A Short Staycation

As a family we recently went to the Gaylord Hotel in Grapevine to participate in some of their Halloween events. While we took Kaylee around to different parts of the atrium, it quickly inspired Ken and I to take a look at staying there for a couple nights. I think the last time I had been there was probably 8-10 years ago and honestly I don't even recall the details in my memory of it. Ken and I had been debating on whether or not we should take a vacation. We're practically too lazy to travel this year and this place seemed to cover off on a few things we were trying to check off.

Great Atmosphere. Check.

Good Food. Check.

Spa. Check.

We are so basic, and easy to please. Also, it's super close to our home that it would be easy to pop by and get Kaylee anything she needed. Luckily that did not happen. My mom handled it all very well while we were out and we're so appreciative to have her help while she's staying with us.

Meanwhile, staycationing at the Gaylord during this time aligned really well to kicking off their holiday events too. They had so many activities all throughout the resort, but most catered towards kids (which was unfortunate we didn't have Kaylee there to experience it all). Ken and I truly wanted break. The work, the parenting, life as a whole. We needed to pause and reset. We wined and dined, and pretty much slept. What could you ask for more? We ice skated, enjoyed an amazing massage, walked through some beautiful Christmas lights and explored the entire resort inside and out.

The staycation was short, but all the more worth it. We typically like these short and sweet because honestly the hustle is really what gets both of us going. Our next adventure is already booked...we'll be visiting Colorado in December. It will be Kaylee's first time on an airplane. Wish us luck.

What I'm Grateful For...

Let's do a little deep reflection and some appreciation, I mean it's November so might as well, right?

My Husband

So sappy and I know it! But damn, this guy I chose to do life with is someone that I greatly appreciate. Our relationship is different than I think the standards are. The perception that we spend time separately and enjoy that confuses people, and when we are together there's a ton of banter that's going on with lots of smiles.

My husband has taken the brunt of my emotional spectrum and I can't believe he's still here to this day standing by my side. I can be utterly mean one second, and flip into a rage at a random trigger and he patiently deals with me. I don't think we've ever gone to bed angry with one another and it's something we pride ourselves on. We open our communication, and I can truly say that I've improved the way I've dealt with conflict since being with him. I appreciate the things he does for me, thinks about me, and the family he wants to build together. The way I see him light up for Kaylee always makes me get a little fuzzy inside. He's in this relationship for the long haul and man oh man marriage is a growth experience for us both.

My Career

This year there was so many transitions however along the way I had the greatest support when it came to my peers and mentors. I'm so grateful to those who had a hand in how I've developed and built on my expertise, and how we've also become a source of friendship along the way. Career used to be my everything - I did the grind and hustled where I could and although I wish I could say I still give it my all, the introduction of becoming a mom was harder to grapple between the balances. But no matter what, I still dedicated the time to my career and the people around me and can truly say there was a return that couldn't be measured. Also, being welcomed back with open arms to my old company has been a great experience in the sense that getting back in the groove was so easy and comfortable. These people and the culture can't be uniquely found in every place, and for that you have to be so appreciative of.

Coffee + UberEats

I'm joking on this, but not joking. The fact that I live off of coffee getting me going every morning and UberEats to keep the family fueled. We stopped cooking every day as we just couldn't handle the prepping and planning, and cleaning that's all involved with it. It's so much more expensive BUT the return we get with more time to spend with Kaylee and each other, and the down time to recharge the HP expended throughout the day has been necessary to keep us all happy.

There's obviously so much more to be grateful for and I could go on and on. For now, I'm going to cap it off on top 3 that's top of mind, and close it off with this little recap photo of Halloween. (I'm still recovering from this weekend of festivities)

Fall Days are Here!

Finally, cool air has hit Texas and bugs are at bay which means I'm planning on being out and about as much as I possibly can these next couple of months. We're prepping for Kaylee's first Halloween which will be pretty fun all things considering, and we've been having a lot of weekend outings whether it's the Zoo, the Arboretum, or the State Fair.

This month is also the anniversary of my dad's passing. A year without him and talking about memories with him is different. He didn't get to see Kaylee grow into the crazy toddler she is or how I transitioned into a mother. My family isn't necessarily the same without him, but I think we've improved all of our relationships. We're more understanding and patient with one another for the most part. There are times where we are quick to judge and react negatively that we all need to work on.

Ken and I are having an amazing time raising our daughter. We've gotten into a great routine of parenting and right now it's a little smooth sailing. I'm waiting for tantrum phase to hit where things might fall apart (just a little bit), in the meantime we'll enjoy all the smiles we can get.

As we move forward into this next season that's filled with so many holidays and family time, I'm trying to reenergize myself into seizing the moment of each day. It's been difficult to stay motivated and move my tasks along, and when I reflect on the things I've accomplished I can no longer say I feel proud of my efforts. I want to capitalize on this crazy thing we called life. Dig a little deeper into building relationships beyond my current network, start projects that put me out of my comfort zone, and so on and so on.

IT'S TIME FOR AN ERA OF NO EXCUSES. I've taken advantage of so many lazy moments, and it's time to turn it around. Next month Ken and I plan to take a vacation somewhere close by with only the 2 of us. I think the last time we did this was a couple of years ago so this is definitely due time. This is the timeline that I'm working towards to truly feel that the vacation is a reward. Here we go!