Recurring Series – Page 100

Monthly Check-In: March/April

I’m revamping how I write my monthly wrap-up posts by using a format Jessica uses for her monthly check-in posts. I love the way she reflects back on what happened during the month and then sets three intentions for the following month. Lately, I’ve only been reflecting on how I achieved or did not achieve the goals I set for myself (and I still plan on doing that with this new format in the future), but I also think it’s helpful to remember and reflect on what happened during the month, unrelated to the goals I set.

March was a pretty average month for me. I felt all over the place with my emotions, so deliriously happy some days and so miserable on other days. It’s the ebb and flow of life, but I also believe that how we view our world and our circumstances has a major impact on our happiness. We can’t be happy all the time, but I want to try harder at being grateful for what I have and taking steps to change what is making me miserable in my life.

In March, I…

1. Booked another cruise! This was a rather spontaneous decision after my mom saw that rates for cruises in April and May for past Carnival guests had been reduced. After looking through the options, we finally settled on a 5-day cruise that leaves from Tampa on April 29. It sails to Grand Cayman and Cozumel. At first, I wanted to cruise to ports of call I haven’t been to before but the only other option was a 5-day cruise that sailed from Miami and Miami is a 5-hour drive from where I live. The Tampa port is a 10-minute drive. SO. I am so excited about our cruise! (And if anyone has any good suggestions for what to do in either port, I’m all ears. Currently, we have toured the ruins and gone zip-lining in Cozumel, and in Cayman, we have gone to Stingray City twice, swam with dolphins, and snorkled. Am I missing a MUST-DO excursion I haven’t thought of yet?)

2. Watched my nephew play t-ball. My nephew started t-ball this month and it is the cutest thing ever, to watch 4- to 6-year-olds learn how to play. There are no rules, it’s just the kids learning the basics of the game. They each get a chance to bat three times and a chance to run the bases. My nephew is the most adorable kid on the field (obvs.) and watching him entertain himself in the outfield is hilarious. And I have to give major props to the patience these coaches must have!

3. Celebrated Easter with my family. We had a small celebration this year since my grandma wasn’t feeling well enough to do anything big. My mom, her boyfriend, and I all went to church (my first time back in MONTHS!) and it felt really, really good to be back there. I have missed the worship and preaching something fierce. Later on, my brother and nephew came over and we had a fun cookout with barbecue chicken, potato salad, potato chips, baked beans, and deviled eggs. YUM!

In April, I will…

1. Eat out less. As I’ve mentioned before, I have a love affair with eating out. I don’t discriminate between breakfast, lunch, or dinner. I just really hate cooking. Picking something up or going out to eat is so much easier than staying in and cooking something from home. But in the interest of losing weight and saving money, I need to get better at eating in and getting over my fear of the kitchen. I may never become someone who loves to cook, but in the interest of changing my story, I’m sure going to try.

2. Start a daily devotional series. One area of my life that has fallen to the wayside has been my faith and more specifically, my quiet time. I plan on using a She Reads Truth series to get myself back into the habit of reading my Bible, journaling and praying.

3. Enjoy another cruise. In just four weeks, I’ll be off on my fourth cruise! I am excited to truly get away and forget about life for five whole days. It’s exactly what I need and I plan on enjoying every bit of my vacation!

Categories: Recurring Series

Virtual Coffee Date

I’ve been seeing these posts on blogs lately and thought I would join in on the fun. It goes without saying that if I were having coffee with any of you, I would start with a big hug, a cup of caffe mocha, and you would see my awkwardness when I first meet someone on full display. It’s part of my charm, I suppose.

If we’re having a coffee date, I would begin our conversation by talking about how happy I am to have today off of work. I don’t take too many days off work for “me days” (I try to save up for vacations) but I felt like taking a day to myself. I would tell you that I don’t have anything too exciting planned for the day, but plan on sleeping in, knocking off a ton of to-do’s, and catching up on guest posts.

If we were having a coffee date, I would tell you my big, exciting news: my mom and I booked another cruise! Of course, you may think I am crazy for booking a cruise when Carnival is having so many issues but I’m not worried at all. I have no fear and am so excited that I’m going to be on a ship again in less than 6 weeks. My thoughts are if something happens, it happens. I’m not going to let the fear of what if stop me from doing something I love. I would tell you all I’m looking forward to: fruity drinks, afternoons spent lazily reading a book with the ocean in front of me, delicious dinners and even better desserts, time spent exploring tropical locations. I’m looking forward to time off work and completely escaping my life for five whole days.

If we were having a coffee date, I would admit I have been feeling very uninspired lately with my workouts. I would mention how I’m missing Best Body Bootcamp something fierce and how excited I am for it to start up in a little more than a week.

If we were having a coffee date, I would probably show you adorable pictures of my nephew playing t-ball and tell you how fun it is to watch him play. I would regale you with silly tales of his antics in the outfield and my eyes would shine bright with pride as I talk about him hitting the ball and running around the bases. I would tell you how much watching 4- to 6-year-olds learn to play baseball puts a smile on my face – especially after watching a 4-year-old moonwalk from third base to home plate.

If we were having a coffee date, we would definitely fall into the discussion of blogging. (How could we not?) We would chit-chat about bloggers we know and blogging in general. I would probably talk about a comment I received this week about how ridiculous it is to write letters to my future husband. Dear friend, you probably know how much these letters mean to me, how they are my heart and soul, and comments like these rip me apart. I try not to let negative comments affect me too much, but when you write vile, nasty things about something so important, so special, so pure and innocent… it breaks my heart.

If we were having a coffee date, I would tell you how ready I am to take the next step in my life. I would be honest and upfront that I know it’s my time to make a big change to my world. These past few years have been game-changers in how much I have learned about myself and my abilities. It’s time to rest in the knowledge that I am capable and stop letting the fear of the unknown chase away good opportunities.

Of course, a coffee date cannot be one-sided. If we were on a coffee date, what would you talk about?!

photo credit

Categories: Recurring Series

Currently…

Feeling… a little lost, a little uncertain. Life is good right now and a lot of awesome things are happening, but I don’t want to lose me in the midst of everything. I’m overwhelmed by my thoughts and struggling to find balance. It’s the ebb and flow of life, I suppose. I’ll figure it out but right now, I’m trying to work through my thoughts, journal as much as I can, and be okay with not having it all figured out just yet.

Writing… more non-fiction than ever before. I miss writing fiction and dreaming up plots, but I’m committed to writing 50 guest blogs this year so my main focus has been on getting those posts written, edited, and sent off. It’s thrilling to see them sprinkled around blogs I adore and I love how it’s made me learn to be more dedicated and serious about writing.

Reading… Eat, Pray, Love, which I am loving. I can see why people might not like it, and some parts are very slow, but there is something about this writer that I love. It’s really a great read!

Listening… to Pandora constantly at work. I don’t listen to music too often at work, but there is lots of construction happening in our building and we can easily hear their music and conversations. So it’s necessary to drown it out.

Eating… hard-boiled eggs like it’s my job. I eat about two a day, split down the middle, and sprinkled with salt and pepper. They are my go-to snack of choice right now. They are perfect between meals to stave off any hunger!

Wishing… I was planning another cruise soon. Yes, even with the Carnival Triumph debacle, I am still just as much in love with cruising as before. At best, my next cruise won’t be until the fall and that’s only if I can afford it. I’m hopeful!

Enjoying… my own car! My mom and I have been in a one-car family for so long that it still feels a little strange to have the independence and freedom that comes along with my own wheels. It’s really, really nice.

Drinking… lots and lots of water. The best part of my soda fast was that I developed a taste for water and it has helped my skin clear up IMMENSELY. I see such a difference and I’m not using any cleanser or moisturizer right now. Just cleaner foods and more water!

Learning… to be kinder to myself. Isn’t it amazing how much harder it can be to be kinder to ourselves when we give other people such a break? I’m learning to trust myself and my intuition, give in to what my heart desires even when it means taking a free fall into the unknown, and be okay with who I am at this moment.

Missing… my dad. For some reason, I’ve been missing him more and more lately. He was one of my favorite people to be around when I was a kid and he always knew how to bring me out of a bad mood. I miss what we had.

Thinking… way too much, all the time. My brain never shuts off and it can be so exhausting to be inside my head. I jump from this problem to that problem, bouncing back and forth between issues, creating even more problems as I think of them. I wish I had an off button where my mind could just be silent and still for 5 minutes.

Using… the practice of shutting my eyes and taking three deep breaths when I need a moment of peace before I tackle something. Whether it be a conversation, a work project, or just a moment I need to myself… it helps to calm down my overactive mind and prepare me for what lies ahead.

// inspired by Amy

Categories: Recurring Series

Five For Friday

1 – I am officially a car owner! It all happened so super freaking fast that it makes my head spin thinking about it. I wasn’t expecting to even start looking until the end of February when I would have my tax return and money saved up, but when I called up the sales guy to put the wheels in motion, he had found two used cars for me to test drive. I didn’t really expect to like either one but thought it would be the first step forward and getting my car. Well, I ended up loving one of the cars – a 2005 Toyota Scion xB – and we started the loan approval process that night. On Monday morning, he called me to tell me my loan was approved and I picked her up that night! The independence I have now is unmatched. I feel more like an adult: I have a car, a car payment, my own insurance plan, etc. I think this is going to help me so much in feeling more established and independent.

2 – I went 31 days soda-free until I had a soda. Tuesday night, I decided to pick one up with dinner because I was interested to see if my taste buds had changed at all. And all I could taste was the carbonation. I didn’t taste the sweetness and every sip made my eyes water because it was rough going down my throat. I actually did not expect this! I was so addicted to the stuff before that I thought I would have a soda and be right back to square one. I’ve heard people say how they stopped drinking soda and when they drank one again, they didn’t like it and I desperately wanted that to happen to me but I didn’t think it would. I haven’t had a soda since Tuesday (and only drank about half the bottle) and I honestly think my addiction to it is gone! I don’t care to have another one anytime in the near future. This is HUGE for me!

3 – I think I might attempt to trim my own bangs this weekend. They’re at this awkward length where they’re too long to have in my face but too short to tuck behind my ears. I’ve never trimmed my own bangs before but it’s only hair, right? Hopefully, I don’t royally screw this up.

4 – I’ve been debating for a while now whether or not I want to watch the Celebrity Apprentice this go-round. I’m not a huge fan of Donald Trump and was pretty much against watching it when I found out Omarosa was going to be a contestant but some of my favorites are coming back like Trace Adkins, Lil John, Bret Michaels, and the most wonderfully eccentric of them all, Gary Busey. (I could care less about the females, though. Snore.) I guess I’ll be watching it once again!

5 – Happy weekend! I am so ready to end this week. It went by rather fast, but I am a lover of weekends. Tonight, I’m keeping it low-key as I have a few writing projects I need to knock out. Tomorrow, I need to get my car inspected for my insurance and then I’m going to the Florida State Fair on Saturday night with a certain someone. (Date #7! Not that I’m keeping track or anything…) And Sunday, more writing to get done AND it’s the night of #twookclub! This chat has snuck up on me quickly. We’re discussing A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS which is easily my new favorite book. Everyone needs to read it! I hope anyone who has read the book can join us on Twitter at 9pm EST for the chat!

Any tips for trimming one’s own bangs? I keep them on the longer side and I’ve been scouring Pinterest for tutorials but haven’t run across anything good yet. Tell me about your weekend plans! Anything fun going on?

Categories: Recurring Series

10 Things I Loved in January

1. A fun afternoon with my nephew. A few Sundays ago, my brother and nephew came over to watch the playoff games. It was just the three of us and for once, I was his BFF. Usually, my mom is and I’m thrown to the back burner but he came in a fabulous mood and it was a lot of fun having him over. (Exhausting! But fun.) It’s so thrilling to see him grow into this little person we can hang out with. Anytime I would try to steal a few moments alone on the couch, there was his adorable face and little voice asking me, “Why aren’t you playing with me anymore?” Who can deny him anything? Not me!

2. Best Body Bootcamp. I love strength training so, so much. It is my #1 workout love. I love how strong and capable it makes me feel, especially when I find myself able to lift heavier weights. Best Body Bootcamp is perfect for me, allows me to work at my own pace, and just makes me feel good about myself. I’m so glad I made the decision to participate in this round, and I know I’ll continue participating as long as Tina hosts them!

3. Coffee date with a good friend. I’ve been trying to get together with my old work BFF for months now and we finally both had time on a Sunday morning to meet for breakfast. It was fabulous spending time catching up with her and we made plans for pedicures next month. I’m really bad at keeping in touch with people, but this girl was basically my better half when we worked together and not having her in my life is not okay!

4. Giving up soda. This is something I never expected to actually accomplish! Sunday will mark three weeks since I’ve had a sip of soda – or anything carbonated! (I’ve tried sparkling water but they all end up tasting diet-y to me.) I’m not really sure how long I want to go before I have soda again. I really want to make it to 30 days and evaluate from there. Hopefully, I won’t even feel the need to have one. But I also know my ultimate goal isn’t to never have a soda ever again, but to not have it as often and not be as addicted to it as I was.

5. Taking my first steps towards a freelance career. Making the decision to write 50 different guest blogs this year is a crazy, exciting, frightening goal and I’m so glad I have so many of you guys supporting me as I begin this endeavor. I’ve written two guest blogs so far and I’m trying to write two a week which means it’s going to take me a while to get this goal marked off. Ultimately, I know I want to become a full-time freelance writer in the near future but it’s going to take a lot of work on my part to get me there. I’m ready!

6. Beginning the planning process for Bloggers in D.C.! AHHH! I can’t believe this whole thing is happening! It’s amazing how one little tweet can spark something incredible. We have a date (June 21-23), a location (D.C.), and I’ve got flight alerts locked up to snag the best deal at the right time. I am so excited to spend a weekend in D.C. with some of my favorite bloggers. Hopefully, we can find a great apartment for a fair price soon and things will really start feeling real!

7. The Niners made it to the Superbowl! Holy crap! I’m still freaking out about this. The Superbowl is going to be mighty stressful this year! But in the best possible way. (And can you believe it? HarBowl! Can you imagine having two boys, watching them grow up, and then years down the road they are head coaching in a Superbowl against each other?!)

8. Paying off my last credit card. I am completely credit card debt free and I am so happy about that! It feels really good to not have those balances hanging over my head. Now comes the hard part – not using it unnecessarily!

9. Quiet weekends at home. When my mom is home, she is very go, go, go, let’s do this and this and this. Me? I am a homebody. I like being at home. I like lounging around, reading and writing and watching TV. The work week can be so crazy that I like those two days of downtime. I like going out and doing stuff, don’t get me wrong, but more often than not, I like to be at home. So with my mom going to Orlando to spend time with her boyfriend often, I’ve had the apartment to myself and plenty of time to rest and recharge and spend time with me. It’s been amazing.

10. An amazing first and second date. If I were sitting across from you right now as I read through this blog post, you would see the biggest smile spread across my face and a blush stealing across my cheeks. Last Thursday, I went on a first date with a guy I had been messaging and texting with for a few weeks. We had dinner, strolled through downtown, snuggled on a bench, and shared a first kiss. It was an amazing, amazing evening. We met for lunch and more downtown fun on Saturday afternoon and it was just as fantastic as the first date. It’s in the early stages but he makes me ridiculously happy and I’m excited to see where this will go. Tonight, we’re going on our third date and no guy has ever interested me enough to get a third date out of me. That’s something!

What did you love about January?