Show Us Your Life.... A Reintroduction Of Sorts

I haven't posted in SO long. I read several blogs, but have just been horrible about posting. I think it's because it's become so much easier to document life on other forms of social media?

Anyway, in trying to add something new to the ole blog, I thought I would link-up to Kelly's "Show Us Your Life" series. I remember doing this years ago when I first started blogging. Maybe this will get me back in the blogging spirit. Or, maybe it will just be a nice way to update myself.

If you've never read before.... Hi, I'm Jess :)

I'm a native Floridian.... Central Floridian to be exact. I really, truly love Florida and am proud to call it home.

I'm a fan of all things Disney and can often be found roaming the parks like my own personal playground. Over the past few years, I've gotten involved in the RunDisney races and have completed five half-marathons, two ten-milers, and one semi-half (the Wine & Dine Half got shortened due to weather). I'm not particularly good at running (I'd like to get better and really need to try), but I do enjoy participating in the races!

While I am single, most of my family lives here, so I have lots of love around me. And, while I'm not a mommy, I have several adorable children around me to love on and spoil :) I'm also the proud Auntie Kecka to the BEST NIECE IN THE WORLD. Seriously, she absolutely kills me.

I work in this crazy field called Radio and I love it. I'm a Promotions Director.... which is a fun, stressful, and varied job. I started as an intern over 10 1/2 years ago and recently celebrated 7 years in my current position. I don't know if it is what I will be doing forever, but it suits me, for now. Also, for all of the headache and stress, there are some pretty cool perks....

When I'm not working, spending time with family/friends, or enjoying Disney, I'm focused on my new love.... Junior League. For real. I joined last year because several of my friends convinced me and I am loving it more than I ever thought possible. I'm more involved than my original convincing friends are, at this point. The committee I'm on is AWESOME and I've made some great friends.

That's all for now!! Thanks for stopping by and hopefully I'll be able to keep up with Kelly's link-up enough to at least get back into the blogging groove!!

Happy Birthday, Shelby Paige!

Warning, warning..... Looking at the following pictures may be hazardous to your health! You may just die from the cuteness....

So, originally, this post was labelled 'Welcome to the World, Shelby Paige'.... However, as my niece is officially a year old today, I figured it was time to complete and publish this long overdue post.

A year ago, yesterday, my sister and BIL came over for Taco Tuesday. It was at that point that it became apparent that she was most definitely in labor. They headed to the hospital, while we all got stuff settled in preparation for a long night at the hospital.

A long night, indeed......

Around 2pm on October 22, 2014, Shelby Paige came into this world and changed it, forever.....

I can hardly believe it's been a year. Shelby is SMART. Like, scary smart. She knows a lot of words ("Kecka" being my personal favorite), she is silly, she gives the best cuddles, she's stubborn, and she's just plain adorable. She's hard-headed, but tender-hearted. She'll tell you off in her baby babble, but if she thinks that you're truly mad at her, she'll burst into tears.

Looking back, she was so tiny. She's almost out of 12-month clothes, now. 

She LOVES Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. When they call Toodles, she'll start shouting, "TAADAASS." She can be playing in the other room, but the second she hears the Hot Dog song, she hightails it back to the TV to dance and chant, "Hot dog, hot dog." Just yesterday, she was in the store with my mom and saw this giant stuffed Mickey. She started shouting, "HOT DOG!!!!"

Needless to day, she is now the proud owner of a Mickey Mouse that's about as big as she.

Originally, I was going to write all about that night and day. But, just looking at the pictures, I can remember it like it was yesterday. This year has been so fun being her "Auntie Kecka" and I can't wait to see all the things she learns in this upcoming year.

Happy Birthday, Shelby Girl!! Auntie Kecka loves you!!

The Lord and His timing

Growing up, I've always been taught and known that the Lord knows everything about us....... nothing catches Him by surprise.

I know this.

I have a hard time dealing with it, sometimes.

There are things I want in life...... mainly love and to be loved the way it's supposed to be. And, I know that when it's right and supposed to happen, if it's supposed to happen, it will.

Right now, though, I'm struggling with being told that if I were doing it differently, it would have happened by now. Or, it will happen sooner if I just do something other than what I am doing now.

Part of me thinks that could be true and doubts everything I think and feel, currently. I mean, it shouldn't be this hard, right?

The other part of me thinks that it's easy to say that when you've found it, already. And, all my doubts are coming from other people's words. So, is it God trying to warn me or Satan trying to discourage me?

Most of the time, I just go about my own life. Just doing the best I can to live well and live full. I can't really do anything about what another person wants or doesn't want. So, I just take the good when I get it and do my best to be content with my life when I don't get it.

Then, someone will say something. Or, ask something. And, it can throw me for a loop. Because, I don't know all the answers. And, I go back and forth between telling myself to make a drastic change and telling myself to just stay still. 

Random Notes.......

Because, why not, right?

1) At this point of the year, I'm eternally grateful to Bed Head's Some Like It Hot conditioner. It's legitimately the only thing that keeps my hair decent until noon. The heat and humidity basically makes it so my hair is always some version of damp. It's gross. Using this conditioner actually allows my hair to dry completely and stay ok for a few hours.

In case you need it, it looks like this and can be found on Amazon......

2) I'm reading the oral history of the movie 'Clueless' and it's delightful. I love the movie, but I'm also a huge entertainment geek. Behind the scenes is always more fun to me.

3) I am currently signed up for FOUR half-marathons in the next seven months. I do not know what has come over me, but I have committed. So far, training is going okish. I am a little behind and am trying to catch back up.

Starting Over

Happy July! How is this year going by so fast?!

So, this morning, I got up for the third time this week to go for a jog. I can't tell you the last time I worked out three times in a week. Ridiculous. And, sad. But, fact.

The past month or so, I've been playing around with 1 or 2 times, but we all know that isn't going to get me anywhere. To lose weight/sizes, I *have* to work out 4-6 times a week. Every week. It sucks, but it's the way it is.

Another sad and ridiculous fact is that I weigh more right now than I have in five years. I'm still far from my highest weight, but things need to change or I *will* be at that place. 

Whatever it is that I needed to "click" clicked this week. I'm literally praying for God to keep it going. I have a plan. I just need to work the plan.

Anyways, I jogged 3 miles this morning without stopping for a walk break. It was 3 ssslllloooowwwww miles, but I did it. My stride was good, my breathing was on point, I didn't get overheated or too thirsty.... It was a good run. Even better, I had negative splits for the first time in my life.

Overall, this morning has given me a boost. I'm going to have rough days. Rough weeks, even. I'm not going to eat perfectly. I'm going to struggle.

But, I know that I CAN do this. I have to do this. 

To the best of my ability, I'm going to document this journey. If for no one else, just so I can look back and know that I've progressed.

Ultimate Goal: Lose 70 lbs 

(yes, 70.... I haven't gained 70, but 70 will put me at my original goal weight)

Immediate Goal: Work out five days next week

Wish me luck!

Things You Probably Don't Know About Me.....

Well, considering I haven't posted anything since March.... You probably don't know quite a bit about me. However, I've got the procrastinator bug and this looked fun, so............

 

• I actually still go to my reader pretty much everyday to read updates, even though I hardly update my own blog anymore.
•  This August will be ten years since I started interning at the radio station. Still here, but a lot has changed.
• I've met Taylor Swift three times. You can read about the first time here.
• I have a horrible phobia of rats/mice, hanging bridges, and Ferris wheels. Like, in my head, I'm ok with all of them. Then, I come into contact with them and lose all sense of logic.
• I've watched every single episode of Grey's Anatomy, Scandal, and Full House. Most episodes of each, I've seen at least twice. In reality, I've probably seen every single episode of Full House no less than half a dozen times.
• I don't eat ketchup, mustard, or mayo. I also don't eat eggs or hotdogs.
• Crunchy peanut butter is my favorite and I prefer OJ with LOTS of pulp.
• I could eat boiled peanuts every day and never get tired of them. 
• The idea of being a Beluga Whale just makes me sad....... the song just doesn't match up with what I've seen of them. 
• I've had the same blog design for about four years and have been toying with a change, but am afraid to pull the trigger.
• While it's highly possible that I may never get married, I've had my wedding dress picked out for years. Here's hoping it still exists if/when I do get a ring on it.
• While it's highly possible that I may never have children, I've had names picked out for over ten years. The first boy and first girl are non-negotiable. The kicker of all this? The guy I've had a back and forth with for the past few years (I call him FD) actually really likes both names. Now, if he could ever get his head out of his behind.
• As a native Floridian, I cannot imagine living in a landlocked state. However, going to the beach is only slightly more appealing than camping (which I despise).

Life and Blogging

Again, it's been almost two months since I last blogged. In some ways, I figure it is because I'm out living life and it's good that I'm not trying to document every.single.thing. In other ways, I have memories that I would like to preserve.

Honestly, I'm not sure who actually reads, save a couple. And, they are people I generally keep in touch with via IG, Twitter, FB, and/or text.

Anyway..... Life.......

It's been BUSY. Good busy in a lot of ways and bad busy in a few. A lot has happened since Jan 12th when I last typed out my thoughts. Just the other day, my bosses were telling me that I seemed unhappy. My reply was, "I'm not unhappy..... I'm tired and stressed." It's hard to know where to start.

So, I guess we'll go into some random blurbs....

- My niece is pretty much a perfect little angel. I don't get to see her nearly enough, but I just love her.

- I got way too invested in The Bachelor this season and am pretty pissed by this whole duel Bachelorette situation. #TeamKaitlyn......... I just can't take anymore of Britt's dramatics. That being said, I cannot wait for Bachelor In Paradise now that Ashley S has agreed to come on. We just need Michelle Money to sign on as a commentator for perfection.

- I'm a week and a half into the Advocare 24 Day Challenge and I'm feeling better than I have in months. I really just needed a hard reset. Last time I did the 24DC, I lost 7 lbs...... and, I'd already been eating decently and exercising well. This time? Well, let's say that my eating has been horrendous for months and save the two half marathons I did, I haven't exercised since the day before Thanksgiving. Cross your fingers and pray for even better results. After a full week of eating well and tracking, I'm slowly adding back in exercise. Like, Couch 2 5k, Week 1, Day 1. I just need this do-over.

- I got a phenomenal opportunity and was able to make it happen, at work. I *will* be sharing about that soon.

- My grandfather (whom I haven't seen in 15 years) passed away last week. It was a very odd feeling. My mom did go up to Alabama to the funeral. She got a lot of closure, learned a lot of things, and has gotten to know her half-siblings that she's never really known. It was just very odd. You feel like you should be sad, but really the loss happened 15 years ago.

If you're reading this, I hope all is well in your world! :)