Just Me

I know I need to post pictures of Ava's birthday party we held last weekend but since I broke the point and shoot I just got for my anniversary in March (shh! don't tell my husband!) and the Rebel battery died and I left the spare plugged in to the wall in our office (DOH!) I have to rely on pics from my mom (if and when she ever shares them with me).

So, sorry. No party pix. And probably by the time I get them, you will be like "Ava who?" LOL So instead I will talk about me. Since I haven't been posting much you will probably STILL say, "Rania who?" Yeah. See? I knew it. But seriously, I'm here. I'm the one who writes the words in this little space of the internets. Amusing Rain...That's me! Wanna see my long form birth certificate? I swear I'm legit. ;)

So - I started a boot camp today. YEA!!!! I nearly died, but I did it and it was fun (as much fun as self inflicted muscle-burning can be). It's really just what I need: others motivating me. Me motivating me is just (apparently) not enough.


So I signed up for a four week session and the goal is to go two to three times a week. I have a Warrior Dash in September that I need to get fit for so I don't embarrass myself in front of my best friend and her husband, so that's another part of my motivation. Wish me luck!

Hair: After cutting off four inches (I still gasp when I think of that), I'm glad to see it growing back nicely. Before I was (starting from front hairline to back length) 23". My ultimate goal is somewhere between 30-32" which would be right around my waist.  I was 19" after the cut (5/22) and now I'm making progress at 20" (nearly 20-1/2") which is right on par with the 1/2" a month (if only I could speed that up!). My ends are still GREAT and since the cut my hair looks thicker. My mother even commented on it when she was here this weekend.

And yes, I have clothes on.
It was a strapless top.

Since cutting my hair and bangs though, I've been wearing it mostly in ponytails or a bun because I just wasn't happy with the styling but this weekend I straightened it and semi-curled it for a "wavy" look all around and it came out pretty nicely. Even my bangs. I wish I'd thought to take a better picture, but oh well. Maybe I will do it again and do a vlog next time (it's in a ponytail again as I speak.  I told you I was lazy with my hair.). :)

Life: has been interesting. My husband and I decided we were basically going to put the home business on hiatus (keeping only two clients) while I look for PT or FT employment.

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He's really crazy busy at work now and is too exhausted from all the thinking at work to have to come home and be 100% at night, too with the items he would have to manage for it and I really need to be working WITH other people face to face and not virtually. I miss the direct interaction. The partners and vendors we work with are all via phone, chat, web conference or the occasional lunch meeting since we all work from home and that gets boring (for me anyway). Optimally, his dream is for me to stay home with the kids and run a small business if I wanted to. As for me...I'm not sure I'm SAHM material. Yes, I've been doing it now (WAHM) for the past 9 months, but the kids go to school (at least they did before the summer hit). Once they were home 24/7, it gets to be a bit much. It's hard dealing with a needy 5 year old, managing the whereabouts of a 14 and 16 year old AND manage whatever client needs exist, household errands needing to be run on top of job search during the day. So I'm sure you can understand why I've dropped off a bit from blogging - freaking no time...

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So anyway, now it's about to get a little busier with the start of school in a few weeks. My 5 year old will start Kindergarten, my 16 year old will be going back to OKC and starting the 11th grade (let's not even START on our college prep plans that will be my focus these next TWO YEARS) and my 14 year old will be starting high school. There're registrations to do, back to school events to gear up for, back to school clothes and supplies shopping, PTA dues, yearbooks to order x3... I'm exhausted just thinking about all of this. But I'm excited, too. They will both be starting new schools so, that in itself, is always exciting. Maybe I will remember to charge my camera next time to capture it! (rolling eyes at self)

So...Not really all that I need to update but I think I will save that for a vlog since I have a 5 year old that has entered my office begging me if we can "do something".."can we leave now?"...."I'm bored!" for the umpteenth time and since I don't want to do something that will put me in jail to shut him up - I'd better get off this computer now and tend to him. We are on our way to play outside. ...See what I mean?

So I will leave you with a video of the one I am having to leave you for. My Nico-nique