I'm Not Homesick...

…or some other lie I kept telling myself.

Feeling "homesick" is not an emotion that I have had much

experience with.

I remember as a kid my sisters getting homesick on long stays

with extended family.

I remember the other kids at sleep away camp crying the selves to sleep because

they missed their mommies.

Even as an adult I have seen my peers plagued with the old homesickness.

But myself, nope, never experienced it.

Over the past few months I've been trying to convince myself that this was true.

I can't be depressed or homesick, 

I love my new life here way too much.

It just doesn't make sense.

It was absolutely not and option for me.

But as the days got closer and closer for 

my quick trip back to Lake Worth, FL,

it became very clear to me.

I was feeling it.  That void.

dun dun duhhh 

I was homesick...

and in denial.

(As if the moping around and unexplainable tears were not a dead giveaway.)

I missed the familiarity of all of it.

Knowing where the good thrift stores are, knowing where 

to eat a good dinner with perfect strangers, 

spending hours just laughing and talking

with women who know me and accept me.

Slumber parties with crafts and Neil Diamond.

Breathing in the salt air.

I missed it all.

The only solution was to be immersed in it for 

a few days.

Now I am back to feeling like myself again.

Back in my home.  With my boys.

In Colorado.

Right where I belong.

But it's as if someone hit my reset button.

Thank you so much to my amazing host,

Kelly you sure know how to make me feel better.

And a big thanks to everyone that took time out of their busy lives to 

come and cure my homesickness.

Coffee Talks

"Shenanigans while he sleeps" - Jess

"I just love how beautiful and insane my little town library is." - Erin

Coffee Talks

"Nothing like a vintage hair piece to make you laugh!" - Erin

"Momma Dukes, Cools as a Cuke!" - Jess

30x30

Well, as these days are adding up, I have found that some items on my list have proven 

to be a bit harder to actually accomplish than others. 

Take Day 14 for example...

take a swim in the ocean.

Doesn't seem so hard since we live a mile away, 

yet I didn't take all the factors into account.

Even thought Monday was a beautiful 80°, 

welp that water was still icey.

Joining the Polar Bears Club....not on the 30x30 list.

Among other things were the terrible rip current and choppy waves 

and a major mess of sea weed.

All factors for a relaxing float were a negative.

Hey at least it was warm and sunny.

Yet the boy and I managed to play in the freezing shore break

 for long enough for him to end up soaked.

Of coarse it ended up just a perfect day,

just the way it was.

30x30

I was so excited about today's 30X30! 

Today the boy and I were to visit a local thrift store that we have never been to.

When making this list I knew exactly which establishment I wanted to visit!

ATOMIC LIVING!!!

I have been eye balling this store front for a few weeks, and could no longer 

use the excuse of not knowing where to park.

For those who need to know....

parking is around back.

Entering a store through the back door always feels special to me.

It's as if you know some tiny secret. 

As we walked up onto Atomic Living's back porch, 

I knew that we had stumbled upon a real eclectic gem.

We opened the door to this fantastic site, and my heart started to pitter patter.

Then we heard Gooch's sweet voice from around the corner inviting us in.

This place is like a treasure trove full of goodies.

 Gooch, the owner of Atomic Living and one of the coolest people I have met in a while, quickly took a liking to the boy allowing me to hunt for finds!

I found myself lost in a sea of vintage bathing suits.

When I poked my head around the corner to make sure that my child was behaving himself and being respectful, I was shocked and delighted to find that 

he and Gooch were submerged in a heated game of Operation.

This one tiny detail alone (among many others) has gained her a customer for life.

This store is a perfect combination of vintage, kitch, PBR towers and a whole lot of humor.

Any place that has a feature wall with a bald mannequin wearing a gas mask and a dear head smoking a cigarette has my name written all over it! If you are in the area, you must,

 I repeat must stop at Atomic Living!

You can find Gooch and Atomic Living at

619 N. Dixie Hwy

Lake Worth, FL 33460

Want to see what I bought? 

You will have to stay tuned for my Thrifty Finds post later in the week.

Coffee Talk

So as I promised for 2013, I have many new things happening here on the old blog.  I am so excited to introduce to you the first of a few new projects, called 'Coffee Talk'.

It's no secret that I miss my best friend so much it hurts sometimes.  When we lived right down the street from each other we would meet at my house or hers for coffee talks.  We would spill our guts, share stories about our families, offer advice, laugh, and cry, all the while enjoying a shared pot of coffee.

We are now separated by 1,230 miles, and I desperately miss our coffee talks.  I miss knowing all the small details that are going on in her daily life.  I miss her laughing at me stupid jokes.  I miss drinking so much coffee with her that we both get the jitters.  I miss her.  We still talk regularly, but it's not the same.

But now!!!! Every Friday morning our coffee talks will resume.  We have pledged to take one photograph before noon while having our coffee, and share them with each other, and here with you.

SO... With no further ado.... our first 'Coffee Talk'....

'Emma found C' - Jess

'Robots are watching ME' - me

Our Christmas: In Pictures