Best Blogger BFF Ever!

I arrived home the other day only to find a package on my doorstep only to find that it was a little gift from my blogger best friend, Jihan. It was Jihan's "Favorite Things Swap" that got me into this whole blogging world in the first place. Though we have yet to meet, it is going to happen soon and it is going to be great! Thank you, Jihan. You always make my day!

Inside the goodies included some tall candles (to celebrate our 1 year friendship), some jelly pens, bath tea, a candle holder, orange-shaped nail files, and letterpressed cards. It's amazing that someone I have never met can know me so well!

Girls Just Wanted to Have Fun

I took a little pre-vacation to Palm Springs last weekend with my sister Sarah and my friend Beth. We left husbands and babies (theirs, not mine) at home and took off. Though my sister's 7 month pregnant belly prevented us from partaking in the usual mass quantities of margaritas by the pool, we managed to survive on Arnold Palmers and iced lattes. The weather was perfect (only about 100 degrees) and the free room upgrade was so appreciated.

The girls.

Here's just some of the room. I realize I should have taken pictures before we messed it all up, but I had other priorities like getting to the pool.

This script was left in the room. I read through it and was not all that impressed. Just watch, the movie will be a blockbuster and I could have sold the draft of the script for a million dollars.

I can't believe some people only bring out a towel to the pool. Amateurs.

This is what happens to magazines when they sit in the sun for too long. I had more than a few months of reading to catch up on. I still have a few left.

No pictures of us in our bathing suits. No pictures in the pool. I'm not crazy. Nobody sees me with my swim noodle. Nobody.

Did you miss me?

Where on earth have the last two months gone? I find it unbelievable that June has crept up so fast and is now clouding us with its gloom as it quickly moves along. Last post April 9? Really? Say it isn't so. I have been such a neglectful blogger and for all four of you reading, I give you my sincerest apologies. It's not as if I have been jet setting or crime fighting or even doing anything remotely interesting. Nope. I have just been enjoying life (as the title of this lovely little blog reminds me to do) without taking the time to slow down and capture it all in words. But enough of that. It's time for an update. Trust me, you won't be all that impressed. But this is my outlet. This is where I log the happenings of my life so that I may go back later and reminisce. No, I do not mean that you are inconsequential, rather that even when my life seems somewhat mundane I must carry on. Even if it may not appeal to the masses. For this is not a place to gain popularity. It is just a place to jot down my thought and record my memories. Thanks for coming back. I'll be better about posting from here forward. I promise. Except for the next two weeks while I am on vacation. But when I return, watch out. You won't be able to get rid of me. You'll see.

Since April 9, I...

• celebrated my sister in law's, my nephew's, and my niece's birthdays
• celebrated Mother's and Father's Day
• cracked up as I watched Gabe and Chris (my cousin's husband) jam in the living room
• watched Sawyer learn to ride a bike
• attended Connor's First Holy Communion
• spent time with my husband's family
• laughed hysterically as my brother and brother in law "borrowed" the neighbor's Ferrari for a "swing around the block"
• learned to play not only Wii boxing, bowling and tennis, but also Guitar Hero
• realized we need to buy a Wii
• went to Palm Springs for girls' weekend
• read a couple of books and finally caught up on my magazines from January
• planned and threw a baby shower for my sister
• lost 8.5 pounds
• rediscovered the fun of bubble gum (Bubblicious, to be exact)
• got a terrible sun burn
• finally organized my office after 2 years of using it as "the everything room"
• decided to get serious about pulling my website together
• realized that I need to be more focused on all of these little projects (read: this blog) and follow through

So here it is. April and May in pictures. Enjoy. June will be up tomorrow.

Gabe was a very good uncle these past two months. There seemed to be an inordinate amount of family functions.

Needless to say, I am terrible at Guitar hero. Gabe was quite the virtuoso.
If I ever owned a Ferrari, I really don't think I would just be letting the neighbors take it out for a spin.
Sawyer can now officially ride a "big boy bike".
Don't get me wrong, I love being married to a drummer. But it would be sooo much quieter if he took up guitar.

Randi and Lyndi don't always get to have rock concerts in their living room. I don't often get to hear Gabe play High School Musical numbers on the drums.

This is Gabe's Wii guy. The resemblance is uncanny.

Yes, it hurt even worse than it looked and no, I was not naked in this picture. I had a towel on. Please wear sunscreen. Please.

Girls' Night Out

Dinner with the family is fun, but sometimes it is nice to celebrate just with the girls. Rarely do I go to hip, loungey places- Gabe and I are more the neighborhood Mexican food joint kind of couple- so it it was fun to be out of my element last night at Mesa (no website- this is one of those you really have to be in the know to know this place exists kind of places).

We got there early, before anyone else really, which made it easy to get some pictures. The way this place is set up is unique because it is has an open ceiling, so you are outside, but you are inside. How clever.

Thanks, girls! I had a great time. We keep saying it, but we really DO need to make a habit out of this Girl's Night thing!

Shopping Spree

I did it. I shopped like a crazy woman. From Loehmann's to Fashion Island, I hit them all. 2 pairs of jeans, about ten tops, some other miscellaneous dresses and skirts and probably too much money later, I have a new wardrobe for the Spring and Summer. Happy Birthday to me. (OK, the Sigerson Morrison pumps may have been an unnecessary splurge, but they are soooo cute and I found them at Loehmann's for a bit of a discount!)

Just a little glimpse. Now, if I could only drop ten pounds to make these all look even better!

It's a skirt, no it's a dress

...or is it a turtleneck poncho? I received this little number for my birthday. It is fabulous beyond words. So far I have come up with 5 different ways to wear it. I believe J.Crew is selling themself short by only showing 2! Regardless, I will be quite stylish on the beaches of Costa Rica in my new dress/skirt/coverup this summer!

An orchid by any other name

Growing up a "Mimi" most certainly was not always easy. Oh how I longed to be a Karen or a Jennifer or even a Kelly. For the most part I embraced my name and learned to love it for the fact that it was unique. Other than "Mimi's Cafe", I rarely, if ever heard of anyone with the same name. These days it seems the name is a bit more common, though hardly popular. The most common reaction I get when giving my name at Starbucks or at a restaurant is, "Oh, I love that name! That's my dog's name!". Um, excuse me? Am I supposed to be in some way honored by this? Anyway, I recently decided to track the usage of my name and my blog name on the Internet and have been inundated with updates of the usage of "Mimi Palmer". Come to find out, they are not talking about me at all. Nope. Apparently there is an exotic orchid that goes by the same name. Described as "unique", "eccentric" and "temperamental", a deeper connection to a flower I could not feel. So here it is, "the" Mimi Palmer (sooo much prettier than some scruffy mutt):

image via flickr

He came, he hopped, he hid the eggs

As my husband so sweetly reminded me, the Easter Bunny visits children. Not thirty-somethings, but children. Whatever. Despite my basketless condition, I managed to have a rather enjoyable and relaxing day (even if it was 90 degrees!). Church, brunch, an egg hunt, a nap and a bikeride- Spring has definitely sprung!

Most impressive of all- that the cousins were willing to put up with everyone taking pictures for 20 minutes. Not bad for 8 kids under the age of 7, huh?

Proud Auntie Mimi and Uncle Gabe

Happy Birthday Mom!

Saturday night was full of family fun. The immediate family is currently at 12 with one more on the way (no, not mine) and, needless to say, it is always an adventure when we go out for dinner together. This time it was to celebrate Grandma's birthday. After a near altercation and enough food for three days worth of meals, it was back to the house for my "I can't find a recipe I like so I'll make it up as I go Lemon and Raspberry Layer Cake". All in all, it was a lovely evening with the family. Happy Birthday, mom. I love you.

To every season

Life just never ceases to amaze. Just when things are status quo life steps in and shakes things up as if to remind us that nothing is constant, nothing is forever, and nothing is without change. Never in my life has this been so glaringly evident to me as it has been recently. In less than a week's time I have experienced such a vast array of emotion that, quite honestly, I have just wanted to be alone with my thoughts in an effort to try to make sense of it all. You see, in this short period of time I have experienced the death of a friend, the birth of my best friend's son, a marriage and a near divorce (not mine, someone else's). To say I have been conflicted is somewhat of an understatement. My happiness has been tainted by guilt and my pain has not even truly had a chance to surface.
As I write this I realize that I may be sharing too much or that I may even be speaking to no one but myself, but for me it is the first step in resolving the clash of emotions that has recently taken over my thoughts. You see, the funny thing about life is that it doesn't slow down. There is no asking to take a time out just because you need to regroup. Nope. You must take the good with the bad and the bitter with the sweet, because at the end of it all these are the experiences that shape you. These are the experiences that remind us to live each day to its fullest and to enjoy every moment. Surprisingly, this is easier said than done. But I'm working on it.