Goodbye 2017....

We are looking down the barrel of the ball drop and the start of a New Year. It's so hard to believe that yet another year has come to a close.

This year has been one of the best and worst years of my life.

On December 29, 2016, my Ninny died. We had her memorial just after the first of the year. Honestly, it set the tone in a lot of ways. I went through the year trying to live a happy life (like she would want), but would randomly just be incredibly sad.

Three weeks after she passed away, my Great Aunt Martha died. Her baby sister. We held Martha's memorial service one month to the day from when Ninny died. It's just been hard, altogether.

Despite the sadness, there have been good times. Bittersweet, but still precious.

I went to Memphis for my annual trip for St Jude Seminar. It was a good weekend and I met The Property Brothers and Luke Pell from 'The Bachelorette'....

I went on an amazing trip to NYC with dear friends, where we ate in wonderful places, saw the sites, and saw HAMILTON!!!

I participated in the Glass Slipper Challenge and got my medals...

I spent a fun long weekend in DC...

Celebrated the births of dear friends' first babies...

Had the MOST FUN CONCERT experience ever at NKOTB....

Traveled to Texas to watch Florida (lose) play, see some family members, and go to Magnolia Market....

..... Survived Irma, got accepted into an awesome Leadership program where I've met awesome people, saw my cousin become a dad to four beautiful little girls, enjoyed the heck out of my niece and nephew, spent quality time with friends and family, and basically lived for as many happy moments as possible.

What am I looking forward to in 2018?

Peace

Better Health

Happiness

Enriched Friendships

Fun Experiences

More Travel

I hope the best for you, as well!

Blurbs and Procratination....

HOW is it already December 19th?

I was doing an amazing job of prepping for Christmas until December rolled around. Now, I'm on the struggle bus. I haven't even STARTED Christmas cards, yet. So, yeah. I am just in the mode that I want to enjoy the Christmas festivities.... not prep for them. This is why I need to really work next year on being at least 75% done by Thanksgiving.

Anyway, since I'm currently at the auto dealer waiting for my car to be fixed from a recall issue, let's put things off even further......

1) Last Friday, my sister, cousin, and I went to the Katy Perry concert.

It was WEIRD. Like, really weird. I only was able to sing and dance to 'Roar' and 'California Girls' because I was too bust staring at the stage in bafflement for the rest of the time. We still had a fun Girls' Night, at least.

2) I am supposed to run the Glass Slipper Challenge in just at two months. I use the term "run" loosely. I'm nowhere near ready and I know I need to step it up.

3) I have very little motivation to do Christmas cards, this year. Like, they are sort of my signature, but I really am being bad about it.

4) Over the last year, I have found the best facial care line. It's called Rafa Natural and I'm obsessed. I need to dedicate an entire post to it because it is THAT good.

5) Also over the past year, I have become enamored with my Erin Condren planner. I know they are a blogging and social media cliche, but it's for good reason. All through grade school, college, and working a few years part time for many jobs, I used a planner. I never left the house without it. Then, I got my (current) full-time job and just used my phone and work calendar. Last year, I got the itch to try a paper planner, as well. I decided to give EC a try and I fell in love. I still use my phone and work calendar to sync everything up, but I also write in my planner. It has helped me stay much more organized and on top of my slightly crazy schedule.

6) My cousin and his wife adopted four beautiful little girls in November. They are precious and I love them and I'm so glad they are in our family. Several of us were able to fly in (they live in a different state) for the adoption finalization.... Love it....

 

7) General Hospital.... I have watched the show for YEARS. Over the past several, it was on and off. Then, they brought Steve Burton back (as the real Jason) and Tamara Braun (as a new character). I can't handle how much I love the show, right now. I sometimes forget how much I really do love soaps.

8) Hallmark Channel Christmas movies.... Is it just me or are they REALLY good this year? I'm always about Countdown to Christmas and get sad when it's over. However, I haven't watched one that I didn't like so far this year. Including the Alicia Witt one, and I usually don't like hers.

Ok.... I should probably work or work on Christmas cards.

Let's Start Over, Shall We? - Week One

I recently have been looking through old photos and I'm so irritated with myself. I have gained SO much weight over the last couple years. It's sad, depressing, and downright awful.

I'm not back up to my highest weight, but I'm way too close for comfort. I need to reverse this situation.

So, I'll go back to this old blog where I used post weekly recaps of my eating and exercise. Not exactly the most thrilling reading, but even if no one reads, it's out there in the inter webs so there's a degree of accountability....

Goals for Week One

1) OTF 3x

2) Jog 2x

3) Hit my macros at least twice (gotta start somewhere, right?) and my protein every day

4) Drink at least 80 ounces of water a day

It's Been A While

Wow, it has been a while. So much has happened over the past several months since I last blogged. So much has happened in the last several years since I blogged regularly. In some ways, FB, IG, etc have taken over my original purpose of my blog. To document life. To keep my friends updated.

However, while I can look back through my IG feed or my camera roll or my daily Timehop and remember what happened, I do miss being able to just word vomit on a screen. I miss saying exactly what is going on in my head. I miss meeting random people from all over the country who know my heart and keep my secrets.

Life has been an adventure. In so many ways it's SO different from when I first started this little blog and in other ways, it's exactly the same. Don't we all feel that way? We still feel like ourselves, but life has changed us in big and small ways.

Over the years, no major typical life milestone has happened. I still haven't bought a house (working on saving them pennies, though). I still haven't gotten married. I still haven't had babies. I've had the same job for almost 8 1/2 years.

Yet, things are so different in me and around me. My life is full. Full of friends. Full of family. Full of sadness. Full of laughter. Full of consistency. Full of change.

Early this year, I sat down for my annual employee review. It had been a doozie of a busy season and I was only halfway through it. I'd taken on more projects than ever before. AND, I was dealing with a lot of personal stuff along the way (more on that at some point.... probably). My two direct supervisors were giving me accolades at what I'd accomplished and how I was dealing with it all.

I told them that it was amazing to me that I was feeling so good. "Seven years ago, I almost had a nervous breakdown during the Fall and I wasn't doing NEARLY what I just did these last month. There was no way I would have been able to handle it. Look at how much I've grown. Look at how much WE'VE grown."

Even more recently, someone was marveling at the fact that I was almost 8 1/2 years into my role at the radio station. "You aren't bored, yet?" I told them I wasn't. Because, I learned pretty early on that there might not be much room for growth within the company. That I'd hit the ceiling at a pretty young age. So, in order to not be complacent, I decided I would have to push myself. Challenge myself. Constantly seek growth. Otherwise, it would be easy to become bored and dull.

I guess that's a pretty good metaphor for my life. The BIG things may not change much. I may have the same title for a while. So, I need to challenge and stretch and grow, as much as I can within the place that I reside. Keep adding to my personal resume, so to speak, so that if anything big comes along, I'll be ready for it.