"If God had wanted me otherwise, He would have created me otherwise. So be yourself, and never lose who you are in the bustle of everyday living." - anonymous
I saw this quote on someone's Facebook status the other day, and I liked it. I've been wanting to blog about this subject for a while, but knew it would take some thought to have the words come out right, so I saved it for a day when I had plenty of time.
The other week when I was off work, I watched Oprah one day and Jessica Simpson was her guest. She was on there discussing how the media places entirely too much emphasis on physical and outward beauty. In particular, she was talking about how the tabloids totally ridiculed her by saying she was "fat" and was said to have worn "mom jeans." You know the pictures I'm talking about...high-waisted jeans with a black tank top and some leopard print belt. They flashed up some pictures of when she was Daisy on Dukes of Hazard and how small she was, but she admitted that she worked out like crazy to keep that body and it wasn't easy or natural for her to be that small. She said "I don't want to look like that everyday. I don't have to wear a bathing suit all the time; I love my curves!" She said that she fluctuates between a size 4 and 6 and that she embraces who she is wholeheartedly. She was also on there to promote a new show she has coming out on VH1 about what people around the world define as "beautiful." I was absolutely shocked to learn about a practice in China where both women AND men will pay money to have their legs sawed in half then have an external fixation device placed on for stability with the hopes of growing a few inches. There's no guarantee for the number of inches, and the recovery process is at least a year long. They showed x-rays of people who had this procedure performed, and there was a huge gaping space in between the bones where they hoped new bone growth would occur and in turn, allow them to be taller. They said that height is a status symbol in their country, and there are often height requirements for certain jobs and even for some college admissions!!! They interviewed this one girl who was interested in having the procedure and she was 5'3" saying that she was hoping for better chances and a better future. (I was sitting there thinking to myself...that's how tall I am!) They even have an extremely common procedure that is performed hundreds of times a day in outpatient clinics that will give them a more "western" look by giving them more of an eyelid. They talked to a few women who had participated in this procedure and they kept emphasizing how they wanted to look more like "Americans."
That's the saddest part of all of this to me. If they were to actually come to America and see the variety of beautiful people, they would quickly realize that not everyone over here looks like the supermodels or actors/actresses that are constantly highlighted in the media as true images of "beauty." And in fact, I bet they would discover more than a few women and men who are dissatisfied about their own appearance, wishing that they too, could look like someone else. Even famous people are having surgeries and procedures performed so that they (who the media already deems as beautiful) can be even MORE beautiful. Just think about Heidi Montag from "The Hills" who recently admitted that she had 10+ plastic surgeries in ONE DAY so that she would "better fit in with the industry she is pursuing." SERIOUSLY??? A little over the top?? I think so.
I will be the first to admit that I have insecurities about the way I look. There are days where I wake up and wish that something about my body/appearance could be different. Ever since we were little, the media has blasted us from all directions of what is "beautiful." Just think about those absolutely out-of-proportion Barbie dolls we all played with! So inevitably, from the time we were small children, we all get suckered into this unrealistic stereotype of "true beauty." When I take a step back and think about how this is just a vicious cycle, it makes me sad. We are all different. No two people are created exactly the same, and I think that is what makes us all beautiful. Sure you may wish you were a little taller, tanned easier, had a different color hair, different color eyes, etc, etc. BUT WHAT IF??? What if you woke up every day and instead of wishing to be more like someone else, you were instead thankful that you are you. Simple, right? Not really, and I know the reality of the situation runs so deep in so many people's daily life. This isn't an issue that began yesterday, and there is no "quick fix." I just hope that the next time I start thinking "I wish I looked like..." that I stop and remind myself that "If God would have wanted me otherwise, He would have created me otherwise." And maybe if more people were able to adopt that simple thought and own it as their own, it would spread like wildfire to those other countries who place us on a pedestal to define "beauty." Then, we could all stop focusing so much on outer appearances and instead truly get to know one another.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Life by the Numbers
1) We went to the Clemson/USC baseball game last Saturday with friends...Clemson lost...booooo
2) We did yard work ALL DAY (literally...10-6) on Sunday...it's AMAZING what a little effort can accomplish
3) I started my new job on Monday...so far so good :)
4) Tomorrow is my FRIDAY :) I am definitely an advocate for 3-day weekends every weekend!
5) I have gone to sleep every night this week between 9-9:30
6) Nolan finished our taxes! WOO HOO refund!
7) I'm almost finished with a book that I started 2 months ago
8) I'm in the process of catching up with friends I haven't talked to in MONTHS!
9) My life is richly blessed beyond measure...I am so thankful! God is SO good!
10) A more detailed blog will be posted later this week/end
2) We did yard work ALL DAY (literally...10-6) on Sunday...it's AMAZING what a little effort can accomplish
3) I started my new job on Monday...so far so good :)
4) Tomorrow is my FRIDAY :) I am definitely an advocate for 3-day weekends every weekend!
5) I have gone to sleep every night this week between 9-9:30
6) Nolan finished our taxes! WOO HOO refund!
7) I'm almost finished with a book that I started 2 months ago
8) I'm in the process of catching up with friends I haven't talked to in MONTHS!
9) My life is richly blessed beyond measure...I am so thankful! God is SO good!
10) A more detailed blog will be posted later this week/end
Friday, March 5, 2010
Power of Human Touch
Yesterday I was able to spoil myself with a one-and-a-half hour massage. It was heavenly. I had a gift card from Christmas and they had this introductory special going on for first-timers who had never been to their place before, so I was able to afford this little luxury for only $7. Simply AMAZING. She found lots of trigger points, especially in my neck and shoulder area because of 1) my horrible posture and 2) picking up kids at work. She also informed me that I would benefit from some glut work, and I really wanted to ask her if she was implying I was a tight-a**?? :) I simply smiled and said "maybe next time!" When we got our massages in St. Lucia that lady went right to town on my butt...she didn't even bother asking! Once I got over the shock factor, it felt really great. The hour and half flew by and really felt more like 20 minutes. Guess I'll just have to go back ;)
So usually I'm not a big talker when I'm getting a massage, but yesterday I was in quite a chatty little mood. I think it has to do with the fact that I've been spending a good majority of my week alone, so all human interaction has been eagerly welcomed! Anyways, while I was there, we started talking about massage school, their requirements, how long she'd been doing it, etc. I told her I worked with kids and asked if they did massages on kids, which led to her telling me that she has 2 kids and they are always asking her for a massage. I then proceeded to tell her that my mom used to tickle/rub my back EVERY. SINGLE. NIGHT. before I went to bed. I'm not just talking about when I was little...this carried on all the way into the high school years and even throughout college when I would come home for the weekend. I'm not even ashamed to admit that even to this present day when I go home for the weekend and we stay with my parents there is a 99% chance that I am going to ask my mom to scratch my back. Heck, my roommate in PT school and I used to swap "back rubs." It makes you relax and forget about the rush of the outside world. And mostly, it just feels good. We started discussing how we feel that the world, generally speaking, has lost "touch" (literally) with one another. She said that she sees so many clients that she feels are "bitter" towards the world and others that they have almost an aversive reaction to the wonderfulness that is human touch. I think that everything is so fast paced these days that we often times forget the power behind a gentle hand. We don't hug the ones we love as much as we should. When Nolan asks me for a back rub, I reply "maybe later" and then "later" becomes "never." I know that we all can't just rush out and get a massage whenever we want, but I'm definitely going to make a conscious effort on my part to "love" on others more and reconnect with those around me.
So the spoilage just carried itself on throughout the rest of my Thursday. I've mentioned in previous blogs how I am so lucky to attend fun concerts because Emily has the hook up through her job. Last night was no exception, and we saw none other than Mr. Brad Paisley in concert. He was fabulous. I might be a little biased because I love his music and feel like he's one of few musicians who has maintained touch with reality despite his fame. We actually witnessed how awesome he is last night at the end of the concert. He was finishing up his last song and he took off his signature white cowboy hat and placed it on the head of a little boy who looked to be no more than 7 or 8 years old. After the show, one of Mr. Paisley's crew members took the little boy and his family aside, took the hat and told them to wait. He returned a few moments later with a look-alike hat that was autographed. You know that little boy was STOKED and will be telling that story for the rest of his life. Simply AWESOME.
So that was my Thursday. Today I tried out my new running shoes that I got last weekend. I haven't run outside in I don't know how long. When I lived with Emily, we used to get up at 5:45 in the morning and go run before work. It was always nice to have it out of the way for the day. After we ran the 5k last September, that whole little plan kinda just fizzled out. I've been saying that "I need to get back into running" for a while now. With spring coming up there are lots of little local races for good causes that I would like to participate in. I'm definitely not claiming to be a good runner. And I'm definitely not fast. But dare I say I "enjoy" running?? I don't know that I've ever reached that "runner's high" that people always talk about, but it makes me feel good afterward and that's what's important. I'm sure that I'll feel it tomorrow :)
How AMAZING has the weather we've been having here lately - I'm so excited that it's supposed to hang around through the weekend! ENJOY!
So usually I'm not a big talker when I'm getting a massage, but yesterday I was in quite a chatty little mood. I think it has to do with the fact that I've been spending a good majority of my week alone, so all human interaction has been eagerly welcomed! Anyways, while I was there, we started talking about massage school, their requirements, how long she'd been doing it, etc. I told her I worked with kids and asked if they did massages on kids, which led to her telling me that she has 2 kids and they are always asking her for a massage. I then proceeded to tell her that my mom used to tickle/rub my back EVERY. SINGLE. NIGHT. before I went to bed. I'm not just talking about when I was little...this carried on all the way into the high school years and even throughout college when I would come home for the weekend. I'm not even ashamed to admit that even to this present day when I go home for the weekend and we stay with my parents there is a 99% chance that I am going to ask my mom to scratch my back. Heck, my roommate in PT school and I used to swap "back rubs." It makes you relax and forget about the rush of the outside world. And mostly, it just feels good. We started discussing how we feel that the world, generally speaking, has lost "touch" (literally) with one another. She said that she sees so many clients that she feels are "bitter" towards the world and others that they have almost an aversive reaction to the wonderfulness that is human touch. I think that everything is so fast paced these days that we often times forget the power behind a gentle hand. We don't hug the ones we love as much as we should. When Nolan asks me for a back rub, I reply "maybe later" and then "later" becomes "never." I know that we all can't just rush out and get a massage whenever we want, but I'm definitely going to make a conscious effort on my part to "love" on others more and reconnect with those around me.
So the spoilage just carried itself on throughout the rest of my Thursday. I've mentioned in previous blogs how I am so lucky to attend fun concerts because Emily has the hook up through her job. Last night was no exception, and we saw none other than Mr. Brad Paisley in concert. He was fabulous. I might be a little biased because I love his music and feel like he's one of few musicians who has maintained touch with reality despite his fame. We actually witnessed how awesome he is last night at the end of the concert. He was finishing up his last song and he took off his signature white cowboy hat and placed it on the head of a little boy who looked to be no more than 7 or 8 years old. After the show, one of Mr. Paisley's crew members took the little boy and his family aside, took the hat and told them to wait. He returned a few moments later with a look-alike hat that was autographed. You know that little boy was STOKED and will be telling that story for the rest of his life. Simply AWESOME.
So that was my Thursday. Today I tried out my new running shoes that I got last weekend. I haven't run outside in I don't know how long. When I lived with Emily, we used to get up at 5:45 in the morning and go run before work. It was always nice to have it out of the way for the day. After we ran the 5k last September, that whole little plan kinda just fizzled out. I've been saying that "I need to get back into running" for a while now. With spring coming up there are lots of little local races for good causes that I would like to participate in. I'm definitely not claiming to be a good runner. And I'm definitely not fast. But dare I say I "enjoy" running?? I don't know that I've ever reached that "runner's high" that people always talk about, but it makes me feel good afterward and that's what's important. I'm sure that I'll feel it tomorrow :)
How AMAZING has the weather we've been having here lately - I'm so excited that it's supposed to hang around through the weekend! ENJOY!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Wednesday adventures
Today was yet another interesting day in my life as a SAHW.
I got up this morning and gave my blog a "face lift." I'm all about some bright and spring-y colors!
I went to the hospital for them to "read" my PPD test. I wish I could have just called in and told them "No, there's no raised surface, I think I'm in the clear. No TB here." But instead, I drove the 20ish minutes to have the lady rub her finger over my arm and say "You just have a little bruise, you must be delicate." I know she meant that my skin was delicate, and not me as a person, but her comment definitely made me chuckle. She also handed me the results of my blood test...nothing really exciting except that I have high cholesterol. This isn't new news, and I can blame it on 1) my lack of exercise and 2) genetics. Since one of those two factors is modifiable, I guess I should get on it!
After that I went to WalMart. This is my second trip in one week. I'm trying to festively decorate our house for spring (in hopes of willing warmer weather to hang around) and was on the hunt for fake lemons and limes to put as a centerpiece on the breakfast table. I got some cute little place mats during my first WalMart adventure this week, and found the lemons, but no limes. WalMart #2 and still no limes. Bummer. I'm going to have to have a little talk with that Sam Walton. I kept the lemons and after putting them in the bowl, decided that they make the yellow in the place mats "pop" a bit. I like it - very bright and cheerful.
Nolan took today off so we could spend some time together, and we spent a few hours working outside. I'm good when the sun is out and shining on my back, but when the clouds roll in and the wind picks up, my butt gets inside - I was good for about an hour and a half! We actually rented a 14-foot long yard waste bin from our garbage company to dump, well, yard wastes. Nolan has spent a lot of time pruning bushes here lately trying to get our yard into some sort of order, and this option was much more convenient than us having to load up and haul truck loads of stuff to the landfill. It's a flat fee for us to keep it for 7 business days and whenever we're ready for them to pick up the bin, we just give them a call. Nice. We cleaned out a weed garden today and plan to make that our "bird habitat" so we can watch the birds like old people. Actually we are just going to put mulch down where the weed bed was for something that's a little less high maintenance. (And have a birdbath, bird feeder, and suet feeder!) The people who first owned our house obviously had a grand vision about what they wanted the yard to look like, but we just can't seem to see that same vision. I'm pretty sure they would be quite upset if they saw our "handiwork," considering the amount of money they spent on landscaping. EEK!
Today was pretty low key, and enjoyable. I've got a "big day" tomorrow...I'll have to blog about that later! Happy Hump Day, Y'all!
I got up this morning and gave my blog a "face lift." I'm all about some bright and spring-y colors!
I went to the hospital for them to "read" my PPD test. I wish I could have just called in and told them "No, there's no raised surface, I think I'm in the clear. No TB here." But instead, I drove the 20ish minutes to have the lady rub her finger over my arm and say "You just have a little bruise, you must be delicate." I know she meant that my skin was delicate, and not me as a person, but her comment definitely made me chuckle. She also handed me the results of my blood test...nothing really exciting except that I have high cholesterol. This isn't new news, and I can blame it on 1) my lack of exercise and 2) genetics. Since one of those two factors is modifiable, I guess I should get on it!
After that I went to WalMart. This is my second trip in one week. I'm trying to festively decorate our house for spring (in hopes of willing warmer weather to hang around) and was on the hunt for fake lemons and limes to put as a centerpiece on the breakfast table. I got some cute little place mats during my first WalMart adventure this week, and found the lemons, but no limes. WalMart #2 and still no limes. Bummer. I'm going to have to have a little talk with that Sam Walton. I kept the lemons and after putting them in the bowl, decided that they make the yellow in the place mats "pop" a bit. I like it - very bright and cheerful.
Nolan took today off so we could spend some time together, and we spent a few hours working outside. I'm good when the sun is out and shining on my back, but when the clouds roll in and the wind picks up, my butt gets inside - I was good for about an hour and a half! We actually rented a 14-foot long yard waste bin from our garbage company to dump, well, yard wastes. Nolan has spent a lot of time pruning bushes here lately trying to get our yard into some sort of order, and this option was much more convenient than us having to load up and haul truck loads of stuff to the landfill. It's a flat fee for us to keep it for 7 business days and whenever we're ready for them to pick up the bin, we just give them a call. Nice. We cleaned out a weed garden today and plan to make that our "bird habitat" so we can watch the birds like old people. Actually we are just going to put mulch down where the weed bed was for something that's a little less high maintenance. (And have a birdbath, bird feeder, and suet feeder!) The people who first owned our house obviously had a grand vision about what they wanted the yard to look like, but we just can't seem to see that same vision. I'm pretty sure they would be quite upset if they saw our "handiwork," considering the amount of money they spent on landscaping. EEK!
Today was pretty low key, and enjoyable. I've got a "big day" tomorrow...I'll have to blog about that later! Happy Hump Day, Y'all!
FREE Return Address Labels...you pay shipping
http://www.fiddledeedeemom.com/2010/02/140-free-address-labels-when-you-pay.html (cut and paste, because I still haven't figured out how to link...it's on my list of things to do today!)
I ran across this blog this morning, and while I haven't had time to thoroughly check it out...she really seems like my kind of woman! I've bookmarked her as a "favorite" so I can go back when I have time and read up on more great deals! I ordered two sets of return address labels (one that was more generic for Nolan and I and then a girly one just for me!) and checked the box for "slow" shipping which means they'll be here in approximately 21 days, but I'm not in dire need of these and that was the cheapest shipping option. I figured out it's in your best benefit to order more than one because the shipping doesn't go up, so you're getting more bang for your buck! There are some SUPER cute designs, too! So all in all, I'm going to be getting 280 return address labels for less than $4.00! I truly LOVE a good deal!!
I ran across this blog this morning, and while I haven't had time to thoroughly check it out...she really seems like my kind of woman! I've bookmarked her as a "favorite" so I can go back when I have time and read up on more great deals! I ordered two sets of return address labels (one that was more generic for Nolan and I and then a girly one just for me!) and checked the box for "slow" shipping which means they'll be here in approximately 21 days, but I'm not in dire need of these and that was the cheapest shipping option. I figured out it's in your best benefit to order more than one because the shipping doesn't go up, so you're getting more bang for your buck! There are some SUPER cute designs, too! So all in all, I'm going to be getting 280 return address labels for less than $4.00! I truly LOVE a good deal!!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
SAHW...and other news
I am a "stay-at-home-wife" for the week. This is actually my transition week before I start my new job on Monday. I've already decided that I don't think I should be a stay-at-home-wife. Maybe a stay-at-home-mom while our kids are young, but it's definitely not a good idea for me to be doing this now. You see, I have a habit called shopping that requires monetary support for sustainability. When I have time off, I find myself spending money, and shopping. A LOT. I'm still bargain shopping, no doubt, but it actually makes me feel a little bit guilty to not be supplementing our income while spending Nolan's! (I always try to justify it to myself by buying him a "treat" or two!) When I work, I don't have time/energy to go shopping throughout the week, and therefore we save money. I know that being a SAHW works for some people, just not this girl!
I digress. So, as you can imagine, I have an entire list of things I want/need to accomplish this week (besides shopping!). This week will definitely see more action in two areas of my life: blogging and the gym. I hate to admit it about that last area, but after you read the following conversation I had yesterday, you'll better understand.
Phone rings.
Me: "Hello?"
Man: "Hey Ashley, this is Mike over at Pivotal Fitness (the gym I'm a member at). How are you?"
Me: "I'm doing great, thanks."
Mike: "Hey listen. I was just going through our records and noticed that you haven't been in here in about 19 days and I just wanted to make sure that everything was going alright."
Me, chuckling: "Oh yeah, I'm fine. I plan on coming in there tomorrow."
Mike: "Alright, Ashley. Tomorrow sounds great. We look forward to seeing you tomorrow."
Me: "Ok. Thanks. See you then."
How. Embarassing. And today it's supposed to snow. Yet another day I may not make it to the gym. Hopefully he won't call today, too! The really crappy thing is that when I start my new job, it will be practically impossible for me to go to the gym Monday-Thursday because of the hours I'll be working. Not to mention that the gym is a good 25 minutes from our house. You see, when I joined, I was working closer and was able to stop by there on my way home...or at least that's what I told myself I would do. But obviously that hasn't happened in the last 19 days! Now if I want to go to the gym, I would have to drive PAST our house to get there, and I know myself well enough to know that just isn't going to happen. I'm going to have to think of an alternative...and soon!!
***DISCLAIMER*** Some people may feel that the following story is inappropriate to blog, but it was quite humorous, I thought.
In other fun, or I guess I should say FUNNY news, I went yesterday to have my health screening/drug test at the hospital. They take the use of drugs very seriously there, and this is how I know. In the paperwork they sent me a few weeks ago, they discussed the drug screening process. You have to do the normal pee in a cup. Ok, so you're thinking, no big deal, right? SUPERVISED! And I'm not talking you're in the stall and they're waiting outside...the nurse actually came INTO the bathroom with me! I already have problems performing this task when I am ALONE in the bathroom at the doctor's office, so you can only imagine the stage fright that I had yesterday. I had tried to prepare myself for this, knowing that I couldn't leave until they got what they wanted. I drank a glass of water at home yesterday before leaving the house. I drank an entire bottle of water on the way there. I drank a cup of water after a failed attempt #1. And then another cup. Attempt #2...and...nothing. Cup 3 of water. By this point, I feel like my eyeballs are beginning to float. Oh, come on! How about another? Still nothing. On my fifth and final cup of water, the nurse informs me that they aren't allowed to give me any more water and that I'll just have to let it flow through my body. This is getting ridiculous! Obviously I was finally able to make things happen (third times a charm, right?), and then wouldn't you know that I had to frequently visit the bathroom at least 4 times (no exaggeration!) within the following 30 minutes! The nurse was really patient with me (and my bladder!), and apparently this is a common occurrence. It made me feel a lot better when she couldn't get ANY blood out of her first stick and had to try the other arm for stick #2. Apparently, I was being a little retentive! HA! :)
Well I'm off to clean house. I didn't do it this past weekend because I knew I would have time to do it during the week, and as Nolan always says, "save some fun for later." I have other fun things to blog about though, so those of you faithful readers might just get lucky today with TWO posts. How could your Tuesday POSSIBLY get any better?? :)
I digress. So, as you can imagine, I have an entire list of things I want/need to accomplish this week (besides shopping!). This week will definitely see more action in two areas of my life: blogging and the gym. I hate to admit it about that last area, but after you read the following conversation I had yesterday, you'll better understand.
Phone rings.
Me: "Hello?"
Man: "Hey Ashley, this is Mike over at Pivotal Fitness (the gym I'm a member at). How are you?"
Me: "I'm doing great, thanks."
Mike: "Hey listen. I was just going through our records and noticed that you haven't been in here in about 19 days and I just wanted to make sure that everything was going alright."
Me, chuckling: "Oh yeah, I'm fine. I plan on coming in there tomorrow."
Mike: "Alright, Ashley. Tomorrow sounds great. We look forward to seeing you tomorrow."
Me: "Ok. Thanks. See you then."
How. Embarassing. And today it's supposed to snow. Yet another day I may not make it to the gym. Hopefully he won't call today, too! The really crappy thing is that when I start my new job, it will be practically impossible for me to go to the gym Monday-Thursday because of the hours I'll be working. Not to mention that the gym is a good 25 minutes from our house. You see, when I joined, I was working closer and was able to stop by there on my way home...or at least that's what I told myself I would do. But obviously that hasn't happened in the last 19 days! Now if I want to go to the gym, I would have to drive PAST our house to get there, and I know myself well enough to know that just isn't going to happen. I'm going to have to think of an alternative...and soon!!
***DISCLAIMER*** Some people may feel that the following story is inappropriate to blog, but it was quite humorous, I thought.
In other fun, or I guess I should say FUNNY news, I went yesterday to have my health screening/drug test at the hospital. They take the use of drugs very seriously there, and this is how I know. In the paperwork they sent me a few weeks ago, they discussed the drug screening process. You have to do the normal pee in a cup. Ok, so you're thinking, no big deal, right? SUPERVISED! And I'm not talking you're in the stall and they're waiting outside...the nurse actually came INTO the bathroom with me! I already have problems performing this task when I am ALONE in the bathroom at the doctor's office, so you can only imagine the stage fright that I had yesterday. I had tried to prepare myself for this, knowing that I couldn't leave until they got what they wanted. I drank a glass of water at home yesterday before leaving the house. I drank an entire bottle of water on the way there. I drank a cup of water after a failed attempt #1. And then another cup. Attempt #2...and...nothing. Cup 3 of water. By this point, I feel like my eyeballs are beginning to float. Oh, come on! How about another? Still nothing. On my fifth and final cup of water, the nurse informs me that they aren't allowed to give me any more water and that I'll just have to let it flow through my body. This is getting ridiculous! Obviously I was finally able to make things happen (third times a charm, right?), and then wouldn't you know that I had to frequently visit the bathroom at least 4 times (no exaggeration!) within the following 30 minutes! The nurse was really patient with me (and my bladder!), and apparently this is a common occurrence. It made me feel a lot better when she couldn't get ANY blood out of her first stick and had to try the other arm for stick #2. Apparently, I was being a little retentive! HA! :)
Well I'm off to clean house. I didn't do it this past weekend because I knew I would have time to do it during the week, and as Nolan always says, "save some fun for later." I have other fun things to blog about though, so those of you faithful readers might just get lucky today with TWO posts. How could your Tuesday POSSIBLY get any better?? :)
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
"Pottery Barn" Style on a "Target" Budget
I LOVE and ADORE the style of Pottery Barn. It's fresh, sophisticated yet simple, and most importantly, it's inviting. Whenever I look through one of those catalogs, I feel like the rooms on each page are whispering for me to "come on in and stay a while." Of course the masterminds behind the staging of those photo shoots know EXACTLY what they are doing and probably even went to school for a degree to do exactly that...create the desire in me to have my house look "that way." However, after locating the corresponding letter that matches that lovely ottoman, sofa, or whatever the piece may be, then glancing my eyes on over towards the column of prices...my mouth generally hits the floor and a thought similar to this runs through my head:
"$999??? That's RIDICULOUS! Oh! And look! That's the SALE price...it's originally $1299!"
I consider myself a bargain shopper, and nothing about that price screams out bargain to me! In fact, sometimes it makes my stomach hurt a little bit to think that someone would actually pay that price. Maybe it's because I can't afford such luxuries on a whim, but I really think it's more of me knowing that if a piece of furniture in my house cost that much it would be carefully protected by a glass case so people could enjoy it from afar! So my latest aspiration is to create in my house something similar to what I fall in love with on those magazine pages...the style of Pottery Barn, but on a budget more along the lines of Target.
For example: I recently decided to change out the bar stools in our kitchen.The old stools were left "for free" by the previous owner of the house when we bought it a little over a year ago. And don't get me wrong...those stools came in handy on more than one occasion. But because of the way the kitchen is shaped, and where our table sits, I realized that those stools were creating a small obstacle course to go between the kitchen and living room. They were a wee bit on the "tall" side and were just a little too bulky and cumbersome. Plus...they don't really fit the "feel" of our house. They were metal framed with round, cushioned swivel seats, and high metal backs. Sound comfortable, right?
So...I began looking for new bar stools. I wanted something simple and less bulky, yet still comfortable and user friendly. Of course, I initially went to the Pottery Barn website. And BAM! There they were, in all their glory, for the small price of... $100...each. BUMMER. I really, REALLY liked them. Now that I had a general idea of what I was looking for, I thought to myself "let the bargain shopping begin!" I started to look at other websites...Macys, JCPenny, Target, Overstock.com, WalMart, etc. A few of the sites didn't have anything even remotely close to what I wanted, but then at JCPenny I stumbled upon what I like to think of as quite a steal. I was able to get the ALMOST identical stools for the much more reasonable price...2 for $79. That's less than HALF of what it would have cost for them at Pottery Barn. I was super nervous that they would arrive and maybe not be great quality or I wouldn't like them as much in person as I did online (my #1 fear). So after a few days of thinking, measuring, checking and double checking the return policy, I ordered them, and patiently waited the two weeks for them to be delivered.
Two bar stools now sit neatly under the bar in my kitchen. You no longer have to plan an attack route to get around them. They are modern but timeless. They're even a little distressed on top already so now I won't freak out when the first "mark" is made on them. And I love them. I am so happy with this purchase. I get giddy thinking about the money I saved to opt out of the name brand and go with the look-alike. Because with that extra money I can now buy something else to mimic the Pottery Barn look...all while keeping it within a reasonable budget!
Copy and paste the following link to check them out! (I even got them cheaper than they are currently listed for!)
http://www2.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6.aspx?DeptID=57087&CatID=67246&GrpTyp=STY&ItemID=16e2e8b&attrtype=&attrvalue=&CMID=57087|67121&Fltr=&Srt=&QL=F&IND=3&cmVirtualCat=&CmCatId=57087|67121|67246
Here's to shopping, finding great deals, and decorating!!!
p.s. Anyone who knows how to put a link in a blog without having the entire address like I do...feel free to share! I'm still learning!
"$999??? That's RIDICULOUS! Oh! And look! That's the SALE price...it's originally $1299!"
I consider myself a bargain shopper, and nothing about that price screams out bargain to me! In fact, sometimes it makes my stomach hurt a little bit to think that someone would actually pay that price. Maybe it's because I can't afford such luxuries on a whim, but I really think it's more of me knowing that if a piece of furniture in my house cost that much it would be carefully protected by a glass case so people could enjoy it from afar! So my latest aspiration is to create in my house something similar to what I fall in love with on those magazine pages...the style of Pottery Barn, but on a budget more along the lines of Target.
For example: I recently decided to change out the bar stools in our kitchen.The old stools were left "for free" by the previous owner of the house when we bought it a little over a year ago. And don't get me wrong...those stools came in handy on more than one occasion. But because of the way the kitchen is shaped, and where our table sits, I realized that those stools were creating a small obstacle course to go between the kitchen and living room. They were a wee bit on the "tall" side and were just a little too bulky and cumbersome. Plus...they don't really fit the "feel" of our house. They were metal framed with round, cushioned swivel seats, and high metal backs. Sound comfortable, right?
So...I began looking for new bar stools. I wanted something simple and less bulky, yet still comfortable and user friendly. Of course, I initially went to the Pottery Barn website. And BAM! There they were, in all their glory, for the small price of... $100...each. BUMMER. I really, REALLY liked them. Now that I had a general idea of what I was looking for, I thought to myself "let the bargain shopping begin!" I started to look at other websites...Macys, JCPenny, Target, Overstock.com, WalMart, etc. A few of the sites didn't have anything even remotely close to what I wanted, but then at JCPenny I stumbled upon what I like to think of as quite a steal. I was able to get the ALMOST identical stools for the much more reasonable price...2 for $79. That's less than HALF of what it would have cost for them at Pottery Barn. I was super nervous that they would arrive and maybe not be great quality or I wouldn't like them as much in person as I did online (my #1 fear). So after a few days of thinking, measuring, checking and double checking the return policy, I ordered them, and patiently waited the two weeks for them to be delivered.
Two bar stools now sit neatly under the bar in my kitchen. You no longer have to plan an attack route to get around them. They are modern but timeless. They're even a little distressed on top already so now I won't freak out when the first "mark" is made on them. And I love them. I am so happy with this purchase. I get giddy thinking about the money I saved to opt out of the name brand and go with the look-alike. Because with that extra money I can now buy something else to mimic the Pottery Barn look...all while keeping it within a reasonable budget!
Copy and paste the following link to check them out! (I even got them cheaper than they are currently listed for!)
http://www2.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6.aspx?DeptID=57087&CatID=67246&GrpTyp=STY&ItemID=16e2e8b&attrtype=&attrvalue=&CMID=57087|67121&Fltr=&Srt=&QL=F&IND=3&cmVirtualCat=&CmCatId=57087|67121|67246
Here's to shopping, finding great deals, and decorating!!!
p.s. Anyone who knows how to put a link in a blog without having the entire address like I do...feel free to share! I'm still learning!
Monday, February 15, 2010
YUM!
We made these pork chops for dinner and they were FABULOUS...but more importantly, they were EASY and FAST!!
I got this recipe off Kraft.com which is a great place to look for new dinner ideas. Nolan and I felt like we were "stuck in a rut" with dinner and wanted to try some new things out to break up the monotony. If you become a member of the website and sign in, you can add recipes to your "shopping list," and the site will automatically make a list of what you need from the grocery store...sweet!
What you need:
4 boneless pork chops (about 1/2 inch thick)
3/4 cup of honey and brown sugar bbq sauce (they recommend this certain name brand, but I just bought the honey bbq sauce and added some brown sugar)
1 - 8 oz can of crushed pineapple
1/2 tsp. of ground cinammon
1/2 tsp. of dry mustard
Mix everything together (except the meat) and set half of the "sauce" aside for later. Grill the pork chops for about 5 minutes on each side over medium heat (or until no longer pink in the center), brushing each side with some of the sauce. Use the sauce that was set aside in the beginning and pour over the pork chops before serving. DELICIOUS!
We also chose to grill pineapple slices (from the can) on the grill to eat on the side...YUMMY!!! We paired this dinner up with some asparagus and left the table feeling satisfied but not overstuffed. It really only took about 15 minutes total...from taking the meat out of the package to putting the first bite in my mouth!
ENJOY!!
I got this recipe off Kraft.com which is a great place to look for new dinner ideas. Nolan and I felt like we were "stuck in a rut" with dinner and wanted to try some new things out to break up the monotony. If you become a member of the website and sign in, you can add recipes to your "shopping list," and the site will automatically make a list of what you need from the grocery store...sweet!
What you need:
4 boneless pork chops (about 1/2 inch thick)
3/4 cup of honey and brown sugar bbq sauce (they recommend this certain name brand, but I just bought the honey bbq sauce and added some brown sugar)
1 - 8 oz can of crushed pineapple
1/2 tsp. of ground cinammon
1/2 tsp. of dry mustard
Mix everything together (except the meat) and set half of the "sauce" aside for later. Grill the pork chops for about 5 minutes on each side over medium heat (or until no longer pink in the center), brushing each side with some of the sauce. Use the sauce that was set aside in the beginning and pour over the pork chops before serving. DELICIOUS!
We also chose to grill pineapple slices (from the can) on the grill to eat on the side...YUMMY!!! We paired this dinner up with some asparagus and left the table feeling satisfied but not overstuffed. It really only took about 15 minutes total...from taking the meat out of the package to putting the first bite in my mouth!
ENJOY!!
Sunday, February 14, 2010
L-O-V-E
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!
Although we've been together a few months short of EIGHT years, today marks the first Valentine's Day that Nolan and I have spent as a married couple. And I've realized that you know you are married on Valentine's Day when your agenda for the day looks like this:
1) Buying a newspaper to clip coupons
2) Get groceries - which means going to Sam's Club AND Ingles to get the best deals
3) Clean house
4) Laundry...6 loads of it...into the washer...into the dryer...into the washer...into the dryer...repeat, repeat, repeat!
5) Change the sheets
6) Work in the yard (Nolan)
We're sooooo romantic!! (I guess I should give him credit that he did buy me roses and some delicious cupcakes the other day!)
Needless to say, no matter what we are doing, as long as we're together, it's guaranteed to be a good time. I know that's totally cliche, but it really is true. When you marry your best friend, better half and true soul mate, every day is like Valentine's Day, just without the "title" and hyped-up commercialism. Awwwww....
So whatever you and yours truly have chosen to do to celebrate this day of LOVE I hope it is great!
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
rain, rain, go away...
Hello fellow bloggers! What is with the incessantly terrible weather??? I'm tired of rain (although I bought some really cute rain boots at Target the other day...), cold temperatures, and "wintery mixes." I seriously think that I have a mild case of self-diagnosed S.A.D (seasonal affective disorder). All I want to do is stay under my warm heated blanket all day long because I have negative amounts of motivation! Oh Spring, how I long for you - I am in desperate need of some Vitamin D!
So it looks like again, I must apologize for the lack of blogging here lately. And you know what's sad is that I don't even have a legit reason as to why I haven't posted anything except for the mere and simple fact that life has FINALLY slowed down for us (nearly 3 months after marriage...3 MONTHS?? REALLY?? ALREADY??) and I don't feel as though there has really been anything that people would want to read about! However after talking with a great friend last night she asked for a "life update"...so here we go...
In recent fun news, I went with my sweet friend/ex-roomie Emily to the Eric Church/Jason Aldean concert a few weeks ago. I hate saying "ex" because of the negative connotations that it brings to mind, and to be honest we never really shared a room, but I guess that's what it is since we don't live together anymore! ANYWYAYS...I love concerts and I love country music - no matter how many times I try to stray from it! She works for an advertising agency that has box seats in our local concert venue, so as long as the clients don't want tickets (and thankfully they never do!) and she puts dibs on them early, we get to go to lots of fun concerts...FREE! Who can pass that up, I mean, really? This concert brought out the BEST in SC/NC (please insert sarcastic voice here) and I don't think I've ever been among so many true-to-the-core rednecks in.my.life. It definitely made for a very interesting evening! Alcohol sure can make people act funny! :) Next up...Brad Paisley the first week of March - YES! I really do LOVE him!
Other fun news is that Nolan and I went to see WICKED last Friday night! This was part of my Christmas present from him this year...and I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT! The show was INCREDIBLE! I was somewhat nervous about our seats being two rows from the top in the balcony, but someone quickly reminded me that "as long as you can see that one character is green, you'll be ok.." So true. :) I love musicals, whether it be a play or a movie, and am glad that we are able to enjoy such events. If you ever have the opportunity to see this...GO! I promise you will LOVE IT too!!
My most recent and "emotional" news (that I alluded to in an earlier post) is that I have accepted a new job! :) For those of you who talk to me regularly, you have heard my complaints, frustrations and disappointments of my current job and though I won't dare blog about them...it was simply time. I know some of you are probably thinking "But Ashley, you've only been at your current job ~8 months" and yes, this is a true statement. But there are simply times in life when an opportunity presents itself that you just can't sit and let it pass you by, as it may never come back around. And in my case, I would forever be wondering "what if?" So after some soul-searching, praying and lots of talk with those much wiser than myself, I have found what I think is an open door of endless opportunity. The potential for both professional and personal growth is practically limitless, and I'm very much looking forward to everything that is in front of me. I'll still be doing pediatric physical therapy (because I can't really see myself doing anything else) and am looking forward to learning and growing and continuously being challenged. In all of these regards, I am very EXCITED! (I'm purposely not posting many details in the blog about the new job, but will be happy to discuss them with any curious mind in a less public atmosphere!)
I say this is emotional news because I really think I've experienced EVERY emotion possible over the past month, and I thank Jesus for giving my sweet husband the patience to listen to me talk about this matter and think of every possible scenario to no end!
As everyone knows, change is SCARY! I had a few nights of restless sleep thinking about turning in my resignation letter and was SO relieved to get that part over with on Monday! Everyone seems to be handling things well at work and aren't treating me any differently, which was a fear I harbored. Also, I'm finally "comfortable" in my job. I go to work every day, and there are never really any surprises. I generally know what to expect from my patients (though sometimes they change it up on me) and I know how to write up evaluations, progress notes and daily summaries to the company standards. I know my co-workers and how we function together. All of these things will change with the new job, and I'll be meeting new people and forming new relationships, stepping out of my comfort zone and learning an entirely new routine. As Nolan always tells me when I'm about to be around people I don't know is..."It's time to put on your extrovert hat!" (Random fact: during premarital counseling I answered 10 personality questions as 9 introvert and 1 extrovert)
Change in this case, is also somewhat SAD. Although I've only been with these kids and their families for a short time, it's hard to leave them because they have already made a lasting impact on my heart. There is a bond that is formed between a therapist and their patients, and you really do become an integral part of their family life. I think I dread telling the parents that I'm leaving more than I dreaded turning in my notice...*sigh* There will be new families and new kids at my new job, and I'm sure that I will fall in love with each of them as well, but never replacing or forgetting the others.
So that's the latest! As spring draws near, there will (hopefully) be more to post on such as house renovations and projects galore. My ambition and goal for the week is to post more frequently so that those of you who are diligent and loyal blog readers will not be disappointed - again!!! HUGS!!!
So it looks like again, I must apologize for the lack of blogging here lately. And you know what's sad is that I don't even have a legit reason as to why I haven't posted anything except for the mere and simple fact that life has FINALLY slowed down for us (nearly 3 months after marriage...3 MONTHS?? REALLY?? ALREADY??) and I don't feel as though there has really been anything that people would want to read about! However after talking with a great friend last night she asked for a "life update"...so here we go...
In recent fun news, I went with my sweet friend/ex-roomie Emily to the Eric Church/Jason Aldean concert a few weeks ago. I hate saying "ex" because of the negative connotations that it brings to mind, and to be honest we never really shared a room, but I guess that's what it is since we don't live together anymore! ANYWYAYS...I love concerts and I love country music - no matter how many times I try to stray from it! She works for an advertising agency that has box seats in our local concert venue, so as long as the clients don't want tickets (and thankfully they never do!) and she puts dibs on them early, we get to go to lots of fun concerts...FREE! Who can pass that up, I mean, really? This concert brought out the BEST in SC/NC (please insert sarcastic voice here) and I don't think I've ever been among so many true-to-the-core rednecks in.my.life. It definitely made for a very interesting evening! Alcohol sure can make people act funny! :) Next up...Brad Paisley the first week of March - YES! I really do LOVE him!
Other fun news is that Nolan and I went to see WICKED last Friday night! This was part of my Christmas present from him this year...and I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT! The show was INCREDIBLE! I was somewhat nervous about our seats being two rows from the top in the balcony, but someone quickly reminded me that "as long as you can see that one character is green, you'll be ok.." So true. :) I love musicals, whether it be a play or a movie, and am glad that we are able to enjoy such events. If you ever have the opportunity to see this...GO! I promise you will LOVE IT too!!
My most recent and "emotional" news (that I alluded to in an earlier post) is that I have accepted a new job! :) For those of you who talk to me regularly, you have heard my complaints, frustrations and disappointments of my current job and though I won't dare blog about them...it was simply time. I know some of you are probably thinking "But Ashley, you've only been at your current job ~8 months" and yes, this is a true statement. But there are simply times in life when an opportunity presents itself that you just can't sit and let it pass you by, as it may never come back around. And in my case, I would forever be wondering "what if?" So after some soul-searching, praying and lots of talk with those much wiser than myself, I have found what I think is an open door of endless opportunity. The potential for both professional and personal growth is practically limitless, and I'm very much looking forward to everything that is in front of me. I'll still be doing pediatric physical therapy (because I can't really see myself doing anything else) and am looking forward to learning and growing and continuously being challenged. In all of these regards, I am very EXCITED! (I'm purposely not posting many details in the blog about the new job, but will be happy to discuss them with any curious mind in a less public atmosphere!)
I say this is emotional news because I really think I've experienced EVERY emotion possible over the past month, and I thank Jesus for giving my sweet husband the patience to listen to me talk about this matter and think of every possible scenario to no end!
As everyone knows, change is SCARY! I had a few nights of restless sleep thinking about turning in my resignation letter and was SO relieved to get that part over with on Monday! Everyone seems to be handling things well at work and aren't treating me any differently, which was a fear I harbored. Also, I'm finally "comfortable" in my job. I go to work every day, and there are never really any surprises. I generally know what to expect from my patients (though sometimes they change it up on me) and I know how to write up evaluations, progress notes and daily summaries to the company standards. I know my co-workers and how we function together. All of these things will change with the new job, and I'll be meeting new people and forming new relationships, stepping out of my comfort zone and learning an entirely new routine. As Nolan always tells me when I'm about to be around people I don't know is..."It's time to put on your extrovert hat!" (Random fact: during premarital counseling I answered 10 personality questions as 9 introvert and 1 extrovert)
Change in this case, is also somewhat SAD. Although I've only been with these kids and their families for a short time, it's hard to leave them because they have already made a lasting impact on my heart. There is a bond that is formed between a therapist and their patients, and you really do become an integral part of their family life. I think I dread telling the parents that I'm leaving more than I dreaded turning in my notice...*sigh* There will be new families and new kids at my new job, and I'm sure that I will fall in love with each of them as well, but never replacing or forgetting the others.
So that's the latest! As spring draws near, there will (hopefully) be more to post on such as house renovations and projects galore. My ambition and goal for the week is to post more frequently so that those of you who are diligent and loyal blog readers will not be disappointed - again!!! HUGS!!!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Adventure to Nashville
Nashville is a pretty sweet little town that I would love to revisit when 1) we have more time and 2) it's not quite so cold and rainy. I'd never been until this weekend, but I've always heard people talk about it and how wonderful of a city it is. I can't honestly say that I was completely blown away, but I think that is because we didn't have a lot of down time to go out and explore. Here is what we did have a chance to do though...
1) Thanks to the rock slide on I-40 (from back in October-ish) we were given the opportunity to take a one hour plus detour (added to the already 5 hour journey) through the Appalachian mountains. In addition to this added time, we made two wrong turns (seriously...who thought it was a good idea for the exit ramp to be on the left side of the interstate??) which probably added an extra 30 minutes. These small "detours" took us through downtown Asheville and Weaverville, NC. So after leaving our driveway at around 4, we arrived in Nashville around 10:30, but since you "gain" an hour crossing time zones, it was practically midnight SC time. I'm always beyond thrilled to see a bed at that point in a trip - even if it's not my own!
2) Saturday morning Nolan and I went to the Country Music Hall of Fame. We just so happened to go on a day when they had some songwriters performing and basically having a "jam session." I LOVE hearing people sing and play music especially live (and seriously wish that gene had not bypassed me!), so that was awesome. Though I can't remember the names of these incredibly talented artists, I do know that they write songs for the likes of Garth Brooks, Reba, Kellie Pickler, etc. In an odd sort of way, this little experience made me feel one step closer to meeting someone famous :) The museum was very interesting too...if you enjoy country music.
3) We ate at Jack's BBQ on Broadway Street for lunch. Everyone was just raving about this place, so we figured we'd check it out. Let's just say, if you leave there hungry you have no one to blame but yourself :) Broadway Street is one of the "main" streets in downtown Nashville - it has cute little shops full of cowboy boots and hats and all those neon signs that are so often sung about!
4) We attended Jessica (Nolan's cousin) and Spencer's wedding. Getting from our hotel to the ceremony/reception site was a bigger ordeal than it should have been...but we were packed like sardines in the hotel shuttle with 12 of his family members so it made for quite the adventure. We had to ask the driver to turn the A/C on because it was SO HOT on the shuttle and people in the backseat were beginning to feel carsick...not something you want to hear when you're in front of them! Again, a trip that was literally 5 blocks away and on a normal day might have taken 5 minutes took more like 25 minutes. If I could ever talk to the D.O.T. I would ask them why merging 3 lanes of traffic into 1 on a Saturday night ever seemed like a good plan?!? We eventually made it to our destination, at 6:59...wedding start time...7:00. I'm sure it looked like the local circus clown car unloading with all of us piling out!
5) Nolan and I managed to eat a box of SourPatch Watermelons, a box of dark chocolate Raisins AND a bag of peanut M&M's (each) on the way home. Don't judge...it was dark chocolate and peanuts are packed with protein :) We made sure to drink water to cancel out all the "bad stuff!"
6) Would you believe that we made a wrong turn on the way home too, putting us off at the EXACT SAME exit in Asheville that we visited on the way down?? CRAZY, huh??
As we drove through our Appalachian detour, I was once again reminded of how incredibly blessed I am! My friend Elizabeth went on a mission trip to Appalachia back in the summer, and told me of the sadness and poorness that abounds in this region of our country. It's always heartbreaking to hear of people who are less fortunate than yourself, but I don't think I ever truly wrapped my head around the magnitude of the situation until we drove through a town very similar to the one in which she served. The homes (mostly old, worn down, single-wide trailers) are weathered and beaten, with sheets and tarps covering windows and doors. The fact that there are people who live in such conditions every single day really weighs heavy on my heart and truly makes me appreciate all those things I take for granted every day...heat, electricity, running water, 3 meals a day (if not more!) I distinctly remember driving past this one house that would most definitely not pass DHEC standards, with a very, very dim light shining through and Nolan saying "Wow, somebody actually lives there." *Heavy sigh* Add in the devastation of the recent earthquake in Haiti and it's enough to make even The Grinch's heart melt a little...
So there you have it...our weekend trip to Nashville. Good times with family. Great conversation. Lots of laughs. Lots of food. LOTS OF FOOD :)
I hope everyone enjoyed the extended weekend (if you were so lucky to have one) and was able to get some much needed rest and relaxation!
1) Thanks to the rock slide on I-40 (from back in October-ish) we were given the opportunity to take a one hour plus detour (added to the already 5 hour journey) through the Appalachian mountains. In addition to this added time, we made two wrong turns (seriously...who thought it was a good idea for the exit ramp to be on the left side of the interstate??) which probably added an extra 30 minutes. These small "detours" took us through downtown Asheville and Weaverville, NC. So after leaving our driveway at around 4, we arrived in Nashville around 10:30, but since you "gain" an hour crossing time zones, it was practically midnight SC time. I'm always beyond thrilled to see a bed at that point in a trip - even if it's not my own!
2) Saturday morning Nolan and I went to the Country Music Hall of Fame. We just so happened to go on a day when they had some songwriters performing and basically having a "jam session." I LOVE hearing people sing and play music especially live (and seriously wish that gene had not bypassed me!), so that was awesome. Though I can't remember the names of these incredibly talented artists, I do know that they write songs for the likes of Garth Brooks, Reba, Kellie Pickler, etc. In an odd sort of way, this little experience made me feel one step closer to meeting someone famous :) The museum was very interesting too...if you enjoy country music.
3) We ate at Jack's BBQ on Broadway Street for lunch. Everyone was just raving about this place, so we figured we'd check it out. Let's just say, if you leave there hungry you have no one to blame but yourself :) Broadway Street is one of the "main" streets in downtown Nashville - it has cute little shops full of cowboy boots and hats and all those neon signs that are so often sung about!
4) We attended Jessica (Nolan's cousin) and Spencer's wedding. Getting from our hotel to the ceremony/reception site was a bigger ordeal than it should have been...but we were packed like sardines in the hotel shuttle with 12 of his family members so it made for quite the adventure. We had to ask the driver to turn the A/C on because it was SO HOT on the shuttle and people in the backseat were beginning to feel carsick...not something you want to hear when you're in front of them! Again, a trip that was literally 5 blocks away and on a normal day might have taken 5 minutes took more like 25 minutes. If I could ever talk to the D.O.T. I would ask them why merging 3 lanes of traffic into 1 on a Saturday night ever seemed like a good plan?!? We eventually made it to our destination, at 6:59...wedding start time...7:00. I'm sure it looked like the local circus clown car unloading with all of us piling out!
5) Nolan and I managed to eat a box of SourPatch Watermelons, a box of dark chocolate Raisins AND a bag of peanut M&M's (each) on the way home. Don't judge...it was dark chocolate and peanuts are packed with protein :) We made sure to drink water to cancel out all the "bad stuff!"
6) Would you believe that we made a wrong turn on the way home too, putting us off at the EXACT SAME exit in Asheville that we visited on the way down?? CRAZY, huh??
As we drove through our Appalachian detour, I was once again reminded of how incredibly blessed I am! My friend Elizabeth went on a mission trip to Appalachia back in the summer, and told me of the sadness and poorness that abounds in this region of our country. It's always heartbreaking to hear of people who are less fortunate than yourself, but I don't think I ever truly wrapped my head around the magnitude of the situation until we drove through a town very similar to the one in which she served. The homes (mostly old, worn down, single-wide trailers) are weathered and beaten, with sheets and tarps covering windows and doors. The fact that there are people who live in such conditions every single day really weighs heavy on my heart and truly makes me appreciate all those things I take for granted every day...heat, electricity, running water, 3 meals a day (if not more!) I distinctly remember driving past this one house that would most definitely not pass DHEC standards, with a very, very dim light shining through and Nolan saying "Wow, somebody actually lives there." *Heavy sigh* Add in the devastation of the recent earthquake in Haiti and it's enough to make even The Grinch's heart melt a little...
So there you have it...our weekend trip to Nashville. Good times with family. Great conversation. Lots of laughs. Lots of food. LOTS OF FOOD :)
I hope everyone enjoyed the extended weekend (if you were so lucky to have one) and was able to get some much needed rest and relaxation!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
the latest...
Happy Wednesday!!!
I received a message earlier today indicating that I had "fallen down on the blog..." so this one's for you, Sam! (Love you!)
I don't feel that there is anything really exciting to blog on this week, and I guess that's what has kept me away. I haven't had any really deep thoughts or insights or any particular funny stories (though I could spend a day blogging about some of the funny things that my patients say on a daily basis). There's a couple of things that I would enjoy blogging about and sharing with friends, but they will just have to wait until the right time. And for those of you who might be thinking I could possibly be pregnant...THINK AGAIN!!
So our security system was installed today. I'm impressed with how discrete all the little sensors and monitors are - technology sure has come a LONG way! We've haven't "tested" it out as you generally do when you get something new, but this is one thing that I'm comfortable NOT EVER testing! It was installed just in time for us to go to Nashville this coming weekend.
Speaking of Nashville...last weekend was consumed by a wedding at home for friends, and this weekend will be spent celebrating a wedding of Nolan's cousin in Nashville. I hope the weather is nice...or at least above freezing! It sure is wonderful to be able to travel away for the weekend and not worry about getting home in time to study or finish up the dreaded tutorial for Monday mornings!! The "home" wedding was somewhat of a mini high school reunion, which I had honestly been dreading. I wasn't dreading the wedding itself (congrats Magan & Matt!), but more the thought of the reception and having to see and talk to people you haven't seen or talked to in a while (some of them almost 8 years!). There's always that awkwardness when you're confined and can't a) pretend that you didn't see them or b) easily escape the conversation! Or maybe I am just really good at making situations like this awkward. Whatever the case may be, I am happy to say that I truly enjoyed seeing some of those people...in person. Because even though you haven't "seen" someone, you feel like you know as much as you should about their personal life because let's be honest...we all Facebook stalk from the comfort of our homes. I think a lot of it also has to do with the fact that since we are all adults now, we are able to overlook any silly stereotypes or preconceived notions that we may have once had about these people in high school. It's always interesting to see who turns out married/dating who, what career paths everyone has taken, and what exactly 8 years can do for someone! It really got me thinking...I can't believe that in 2 short years we will (hopefully) have a 10 year high school reunion - OH MY GOSH!!!!
10 years?!?! REALLY??? Have I accomplished the things I wanted to accomplish? Am I in the place that I thought I would be at this stage? Is my life headed in the right direction? Am I really "living the dream?" So many, many questions such as these cross my mind when I think about the years that have so quickly passed since graduating high school.
And what better time to "ponder" such questions than...later!! :)
Here's to hoping that everyone has a wonderful rest of the week and a marvelous weekend!
I received a message earlier today indicating that I had "fallen down on the blog..." so this one's for you, Sam! (Love you!)
I don't feel that there is anything really exciting to blog on this week, and I guess that's what has kept me away. I haven't had any really deep thoughts or insights or any particular funny stories (though I could spend a day blogging about some of the funny things that my patients say on a daily basis). There's a couple of things that I would enjoy blogging about and sharing with friends, but they will just have to wait until the right time. And for those of you who might be thinking I could possibly be pregnant...THINK AGAIN!!
So our security system was installed today. I'm impressed with how discrete all the little sensors and monitors are - technology sure has come a LONG way! We've haven't "tested" it out as you generally do when you get something new, but this is one thing that I'm comfortable NOT EVER testing! It was installed just in time for us to go to Nashville this coming weekend.
Speaking of Nashville...last weekend was consumed by a wedding at home for friends, and this weekend will be spent celebrating a wedding of Nolan's cousin in Nashville. I hope the weather is nice...or at least above freezing! It sure is wonderful to be able to travel away for the weekend and not worry about getting home in time to study or finish up the dreaded tutorial for Monday mornings!! The "home" wedding was somewhat of a mini high school reunion, which I had honestly been dreading. I wasn't dreading the wedding itself (congrats Magan & Matt!), but more the thought of the reception and having to see and talk to people you haven't seen or talked to in a while (some of them almost 8 years!). There's always that awkwardness when you're confined and can't a) pretend that you didn't see them or b) easily escape the conversation! Or maybe I am just really good at making situations like this awkward. Whatever the case may be, I am happy to say that I truly enjoyed seeing some of those people...in person. Because even though you haven't "seen" someone, you feel like you know as much as you should about their personal life because let's be honest...we all Facebook stalk from the comfort of our homes. I think a lot of it also has to do with the fact that since we are all adults now, we are able to overlook any silly stereotypes or preconceived notions that we may have once had about these people in high school. It's always interesting to see who turns out married/dating who, what career paths everyone has taken, and what exactly 8 years can do for someone! It really got me thinking...I can't believe that in 2 short years we will (hopefully) have a 10 year high school reunion - OH MY GOSH!!!!
10 years?!?! REALLY??? Have I accomplished the things I wanted to accomplish? Am I in the place that I thought I would be at this stage? Is my life headed in the right direction? Am I really "living the dream?" So many, many questions such as these cross my mind when I think about the years that have so quickly passed since graduating high school.
And what better time to "ponder" such questions than...later!! :)
Here's to hoping that everyone has a wonderful rest of the week and a marvelous weekend!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Security
Random fact for the day: I just ate 4 jumbo marshmallows before writing this post :)
I knew that it would be difficult if not nearly impossible for me to post on the blog EVERY. SINGLE. day, which is absolutely why I offered no promises in the beginning. For those of you faithful followers, I am sorry that the past few days of your life have not been entertained by my ridiculous ramblings...and well..."ponderings." :)
So we've decided to invest in a security system for the house...and I'm pretty excited. Actually...I'm stoked. And yes, invest is the appropriate word, because these suckers sure don't come for free! I didn't grow up with a security system in my parent's house, and my first encounter with one was actually only a little over a year ago. I was here (at Nolan's house...now our house...weird) for the weekend and around 2 a.m. the stupid thing starts "talking" with beeps and buzzes going off like mad! Initially it was scary...and after approximately 5 seconds it became oh-so-annoying! Anyways...after an hour and a half spent on the phone with ADT in the middle of the night, we were able to stop the obscene sounds coming from our wall. Turns out it was nothing more than the internal battery was dying (we didn't have the system "activated" at that time).
We've been talking about getting a new system for a while now, especially with all the traveling that we do between South Carolina and Georgia. I don't know why, but the fact that our house was "alone" particularly lingered on my mind this year at Christmas when we went home for a few days. You see, back in the summer (actually the night before our engagement pictures) Nolan's truck was broken into...while it sat in our driveway...while we slept inside!!! SCARY!!! I guess they got what they wanted from him, because they didn't even go so far as to touch my truck, which was parked right next to his. The only thing we could think that might have deterred them was the oh-so-small sticker on my window that states: "This vehicle is protected by anti-theft detection devices." (YAY Toyota!) I even had the GPS mounting bracket hanging on the windshield....oh geez. At this point you might be wondering why park in the driveway versus the garage?? That's another post for another day, but basically our garage wasn't designed large enough to accommodate one truck, much less two. SWEET. (Whatever happened to the day when you could leave your car windows down and house doors open without fearing that something might happen??) So that is reason number one...
This new system will also feature a fancy-dancy fire alarm monitoring thingy. The guy told us that statistically you are 4 times more likely to have your house burn to the ground than to have someone break-in...SCARY! Now he could just be blowing smoke up our butts (no pun intended) but I can't imagine anything more devastating that going away for the weekend and returning to your used-to-be-house in nothing but a pile of ashes. Surely our neighbors would call, but we haven't really been around the neighborhood handing out our number and the dates of when we'll be out of town...and as it currently stands, only one neighbor actually has our cell phone numbers. When Nolan was about 2 or 3 years old, his parents house burnt to the ground and they lost everything. And I mean EVERYTHING. They were able to rebuild and start over (because "things" don't make a house a home) but all that remains of the years before the house they rebuilt are memories. So there's reason number 2.
And reason number 3 is this: I am a 25 year old grown baby that hates being alone in the middle of the night and am able to "hear" and "see" anything...or at least convince myself that I do. I stayed alone in the house last Saturday night for the first time since I moved in and hated every minute of it!! As soon as it gets dark outside, my senses are heightened, and I become really AWESOME at freaking myself out. I often times find it difficult to "talk myself down" once I think I have heard something, and find going to bed nearly impossible. It probably doesn't help that I love watching (no laughing, please) Cops, America's Most Wanted and nearly every other show that involves cops, criminals and the outstanding citizens of this country...but that's beside the point! (I definitely don't watch shows like that when I'm by myself at night!) So that is reason three...I hate being alone in the house.
So there you have it...my own personal rationalization for getting a security system. Like I said, whether someone steals our "things" or they burn up in smoke, that is NOT what makes a house a home, because essentially things can be replaced. A security system doesn't guarantee or promise that someone still won't break in, or that our house will never catch on fire. But one thing it will provide me with is peace of mind. And to me, that peace and "security" is much like pictures and heirlooms...priceless.
I knew that it would be difficult if not nearly impossible for me to post on the blog EVERY. SINGLE. day, which is absolutely why I offered no promises in the beginning. For those of you faithful followers, I am sorry that the past few days of your life have not been entertained by my ridiculous ramblings...and well..."ponderings." :)
So we've decided to invest in a security system for the house...and I'm pretty excited. Actually...I'm stoked. And yes, invest is the appropriate word, because these suckers sure don't come for free! I didn't grow up with a security system in my parent's house, and my first encounter with one was actually only a little over a year ago. I was here (at Nolan's house...now our house...weird) for the weekend and around 2 a.m. the stupid thing starts "talking" with beeps and buzzes going off like mad! Initially it was scary...and after approximately 5 seconds it became oh-so-annoying! Anyways...after an hour and a half spent on the phone with ADT in the middle of the night, we were able to stop the obscene sounds coming from our wall. Turns out it was nothing more than the internal battery was dying (we didn't have the system "activated" at that time).
We've been talking about getting a new system for a while now, especially with all the traveling that we do between South Carolina and Georgia. I don't know why, but the fact that our house was "alone" particularly lingered on my mind this year at Christmas when we went home for a few days. You see, back in the summer (actually the night before our engagement pictures) Nolan's truck was broken into...while it sat in our driveway...while we slept inside!!! SCARY!!! I guess they got what they wanted from him, because they didn't even go so far as to touch my truck, which was parked right next to his. The only thing we could think that might have deterred them was the oh-so-small sticker on my window that states: "This vehicle is protected by anti-theft detection devices." (YAY Toyota!) I even had the GPS mounting bracket hanging on the windshield....oh geez. At this point you might be wondering why park in the driveway versus the garage?? That's another post for another day, but basically our garage wasn't designed large enough to accommodate one truck, much less two. SWEET. (Whatever happened to the day when you could leave your car windows down and house doors open without fearing that something might happen??) So that is reason number one...
This new system will also feature a fancy-dancy fire alarm monitoring thingy. The guy told us that statistically you are 4 times more likely to have your house burn to the ground than to have someone break-in...SCARY! Now he could just be blowing smoke up our butts (no pun intended) but I can't imagine anything more devastating that going away for the weekend and returning to your used-to-be-house in nothing but a pile of ashes. Surely our neighbors would call, but we haven't really been around the neighborhood handing out our number and the dates of when we'll be out of town...and as it currently stands, only one neighbor actually has our cell phone numbers. When Nolan was about 2 or 3 years old, his parents house burnt to the ground and they lost everything. And I mean EVERYTHING. They were able to rebuild and start over (because "things" don't make a house a home) but all that remains of the years before the house they rebuilt are memories. So there's reason number 2.
And reason number 3 is this: I am a 25 year old grown baby that hates being alone in the middle of the night and am able to "hear" and "see" anything...or at least convince myself that I do. I stayed alone in the house last Saturday night for the first time since I moved in and hated every minute of it!! As soon as it gets dark outside, my senses are heightened, and I become really AWESOME at freaking myself out. I often times find it difficult to "talk myself down" once I think I have heard something, and find going to bed nearly impossible. It probably doesn't help that I love watching (no laughing, please) Cops, America's Most Wanted and nearly every other show that involves cops, criminals and the outstanding citizens of this country...but that's beside the point! (I definitely don't watch shows like that when I'm by myself at night!) So that is reason three...I hate being alone in the house.
So there you have it...my own personal rationalization for getting a security system. Like I said, whether someone steals our "things" or they burn up in smoke, that is NOT what makes a house a home, because essentially things can be replaced. A security system doesn't guarantee or promise that someone still won't break in, or that our house will never catch on fire. But one thing it will provide me with is peace of mind. And to me, that peace and "security" is much like pictures and heirlooms...priceless.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
"Fireproof"
Today turned out to be a very. lazy. day. And I enjoyed every single minute of doing nothing.
You see, I've had this ongoing "to do" list that I wanted to accomplish before returning to work from my Christmas vacation. I was off for about a week and a half, which I figured would provide me with sufficient time to cross every little item off that list. Nolan and I only went home to Georgia for 4 of those days, but otherwise, we have just been here around the house. I think what happened is that I had set my goals too high, my hopes of cleaning a little too ambitious. While we were ultra productive on Monday and Tuesday of this past week taking down the Christmas decorations and beginning the seemingly never-ending process called organization, it all seemed to come to an immediate halt after he returned to work on Wednesday. My mom came up Wednesday and we went shopping, returning and exchanging some wedding and Christmas gifts, only to purchase more things that now need a place to be "organized" and neatly tucked away. Thursday was New Year's, and mom and I busily prepared for the small gathering of friends that came over that night to celebrate the arrival of 2010. After cleaning up the aftermath of Thursday's festivities, Friday became a bum-around-the-house day, filled with reading and cat-naps.
So I took a few days off, I thought to myself. So what?? No biggie. Nolan was leaving on Saturday to head down to Atlanta for a bachelor party and I figured that would give me sufficient time to tear the house apart and clean and organize from one end to the other before his return on Sunday. This did not turn out to be the case. In fact, I feel that I am far from being able to say that I accomplished a whole lot of anything while he was gone. While I did manage to do a few loads of laundry and change the sheets on our bed, I spent a majority of the day reading, setting up the blog, and watching two movies that I knew he wouldn't want to watch had he been here. (Not that he doesn't ever watch things I enjoy, but I feel there are only so many "chick flicks" that I can subject him to within a certain period of time.) So I felt a little guilty last night when I went to bed, thinking how I should probably get up early today to get a head start on all that cleaning and organizing before Nolan came back home.
But as I sit here tonight, boxes remain scattered throughout the house. There are still 2-3 loads of laundry to be done. Only one bathroom managed to get cleaned. Our "office," though much cleaner than last week (you can now see floor space), remains a force to be reckoned with, with the most random assortment of "things" splayed about the floor and desk. And I am okay with all of this.
Because you see, I did accomplish something...it's just not something that can be crossed off of the list. When Nolan came home today, instead of cleaning and busting it to get the house "ready for the week," we relaxed together and enjoyed each others company. We watched "Fireproof" together, and as I watched the movie, I realized that my entire "to do" list can wait. It can wait until tomorrow. It can wait until next weekend. Or maybe even the next. But what can't and shouldn't wait is spending quality time with the ones you love. We are a little under 2 months of marriage, but I don't think it's ever too soon to start "fireproofing" our marriage. If you haven't seen this movie, I recommend watching it. It's a movie based on the Christian covenants that define a marriage and what God intended a marriage to be. While the couple in this movie is on the brink of divorce, I feel that the messages that it sends are applicable to all couples. I might watch it again. I liked it. And I loved watching it while spending time with Nolan.
Tomorrow is the beginning of a new work week for many of us who were lucky enough to have a "Christmas vacation." Boo. But as life picks back up again and we get back into the swing of things with our daily routines, my hopes and prayers are that I will constantly remember to "fireproof" my marriage, placing first (and most important) things and people first. That "to do" list can definitely wait.
You see, I've had this ongoing "to do" list that I wanted to accomplish before returning to work from my Christmas vacation. I was off for about a week and a half, which I figured would provide me with sufficient time to cross every little item off that list. Nolan and I only went home to Georgia for 4 of those days, but otherwise, we have just been here around the house. I think what happened is that I had set my goals too high, my hopes of cleaning a little too ambitious. While we were ultra productive on Monday and Tuesday of this past week taking down the Christmas decorations and beginning the seemingly never-ending process called organization, it all seemed to come to an immediate halt after he returned to work on Wednesday. My mom came up Wednesday and we went shopping, returning and exchanging some wedding and Christmas gifts, only to purchase more things that now need a place to be "organized" and neatly tucked away. Thursday was New Year's, and mom and I busily prepared for the small gathering of friends that came over that night to celebrate the arrival of 2010. After cleaning up the aftermath of Thursday's festivities, Friday became a bum-around-the-house day, filled with reading and cat-naps.
So I took a few days off, I thought to myself. So what?? No biggie. Nolan was leaving on Saturday to head down to Atlanta for a bachelor party and I figured that would give me sufficient time to tear the house apart and clean and organize from one end to the other before his return on Sunday. This did not turn out to be the case. In fact, I feel that I am far from being able to say that I accomplished a whole lot of anything while he was gone. While I did manage to do a few loads of laundry and change the sheets on our bed, I spent a majority of the day reading, setting up the blog, and watching two movies that I knew he wouldn't want to watch had he been here. (Not that he doesn't ever watch things I enjoy, but I feel there are only so many "chick flicks" that I can subject him to within a certain period of time.) So I felt a little guilty last night when I went to bed, thinking how I should probably get up early today to get a head start on all that cleaning and organizing before Nolan came back home.
But as I sit here tonight, boxes remain scattered throughout the house. There are still 2-3 loads of laundry to be done. Only one bathroom managed to get cleaned. Our "office," though much cleaner than last week (you can now see floor space), remains a force to be reckoned with, with the most random assortment of "things" splayed about the floor and desk. And I am okay with all of this.
Because you see, I did accomplish something...it's just not something that can be crossed off of the list. When Nolan came home today, instead of cleaning and busting it to get the house "ready for the week," we relaxed together and enjoyed each others company. We watched "Fireproof" together, and as I watched the movie, I realized that my entire "to do" list can wait. It can wait until tomorrow. It can wait until next weekend. Or maybe even the next. But what can't and shouldn't wait is spending quality time with the ones you love. We are a little under 2 months of marriage, but I don't think it's ever too soon to start "fireproofing" our marriage. If you haven't seen this movie, I recommend watching it. It's a movie based on the Christian covenants that define a marriage and what God intended a marriage to be. While the couple in this movie is on the brink of divorce, I feel that the messages that it sends are applicable to all couples. I might watch it again. I liked it. And I loved watching it while spending time with Nolan.
Tomorrow is the beginning of a new work week for many of us who were lucky enough to have a "Christmas vacation." Boo. But as life picks back up again and we get back into the swing of things with our daily routines, my hopes and prayers are that I will constantly remember to "fireproof" my marriage, placing first (and most important) things and people first. That "to do" list can definitely wait.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
HAPPY 2010!!!
I've been wanting to create a blog for a long time, but am just now finding the time to sit down and figure everything out. You see, I'm not computer savvy, and in fact Nolan often teases me, saying that I am "afraid of technology," which I constantly argue, however his statements are partially true. I have never "gotten along with" computers, and they always seem to "encounter an error" and "need to close" when I'm working on something REALLY important! There's always the option of "reporting the problem," but at that point I've usually lost 1) anything I was working on (which conveniently I hadn't saved in the past 45 minutes) 2) I've definitely lost my patience and 3) I am ready to throw the computer out the window!! So believe me when I say that what you now see before you is a work that has been in progress for the past 3 days. I was getting so desperate in trying to set it up that I was looking for a "blogger hotline" number to call for assistance!!
So here's my blog. I'm not really sure what I'll be posting on, or if you as the reader will even find it interesting (because I can promise you that my life isn't thrilling), but I hope to have some thought provoking moments and some entries that might make you crack a smile or even laugh a little. I would like to be able to say that I will post every day, however, I've already made a few New Year resolutions, so I can't make any more promises that could very possibly be broken...plus I would hate to disappoint anyone who might be an avid follower! :)
I would also like to put this warning out there for those of you who aren't familiar with my writing (especially any of my English teacher friends):
1) I tend to write in stream of consciousness...with a lot of ellipses...and my friends from PT school know this well!
2) I also like to use exclamation points - even at inappropriate times!!!
3) I will probably not always use correct grammar, and possibly even misspell a few words every now and then, but knowing that people will be reading this, I would like to at least sound half-educated!
4) I'm sure I have comma splices like crazy...enjoy them! :)
So here's to a WONDERFUL 2010! I hope that everyone's new year is off to a blessed start! I, myself, know that I have so many, MANY things and people to be thankful for!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
