Pinterest--Friend or Foe?

So I ask myself, "who thought this was a good idea?" I LOVE IT! and yet, it's so addicting that I hate it! I just CAN'T...STOP...PINNING! I love that all my new favorites are in one little place. I love the concept. It's another way to share WHO I am, but really? I was so proud of myself. I don't spend hours on facebook. I don't spend hours playing online games. I occasionally blog--(haha, who are we kidding--I RARELY blog). Point being, I avoid spending endless hours on the computer when I should be doing other things. But right now, I'm hating my sister for introducing me to it and my friend Kellie for re-introducing me to it, because honestly, I can't wait to get my hands on a computer.

G is for Gratitude

Been a while since I blogged, but no need to quit my alphabet theme, and how fitting that I am on G. Perfect for the month of Thanksgiving. So, needless to say, "G is for Gratitude."
Just a few simple things I'm grateful for (and I've noticed the list keeps growing the older I get):

• My hubby
• My kids
  
• Friends
• My job
• Music
• Books
• A home
• Technology
• My health
• Good Food
• Vacations

I could list much, much more but then I wouldn't have anything left to complete my alphabet series, so I guess there you have it...for now. :)

F is for Friends and Family

I love my family. As much as they frustrate me....I love them to death and am proud to be a wife to my wonderful husband and mother to my amazing 4 boys!


I am also super lucky to have an amazing friend. A true friend is someone you can turn to for anything. She doesn't judge. She remembers the important things. She listens. She is the first person you think to call with exciting news or devastating news. My best friend also happens to be my running buddy. Thanks Julie!

E is for Exasperated

Exasperated
-verb
Greatly annoyed, displeased, irritated or frustrated; out of patience

That's all I'm going to say. That's just how I'm feeling lately.
Exasperated at: life, work, family, body, house, etc.
Blah!

D is for Dreams

It's never too late to dream.
It's never too late to believe in your dream.
And more importantly--
It's never too late to make your dreams come true.

Some of my dreams/things I'd like to accomplish before I die:

Visit the Greek Isles
Write a book
Go on a humanitarian medical trip
Learn Greek
Learn Spanish
Remember the French I learned in High School
Learn to play the guitar
Visit every state--road trip across the US
Go to a 49'ers game
Buy a car with cash
Be a great wife and mother.

C is for Celebrate!

I think sometimes we get busy and forget
That there are so many things in life
That are worth celebrating!
Someone gave me this quote
(not sure who wrote it)
When I was a teenager,
And I've always loved it.
It reminds us to celebrate
The most important thing--
The individuals that we are.

Celebrate You!
You are worth celebrating.
You are worth everything.
You are unique.
In the whole world, there is only one YOU!
There is only one person with
your talents
your experience
your gifts.
No on can take your place.
God created only one YOU, precious in his sight.
You have immense potential
To love
To care
To create
To grow
To sacrifice-
If you believe in yourself.
It doesn't matter your age, or your color, or whether
Your parents love you or not.
Let that go. It belongs to the past.
You belong to the NOW.
It doesn't matter what you have been
Or the wrong you've done,
The mistakes you've made or the people you have hurt.
You are Forgiven. You are Accepted. You are Okay. You are Loved. In spite of everything.
So love yourself and nourish the seeds within you.
Celebrate you!
Begin now. Start anew. Give yourself a new birth.
Today.
You are you, and that is all you need to be.
You are temporary-here today and gone tomorrow.
But today--
Today can be a new beginning, a new thing, a new life.

B is for Books

Books, Books and more Books!
I have a problem.
An addiction, really.
I've always loved to read!
Even when I was little.
I LOVE books!
Now it's an obsession.
I love to buy new, used or discounted books.
I avoid the big bookstores at all costs.
That would be VERY dangerous.
Instead I frequent the D.I., used bookstores or the "friends of the library" bookstore.
At least in these places,
I can feed my addiction
At HUGE discounts.
I love finding books for 50 cents or a dollar.
I feel like a winner!
The problem--
I'm running out of room to put all my books.
And I don't like getting rid of any.
I love that my friends and family can ask,
"Do you have such-and-such book?"
And I can say, "Yes! Come on over."

A is for Annoying

Why not start off with the negative? I mean this blog is meant to represent me and my life...
all of it! Right?

Annoying:
-adjective
causing annoyance; irritatingly bothersome

Things that annoy me:

1. My kids fighting
2. Someone leaving the cupboard open--(Really?!? It takes about 1 second more to shut it!)
3. People cutting me off--for no apparent reason, especially if there are NO cars behind me
4. Getting called into work when I'm not really needed
5. When my hubby and kids "get" the references or jokes on shows/movies and I'm clueless
6. When my house is a pig sty and I'm the only one that notices or cares
7. When people are dishonest
8. When someone is downright rude
9. When I pay for "high-speed" internet and it CRAWLS
10. When I can't get everything on my "list" crossed off

26 days of ABC's

I loved this idea of writing about one topic a day...
Using the ABC's.
I found it here and really thought it might get me writing again....
about things that matter to me.
...Maybe give you a little insight into who I am.

April "Healthy You" Goal

So at work they have a Healthy Balance program where you make goals
and try to be healthier.
You can win prizes and earn gift cards. I figure "Why not?"
I am trying to lose a little weight, get more toned and look awesome...
by June 22 (my 20th Anniversary!)
My April goal is "1 or less cans of soda pop a day."
I was getting to the point that I was drinking way too much pop.
So since I made that goal or commitment (the last week of March)
I've only had a handful of sodas!
Instead of 1 a day, I'm down to just a couple a week!
Amazing!
I'm not saying I will never drink pop.
Sometimes I just want one.
But much, much, better!

Spring, Spring, Where are you?

Looking for spring.
I love Spring!
Went to Colorfest yesterday.
It always helps me get in the "spring mood".
But it is still freezing outside.
I'm getting antsy.
I'm getting that spring cleaning bug.
I want to yard sale.
I want to run without my lungs burning--well okay,
maybe I don't WANT to run,
but if I do run---I want perfect spring weather.
I want to make some new goals.
Life is good.
And for some reason...
Spring always reminds me of this!

Perspective

It's amazing how your perspective changes
Over time.
I think it was the thought of Tanner leaving...
That was worse than the actual leaving.
The first couple weeks were hard-
Really hard.
I cried a lot.
So many different emotions
Swirling in my head.
But now, I'm stronger.
And I'm happy.
And I'm proud.
Now, instead of checking for a text or phone call from him,
I check the mailbox
And my email.
(And I still check his hamper each time I do the wash-
And I still count kids when we all sit down together)
But it's ok.
And each day gets better.
And he is doing well
And serving the Lord.
And I love him.
That's gotta count for something, right?

Great LOVE songs!

With or Without You--U2
Lucky--Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat
1,2,3,4-- Plain White T's
All My Loving--Jim Sturgess
First Day of my Life--Bright Eyes
Oh, it is Love--Hellogoodbye
Write you a Song--Plain White T's
Only You--Joshua Radin (Originally Yaz)
I'm Yours- Jason Mraz
I'll Stand by You--The Pretenders
If you Were Here--Thompson Twins
Love--Matt White
Love is All Around--The Troggs
We Were Made for Each Other--Jack's Mannequin
If you Leave-OMD
Falling for You--Colbie Caillat
The Only Exception-Paramore
All I Ever Wanted- basshunter

Food I LOVE!

PF Chang's Lettuce Wraps
Crab Legs
Mashed Potatoes
(really any kind of potatoes)
a good Steak
Cafe Rio salad
Veggie Grilled Cheese sandwich
French Toast
Baking Powder Biscuits with Hot Chocolate
Fettuccine Alfredo
Olive Garden salad and breadsticks

Probably so much more, but that's all I can think of right now!

TV Shows I LOVE!

Or like...or regularly watch...
Or am addicted to-- even though I cringe watching them :)

• Fringe
• White Collar
• Castle
• Chuck
• Glee
• Friday Night Lights
• How I Met Your Mother
• Burn Notice
• Community
• 30 Rock
• Rules of Engagement
• In Plain Sight
• True Blood
• V
• Being Human
• Outsourced
  

Movies I LOVE!

Or have loved.... yes, I did grow up in the 80's. :)

13 Going on 30
How to Train Your Dragon
Despicable Me
It's a Wonderful Life
Knight and Day
Top Gun
Pillars of the Earth
Somewhere in Time
Legends of the Fall
The Notebook
Never Been Kissed
The Wedding Singer
All three Original Star Wars (4, 5, 6)
Up
Inception
Toy Story 1, 2, 3
Shrek
Princess Bride
Forrest Gump
Braveheart
Fight Club
12 Monkeys
Chariot's of Fire
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Slumdog Millionaire
Memento
My Best Friend's Wedding
Sixteen Candles
Some Kind of Wonderful
Better off Dead
Dirty Dancing
Grease

Books I LOVE!

Well....at least for the moment....

• The Book Thief
• The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
• The Hunger Game Series
• The Twilight Series
• Stargirl
• Christmas Jars
• The Daffodil Principle
• Name of the Wind
• The Giving Tree
• Such a Pretty Fat: One Narcissist's Quest to Discover if Her Life Makes Her Ass Look Big, or Why Pie is Not the Answer

The Month of L-O-V-E

Since we are almost to "Love Day"
And since I LOVE lists,
I decided to take the next few days to LIST things I love...
(OK, ok...maybe LOVE is too strong a word for some of them--
But things I like or that at least make me tick)...
In no particular order.
Just for fun.
Just to show a little window
Into who I am...
And why I am the way I am.
(And maybe this will help me
Get out of this depressing funk!)

Life Goes On

I had to work today.

Still in a slump.

When anyone talks to me about it...

I cry.

My boys texted me that they were sad

'cause they missed Tanner.

I said, "Yep, me too!"

And I cried.

I liked Natalie's post,

"Hug him extra tight,

Kiss him a little longer,

And tell him you love him everyday."

But it made me cry.

And still somehow,

Life goes on.

Dropped my baby off at the MTC!

I'm so proud of my baby.

I'm so sad.

I know this is a good thing.

He is a great kid!

I love him to pieces.

I will miss him.

I'm grateful for my hubby's love, support and sensitivity.

But still,

My heart is temporarily broken.

Just throwing this out there!

So I know
I should be happy,
grateful,
proud,
and excited
that Tanner is leaving on his mission
in less than 3 weeks.
But I'm not.
I'm sad.
As much as I KNOW it's where he should be
and I AM proud of him,
and I know he will be a GREAT missionary,
and I'm EXCITED to see his growth,
the "mom" in me
is sad.
Lots of tears lately.
As Tanner always tells me,
I'm being such a girl.
Just throwing that out there.