Happy Birthday Mom!

My Mom is simply amazing. She is beautiful, brilliant, kind, caring, and the best role model I could have ever gotten. My Mom is the reason I am a go getter. She is the reason I am an athlete. She attended countless lessons, practices, swim meets, and recitals. She was and still is my biggest fan, my closest friend, and the person I can turn to when my world seems to be falling apart. Happy Birthday Mom! I am so sad we aren't there to spend it with you.

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It's great to be home!

I missed these guys so much!

It is always hard to say goodbye to my mom, but I think knowing I will see her in November and again in December makes it easier.

Tonight we celebrated my arrival home with PSYCH on hulu, couscous with peas, and ice-cream. I should also mention that I have been up since 4:00AM! I am off to bed and to take my contacts out... I fear I may have the crazy irritated red eye thing going on.

Welcome to the beach house!

My mom loves the beach, more specifically the ocean and white sand blasted shells. She has been in the process of updating her living room and I was home to help purchase and arrange a few new pieces to transform her house into a relaxing beach oasis.

Here is a run down of a few things we accomplished this week:

1. Purchase new couch. (Mom's couch was 15 years old and a bit dated. Meet the new coastal inspired couch)

2. Replace recliner with chair (I am in love with this chair. The stripes add great color contrast to the room).

3. Create accent wall. (Mom was afraid the blue couch on the blue wall would be too much. Insert stripes! Thanks Todd for painting them.)

4. Purchase beach paintings and accents (We were most successful at Marshalls and Cape May Wicker)

5. Find new lamps (Don't you just love the green plantation shutter lamp? Bonus: it holds DVDs!)

6. Create a gallery wall. (Easily created with painters tape, a hammer, and a level)

Still to do....

1. Find a beach inspired wall clock for above the mantle

2. Purchase large shells for the mantle

3. Find/Make twine covered candles for mantle

4. New table runner for dining room table.

Happy Mother's Day 2010 (July ed.)

In the Fisler household Mother's Day is spent down shore. Specifically on the Ocean City boardwalk. Mac and Manco Pizza is eaten. Followed by Khors ice-cream. We visit the Islander for cool wall art, stop in Terry Ivory for the jewels, and most importantly have our picture taken in a black and white photobooth. These are traditions that cannot be broken. And they are memories that will never be erased. I do realize that the calendar currently places us in July, the 19th to be exact, but as you know I did not make it to Jersey on (the real) Mother's day. But who says you can't celebrate your Mom any day of the year. Below are a few (many) more pictures of our favorite place in Jersey :)

Day 7: 3 miles, H&M, and visits

• Dear H&M, I miss you and your inexpensive designer mock-ups. Your polka-dot tops make my knees week and I am falling head over heels for your floral print dresses and parisian inspired tops. I need you to further our cash based courtship and move to Jacksonville where I can visit you more often. I know this means that I will no longer be able to see my other loves such as Express and GAP, but I promise if you give Jacksonville a chance, I will forget about those other stores and give you 100% shopping commitment.

• In running news....this morning I was all set for a 3 mile run, but my calves and shins were not having it. On the treadmill I powered through 2 miles, but by the 2.25 y shins and calves were screaming and I was in need of a good stretch. The gym I am using this week has actual stretch machines with a segment of stretches you do in a 15 minute period so I decided to give that a whirl. After stretching and a break for an ab workout, I was able to run the last mile and call an end to my workout... so in short, the streak is still going strong.

• Visits with friends: I must admit that I don't go back home to NJ very often. My family has no problem traveling to Florida to see us so Mr. R and I do not find a need to head up to Jersey very often. The downside of this is we don't see our old friends and neighbors nearly as much as we should. Today I had the pleasure of visiting the Mikus family. They are truly my seconds parents. They have been their for all of my big life moments and it just felt like home as I stepped through their door. It is sometimes so nice to step back in time for a bit. The Mikus house always reminds me of high school and Michelle's wedding in 2001. Its hard to believe Michelle has been married for 9 years! And that miss Katie is turning 6!

Shopping Saturday...

I have one of those Mom's who is simply awesome... fashion conscious, etiquette aware, shopping savvy, and can spot a sale or bargain from miles away. She also gets me to spend too much money! We had a great Saturday hitting the sales at shops I don't have or do not get to go to in Florida. Hello H&M, Louie, and Vera... The good news is I will be outfitted for fall with new fun pieces and I got to spend an entire day shopping with a well honed stylist. I swear my Mom missed her calling. I need her to be with me at all times and put colors together... or at least start taking better notes on her combinations, so I can recreate them at home.

In running news I finished day 6 with 5 miles. I am still following the Jeff Galloway method for running and walking, but I have my own twist. Ever mile I walk the first quarter and sprint the last quarter. I tell myself this is making my faster, but really the times are about even. We shall see if this makes a difference in the long run.

Day 5: Greetings & Salutations

I had to say goodbye to these guys this morning. It's only for a week so they should't miss me too much. In fact I am sure Simon and Sophie have claimed my side of the bed.

As soon as my plane touched down I was greeted by:

• Mama Republicana (Mr. R's mom) She was kind enough to drive me home.
• Isabel (my Mama's 10 year old baby). We call her my sister.
• My Mom
• My old room
• Best dinner ever (Serafina's stromboli!)

3/20: My mom has AH-MAZING taste!

My birthday present this year is a new Vera!

I can't wait for a new occasion to wear this beauty!

Happy Mother's Day 2009!

This post is dedicated to the most amazing mom I know.
She just happens to be mine!
Love you mom!

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