Blog Challenge: Day 27

A picture of you last year and now. How have you changed since then?


September 10, 2011 at my Bachelorette Party



How much a difference makes?  Physically, I think that I look pretty much the same as I did last year.  My hair is a little longer and has more red in it that it did last year at this time.  I haven't put on a ton of post wedding pounds, so that is good!



Mentally, I am in such a better place today than I was just a year ago.  2011 was a roller coaster year that started out was a job loss and job gain on the same day.  I thought I had found a company that I was really going to love and thrive at with a pretty unique portfolio with a boss I thought would be a great mentor.  So 2 out of the 3 isn't bad....I hated the company and their lack of focus.  I thought a unique porfolio was very cool and my boss was great, until he wasn't my boss.  I had 22 states and part of Canada.....I have always loved having a traveling job, but this was hard. I couldn't build traction and I felt like I was never getting anywhere.  I was the youngest sales rep by like 10 years and that made me feel really alone. 

J proposing was a high and I loved planning a wedding. I loved seeing my family more than normal and got to really bond with my mother. 



September 15, 2012 at Slough Stock



Then August came and the board of directors put the company for sale and eliminated my sales team....while I was sitting at a Starbucks in Baton Rouge.  Pre-J I would have utterly fallen apart. After a lot of tears and the most amazing support from friends, I regrouped and started the job hunt.  I knew I was relinquished from a job I didn't like, but I was terrified of not finding something with a wedding in 2 months.  I had a few good job interviews by phone, and was flown from west coast to east coast for a few in personl final interviews, but was not the right fit.

Right about this time last year, I started interviewing for my current job. An AMAZING job, that I landed 3 days before my wedding.  I was able to go on my honeymoon and start as soon as I got back into town.  So I have a new job, new last name, new family, new hopes for the future, new roles in my life, a savings account, and hopefully just more stability than 2011.

Blog Challenge: Day 26

5 books currently in your "to read" stack or on your Kindle
First off, I have always been partial to reading a real page flipping corner folding down book.  However, for my birthday, my wonderful mother in law surprised me with a Kindle!  It was a pleasant surprise because I have never mentioned buying a Kindle, but what an amazing gift!! It will be so nice to have such a light item to travel with.  Books can be bulky in my computer bag, especially if I am near the end of one and have to bring another book with me. I have many books on my "to read" pile.

1.  Two for the Show by Janet Evanovich.  My mother gave me the first 4 books in this laugh out loud series and I just started the second one.

2. Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon. This is the 4th book in the Outlander series. My mother in law got me reading these books. They are not the typical type of book I read and fall into the Fantasy category I would guess. However, once I got into them and was able to understand the Keltic dialect, I was hooked.  They are long but very good reads.

3. Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back by Lynn Vincent and Todd Burpo. Another suggestion by my mother.  I think Don Underwood, my minister in Texas had spoken about this book in his sermon while we were home at Christmas. 

4. 50 Shades of Grey Series....come on, I need some excitement too!!! I think I am the only person in the United States that hasn't read this yet.

5.  Hunger Games series.  Once again, I feel like the only person who hasn't read this.

I am going to keep this new Kindle busy!

Blog Challenge: Day 25

What is your greatest fear?

I don't like to admit my fears. We have always been told that fear is a sign on weakness, and I have never been one to show weakness if at all possible.  But that doesn't mean I am not fearful of things. 

One of my greatest fears has always been being alone. I do not mean that I can't not be by myself, I very much enjoy my Paige time.  I have always been afraid of being lonely. I am blessed to have a wonderful husband, amazing family and friend, and hopefully one day beautiful children of my own.  I just have always feared that one day, I'd wake up and I would have no one. No one to love or love me back. No one to make it through the tough times together and lean on each other.  I have always been very independent but I do need the love of others.  I never want to wake up, old, alone, and no one to talk to or have a meal with,. I have noticed that in this day and age of technology we don't make personal connections as much as we used to. We text, Fb, or email and never pick up the phone for voice to voice interaction.  I am just as guilty as others. I see what is going on in others lives via facebook photos and blogs and feel that is enough interaction. I am doing my best to keep real live contact with people so we have fun times together as we age.

Another fear I have is getting fat.  I know this is a vain statement, but for someone who has struggled with their weight their entire life this is a HUGE fear for me.  I have battled image issues as well as other eating disorders and quite frankly, I don't think I will ever not fear this.  I think this fear is spilling over into my deciding to have a baby.  I want to have a very healthy pregnancy and sometimes I fear the weight gain in pregnancy more that the physical act of having a baby.  I just pray that the Lord gives me strength to face this fear.

Blog Challenge: Day 24

A letter to your parents
This is a hard one.....so hard to put into words...

Dear Mama and Daddy,
    Wow, where does one start?  I first want to start off by saying Thank You. Thank you for being the best parents.  I know that growing up I questioned your decisions, fought back, talked back, did not agree, and thought you were the most strickest parents around. I know that I tried your patience and was a difficult hard headed individual. Now, that I am older and living on my own, I know that everything you did for me was out of love.  You actually DID know what you were talking about. 

It took me leaving Texas, especially my Plano bubble, to know how lucky I was with parents like yall.  I am forever grateful of all the opportunities you were able to provide for me.  I was a very well United States traveled child and I know the proper ettiquet for eating at nice restaraunts.  This was not unual for our family. I knew what was expected of me and I am grateful for the good Southerm values instilled in me.  I know that yall worked hard to give us such a fabulous childhood.  I never had to go home to an empty house or be put into daycare. I only wish my kids would be as lucky.  I have no student loans and to that I am most thankful.

You both have also set such a great example of marriage.  I am honored to share your wedding anniversay. I just knew that was a special day and hope I will be just as happy in 40 years.  You were both just great examples in general.  I see more and more of both of you in my daily routine and mannerisms as I grow older. I know that I can come to you and talk about anything. I know in my early 20s I didn't call to confind and ask for advice as much as I do now.  I am happy we have such a good relationship.  I wish we lived closer but I know that you are always a phone call away.

I know if I can only be half the parent yall were to me, my kids will be lucky.

I love you both!

Blog Challenge: Day 23

*Something you crave for a lot*
I'd like to think I am girl who is able to indulge in moderation but there are a few this I crave:

Popcorn--I do not think anyone out there loves popcorn as much as I do. Peyton says I make the best popcron EVER!  I actually have to not buy oil sometimes so I can trick myself into not having popcorn everynight.

Diet Coke--I wrote about this earlier.  I am going to have the hardest time cutting it out when I decide to get pregnant.

Attention from my husband-- Haha, by this I mean I crave having my back rubbed or something to that affect. 

This excersie is making me think I am weird, in that I have a hard time writting responses.

Blog Challenge: Day 22

*What makes you different from everyone else*

I have thought about this one a lot today, and I am not very sure. I don't fee that I am that different from most people but I came up with a list:

• I am a popcorn snob.  It must be the white kernels and popped on the stove.
• I would pick salty over sugary snacks
• I hate pickels, olives, tomatos, and cilantro
• I am a science nerd that has social skills and fashion sense
• I love folding laundry
• I sleep better in hotel beds than I do my own
• I hate driving
• I have more shoes than most people
• I love dressing up but I love wearing running shorts and a T shirt more
• I can not live without a good pair of leggings and boots
• I would love to be more creative, but sadly I am all talk and no do

The Big 3-3

Yesterday was my birthday and I love birthdays (mine in particular).  I love that there is day that is all mine. I even took off work so I could do exactly what I want and not feel guilty about it.  My day started with a phone call from my Mama.  We have a version of Happy Birthday that must be sung to start my day off right.  To be honest, as a kid I hated this version of Happy Birthday. It kind of sounds like a woman who has smoked multiple packs of cigarettes per day.  I have tried to sing this version myself for my Mama on her birthday and I sound like a Chinese person.  I had birthday cake and ice cream for breakfast....um hello, why wouldn't I???  Charlie and I went for a walk at the park, part to get out and enjoy the gorgeous weatheer and part to combat the breakfast cake and ice cream.  I read a book for fun on the back deck and then we picked up Peyton and met Rick, Jess, and my in laws at Calieco's for dinner.....good day.

On the flipside...I can not believe I am 33.  I don't feel 33, that's for sure.  I look at what I have done by 33 and the list is not a long as I would lik it to be.  I feel that my parents at 33 were way more established than I am at this age.  They were on their second kid and I feel that money was never a big issue for my family as I grew up. We had big birthdays and Christmas's, took nice long family vacations and I feel we are no where near to that luxary yet.  Why don't I have more in savings? Why don't we have a bigger house?  Wow, I  don't have kids of my own yet.  Sometimes I feel I am still a kid just playing house and pretending to be a grown up.

Blog Challenge Day 21

A picture of something that makes you happy



It is no secret, I love the beach, pool, boat, basically anything that allows me to be by water sunbathing myself.  This picture is from our honeymoon aboard "The Cat".  We took the Cat out to Turtle Island to snorkle with the sea turtles. It was amazing. The water was crystal blue and you could see all the way to the floor.  I am most happy in the summer with the sun rays tanning my skin.  I am so relaxed. I honestly think, that "laying out" is the only thing I have found that entirely relaxes me.  J is not a pool person, but he does love the water as well. (probably why we get along so well)  There are other things that make me happy, but I think this is one of the ultimates!

August Blog Challenge now September Challenge: Day 20

Yes, I know there are 31 days of this challenge and 31 days in the month of August. However, I did not start this challenge on August 1, so I am continuing into September. Get over it!

*What does your future hold/where would you like to be?*

Wow, this is a toughy.  I have tried over and over again to plan my future to a tee. And none of what I planned is the way it happened or the way I had thought it would be.  I am too much of a planner and I have finally learned to turn it over to God.  Did I ever expect to still be living in Missouri? Did I ever plan on having a job that travels every other week?  I did not plan on marrying someone who already had a kid.  I did not plan on a lot of things.  So, at the end of the day, all I can do is my best to be happy and let the rest fall into place.

What do I hope the future hold is a better quetstion:
Happy
Healthy
Prosperous
Kind
Loving
Love my job and be good at it
Love my family and have a healthy relationship with my husband
2 of my own kids (girls woiuld be nice)
Be an amazing mother (like I had)
Do not stress or sweat the small things
Financial stable
Travel miles earned from trips for pleasure other than business


**This post is brought to you from way up in ths sky, free of charge by my a list preferred membership of Southwest Airlines***