I think I have a new crush

Call me the female Indiana Jones.
I love adventure.
I love the unknown.
I love finding the hidden treasure and displaying it for the whole world.

sorry mental montage of heroic scenes just flashed through my head.

Anyway... I have found a new gem. It is heart pumping, sweat inducing, and makes your whole body shake. literally. No seriously... I mean 8.0 on the Richter scale.

It's called the Barre Method. This doozy of a class is based on interval training, isometrics, and dance conditioning.  The kicker is that it feels more like a Pilates, stretching, and cardio class all rolled into one.

The basic concept is you work the muscle to fatigue and then stretch. And when I say fatigue, I mean f-a-t-i-g-u-e. 

I was shaking, and sweating, and mentally swearing like a sailor trying to finish the sets. I loved every second of it.

You can see  they have lots of videos that you can do at home.

Me personally, I love going to classes. I like the competitive edge. It keeps me honest and pushes me harder. I refuse to slack or be the weakest in the group. I also get a kick out of being the best.

They have studios all over the country. All you have to do is go to www.barmethod.com. 

Changes

Soon I will have to alter the title description of this blog. We are about to start a new chapter in our lives and work will not be a part of that adventure for me. At least not in the beginning.
As of 5:30 p.m. last night, my husband has accepted a position in another city. Across the country.
Away from everything and everyone we know. 
Well almost everyone we know.

I am excited. I have a travelers spirit and love the idea of the unknown. I relish the thought of a new house and new town. Especially because this new town that awaits us is COMPLETELY different from the town we live now.

From this...

To this. 

(You can almost hear my sigh of relaxation and decompression)

It is everything I have said I wanted.
A small town near a big city. 
Four seasons.
The ocean for my husband and kids.
A sense of community.
The June Cleaver in me is bursting to get out with holiday parties and crafty ideas. Farmers markets and clam bakes. I can smell the summer ocean breeze and the fall leaves.


Fear not exercise enthusiast. I will still give you tips on Pilates at home. And if you are ready to venture into a studio, how to choose your instructor.


With this I leave you. Safe in the knowledge that I have to get beach body ready in T-minus 3 weeks 4 days and 2 hours. 
But who's counting?

Angry

I hate getting angry. I'm one of those who can go from zero to crazy in 3 seconds flat. This is hard because patience is not one of my virtues and small children need patience.
 I think everyone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. Thing 3 wants more milk even though it's time to start weaning. Thing 2 can't stop asking for more scrambled eggs and then says she is done after I make her a second batch (then Thing 3 proceeds to throw the plate of eggs on the floor). Thing 1 has taken to doing everything she is told not to. Jumping on the couches, trashing the cushions on the patio furniture.
But the prize this morning goes to Thing 2. She has been in melt down mode ALL MORNING LONG! We are talking yelling at mommy, scratching sisters, and throwing things on the floor. I used my time outs and my hand flicks, but nothing has tamed the little monster. I'm at the point that I just can't handle it right now. I want to scream and spank. I want to run out of the house and never return. I want to have a stiff drink.
But instead my mouth is glued shut and my hands are busy typing.
Am I alone in getting so angry?
My kids are great kids. They make me laugh and smile to no end. They are my world. But I think that is my problem. I spend so much time with them that I get overwhelmed in kiddie land.  I sometimes miss the joy because of the chaos. I get so overwhelmed with the dirty dishes and messy playroom and screaming for food; that I just bury my head and pretend it will all go away.
That makes me sad.
I feel like such a failure sometimes because I'm afraid I just can't handle being a mom.
I'm sure all will be right with the world very soon. But for now my nerves are frayed and I have errands to run...

How Do I know?

I bet I'm like most parents in that I constantly agonize over how my decisions effect my children. 

Should they go to public or private school? 

Am I letting them watch too much t.v.? 

How is my discipline techniques working?

Am I too strict?

In recent days my husband and I have been given a great opportunity. Two in fact. On any given day if either of these came about we would be jumping up and down with joy. Maybe even doing a happy dance.

But they didn't. 

They came at the same time.

So now, we face the dilemma of which opportunity to pursue. How do we know which is best for our family? I have tried weighing the pros and cons, but they are ALMOST equal. We have tried talking with friends and family, but we know the responses are somewhat biased. I know that one of the opportunities may be more difficult in the beginning, but I also believe the pay off will be greater.

Since I am such a grown up, (ahem, yeah right) I can see through the clarity of hindsight that whenever I make a "rash" decision it almost always ends badly. At least in the short term, but then everything seems okay in the long term. I don't know if that is because I can always see the good in a situation or the fact that I might be too laid back. "No worries" is the mantra I live by.

'Don't worry... about a thing. Every little thing, is gonna be alright.'- Bob Marley

*This musical interlude brought to you by the letter P and the number 8.*

I just don't want to screw things up for my kids. I want to give them every opportunity and adventure possible in life. I want to teach them the be fearless and open to anything because you never know what awaits you. I don't want to play it safe when it comes to my life; or theirs.

But how do you know which decision is the best?

East Coast Adventure

This last week was like a mini vacation- for me. And a marathon job interview- for hubby. He had 11 interviews in 2 1/2 days. One was sushi, a basketball game, and after dinner drinks. Gotta love the casino biz.


For me it was  amazing coffee, house hunting and the gym. And more house stressing. Intermittently peppered with meals alone and an amazing night out with friends. For some, this might sound like a depressing trip. I mean who likes to eat alone? Or explore a strange town alone? Or stress because there is NOTHING on the housing market that fits you wants/needs/budget?


ME!!!


If you know me; you know I love spending time by myself. I like not having to socialize- even with my own family sometimes. I think it's the only child in me. What ever it is... I had an amazing time. And I didn't have to share my dessert with anyone. Gotta love that.


Our trip started out on a red-eye that we hoped we would sleep on. Sleeping on a full flight? In coach? what were we thinking?

We watched the sunrise from our limo. 

Pretty spiffy, but really early.

We then met our amazing realtor who has been agonizing over the lack of options just as much, if not more, than me.

Fast forward 4, no luck having, hours later and hubby had to head off to "work".

I hit the gym. And called other towns real estate agents in desperation. 

Then ate a super yummy dinner by myself at McCorrmick & Shmick's.

I recommend the side of wild mushroom risotto as a meal. After the house salad with blue cheese and candied walnuts. 

Sorry, I'm drooling on the keyboard.

The famous Atlantic City Boardwalk.

I went with hubby to Caesar's Palace the next morning. We walked on the boardwalk during one of the most beautiful morning ever. But even in my euphoric state I got a little misty eyed.

My grandmother used to bring me to the boardwalk for saltwater taffy when I was little.

I miss my grandma.

I love how she used to say my name when she was chastising me.

Chandra (insert southern accent *here*)

It was a blend of how could you and oh my heavens, what am I going to do with you? Sigh.

Then I got to ride a Jitney. It's a short bus taxi. The driver went super fast with the door open. Yelling at people to get off. It's a must do, but only once.

The next day dawned overcast.

Usually there is a breath taking view of the water out of this window.

This morning is was fog. Thick, syrupy fog. Kinda cool.

Insert sideways windy rain coupled with a sleep deprivation headache and you know how the day went.

Fast forward (again) to 6 pm when I had on my "sexy" dress. Ok not very sexy, but I felt great in it especially in my 5 in platform heels. (I got lots of compliments on them- thanks Nine West!).

We went to dinner at The Knife and Fork; an amazing Rat Pack era restaurant with food that is better than making babies. Well... maybe not better, but up there.

Our trip ended with an Amazing Race style intensity to the airport (located in Philly over an hour away). Horrible customer service from the front desk agents of US- Airways and this...

People well into our 3+ hour wait.

Okay, so weather can be tricky. Fine. But to have a plane physically land around hour #2 in our long wait and then to find out you have NO CREW to fly it? Come on! So, who was going to fly the plane if it had landed on time? we finally boarded the plane at 9:30 p.m. we were supposed to take off at 6 p.m. 

I now wish I had taken photos of all the amazing places listed above, but I'm new to this add photos to your blog business.

Keep you fingers crossed that the news we are waiting for comes soon. The impatient Sagittarius in me wants to get the heck outta dodge and begin a whole new adventure.

Can anyone say "beach house?"

What's Been Going On?

Many of you may have been checking in over the last week (or two) to find that I have not been at my blogging best.

 Life has happened. 

In the form of a mommy - daughter trip to San Francisco.

For her Kia-Ma's baby shower.

Then all three girls got a nasty cold.
Which they shared. 
Two days before an important trip.


But mostly I have some BIG changes on the horizon that have been consuming all of my free time. I can't share too much, just yet. 
Just in case I jinx it.
Keep your fingers crossed I don't.
I'd hate to waste the self tanner and manicure.




Until later...

Adventures are always better when you have a hand to hold. (hint, hint)