How do people do it? How do you love across cities, states, countries? Now, I'm not talking about love in the 'husband-wife' way (my hubby is still right here), but I'm talking about familial love with distant relatives. Growing up, I just knew that I was going to marry someone from Baltimore, live in Columbia (suburb outside of Baltimore), and see my family as often as I wanted. So, how did I end up living 12 hrs (by car, 14 with the kids) or 2 hrs (by plane) away?
First, let me say that I love living in Atlanta and I'm so grateful that my in-laws live around the corner. However, it is days like today, that I miss living an hours drive away. I miss being able to hop in the car and meet my best friend for breakfast or meet my mom and sister at the mall for another unnecessary, but fun shopping trip. And today, I miss that I couldn't be in the room to eat birthday cake with my grandmother. After about an hour of technical snafus, we were finally able to connect via video chat on Google hangouts. And though, no one was able to clearly hear me, I was able to see the faces of my mom, sister, aunt, grandmother, and a host of cousins. And as they began to sing 'Happy birthday', my tears began to roll. I guess in a way they were tears of joy. Joyful, that at least I was able to see the event, even though I wasn't physically there.
The hardest part about being in another state is knowing that my children don't have the same type of relationship with both sides of the family. While they see my in-laws on a near daily basis, they may only see my side of the family during the summer months. Its not so bad for my daughter, since she was almost 2 before we moved away, however, my son doesn't have as close a bond as she does. This summer will be the first time he goes to visit without me and I'm looking forward to it. Not just because the hubby and I could use some alone time, but because it will give my son the opportunity to bond with my family without hanging around my legs. Hopefully this will be the start of a yearly tradition.
Though this was never the type of relationship I thought I'd have with my family, I am quite happy that we live in the technology age. Even though Skype, Tango, and Google hangouts give us trouble almost every time we try to use them, I'm glad that we even have the options. It is so nice for the family to be able to see how big the kids have gotten. And until I strike it rich and am able to hop on a plane whenever I want, I suppose I'll have to live with loving my family long distance.
the lipgloss junkie
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Deal or delusion?
Charming Charlie. JC Penney. Groupon. Half Off Depot. Sole Society. Sally Beauty. Foot Locker. Coach. Ulta. Sears. Clinique. Amazon.....These are all of the companies who have sent me an email today, not to mention Good Housekeeping and Woman's Day. Like many of you, I signed up to receive these emails to receive whatever perk was going on and to get the coveted coupons that we all love. I have my share of clutter in my life, and as I sat down and promptly deleted (without opening) all of these messages, I realized that even my inbox can't escape the clutter. So I ask, are all of these digital subscriptions deals or delusions?
Now let's cut the crap. We all know that they are marketing ploys from the companies with hopes of getting our money, but can I truly say its a deal if I'm spending money on something that I wouldn't have bought in the first place? I am not a disciplined shopper! I tend to head straight for the sale section in any store, maybe to get the best deal, or maybe just because I get a thrill in paying $4.99 for something that has an original price of $27. I just told my mother about the 2 bags of cranberries I have in my freezer. When she asked me what I was planning to make, my only response was, "I don't know, but they were only $.99" Sadly, that is the only reason I bought them and I can only hope that I use them instead of throwing them away.
Back to the emails. I think the best of the emails are for the stores that you shop frequently and for the restaurants that offer free meals for your birthday (I'm still sad I didn't use my Benihana meal this year). But someone tell me how to effectively make use of the rest of the emails. I tend to print out the coupons and place them in my seemingly bottomless purse. And there they sit, until I remember them, at which point they've usually expired. And in the special times that I do remember them, I talk myself into buying something just because it's a good deal and I have a coupon. (Side note: I'm not as bad as it sounds, mostly because I'm cheap). So in an effort to start the new year off right, I'm going to kick some of my retail stalkers to the curb. No one needs to receive a reminder from Coach almost everyday about the current sales, if I could afford a Coach bag everyday, I wouldn't need the sale. So no longer will I be deluded! I say, unsubscribe from all of the stores that you don't use. Goodbye Sole Society (I'm not ordering shoes I can't try on). Goodbye Charming Charlie (the closest one is too far anyhow). Goodbye Sears and JC Penney (I'll just continue to browse the sale sections when I come to the store). I'll keep my restaurants...I won't miss my free Benihana meal next birthday! And I'll keep Ulta and Sephora, because a girl's gotta have her gloss!!
What do you think? Is your inbox overflowing? Do you use the "deals" you get?
The lipgloss junkie
BTW I refused to sign up at Bath and Body Works today when I bought one of my favorite lip balms. I'm making progress.
Now let's cut the crap. We all know that they are marketing ploys from the companies with hopes of getting our money, but can I truly say its a deal if I'm spending money on something that I wouldn't have bought in the first place? I am not a disciplined shopper! I tend to head straight for the sale section in any store, maybe to get the best deal, or maybe just because I get a thrill in paying $4.99 for something that has an original price of $27. I just told my mother about the 2 bags of cranberries I have in my freezer. When she asked me what I was planning to make, my only response was, "I don't know, but they were only $.99" Sadly, that is the only reason I bought them and I can only hope that I use them instead of throwing them away.
Back to the emails. I think the best of the emails are for the stores that you shop frequently and for the restaurants that offer free meals for your birthday (I'm still sad I didn't use my Benihana meal this year). But someone tell me how to effectively make use of the rest of the emails. I tend to print out the coupons and place them in my seemingly bottomless purse. And there they sit, until I remember them, at which point they've usually expired. And in the special times that I do remember them, I talk myself into buying something just because it's a good deal and I have a coupon. (Side note: I'm not as bad as it sounds, mostly because I'm cheap). So in an effort to start the new year off right, I'm going to kick some of my retail stalkers to the curb. No one needs to receive a reminder from Coach almost everyday about the current sales, if I could afford a Coach bag everyday, I wouldn't need the sale. So no longer will I be deluded! I say, unsubscribe from all of the stores that you don't use. Goodbye Sole Society (I'm not ordering shoes I can't try on). Goodbye Charming Charlie (the closest one is too far anyhow). Goodbye Sears and JC Penney (I'll just continue to browse the sale sections when I come to the store). I'll keep my restaurants...I won't miss my free Benihana meal next birthday! And I'll keep Ulta and Sephora, because a girl's gotta have her gloss!!
What do you think? Is your inbox overflowing? Do you use the "deals" you get?
The lipgloss junkie
BTW I refused to sign up at Bath and Body Works today when I bought one of my favorite lip balms. I'm making progress.
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