On the Sharing of Information

A question many bloggers get is – “Why did you start a blog?”

There are so many ways a blogger could answer this question and it’s one of those questions that doesn’t have a right or wrong answer… it’s a personal thing, and we all have our reasons – which is the beauty of blogging.

Well, one of the reasons I was intrigued by blogging and truly wanted to start back in 2007 was because I loved the idea of sharing information.  It wasn’t so much about sharing about my life… it was sharing fashion advice and beauty tips and product reviews.  I loved the idea of having an outlet, a corner of the world where I could put anything and everything I wanted.  I started doing just that in 2007 and have continued throughout the last 5 years.

But this past week showed me the true beauty and power and connectedness in being a blogger.

I shared something about my life that I never have had to share before… I shared that I was scared and terrified and worried about the health of my husband.

When we found out my husband had a tumor in his abdomen last Monday morning, all of a sudden life changed.  I didn’t know what to do or how to express what I was feeling.  There was not a chance in hell I could keep it bottled up inside and not share this information with someone… somewhere.  I decided to open myself up and just be 100% real and raw and honest about everything that was going on with Matt on my blog… I wasn’t sure how people would react, but I knew I needed to share it.  It’s funny – here I blog about fashion and beauty every single day, and the LAST thing on earth I felt like putting on was makeup or even caring about what I was wearing.  As a matter of fact, I think I wore the same clothes all week, just washing them as I walked in and grabbing them from the dryer as I was heading out.  I can assure you Matt didn’t care what I was wearing to the hospital.

I can’t tell you how helpful it is to share everything on my blog.  It’s the sharing and the togetherness that is so incredible to me.  It’s people I don’t know wishing Matt well and praying for him.  It’s people I do know finding out and being there for us with calls, texts and visits.  It’s people across the country whom I have met through blogging sending cards and food and Valentine’s Day packages.  It’s all because of the sharing.

I can’t quite properly express how much I appreciate everyone’s help and love and well wishes and prayers.  I’m humbled and feel completely overwhelmed by the sweetness, the kindness and the sheer beauty of people.

Thank you so much.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Thank you for allowing me to share and listening to our story.

And thank you for keeping us in your prayers and thoughts.

xo

 

 

 

 

Monday Update on Matty!

Monday morning update… (and considering my 6 year old commented on my appearance for a video, I guess I should “warn” you first – not showered and no makeup.)

Excited to have Matty home tonight!

5 Things That Will Always Make Me Smile

Sunday night… wow, last Sunday night I was in the ER with Matt trying to figure out if he had the stomach flu. It’s pretty crazy to think that was a full week ago.

Throughout the last week I feel like I’m learned a lot and sort of have a different outlook on things. I’ve always known that I’ve never needed money or power or “things” to make me happy. For me, I’ve always wanted to be a wife and mom… I knew those were the things that would make me happy. Make me fulfilled.

But it’s been this week… I’ve really realized that 5 things will always make me smile…

1. I will always smile when my husband winks at me. You know that wink you get from the one you love, it’s a sexy/sweet wink, that perfect mix wink. I LOVE that wink.

2. My sons getting their haircut. I have to say, it’s always been one of those things that makes me smile. They look so cute when they’re sitting in the seat like “big little men” just waiting for the scissors to cut away. My Henry just melts my heart because he refuses to relax his shoulders.

3. A fresh steaming cup of coffee. Without fail, it makes me smile.

4. Picking my sons up from school. I know it won’t last forever, but it’s nice seeing their eyes light up when they see me waiting for them.

5. Watching my sons swim. William LOVES it and has turned into a little flying fish. Alexander loves his lessons and parades around like he’s the coach. And Ben and Henry are too cute during their lessons, trying to be like big boys (like they’re brothers) and swim. They all have the same ear to ear grin when they get out of the water.

Update on Matty on Saturday

I wanted to share an update on Matty…

xo

Matty Update from Friday

I’m home. Sitting up in bed trying to fall asleep, but I just can’t. I hate being home without Matt, it actually sucks. Really, really sucks. My in-laws are here this weekend, so it helps… especially since we had a dead fish in our fish tank and I was terrified to move it (thank you to my father-in-law).

I can’t thank my mom enough for rallying my troops every single day this week and taking care of them from morning till night. I know it’s not easy and I know it’s taking a lot out of her, but she’s doing it with a smile without complaining once. Thank you mom. My sister and my father have been gigantic helps, too. Being there for me and just trying to make anything and everything easier along the way.

Today was a good day for Matt. He’s feeling better each day, and today he finally got to have some liquids and soup brooth… which he’s been waiting for. His vitals are looking good and his incision (which is like 8-9 inches long) is healing well. He had a swollen ankle this morning which was watched throughout the day, also making me nervous… so around 2PM today they took Matt for an ultrasound to rule out clots. Fortunately the ultrasound came back clear.

My friends Nikki and Stephanie came to the hospital today to have lunch with me and it was wonderful. We sat and talked and laughed and vented. It was so nice to just have the outlet for an hour.

I know I’m rambling… but it’s almost 10PM and I honestly don’t even know what end is up tonight. I’m just exhausted.

Thank you to everyone for keeping Matt in your prayers and thoughts… love for your continued support and prayers.

I love you all.

Thank you for everything.

xo

Update on Matty

I wanted to update everyone on Matty.

But first… I just want to truly thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for your love, thoughts and prayers. I’m humbled. You’re never prepared for an emergency like this, and this shocked the crap out of me. I mean, SHOCKED the crap out of me (I’d use other words, but I’ll still be appropriate right now – as much as I don’t want to be). I have to tell you, what’s even remotely gotten us through the last few days so far is the emails, the calls, the tweets, the FB messages… the kindness of others. It’s been remarkable and truly I cannot express in words how much we’ve needed it.

Thanks everyone and please keep Matt in your prayers and thoughts.

What I know for sure…

I’ve been with Matt in the hospital non-stop since Sunday night at 9PM. The only time I’ve left is to go home to see the kids and try to keep them in some sort of normalcy at the moment. OK, and I’ve showered. There’s something genuinely delicious about a good shower. Over the last 3 days I’ve been trying my best to be strong for my husband, my sons, my immediate family and my in-laws. I’ve never been the one to need to be the rock before, but for the first time… I need to be truly the adult. I’m the one that needs to ask the questions. I’m the one that needs to be Matt’s best advocate.

As I’ve been here and allowed Matt to sleep and doze off here and there, I’ve realized some pretty incredible things… things that I know for sure (and I’m totally not trying to steal this from Oprah):

1. I will never ever, ever take ONE day for granted. EVER. I’m not kidding. Just Sunday night before all this happened I was complaining about feeling stressed over the housework and work and booking an upcoming vacation. Silly stuff. I wish to God right now that was all I still had to complain about. But you know what – these things all work out. The chores get done. The work somehow always pulls through and works itself out and the vacation… who really cares about the extra money it would be, right? Life is worth living in the moment. And everything single moment and second is precious.

2. Friends are truly an amazing thing. I’m not usually one to need people for things. I’ve got my family and my close friends, but I’m not really one to reach out and ever ask for anything. I’ve always been that way. I guess I’ve always figured, I can do it… I don’t need to bother people. Well… what an education I’ve had over the last 3 days. I cannot get over the amazingness of my friends. The calls, the texts, the emails, the FB messages, the tweets. People offering to fly here and help out. One of our best friend’s came yesterday to see Matt and sat with us all day for 6 hours! People sending food. People just being incredibly good people who care. Friends… we all need them. And I am blessed to have them.

3. Always go to the doctor when you feel like something is wrong or just “off.” I can’t stress enough how important this is… Matt just felt off and I could tell he was in some pain, thank GOD we went to the hospital.

4. Family is the MOST important thing in the world. My family has been my support always, but over the last 3 days… well, they’ve been my survival.

5. My sons… it never ceases to amaze me how much joy they bring me. Even a simple game of Battleship today with Alexander and hearing Ben say to me, “Mom… I farted on you.” It’s the simple things, right?

Update on Matty

As most of you know, Matt went into surgery yesterday to have a tumor removed from his lower bowel. I wanted to send a long an update. I knew I didn’t have it in me to write something all out today, so wanted to share via video:

Prayers Please

I’m asking for prayers today. My husband went to the ER last night to see if he had appendicitis, turns out it’s a tumor on his colon. I’m writing from the hospital asking if you would please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.
He’s my world… And I believe in the power of prayer.
Xoxo

P&G’s VIP “Have you tried it yet?” Media Event hosted by Irma Martinez

This past week I spent 3 (incredible) days in warm, sunny Miami with some of my best blogging girlfriends… Vera Sweeney, Danielle Smith, Colleen Padilla and Ashley Nuzzo.

We were all invited to P&G’s VIP “Have you tried it yet?” media event hosted by celebrity stylist Irma Martinez. P&G has always been in my life… from the time I was a baby (I was a Pampers baby!) till present day. It’s incredible to see all the innovations that have been made to enhance and improve P&G products, they’re always looking to make their products better and better for their customers and I love that about them. They care. They really, really do.

P&G had us arrive on Tuesday afternoon and it was amazing because we all got to do something we don’t normally get to do… RELAX. Thank goodness we’re all bloggers, so our “relax” time definitely involved our laptops on our laps, but it didn’t matter… we were still under the warm Miami sun!

And I even got to dip my feet in the cool, clear Miami water…

There’s just something very cool when you have WiFi by the pool and beach water, it felt like “home”… and it made me very, very happy.

But it was the “Have you tried it yet?” event that we were VERY excited to head to check out!

We got the chance to meet and chat with the evening’s host – Irma Martinez. She looked gorgeous and was so gracious and kind and welcoming. Loved meeting her!

There were 18 products we got to experience and check-out up close and personal…
Cascade Dawn
Charmin Basic
Crest Dual Blast
Dawn Power Clean
Downy Unstopables
Duracell
Gain Liquid
Gillette Fusion Pro Series
Gillette Fusion Pro Glide
Vick’s Nature Fusion Cough & Cold
Olay Professionals ProX Clear Acne Protocol
Olay Professionals ProX Clear Intensive Refining Mask
Olay Professionals ProX Clear UV Moisturizer
Olay Regenerist Wrinkle Revolution Complex
Oral B Complete Brush
Pampers Cruisers 5 Way Fit
Scope Dual Blast
Swiffer Duster Extender

But the best was, we got to experience them in VERY fun ways…

Thank you so much for an amazing event and fabulous time in Miami!

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