Author Archives: Ilene

Skin Deep

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 A five year old daughter who refused to put on a bathing suit. A scar caused by a horrific accident that was preventing her from going out and enjoying her summer. What’s a mother to do? Scars,  we all have them, some physical, some emotional, some both. Are you living life to its fullest? Or are you too busy dwelling on your scars to do so? This is what I’m talking about today over at Tamara’s blog. My world collided with Tamara’s some time in the early part of the year.  And while we’re new-ish friends through the blog world, … Continue reading →

Happy

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There’s laundry that needs to be folded. There are dishes in the sink and papers scattered on the floor, begging for organization and an impossibly long list of to-do’s I need to conquer before we move.  Packing, collecting medical records from an array of doctors, school registrations, goodbyes. While these tasks beckon me, the call isn’t loud enough to pull me away from my laptop. My oasis.  My happy place. The world could fall apart around me and I’d still blog. This blog has morphed over the past year and a half.  It began as a venue to explore the … Continue reading →

Just Keep Swimming

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I could feel my heart pounding as I take long, deep inhalations to try to normalize my breathing.  My chest fluttered.  I decide to walk instead of sit still, keep moving while my overworked respiratory system normalizes. I’ve felt this way before.  Every now and then while going at a run too fast and too hard, I’d find myself at this point of exhaustion.  I’d always said that if I could die running, I’d die happy.  Not that I’d want that to happen right now.  Maybe in 40 years or so, during an ultra or a triathalon, perhaps.  Besides, how … Continue reading →

The B Sides

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It was our third time eating pizza that week.  I think of this as my thighs rub together underneath the long black skirt I’m wearing as I walk the pie to our claimed spot against the side of the department store.  The pizza won’t help eradicate my recent weight gain, that’s for sure.  But if there’s been a theme to the past year of my life, it would be “screw it.”  It’s not an angry screw it or an “I don’t care” screw it.  On the contrary, it’s a “time to let up on yourself Ilene,” kind of screw it.    … Continue reading →

Ordinary World

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It wasn’t bad as far as summer jobs were concerned. It was rock and roll, kind of. By day, I babysat, and by night, I looked after famous people, or looked after the people who were there to see famous people. There weren’t many women on the security detail at the summer concert venue where I worked.  The uniform was pretty awful, a short sleeve pinstripe oxford and ill-fitting blue khakis, but I managed to make it mine by wearing a tank top as an exposed undershirt, a wide leather belt, and my ever present Doc Martens. It was a … Continue reading →

The Good Neighbor

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I can’t think of any better way to welcome today’s guest of honor than to serve wine and lots of it.  And Nachos.  For, those are the refreshments Alexa and I bonded over at Bloggy Boot Camp in Charlotte last month. One of the best parts of attending BBC was getting to meet so many wonderful bloggers in real life, and Alexa is just as delightful in person as she is on her blog No Holding Back. I can really relate to the story she tells below.  Can you?   I have not been a good friend the past few years. … Continue reading →

The Wall

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Follow my blog with Bloglovin He wasn’t supposed to have been born that day.  His due date was in January, and he therefore had no business arriving in early November.  The birth didn’t come as a surprise.  I had been on hospital bed rest for ten days after being rushed to the labor and delivery floor when my water broke at 29 weeks.  I had already beaten the “statistics” and had managed to stay pregnant those extra ten days, meaning my son would only be 9 weeks early versus 11.  Those two weeks were a huge bonus.  Yet, I still … Continue reading →

I Looked Up

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It’s time to mingle again!  I feel compelled to serve something healthy in honor of Maribel.  Green smoothie anyone? It’s difficult to categorize Maribel’s blog in a word or two except to say that much of what she writes about revolves around making positive change.  And who can’t use a little of that?  Maribel writes about healthy eating, positive living, and about broadening our mindsets every way possible.  Maribel’s blog offers great health, fitness and eating tips while at the same time, she shares her personal journey with us.  The anecdotes she shares include but are not limited to eating, … Continue reading →

The Good

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Writing desk:  Sold Sofa and love seat:  Sold Kitchen table:  Sold Children’s dresser: Sold And the list goes on. Between yard sales and Craig’s list and a Facebook buy/sell/trade group that I belong to, the articles of my material life have dissipated before my eyes. My goal for that day in August when my kids and I drive out of New Jersey is to fit everything we own in the back of my car. Realistically, I will have to leave at least a few boxes in my mother’s garage.  Yet the things I store will be the most important items … Continue reading →

Old School Blogging A – Z

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We bloggers know how to have a good time.  Really, we do!  For the past few weeks, we have been tagging one another in a blogging game, where we are prompted answer the following questions, that cleverly, follow the letters of the alphabet.  This prompt was originated by Elaine, and last week, I was tagged by Kim, Christine, and Christine to play along. I was thinking about writing this post three different times, once for each tag, but I’ll spare you the agony!   Here we go: A.  Attached or single? – Single…unless today’s the day JT finally comes around … Continue reading →