Discovery

I've noticed a lot of other bloggers that I cannot currently recall for the life of me who seem to, instead of compiling a list of new years resolutions, apply one word to what they hope 2012 ends up being for them.

Makes sense.  I've never been one to make resolutions because I know I'll never keep them.  The quickest way to get me to not do something is to tell me I have to and that's what a list of resolutions feels like to me.

So I decided to jump on the theme bandwagon and what I hope 2012 is filled with for me.

DISCOVERY

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So 'discovery' is my theme for 2012.

I want to take the time to discover who I really am instead of just chugging along being dis-satisfied with life in general yet not doing anything about it and changing what I do have control over. 

I want to take more chances, particularly with things that scare the living crap out of me.  I'm not talking about skydiving or facing my fear of snakes or anything like that, but smaller things that, to everyone else, may be just par for the course, yet to me, are terrifying.

See, big changes, the ones that can't happen unless I make them happen, scare me to death.  Going after what I really want scares me to death.  Stepping out into the unknown with nothing but faith, courage and a whole lot of hard work - you guessed it, scare me to death.  I've began to realize, maybe a little belatedly, that if something scares me, instead of facing it & pressing on, I'll ignore it.  By ignoring it, however, I deny myself the opportunity to grow & to learn. 

I don't like things that are hard.  I don't like things that force me to find out who I really am.  Not because I love who I currently am, quite the opposite, but because I'm scared. 

Fear keeps me (and thousands of other people) from growing & being the person I'm meant to be.  The person that God created me to be.  It's time to let go of that fear and discover who I really am.

I want to figure out what makes me happy.  I'm not talking about temporary satisfaction that reading a good book always leaves me with.  Reading will always be something that makes me happy but I don't feel it's something tangible that I can look back on and know I actually did something significant, ya know?

I'm talking about those seemingly small, insignificant changes that, at the time, don't really seem all that important, but when viewed in the grand scheme of things can be pretty big.

I haven't quite figured out 100% yet how I plan to go about beginning the process of discovering who I really am, but I have a few things in mind.

Oddly enough, most of the things that are in the "potential to-do" list aren't focused on me.  They're geared more towards outward sources.

So there ya have it, my "theme" for 2012.

I hope your 2012 is everything you hope for and more.  I'm going to work on making mine exactly what I need it to be.

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Source: flickr.com via Barbara on Pinterest

Life Lesson # 1

Y'all.

As I've gotten older, and I'm not saying I'm old, I've learned quite a few things.  I'm not implying that I've learned it all because I firmly believe you can be 90 and still have a lot left to learn, but after being around for almost 30 years I can say that I have learned one or two things.

And these things are pretty significant, therefore, I've tried to apply them to my life & therefore make myself into a better person.

Lesson # 1:  Don't judge.  Anyone.  Ever. 

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There are so many cliche's such as this one floating around the internet based around the act of judging others and they all fit.  Quite well, too.  I think people, particularly young women, tend to be the worst when it comes to judging others based on insignificant things they (the judge-er) really have no information to base these assumptions on.

I've been one of the worst people to judge someone based off complete assumptions and I still find myself judging people on an occasional basis.  I'm not perfect, no one is.

I'm just saying, when it comes to judging others, I think we'd all be a little better off worrying about our own business and working on making ourselves be the best person we can be instead of focusing on other people that have no effect on you whatsoever.

Since I've started taking more notice of my judgmental ways and trying to rectify them, I've also started noticing when others are being judgmental as well and it irks me.  I always want to say "what do you really know about this person that you feel justified in your assumptions?"  and if you are correct in your assumptions, so what?

Worry about your own business and what you're doing and where you're going and how you're going about getting there instead of worrying about other people.

Being a judgy betch doesn't make you prettier or smarter or richer or skinnier or more popular.

It only shows people your real character, not the people you're judging.

Check yourself before you judge someone.

It's OK Thursday! #5

Hey there!

I hope you had a successful Christmas holiday.  I know we did.  There was not one single groan from either of my kids that indicated they did not like a single present they received.

Success!

Anyway, it's time again to link up with Amber @ Brunch with Amber and Neely @ A Complete Waste of Makeup for

IT'S OK...

...to come straight home from work everyday this week and make a bee line for my pajama pants & my new leopard slippers my kids bought me for Christmas.

...to be glad Christmas is over.  The gift buying stresses me out but only because I'm usually so bad at it.

...to actually enjoy being single, regardless that I've been single for over two years

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...to gloat just a bit about the scale moving down even after all the Christmas yummies.

...to subject myself to cruel & unusual punishment running every other day even though I still don't love it.

...to drink a Coke every now & then.

...to be excited about the sudden influx of new blog followers.   

HEY, ALL MY NEW READERS!!!! *muah*

...to play with your kids Bop-It more than they do.

...to totally go off on people who wrongly judge others based on assumptions & impressions.

...to want to look at people sometimes and just politely ask them to shut up.  Incessant chatter is a pet peeve.

...to have an addiction to books.  Seriously.  There are worse things, though, right?

...to eagerly anticipate tax season so this PC can go out the window.  Hello, Mac!

...to be anxious/nervous/apprehensive yet excited about changes that are going to be happening soon.

...to get totally excited when your boss gives you a gift card to Red Lobster for Christmas #fatgirl

Well, I think this may have been my longest list yet in this link-up so I hope y'all enjoyed.

Go link up with Neely & Amber and let us know what's OK with you today!

Oh How Pinteresting Wednesday's!

Hey, y'all.

It's that time again.  Time to link up with Michelle over at The Vintage Apple for




 

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And that's it for today's edition of Oh How Pinteresting! Wednesday.

Y'all.  That brown Prada bag.

I DIE!!!!!

Get your boots on, it's about to get deep

I'm a member at MyFitnessPal in my never ending journey to lose weight and occasionally there will posts about random life situations that have nothing to do with weight loss.

All fine & good, sometime's enjoyable and entertaining as well.

There was one today that didn't really strike home with me until after I posted my reply and read it back to myself.

I'll just copy & paste my response to the question of "when do you know you're ready for kids?"  The original poster was 21, the same age I was when I gave birth to my now 7 year old daughter, Caitlyn.

We're going to call this

Something I wish someone would've told me a long time ago...

I had my first child when I was 21 and I *thought* I was ready then, too.

However much I love my now two children to this day, I can 100% look back and say I was NOT ready for a child at 21 regardless of how ready I thought I was. For me, personally, anything under 25 is viewed as too young. Again, this is my personal opinion.

I seriously advise all my younger friends to wait until they're at least 25+ before the kid discussion even begins. There's nothing wrong with going against the grain and waiting until you're older, both physically, emotionally and mentally, to have children. In fact, I think it would benefit everyone involved if people waited until they were older. I know I sure would've benefited had I waited until my late 20's at the earliest.

You're young still. You've got plenty of life left to live. I'm on the downhill slope to 30 and I still have a lot more living left to do!

Take your financial security and see all those places you want to see, do the things you want to do because when you do have kids, the availability of doing all those things decreases dramatically. Date night with your s/o becomes a rare occurence, not an all the time thing, going out by yourself just because you want to goes out the window, too. There are so many other factors you have to consider when you have kids.

I'm not saying kids are a burden, they're not. They're a joy, but so is being in your 20's, being stable and being able to do what you want.

Live YOUR life before you try to raise another human being.

And, that, my friends is what I wish someone, anyone would've told me before I got pregnant.  Not that I intentionally got pregnant, no, but I was eyes-wide-open careless where I shouldn't have been.

Again, let me express that I do NOT regret either one of my children, regardless of the fact that their father & I are no longer together, I just wish I would've taken a little more time to get to know me before I had to go through the process of getting to know a tiny human being who relies on me whole-heartedly!

Ok, you can take your boots off now, the verbal dam has dried up.

For now ;-)

Sometimes & Always # 3

Happy Tuesday morning, everyone!

I hope you all had a successful Christmas holiday.  I know we did.  Every single present the kids opened was a hit so that's a good thing for mommy ;-) 

I'm linking up with Megan over @ Mackey Madness today for her weekly link-up titled

Sometimes: I profess my undying disdain of reality TV.

Always: If I just so happen to stop on Keeping up with the Kardashian's, I admit, I get sucked in.

Sometimes: I fool myself into thinking I can somewhat dance when I'm out on the dance floor.

Always: When I play Just Dance 3 on the Wii, I'm sorely reminded this white girl has very little rhythm. (it wasn't pretty, therefore there is no picture to accompany this always)

Sometimes: I wish I were a bit more popular and had more of a social life.

Always: I crave solitude, quiet and a good book on my Nook.

p.s. I swear my fingers aren't really that short or fat, it's the angle?

Sometimes: I'm a 28 year old adult with adult responsibilities including a job, a not-yet-paid-off car, and not to mention two children who I am responsible for turning into productive members of society.

Always: I can be found acting like one of my two children, I like to believe it's my oldest, and playing one of their games instead of wrapping it like I should

Y'all.  No lie.  I played with this thing for a good 10-15 minutes before I finally wrapped it!

Sometimes: I wish I could buy one of those super-cute but provides no type of protective coverage iPhone cases



Always: I remember how clumsy I am and how much abuse my iPhone goes through because of said clumsiness so I think I'll stick to my trusty Otterbox commuter :-/ 

Well, y'all, I think that's it for this week's edition of Sometime's & Always with Megan over at Mackey Madness.

Go link-up & let us know what your Sometime's & Always are ;-)

HAPPY TUESDAY!!!!

From my family to yours...

Wonky eye?

Happy Friday, all!

If you're not off today like I am, then at least today is your last day of work for a few days, right? ;-)

Y'all.  My optometrist gave me a complex yesterday when I went in for my annual eye exam and restocking of my contacts.

We're towards the end of my eye exam and I notice he keeps going back to my right eye.

I finally ask him what's up with that and he, in turn, asks me if I've noticed any "drooping" in that eye.

Uh, what?

No.  No, I can't say that I have.  What the heck?

He explains that it appears as if my right eyelid is a bit lower than that of my left and if I notice any significant changes to come back.

Thank you so much, Doc, now you've given me the biggest complex!

Not only that but now I AM paranoid-central that my right eye is all wonky & weird looking.  It's like now that he's mentioned it, my right eye "feels" different; like there's something totally wrong with it.

I know, it's probably all in my head, but for the next few days, I'll most likely be walking around looking like an even bigger idiot because I'm forcing my right eye to open up a little more, lol.

So, tell me, wonky eye?

"It's OK" Thursdays! #4

Hey, all! I'm linking up today with Amber and Neely for....

IT'S OKAY...

...to not really be in the Christmas spirit this year because you're disheartened that no one seems to really know what Christmas is all about. Instead it's about gifts and another opportunity to play catch-up with the never-ending pursuit of 'keeping up with the Jones's'

...to maybe just be a tad bit more excited about the presents Santa is due to bring for your kids than they probably will be.

...to feel that Christmas isn't "official" until I've watched

...to be so lazy that instead of portioning out the left-overs for lunch, I actually just brought the entire containers to work THEN portioned out what I wanted.

 
...to completely, utterly hate the layout for composing/editing blog posts. Is it just me or is everyone's messed up now? It's so stupid! And have you tried uploading pictures?!?! I thought it was bad before. Oh, no, it's muuuuuuch worse now! Grrr.

...to be on the verge of a complete mental breakdown if the kids' dad doesn't come get them for the weekend soon!  OK, maybe "complete mental breakdown" is a bit dramatic, but I need a break, y'all!

...to be completely nervous about being so closed to finishing my 5k training.  I mean, I've been doing it for 7 weeks, I'm used to the training program now.  I'm not sure what to do when it's over in 2 weeks!

...that I want to b*tch slap one or two people I work with on a daily basis simply because they're annoying.

...to do absolutely nothing on this half day of work today.  Holla, Christmas vacation!

...to have every intention of swiping a few of the super cute head bands I bought Caitlyn (my daughter) for Christmas to wear occasionally.

...that I have to consult my color wheel I have saved on my desktop before making any color decisions in regards to clothes & fingernail polish.  I'm a walking, talking fashion faux pas

Oh, How Pinteresting Wednesday!

I'm surprised I even have enough new material on Pinterest to be able to participate in Michelle's link-up today as little time as I've spent on there lately.

The few times I have been on Pinterest, it seems like I'm seeing the same thing every time.

Oh, well, do not fear, I found enough material for today's edition of...

Source: Uploaded by user via Cassandra on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Cassandra on Pinterest

Source: iwastesomuchtime.com via Cassandra on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Cassandra on Pinterest

Source: bodycare.becomegorgeous.com via Cassandra on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Cassandra on Pinterest

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Sometimes & Always #2!

Hello, hello, hello again!

Happy Tuesday everyone.  One day closer to a much needed few days off from work.  Yee-haw!

Have you finished your Christmas shopping yet or were you like me and waited until the last possible minute?  I swear every year that the following year I'm going to start Christmas shopping in October and be done by the 1st week of December.

3 years later that still has yet to happen ;-)

Anyway, after that little tidbit let's link-up with the lovely Megan over at Mackey Madness for this little ditty she likes to call...

Sometimes: I think about moving back to my barely-on-the-map hometown in Louisiana.

Always: I remember that now that I'm acclimated to a bit more civilization, living out in BFE (fah real) would get real old, real fast.  And when I say BFE, we're talkin' population 400 & the nearest town with a stop light is 30 minutes away.

Sometimes: I want to throw the towel in on running because, who am I kidding, when I'm out there on the pavement, IT. SUCKS.!

Always: Then I remember the feeling of accomplishment it gives me when I'm finished.  And let's not forget to mention that it's giving me some pretty killa legs to boot ;-) (although you can't see the definition in this pic, I'm just showin' off my Dr. Seuss running socks)

Sometimes: I, too, occasionally think of everyday life in terms of Sometimes and Always

Always: I tell myself to write them down for the link-up but I forget :-/

Sometimes: I wish I were more of a girly girl than I actually am.

Always: I think about how much more money I would be spending on clothes, make-up, shoes, etc.  No, thank you!  Although, I won't turn down a nice Michael Kors bag or watch if anyone wants to take the liberty of buying me an early birthday present *hint*hint*

Sometimes: I tell myself I really want to leave my job to pursue other interests, careers

Always: Shenanigans such as these happen then I remember why I stick around: entertainment value

Well, there y'all have it.  My 2nd edition of "Sometimes & Always" with Megan

Fun with our Phones Monday!

Happy Monday, all!

I know.  That statement is a bit of an oxymoron.  Never should 'happy' and 'Monday' be linked in the same sentence.  However, MY Monday is a bit more bearable because this week is a short work week.

Hallelujah!

This is my first link-up with Savanah over at Savanah Smiles and Erin over at Confessions of a Magnolia Mom

So let's get started for my first edition of

Hillbilly Santa, anyone?

Hillbilly Santa & Sassy Ms. Claus?

Caitlyn's 1st grade Christmas program at school

This is what happens when you have kids, they have pens and you fall asleep

My funky running socks.  Channeling my inner Dr. Seuss one funky pair of socks at a time ;-)

Office shenanigans.  Don't ask.

She's a little diva and refuses to sleep without the eye mask ever since I brought it home two weeks ago!

That's all for my 1st edition of 'Fun with our Phones Monday!'

Go link-up and show us what kinds of fun you've had with your phones in the last week.

HAPPY MONDAY!!!