Mercedes

I’m this 30 year old girl, born in Texas, raised in Oklahoma.

I married my high school sweetheart, I’m obsessed with baking.

I truly adore my family, Baby M & the dogs. 

I am strong only because of the people who do life with me.

Today I wanted to share some bits and pieces of Mercedes.  

Here’s why. . .

I think sometimes social media paints an amazing picture, when really, we’re all wishing for Friday and hoping to find some extra cash in an old winter coat. .  . Am I right?

I think sometimes people think I have it all together, when in reality, I don’t & I'm super weird. 

I know it's shocking to find out, but I'm not perfect and I’m okay with that. 

What I am is enough. 

I am Mercedes.

  

Mad

Yup, folks I’m not always happy. I have road rage to the extreme and I am extremely impatient. Ask C he’ll give you several hundred thousand examples. I seriously try and pray before I ever touch my door handle to my car. I don’t like being mad at drivers or mad at slow moving peeps, but it’s a struggle.

Eager

I’m always multi-tasking, trying to check anything and everything off of my list. Yes, I really do make lists.

Re-run fan

If you ever go on a long car ride with me or could somehow get into my head phones. .. You’d know I love to repeat my jams. Like seriously, I listened to 1 song over and over during my half marathon. No lie.  

Are you starting to feel sorry for Cody?

  

Crazy

I’m crazy about a lot of things. Like, why are the sanitation wipes empty every time I go to Kroger? Why do people wait an hour in the Chicfila drive through, when they could park and get their meal faster? Why does Baby M not like her $300+ car seat?

Excited

I get weird type of excited. I get excited when Pier1 has a sale. I get excited when my dog comes inside after I call his name twice, not 10 times. I get super excited when toothbrushes are $.50.

Dishes

I’m obsessed with dishes. I also love platters, cake stands, bake ware. Seriously,  I would buy a platter every week if I had the room for said platter or could convince Cody I needed said platter.  The colors, the shine, the placement. Don’t get me started on pottery or bowls, we could be here all day.

Engaged

If you and I are having a conversation, I am engaged. I do not look at my phone, I do not drift into outer space, you get all of me.  

Sleepy

About 2 weeks ago I became a non-sleeper. I only sleep for a couple of hours, then I find myself pondering and pinteresting ... Do you know how many pallet projects I've made, in my head?  

I tried to stick with the letters of my name, but I’m also a few other letters.

I’m J for Judgmental.

I struggle with understanding everyone’s opinion and reasoning. I know it’s not okay and I’m working on it. The struggle is real.

I’m L for Loud.

I’m the loud friend – laughs loud, parties loud, has the loud house, buys the noise makers for kids – I’m loud and proud.

Basically, I’m working on me every day.

Could I work harder, yup.

I’m not the best I can be yet, but I’m making strides to get better.

Adios Amigos.

Birthday Goodness!

Gifts 

I love giving gifts and I love getting gifts! 

I’m not the normal person though, I don’t glee for joy when the gift is $1,000, I’m the odd person that jumps for joy when the gift was $1,000, but you only paid $50 because it was used and in good condition. . . Not kidding. I love a good sale and I love when people shop smart! Another thing I love about gifts, is thoughtful gifts. I like when someone puts some serious thought into your gift, that makes me glee for joy.

So when I had an awful day on Friday, in all C fashion of being an early gift giver, he told me to grab something for him. So Baby M and I walk over to the deck and grab this tool bag. I’m about to hand it to him and he said, just open it and hand me the tool, my hands are full. When I open the bag, it’s gift boxes! *note – small gift boxes excite me more than large gift boxes* When I unwrap the gifts it’s the camera and film I've been eyeing! 

It's a Polaroid type camera, prints pictures off immediately

I love projects, so one reason I wanted the camera, was to start on my next project! I wanted to hang some pictures in Baby M's hallway. So as we built the deck, I started to shop through the scrap pieces to build my platform for said pictures. About a year ago I found a bow making tutorial on YouTube, so I knew I wanted to add a bow... then C helped me twist a wire hanger to clip the pictures to. I plan on adding more pictures, but for now it has 3 cute pictures! Oh, I also painted the board some mint color, let it dry, then sanded the edges and middle for more of an antique type look. 

On Monday I came home to some unique items. My sister recently went to visit my other sister in Colombia. They had a great visit and I didn't expect to receive birthday presents from Colombia, but I did! Baby M, C and I received chocolates, toys and cool pieces of art! 

To most people, this cup wouldn't mean much, but when C handed me the cup I started crying. Only a few know my obsession with Mexican type art or donkeys for that matter. Here's why: 
When we lost our dad, I made a trip back home to help my siblings clean his house. It was a cool trip because I spent some time with my brothers and sisters, we laughed, cut up and busted our butts cleaning the house. We found a lot of cool things, but I didn't take a single item, except 1 thing. Rewind to his last Christmas,  my sister J bought him an adorable donkey figure. The donkey was carrying baby Jesus and had a sombrero and all kinds of cute little decor. My dad loved the donkey and laughed because of how funny and cute it was. So when we were cleaning the house, I took the donkey with me. The donkey is truly a Christmas item, but it doesn't matter to me and the donkey is proudly displayed in my house everyday of the year. As the years continue to pass, my sister Josefina always seems to find a way to sneak me a new donkey or something with a donkey on it. I've gotten some cool items through her travels, but the donkeys mean so much to me. She knows what the little figures remind me of. So when I got this cup, in a weird way, it was like my dad was with me. In that moment in time, it was a small reminder of him being with me always and on my 30th birthday. 

When you lose someone important, the smallest items carry so many memories. Sometimes when I'm dusting or walking by, I glance at the donkey & I smile. 

I had a training session on my birthday so after training I had about an hour of free time. I wanted to go home and party it up with Baby M, but I knew I could use this hour to do something I've been putting off. So I made an appointment with an amazing stylist and she did her magic. 

I am not a fan of long hair or super short hair, but I knew I needed to donate at least 8 inches, so Teresa did her magic. I picked out some short styles and she started chopping and combing. I was a little scared because short hair can be unforgiving. . . 

I ended up digging my new do and I'm glad I was able to donate 8 inches to some kiddos in need. 

My locks before the cut 

Selfie haircut pic

It wouldn't be my birthday without some amazing food. So of course C takes me to my favorite restaurant. . . Frida's in Midtown. 

I love the restaurant, but hate the wait and sometimes the service isn't grand. 

The food is amazing. I'm from Texas/Oklahoma and this restaurant is the most authentic tasting place I've ever eaten at in Memphis. I could eat here about 3x's a week and never get bored. 

I always get this amazing burrito and can never finish it. It's big & beautiful 

This picture doesn't do this meal justice. This is hands down the meatiest nachos ever.
Yes, this is the only "Mexican" food C eats. Lame.  

Of course the night ended at my favorite bake shop. Muddy's is good for breakfast, lunch, dinner and in between. Love the service & treats! 

So far my days in the 30's are pretty righteous. Lots to be thankful for and lots to be excited about! Here's to many more! 

Thanks for the birthday love friends! 

Hello 30!

30 Years Young

Part of me giggles when I think about turning 30 and the other part of me hysterically laughs because I’m not mentally that age.  Some people find it hard or depressing to age, but I think it’s a true testament of a blessing. I get to turn 30, that’s something to celebrate. In my 30 years I’ve made some great memories, made some righteous mistakes and laughed way too much. I have so much room to grow, so much to learn and so very much to see.

Here’s to celebrating 30 and the years to come. If you can’t see me today, please have a piece of cake, honey bun, Dr.Pepper or some pie in my honor. You deserve it and in true fashion, you can even have two pieces … because that’s what I’d do for you.

In my 20's: I joined the married life, the home owner bunch, traveled a lot, joined the mommy world & ran way too much. 

My Bucket List for my 30-something year in life.

*fine print – can and will probably change*

B-i-b-l-e. I hope you sang Bible out like I did. I want to read the entire bible. I hope it takes me longer than a year, I hope some verses strike me and they make me over think and evaluate. It's funny because I always think the bible is so boring, but in all actuality things that took place years ago, still take place today. 

Take an advance photography course. I want to learn how to change some lighting and such in pictures. Make them extra gnarly. I love pictures! I think they're great to have and our house is covered in great memories. I love snapping pictures for others too! 

Master’s degree. I want to start working towards my Master’s degree, not sure if it’ll be an MBA or something extra spectacular. I really do hate school, but I like to learn and think about things bigger than me. I like to learn how the world functions and what I can do to help or how to see the picture differently. 

Visit Colombia. This may get marked off since my sista is engaged & lives in Colombia! Hello beautiful water, great fruits and wedding cake. . . I don't like to travel, but I love to see my family and see what they're up to. I would love to visit my sister's paradise and see things through her eyes. 

Fajitas. I want to make bomb fajitas. I love Mexican food. I love fajitas and so does C. I can make some and they're okay, but they're not like real-deal fajitas. 

Guitar. Take more than 2 lessons. So Parker-the-great gave me 2 lessons, then my fingers felt like they were bleeding, so I took a break, that turned into a year... I have a beautiful guitar that needs to be played, so I will learn. 

Open mic night. I want to sing 1 song. I like to sing, but I don't like to do it in front of others. I'm not shy, I just don't like to know anyone in the crowd. So I will probably end up singing at church in the toddler room and it'll probably be some Frozen song because that's all they like right now. 

Open mic night. I want to do #4 while playing the guitar. eekkk... 

Ice cream. I want to try all 31 flavors at BR. I love ice cream, like a lot. I like ice cream more than I like regular real food, so yeah, this is going to happen. 

Marathon. I want to run the Mercedes Benz 2016 full marathon. Mainly because the medal is pretty and because when I cross they'll say "Mercedes" 

Oh & before we part. . . I stopped sharing our #30RAK doings because it started to get a little personal and I didn't want to share any circumstances or events. I will leave you with our last random act . . . I am growing my hair to donate 10 inches to an organization that helps kiddos in need. I keep wanting to cut my hair, I'm not a fan of long hair, but I keep thinking about the precious kiddos who are waiting for wigs and I'll grow my hair again and again to help them get whatever style of wig they choose. This will be an ongoing once a year donation. Through our random acts of kindness, I pray someone was inspired to give, someone was inspired to do and to act in kindness. 

Be blessed my friends, stay classy San Diego. 

Not Thinking. . .

We weren't thinking straight. . . 

Remember that time you renovated your kitchen, then spent a whole week at the beach 12 hours away from home, then came home to unpack, then start on a massive backyard deck? Oh, yeah, you probably don’t remember that time because it’s insane and only we would do something like this.

The start of the deck 

We moved into our home mid-December and renovations took a back seat until the weather was warmer and until Baby M was a little older. It’s a little difficult to do a lot when you have a 6 month old, but it’s not quite as difficult when you have a trotting 14 month old. It’s always even better when said 14 month old doesn't mind when she’s in my carrying sling!

Happy Baby M 

For starters, the kitchen was my idea, the deck was not.  I loved our backyard area as it was when we purchased the home. C, an outdoorsy type of guy, was just not feeling the low concrete slab. I was left with no choice really, as I am not the outdoorsy type of girl, unless its 65 degrees, cool breeze, a camp fire & s’mores are involved. So when C said he wanted to build a deck, I laughed and thought, “Maybe next year.”  Next thing you know we’re in Lowe's purchasing ungodly amounts of lumber.

To say building a deck is hard work is an understatement. The amount of patience required is enough for Mercedes to go insane. The measuring, cutting, leveling, etc. gives me hives. C didn't really ask me to help, maybe it’s because I’m the worst at measuring or building anything… so I was on Baby M duty. He was fortunate enough to get my help when Baby M was snoozing and I’m sure he was ready for me to stop helping. . .  C has a lot of patience, but he’s a perfectionist and apparently you aren't supposed to strip screws or leave gaps between boards – sue me. So my decking days were short lived & we're still married, so I didn't make him to mad. 

The finished deck *insert ooh's & ahh's*

The deck is almost complete - missing the stain, some benches and some painting, but it’s absolutely beautiful and I’m so grateful for everyone that helped! 

I'll leave you with my morning view. 

August.

Hello, August. 

August is my 2nd favorite month, October is my 1st. 

Why Mercedes loves August 

School is back in session! That means on my random off days I won't have to fight parking lots or restaurants for the summer crowds! I love scanning Target at 11 am on a Tuesday morning and not having to dance around crazy crowds. 

Fall is closer! I love fall for a lot of reasons,but mainly because I love sweaters. 

My birthday! I love birthdays and I love mine! 

Sales! I'm not doing back to school shopping, I'm doing Mercedes shopping while others do back to school shopping! Thanks for the sale prices stores! 

I could list a 100 other reasons why I love August, but I won't keep you too long! 

Have a wonderful month, make someone smile, do something crazy!