Oil Mama

I am not a naturally athletic person. Besides karate, there was never really a sport I loved or wanted to do. When I throw a ball, it goes behind me. I’m easily bored and 2 minutes into running, it feels like it’s been hours.

Karate though, it’s a part of me. I missed it all those years that I wasn’t able to do it and now that I’ve found it again, I can’t imagine ever being without it. There are…

So many of you may have pieced together that I have some major life changes going on. Please don’t be offended when I don’t reply to your Facebook posts asking but it’s that when it involves others, it’s not right to broadcast openly on the Internet. That said, it’s all good, I am super happy, looking forward to what life has to offer me and that everyone involved is doing great as well. We are…

First, I’m going to warn you – while this may be an in memory post to my good friend, it’s not going to be a gushy, sappy one. As much as I would love to write one – he would have hated it!

The day I met met Mike, it was sunny and mild. I was in my old karate dojo, waiting for my lesson. I always chose the end black vinyl chair because I hated the feeling of being squished between two people. The…

Karma, Lemon Droppers and a Postcard

Back in the day when I first tried essential oils for my allergies, I vaguely knew there was a business side to it. I also know that for sure, without a doubt, I would not be a part of it. Not only did I have a busy job already, I had 2 kids in activities, my own ful martial arts schedule – among everything else. Basically, my days were full and tapped out. I knew I didn’t have time for anything…

When I had Callie, I quickly realized that she was a complete tornado. If, at 4 months old, you didn’t buckle her in her little baby chair at home, she would try and flip out of it. At 5 months, if you didn’t keep her buckles done up in her bucket car seat when you brought it inside, she would wriggle all the way down and almost out of it.

No surprise when the wild child was strolling around by 9…

When I was first pregnant with my first kid, everyone gushed on about new babies. The smell, the sweetness and honestly, I didn’t know what to expect. I’d been around plenty of them but knew it would be a whole lot different when you couldn’t leave it at that house you were at (without someone calling child protective services).

The time came and after a gong show delivery, I was finally a mother…

Rollercoaster, Nod and Smile and the Road to Autism

With World Autism Day quickly approaching on April 2nd, I thought it was time to write about our biggest journey so far, the road to autism.

In September 2005, I had this chubby, adorable 9 lbs, 2 oz of bundle of perfection we named Morgan. He was the sweetest thing and the perfect baby. He was sleeping 12 hours a night by 4 months old, never played strange and was easy going and mellow.

He hit…

Someone once asked me if my 6 year old girl had ADHD. Dead serious, straight in the eye. “Does Callie have ADHD?”.

And I tell you, it made me laugh so hard. In fact, I still laugh thinking about it. Because honestly, I love the fact that this person, who isn’t even a close friend of mine, was ballsy enough to call a spade a spade. Did it offend me? Not for a second.

Because in all honestly,…

While I would really rather you all believe I’m a goddess of parenting, I think it’s time to come clean. Because here’s the thing – my parenting style is a little bit (or more) about keeping it real. I think it’s nice if you can pull off that goddess bit or the “not your average mom” dealbut frankly, I also need time for reality TV and surfing Pinterest for things I will never make or do.

Case in…

I am not a food blogger so don’t expect fancy pictures or newly created recipes. But I’m more than happy to try some out and when I find a winner, you will hear about it!

I started this recipe by making Mountain Mama’s All Purpose Shredded Chicken in the crockpot. Let me tell you, this will soon become a staple in your house. I only use half the seasoning in the recipe and save the other half for…

Avoid the Barber, Part Gypsy and The People You Meet

First, before we start, I think it has to be addressed that I have made some bad choices in life – one being thinking that getting my haircut at a barbershop for $10 was a good idea. Thankfully, I’ve grown older and wiser and promise never to do this again. I think it will be very clear to you soon via pictures when this time period was – forgive me. Ha!

The memory is so clear still, in my mind.…

Those that know me would probably say I’m a little wacky. I’d say my personality is a mixture of intense and goofball. A weird combo, I know. It’s like I’m intense, highly committed, super focused and then at one point, the goofball has to break out in order to relieve the pressure of being intense.

Earlier on in my life, I found I was constantly worrying about things. It was affecting my sleep,…

20 years ago, I was single with time on my hands and bored to tears of going to the gym. I wandered over to a nearby karate studio , took an introductory class and fell head over heels.

Soon I was training 5 days a week as well as teaching. Now, it was a very, very male oriented dojo but I took pride in the fact I could hang with the big boys. I was in great shape, strong and felt invincible. My…

Driving home, the Brad and Morgan were talking about banking (snore).

The conversation moves to Hong Kong and banking (also snore) and I hear Callie mutter under her breath: “Who even knows who Ron Kong is anyway?!”

It cracked me up. Then she says “Dad, I have 2 words for you….”

Yeah, me too. Only chances are they aren’t the same words as yours, just sayin’.

And in other news, we have a new baby…

So the other day, my sister posted that it wsa 5 weeks until we are going to Mexico to celebrate my mom turning 70. Intially, I was like yay – 5 weeks!

Then, oh wait.

Because, it’s the same thing every time. You know about your vacation months and months in advance. You think, oh, those few pounds that have crept on – I’ll totally shed those babies and be in fine form. I’m going to be a pristine…

Oh Callie. Child, you are random. New post on the blog. roomfordetails.wordpress.com

My 6 year old girl. She’s wild, people. Even more than that, she’s a total free spirit. First day of kindergarten she told me to drop her off in the parking lot, that she was good. (Yeah, no).

She has been in the emergency room countless times from her schemes and antics, is the  most independent child alive and could care less about what anyone thinks. She definately dances to her own drummer.

S…