I decided to start getting back into blogging, but wanted to try a new location. Here's the new site:
www.jakeandlolo.wordpress.com
Stop by, say HI! and enjoy!
Lots of Love,
LoLo
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Monday, November 26, 2012
Music on my Mind...1
Do you ever have one of those days where a song you haven't heard in forever brings back so many memories? I do...a lot of songs bring back feelings I had in the moment I listened to them for the first time. Here are a couple of them...what songs bring back memories for you?
"Take a Picture" by Filter
I first heard this song in high school. It was one of those songs I could picture hot summer days right before school started, the sun, the anticipation, ahh...teenage years...
"Inside Out" by Eve 6
Another hit from my high school days...this was Sophomore year. Could you tell I was into Alternative music? :)
Monday, November 12, 2012
A Texas-sized announcement...
First off, again...like so many other times before...I apologize for my lack of blogging.
I've written this post over and over again, without the heart to push the "Post" button until now. I guess once I hit that little button, it will be real. But it needs to be said, to be announced..so here it goes.
Summer of 2013, my family and I will be moving from California to Texas.
For the past few years, Jake and I have been "planning" to move to the Fort Worth area, even making several trips to not only visit his Dad, but to also get acquainted with the area, places to live, schools, etc. We had planned on waiting until Jake graduated with his Bachelors Degree in Psychology from SFSU...and that's happening this coming May. Shortly after he graduates, we're going to move.
I must admit, although I am excited to live in a new place and start over from scratch, it's also REALLY scary for me. I have only ever lived in California (born and raised) my entire life. I've never lived anywhere else. There was a time I was going to move out of state a couple of times, but I ultimately decided to stay. Given how Jake has worked so hard to fulfill his dreams of being a Sports Psychologist, I can tell he misses his Dad. He and his Dad are buddies, and he's a completely different person when we're in Texas visiting. He smiles, he talks, he's happy. If we stay in California, we'll never be able to own a home. Sorry to say, but the schools aren't that great either. I feel growing up I got a good education, but I don't think my daughter would get the same caliber of studies Jake and I did unless she was put into private school which we can't afford. Gas prices are ridiculous, and there is a lot of limits for us here. Ultimately, moving to Texas means more to Jake than staying in California means to me. I enjoy Texas (well, not the heat) and I can see room to have our family grow in great neighborhoods that won't cost a fortune to live in. It's a new beginning, and I'm terrified. But I guess the mix of emotions that I'm going through now will help me adapt to our new environment when the time comes.
We don't have a definite date of when we'll move, but I will say that my Mom and Dad are coming with us. They've always made it clear that no matter where we live, they'll come too. We've always been close and they want to be wherever Scarlett and us are.
So for the next few months, I plan to peek in, send updates and chronicle our trek from a California family, to a Texas one. So...here we go!
I've written this post over and over again, without the heart to push the "Post" button until now. I guess once I hit that little button, it will be real. But it needs to be said, to be announced..so here it goes.
Summer of 2013, my family and I will be moving from California to Texas.
For the past few years, Jake and I have been "planning" to move to the Fort Worth area, even making several trips to not only visit his Dad, but to also get acquainted with the area, places to live, schools, etc. We had planned on waiting until Jake graduated with his Bachelors Degree in Psychology from SFSU...and that's happening this coming May. Shortly after he graduates, we're going to move.
I must admit, although I am excited to live in a new place and start over from scratch, it's also REALLY scary for me. I have only ever lived in California (born and raised) my entire life. I've never lived anywhere else. There was a time I was going to move out of state a couple of times, but I ultimately decided to stay. Given how Jake has worked so hard to fulfill his dreams of being a Sports Psychologist, I can tell he misses his Dad. He and his Dad are buddies, and he's a completely different person when we're in Texas visiting. He smiles, he talks, he's happy. If we stay in California, we'll never be able to own a home. Sorry to say, but the schools aren't that great either. I feel growing up I got a good education, but I don't think my daughter would get the same caliber of studies Jake and I did unless she was put into private school which we can't afford. Gas prices are ridiculous, and there is a lot of limits for us here. Ultimately, moving to Texas means more to Jake than staying in California means to me. I enjoy Texas (well, not the heat) and I can see room to have our family grow in great neighborhoods that won't cost a fortune to live in. It's a new beginning, and I'm terrified. But I guess the mix of emotions that I'm going through now will help me adapt to our new environment when the time comes.
We don't have a definite date of when we'll move, but I will say that my Mom and Dad are coming with us. They've always made it clear that no matter where we live, they'll come too. We've always been close and they want to be wherever Scarlett and us are.
So for the next few months, I plan to peek in, send updates and chronicle our trek from a California family, to a Texas one. So...here we go!
Friday, September 14, 2012
I survived...
I know I haven't written in a while. Things are crazy. Scarlett was sick last week, Jake's started his full time semester at SFSU, and everything else is just piling up. I'm exhausted...but that's OK.
This morning, my sister-in-law made me watch a video from last night's episode of X-Factor. It featured a VERY talented young woman named Jillian Jensen. She's gorgeous, one-of-a-kind, and has a unique voice that is very distinctive. She's also a victim of bullying.
So, here's a confession: I'm a survivor of bullying.
Through elementary and middle school, I wasn't popular. My dad held what some might call a blue-collar job. My mom is obese, and has been since I can remember. We didn't have a lot of money, so shopping at stores like Macy's was out of the question for us. One year, my parents had to take a small personal loan just to purchase Christmas presents and make a small dent in the bills. We drove hand-me-down cars, of which we were extremely grateful. I was and still am pretty sensitive. My defense mechanism was to cry, and many kids saw it as a weakness...one that was some kind of sick entertainment for them.
My biggest peeve was the bullying I endured because of my mom's weight. I LOVE my mom. She's the kindest, most selfless person I've ever met. If she has $5 to her name, she'll give it to you in spite of her being broke just so you can have $5 worth of gas...that's the kind of person she is. She lives for her family, especially my Dad and me. Granted at the time there was no Facebook, Twitter, or blogs. The bullying I went through wasn't the never-ending type that hounds kids today. But that doesn't mean it was any less hurtful. I began seeing a therapist in 2nd grade because I was being endlessly teased that I had braces before everyone else. There were times where I thought "If I ran away, my parents wouldn't have to pay for therapy for me.", and yes...sometimes I did think about killing myself. I know to some people that seems rather stupid, but for me, it was a momentary option to stop the torment. The closest I got was holding a razor up to my wrist, and then backing out at the last minute. I was in junior high at that time.
When I was in the 7th grade, I noticed girls started hugging each other as a greeting, so I followed suit. I was quickly labeled a lesbian and an outcast by my friends. When the school therapist held a session between myself and this one girl who seemed to make it her life's mission to beat every ounce of self-worth I had in me, the therapist asked why she was doing these things to me. The girl simply looked at me and said "No one in this school likes you. No one would care if you killed yourself. Why are you even here? Don't you know you're a waste of space?" At the end of my 8th grade year, it was my last at that school with those people. The previous year, we moved into my parents' house they now have, thinking it was in the same school district I had been in since Kindergarten. It turned out we were JUST outside the border, so for my final year in that district, I transferred in. When faced with the decision to keep the transfer and continue in high school in that district, or the district we had moved into, I chose to cancel the transfer. I wanted to start anew in a new school, new district. Most of all, it was new people...a new chance. When the yearbooks came out for my 8th grade year, someone actually wrote "No one like you, so LEAVE!" in the back of the book. I still have it, and it still stings.
Things got better in high school. I started hanging out with a closer knit group of 3-4 friends. Of course, there always had to be ONE person to tease me. The peak of it was my senior year where he actually called my house and left a very disturbing voicemail that my parents had to listen too. Of course, he didn't know we had caller ID (it was fairly new back then) and so I called him back and left a voicemail on his cell phone (also fairly new for teens to have) and simply said "How dare you harass my parents. If you're stupid enough not to know that I know it's you based on the fact that I have caller ID, then you aren't as smart as you think you are. If you EVER call my house, leave voicemails, or harass me or my parents EVER again, I will call the police and have you arrested." Needless to say, he never called or bothered me ever again.
As a mother, and now on the other side of the wall when I comes to enduring bullying, I worry about Scarlett. I know for a fact that she's a beautiful, smart, sweet little girl. I mean what other kid says "I love you" and when you say "I love you too", do they say "Thank you"? I worry that she'll go through what I went through, and I don't want her fiery, outgoing, loving spirit to be broken like mine was. I know how valuable she is for anyone to have as a friend, and I don't want her to feel she has to shoulder bullies alone, should they ever start to show themselves to her. But I guess I have to trust that she'll either not take shit, or come and tell me so I can help her. Whatever she goes through, I will let her know I was there, I survived, and she won't ever be alone.
This morning, my sister-in-law made me watch a video from last night's episode of X-Factor. It featured a VERY talented young woman named Jillian Jensen. She's gorgeous, one-of-a-kind, and has a unique voice that is very distinctive. She's also a victim of bullying.
So, here's a confession: I'm a survivor of bullying.
Through elementary and middle school, I wasn't popular. My dad held what some might call a blue-collar job. My mom is obese, and has been since I can remember. We didn't have a lot of money, so shopping at stores like Macy's was out of the question for us. One year, my parents had to take a small personal loan just to purchase Christmas presents and make a small dent in the bills. We drove hand-me-down cars, of which we were extremely grateful. I was and still am pretty sensitive. My defense mechanism was to cry, and many kids saw it as a weakness...one that was some kind of sick entertainment for them.
My biggest peeve was the bullying I endured because of my mom's weight. I LOVE my mom. She's the kindest, most selfless person I've ever met. If she has $5 to her name, she'll give it to you in spite of her being broke just so you can have $5 worth of gas...that's the kind of person she is. She lives for her family, especially my Dad and me. Granted at the time there was no Facebook, Twitter, or blogs. The bullying I went through wasn't the never-ending type that hounds kids today. But that doesn't mean it was any less hurtful. I began seeing a therapist in 2nd grade because I was being endlessly teased that I had braces before everyone else. There were times where I thought "If I ran away, my parents wouldn't have to pay for therapy for me.", and yes...sometimes I did think about killing myself. I know to some people that seems rather stupid, but for me, it was a momentary option to stop the torment. The closest I got was holding a razor up to my wrist, and then backing out at the last minute. I was in junior high at that time.
When I was in the 7th grade, I noticed girls started hugging each other as a greeting, so I followed suit. I was quickly labeled a lesbian and an outcast by my friends. When the school therapist held a session between myself and this one girl who seemed to make it her life's mission to beat every ounce of self-worth I had in me, the therapist asked why she was doing these things to me. The girl simply looked at me and said "No one in this school likes you. No one would care if you killed yourself. Why are you even here? Don't you know you're a waste of space?" At the end of my 8th grade year, it was my last at that school with those people. The previous year, we moved into my parents' house they now have, thinking it was in the same school district I had been in since Kindergarten. It turned out we were JUST outside the border, so for my final year in that district, I transferred in. When faced with the decision to keep the transfer and continue in high school in that district, or the district we had moved into, I chose to cancel the transfer. I wanted to start anew in a new school, new district. Most of all, it was new people...a new chance. When the yearbooks came out for my 8th grade year, someone actually wrote "No one like you, so LEAVE!" in the back of the book. I still have it, and it still stings.
Things got better in high school. I started hanging out with a closer knit group of 3-4 friends. Of course, there always had to be ONE person to tease me. The peak of it was my senior year where he actually called my house and left a very disturbing voicemail that my parents had to listen too. Of course, he didn't know we had caller ID (it was fairly new back then) and so I called him back and left a voicemail on his cell phone (also fairly new for teens to have) and simply said "How dare you harass my parents. If you're stupid enough not to know that I know it's you based on the fact that I have caller ID, then you aren't as smart as you think you are. If you EVER call my house, leave voicemails, or harass me or my parents EVER again, I will call the police and have you arrested." Needless to say, he never called or bothered me ever again.
As a mother, and now on the other side of the wall when I comes to enduring bullying, I worry about Scarlett. I know for a fact that she's a beautiful, smart, sweet little girl. I mean what other kid says "I love you" and when you say "I love you too", do they say "Thank you"? I worry that she'll go through what I went through, and I don't want her fiery, outgoing, loving spirit to be broken like mine was. I know how valuable she is for anyone to have as a friend, and I don't want her to feel she has to shoulder bullies alone, should they ever start to show themselves to her. But I guess I have to trust that she'll either not take shit, or come and tell me so I can help her. Whatever she goes through, I will let her know I was there, I survived, and she won't ever be alone.
Monday, August 20, 2012
Glitter and Gloss = FAB!
About a year after I got married, I started going online to a website called The Nest, which follows The Knot after you get married. About a year later, I started floating to the "sister" site of The Nest, called The Bump, which focuses more on moms and pregnant moms-to-be. Almost immediately upon arriving, I noticed one of the "Bumpies", named Heather, had a gorgeous little girl with the biggest blue eyes I'd ever seen.
Over the past few years, I've seen pictures of her daughter grow, and Heather and her husband welcome their second beautiful daughter into their family. I've always admired Heather's style and humor...I personally think she's fabulous! So Heather has a blog called Glitter and Gloss, which you can read HERE . One of her weekly "features" is Mani Monday. Her posts actually inspired me to wear nail polish again after YEARS of never wearing it. I never really ventured into that part of the "Beauty" section at Target or CVS. Now I do from time to time and when I do, I never come home without a new bottle of polish that I almost immediately put on.
Just wanted to give a shout out to a fab gal with fab style! #manimonday
Over the past few years, I've seen pictures of her daughter grow, and Heather and her husband welcome their second beautiful daughter into their family. I've always admired Heather's style and humor...I personally think she's fabulous! So Heather has a blog called Glitter and Gloss, which you can read HERE . One of her weekly "features" is Mani Monday. Her posts actually inspired me to wear nail polish again after YEARS of never wearing it. I never really ventured into that part of the "Beauty" section at Target or CVS. Now I do from time to time and when I do, I never come home without a new bottle of polish that I almost immediately put on.
Just wanted to give a shout out to a fab gal with fab style! #manimonday
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Challenge Week 5
Confession: Jake and I didn't go to Weight Watchers to weigh in on Saturday. Considering it was our only weekend for the next 6-8 weeks that we had absolutely nothing to do, we decided to do just that. We sat around in our PJs all day and watched TV. It was bliss.
Weigh in is this weekend. We'll see how we do.
Weigh in is this weekend. We'll see how we do.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Challenge Week 4
So Saturday's weigh-in was a total bust. Both Jake and I gained, a lot. How, I have no idea. We've been tracking everything (well, I have) and we've been walking every other morning. Jake was rather miffed at his gain, and I was more in shock. So we decided to drown our sorrows in a lunch at Sonic on our way to Sacramento this weekend for our family's annual 4th of July BBQ party. Since 4th of July is on a Wednesday this year, we decided to celebrate the weekend before since we purchase legal fireworks and it's illegal to set them off after the 4th.
So here's how Jake and I stand
LoLo: +2.8lbs, Total lost: +1.0lbs
Jake: +2.6lbs, Total lost: -0.4lbs
It. sucks...HARD.
Of course it gives me no motivation to keep going with the Weight Watchers, but I know we have to keep going. If every time I have a bad day I give up on being healthy and eat myself into oblivion, I'd be 1000lbs by now. Doesn't mean I didn't indulge in a full-fat Iced Caramel Macchiato this morning (thanks, hun!) but it is what it is. New day, new start....right?
Until next week!
So here's how Jake and I stand
LoLo: +2.8lbs, Total lost: +1.0lbs
Jake: +2.6lbs, Total lost: -0.4lbs
It. sucks...HARD.
Of course it gives me no motivation to keep going with the Weight Watchers, but I know we have to keep going. If every time I have a bad day I give up on being healthy and eat myself into oblivion, I'd be 1000lbs by now. Doesn't mean I didn't indulge in a full-fat Iced Caramel Macchiato this morning (thanks, hun!) but it is what it is. New day, new start....right?
Until next week!
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