For Mom

I had to plans to write about farmers' markets today, but I decided to do something else.

Today I cleaned my apartment. Vacuumed, mopped, scrubbed, dusted - cleaned. I worked for hours cleaning the place. And I don't expect a thank you from any of my roommates when they all get back later tonight. It isn't that I wouldn't like a thank, no, I would quite like one, but I won't get it.

Then I thought about it. My mom has done the same thing day-in, day-out, for years. As a stay at home mom, she cleaned the house, bought the food, did the laundry, did everything to make our house a home. And all without a continual thank you. She was essentially an unpaid servant. Which is horrible to say, and I know she wouldn't think of it like that at all, but basically, that is what it comes down to. My mom did everything for us and never expected anything in return, never got anything in return. I took her for granted.

Mother's Day was a few weeks ago, but I can honestly say that today I feel much more appreciation and respect and admiration for my mom. I will do so every day. My mom is amazing.


I hope one day I can be as fantastic a mother as she has been to me.

Apartment Living

After being away for a weekend being sick as a dog (where does that phrase come from?) and not quite over it, really, I'd love to talk about apartment living.

I've never lived in an apartment before. For 18 years, I lived in a beautiful house. In fact, this beautiful house (as seen from the backyard):

I loved that house. And the story as to why I don't live there anymore, even when I am back home in California, is sad and one you've probably heard multiple times from different people in the past months. In any case, as I said, lived in a house for most of my life. Then, BAM! College! Move from a great house where I had my own room with a walk-in closet and en suite bathroom to a room half the size where 3 people (count 'em, 3!) are living. Big change!

Now I live in an apartment with 3 other girls. Here's a picture of the glorious kitchen:


And apartment living? Is different. Sure, the space is larger than the dorm, but still smaller than my home. I still have someone else living in the same room with me, and 2 other people besides in the apartment. I have to always remember to lock the door on the way out, I don't have backyard, can't have pets and live on the 11th floor, instead of the ground floor with a door that leads out to my backyard.

I think I'm loving it, but I'm not sure. I'm on a college kid's budget....I don't have the money to decorate and design this place like I'd wish. But I'm excited to think that one day I will have the money when I have my own apartment. And it will be beautiful.