Thursday ~

I have so much chaos in my life, it's become normal. 

You become used to it. You have to just relax, calm down,

take a deep breath and try to see how you can make things

 work rather than complain about how they're wrong...

Back to our routines one can say.  I miss Rima and family.

 Looking back at pictures, I was so happy to have had some alone 

time with her.  For those short few days we sure did many things.

A must see when visiting California.  Santa Monica. 

 Brought back memories of the places I went

 to when I first lived in California.  

My first time in Beverly Hills was pretty interesting. 

 As I walked into one of the shops the saleswoman looked at

 me and immediately made up her mind that I  could not 

afford to buy anything in their so very exclusive store.

Guess she was very surprised when my husband at the time, 

Paul Michael Riley decided that I could have anything I wanted 

from the store.  I'm simple.  I really did not want much,

 but the look on the sales woman's face made my day. 

 Of course I did end up with a "little" something.

Soon Friday already.  Lots of do here in Fort Lauderdale. 

 This weekend I told Arvid I would like to go to the Cheesecake Factory

 for dinner.  I just love their Thai Lettuce Wraps and have 

been craving it for the longest of times.

Wishing everyone happy days and to always remember 

that there is always something to be grateful for.  It's very

 warm here.  I did get use to cooler temperatures in

  Branson, and yes, I miss Branson and everyone.

Happy Thursday.

I enjoy jokes, smiling, and making people smile. I may be a 

little different, but that's OK, who wants to be normal anyway?...

~Nadiya~

Rise And Shine All ~

Work hard, stay positive, and get up early. 

It's the best part of the day. Early to bed and early to

 rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise...

A little too early for me to be awake, 

but like it. Have already been awake for 

almost 3 hours, but was still laying in bed

 hoping to fall asleep again.  No such luck.

Of course Sniff somehow knew I was awake, 

and he made his presence felt.  He started 

meowing for foodies.  Of course I got up.  

Fed him.  Brushed him, and made had

 my cafe. Still very dark outside.

 Now the day is looking pretty long. 

 Sniff being the smart one here already 

is back in bed snuggled up close to Arvid.  

Those two never miss out on sleep. 

Won't mind some more sleep either.

Another day with more learning of the

MLS system for me.  Staying busy is what 

keeps me sane, and of course I love it.

  Arvid as everyone knows is ALWAYS busy.  What he does 

all the time continues to be a partial mystery, but busy he is.

Good morning all.  A reminder that limitations live 

only in our minds. But if we use our imaginations,

 our possibilities become limitless.

The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is 

that little extra. Always be a first-rate version of yourself, 

instead of a second-rate version of somebody else...

~Nadiya~

Feeling Good ~

When was the last time you spent

 a quiet moment just doing nothing,

 just sitting and looking at the sea, 

or watching the wind blowing

 the tree limbs, or waves rippling

 on a pond, a flickering candle

 or children playing in the park?...

Mornings.  My favorite time of the day.  Peaceful.  

Quiet.  The sound of the palm trees swaying, 

a boat passing by, my cafe and Sniff. How 

does it get any better than that? 

 I really don't care where I am, as long 

as my mornings are quiet and calming

 I am loving it.  I loved my mornings 

in Branson also.  I miss them, 

but I also love it here.

Another busy day here.  Arvid still 

has the "flu"  Still can't seem to 

restrain himself from doing too 

much running around.  

Since coming back to Florida he 

has been looking like crazy for 

concerts for us to go to. 

 He did find one (I told him I would not go), fortunately for

me it was all sold out!  Has not stopped him from looking.

Time to start my day.  Arvid will soon be awake and

 from that time on we will be busy busy busy.  Coffee and

 quiet time is over.  Morning is starting to buzz again.

There comes a time for everybody when words

 and reasons can become such a great weariness.

~Nadiya~

Busy Week Ahead ~

One of the nice things about being busy is it makes you focus
 on what's important to you and how you use your time...

Somehow our life in Florida seems even more hectic than when

 we lived in Branson and ran the hotels.  How is that possible?  Answer

 is simple.  Arvid.  Somehow Arvid makes life seem more hectic 

that it should. Says he likes staying busy, so do I, but

 somehow with him it is really a lot of work.

Yesterday we met with a customer.  Over drinks and a good meal 

we discussed his selling his house.  A house we sold them a 

few years ago.  Since we have been gone from Florida for

 a good 2 years, I have to relearn everything about the 

Multiple Listing System, or MLS as it's called.

As Arvid said to me, "tomorrow we take the listing, so make 

sure you figure out how the system works.  Thank goodness that

 I learn fast.  I have already mastered most of it, at least

 enough for us to take the listing tomorrow.

Now all Arvid has to do is print out the forms.  Go to the 

customer and take the listing.  In the meantime I will continue to 

see how best we can use the system to maximize the listing.  

It's been a long time since I did this so hopefully I will

 manage to do what's best for the customer.  I have to.

The week will be a busy one, but that's only good.  I think

 of other things.  Sniff is enjoying his new home.  At least he is

 much more comfortable in his surroundings.  He does not

 seem to care about the views the way Brutus did.  Sniff is 

not into Palm Trees and boats.  He loves bird watching.

In my experience, being busy and 
working hard is the key to sanity/happiness...

~Nadiya~

Back In Florida ~ Home Again

Life doesn't require that we be the best, only

that we try our best.  Sometimes we forget...

I had a great time in California visiting my sister and family. 

 Arvid and I had a few days together then he went back to Las Vegas 

for his meeting.  Worked out great.  He and I enjoyed San Diego together

 in a place called Gaslamp District.  It's the spot in San Diego.

We also checked out a very cool place called Little Italy in san Diego.

The music seems to follow us, for there was live music, and the

 place was rocking.  Arvid and I of course enjoyed the music,

 the crowd and a few adult beverages.  The weather in

 San Diego as ALWAYS perfect.  We had a great time.

Rima and George gave us the tour.  We drove almost 2 hours 

to Huntington Beach for dinner and to see the sunset at The Pier. 

 Well worth it.  Food was delicious and the sunset out of this world. 

 I love sunrises and sunsets and could have spent forever just 

looking at it.  Needless to say we had a great time.

Rima took me to a few places I have never been to.  

California has definitely changed since I last lived there.  

There is development just about everywhere.  

So much so it looks like a whole new place to me.  I enjoyed

 every moment I had with Rima and family.  I was also fortunate 

to see my friend Anna.  Rima made some amazing desserts for us. 

 Her cheesecake is the best I have every had.  Cheesecake Factory

 does not even compare to Rima's.  We also had Tres Leches, better

 than any Cuban Restaurant you will go to and some of her cakes.

 Needless to say extra pounds were packed on.   But so delicious.

I kook forward to seeing them every year.  Now that we 

are back to living in Florida it should be easier to go places. 

 The weirdest thing though is that I have suddenly 

discovered that I do not like flying that much.  

When we went to Norway this year the plane trip was scary.

  The plane bounced around a lot and it dropped suddenly.  

I'm not sure I would like to do that long trip again, 

but as Arvid said, "give it time."  I will.

To all a good day.  Sunny and beautiful right now.  The 

boats are just giving us an amazing show right now.

Our life is good and it will keep getting better...

~Nadiya~

About Shoes ~

If a man's fortune does not fit him, it is like the shoe 
in the story; if too large it trips him up, 
if too small it pinches him...

What do women want?  Shoes of course.  If you are like me,
 then you must own tons of them.  If you are anything
 like my sister then you own even more.

I must confess that even though I love shoes, I always wonder how it is that all these women I see with these very high, high heels can make it through the day and not have a single blister on their feet.  At least that is how it appears to me.  I see them all walking around in these gorgeous shoes with 3+ inches (and not platform like most of mine), and I am always awed at their stamina for tolerating pain.

From young my mom loved shoes and her closet was filled with them as we were growing up.  Little by little she had quite a collection and to this day she is a collector of shoes.  I also have quite a collection, but my problem is that after wearing them once, my feet are blistered, and then I am afraid to use them again.

I have 2 kinds of collections...the practical, comfy everyday ones
 which include my sneakers and my Easy Spirits, Eccos, Nurture,
Timberland etc.  You get the idea.  They are comfy, but they are not
 the prettiest of shoes, but I can actually walk forever in them.

With the hotel it does not make sense to wear anything buy comfy
 shoes. Missouri is very hilly and the grounds at the hotel is also.  I am 
constantly going up and down stairs, and just walking around
the property makes it almost impossible for me to have 
anything on but comfort shoes (aka not always pretty)

Aside from the "not pretty shoes" I have the collection with the heels.  Some platform, some stilettos.  Now these look awesome on your feet and if you are going to a place 
where you don't have
 to walk perfect. 

 Seems though that with me it does not matter after about an hour in these shoes my feet are blistered.  Band-Aid or no Band-Aid I just don't seem to be able to use them for more than a 2 hour tops.  

I have discovered in Calvin Klein, Guess, INC, Gianni Bini and BCBG and Marc Jacobs among others some styles that are a bit more comfy for me and yes pretty.  I can actually use them for an evening if there is not much walking involved.  Another brand that I like is called Born.  These can be anywhere from ugly looking to some very pretty ones.  Best of all they are so good to walk in.

Having "problem" feet I am not able to wear all brands.  My shoes have to be well made and of good quality.  Unfortunately, this means that I have to pay quite a bit for a pair of shoes that is unless I can find them on sale. Which then makes me very happy.   My problem is that when I find that perfect shoe that embodies all I want, style, beauty, sophistication and grace it is always way too expensive.  This does not make me happy.

No matter what, the first stop for me when I go to the mall is the shoe department.  Do I learn?  Not really otherwise, I would not have bought another pair yesterday knowing that my feet will be blistered within the hour, but for now I love them and that's what matters.

If the shoe fits, it's too expensive....

~Nadiya~

Vegas Days And Nights ~

Las Vegas looks the way you’d imagine heaven must look at night....

What a beautiful sight at night.   The Las Vegas nightlife truly is unrivaled.

And when the stars come out, so does everybody else.

Hungry? Well Denny's has a full bar and yes a wedding chapel. 
 Just in case you decide to do something "crazy"  You know they
 say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.  So why not?

Meet the High Roller Ferris Wheel, the world's tallest observation wheel.

The High Roller is 9 ft (2.7 m) taller than the 541-foot (165 m) Singapore Flyer,

 which held the record for the world's tallest observation wheel from its opening 
in 2008 until High Roller opened to the public on March 31, 2014.

Everyday on my tour of the city I pass the High Roller. 
 Pretty during the day, but spectacular at night.

A must is Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville.  Just good vibes.  
Good music and entertainment. Good food and good drinks.

To all a good day.  Here in Vegas it is always weekend, and
 as someone said: A weekend in Vegas without gambling 
and drinking is just like being a born-again Christian.

Vegas is a celebration.  Las Vegas is the only place
 I know where money really talks.  It says goodbye...

~Nadiya~

Life Is Good ~

You shouldn't wait for other people to make special
 things happen. You have to create your own memories...

Rima, George and the family are completely settled in 

to the California lifestyle.  As Lilly Vade says, "we are

 living the American dream here in California."

I am happy.  Whenever I have the opportunity to spend
 time with loved ones my heart is all happiness.  I know our

time will soon come to an end, but the few days we have had
 together and what we still have will forever be happy memories.
 I am on a quest of collecting happy memories always.

Lilly Vade, Riley and our hippie Gabsy are all California
 kids now.  They fit into the lifestyle so easily.  I love seeing
 them happy and always smiling.  Makes me happy.

  I was happy to be able to go to Lilly Vade's school with Rima,
 and pick her up.  I have done that with all of my nieces
 and nephews at some point in their lives.  Hopefully one
day we will do it with Vanessa and Aleah as well.

Time to go and make some more memories.  To all a very
good day.  I'm having a great time with Rima and family.

Each day of our lives we make deposits in the
memory banks of our loved ones.  I have a very conveniently
 photographic memory of emotions - it's overwhelming,
 because things don't fade for me...

~Nadiya~

Family Time ~

Our pictures are our footprints. It’s the 
best way to tell people we were here...

I don't think it gets any better than this.  Spending time

 with everyone and just having the most relaxing and fun of times.

  On the 12th it's Lilly Vade's birthday.  Baby doll turns 11.  I 

have no clue how time has gone by so fast.  It seems 

just like yesterday she was just a tiny little girlie.

Hopefully today my friend Anna will be visiting.  Have 

also been looking forward to this day for a long time. Friends 

for a lifetime and more. Super excited to see her.

Tomorrow I plan to take Rima and the gang out to dinner. 

 Celebrating Lilly Vade's and Riley's birthday.  Riley turned

 16 on the 7th.For riley's birthday we all went to lunch

 at the Pier at Huntington Beach.  It's surf time all day 

long there, and at sunset even more impressive.

Times like now I would love to be living in California.

  So much that is familiar, yet at the same time so different.  

I love life with Arvid, but for now I am just reminiscing a little 

and enjoying every moment I have with the ones I love.

You shouldn't wait for other people to make special 
things happen. You have to create your own memories...

~Nadiya~

Making Memories ~

Live for moments you can't put into words...

So far we are have having a great time with everyone.  

I am just happy to be able to spend time with Rima, George,

 the kids and of course Dexter and Marley.  Dexter as I have 

always mentioned holds a special place with me.  He loves to be 

carried around, and gets it all the time from everyone.  After all,

Dexy weighs less than Sniff.  How is that even possible?

The days are already going by way too fast and we have

 so much to do.  Rima makes an excellent tour guide and she

 will actually be taking me out to see some of her favorite places. 

 Loving it.  She loves San Diego.  Guess where we will be heading.

Lilly Vade is a water baby.  If she could spend all her 

hours swimming and using the hot tub she would.  She rushes 

to do all her chores and homework just so that she can have 

extra swim time.  The entire family is golden in color.

  California living suits them so well.  They all love it.

I am fortunate to be able to spend time with them.  

I am loving every minute and making wonderful memories

 all over again.  Being here in California brings back a

 lot of memories.  Memories of a life I once had here.  

It was also a beautiful time and a beautiful life.

I have a beautiful life with Arvid.  Would never change
 it for anything in the world, but at the same time just being
 in California awakens what I thought was asleep.

Wishing everyone a beautiful day.  I will be continuing to

 enjoy California and my time with my sister and family. 

 So much more to do in so short a time.  Pretty amazing

 how much can get done when one really wants to do it.

Every day is a going to be a memory. 

Make good ones and take pictures...

~Nadiya~