Indulge Yourself.

When is the last time you really indulged in life? I'm not talking about an extra piece of pie or finding solace in a two hour nap. I'm talking about something gut-wrenching--putting yourself so far out there that you may never return to the same person you once were. Life is constantly changing. Who we are today does not predict who we have to be tomorrow. I think all too often we get in our nice little comfortable hamster nests--spinning our wheels, eating our crunchies, marking our territory.


Are we simply actors playing the starring role in our own lives? Are we being our authentic selves or are we so caught up in what we "should be" and just doing what is "expected of us." We gain responsibilities as we grow older and we don't want to let anyone down. But in the end, are we letting ourselves down by not taking risks--by not listening to that nagging voice to explore our hidden talents--are we becoming complacent in just doing the bare minimum to get by? Stop making excuses and start indulging in your truth, your happiness, and your joy. Love others--embrace the fun all around you. Lose yourself in the moments that make you whole.

Positive Body Image and Loving Yourself.

No one likes to feel judged by their size or labeled because of their size. Also, people's weight easily fluctuates based on stress, holidays, genetic factors, or living in the south with mass quantities of good food available. I've seen empowering messages from friends of mine who have found amazing meal plans and workout plans--and they often give the message that there is really "no excuse" that eating healthy and living a healthy life is worth it and they give the reasons why they do it. It's important to be aware of how you are treating your body, what you put into it and how much you move it. But it might consume your thoughts more than it should, thinking "Oh, if I could just get back to how I looked in those pictures from a year ago, or the pictures from five years ago." 

I'm here to tell you that no matter what--you have to love yourself. If we all spent more time building ourselves up and smiling at the amazing person in the mirror, then maybe we could experience true happiness. Sometimes we are feeling pretty vulnerable to what other people say. It takes a long time to not care what others think. Sometimes we want people's approval, or we want validation that we are doing something right. There is much more to someone than just the superficial, trivial stuff. Be positive about yourself today, tomorrow, last week, and next week.

There are the questions of "why me"...and "why is this hard for me" or "why do I have to go through this" and so on "why is it so easy for her"....This journey is all about personal growth, discovering what you like about yourself, using your strengths to make life easier on you, realizing that no one is good at everything, and celebrating the little moments that make you smile and laugh--then do more of those moments. Build your life around who you are and what is important to you. Don't stretch yourself too thin trying to please everyone else. Why do people make mean comments anyways--why do people have to judge others--I think we are ALL only human and we all say things every day that we have not really thought about the impact it might have on someone. Sometimes we are just running our mouths and we should be more careful. If you are on the receiving end of a rude comment, I say to take it with a grain of salt and keep going. Keep being a friend to yourself, because that is what it's all about--at the end of the day you can ask yourself "Was I good to myself?" 

I remember in Third Grade we had a few teachers/moms that wanted to help out--they did a lesson on "Self Esteem"...I took much of it to heart and I knew I wanted to believe in myself and love myself. That Third Grade lesson is one that we each need on a daily basis, and the people that do say the hurtful comments or the ignorant comments--maybe they missed school on the day they had the "Self Esteem" coaching. Just goes to show we have to be an example to others. We have to be kind and pay it forward. Because I truly believe that the BIG PICTURE is telling us how wonderful we really are and how amazing life can really be, if we just let it. 

Show me your Rummage: A Reflection on Rummage Sales.

     I will admit, there is something alluring when you see a sign that says "Rummage Sale." It's all in someone's perspective...either you view a rummage sale as people getting rid of their ratty old, dated belongings or you view it as a rare look into the items that someone once dearly treasured but is now getting rid of. It just might be your lucky day to find those hidden treasures and give them a new home. You can either have something in mind that you are hoping to find for a sweet deal or have nothing in mind at all. I am more of a fly by the seat of my pants kind of gal when it comes to visiting the occasional rummage sale. Truth be known, I can probably count the number of rummage sales I've been to on two hands. The easiest rummage sales to go to are the ones right next door.

     My parents always said that people want to pay something instead of getting things for free. My mom loves to tell the story of setting a big pile of records out for "free" and no one getting any but when she labeled the pile "5 cents a piece" the records immediately started selling like hotcakes. People aren't looking for a handout, but they are looking for a killer deal. If you hang around long enough at a rummage sale, there just might be a "stuff all you can in one bag for a dollar" special going on. It is a quick way to get rid of your stuff at the very end. 

     If you want to get fancy, you can go to an Estate Sale. If you want to take a road trip, you can find some awesome flea markets with new and used items. As you grow older, you often remember when you participated in a rummage sale as a child, helping parents price items or learning how to make change. Also, waking up at the crack of dawn and learning that is when the most serious shoppers start sauntering in. The experienced sale-goers carry exact change and are skilled at talking you down on the price. An at home rummage sale or rather a garage sale involves Dad making some cinnamon rolls for the early morning while Mom is all in a frenzy trying to get everything done. Prop out your lawn chairs to sit in, and one can really make a day out of it. 

     No matter who you are, you might have fond memories or not so fond memories of a rummage sale that you have been involved with in one way or another. Keep the strong muscle men on standby to carry all of the heavy items to people's cars and trucks. Also, enjoy the conversations you might have with the other shoppers. I've always been a people watcher, so next time I attend a rummage sale...I will be watching for the true rummage sale junkies and the beginners...and those somewhere in between.

2015 Commence Forth!

     Well, it's a New Year! Like sands through an hourglass, these are the days of our lives...that keep on coming! You can't postpone the years, and you can't postpone the days either. Things might not be tied up with that neat little bow just exactly how you might like, but that shouldn't stop you from living life to your fullest and finding the joy that you might have missed otherwise. We can't always get what we want when we want it (or what we think we want), but more often than not--I find that we do get what we need. And sometimes the patience and time that is necessary for that next surprising thing to come along...is just what we need. There's nothing like a twist in the road or a sudden turn of events to give you more perspective, sometimes a better perspective. Keep being persistent to chase what you really want, and don't let the bumps get you down. Don't let your struggle become your identity. And don't get trapped in the plot of a sappy, dramatic, endless novel. Be your own writer of your own story. Spread your wings--embrace love, be there for others, be silly, be loving, look in the mirror and smile at yourself. For you are strong, beautiful, important, smart, and you have a journey that is meant for you. So keep on trucking and keep on dancing. :)

Ready for a pool party. :)

When flipping through a swimsuit catalog, it seems like the possibilities are endless. Usually we can weed out some possibilities very fast, while other styles or flattering designs catch our eye. Soon we decide that it's senseless to pick something great out of a catalog, when it would be a miracle to guess the right size that would magically fit just like it does on the model wearing it. So we make a mental note: "To Do List--Go bathing suit shopping." It seems like a necessary chore in order to get ready for summertime, when the
weather is hot and the living is easy. And who knows, it might be fun to find the perfect swimsuit...and if not, just jump in the water fast and no one will know the difference what you're wearing or what you're not wearing. But you finally get to the store and start to narrow down the choices, then you find something that might be really great but you wonder if you really want to spend that kind of money. Then you find something that is really cheap, but you're wondering if it's too cheap and might come right off when you're jumping off the high dive. To save yourself some time and energy, you map out your favorite store that is sure to never let you down. After trying on several swimsuits, you wonder if guys realize how lucky they are and how easy they have it. So you begin to debate on the polka dots, the solids, the one with the intricate straps that you aren't sure how to fasten, and then you finally find one that seems to do more good than damage. And you grab a mermaid towel on your way out. Now you're ready to sun your buns, feel the wind in your hair, and get some sand in your pail. :)

Marinating Your Life

When following a recipe, it is sometimes important that you marinate your meat with certain ingredients to enhance the flavor and bring out the goodness. Along with the main course, it is important to add just the right sides that provide just the right contrast but complements the meal. However, sometimes you can improvise ingredients and leave certain things out or add extra things along the way. Sometimes we forget that our lives are quite similar to a recipe. Our lives would not be as fulfilling without all the extra spice and garnishes. Sometimes our lives might feel like a five-course meal, while other times we might feel as if we're simply going through the drive-thru window for a greasy burger. We're given appetizers of something we might like, only to see that it takes more work than we might have hoped for. We like to satisfy our sweet tooth by getting a slice of happiness.

We fall into a comfort zone which is quite similar to different comfort foods that provide immediate satisfaction, but we might like to get out of the rut to cook a meal that is a little more snazzy. Do you feel that your life has enough ingredients in it, that you are ready to be cooked and served? Or are there things missing that still need to be added? Or is the secret ingredient never quite finished. Meeting new people, traveling new places, and studying new subjects all contributes to us understanding the world better and understanding ourselves better. It is difficult to feel at peace in your own skin sometimes, but with the right combinations...our life can be blended in a blender to create a beautiful experience that is all our own. Be sure that there is enough room on your plate of life to include all the amazing side items, and share your main course of life with others. Let others in to soak up the flavor. In the end, we owe it to ourselves to enhance the flavor in our daily lives...not just in our food.

When life gets stressful or you feel too many people are bringing you down, use the strainer to drain some of the negativity out. Remember, your recipe is all your own. What tastes good to others does not necessarily taste good to you. Don't be afraid to create your own unconventional meal...create a meal and a life that suits your taste. Time to preheat our ovens. No need to set a timer, because your life experiences might happen at all different times. Make your recipe a great one, make it one to pass down to later generations so they can smile and laugh at some of your steps that you took along the way. Next time a recipe says to "marinate something"...don't forget that you are busy marinating your own life as well.

New Year Equals New Blog.

I've always been the type to set a resolution on any day of the year...it definitely doesn't have to be the first of the year in order to have a goal or make a promise to yourself. However, it is fun for people to have a fresh start and a new perspective as we get out our new calendars and think about what things the new year might have to offer. When sizing up a year that has gone by, it's easy to focus on the positive things and the negative things...but the truth is that every year might have its ups and downs. The power and beauty of a new year means moving forward and carrying the things you have learned from previous years with you so that you'll be armed and ready. Stay strong and stay true to yourself and others. Each year I think I am going to "floss more"...so please hold me to that and remind me, haha. The biggest part of all my years has always been family, friends, and pets...and for the past few years I've had my loving husband to share an incredible life with. Hoping for many, many more years with him. No one can ever take away your memories...And there are so many new memories and adventures to make. Don't waste a perfectly good year by getting in a rut or repeating the same year that you just had...make a vow to get even closer to the people that you love. Set a goal to take care of yourself as well as the ones around you that need you and count on you. Give a part of yourself to a good cause that helps you reflect on just how fortunate you really are. I know that things are more easily said than done, but this year and every year, we can make our words our reality. We have many blessings to be thankful for...and a new year is one of them.