Just checkin' in...

HI everyone,

Have been super- duper busy lately and haven't been able to spend much time doing fun things like posting to this blog, which has become my creative outlet.  Between work, working out and dealing with the home renovation, I've been quite the busy bee.  I need to take time to just breathe and stop and smell the roses a little.  Am hoping that this weekend I can do a little of that...we'll see if that happens...oh wait..I just remembered I have to babysit.  Well, guess I won't be stopping for a little while!

I'll post more later on...in the mean time, enjoy this:

If that doesn't make you smile, I just don't know what will.   Still looking for that special guy to come to save me when the stars fall from the sky...rescue me when the tide gets too high and to hold me through the night...he's out there somewhere...Patience grasshopper..patience! 

Thought for the day:  Kindness is the rent we must pay for the space we occupy on this planet. ~ Robin Sharma

In the midst of progress...

Before

After

I've been living in a bit of clutter for the last few days as the demo has begun on my bath and kitchen!  Fortunately I have two other bathrooms to shower in but now, I have no kitchen and no sink to wash anything in (not to mention, no faucet!).  I'm hoping that all this will be done in a few days and am anxious to get this done!  I'm hoping that everything I pick out will all go together!  I'm really worried about that...I guess I'll know more on Tuesday!  *Fingers Crossed*

Smile:  What have I smiled about lately?

My sweet sister came to visit us this weekend and it was good to see her smile and spend some time with she and my brother and his family.  We had lots of laughs and many good moments with each other.  I love spending time with my siblings and had a great weekend with them sharing stories and fellowshipping with one another.  We are very blessed that we have each other through the good and bad times--I'm a very lucky girl!

Celebrate:  What do I celebrate?

  

I signed up again for my favorite work out class at the gym--Team Weight Loss!  I found out my favorite trainer that I got the most results from is now teaching at my gym and once I heard that I decided to sign up again for the class.  I hope that it will kick me into gear and help me see results that I haven't really seen over the last few weeks!  The class takes place on the treadmill and is mostly interval training and heart rate training.  It's a great way to burn lots of calories and really changed my way of working out. I'm excited to begin this class and am happy to be in the gym three times (at least) a week! 

Love:  What do I love?

Other than my family...I love that I bit the bullet and bought an ipad.  I was feeling a little left out on my business trips since everyone else on the plane seemed to be enjoying watching movies via their ipad or reading books and I didn't have one...Tracy was selling hers, and made me a good deal.  I can't wait to travel again!  --well, that may be taking it too far..I'll enjoy my next business trip more --that's more like it!  

Thought for the day:  I believe in miracles. I look for miracles. And so I see and experience them often.

Have a good week!

Hope is a strategy

There is a business book titled "Hope is not a strategy"...and while I completely understand the title for a business, I truly do believe that it is a strategy to live our lives by.  I hope that people in my life that are sick get well, that those who need jobs find them, that heartaches get healed, and that I find love.  Hope of course is not able to be believed without having faith and saying lots of prayers.  So...faith (GOD), hope and love...that's all we really need in life right?

Smile:  What did I smile about today?
I got the sweetest thank you card from my sister for our trip to NYC.  Was such a surprise and a nice thing to receive in the mail... much better than a bill!

Celebrate:  What did I celebrate today?
I ran almost a mile outside this evening without stopping.  Now I won't tell you that it was mostly downhill and the wind was at my back and after I thought I could throw up...the point is, I ran almost a mile without stopping.  It's the small successes!

Love: What do I love?

I love Target! I had several bags the other day and happened to leave one of them at the check out counter.  When I came home, I realized that my favorite yogurt and much needed paper plates were missing.  Today, I went back to the store to see if they would refund me the money so I could purchase the items again.  It was only $6.50, but was worth it to me to ask--especially since I thought the checker was rushing me the other day and didn't check to make sure that I had picked up everything. It was actually a pretty stress free experience and they had my receipt on file, gave me a gift card and within about 5 mins, I had purchased my items and was heading out to my car!  I love Target!


Thought for the day:  I believe in miracles. I look for miracles. And so I see and experience them often.

Thank you for being a friend

I've heard it said that people come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.  Over the past year, some have come and gone and their reason they came into my life has revealed itself.  Some friends became "seasonal friends" and have decided to take their life in different direction.  In spite of this,however,  I'm fortunate to say that I'm extremely lucky to have a small group of friends that regardless of the length of time in between visits or connections, we still pick up right where we left off and also know that I can call them up in the dead of night and they'd be there right by my side!  I'm very lucky, very blessed and very honored to have a small group of extraordinary women that have molded and shaped me over the years and have made me become the woman I am today.  God blessed me very much with such amazing people to love me...unconditionally.  So, today, I smile, celebrate and love my friendship with my all my fantastic friends.  Thank you for being a friend!

Smile:  What did I smile about recently?
My five year old niece got the game ball for getting the first run in of her game.  She hit the ball  and made it to second base.  So proud of her!  Little athlete in the making!

Celebrate:  What did I celebrate recently?

I celebrate that I'm getting a kitchen counters and redoing my bathroom.  I've contracted out my brother to manage the construction and spent the last week picking out granite --giallo fiorrito is the color for my kitchen.  Santa Cecelia is my color for my bathroom and a nice porcelain tile that sorta looks like travertene is the tile for my floor in my bathroom.  I'm excited to be tearing out the tile in my shower and replacing with a nice marble.  I've been wanting to make these updates for the last 4 years, so I'm glad that I'm finally doing this and hope and pray it's not too painful of a process!


Love:  What do I love?

I love weekends!  I love not having to think about work, love relaxing, organizing, and resting after the long, stressful work life that I have.  I wish time stood still a little more on these two days off so I can get some more life "stuff" done!  I can't believe it's already 8:30 on Sunday!  Where does the time go??

On a different note, I had date number 3 with my new guy.  I'm really not sure what to say...he's nice, but not so sure that there are sparks there for either of us.  I did find out he's not religious and is not a Christian, so that concerns me, as that is the top thing that I'm looking for in a mate.  I have a great time with him and enjoy his company, but am thinking that we may be better friends than anything else.  If he asks, I will go out again with him and am hoping that we can do something other than dinner to see if it generates some sparks between us.  We'll see what happens...AND if this doesn't work out, well, that's ok...just will send my net out again and see what else I cast.  Life will go on and I'll continue being the happy, healthy and terrific person I am!

Thought for the day:  Regardless of what's happening right now, keep affirming: Life brings me everything I need exactly when I need it.


Have a great week folks!  Love you all!

Jesus is the answer to every question you have

This was the phrase that stuck with me from Church yesterday and I have to say was something that I had never thought of in that simple way, but found it to be so true.  He is the answer...reach out to him for peace and understanding and you will find peace and understanding.  No, life isn't fair, it doesn't happen like we think it should, but a life with filled completely with God/Jesus/Holy Spirit fills all our needs and brings us more joy than we could ever know.  So, for the questions you have, have you found your answer yet?  If not, look up to the sky, say a prayer and know that your heart is being heard.  Jesus is the answer to every question you have.

Smile:  What made me smile?
I cooked crock pot lasagna tonight. It was a Weight Watchers recipe and was actually good!  I can't wait to have left overs as most of the time, lasagna gets better the second day when the flavors can marinate a little more!  Yum...can't wait for dinner tomorrow.  I was quite proud of myself at how easy this was to do!


Celebrate:  What do I celebrate?
I lost 2.8 lbs in my first weigh in at Weight Watchers this week.  I have to say I was shocked...I had eaten out pretty much every meal all week due to business meetings and business travel, so to have lost anything at all was a shock!  So far, I like this program.  Takes a little getting used to it, since it's very different from the other one, but it's pretty easy to follow once you get the hang of it.  One of my friends at work is also on the program and is doing a good job keeping me honest.  Although, she did try to stop me from eating a cookie..the cookie won.

Love:  What do I love?

Well, I don't like Grande Communications due to the fact that my internet connection was down all weekend and it forced me to unplug pretty much (still had my iphone, but not able to do all the surfing I enjoy in my downtime).  However, I do love my internet connection. So glad they got it fixed, even though I had to buy yet another modem (grrr).

I also met my new guy for lunch yesterday.  It was another nice time. I'm certainly interested in learning more about him, and like what I know so far.  He's got a great relationship with his parents and siblings (no, he's never been married), can take care of a house and enjoys yard work (that's a plus!), has a great job and is very smart.  I love talking to him cause he's so knowledgeable about so many things.  Nice guy.  We'll see what happens from here.  He said he'd reach out for another time, so we'll see.  *fingers crossed*

Thought for the day:  Repeat to yourself all day "I love you (your name)".  I really, really love you--and mean it!--Cheryl Richardson

I'm so glad it's Friday!

I am so glad Friday is here!  It's been a crazy two weeks and I'm really looking forward to doing nothing this weekend!  I need to get some Spring cleaning done so am hoping to put my organization skills to work!  I'm looking forward to getting some things cleaned up around here and am hoping to get some tile picked out for my new bathroom!  Yea!

Smile:  What did I smile about?
Last night I had a little angel sit next to me on the plane.  He was such a nice gentleman and while I really needed to work on the plane home, he forced me to stop, take a moment and reflect.  He was a Christian and I want to believe saw that within myself too--at least I really hope he saw that.  He spoke of how blessed his life was with his wife and children, how lucky he was to have the job he did, and how happy he was living every day with God on his side.  I think it was just the message I needed to hear.  I have been going going going so much that I forget the simple things and to take some time to just be thankful for all I have!  I am blessed! Very blessed.  So, thank you Mr. Parker...you made a difference on to someone last night!

Celebrate:  What do I celebrate?
I celebrate that it's the weekend!  So happy to be away from work and thinking about all that I need to do!  So happy to have nothing to do for two days!

Love:  What do I love?

Massages!  I got one one the way home tonight and it has begun the start of my "take it easy" weekend!  I love my spa membership and am so happy they could take me tonight!

I am meeting my new guy on Sunday afternoon for lunch.  He's helping a family member move so tomorrow night wouldn't work, and honestly, I need to just have some time to myself for a while and think I will be better if we wait until Sunday.  I think it's going to be a slow process, but hey...I've waited this long, so what's a few more weeks?  More information will follow after date number 2!



Thought for the day:  I love this blog post and think you will too.  Something to certainly think about as we go through the hussle and bussle of life!  Redefine your lovely life!