An eensy weensy break....

It hadn't really phased me that I had taken time off from the blog I so badly wanted to start, until I randomly read a post I saw on a friends facebook page. Then it reminded me the entire purpose of why this meant a lot to me in the first place. Alas, I am back. I think. The last few months created more change than one can put into words. Long story short-I fell out of love. Friends got married. Friends had babies. People got older. I met him. Fell back in love. (after I said I'd wait...but boy I sure couldn't pass this up...) I got older. 28. I still feel young. And life began to take on much more importance than I ever knew...

I finally realize I am at a point in my life where I truly need to start being more of who I really am not what I always thougt I was supposed to be. So I am embracing the journey of life a little bit more. I had a move. A job change, which I love by the way. It doesn't really surprise me at all that I am working in a place where people come to feel pretty or pampered. By day, I am the same way...I take pride in those extra 5 minutes I get to be a girl and primp each day. But then I love throwing on my tennis shoes for a long, sweaty run.

That is when I clear my head. I think, ponder, pray. Whatever it is I feel necessary. I feel blessed my parents and sisters are in good health and watched over and loved. I pray for the strength to be strong for the person I love as we watch his dads battle with ALS (Lou Gehrigs) become more evident the outcome. But I live each day to the full and find something to be blessed with and grateful for each morning.

My cousin had a quote one day I read that said "You never know how strong you are until being strong is your only option." That is my only option. We only get one shot. I plan to make mine better as I go. Remember this: Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion, today is special.

Breath of Fresh Air

I've learned that my universe is never going to be in perfect rotation. For the most part I am ok with that. But what I also learned are some of the many things that make my life awesome. Exciting. Unpredictable. And blessed....

This past weekend I hosted a bridal shower for an amazing friend Becky. I stressed out for the week before because I didn't feel well and felt that it may be quite possible I showed up in sweatpants. To my surprise--it turned out great. She enjoyed it and so did everyone who attended. These are some of the little decorations I put together:

The night before the shower my middle sis went to celebrate a friends 21st birthday. Now being the great big sister I am, I offered them a ride if needed. She never takes me up on it. However this time she did. Luckily my mom was up for the shower and has a mini van. So we headed to the 'ville for those of you that know what that is...and intended on picking up a few kiddos.

A few means a dozen. No lie. But it was a seriously funny memory and I am so glad I was there for it, even if I didn't get to bed til way after 3 which is 5 hours later than normal.

The bachlorette party portion of the weekend provided me with a little insight on a couple things: 1. I cannot party like I used to in any way, shape, or form. I am getting old. 2. My mom is a good sport on party games. Although I learned way more about everyone there-including her and my sisters-than I really wanted to. But it was fun.

I am hoping I can get back into the swing of things after a week of stress and start blogging more regularly. There is always something going on, much to my surprise, and usually out of my control. But the one thing I am thankful for is the smiles and memories I have in my life.

Sigh...

So by the time you read this, the first post I did will have sat, unmentioned, for a week. I do apologize for not bringing to your attention that I started a blog. Surprise. I started a blog!

I honestly wish I could say I had some fabulous reason for not getting back to this sooner, like I was on the beach somewhere, or I've just been so busy, but honestly the real reason is we got a Wii. Now I must say that I do go to the gym EVERY night after work, come back, make dinner, and have shows I watch. However that does not consume the whole night.

It's like crack. Not that I've ever tried crack but I'm assuming there is a reason people have addictions...So let's try this again. It's like a cute pair of new shoes. You know you don't have anywhere to wear them right away, so you just walk around at home in them. (ok that's me but then again it's my blog, so you are probably going to learn a lot about...me...) So we can't just let it sit there unplayed.

I guess I need to rewind a little more on this story as well. I really do hate learning to play video games. They intimidate me. But for some reason, I felt compelled to have an attraction to the Wii. I do not know what it is. So I talked about it a lot and said they were fun, and Shane must have picked up on my subtle hints. The weekend before Christmas I was shopping with my sisters(who will have their own place in one of my blogs soon...)and Shane was at Best Buy picking one up for his brother who paid him back for it, but forgot Santa should really shop for something THAT popular more than 5 days before Christmas. They had a few left. He had 2 in his hands. Called me but I couldn't get away and really my mind wasn't on spending on myself that day. (wow, unselfish gesture...) And I have to admit since I've already told him--I didn't want it to be my only Christmas present. Yep. I said it...

So we let it go. And after playing one over Christmas break, and falling in love with the red Ed Hardy bag and iPod I got from him, we sarted looking everywhere for one. Everyday. For about a month. I'm not kidding. I knew when Best Buy got in their shipments. When to call Game Stop. At that point, I had paid on some student loans, had other things we wanted to do, so I talked myself out of one.

The next day, Game Stop got in about 15. Crap. Are you serious? I just remembered I was 27, not 15 or male, and that it was just a game. Until I found out I was better at bowling than Shane is.

**little snickers**

He is competitive. His fitness age according to the Wii is 44. Mine--65. He feels weird about dating an older woman now. I don't feel bad about making him do ab/leg lifts with a medicine ball and that he hurts from me making him learn the eliptical machine at the gym. He even told me the nights we should take off playing Wii before days we lift certain parts. Ha. Go ahead sucker...

I'll be working on my backhand in tennis and learning how to hit a homerun.

Here I go

I found multiple reasons not to start a blog. I logged into the main page more times than I'd like to admit only to veer away from it. It was like I needed convincing I was interesting enough to write a blog. What was I trying to prove? And who was I trying to prove it to?

I've always enjoyed the serenity that writing allows me, and this was the perfect outlet. Right? So I consulted with my team of analysts (well really I just text my 20 year old sister Michele and said: "I think I'm going to start a blog. I love writing and even if nobody reads it I want to. " That was at 9:05pm-Jan 19th .

At approximately 9:21 pm, the response from mission control came in: Go for it.

Sigh. I expressed highly legitimate reasons for not going for it-I didn't want to be embarrassed. Whether it is about a stupid fight with the boyfriend. Or a day where my pants didn't fit right, or I wanted to cry at the gym. Where I really wanted Sonic but had chicken instead. Or I did something stupid that I totally laughed at. Or I remembered midday that I put baby carrots in the oven mitt/misc. drawer after packing Shane's lunch, not the fridge. I'd be baring my soul, my thoughts, and actions to complete strangers somedays, and even those I love!

This is the part where the light bulb came on--duh. That is exactly why I wanted to.

There are days that go by where I have thoughts--things--I want to write, and I forget. Or I don't get to vent or laugh with anyone because the day was long and busy. And then over. I don't get to see daily the people who matter the most in my life. (On the same hand that's not always a bad thing.) But I do want to be able to connect to them, to people who just happen to come across my blog...whether it is to vent, give someone a smile, or let people know me just a little better. That is why I am here: So maybe even I can really get to know the girl who loves wearing the pretty shoes, but knows I'm really at my best with my hair in a messy ponytail...