Category Archives: A Motherly Moment

02.11.15

so blessed.

so blessed.  |  kiki's list.

Our little Anna Lou is home and went off for her first day back at school today!  We are so blessed, the surgery could not have gone better and her doctors are thrilled with how quickly she has recovered.   We are still awaiting her pathology report, but from what her surgeon saw-  we shouldn’t expect any surprises.

In the four days that I spent at Children’s National Medical Center I couldn’t help but think about how blessed we are.  We were there proactively treating our daughter to prevent the onset of thyroid cancer.  We were surrounded by so many that weren’t as fortunate.  For many in the surgical unit-  this was their last hope for their children.  This wasn’t lost on us.  It’s a shame that it takes seeing so many less fortunate than you to realize how good you have it.

We were so humbled by the entire experience and so impressed with the entire staff at Children’s.  From the doctors and nurses, to the administrators and the janitors.  Being there for any amount of time it’s clear to see how the employees’ main focus is to nurture every child that they touch.  However, with an epidemic of pediatric cancer and the rising costs of treatment it becomes difficult to provide such quality healthcare to the masses.  This is the case at so many Children’s Hospitals across the country.  We are indebted to the staff at Children’s and have become forever changed by our experience.  Now it’s time for us to give back so that so many children have the chance to grow up, just like our Anna Lou. ♥

02.03.15

i love you to the moon and back.

to the moon and back  |  kiwi's list.That’s what I say to my girls.  Every day.  In fact, we even have this print on our wall.

Today is a difficult day for me as the time has come for us to take care of something we’ve known about for years.  Today I will say those words as they take my baby into the OR.  Is she scared?  Not really.  Am I scared?  Terrified.  We are so fortunate to have some of the best doctors in the world-  but this is not the easiest surgery nor the easiest recovery. The good news is that all of the tests thus far have shown no trace of cancer.  We will know more after the pathology comes back.   I know in my heart of hearts that she will be fine-  but please, keep us in your prayers this week.

01.21.15

blueprint cleanse.

blueprint cleanse  |  kiki's list.

Last week I tried a 3 day Blueprint Cleanse for the first time.  I have tried many other cleanses in the past, but what I liked about this one was that there was absolutely no effort on my part.  You basically drink these six juices that are overnight expressed to you in numerical order for three days.  That’s it.  (Confession:  I also “spoiled myself” with some arugula and fresh squeezed lemon each afternoon.)

Unlike some of the other cleanses out there, these are USDA Certified Organic.  They say that about 20 lbs. of produce goes into each bottle of juice.. and I beleive it!  I felt more energetic, less bloated and lost a few pounds.

After the cleanse I tried to make my favorite Pineapple Apple Mint juice (seriously, it might be the best thing I’ve ever tasted, I wanted to pour vodka in it… is that bad?) and it cost me about $10 of produce and 30 minutes of prep to get about a 1/2 cup of juice, which was good, but not as good as Blueprint’s.  This stuff is worth it’s weight in gold I tell you!  You can order them from their website, or purchase most of their juices at Wholefoods.

blueprint cleanse  |  kiki's list.
I am a convert.  I have signed up for a bi-weekly delivery of the Tasting Flight (includes 2 Pineapple Apple Mints, 2 Spicy Lemonades and 2 Cashew Milk with Cinnamon, Agave Nector and Vanilla.)  All delicious and a great option for those mornings when I don’t have time for breakfast, or in the evenings to mix with vodka. 😉

06.06.14

fashion friday: sexy mom suits.

I have definitely been slack about getting my body into swimsuit shape.  I’ve never been how would you say…. a gym rat, but life’s been a bit stressful lately and let’s face it– it’s a lot easier to go out to eat after a day of work, school and activities than it is to figure out what to cook at 6:30 at night.  So, I am about 30 lbs. heavier than my realistic ideal weight.  Yes, I said it — 30 POUNDS.  Ugh.

 I have surrendered to the one pieces and the skirted suits…  Ruching has become my #1 swimsuit requirement to create the illusion of a toned stomach– I used to have abs that I was proud of… Now all I have is a muffin top. I am giving myself a one summer get out of jail free card of having this weight on.  But the reality is– there are a lot of sexy one pieces and skirted suits out there.  Let’s take a look, shall we?

sexy mom suits  |  kiki's list.

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09.04.13

cats and the cradle.

IMG_1499

Am I psyched about summer being over?.. a little.  My kids were at each other’s throats the last two weeks due to a little too much quality time together.  Friday we took them to meet their teachers.IMG_1568And yesterday, we sent them off.  I literally felt nauseous putting my little Louie on the bus.  It didn’t seem this hard with E.  Lou is my baby, my last baby and it felt completely weird to come home to an empty house… to drive to work all alone.  I miss my lil sidekick.  Sometimes I just get so sad thinking about how fast time goes by.  I just wish the world could stop turning- just a little bit.