a selfish person but when it comes to him, that falls by the wayside, dramatically.  Because of motherhood, I pushed forward on a career and I now am in a great position that I love and have tons of opportunity.  Without him, I probably wouldn't have pushed as hard to 'move up in the world'....well, not so soon at least.  So in a nutshell having a child changed my life 10,000% for the better. And I have a gorgeous little boy to show off as well ;)

2. What do you like to do on the weekends? I like to shop, shop, shop and shop some more.  But, because I'm a mother, I typically spend my weekends going to birthday parties, chuck e. cheese, roller skating, bowling, festivals, movies, etc.  I usually go grocery shopping, go to Home Depot or Lowe's and if I'm lucky I'll get a trip to Home Goods. I actually like bringing Justin to do new things but the winter stinks because there's not as much fun stuff to do.  I'm lucky enough to have my mother close by so 80% of the time, she takes Justin for the night on Saturday's.  When she does, the hubbs and I will more than likely go out for sushi and cap the night at home with wine.  In the summer time, we have friends over a lot - we like to entertain.

3. What are your favorite places to eat? I would have said Melting Pot but now that I don't eat meat it will prove much more difficult to enjoy a full blown meal there.  That being said, if I had it my way I would eat sushi every single day of the week.  My favorite local sushi spot is now Masa Sushi but I always fancied Fujiyama (another local sushi place).  My favorite guilty pleasure place to eat is Cold Stone Creamery (I'm a huge ice cream junkie) and lastly, Jose Tejas - a local Tex-Mex place that I <3 big time.

Thanks for asking!!! As always, ask me anything - any time, anywhere! 

Questions Anyone?

The lovely V at Veronika's Blushing is playing a bit of a fellow blogger tag game...

So, with her, I'll shall ask you all to ask me??
Do you have any questions for me...about anything at all? fashion, beauty, motherhood, wife-hood (?), home ownership, career, decorating and renovating....you ask it, I'll answer it.

I took the day off from work today and tomorrow.  I let the booger join me today and play 'hookey' from pre-school (I'm such a good influence) so we have tons of errands to run and chores to do.  Then tonight, yes I am packing my bags for a kick ass weekend in Atlantic City with some very special ladies.

Feliz Cumpleanos Joan - I love you

I'm in for a great weekend and hopefully I'll win big :)  Not sure if I'll have time to post tomorrow but if I do I'm sure it'll be all about packing and my skills lack thereof doing so.

So while I'm away...ask away and I'll answer upon return. 

Inspiration

There are so many levels of inspiration out there...Personally, I am inspred every single day by someone or something, well every single moment really.  My family inspires me, my husband inspires me, my friends, my boss and even fellow bloggers.  Inspiration is technically defined as stimulation of the mind or emotions to a high level of feeling or activity and when you pick apart each word of the definition it is easier to realize how often you are inspired.  You don't have to accomplish life goals or create something life changing to put inspiration to use; think about it - what stimulates your mind to a high level of feeling? Or what stimulates your emotions enough to result in activity? Almost everything, right? Here are my biggest inspirations in life and what they directly inspire me to do or feel...

My Son, Justin.  

This little booger right here is the epicenter of my inspiration.  Just looking at him each and every morning inspires me to be a better woman all together.  He drives me to succeed in life and pursue each and every dream I've ever had.  He inspires me to have better morals and to be a role model.  I inspire to be not only a better mother, but a better person all together - there's nothing like making your own children proud of who you are and when he gets older I want him to think that way of me.  Basically every success that I've had over the last 4 years is due to him...and he doesn't even know it yet!

My Husband, Justin.

There's definitely something to be said for a man who chooses to put up with me (for life).  I am not an easy person and this man right here does the best job possible! He is the greatest husband and he would do anything in this world at a drop of a dime for me.  He has the kindest heart and he inspires me greatly to be a kinder, gentler person, his ways of dealing with issues so gracefully and not making a mountain out of a mole hill are truly inspirational, I hope that over time I can be as generous and loving as he is.  

My best friend Jess. 

She inspires me for reasons that I find hard to put to words.  There has always been a very special bond between her and I and we've always seemed to be so freakishly similar in every single way shape and form that its funny how she inspires me considering we're practically 2 of a kind.  She has a personality practically identical to mine although she carries this level of class that is a force to be reckoned with...the thing is, I don't think she even tries - at all.  Its just second nature to her.  She's very outgoing and does what only she wants.  I inspire to obtain not only her classiness but her abundance of confidence that she carries with ease.  Not to mention she's as fit as can be, so she is definitely inspirational on the fitness level. 

While I have sentimental inspirations I, of course, have superficial ones as well.  I am inspired by celebrities, designers and even store window displays.  Here is a snapshot of some of my superficial inspirations:

Inspirational by justinsmami featuring Christian Louboutin shoes

I am a big analyzer of everything, I try to see the best of each and every person and every event to derive what may work for me or again, inspire me to do or feel something. I'm always seeking inspiration although it does not seem hard to find.  It's what you make of it, really. 

Lastly, I'll share some of my favorite blogs that inspire me on many levels:

Coley's Closet Cravings    Veronika's Blushing    The Chloe Conspiracy   The Look for Less 

and most recently, I found Fit for Fashion which should definitely cause for inspiration

What or who inspires you? Your career, your life choices or even what color you paint your nails? I'd love to hear about 'em!