Little Guy in the Big City

My sister told me a few weeks ago about a random conversation she had with Carson a month or so back. He'd been playing and came running up to her, his little voice upset-sounding and shaky.

"Mama, remember that one time I spent the night at Aunt Amy's?"

"Yes, why?"

"Why haven't I done that again???"

Adorable and heartbreaking all at the same time. I obviously had to fix the problem when I heard about it, so he came over for another sleepover. Our sleepover theme song (R. City and Adam Levine's "Locked Away") came on the radio four times over the course of our various drives around the city, and then again after I dropped him off at home. The universe must have known we needed good music to jam to. That or radio is awful these days and that's why I don't listen to it anymore :)

We took another crack at visiting Klyde Warren Park, since I finally figured out that we went to the opposite side of where the children's play area is located - as luck would have it, the children's part of the park was closed for maintenance! Running around and splashing in the small fountains, while unpopular with the mothers trying to get their own children to behave, proved to be wildly hilarious and fun for us, so the trip wasn't a complete bust. Carson loved to be in the flight path to the airport, too, pointing with excitement each time a plane would pass overhead. 

We stopped at a proper playground for some swinging, tag, and pretend archaeology, then came back to my apartment ("Aunt Amy, why is your apartment so small?" "Aunt Amy, why is your bed in the middle of the room?" - the joys of a studio and an inquisitive mind). Our gourmet dinner included the finest bottled water money can buy and frozen pizza (Tombstone, delicious), and then we retired to watch some pre-sleep Netflix. The Little Engine That Could ended up being semi freaky - I don't recommend watching through to see the "Nightmare Train" before you and a 5-year-old try to fall asleep... 

We started off the next day by going to our favorite (closest) breakfast place, Denny's!

When our sleepover extravaganza was complete, I took Carson back home and had a nice long chat with my sister, which of course included the beans being spilled about the Nightmare Train's scariness. After I left and headed back to the city. I was very much looking forward to a nap.

Welcoming Spring

I looked up one day last week and thought, "So winter is over, I guess?"  It's like it never even happened. I went from totaling my poor, sweet car last winter to not wearing half of my wardrobe because it was too warm for heavy sweaters and boots. I don't think I even put on a heavy coat once this year, which is unfortunate because, as much as I loathe winter, there are some great things to wear when it's cold out. But, I'm obviously having no trouble adjusting to being in 80-degree-weather in March.

Glasses: Old Navy

I've been diffusing my hair lately while it's in the process of growing out again - I'm loving how it gets curlier and curlier every year

Dress: Old Navy

Shoes: Target

Chambray shirt: H&M, apparently. . .  I say apparently because I dug this out of the trash after a roommate threw it away because she'd "gotten a new one." I'm not above dumpster diving in the name of fashion and recycling!

The weather around my apartment can't decide what it wants to do - there are leaves everywhere like it's fall but my car is coated in neon green pollen! 

Highlighting one area of my body that doesn't need training - my 13-years-of-playing-soccer-calves :)

Now I just hope my neighbors don't mind that I'm cooking with windows open and dancing around the apartment while loudly playing some Jenny and the Mexicats - warm weather and good tunes make my heart quite happy. 

Through It All, Grace

It's difficult to know where to begin with something like this, something that's so important to me. Best just to begin.

My sister is my best friend.  With her being 10 years older, I adored her growing up.  I still do. I can still taste the perfume and hairspray when I think back to standing in the bathroom while she and her college friends got ready to go out. I was in awe of her; my beautiful, funnier-than-anyone-I've-ever-known older sister. When she became a mother, it was like watching someone slip into a pair of vintage jeans - the style is a classic, worn a million times, but this pair was meant just for her. Max was born, and she was meant to be his mom.

Max changed everything. I've been around kids my entire life, but I'd never been an aunt before. Here was this tiny being, this little guy who so closely resembled a wrinkled, old man, and he was ours.  He was mine to love.

Max got older and his sweet, hilarious personality began to develop. He loved elephants and he called them "eldedah" until he lost his language around the age of two. That's when he was diagnosed with autism.

The experience of Max's diagnosis and his subsequent journey have increased my capacity to love; I have infinitely more empathy and compassion than I did before. Max makes me a better person.  The experience has changed us all and brought us into a community of fighters, warriors, parents who will go to the ends of the earth for their kids.  My sister is one of these people. 

Some days are ugly.  Some days will bring you to your knees.  But it's in those days that I see she has become the person she was always meant to be - fierce, courageous, stronger than she even realizes. She would move mountains for this child, for this community, for the chance at the best life possible for her son and each person affected by autism.

Through it all, my sister stands.

And it's those times that make the good days that much sweeter. Days that are so beautiful your heart rips into a thousand pieces.  His laugh that makes it all worth it.

You look around and know, this is what matters. This is what is important, and this is where I can invest my heart and my best work.  I have seen my family pull strength from untapped places.  I have encountered some of the most remarkable kids I've ever met, whose capacity for love and life is bottomless, regardless of their ability to communicate with words. We have hope.  Now we are working toward something more.

My sister and her mother started Eldedah as a tribute to Max and his love of elephants.  Eldedah is creating tee shirts, a portion of whose sale will be donated to organizations that tangibly assist families within the autism community with money for services, appointments, tools, resources, etc.  It's one thing to be aware of autism, but that's no longer enough.  The goal now is to do something to substantially benefit this community and make a positive impact. 

That is what Eldedah is all about. Helping Max reach his fullest potential.  Helping this beautiful, amazing community.  Sharing our story and opening our lives to people so that maybe, even at its smallest impact, people might be a little bit more compassionate toward others; a little bit more open minded about other people's differences; a little bit more aware of the beauty in life's little victories. And at its basest level, they're some pretty kick-ass shirts.  

It is an honor to be involved in this passion project of my sister and her mother.  To be a part of working toward the betterment of this community that we are linked to. I am nowhere near a talented enough writer to sufficiently describe the pride I have in my family and Eldedah. The pride I have in this community - the remarkable siblings; big sisters, little brothers; mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, grandmothers.

There's still more to do.  Come along for the ride.

In anticipation of the official website launch, shop Eldedah on Etsy and follow Eldedah on Facebook and Instagram (@shopeldedah) to keep up with the latest news and styles!

El Dia de Julieta

I love Mexican culture.  Ever since I studied in the Yucatan in college, I've listened to Spanish music and attempted to recreate the dishes my host mom made me during my stay (if you're making quesadillas with anything other than queso Oaxaca, you are seriously missing out).  Luckily, getting settled in Texas has given me greater opportunities to be exposed to Mexican culture and language, and to hang out with my new friend and personal Mexican liaison, Rudy.  Even luckier for me, Rudy shares my great love of Mexican pop music, so we got tickets for this past weekend's Julieta Venegas concert at the House of Blues (thanks for the tickets, Craigslist David)!  We got dolled up, had brunch at Villa-O (served by the lovely bartender Daniel), hit up Dish Cedar Springs for its last day, and roamed around until it was time for the show.  There's nothing I love more than exploring the city on a beautifully warm February day, something I'm quickly growing accustomed to and loving over the typically snowy, freezing Michigan days I'm used to.

Loving lacy, padding-free bras these days - my attempt at embracing my pre-pubescently sized chest :D

When your hair makes you nothing but mad, slap it on top of your head in a messy bun!

Necklace: Urban Outfitters (on sale, yay)

Top & Sweater: Silence and Noise (my favorite, go-to brand for flowy, comfy gloriousness)

Julieta Venegas is a goddess; she sings, plays the guitar, piano, and accordion.  The energy at her show was phenomenal, and, though my Spanish skills have waned, I've listened to enough of her music to sign along a bit.  It was my first trip to the House of Blues in Dallas, and it lived up to my memory of the brand from Chicago - a small enough venue to feel close to the performer but not so jam-packed that dancing wasn't possible.  The crowd was jovial and friendly, singing along for every song, my personal favorite being "Me Voy" and "El Camino." 

Now I can't wait for March's Natalia LaFourcade show, and my next batch of quesadillas!