Amador Family Blog - A Digital Scrapbook: February 2011

Monday, February 28, 2011

YIKES! Help me!

Okay, time to be candid. In the past 10 months I have gained 20 pounds. 20 pounds! Holy Cow! This has happened because, #1 I have low thyroid and haven't been taking my meds (easy fix - thank God), and #2 because I don't handle change very well and this has been my body's reaction to all the stress. After looking at pictures of me from the past couple of months and being terrified, I have FINALLY decided to do something about it. So for the first time in months, I went to the gym today. UGH! I am soooo out of shape! I refuse to be discouraged though! It may be slow going, but I can do this! I have a week to get my heart rate back in shape, at least back in shape some what. I have a week because next Monday Miguel and I have our first soccer game. Yes, soccer game. I have n.e.v.e.r played soccer before. Not even when I was six or seven. Miguel plays a lot and is really good at it, so I've fooled around with him over the past couple of years kicking the ball, learning to dribble and stuff. That's about all my exposure to playing soccer though. The team we're playing with is a group of his co-workers and the few I've seen play before are really good and take it pretty seriously, so needless to say I'm pretty intimidated. I'm nervous but hoping that this league will help push me to be healthier and get in better shape. A goal to work toward is always pretty helpful. (I can also use all the prayers and encouragement you could send along my way!)

oh lord.

Since I've never played before I had to go purchase new shoes, socks, and shin guards. Savannah doesn't have a Dick's Sporting Goods, Sports Authority, or anything like that, so it was challenging to find cleats. There is one store that carries them and it's a small sports store in the Savannah Mall. Everyone and their brother was there shopping yesterday and they only had three employees working, one of which decided it was a good time to go on break. Once we finally got help we learned that the only women's soccer shoes they carried were not available in my size. Luckily, I was able to fit into little girl's size 6! Phew! This was much better anyways, because they are cuter than the only women's option which were all white with bright blue accents - so they'll basically be a muddy color after you wear them once. The ones I ended up with are black with pink. Yay for pink!

Emma and I headed to the park today to try them out! I was honestly surprised how much easier it is to kick the ball with proper soccer shoes than it is with tennis shoes. They're so light and you can just feel the connection to the ball easier. I made the mistake of going at noon and after I had been at the gym, so I got out of breath really fast. But Emma and I still had fun kicking the ball around. You know it's hot when Emma stops running around and goes to sit down under a table. So we left after that.

I'll write about my first soccer experience after next Monday night's game. Ahh! Cross your fingers for me and say a prayer for me to get back into shape!

It's good to be a dog

The Paris Market and Brocante

The Paris Market

Yesterday I mentioned that I loved the store, The Paris Market and Brocante. It is one of my all time favorite stores and a must to bring out of town visitors to. The Paris Market is located in the heart of the historic district of Savannah. It is so visually stimulating and I never know what I'll find in there. It's owned by a husband and wife team who travel the world to bring back exotic and antique treasures.

The top floor of the shop (the street level) is mostly a hodgepodge of items ranging from soaps, shells, antique costume jewelry, a children's section, cook books, and other nicknacks. In the back corner there is also a little cafe. The basement level contains unique furniture, old photographs and cameras, collections of old block letters, and more curious items that you find yourself just wanting to pick up and explore closer. For a brocante - "a flea market"- the store is pretty expensive. A large candle cost $50, for example. I can spend hours in this store. Writer Danica Lo wrote, not a single surface has been untouched by visual merchandising - every corner is exploding with an aesthetic combination of French flea market chic combined with the inescapable eery beauty that permeates everything in Savannah. That sums it up pretty well. I would encourage you to visit if you're ever in the area! Enjoy some pictures from this weekend below. I didn't have the best camera with me so the quality isn't the best.

Image from

Kid's section

Children's car

Very busy on Saturday

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Friends, Football and Fun Times

This weekend a friend from back home in Atlanta came to visit! It was good to have some girl time. Lauren and I went out with Miguel and some of his buddies Friday night. We ate at a Cha Bella. They serve organic and seasonal food. YUM! They have a sweet potato cocktail that I really want to go back and try. Another day! It was also fun because there was a party of patrons also dinning there who were dressed to the nines... I'm talking tuxes and ball gowns with a limo waiting outside.

Lauren and me at the bar at dinner waiting for the rest of the group to arrive.

After dinner we went to a local, hole-in-the-wall martini bar, Jen's and Friends. They have over 100 martinis ranging from the classic dirty, to a nerd-tini, PB&J, and anything you can think of. Lauren stuck to a Pink Lemonade and I tried the Reeses, Snickers, and Caramel Apple. I could drink tons of the caramel apple one! They even stick a lollypop in it! We hung outside with our drinks for a while. Interesting part of the night was when a random guy started chatting with us. I had never met an anarchist before... interesting conversation to say the least.

Lauren with one side of the martini list

My Reeses martini and Lauren's Pink Lemonade martini

Cheers

The boys, being good sports, they didn't really want to pose for this picture...

After drinks at Jen's and Friends we went to another bar. Lauren and I were pretty tired so we headed home and just let the boys have their fun. Since Lauren and I were going to have a girls night, Miguel spent the night with a friend downtown. The next morning Lauren and I got up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the beautiful day. While we were sitting at the dog park, a guy without a dog showed up wearing large basketball shorts, a fraternity shirt from Tuskegee and black dress socks and shoes. After making some snard comment on his choice in outfit, I realized it was my husband. Ha! The dogs didn't discriminate over his attire though.

My handsome hubs

Lauren enjoying the sun at the dog park

The three of us went to lunch at Zunzi's and ate very well. After lunch Miguel and Emma went home and Lauren and I went shopping. We went to Broughton street and City Market. The weather was beautiful and loads of people were out shopping and enjoying Savannah. We even ran into Lauren's kindergarten teacher at one of my favorite stores, The Paris Market. I may have to devote a whole blog post to this store next week.

I'm a Southern girl through and through, you will not see a blue yankee hat on my head!

We did the touristy thing, which I enjoyed. We got some fudge at the Savannah Candy Factory and Lauren got a Christmas ornament and a bathing suit cover up.

After going home to take a nap for a while, Lauren and I went to dinner. Or I should say, Lauren treated me to dinner at Uncle Bubba's. Uncle Bubba's is one of Paula Deans restaurants and I had heard good things about it. We had wanted to eat downtown or by the beach, but it was insanely foggy and the temperature had dropped so much that it was too cold to eat outside.

Sunday morning we woke up and hung around the house until it was time to go to Miguel's first flag football game of the season. Lauren and I stocked up on Capri suns and oranges for the boys. Aren't we good team moms? I think I may have gotten sunburned, but I am just so damn happy that the weather is summery that I don't care! Emma came too. She mostly hung out in the shade of the bleachers, but cheered on her dad whenever she remembered.