Life

30/52: Goodbye July

Wowwww. Woah. Wee. It's Friday! And the last day of July. I cannot believe how quickly July flew by (I know, I know, I always say that). But really, it seemed to have passed in the blink of an eye. This month is always full of fun things to celebrate and now that it's wrapping up, I am feeling a little more get down to business-y.

Not that I don't say it a million times per week, but I am finishing up school this quarter (due to my maternity leave of absence in my third year) and am looking ahead to the grand old job search.

Can you keep a secret? I am a little intimidated by it all. It is one of those big life moments filled with nervous excitement, intense melancholy, and utter elation. I have wanted to be a dentist since I was EIGHT years-old and now that my DDS is just over the horizon, it is a strange sensation. Everything I have worked towards academically is coming to fruition. WHAT? 

Okay, enough with that. I'm sure you'll hear me gush about 20 trillion more times before the quarter is over anyway.

On to this week's portrait. 

On Wednesday, Emma had her 15-month wellness visit (and vaccinations, poor thing) which was scheduled by her brilliant mom during nap time. And by brilliant, I mean dead stupid. So during a little afternoon drive to run some errands, she desperately needed a real nap. And at this point she had moved on to that loopy, completely overly exhausted tiredness that makes it nearly impossible to sleep. Again, stupidity on my part. 

Paul was driving and I was attempting to pull out all the tricks in the mommy handbook to get her to calm down long enough to let the car lull her to sleep.

Bottle? Nope. Tosses across the backseat.
Favorite book? Nada. Swats away with disgust. 
Lucky charms? Get away from me
iPhone? How dare you!? 
Pouch? Oh yes, let me snuggle with it

She finally fell asleep with her pouch in her mouth then snuggled with it like a teddy bear.

Mmkay.

I hope you have a good weekend. Emma does too. 

 

Birthday garlic, I mean girl

I love garlic. Love it. LUHVE IT.

(That was a weird way to start a post. Wild Samantha is my name.)

On Monday I turned 26. GASP. Or as my sister would say, "you're closer to 30 than you are to 20 now." Gag. 

Moving on. 

My mom and sister came into town on Sunday for a few days to visit with us (mostly Emma) and to --- DUH DUH DUHHHH -- babysit. Praise the Lord. 

Paul and I were able to enjoy an intimate dinner, just the two of us (we can make it if we try-eye), at The Stinking Rose. "What is that?" you ask, well it is more affectionately known as the garlic restaurant (tag line, we serve food with our garlic, giggle giggle). It's Italian. It's garlicy. It's delicious. It's stinkin' phenomenal. And I still smell like garlic three days later.

It was a terrific way to celebrate. And now, a photo dump.

Obligatory silly selfie session. 

Get down with your alliterative bad self, Samantha. 

IMG_7297.jpg

We like, we like to party. 

I ordered a humongous Manhattan (extra cherries because I'm a child) and I had their focaccia smothered in fresh garlic/parsley/olive oil. And now I'm weeping again.

I know, the back of my head looks great. And yes, food on my face. Of course. So glamorous. 

Paul got the garlic-crusted baby back ribs and he ate every. single. one. I ordered the 40-clove (!!!) roasted chicken. It was life-changing. And huge. And rosemary-y. And garlic-y. And vampires be warned by my breath.

Heaven is a place on earth with you. 

And yes, I spread those whole roasted cloves all over my bread and maybe straight on my face. 

Four fine servers also sang a happy birthday tune and placed this magnificent gem right on my head. 

I know, hot mama in the city.

Then to top off the evening, I had the BIGGEST scoop of garlic ice cream

I know, you're like WHAT THE EFFF? But seriously, it was some of the best ice cream I have ever had and that's saying a lot because ice cream is my favorite food on this here planet earth. It had this caramel mole sauce on top and I weeped for a third time. 

I shoveled that heaven in a bowl in my mouth like it was my last meal.

I'm going to need twelve more stomachs and next time, I'll skip the spanks so I can eat the entire restaurant.

All in all, it was one for the books. Emma was content as could be with my fam and I ate my weight in garlic goodies.

I am looking forward to all the things this next year will bring. Hopefully it comes served with garlic.

 

29/52: Anniversary celebration

Yesterday, Paul, Emma, and I enjoyed a quiet and relaxing anniversary dinner. These special occasions tend to sneak up on us now that Emma has popped on the scene. But amidst the chaos, we find time to slow it down.

Peak-a-boo master general, at your service. 

Have a wonderful weekend! 


What is this 52 thing all about you may ask? Well, we are a little more than halfway through the year and sometimes we all need a little reminder about this and that. This 52 project is all about life's extraordinarily ordinary moments. It's about those little snapshots and glimpses into our busy lives allowing me to stop, reflect, and appreciate the ordinary. Because after all, the ordinary is actually the extraordinary.