Last night my son and I went to our local Walgreen's to blow up some pictures during a strange winter ice thunderstorm. We got back in the car and I said let's do some burnouts in the ice parking lot. His eyes lit up then he scolded me because he hadn't had his seat belt on yet! When we got back home my daughter asked for a cup of hot green tea? This got me thinking who the parent figure really is in this household. After we giggled a little and they told me I am crazy we began reflecting on 2019. It was a pretty cool year and I kept myself and these two alive. I consider that a win.
Here are my top 10 moments not in any real order either.
January 2019 I won an AFFY award in Las Vegas at the Affiliate Ball thanks to my friend Darren. At that point I wasn't sure my future with my company as we had been acquired and I wasn't close to any of our offices. Few weeks later I was offered a new position as the Client Success Manager which turned into a global position. I got to really know everyone on this team especially when I got to visit our offices in London. Few weeks ago we had a team call and everyone had to say who they were grateful for. My two work hubbies Robert and Adam showed me some love that day. These two guys I talk too every day, all hours of the night and even on weekends. Loving what you do and with the people you work with is a pretty special thing. #lovewhatyoudo
I knew 2019 was most likely the end of my youth coaching career as my daughter and my girls would be entering 7th grade and walking into their High-School sports careers. Honestly, both our basketball season and softball season had story book endings. We hadn't won any championships in all the years I coached them but this year we walked away with not one but two. I could not have asked for two better teams and assistant coaches if I tried. I keep pictures of these two winning teams in my kitchen and smile every time I walk by them. Amazing memories and I will never forget every single moment of these two seasons. #champions
My oldest niece and first God daughter graduated nursing school. I never watched someone work so hard for something in my life. She had all the meaningful people in her life at her graduation. When they announced her name to get her diploma they didn't say her name right...like how the hell does that happen?! We all looked at each other as my brother yelled "her name is Jannah" and then we laughed for hours. To say we celebrated this day is an understatement. Few months later after endless hours of studying she took her NCLEX exam. Her, my kids and I were on our way to Maine for vacation when she was going to get her results if she passed or not. About 30 minutes before she could login to check we stopped at some random diner for breakfast. The four of us ordered and sat there beyond nervous. When she opened the results and saw she passed more celebration set in. We were all so very proud. #rnbsnjannah
It was early June right around Shane's 11th birthday. Molly walked down the stairs before school and I couldn't help but stare at her. Not only is she a beautiful girl but something was different that morning. It dawned on me my kid was officially taller than me. We did a quick measure and sure enough I was right. Her 12 years of life flashed before my eyes. In September my girl turned 13. Her loyalty to me is amazing and when she is around being her silly self you can't help but smile. I am so proud of the person she is becoming. #bestdaughteraward
On our annual Malo vacation in Maine my oldest nephew had this funny idea to make a video of all of us like an 80's sitcom. For those that know us we really like ourselves and think we are absolutely hilarious LOL. We had the best time setting up the scene for each person to have their "big" moment on camera. When it all came together we had so many laughs together. My kids and I had missed a few of these vacations along the road due to unhappy times. We vowed we would never miss another one again. This video reminds me of the show "This is Us" because this video is who we really are. I can't ask for better humans to call my family even if I tried. https://twitter.com/i/status/1151959666269806601
My son Shaner is the only man living in this house. It's not easy living with women and I love how he is always reminding us of his space. In our upstairs bathroom he has two shelves that he labeled with the label maker "Shane's Shelf". He said he got sick of constantly going through our stuff and it makes me laugh every time I pass by them. He is always helping with projects around the house or simply getting a new bag of pellets for the stove. That shy little guy attached to my leg has really grown up in 2019. During his golf camp over the summer he bought his friend Zach lunch one day. His Mom later texted me to tell me what a nice kid Shane is. It's those little things we consider parenting win's that put a huge smile on my face. He also ran his first 5K with me over the summer for a boy in his school that needed some help. I have surrounded him with good men and as I always say if it's the last thing I do I will raise a good man. You haven't lived life until you have been part of a full out nerf gun war at this house either! #bestsonaward
My niece Jules who I often think is my twin did her Marketing internship with my company over the summer. She attended her first Affiliate Summit in New York City and I loved every second of it. There isn't a family member that understands what I even do for a living so to have her be a part of my world was amazing. Not only did she work her ass off and do a great job she got to meet so many of my clients and friends in the industry. She took part in our first Affiliate Summit running club as we ran with a special group into Central Park. I loved introducing her into the Affiliate Marketing world and I can't wait to see what she does when she graduates this spring. My favorite moment of the internship was during the Affiliate Ball when I decided to go dance with the hired male dancers up on the balcony after I spoke on stage. Someone I work with said to Jules "oh my look at your Aunt up there"! Her response was priceless on the lines of "I am not surprised by anything she does and she is no different here than she is at home." I say people need more singing and dancing in their life. #julesfirstaffiliatesummitinthebooks
Last week my BFF Sarah and I won the annual Hull/Szado/Malo gingerbread contest. While most would think this is an odd top 10 highlight for me it really was. Our performance last year was extremely weak so we took the year to motivate ourselves into doing better and we won the votes. Times like these remind me how lucky I am to have such amazing wonderful women friends in my life. Friends that are loyal and have stuck by me every single day with my new life journey. I can't say being my friend is an easy task but I want these women to know how grateful I am to call them my friends. Thank you Sarah, Kate, Rebecca, Cath and Camilla for all you do. Our friendships are priceless to me and I look forward to our 2020 adventures. #girlsweekends
This BLOG! I finally after so many years started my own blog. Something that has been on my bucket list since I entered the online industry. At night I read endless blogs from the top bloggers around the world and hope to be in that mix someday. Writing and expressing my thoughts on whatever pops into my head has been so therapeutic and fun. I have the most random people around the world reaching out to me on how they love to read what I am thinking. It's my life mission to inspire people to try new things because we only have one life to live. In 2020 I hope I can find new followers and my views sky rocket. I had an article printed in a magazine so my next step is writing a book. #lovemeablogger
Last but not least I smiled a shit load in 2019. A true heart warming smile on this girl's face. I have started new random friendships, stayed up having late night chats with whomever and all because I can do what makes me happy. Another fun year single in the books of my crazy life. Not quite sure I am ready to give up my freedom but we will see what 2020 brings. My sister in-law and part-time therapist keeps telling me to have as many conversations with good guys that I can and finally learn to take compliments for what they are truly meant to be. I am certainly a work-in-progress and it took many years to get here but this is me. I saw on instagram this morning a quote that says 2017 broke me...2018 changed me...2019 opened my eyes...2020 I'm manifesting my dreams.
I am going to change this slightly to 2017 I finally smartened up and walked...2018 I chose me...2019 was seriously fun as hell...2020 setting my goals high. Thank you to everyone who has supported this blog, my kids and my new life. Happy New Year to all of you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeqUmaquYAY
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