The one where I end my blog

So. Hello! Remember me? So Im gonna keep this short and sweet, lovelies.

I am closing down this ol' blog of mine. I have loved having this blog. I started it cause my husband was tired of listening to me ramble we were living in North Carolina at the time and I wanted to talk about how I missed California. And then I wanted to talk about our move back home to California. And then starting over, then the amazing news of being pregnant with Troy, then Troy being born, then life as a new mommy, then working out, etc. I had/have so much to talk about.

I just don't have the time/desire to blog anymore. I have lots of stuff to talk about, but really is it relevant? Is it stuff I want the world to know? Mostly its a question of, "Do I want my family to know this?". Also, this blog has been used as a diary for myself and I see no point in just documenting about going to fro yo, going to the gym, hanging with friends anymore.

I have LOVED {cyber} meeting some of you and love the friendships Ive developed from it. This isn't goodbye, this is, "catch me on Instagram" <----ktaylor84 after="" all="" aren="" backstories="" blogs.="" for="" instagram="" more="" nbsp="" ol="" on="" p="" pics="" t="" than="" the="" way="" we="">
Thanks for everything!


XOXO

Reflections, yo!

2013 is coming to an end. Which is crazy to me because I feel like we were JUST bringing in this year (by going to bed before the ball drops and being totally ok with that).

2013 was pretty good, but the most significant part of 2013 for me were these last few months. Things have happened in my life that are best described as scary, confusing, and random. Like how I'm being super vague? ;) Just roll with it....because I don't really know how to put it into words. But what I can say, is that these events, if for nothing else, have brought me closer to my God. I have walked closer to Him than I probably have my entire life. And that my friends, is a beautiful thing. Its true what "they" say: God uses the bad to show you something good. I have also started some personal counseling and am starting to learn things about myself. I am looking forward to 2014 with a fresh perspective on my faith and my walk.

You know what else 2014 will be bringing (hopefully!!!)? The basement FINALLY completed! We have demo'd the other half (our bedroom/bathroom/huge closet, eeeek!) this past week which means, bathroom layouts are starting to be reviewed. I cannot tell you how much I will appreciate the extra 928 square feet and just the space that an open 2 story floor plan will bring. A wild (almost!) 3 year old with enough toys to fill 2 houses and a wild 1 year old lab running around calls for extra space.

The gym is still a super important part in my life, but has taken a back seat in the past few months and I am ok with that. I am looking forward to walking back into the gym with a new perspective on what I want for myself and body: to not compare myself to what I *think* I should look like and beat myself up with I don't achieve it. We will be (hopefully!) expanding our family this coming year and I want to keep hitting the gym like I did when Troy was baking in the ol' belly. For me, I credit it to the weight coming off and an easy (for me) delivery.

Cheers to 2014!! Hope you all have a safe New Years Eve!

My Sun and Stars

WOOF. From 5pm-ongoing, its been a roller coaster of emotions.

About 4:30pm last night, my hubsicle came home from work saying his stomach hurt, which was odd because he seriously never ever tells me he is hurting or he's sick. So I knew something was up. By 5, he's telling me we need to go to the ER - uh oh. His stomach was hard and stiff and his pain was in his lower right side. Well, I am someone who definitely works well under pressure, but I will be honest; in those few minutes it took for me to get Troy's stuff together for Gma's and getting Nick in the car?

Long story short, after blood tests and a CT scan...dun dun duuuuun: APPENDICITIS! The freaking appendix! It hadn't burst, but it was uber swollen and that sucker had to go. Between all the nurses coming in and out of the room, surgeons coming in and telling us what the procedure would be like, my head was spinning. Basically, all the doctors confirmed what I thought and surgery was happening within an hour.

The thought of Nick getting put under scared me. Im not sure why, but it did. I mean, really, I KNEW he was going to be ok, but I think its just normal that when your significant other is about to be opened up, you get nervous. The unknown is scary, people. I have my Faith in the good Lord above, but Im human, fear at some points in life are normal.

So here we are not even 24 hours later, back at home and I am happily playing nurse to my patient. Its crazy that this sort of surgery is A) so common and B) how quickly they discharge the patients. I mean, my man IS a former Marine, so he IS tougher than most, but for real? He needs some nurse supervision with walking, getting outta bed, eating, etc. Which is where I come in....and there may be some extra entertainment for the guy

California Love

LBC up in the hizzzouse! Long Beach for you non crip walkin readers. Our family unit took a quick trip to Long Beach while Nick had a week long vacation from work. We've packed in so many things in the 1 week, but Long Beach was definitely a part of it that sticks out.

We left at the super bright and early time of 3:15AM, which means I had to wake up at 2:15 AY-EM...ya.....

Our itinerary was simple:

Wednesday

- Drive straight to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach (HIGHLY rated online and right on the pier)

- Lunch on the beach

- Check into our hotel for naps

- Dinner somewhere on the pier

- Go walk on the beach, then back to the hotel for bed

Thursday:

- Check out early at 7:30...

- COFFEE!!!!

- On the road to visit Nick's Gma and Grandad

It was such a packed 2 days. To and From Long Beach, it's about 7 hours each way. No way would I have been able to do such a great driving job as Nick. I am way too much of a sassafrass to pay attention to the road when Im sleepy

And without further ado, some picky pics!

I couldn't not get this sunset painted by the greatest artist

Miles and miles and miles and miles and miiiiiles of this type of scenery

Stopped for breakfast (and COFFEE!) and some "how garbage trucks work" lessons

The last exit before hopping on the famous "Grapevine"

We made it to the aquarium! Getting to touch the jellies. All I could think of was Finding Nemo

Mr. Crab

This was cool. A scuba diver was in this giant floor to ceiling tank and had a mic on him and was talking to these school kids

Penguins being cute, but boring

This was hilarious, this fish was seriously sizing up this army of crabs. The crabs all had their tentacles out like they were ready for battle and this fish was no lie giving them the "Im about to eat someone" look.

T Money was seriously in awe of all these fish. The display windows were HUGE and really pretty, so it's perfect for a toddler. Every window we went to was greeted with a gasp and "LOOK!!!" by him.

Sea horse! *Random note: when I was younger, I wanted to be a mermaid and ride a seahorse. Little did I know they're itty bitty...and mermaids have fins, clearly, I would be able swim for myself*

Checking out the sea lions

Petting some baby reef and hammerhead sharks

As you can tell, he was more interested in sizing up the next display window of fish and had no time to look at the camera

This was his FIRST TIME EVER seeing/touching the ocean and sand. Only other time was when we were in Mexico and he was 3 months old and he obviously can't remember that. He was a little skeptical, hence daddy dragging holding his hand

AND HE LOVED IT!!!! *Side Note: see those 2 people in the water and you see how there are lights coming on that island? It's CLEARLY getting dark and if you're an avid Shark Week watcher like myself, you KNOW, this is feeding time for sharks. You will also know, they generally come close to shore for feeding time. Have these people never watched SW? Or even Jaws!? Get outta the water, you yahoo's!*

This kid does NOT want pictures, he wants to play and run amuck on this funny stuff they call sand

I can't even explain why he's walking this way. The ocean was doing things to him. He was hilarious with how he was walking and getting all excited about the waves.

T Money, the Pacific Ocean, and Long Beach

Los Angeles. I could just FEEL how many celebrities I was amongst ;) 

Be jealous of this L.A. traffic. This seriously lasts from 6am-noon errr'day.

Someone was over the car and just ready to go home

She's just being Miley

Monday. 

So I want to discuss what we're ALL talking about. Hannah Montana Miley Cyrus. Now, I recorded the VMA's because *some* hot piece of hiney was hogging the TV playing some XBOX. However, once I was seeing people blowing up FB and all the celeb gossip sites about this chick, I just had to go see what they were talking about. So I logged onto PerezHilton.com and there was the clip

You guys? I mean...I just........ The Smith's had my reaction PEGGED 

I am right there with you, Smith Clan. I felt every.single.one.of.these.reactions. Shock, disgust, confusion, embarrassment for Miley. 

Now dolls, listen. I am NOT a prude, scouts honor. But, Miley...girlfriend, I was so embarrassed for you. You want to shed this Hannah Montana, Disney, good girl image, and create a whole new you in the land of Hollyweird. I get that & I can respect that. But what's up with the raunchy stuff? Like the foam finger going down to your lady parts and that tongue?! We get it, you have a long pink tongue that you can rub the side of your cheek with. I seriously felt like you were trying way too hard with that. I dont understand your need to OVERSEXUALIZE yourself. Hey, Britney did it in 2001. She let the whole world know she was not a girl, not yet a woman. She taught us how to dance in a an abandoned warehouse, sweating up a storm, while telling men everywhere how we want to take back feminine rights be slaves. The difference is, she wasn't doing things that pushed the line on what would be deemed appropriate for even a 30 year old to watch. I feel like you're just trying way too hard to be this "can't stop, wont stop, I love all the haters, watch me stick out my tongue and make out with a teddy bear and STILL be engaged to a hot normal guy", that you're not even entertaining. It just doesn't make sense to me. Twerking? Sure, makes sense. Hell, I've been practicing my twerk since you've made it so popular. And I LOVE "Can't Stop". One of my main workout jams. Shoot, Ill select it when Im feel just sassy & am alone in the car. But the making out with the bears, the oversized baby dolls, the foam finger all over Robin Thicke's junk? Yaaaaaa.....it just doesn't make sense to me. And while we're talking about you rubbing over Robin Thicke and twerking your backside on him: Where was Liam?!?!?! I know Robin's wife, Paula Patton, is fine with his antics, but ummm...is Liam? From one married woman to soon to be married woman, Nick would have me locked up once I got off that stage if I was rubbing on Mr. Thicke. 

But I guess, you're just being Miley. Anyone else feel like me?

Raise your glass if you're ready for Fall

Ello' lovelies. I was gonna post about how hot I am. Not the way you're thinking, I mean actual temperature hot. Ya see, our A/C busted and it's been quite the pain in the ass adventure getting our Home Warranty to nail down a dependable Heating & Air Company to fix it. Oh and did I mention it was 105 yesterday? And muggy? How about how it's cooled down to a frigid 79 degrees a night?

Yeaaaa....moving on.....

If you gals havent downloaded Katy Perry's new single, Roar, I HIGHLY recommend it. It reminds me of a female version of "Eye of the Tiger". Maybe that's because there is a line in there that says, "I am the eye of the tiger..." ? That just MIGHT make you think of the famous Rocky anthem ;-) But seriously, if you're ever having a down day where you feel like the worst mother/wife/woman or you just can't push through that last leg of your cardio? Katy Perry is where its at. She makes you feel all kinds of good and powerful. 

I sway in my blue jeans...

10 points for anyone who knows the song that my title pertains to. Here's a hint: the singer has to do with this post....

This should NOT surprise any of you long time followers of mine. When I married the Nickmesiter, I also married the Denver Broncos. Nick loves em'. Whenever we fly out to Denver to see my MIL, we catch a Denver game, it's a lot of fun. And I've also grown to love them and gotten to know they players (side note: if we could not trade players, that'd be awesome cause then I wouldn't have to relearn people). Anywhoooot, I discovered Jessie James awhile ago, can't remember how. I think I heard Eric Decker was dating (they are now married) a country music star, Jessica James, and youtube'd her. I ended up liking her, and make it a regular occurrence to shake a tale feather to her Pandora station while I get ready in the mornings. She's this sassy, GORGEOUS, Southern bell who keeps it real, and he is a star on my team - its a win win for me. PLUUUUUUS, Im a reality tv junkie, so it's a given, Im going to like this show. Im gonna TRY to get Nick to watch it with me, but suuuursly doubt he will. His loss, right? It premieres September 29th on E! since I know y'all are reality tv junkies like moi. ts like Jessie and Eric KNEW it was my birthday weekend (my birthday is the 27th wink wink). They're like, "Happy Birthday, Karli, here is another reality show that we swear isn't staged".