Love this girl and her blog! We had a blast on Saturday and I can’t wait to celebrate her actual birthday! 🙂
categories: Uncategorized
Category: Uncategorized
Duck Duck Duck Squirrel…and it’s Christmas
categories: Uncategorized
My mind has been a whirlwind of activity lately. I don’t feel overwhelmed, just busy. And I like being busy – activities with friends are what memories are made of and I love to make memories. There are a lot of things going on in my life and my ADD is in high gear. It’s crazy to say, but I get stuff done when it’s in overdrive like this. There are about 20 things I am working on, want to be working on, thinking about, etc. but the bustle of Christmas isn’t really among them and I love that. Christmas is such a crazy time for a lot of people, sometimes schlepping kids, presents, and pets to and fro houses for days on end. Not here. My decorating is done and was quite painless. I bought and trimmed a live tabletop tree from Whole Foods – I’ve done this in the past and love it. We also hung a strand of Christmas lights on the mantle, put some LEDs on the deck, and replaced our outside porch light with a green CFL bulb to match the other houses. So our row of houses has green, red, green, red porch lights right now. It is entirely too cute. For the actual holiday, thankfully I have a pretty concise family unity down here in ‘Bama. We usually go to my aunt’s in Clanton for Thanksgiving and all of my dad’s side of the family comes by there at some point during the day. Christmas is a toss-up, either going again to Clanton or cooking at my place and having dad come by for lunch. It’s very low-key and relaxed either way (thank God!), but my aunt’s cooking far surpasses my skills and yumminess so it’s always a treat to go there. This Christmas is not the first for Daniel and I, but it will be our first as an engaged couple living together so I’m doubly excited – and thankful. I think we’ve decided to spend a quiet day at home, snuggled up with cocoa, books, food, and great Christmas movies. I am seriously considering working at a kitchen that morning too. Later that day, I’m making a roast or Boston butt in the Crock Pot, some sides, and viola! Christmas lunch and dinner. 🙂 Christmas night we’re planning on going to see the ETC show at Theatre Downtown. I think we may make it an annual tradition for us. Will you be starting any new traditions this year? Side note: I really want an Elf on a Shelf and start that crazy tradition. They’re so flippin’ CUTE and I’m like 12 at heart so it’s ok.
I’ve been reading a lot of Christmas lists lately and I love it. It’s always interesting to see what people want, but don’t buy for themselves. There are some of us – like me – who will just buy whatever we want (when we can) during the year so there is little or nothing left for Christmas. But that’s ok…Christmas is not about gift giving or receiving to me. Still, it’s always a treat to see what my friends would like and, if I’m able, helping with that list a little bit. This year will be especially hard for me because we are trying to save all of our money to throw a party after our wedding. We shall see what happens. But then again, I know my friends don’t mind little or homemade gifts – they are not superficial or materialistic – they are beautiful, kind souls who would rather spend time than money. I don’t need or want anything material for Christmas. There are plenty of places out there that need help – I just need to focus on doing it, following through, and making it a big part of my life. That being said, here is a list of things I would like if I were to make a Christmas list, though these are more kind of like wishes for 2013:
- Parade with Madge, the Magic City Dragon
- Bus tour of Birmingham with favorite friends, food, and drinks (thanks to Magic City Post for prompting this idea)
- Be a Big Sister or something similar
- Create more, whether it’s “art” (I am the least talented artist you will ever meet), writing, implementing ideas, or other
- Help support local businesses more
- Throw a wonderful party to help raise money for the Crisis Center (and celebrate our nuptials with everyone)
- Visit the Cobalt Club in person
- Run a 5K (I currently walk them)
- Donate to every non-profit that I adore here in Birmingham (there are a lot)
- Become the official Duchess of Birmingham to promote our amazing city (hehe)
- Start a non-profit to raise money for others in the area that need assistance and to help #BhamDanceWalk grow
What are your wishes for Christmas, 2013, or just the future?
Director of Awesomeness
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We’re almost to the official end of the #bloglikecrazy challenge. I missed more days than I wanted/should have in November, so I’m extending my challenge and also hope to keep it going. Reading the other ladies’ blogs this month has been nothing short of inspiring. I’ve loved this challenge and can’t thank Javacia and See Jee Write enough for doing it. I’ve been inspired to write more, read more, work out more, appreciate more, love more, and think more. That’s the biggest one – thinking. I can’t stop thinking about what I want for my future, as well as Birmingham Dance Walk, my blog, my city, and my passions. I’m trying my darndest (that’s a word in the South, right?) to mesh them all together and I’m struggling with the best way to do that. I get wild hairs A LOT, but they are usually great ideas…it’s just hard sometimes to merge those new ones with my already budding ideas and all the things I want to accomplish. I’m getting there..slowly, but surely…but sometimes the next step is a little elusive. Some friends and I were joking on Twitter recently and it got me thinking even more. What started out as a joke of me running for Mayor of Birmingham then turned into Chief of Staff which turned into creating a position akin to Duchess or Ambassador of Birmingham. Basically I would love to be the official “cheerleader” of Birmingham. I know many people more qualified than I am who have just as much passion (if not more) than I do, but I would still love to do it. How does one create and implement that position? That’s my current stumper and I appreciate any and all feedback. I think we ended the Twitter conversation with me becoming Director of Community Development and Awesomeness. We can make that happen, right. Can I count on your vote?
Big news coming later this week and a giveaway! Stay tuned and check back often.
Love yourself.
Find peace inside.
Share happiness.
I’m late! I’m late!
categories: friends, Uncategorized
In retrospect (all of 5 seconds ago), I probably should have chosen a different title for this blog post. I realize some of you are going to immediately click on it to find out if I’m pregnant. I’m not (but thank you for caring enough to check right away). This title is referring to the White Rabbit in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
From Wikipedia:
The Rabbit was perhaps most famous for the little ditty he sang at the beginning – “I’m late! I’m late!
For a very important date! No time to say hello, goodbye! I’m late! I’m late! I’m late!”
Some believe the rabbit was late for the announcement of the Queen to the royal garden. The panic the
rabbit showed was his fear of losing his head. Upon her arrival (where Alice has been helping to paint
the roses red) the cards finish their song and the rabbit blows his trumpet (which he had been carrying
for most of his lines) royally introducing the king and queen.
Do you ever have those days (or weeks or months) where you feel constantly hurried and harried? Do you ever feel like you’re going to lose your head? This year and gotten increasingly busy and everything is moving at warp speed. Gone are the days when I would take the weekends to relax and rejuvenate. They are now as jam-packed as my work-filled week and I don’t even have 2-legged kids! I have enormous respect for those of you who manage to run a household, work a job, and raise a family, among all your other responsibilities.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining. I lead a very fulfilling life – my work is challenging and I work with some of the most talented (and friendly) people on the planet, my boyfriend is amazing and shows me everyday that he cares, is ambitious and inspires me to be a better person, and God, my family and friends are the center of my world. I often comment on Facebook how lucky I am to have the most amazing friends and it’s true. I’ve evolved from a pair of extremely close girlfriends all through school to a wider circle of close confidantes and an enormous stretch of beautifully talented friends and family. Many have been with me for years and have seen me through marriage, divorce, beginnings, endings, moves across the city, state, and even the country, animals, a million hair colors, styles, and transformations inside and out. Even when time or distance us separates us – sometimes for years – I know I will always have my gals. I can never repay them for the love and support they’ve always shown me through the years, but I hope they know how special they are to me. That being said, I don’t see them nearly enough anymore. Life has gotten in the way and I’m not sure how. I love to be with my gals and nurture those relationship, yet somehow I only see them a few times a year, if that. What is so important that I can’t take a night or weekend here and there to make time for all these women who have become such an integral part of my life and helped me becoming the woman I am today? Nothing, that’s what. Same goes for my dad – I don’t see him as much as I would like. Nothing is more important than these people, these relationships, these memories we are making. I tend to forget and take each day for granted. There are still a million things I want to do with my life and I’m working on some of those “goals” already. But one short and long-term goal should be making more time for the very important people in my life who have influenced and supported me for years. You know who you are….I’m coming for you.
Love yourself.
Find peace inside.
Share happiness.
P.S. I also have a few pretty amazing guy friends, but I’m going to save them for another post. 😉
P.S.S. I know it’s election day, but I could get mired down in that for hours and you still need to finish work and get dinner taken care of. 🙂 I got out and voted today. I hope you did too. It is such an honor and privilege that we have the freedom to choose our next leader. Thank you to all those who have served, are serving, and will serve so that we can exercise that freedom. I salute you.
Goal Setting
categories: Uncategorized
I am not one to set goals. I’m not sure why, just never been inclined to do so. That’s not to say I’m lazy, I most definitely am not. But, as BF commented to me yesterday, “You’re one of those people who doesn’t really set long-term goals. You decide that you want something or you want to do something and you make it happen. Justlikethat.” He’s right. Birmingham Dance Walk is a great example. I saw the video, got excited, wanted to do it, put the word out, and had a great time at the first one in June. The second one was more planned out, organized, fun (dancing in the dark with glow sticks FTW), and well executed because of longer and better planning. All that to say that maybe it’s time I started setting actual goals for myself.
I wonder why I’ve never really set them before. Am I scared of failing? Am I scared of commitment? Scared seems to be the common denominator there so it must be fear. That goes back to my fear of everything under the sun, but I can conquer that fear like I conquered the fear of sticking my finger in my eye to put in contacts. (Let me tell you that story sometime, it’s hilarious!) BF has been reading some very interesting, helpful books and he’s been sharing bits and pieces of them with me as he goes. The little nuggets of wisdom and self-realization are really powerful. So much so that I’m going to check out a book or two and also set some goals for myself. He’s tasked us – starting today – with taking 5 minutes each morning from now until the last week of December to come up with 2 goals for ourselves individually (personally, professionally, however we want) and 2 goals for us as a couple. Once we come up with our goals, we have to also write out detailed plans on how to achieve the goals. We’re then going to meet the last week of December to discuss with each other and will pick 2 of the 4 couple goals to accomplish in the next year, as well as get feedback on our personal goals and plans of action. I love this idea and already have a few possibilities in mind for myself and for us as a twofer. I’ll be sure to keep you updated and reveal the goals and plans at the beginning of the year when we have decided on and finalized them.
This time of year is always full with goal setting, but this is really my first time doing it. I’m not going to call them “resolutions” because that indicates that I’m resolving a problem. I choose to think of it as enhancements to my already wonderful life. Do you have goals already set for the next year? If not, why don’t you join me in coming up with 2 definitive goals that you can start working toward in the new year? And be sure to plan your execution out in detail. Let’s share together toward the end of the year and see how we do.
Love yourself.
Find peace inside.
Share happiness.