Well, it's not snow!

Riviera Maya ... cold and pouring rain?  What a bummer!  Don't these people know that I can't go to Cabo on Thursday without a tan?  :)  I know, I know, I can't complain.  It's cold and snowy at home but baby it's cold outside here!

Good Morning, from Riviera Maya, Mexico!

It's starting out to be a lovely day here today - already 75 and a little overcast but that will pass soon.  Today is day 2 of the nearly 2 week trip away and I'm already counting the minutes until I walk in my back door.  I'm staying at a resort called Grand Velas Riviera Maya.  If it weren't for work, I'd never be here - the rates range from $800-$1,200 per night normally which really isn't in our current vacation budget!  :)  My room is nice - modern, big and I even have my own pool on my patio which you can sort of see on one of the photos.  Anyway, this is where I call "home" until Thursday.  The weather's great, room is beautiful, food is good, I'm already eaten up by mosquitos but as I always say ....... there's no place like home.  (Even if that means snow and cold.)

A New Favorite

I've been a lot of places - cities, resort towns, countries, parks, theatres, arenas, you name it.  But one place that's always been on my bucket list has been Vancouver and I hadn't had an opportunity to visit ... until last week.  It was everything and more that I had imagined.  Beautiful, hip and cosmopolitan city that reminds me a lot of Seattle and just 10 minutes outside of the city you'd swear that you were in Alaska.  In one day I experienced 50 degrees and rain downtown Vancouver (it doesn't snow in the city because it's too close to sea level) and up on top of Rouse Mountain in 0 degrees and blustery snow.  Did I mention that Vancouver is not only home to Ryan Reynolds and Corey Monteith from Glee (and YES, I was on the look out THE ENTIRE TIME I WAS THERE) but it's also the most used city by Hollywood to film movies in because they can turn it in to just about any location needed.  While I was there they were filming Mission Impossible 4 right outside my hotel room and Tom Cruise and his entourage were out and about.  No, I didn't see Ryan or Corey but, heck - I'll be back in April!  :)  Enjoy!

Just an Expirament...

To see what it's like to update my blog on the iPad. I'm trying to get a well rounded look at how it all works before I take it on my trip this week. So far so good!

Speaking of trips, next stop: Vancouver, British Columbia. I've never been there and it's ale ays been a stop on my bucket list so we'll see! I have huge expectations which is usually a set up for disappointment but I'm hoping for the best! I'll be back soon with an update but for now ..... Hugs and kisses, get to bed. Momma loves you!

Happy 2011!

So, since this is the first post of the year, I decided to start the year off right ... according to us Mantel's, that is.  Today it is a balmy 9 degrees here in northeastern Wisconsin, and I'm not talking about the windchill that is coming from the 40 mph winds.  Our FAVORITE time of the year is summer and we are all dreaming of the days at the pool, soaking up the rays and splish splashing around!  Here are some of our favorite's from 2010 and here's to hoping that 2011 is as good, if not better than last!

Something to End the Year

As I sat closing everything out for the official year end, I came across a gift I had been given from one of my dear clients in Chicago.  It's an "inspirational" book that has quotes, ancient proverbs and just thoughts by many famous people.  There is a thought a day and the truth is that I've had it on my desk for nearly a year and today was the first time I opened it.  I randomly turned to a section with a quote by Oprah, "You can't live your life to please other people." I realized that this gave me all of the inspiration I needed to end my year.

I know that there are more people that don't agree, respect or understand what I do.  Some see it as selfish, some see it as greedy, some think I take vacations for a living (I WISH!).  I've spent so much time trying to justify my life to other people that it's made me question myself a million times a day ... until today.  And as much as I question myself, I struggle with balancing it all even more.  I've always said that when my job effects my family in a negative way I'd be done.  These last 2 months have been especially difficult for me.  Last night I went home and told Steve, "I'm done. I just want to be done." He looked at me and said, "Okay. If that's what you want but don't do it for us.  We are proud of you.  We miss you when you're gone but we love what you do and that you do it for us.  If you really want to quit, quit but do it for you and not us or because of what other people think.  None of that matters."  So, I was up all night thinking, "what if what I do means more to them than me just being gone."  I've never thought that before. 

So, here's my New Year's Resolution.  One day at a time.  Live every day like I won't be here tomorrow.  Take a deep breath, give myself a break and not analyze every second of every day.  Love my husband and my children a little more each day not because I have something to make up, but just because I can.  And above all else, not live my life to please everyone else.

Holiday Fun!

I think it's safe to say that everyone in our house had the best Christmas yet!  We packed as much in as we possibly could which was exhausting but I'm so glad we did it! 

Christmas Eve we woke up, had brunch with Steve's family and then he and I took the girls and their cousins, Josh & Sydney sledding.  We had a BLAST!  Maggie went snowboarding for the first time and loved it - and she did a really good job too!!!  Then we got ready and had a great time with Steve's whole family.  It wasn't long and we were off on our way to spend the holiday with my Dad and Vicki which was great!  Emma was so tired by the time that we got there that she wasn't really all about it but she snapped out of it pretty quickly.

Christmas morning we woke up bright and early and opened gifts that Santa brought and the girls couldn't have been happier.  They each got a Nintendo DSi which has been a major hit (although Emma's had her's taken away twice now...), an iPad, games, clothes, barbies, puzzles and art supplies.  Santa was very good to Mommy and Daddy too ... Steve got a food processor and I got a beautiful bracelet from Tiffany & Co.  Life was good, right?  Right!  Next we were hustling to get ready to go to Carla's for Christmas Day.  Once again, the girls had so much fun playing with their cousins and it was just a wonderful day. 

And now, life as we know it can get back to normal.  Monday morning school starts, everyone is back to work and by Wednesday I'm back on the road. 

2010 has been pretty good to us ... I can only hope that 2011 is just as good, if not better!



Sydney, Emma & I went down together to pick up speed ... Josh met us at the bottom with a snowball!





Think Emma liked the iPad?




Cousins: Lola, Maggie, Carley, Emma



Cupcakes and Christmas Celebrations!

As you may know, I've been making cupcakes for about a year now.  Occasionally I do them for birthday parties or just for fun but I was really excited to get my first "BIG" order earlier this week.  Lakeview's PTO needed 400 of them for the holiday parties that happened yesterday and I'm thrilled to say that I delivered!  I've got it down to a science now, I think.  If I do mini-cupcakes I can bake 4 dozen at a time which means that I can bang out 32 dozen cupcakes in one hour, approximately and I can do 16 dozen regular sized cupcakes in one hour.  I had cupcakes EVERYWHERE but they looked great and tasted pretty good too!  The kids were excited and the teachers were even more excited since they've been stripped of all "unhealthy treats" including their soda and coffee machines.  That's a topic I won't get on though because I will rant for hours.  Anyway, after we delivered the goods, Steve and I were off to enjoy the holiday party with Maggie.  She was so excited that we came - it was a great day!  Now, CHRISTMAS, here we come!!  Merry Christmas to everyone from the Mantel's!

Blizzard Aiden

December 11 & 12, 2010: First Blizzard of the Season

This wonderful storm only dropped about 10 inches on us here in Neenah but just north of us saw anywhere between 10-22 inches of snow.  We had significant blowing and drifting and then the part where our snow stopped but the ice started was a really great bonus ... yeah right!  Steve headed out with the girls to snowblow the 3 foot drift at the end of our driveway from when the plow went through and the snowblower died.  I don't mean, "let's take it in to get serviced",  I mean DIED.  I'm not sure if it's a sign or something telling us to move out of this horrible climate or what.  Anyway, then lunch rolls around and I noticed that Emma was burning up with a fever and 5 minutes later she was throwing up.  Poor baby!  I hate it when they get sick ... and I'm sure that Blizzard Aiden brought the nasty little virus her way.  Finally, this morning, here we are.  Just about every school in the state is delayed 2 hours because of windchills (except for Neenah of course) ... did I mention that the blizzard brought arctic temperatures and today we are forecasted for a high of 0?  Ugh ... only one thing I can think of to say at this point.  I'd much rather have a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup Blizzard from DQ than this kind!!!  Note: photos below are of the windows that we were looking out of yesterday - snow and ice filled.  Not much of a view!

Snow Angels

Last night we got about 4 inches of the fluffy white "stuff" (nicer word than what I would normally call it).  The girls got up this morning and wanted to know if they could go out and shovel the driveway ... it didn't take me but a second to agree.  They did a great job and finished off with a few angels!  Lucky for them, tomorrow we're expecting 12 more inches....somewhere in a warm and sunny location there is a home calling my name!!!

Winter

One word that describes one of my least favorite things.....cold, snow, ice, wind chills, YUCK!  But, one thing that I love about winter is some of the pictures I've gotten of the girls over the past few years.  Perhaps its the color that pops but I just love it ... that and their chubby little baby cheeks!

My Daughter, the Star

Last night Miss Maggie had her first stage debut as Mrs. Claus!  She was so nervous but she did a fantastic job!  I thought I was video taping the entire thing until the end when I realized that I never pushed the "record" button ... I'm such an idiot sometimes.  So, not only do I not have any photos of it, I don't have video either.  :(  She sure looked beautiful though ... on our way home last night she informed us that she was pretty sure that Miley Cyrus started out as Mrs. Claus too ... ah the mind of a 7 year old.  At least she has goals and dreams, right???  And after we got home she decided to pose for a few final photos ... in her PJ's and a pair of my boots.  What a girl!

All in a day's work

Sunday I arrived here in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico for a program.  I've never been here before and was told that I'd love it which is a stretch for me because rarely do I land somewhere that I "love".  It really is very beautiful here.  The weather is wonderful - it's been mid 80s all week, the people are amazing, resort is great, food is good, client is happy so life is good.  I'd rather be home of course but I'm here til Friday so I might as well enjoy while I'm here, right? Right.  So, today was a big day.  It started busy with lots of our guests signing up for activities.  Then, I noticed someone walking through the lobby and thought to myself, boy that woman looks like Jennifer Aniston.  So, I immediately jumped into what my friend Lindsay and I refer to as "Celebrity Stalking Mode", I followed her and low and behold ... Jennifer Aniston it was.  I can't say that I spoke with her because I didn't.  I was within feet of her, in awe of her perfect figure and the only thing I could think of was "I loved you on Friends" and the tune of "I'll be there for you" ... both of which would have been completely idiotic to bring up so "Good Morning" was all I had in my bank of things to say.  After that deviation, I had to get back on track.  It was a busy day today with people booking tours from fishing and golfing to zip lines and ATV's.  My focus though is that Friday, I go home and I couldn't be more thrilled with the thought of that.  I can't wait to grab my babes and kiss their little faces.  In the mean time though, for my family, here is a photo and map of where Mama is this week.  See you Friday!  Mommy loves you!

It's the Holiday Season...

When you think of the holiday's, what's the first thing that you think of?  For me, it's the tree and certain songs and of course Buddy the Elf!  Our holiday was kicked off with our tradition this week ... dinner with Santa at the Paper Valley and then the Appleton Christmas parade.  It was a bit chilly - only about 20 degrees but we bundled up and had a blast!