A Feel Good Burger Romance

This past week has been insane, and finding a moment that has not already been compromised has been tough. But tonight, in honor of the very patriotic burger, we made a trip to “Junior’s Colombian Burger”. I have been hesitant to try it out as my friends have for years hyped about this place; but boy am I glad I finally made the jump! The up’s: Their sauce options! Their chipotle and Zizu sauce (secret recipe of garlicy goodness) are a must try! The burger is not only HUGE but it has potato chips and a slightly sweet pineapple sauce.

The downside is it can get messy and the lettuce and bun do get soggy which hubs wasn’t thrilled about. Overall it was a great experience, nice ambiance and certainly a burger joint I’m looking forward to trying out once again!

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Fine China: Night at the Lantern Fest

“Zoominations” is Lowry Park Zoo’s nighttime Chinese Latern festival. This was perfect Monday night play-date for our little Padwan and Zombie as the colors kept them amazed.

We got there pretty early and got to see the lanterns during sunset and later when it was fully dark out. The lights are beautiful but the park is pretty small as most animals have been put away for the day. A few pretty neat ones that we did get to see were the Indian Rhino and the Clouded leopard!

The zoo also offers two show times for the Chinese Acrobats acts at 7:00 and 9:00 pm. Hubs and our special guest Jeff got the opportunity to be a part of the show honorary circus entertainers; minus the rainbow afro. BEWARE: At-the-door prices are far higher than I would pay BUT lucky for us there’s a Groupon which gets two people in for $25.00!

While I'm sure most parents would prefer to make this a weekend trip; we like a little adventure and went for mini-road trip on a Monday night! Packed with play-mates, ice cream, lights, and animals. What’s not to love about this budget-friendly option to get the kids away from the mundane for an night!

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Just the RIGHT Amount of Edge

Since finding out I was pregnant 3 years ago I knew Homeschooling was the ONLY option for us. I work full time but I’m on the road literally every 2 months (work hard play hard, right?) I knew we’d have to make some drastic changes to our lifestyle if we chose to enter Zombie into the public or private school system. I wanted my daughter to view learning as an everyday experience not reading out of a textbook for an hour per subject. I wanted her to learn without realizing it was happening because honestly, living IS learning. I don’t want her to read about the Great Barrier Reef, I want her to scuba dive through it and experience it for herself and let curiosity be her teacher.

So BOOM you make this huge decision which by the way is the ultimate burden on your conscious and you start to question your capacity to teach this little human all they need to know to be successful in the “real world” So now where do you start?!

There are hundreds of thousands of curriculums out there to choose from, plenty of activities to keep you busy and more than just a handful of blogs to read up on the various homeschool topics. Yet with all the resources available to homeschool parents via the internet and public libraries why is it I still feel so alone and vulnerable? How will you ever know if you’re doing it right?

It’s scary how all we want as young parents is to be unique and fun and have just the right amount of edge to a life that is always in danger of becoming mundane and when you get it, the power is almost more than you can handle.

So in an act of desperation I ask, are there any parents that would be willing to meet-and-greet with this amateur homeschool mommy? I’m willing to fervently take notes on the tips and best practices you share and I’ll forever be in your debt.

Signed,

An anxious Wanderlust Momma

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“Mami, Tu ta arriba- O tu ta bajo?”

I miss the stories you’d tell of the days when frizzy curly haired children running around a big house in Little Havana as you screamed around the house in red lipstick and high-waist shorts.

Every little gesture, annoying voicemail, and expensive taste in mother’s day presents each year makes this first year without you the hardest. Your smile that shone like sunlight through the delicate peonies petals is our wake up alarm in the morning, pushing us to be the people who you always wanted us to be. We miss you each day more than the last and on behalf of your favorite Princesses and little Prince, Happy Mother’s Day Mami.

We miss you each day more than the less, and although no amount of tears or anger can bring you back, So this time I’ll just remind you, Mami, nos vemos arriba…

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Sister-Cousin: the Greatest Lifetime Sibling Replacement?

As I near my 3rd year of parental life everyone I speak with has an opinion about my decision to stop having children once I reached #1.

“She’ll have no one to play with!" “she’ll grow up spoiled!” “She’ll be all alone once you die!”

Well Let me alleviate some of your concerns.

I could rant about how it’s my body or how being a Millennial influences my decision of having kids to begin with. But that isn’t the point I want to make.

My daughter already has an older sister; my niece “La la la” and like gossiping teenagers these two speak EVERYDAY. Having a relationship that’s so close like theirs has made me realize I don’t NEED to have another child for her to reap the benefits of having a sibling! Four out of the seven days a week these two spend time together. They fight. They share. They dance and spread mischief.

I don’t intend on having anymore children because we have other goals we want to attain before even considering expanding our family. My schedule barely enables me to spend time with hubs, my toddler, school, and extra projects. How I would fit a newborn into this madness? I wouldn't know where to start!

Now please don't get me wrong. I think big families are beautiful and God bless those who can do it! For now, I’m loving the simple life.

I highly recommend this article by Katrina Alcorn on Millennials and their views on planning for children.

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Counting Stars

Zombie stood at the doorway looking doe-eyed at her new home. A new apartment, new room, and a new bed (canopy included)! She was a freshly turned one-year old and although we didn't co-sleep, her playpen sat beside our bed as we only had a one bedroom loft.

This was the first night she would be sleeping completely alone. Hubs and I bathed her in kisses and tucked her into her new fairytale bed; leaving the door just a crack open.

Within minutes through the corner of my eye I'd see tiny feet enveloped in a striped pink onesie and an elephant blanket trailing behind. Bouncy curls and hot tears trotting our way crying and shaking her head as we'd walk her back to her new room.

This went on for a month.

How we overcame the monster of independent sleeping? Well, we just stood our ground!

We'd close the door and each time she'd come out we'd hold her hand and walk her back to bed until one day we'd kiss her to pieces and shut the door and wouldn't hear of her until morning.

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Baby Blue's

Matchy-Matchy with my main squeeze today! This photo was taken just moments before she shattered my iphone.

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Leave Nothing But Footprints

Georgia Day #2: Spent the day chasing peacocks for a pluck of just a wittle tail feather and playing catch with the baby black bears who attracted our audience of (4) with their ability to catch the carrots straight in the mouth!

The Lawrenceville petting zoo hit just the spot for little Zombie's adventure needs. The place even had a mini desert where she could pick up the rabbits! And let's not forget about the outlaw baby goats who jumped out of their cage and ran around trail, bunch of cuties!

I'll confess my first time in Georgia was filled with disappointment and trash talk of how "country" it really was compared to the bustling city of Orlando. This time I opened my heart the southern way and Georgia, you son-of-a-peach, you've won me over.

I'm super grateful to my cousin-in-law for suggesting the petting zoo. Not only was she worn out by the end of our trail but it was a great opportunity for us to confirm her understanding of each animal and their sounds and distinctions. Vacation & Education. BOOM BABY!

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Snores and Snuggles

In my household we have a lot of late nights that usually end in me maneuvering my pen around a head full of curls asleep on my lap in order for me to complete my assignments. How delicious it is to hear little rabbit snores coming from this miniature being who’s cuddled against me as my head spins around the interstellar masses of spherical and irregular galaxies… (Tonight we’re hashing out astronomy homework)

I often feel I don’t spend enough time with her and on quiet nights like these I realize she appreciates these tiny gestures as much as I do.

How do we become better parents? How do we dedicate more hours in a day that we really don’t have to these children who are crying for our attention… I once read an article that reminded me that parenting is renewed day-by-day. Every morning you wake up with a new opportunity to love your child more than the day before. Through the tantrums, through the frustration, we love them as much and as hard as the day before and somehow, through tiny specks of unicorn dust, they’ll understand these moments are everlasting between just you too.

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"Last One Mom, I Promise"

Being a parent definitely makes you reconsider many of the choices you make... tattoos however were never one of them, until now. Spontaneously hubs took me to get some new ink, I was stoaked! As I flaunted my new permanent ring however, I was met with several controversial conversations which had never come up in the past with my other tattoos.

"How would you feel if your daughter came home with an array of tattoos?" "How do you think this affects the way others deem you competent to be a parent?"

To answer their question, I believe in the power of individuality,and tattoos are a way of self-expression. I'd be happy my little Zombie found something she found beautiful enough to keep on her body forever.

What are your thoughts on the topic? How has your perception changed since having children and tattooing your body?

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