2011 where ya at?

the new year is quickly approaching. ohmygosh! already?

what things will you do differently in 2011?

what are your resolutions or goals?

it is sooooooooo very easy to set a goal or make a resolution, but the difficult part is actually maintaining those goals and resolutions throughout the remainder of the year. every year, we hear the same thing..."oh this year, i'm really gonna stick to it...no really, i am"...blah blah blah. i'm guilty of this too. but, this year...lets mix it up a little...do it a lil' different...go hard or go home! make it happen! you and i can accomplish whatever it is our little hearts desire. so, this year if you make any goals or resolutions...really try to make them happen. just make those resolutions before you start popping champagne. ha-ha. be realistic, sometimes alcohol tends make us believe in any and everything. don't follow jamie foxx and blame it on the a-a-alcohol...drink (your choice of beverage), be merry and get that midnight kiss. muahhhhh!!!

bye bye 2010, bring it on 2011 :)

my 2011 remix is...

be a better...friend, sister, daughter, christian, runner, employee, blogger, etc.

overall, just grow and strive to be a better me!

i wish each and one of you lovely ladies a very happy new year!

be safe and see ya next year!

misunderstood.

have you ever felt misunderstood?

by definition: misunderstood -adj. : not properly or sympathetically understood: a misunderstood work of art; a misunderstood adolescent.

in my case, often times people perceive me as being cold, distant or rude when simply i am just a shy person. always have been. but, once i'm comfortable i tend to come out of my shell. and, then the party really gets started! :) i really am a likable person. well, in my opinion i am and i'm pretty sure a few others would vouch for me. they better! lets just say if i wasn't me, i'd want to be my friend. if that makes any sense? ha-ha. i'm a pretty nice, fun and easy person to talk to, and actually i am the "mother of advice" to all my close friends. i should start charging for real. kidding. like some, i guess my shyness comes out when i'm not in my comfort zone. as an adult, i've tried to work harder to not be so shy. i'm a work in progress, but aren't we all. i believe growth is one of life's greatest gifts. you aren't the same person you were yesterday. you are a better person.

okay, i'm getting a little off topic here. the reason be hide this post is because of a recent comment that was made. basically, a close friend of mine mentioned my relationship or lack of relationship with one of their close friends. now, i do not dislike this person, in fact, we have been in each others presence numerous times due to our mutual friend. however, it always seemed there were preconceived notions which existed between us. it all boils down to this...we never got to know each other. frankly, we never tried. you would think that we both would have at least tried to get to know each other due to our mutual friend being such an important person to both of us. long story short...i feel misunderstood. i feel like this person doesn't know me at all. and, honestly i do not know them all that well either.

yeah, they say {whoever "they" is}...you only get one shot at a first impression. and the golden rule as a child is, don't judge a book by its cover. sometimes people interpret things differently to what we intended to say. sometimes people are quick to judge before you open your mouth or the second you speak. sometimes people judge how you dress, how you write, or how you walk. sometimes you just can't win with some people. we are all guilty of this. shame on you...and me! i think as adults, we should be slow to judge each other...especially if you haven't even taken the time to truly get to know the person. i'm saying this now after hearing the comment that was made, and i think next time i feel myself judging someone else...i'll tell myself to shut up!

misunderstood, don't

don't let me be misunderstood, don't

i'm just human

misunderstood, by common

christmas, snow, friends and birthdays...oh my!

hope you dolls had a wonderful Christmas!

as you can see...i spent most of my time doing the above.
don't judge me stuffing my face because i'm sure most of you did the same. lol. i wouldn't dare let all the delicious desserts go to waste. oh nooooo! but, now its time to get back to being healthy. or "trying" to be healthy. good thing i'm running my fourth 5k on New Years Day! starting off the New Year with a bang! ohbytheway, isn't my sweater just the cutest? i got it from H&M for only $10 bucks! gotta love deals like that!

i noticed i've been blessed with some new followers friends
thank you very very very very much. it truly makes my day to see all the kind, sweet, funny and random comments. and, to meet new peeps through the blog world. i'm not just saying that...i really do mean it! i think i spend more time reading other peoples blogs then writing on my own. hopefully, i can continue to keep your interest. i plan to share a little more about my personal life in the new year.

snow is overrated.
okay, so it was beautiful to look at and then getting a white Christmas was the icing on the cake. but now, i'm over it. i can't even drive my car because my street is a patch of ice. literally. my poor little honda just won't make it. however, i have been driven around by a nice person and i'm kinda getting use to it. i can't complain too much though because i live in the south. good ole north carolina. i cannot imagine how y'all northerners deal with this headache every year!

in exciting news...
my 26th birthday is just around the corner {January 13th} yay! i love birthdays!

happy tuesday!

stay warm :)

one person.

the REASON for the SEASON.

Last night, I attended the Pre-Christmas Worship Celebration at church. Words cannot describe how beautiful this event truly was. Four ministers in training all spoke on the word of Christ and the true meaning of Christmas. As I listened...I felt tingles through out my entire body and tears flowing down my cheeks. The words spoken, hit me like a ton of bricks. This holiday has become so very commercialized that so many of us truly forget about the REAL meaning of CHRISTmas. We blog and talk about our holiday plans, the gifts under the tree, the oh so delicious recipe's were gonna make, and the beautiful white Christmas we all want. But, what about the ONE who makes all of this possible? Is it too much to ask, to give him praise and Thank our Lord and Savior for giving His life, so that we can live. I don't think so. And, I'm sure most of you can agree. I cannot imagine my life without Christ and thank Him numerous times everyday for my many blessings. Its one thing to count your blessings, but its another to know the Blessor. Recently, I have strengthen my relationship with God and my life has improved tremendously. And, I know it will only continue to get better. Of course none of us are perfect and He knows this. I'm not a Saint. I'm only human like you. My point is...its so easy to get wrapped up in the "busyness" of the holiday season; however, we should NEVER forget the REASON for the SEASON!

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

i've got the power. do you?

A Secret Scrolls message from Rhonda Byrne : Creator of The Secret and The Power

 To celebrate the end of the year, and to guarantee that 2011 is your absolute best year yet, this Secret Scrolls contains one of the life-changing revelations from the book The Power, and one of the most powerful processes you can do in your life.

Whether you realize it or not, you bring everything to you through the power of your imagination. The power of imagination is not something you have to acquire; you have it already! You think in images even if you aren't aware that you do, and you use imagination or imaging every single day of your life. When you think about the past you are imagining. When you think about the future you are imagining. And as you imagine and concentrate on anything with feeling, you are bringing it to you.

When you worry about something, you are using your immense power of imagination negatively. You are imagining the worst, and as you imagine the worst, you are bringing it to you. When you are excited about something, you are using your power of imagination positively. You are imagining the best, and as you imagine the best, you are bringing it to you.

Using the power of your imagination is something that comes to you naturally, but I want you to understand something about your imagination that will change your life: Whatever you can imagine already exists! You simply can't imagine anything unless it exists already, because when you imagine something you are actually tuning into a particular frequency, and if that frequency didn't exist in the Universe you wouldn't be able to tune into it. So when you imagine yourself with something you want you are tuning into a real thing that already exists, and you are looking at the very frequency of you with your desire!

Now I am going to take you step by step through a revolutionary process using your imagination from the book The Power.

First, imagine something that you really want. It could be money, health, a particular job, a partner, a vacation, happiness, or anything else. Imagine yourself with your desire; close your eyes and really get the picture of yourself with your desire.

Pay special attention to what you see about yourself in your imagined picture. Notice how you are talking. Notice how you are moving. Notice how you are walking. Notice how you are acting. Notice how you are feeling. Look at everything about yourself in your imagined picture, but in particular, notice how happy you are! Capture every detail that you can, and open your eyes.

Understand that the picture you just imagined of yourself with your desire exists already! You know it exists because if it didn't exist how could you tune into it? How could you see it in your imagination? When you imagined yourself, you were looking at the actual real version of you with your desire!

Can you see the difference between yourself right now and your imagined picture of yourself? Because your job is to become as much like the version of yourself in the picture as you can! Walk like that now. Talk like that now. Act like that now. Feel the same as that, now. Become as happy as that person, now. Be that person, now! When you become the person in your imagined picture you have shifted yourself to the frequency of your desire, and it must and will appear. Your imagination is showing you precisely the person you need to become. It is showing you what you look like and how to act and feel so that you can copy it and become that person!

To help you become more and more like the person in your imagination, practice closing your eyes and seeing yourself in the imagined picture with your desire as many times as you want. Seeing the imagined picture of yourself will continuously remind you how you need to be, feel, and act. Then come out of your imagination and go about your day doing your best to act and feel like that person, now. You will be amazed at how little copying it takes before you see the evidence that your desire is coming.

This is one of the most powerful processes you can ever do to make your desires appear with lightning speed. This process is based on the physics of the Universe. Use it! Practice it! You have The Power to your life; every force in the Universe will do anything for you, but you have to use The Power that you have!

my obession with...my hair.

don't most of us women have a love/hate relationship with our hair?

we all have had good hair days

and not so good {bad} hair days...

i personally, i have an interesting love/hate relationship with my hair. why? because some days, my hair does what i tell it to do and then other days it seems to have a mind of its own. one side wants to curl, the other side doesn't, some days my side swept bangs are looking fab, then the next day they look a hot mess....i could go on and one about this. some days i love my hair and some days i hate it with a passion. when it comes to my hair sometimes it seems as if i'm never fully satisfied. maybe some of you ladies can relate. men just have no idea the struggles some of us women go through with our hair! then to top it off, you have to find the right hair dresser. that's a whole nother relationship. i had to breakup with my long time hair dresser because she became unavailable; however, lucky for me i found a better one! January will be a year since i've been going to this new salon and i l.o.v.e it! i don't know about you, but if my hair is not looking so pretty than i don't feel so pretty. i think hair is what completes a look.

you see, i have whats called "mixed" hair...interesting hair is what it should be called. i have naturally curly hair. growing up my mom started putting relaxers in my hair. big mistake! its been several years since i've had a relaxer done and now my natural curls are coming back. i can pretty much do anything with my hair...curly, straight, wavy, up, down, cornrows, breads...the options are endless with this hair. although, i have so many options, doing my hair can be a struggle. about two years ago, i decided to get my hair cut short. now, for the longest time i would say i was going to cut it, but never would. i guess because i was scared of change. yes, i know hair grows back. but still. i told you...its a strange relationship i have with my hair. anyways, summer was coming around and i wanted a new look, so i finally got the bob cut, i had been obsessing about for the longest. i actually really liked it, and so did everyone else. but now after two years of short hair, i'm ready for a new look...i've been trying to grow it out and its in that middle awkward stage. its a strange feeling having hair on my neck again and i get sudden urges to cut it short, but i'm not going to. i'm going to continue to take my hair vitamins, deep condition on sundays and chop off those annoying split ends every six to eight weeks. early today, i was looking at old pictures and found myself laughing at how many different looks this mop on my head has had.

the chronicles of Ashley's hair...

[just a few - i have many more]

[loose waves/summer days = flat hair]

[natural curly look]

 [straight, carmel color and a little past my shoulders]

 [thick, dark and bouncy look]

[most recent hair style & my fav]

do you have a love/hate relationship with your head?

a bunch of mambo jambo.

i didn't plan on posting anything today...frankly, because i didn't have anything interesting to write about. after checking my email, i received notifications of new comments for my blog. i feel loved anytime i get emails like that. it really is the little things in life that can bring a smile to anyone's face. initially, my blog was for me. just to write. and then, people started to follow my blog and comment on my posts. little things like that really bring a smile to my face :) i've never been so much concerned with the number of followers i have, but the sweet comments are worth blogging. its always nice to get feedback from anyone who reads my blog. lets me know i'm not as boring as i think sometimes. lol. i really am grateful for the followers i have, the people who read this blog, and the people who comment on my posts. i definitely appreciate the love. i really do! and i really wish all of you a very merry christmas!

now that my mind is going in ten thousands different directions, i guess i'll keep writing...

yesterday, i went to the UNC vs. Texas basketball game with my dad. it was really nice to spend a little father/daughter time, especially at a sporting event. i love me some basketball. always have, but just can't play it worth a lick. although, traffic was a {insert curse word} and i froze my buns off, overall it was a really good game! by the way, Tar Heels lost if you didn't see the game on t.v. :(


let me just ask you guys...is it just me...hopefully not.

does it seem sometimes that the people whom have the "perfect life" complain often? i know, the perfect life does not exist. what i mean by that is...graduating from school, getting a new job, having a big family, being engaged, getting married, having a baby, or living in a house. those are just a few examples. i know some people who consistently complain about their social status, their spouse not doing something (they knew this before they got married), size of their home, the appearance of the spouse, family members making mistakes....blah blah blah...i tune out the complaints half the time, so i can't recall all of them. my point is...sometimes i just want to look at them and say...choose your battles. what does complaining solve if your not going to try and do something about what your complaining about in the first place? who cares if your "friend", boyfriend, or husband wants to sleep a little late on Saturday morning because he got home from work late the night before or he doesn't throw out the trash when you asked. really? or the fact that your boyfriend hasn't put a ring on your finger after a certain number of years? if you guys both have established marriage is something that's in ya'lls future and your trying to accomplish other goals first...be patient. just because you may feel your the last single woman on the plant...news flash...your not! you want a bigger house? the house you live in now is too small...at least you have a roof over your head. some things are so trivial and not even worth complaining about. yes, its easy as an outsider looking in to comment and judge. i had to learn the hard way to appreciate all of those things and only want some of these people to appreciate them now that they have them. from the bottom of my heart i truly believe gratitude is what humbles a person. be grateful for all of your blessings...whether is be your house, job, kids, spouse, money, friends, faith, love, happiness...etc. at the end of the day, your home is your "safe place"...take advantage and cherish all the "small things" in life like being with the ones you love.

she's got it all.

TGIF :)

the last few days have been quite interesting to say the least. i've found myself feeling all giddy inside; however, i'm not going to jinx anything just yet. for once, i'm going to let nature take its course and see how things play out. i use to be THAT girl who would analyze every single detail, try to fix things immediately, and replay conversations in my head over and over again...wondering what something really meant or why did i/they say that? well, i'm here to say...i'm not going to be THAT girl. i've dug a hole and buried her some where. she's gone. adios amiga!

I AM going to be THE girl, who allows things to happen on its own time. slower is sometimes better. i'm going to be THE girl, who relies on the guidance from GOD, rather than the advice from friends. i'm going to be THE girl, who continues to have positive thoughts and tries to see the good in everything. i'm going to be THE girl, who everyone notices when she walks in the room. there's something about confidence that is sexy. i'm going to be THE girl, who rocks leopard print and stripes together because i like it!  i'm going to be THE girl, who knows her way around the kitchen and can cook up a delicious meal. i'm going to be THE girl, who allows some things to come to her, instead of chasing them. i'm going to be THE girl, who looks at her competition and smiles. i'm going to be THE girl, who laughs her booty off just because i can.

ALWAYS LAUGH

WHEN YOU CAN. IT IS

CHEAP MEDICINE.

Lord Byron

this girl can't be happy all the time can she?

the answer would be no.

yes, i'm on this positive kick and all. however, the negative emotions of irritation, disappointment, anger and sadness do still arise from time to time. i am only human after all. so, let me start off by saying one of the major things that gets under my skin is someone proclaiming to be something their not. i try to be a real person and sometimes that can come off as being bitchy. i'm not bitchy. i promise. i just can't play the fake role very well. i'm just me.

anyways, back to my rant. it just burns me up when people try to act like they had a come to Jesus meeting and now God's their new BFF. all of a sudden their a brand new person. are you serious??? really??? please spare me the details. don't come to me saying whatever you think sounds good for the moment...saying all the right things and then the next second your out doing the complete opposite. um, hello?? and certainly don't post it online. and another thing, it doesn't take much to respond to a simple text or email. if you can get on facebook, myspace, twitter or blogger...guess what? that means you can access email. bingo! at the end of the day, it all comes down to this...clearly, i need to seriously evaluate some of the people i associate with. sometimes the people you care about the most your better off without. or sometimes, you just gotta man up and tell them how you feel. normally, i would. i just don't feel like even going there right now. it just really sucks because i try to be respectful and kind to others, and i expect some respect in return. 2011 is going to be a new year and i refuse to put up with the same childish crap or repeat the same mistakes from 2010. nope. done. not gonna happen.

ok, sorry for the crazy lady rant. i just had to get that out. i'm done now. thank you.

back to being happy and positive :)

best advice ever.

1. Pray

2. Go to bed on time.

3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.

4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.

5. Delegate tasks to capable others.

6. Simplify and unclutter your life.

7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)

8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.

9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.

10. Take one day at a time.

11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.

12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.

13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.

14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.

15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.

16. Carry a spiritually enlightening book with you to read while waiting in line.

17. Get enough rest.

18. Eat right.

19. Get organized so everything has its place.

20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.

21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.

22. Every day, find time to be alone.

23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.

24. Make friends with Godly people.

25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.

26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good 'Thank you Jesus .'

27. Laugh.

28. Laugh some more!

29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.

30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).

31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).

32. Sit on your ego.

33. Talk less; listen more.

34. Slow down.

35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.

36. Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before. GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU.

Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey-ey, goodbye.

happy hump day peeps!

today is a good day. i'm smiling like its going out of style.

i finally received my final grades for this semester, and i passed. duh! i already knew that. i'm very happy though because one class i struggled with all semester. thank goodness its all over now. not really...spring semester will be here before you know it. every semester i have to remind myself how all this hard work will pay off once i'm done. however, working 8-5 and going to school 5:30 - 10pm is no joke.

i make it work thou. :)

cheers to the end of fall semester!

[tar heeelllllsssssssssssssssssssssss]

saturday, i'm going to the UNC vs. Texas basketball game!

i'm super excited about that.

 although, you won't see any pictures of me dressed

like the above UNC fans! lol. gotta love Carolina basketball.

according to our reliable news reporters we are expecting snow flurries tomorrow.

this winter weather mix better not freaking mess up my plans. i'm crossing my fingers it waits until Christmas day, so we can have a nice white Christmas. how nice would that be. a girl can dream right? along with looking forward to Christmas...the New Year will be here shortly. have you made your New Years resolutions yet?

 i'm still thinking of mine...

so far i do know...

P.S. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO A SPECIAL PERSON TODAY! :)

attitude.

There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and noticed she had only three hairs on her head. 'Well,' she said, 'I think I'll braid my hair today.'
So she did and she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two hairs on her head. 'H-M-M,' she said, 'I think I'll part my hair down the middle today.' 
So she did and she had a grand day.


The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head. 'Well,' she said, 'today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail.'
So she did, and she had a fun, fun day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head.'YAY!' she exclaimed. 'I don't have to fix my hair today!'

 

Attitude is everything.

Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Live simply,

Love generously,

Care deeply,

Speak kindly,

and pray continually.

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...

It's about learning to dance in the rain.

It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived.

Life is too short to wake up with regrets.

Love the people who treat you right and pray for the ones who don't.

feeling so fly like a G-6...

because.....it's F.R.I.D.A.Y yall!

okay, maybe its just me...but...i absolutely friggin' l.o.v.e this family. maybe, its a little tiny wincy bit of an obsession. your probably thinking...ummmmm, okay...didn't you just post something about her. and, the correct answer would be yes! i just can't help it people. i mean really, can you find a more attractive family? in hollywood, yeah probably so. the parents are extremely good looking and the baby boy...ohmy! love that hair! i could just eat him! guess, that's why i'm a little bit obessed. i'm not a religious viewer of the show Kendra! on E, but i'll watch it if i catch it on. for those of you, who may not watch the show...you may recognize Kendra Wilkinson as a former Playboy bunny! {i've always had a desire to dress up like the old fashion Playboy bunnies...ya know, with ears and all. don't ask why.} lol. prior to becoming one of Hugh Hefner's girlfriends, Kendra worked as a dental assistant. gee, talk about a career change! and, her handsome hubby is Minnesota Vikings wide recevier Hank Baskett. just look at them and tell me they aren't some cuties...

 [who's your momma?]

 [only in hollywood do mommy's look

this good soon after having a baby]

 [you can tell who's the boss]



[they got the newly wed glow]

thinking about families and marriage brings me to...now to some the american dream is to hurry and marry, raise a family, and make a house a home. i'm all for that, but when the time is right. there's no need to rush. i just feel our society has become so fixed on labels that some people feel forced into making lifetime decisions so fast. a lot of people, i went to high school with, went to college, got into a relationship and shortly after got hitched. i'm not one to judge, but this comes up when people ask when's my turn. my reply is...when God and i both feel the time is right. i want a relationship thats built on the foundation of God...i want to be able to truly apperciate the good and the bad. through experience, i feel the struggles we go through make us stronger. if two people can struggle together and make it through the storm, then they can make it through anything. nothing's pefect, this i know. don't get me wrong just because i'm not in any rush to do all of the above doesn't mean i'm scared of committment or a playa of some sort. i've experienced a good solid relationship that almost felt like a marriage...coming home to someone is an amazing feeling, waking up to someone is even better, cooking for someone is enjoyable too and just being able to call someone your better half. the union of any type of relationship is a blessing and a beautiful thing. i applaud and congratulate those who have taken that step and look forward to experiencing the same things one day.

I found this on the internet and absolutely love the writing style. Bold text are my favs :)

http://www.holliesquotes.com/life/sammott.htm

*****************************************

Written by, Samantha Mott

I am a student. I have commitments in my classes that are very important ... commitments that I am paying a lot of money to keep. However, I know that sometimes it's more important to bring one of your best friends his favorite pudding at 3am than it is to continue studying. And I know that sometimes, Saturday night trips to the beach are much more needed than a Saturday night doing homework. And if a friend is in need, I will drop everything to be anything I can be to them. I will gladly give up a night of sleep or a few hours of studying because I know that these relationships that I'm forming will mean more to me in the long run than an "A" on a test will.



I love my family. I want to spend time with them. What's more than that ... I enjoy spending time with them. If you don't like it, too bad. Family values are important to me. Eating as a family is important to me. If anyone talks bad about my family, they'll get an earful. Because though they may annoy me sometimes, I will defend them to the death. Even if they're wrong ... if you badmouth them ... I'll defend them. That is something I can promise.


I like going on walks ... I like holding hands. I like going to the beach, no matter what time it is. I like looking at the stars and I love hiking. Camping is one of my favorite things to do -- especially in the summer. I love falling asleep in the arms of someone who loves me ... and I love waking up in his arms as well. I like being kissed on the forehead and having my back rubbed. I love massages no matter who they're from. If you give me one, I will melt. Guaranteed. I love taking pictures; I don't like when people complain that I take too many. I love laughing, I love being silly, I love when people aren't afraid to be silly sometimes. I love cartoons. I love scrapbooking -- no matter how geeky it is. I love to swim and play in the water and I love board games. I love to sing, even though I'm not very good at it. But if you ask me to sing for you, I probably won't. It has to be spontaneous. Music is important to me and I will not tolerate music that is degrading or crude in any way. I love snail mail ... I love cards. I love getting mail, but I like sending it even more. Writing is my passion -- get used to it. Even the simplest language is beautiful if phrased correctly. I don't like when people use "their" instead of "there" or "your" instead of "you're". Once in a while, a mistake is okay ... every time you use it is not.


I have strong opinions ... I will share them, but only when I feel so inclined. Generally speaking, I think before I speak -- especially in large groups. But once you get to know me, I am an open book. Don't be put off by my apparent shyness ... because shy is the last thing to describe me accurately. I love when people open doors for me and pull out my chair for me ... but I usually forget and try to do it myself. I want to be respected -- I want my feelings to be respected and my thoughts to be respected. More than anything else, I want my body to be respected. I know how to be sexy, I know how to be desirable. I choose not to be those things because I do not want what comes when one intentionally creates a sexy persona. I like being told that I'm beautiful ... I like being told I'm sexy -- because those are not things I strive to be ... but I want my boundaries respected.


I'm not always as confident as I seem ... there are many nights and many days when all I want is to be held. I love being held. Always. Sometimes I don't want to talk about what is bothering me ... sometimes I just want a hug ... someone who will let me cry. I like when boys cry in front of me -- when people aren't afraid to show what they're really feeling. I don't like when people run from their true feelings because it doesn't do anyone any good. I wear my heart on my sleeve, but I am not naive. I know what it feels like to be completely broken and I am all too familiar with what it means to be hurt. "I know what it's like to see something funny and not laugh." I've been taken advantage of, used, and abused. My feelings have been blatantly disregarded. But I still believe that all people are good at heart ... and my trust in people has not diminished. To be completely honest, I hope it never does. Ever.


I like playing Nintendo. I like playing with my website. I'm not useless in terms of computers, I know more about them than the location of the "on" button. If I don't know, chance are, I will try and fix it/find it myself ... and then ask for help or I will choose to find another way to do what I'm trying to. However, I know nothing about cars and will always ask for help if I am unsure. However, if it's something I can do ... like checking the oil ... I probably won't let you do it.


I'm not afraid to get dirty ... I enjoy being sweaty because I was working out. It's a good feeling. I don't like to run, I'd rather walk. But I love playing all kinds of sports, no matter how unskilled I am. My nails are not my top priority -- they never will be. I might paint them ... but once I do, the polish will stay on until it wears off, no matter how chipped it is.


I love long showers and the feeling of my teeth after they have been brushed. I do not like the dentist or the doctor ... I'll probably gripe about going to both of them, no matter how necessary it might be. Needles are a phobia -- so are spiders and bugs of any kind. Buzzing is my least favorite sound and it can easily drive me insane. If there is a bee in the room, don't expect me to pay attention to anything else.


I like food, even if it's not good for me. I like Shakespeare, even though I don't understand him. I love to learn -- I ask a lot of questions. Even if you honestly don't know, I will probably continue to ask until you give me an answer. I'm very gullible -- please don't abuse that fact. I like things that make you think, things that make you reexamine your beliefs. I'm not comfortable talking openly about sex.


I do not like being told things just to make me happy. I would rather be told the truth and be hurt than be "protected" and happy. I overreact sometimes. Don't be afraid to tell me I'm wrong or out of line. I like people who are strong enough to face me when I'm raging ... people who will let me angry for a little while ... people who won't think less of me for my somewhat sporadic mood swings. When I'm hurt, I withdraw. I threaten to run away from the situation that is causing me pain. All I want is to be told honestly that I'm loved ... that I should stay ... sometimes I need to hear it multiple times. But if you'll be a little persistent, I'll give in. If I really love you, I might start picking fights over stupid things ... for no reason. It means I'm bored. That things have gotten monotonous. I love just going with the flow ... I don't always want things planned out. I'm indecisive -- there are too many things I would really like to do ... and I'm afraid you won't like what I choose.


I am afraid of being lonely ... of having my heart broken ... of not being appreciated or wanted. Of people not knowing how much they mean to me. I'm afraid of drowning, of choking and of not understanding. I'm not afraid to be myself or of interacting with people who are different than me. I'm not afraid to admit that I'm wrong, but I will rarely admit it publicly.


My friends are the most important people in the world to me. My friends are mostly guys. That does not make me a "whore" or a "slut" or anything of the sort. To be a whore, I'd have to be sleeping with them. PS, I'm not. Get over it. I love my guy friends -- I enjoy hanging out with them much more than I do with most girls. That's just how I am, it's how I've always been ... I will probably always be this way. I will not date one of my guy friends if they have previously dated one of my girl friends. I respect those boundaries far too much to destroy a friendship for a relationship that might not last. My best friend in the entire world ... above anyone else ... is Annie. Regardless.


I like hot popcorn and brand new sharpies. I love paper and journals. I'm a huge packrat. Boy Meets World is my favorite show ... Friends is #2. I love the smell of new books and new houses ... I don't like the smell of new cars or air fresheners. I love bread and soft serve ice cream. I love sweatpants ... I love having my hair in a messy bun. I love being comfortable and I love being told that I'm beautiful, even if I'm in sweats and my hair is a mess. I am just as comfortable in a skirt as I am in sweats. I don't wear make up ... but when I do, I don't like it to be a big deal. I love to work, it makes me feel productive and useful. It keeps me from being idle. I hate feeling useless. I love staying up late and I love sleeping though I will never sleep enough. Coloring is fun ... drawing is not. My dog is better than your dog -- I don't care if he's small.


I love kids. I want 5 ... at least. I know it's a lot of work, you don't have to tell me. My two favorite animals are turkeys and penguins. My favorite color is anything in the rainbow. I don't like math ... I don't understand science. I love reading for hours on end ... especially outside on a sunny day. I love the sun ... I love being warm. However, I love playing in the rain and sitting outside when it's stormy. I like making snowmen and snow angels ... and I like the handprints in the middle when I get up.


I support and appreciate people who can argue their point in an educated manner, who have a logical reason for things -- even if I don't agree. I don't like when people can't support themselves ... I don't like laziness. I'm trying to learn how to disagree without being disagreeable and I admire people who know how. I also admire people who can hula. I like mismatched decorations and sappy letters. I love to cuddle. I love being close. I love having friends and I love laughing with my friends -- especially during class. I love praying ... I love studying my scriptures. I'd rather be cold than hot and I would rather eat chicken than beef. I don't like pork chops. I love bacon and deviled eggs. Christmas and Valentine's Day are my two favorite holidays. I love birthdays and Christmas because they bring people together. I admire integrity and honesty -- I love when people aren't "too tough" to forgive. I love best friends and old friends ... and I love when new friends become old friends.


I don't like alcohol ... or cigarettes ... or drugs. I don't like what they do to people. I will not date someone who uses them. Period the end.


Florescent lights always make people look weird and I don't understand why stores always put them in dressing rooms. I love pinstripe pants. There are a lot of clothes I am too self conscious to wear ... a lot of clothes I don't think I can pull off. But sometimes I'll try. I love good smelling lotions and shampoos ... especially the Victoria's Secret line. I love when guys wear cologne ... I love even more when they only wear it sometimes. I love wearing a guy's sweatshirt when it smells like him. But only when that smell is good. I love when guys are ticklish ... and I love laughing so hard I cry. I love straight teeth. I don't like the taste of coffee ... the fact that I don't drink it has nothing to do with me being Mormon. There are certain four letter words that the world would be better off without and I don't swear because I choose not to, not because I'm Mormon. I will always think I should lose some weight -- I will probably never admit it. I'm not unhappy with the way I look, but I don't always think I'm pretty. If you tell me I look good and I diagree, I'll probably tell you ... but I'm not fishing for compliments. I'm not asking you to roll your eyes and think that I'm doing it because "it's a girl thing." I'm telling you because there are certain days and moments when I really don't feel pretty. Those are the days I change my clothes six times before deciding which shirt I want to wear. Chances are, I won't tell you I took half an hour deciding which shirt to wear ... but chances are, you'll know.


I believe in love. Real, true, amazing, passionate love. I believe in my self ... I believe in other people. I will never give up on the people I really care about, even if they break my heart a thousand times. I believe in God and I know He will never give up on me ... even if I break His heart a thousand times.


I could fill a book with my thoughts ... and someday I will. I want to be published, I want to be known. I love the city ... but I want to go home to my family in the suburbs and be happy. I want to be a soccer mom. I want to be a teacher, yes, and I will be. But I want to be a wife, a mother, and a friend first. I want to help others ... starting with my family. I want to love others ... starting with myself.


I love blankets -- even in the summer. I love fans ... even in the winter. Fresh air and natural light cure just about anything. I am a firm believer that everything happens for a purpose ... that it is up to us to discover that purpose ... and that more often than not, we won't understand ... even if we find an answer. Regardless, I believe that everything works out for the best. Always.


In the words of Langston Hughes --
"I like to eat, sleep, drink, and be in love.
I like to work, read, learn, and understand life.
I don't like words I can't understand ... especially when they're used in everyday conversation. I think clichés are amusing and though I feel weird using them to justify things, I do anyway. But only sometimes.


I like not wearing shoes, but I think my feet are ugly. I wear flip flops in the winter, even when it's raining. I like making sandcastles and playing in the ocean. I'm bad at foreign languages, I don't understand Marxism. I can't dance, but I love to do it. Love songs are amazing, period the end. Herman Melville is an awful writer and I don't understand how he became so popular. I love Christian music ... and I adore the hymns of the church. The best putdown I have ever received came from my manager when telling me why I wouldn't like the movie Office Space. He said, "You're too upbeat -- that's why you don't like it." By the way, I didn't like the movie Office Space. :)


I'm allergic to everything that is outside in the springtime, but I will never refuse an opportunity to go outside.


I like people who can make me laugh ... I love making people laugh. I don't blush easily, but if I do, it means something. I like people who make me think about things ... people who willingly put up with my absentmindedness and like it. Common sense has never been one of my strong points. I'm not afraid to laugh at myself ... nor am I afraid to laugh at other people. I have a hard time letting go and when I love, I love deeply. I'm sincere and genuine ... and I like people who are sincere and genuine. People who respect themselves, boys who love their moms. I want to be adored ... and when I date a guy, I want him to be absolutely stoked about me. And I want it to be okay that I'm stoked about him. I don't want to be told that I'm loved ... I want to be shown. If a guy tries to pay for me, I'll pretend to be objective ... and I'll never expect it ... but I'll always appreciate it. If you give me the chills ... if I let you kiss me ... it always means something. I will never admit that I'm interested in you unless I know you are interested in me. If you hurt me, I'm going to talk to my friends about it ... I'm a relational person, that's what I do. If I'm angry, I will always tell'm not afraid to laugh at  If I'm angry, I will always tell you about it. I will try to work things out and if I have my way, we will work things about before going to bed. I believe strongly in the scripture in Ephesians that advises not to let the sun go down on your anger.


I love giving flowers to boys and I'd rather pick a flower from my front yard and give it to you than buy expensive flowers. I'd rather have a homemade picnic in the park than go to a fancy restaurant. I'm not good at being fancy. I like homemade cookies and handcrafted gifts. I'd rather give you something sentimental than something practical ... but I'm not against practicality. If I'm shopping and something silly catches my eye and makes me think of you, chances are ... you'll be receiving it shortly thereafter. Silly gifts make life enjoyable. :)


Inside jokes are amazing ... remember whens are mind blowing. Getting together with three of your best guy friends from high school and looking at middle school yearbooks -- a year and a half after graduation -- is one of the most amusing things in the world. I love applesauce and apple juice. I don't like eating apples whole. I don't like paying for parking ... and I would rather park farther away if it's free. If something is broken, I'll probably leave it broken until I need it next. My room is usually messy because I usually don't have time to clean it. But eventually I will clean it ... and the next day, it will probably be messy again. It happens. I would rather carry out the plans than create the plans. I love beginnings, but I know that endings have to come before beginnings can happen. Some of the most beautiful things in my life have ended ... but endings bring about strength and teach lessons that could never have been learned otherwise. And I can definitely appreciate that.

love you and love life.

It’s truly amazing how things, people, life, etc. change… but do we really change? Or do we just grow? I believe experiences and life lessons provide us with that extra push to grow and reach our full potential. Sometimes circumstances or situations happen and leave you to pick up the pieces, one by one. Most of us get defeated when things don’t work out the way we wanted – these negative feelings make you feel like a failure. Guess what? Just because things didn’t happen exactly how you envisioned doesn’t make you a failure or a bad person. It just means the next time you know, to do things a little different. You take the knowledge from past experiences and make a conscious effort not to repeat the same mistakes.

I’ve learned you can take any negative situation and turn it into a positive one. It’s all in your thoughts and feelings. If you think/feel things will never change…guess what? Things will never change. It all starts with you! Think positive! Growing up is apart of life and it’s a refreshing, yet a scary feeling at the same time. Along with growing up sometimes we feel the need to remove certain things or people out of our life. Why? Before you think about throwing something out of your life, try looking at it from a different angle…maybe, just maybe it has a little more value than you’ve considered. God gives us as many chances as we want. Why not take them? There free. And who doesn’t like free???

Everyday is a new day to start fresh…its up to you to make it happen! I am so thankful for a new outlook and renewed faith in my abilities and myself. It would be easy for me to dwell on the negative, but I choose not to. I choose to start my day thanking the man up stairs for another day of life and vow to have a wonderful day. I have so much to be thankful for and I am truly blessed. And, so are all of you! Life is all about growing, loving yourself and others, and just enjoying you. The sky is the limit! Push yourself to achieve all of your desires. It can happen, you just gotta believe and have faith. Stop planning and just embrace life with both arms. Live everyday and just be happy! Yes, its that simple! I am so happy and cannot wait to start a new year in just a few short weeks. I’m getting on a train filled with hope, faith, love and happiness… and I’m taking everyone with me. 2011 is going to be wonderful and exciting new year!

Happy hump day!

What your eyes do not see in the physical, you mind must see in the mental. The less your eyes can see the more your mind must envision. The Law of Attraction requires nothing of the physical eyes. Seeing through the soul, seeing with the mind, & seeing clearly in detail what you desire is, that's The Secret to true vision.

theres always a little...

happy happy tuesday!!!