Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Wacky Wednesday..Real World Explosion RECAP!

It's Wacky Wednesday!

Let's talk Real World...Explosion! 

It has come to an end and boy was it ever engaging! I miss it already, as the last episode was on Monday where the gang all got back together for a "tell all" that proved to be full of surprises!

Did you watch the season?

 

I have no idea what happened to me this year! I mean, The Real World, really? I have not watched the Real World since I was in High School, and let me tell you, that was not recently! I tuned into the first episode, by a misguided remote, and have not been able to turn away! 

I was engrossed in the stories, the characters, the show itself! I was simply put...hooked!

The season started out, much like the Real Worlds that I remember from my past..with lots of "hooking up" among roommates. That mating dance that happens when you put men and women into a house together and they are getting acquainted...or rather picking a mate...always is pretty fascinating. Go MTV, right!


Meeting the Cast (The O.G's) ...from MTV.COM

Arielle Scott-  
A rough childhood and a short stint in foster care didn't keep Arielle from completing her degree at UC Berkeley. Originally from Vallejo, California, Arielle has had her hands in a little bit of everything from filmmaker to model to various start-up businesses. Arielle has commitment issues and can't seem to stay in a steady relationship. Intense flirting, dancing, and clubbing has held her back from committing to her ex, Ashley C., but she doesn't mind hooking up with her from time to time -- as long as it's on her terms. Sharing is not completely the issue, as Ashley C. doesn't mind inviting a third party to their sexual soirees. Will Arielle settle down with Ashley C. once she moves in, or will Arielle continue to have issues with commitment?

Cory Wharton-
On a journey to do the right thing, Cory complicated his life with multiple women and his inability to express himself. Previously a football star, he lost his athletic scholarship due to a pregnancy scare with a girl he was dating. He later discovered that the story was a complete hoax, which led him to leave school just a year before graduation. Cory has dated his ex-girlfriend back home, Lauren, on and off since seventh grade. Their stormy relationship has resulted in ongoing issues with cheating, jealousy, explosive tempers, and crazy arguments. Cory was less than thrilled to find out his ex was joining him this season on the Real World, since he'd already started a "friends with benefits" relationship with roommate Jenny. Will Cory make up with his ex and form a friendship or more with her? Or does he find himself so attracted to Jenny that he wants to let Lauren go?

Jay Gotti-
Jay is a classic womanizing heartthrob (or so he thinks), who doesn't shy away from conflict. He works as an emcee and promoter at a club where he spends most of his time omitting the truth to pick up girls and ultimately getting them to do whatever he wants. Jay has been dating his girlfriend, Jenna, for almost two years. Although the relationship is off and on, Jay doesn't seem to want to settle down and continues his "player" ways. Jay has never really left his hometown of the Bronx, and with his NY attitude hitting San Francisco, these ladies better watch out. Flirting with his 60,000 followers on Twitter and Instagram constantly leaves him in the doghouse with Jenna, yet he always knows the right things to say to avoid getting caught. Once Jenna moves into the house, will Jay stop the flirting so they can move towards making it official - AGAIN?
 
  Jenny Delich-  
This ready-to-scrap rebel is loud, brassy and not willing to hold back; Jenny is passionate and will not let anyone take advantage of her. She moved from Missouri to Los Angeles to pursue acting and singing and continues to put one foot in front of the other to make it in the big city, but has come across a lot of people trying to lie to her about taking her career to the next level. Before leaving Missouri, Jenny had a serious boyfriend of four years, Brian, who she met while working at a club in her hometown. Though in a long distance relationship, her sex drive and Brian's empty promises of moving to LA have left Jenny longing for love from guys AND girls since arriving in Tinsel Town. Jenny's flirtatious behavior, including hooking up with roommate Cory right after they met, threatens the future of her relationship with Brian. She is completely shocked to find that Brian has moved into the house, especially since she just slept with Cory for the past couple nights. Will Jenny clean up her act and make it work with Brian?
 
 
  Thomas Buell-  
A troublemaker by nature, Thomas loves to create conflict by coercing his friends into doing obscene things. He is very blunt and doesn't care if speaking his mind hurts others. His extreme competitiveness can sometimes make others perceive him as a self-absorbed jock. Thomas' sex life blossomed when he lost his virginity to his high school sweetheart, Hailey. The two were supposedly first-time lovers, but there is some doubt that it was Hailey's first time -- a huge issue for Thomas because he wanted to lose his virginity to another virgin. Thomas finds new love in the house with roommate Jamie, but their relationship is extremely rocky as they are always trying to one up each other. When Hailey comes into the house, she complicates things, feeling that Thomas has downgraded himself to be with Jamie and will do anything to get him back. The couple has had a few breakups and makeups in the past, so will they be willing to rekindle their relationship and put aside all the bad and focus on the good?
 

Jamie Larson-
Jamie is originally from Pflugerville, Texas, which she describes as "a mix of country and ghetto." This tattooed hottie is a troublemaker willing to confront any issue head on, which sparks an early feud with roommate Ashley. Jamie is not shy about expressing her sexuality, and her desires are met when she starts a relationship up with roommate Thomas. As they try to keep their sexual relationship a secret from the roommates, Jamie and Thomas continue to fight about their status. Will Jamie's attitude toward life keep her from finding love? And once Hailey starts making a play for Thomas, will Jamie back down or fight back?

The Infamous- Ashley...Mitchell-
This pageant queen beauty is a force to reckoned with -- her stunning looks and tough personality are all she needs to get the attention that she craves from her numerous male friends. A San Francisco transplant originally from West Virginia, Ashley's bubbly personality and her connection to all of the late-night hot spots are initially welcomed by the roommates. But eventually she clashes with a few of them (especially Jamie) as they began to question who Ashley really is. Will the roommates give this party girl another chance or leave her floating off into the San Francisco sunset?




And the PLOT Thickens... by adding the Ex's- after Jenny and Cory started "hooking up" and Jamie and Thomas were starting a relationship!






  Ashley Ceasar  (Arielle's Ex)
Madly in love with Arielle, Ashley's main reason for moving into the Real World house is to give her relationship with Arielle another try. Arielle and Ashley broke up numerous times due to dishonesty and betrayals that Ashley could no longer deal with. Despite their rocky relationship history, this Bay Area native wants to settle down with her ex in hopes of eventually getting married. Once Ashley moves into the house will she get the commitment she been waiting for? 
 
Lauren Ondersma (Cory's Ex)
Lauren's explosive temper is the main reason that she and Cory are exes. Though Cory has given Lauren reason not to trust him with his cheating and lies, she still believes there is hope for a future together and that they can make their relationship work. Quitting her job at a hair salon in Brooklyn, Lauren couldn't be more eager to join the Real World and reunite with Cory. Her excitement is short lived because Cory has started to bond with roommate Jenny, and Lauren complicates their "friends with benefits" relationship. Will Lauren find love with her on again off again ex? 

Jenna Compono (Jay's Ex)
Jenna is an aspiring model who has applied to be in and landed a second casting interview with Playboy Plus. She trusts her man, Jay, and nothing (not even him flirting with his many followers on social media) is going to change that! Blinded by his sweet talk, Jenna wants Jay to commit and call her his girlfriend, and she moves into the house to get closer to him. But she'll be in for a rude awakening when she realizes that Jay has been less than innocent with the women of San Francisco. Will she bare it all for the love of her own playboy, Jay?


Brian Williams, Jr. (Jenny's Ex)
A personal trainer and fitness model, Brian's dedication to his ex, Jenny, is what prompted him to move into The Real World house. Though past attempts to make amends with Jenny have failed, he wants to make his relationship work despite all that they have been through. Once Brian moves into the house, he becomes close friends with fellow housemate, Cory, who shares many of the same interests, including having the hots for Jenny. How will Brian handle his twisted love triangle with his ex-girlfriend and new friend?


Hailey Chivers (Thomas's Ex)
Although Hailey does not want to be associated with Thomas' obnoxious tendencies, she has a soft spot in her heart for him and still hopes that they can be together. She is extremely close with his family and attends the same university as him, but they have not been officially dating for about two years. Hailey moves into the house to give her relationship with Thomas another try, completely unaware of his trysts with roommate Jamie. Will their teenage love prevail over his roommate fling?



Season Synopsis (as told by ~KEL~)

The season proved to be full of Explosions, from the beginning, to the middle and definitely at the end!
We start by getting acquainted with the cast, as they, too, are getting acquainted with one another. We watch as a "Friends with Benefits" relationship begins with Cory and Jenny and an innocent relationship starts to bud between Jamie and Thomas.  We watch Jay go to the club and stroke his ego night after night and Ashley turn into a blabbering, sloppy, disrespectful alcoholic. 

Twists of events push Ashley out of the house (Thank God because Girl is off the hook) and Jenny and Cory just have nothing but fun with one another... until the casts returns from a trip on the water to a house with new roommates! Surprise!

All hell breaks loose as Thomas has a fit, like a five year old, about Hailey being at the house, to live! Jay starts to panic because Jenna is there and he has never lived with her before and has apprehensions, Cory finds Lauren and is awkward because of his "situation" with Jenny, Jenny is much in the same boat because her Ex, Brian is there and wants to rekindle their relationship..um, How frickin awkward, right! Then Arielle and her Ex, Ashley are the only ones that are actually happy to see one another and for the experience! It's really sweet.
We watch the cast of Original's struggle with their "crew" a.k.a. the "O.G.'s" and trying to fit in the new group...a.k.a the "Ex's" and lets just say that feelings get hurt!  We get a twist mid-season when Lauren has to go home because she finds out she is Pregnant and NOT by Cory.... who is disappointed in her.  There is a real chemistry between Lauren and Cory and although they do not act on or, or try not to, it is very comfortable between the two of them.  

Jenna and Jay are my fav's - and although I get so upset with Jay and his Playa ways, I like him. I think that he is just used to his ways and when Jenna is pushed by Jamie, and finally gets a voice...she kicks him into shape. I was really pulling for these two kids!

Jamie and Thomas were a frustrating pair! Add Hailey into the mix and I was usually angry. Hailey, we can see through your fake-ness! She tries to act all sweet and kind but I knew she loved Thomas and wanted him back! I was so unhappy with the way Thomas handled so much during the show but glad that in the end he was trying to stay with Jamie..She was kick ass for him and I am rooting for these two kids too!

So, towards the end we have Jenny/Brian drama! Brian is a weird character and his portrayal of being "Mr. High Almighty" was just plain annoying! I wanted to slap him (Thank's Jenny!) and I was so happy when Jenny decided that she did not want to be with him. He was so frickin' vein and annoying and strange. I love Jenny! She is so carefree, fun and bold and her personality really is awesome! Brian wanted her to tone it down all the time and it was really annoying because i felt like she could not be "Jenny" around him.

At the Season Finale we said Goodbye to the cast as they went on their separate ways. We watched Hailey leave early, which was refreshing! (She was like a third wheel in my opinion)

We saw Thomas and Jamie state that they were going to try to make Long Distance work.  We saw Brian's explosion..eh..maybe it was a Demonic Possession..happen the night before and he went on his separate way...alone!

We said Goodbye to Jay and Jenna, who did take a shared car.  We watch Arielle and Ashley walk away, since they lived so close to the house!  Then, we said Goodby to Cory and Jenny, who both said they were going to keep in touch, since they both lived in San Francisco.

Real World Explosion..tell all..

This past Monday, we were reunited with the cast, all looking a little different, some with smiles, some without.  It seemed like everyone took something away from their experience, good or bad or just plain ugly.  

Ashley and Arielle are still together. They both live apart but are rocking at their relationship..which is awesome to hear.
Cory is not with Jenny or Lauren. He is doing his thing.  He did proclaim that he met up with Jenny, but hasn't talked to her after some stuff she put on Social Media...opps!

Thomas and Jamie are still together and making it work! Thank God!

Jay and Jenna are not together and I feel so sad. He was not shy about the fact that he wants her back..bad , but little Jenna seems to have grown a back bone and flat out said that she has moved on. Poor Jay. They were really adorable together!

And last, but not least...Jenny and Brian are...................................................together? Ugh, say it ain't so! But yes, they live together...why am I so disappointed, well besides the fact that she was BLAH at the reunion show...they are bad together!

There was also a surprise visit by Drunk and Disorderly Ashley..why? I haven't yet figured out. She is still a train wreck!

***************
I am sad to say goodbye, but understand that all good things must come to an end. It was a great season and I don' t know that I will watch next season..as I kind of feel like this one was a fluke! It was one hell of a ride and I hope that following the people above on twitter will keep me in their life loop, obviously something about it intrigues me, right!

I do not live the Real World but love watching season's like this! Takes me back to my high school days...God I'm OLD!

Well, hope you enjoyed my synopsis, it's quick, to the point and contains all Kel in it!

Until next time.. hope this gets you over the H U M P!


~KEL~

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Book Review Tuesday...The Inn BoonsBoro Trilogy - Book #1- The Next Always..by Nora Roberts

It's Tuesday..Time for a Book Review..well 1 would be great, but how about 3? 

I started this trilogy and just..couldn't...put...it...down! I will be reviewing all three books over the next 3 weeks so tune in! 


The Next Always

 

Book #1- The Next Always

The first book in the Trilogy is, The Next Always. I started this book and was captured, literally, from page 1.  It begins with a vivid description of a historic hotel in Boonsboro and the story that this hotel has had over the years. It was a part of the war and the peace after the war, and all the owners that have been a part of the hotel. There are even rumors of the hotel being haunted. 

 
 
The Montgomery Brothers purchased the Hotel and are rehabbing the place with the brains of the architect Montgomery Brother, Beckett. 

His crush from when he was 15 comes back to town, after she loses her husband, with her three boys. Clare Brewster is running the town's bookstore and frequents the Pizza shop her best friend owns, where Beckett and the Montgomery Brother's are at daily. 

Nora Roberts @ her Inns Boonsboro (google image)

BACK STORY:


Beckett has been in love with Clare since high school. He’s a self assured guy who has never had a problem with the ladies—unless that lady is Clare. He is absolutely hopeless at being smooth with her. He hid his crush and never acted on it because she never really saw him. They weren’t even close friends. They were friendly, sure, but she was friendly with all of his brothers. Unfortunately for him, Clare was in love with someone else in high school and went on to marry him and move away. Fast forward quite a few years and a widowed Clare, with three kids, has moved back to her home town and opened a business. Beckett still never acts on his crush, but he hasn’t forgotten it. He has to remind himself daily that it doesn’t matter.

Clare finds herself drawn to the Inn and wants to take a closer look at the place and Beckett is happy to oblige. There is a romantic story that is unwrapping, slowly, but these two characters are supposed to be in the Inn at the same time and the ghosts are playing a role in making the chemistry burn between them. 

I loved how Harry, Liam and Murphy, Clare's boys were a lot like Beckett, Owen and Ryder in a lot of ways and how the Montgomery Boys were drawn to Clare's boys, as if it were a foreshadow of what Clare was supposed to find in her life.  I liked that the boys weren’t perfect little kids who existed in the story only to be precocious or wise beyond their years. They didn’t conveniently exit the stage when they weren’t being cute, either. Clare was a mom through and through and they were an integral part of the story and her burgeoning relationship with Beckett.



Favorite Quote:
Ryder sent Beckett a slow smile. “So, you’re hitting on Clare the Fair.”

“I’m not hitting on her. I’m exploring the possibility of seeing her on social terms.”

“He’s hitting on her,” Owen said around a mouthful of chips. “You’ve still got that thing you had for her back in high school. Are you still writing bad song lyrics about heartbreak?”

“Suck me. And they weren’t that bad.”

“Yeah, they were,” Ryder disagreed. “But at least now we don’t have to listen to you playing your keyboard and howling them down the hall.”
 
 


Last words..
I know that Nora Robert's gets a lot of flack, a lot of grief and a lot of negative reviews. I have been reading her for years now and she is by far, hands down, my favorite author. I have said it before, I try to write like her, and it is only natural because I read all of her works. To me, she is an amazingly, real, author. 

This book, alone, intrigued me, made me want to pick up the next and the next. I don't know if it has to do with the historical part of this novel or what, but it felt so closely parallel to my life, my rehab project, the history of my house. I was hooked and I loved the book. I have already read #2 and #3- but best to save those for their own review pages! This trilogy was amazing and if you are a fan of Nora Roberts, please read! The images that she puts to paper are so real, like photographs in my mind. I could see, relate, feel the emotions from each page and it was an amazing story line as well. But, like I said, I am a huge fan!

Old pic of the Inn Boonsboro (Google Image)
Hope you all enjoy!


Until next time! (Next Tuesday I will review Book #2- The Last 
Boyfriend.) 
The Last Boyfriend Cover

~KEL~

Monday, April 7, 2014

Marriage Monday...according to my Hubby....

It's Marriage Monday in a man's perspective..

I get my Hubby to dish on Marriage. It's interesting to see relationships through his eyes or hear his feelings. Men process things so very different from Woman...


It is a Sunday evening and as I sit and watch T.V. with my Hubby, after a long day and his only day off,  he asks me about my blog (imagine my surprise to even know he remembers this little blog thing!) and I tell him tomorrow is Marriage Monday. He then proceeds to tell me his perspective  on the "whole marriage" thing.  ( I asked him to write this but I got a funny face...it's to real for him, I suppose!)

So, I asked him what he had to say about Marriage and his first words were, "Make sure you know what you are getting into." I was like, "Huh?"  I obviously didn't get it!  His explanation was simple, be together 5 years, buy a house together and if everything is working, take the giant marriage leap. 

I could take offense here, I probably should, but I guess the reality is that we dated, we lived together at his Dad's for a year or so and then decided to buy a house. Five  years total into our relationship he "popped" the question with a big diamond ring and that was eight years ago. 


My Ring- handcrafted by Hubby and I

I asked him to elaborate his feelings into a relationship, that is not ours...He just said that he feels that in five years you are going to "hammer" out the big issues and find resolutions or move on. I guess for guys, it is just that easy!  I guess this answer is better than the "Just Don't Do It" joke that he frequently goes to! 

His views on marriage are his own, I totally agree with that and he is entitled to this opinion. He confides in me that he never really thought he would ever get married , or have kids.  He then follows up with, "then I met you."  I know that his mind is indifferent when it comes to the whole "Everything happens for a reason" mentality that his wife lives her life by, but I think that somewhere he knew when we started "dating" - which I use loosely... that we were supposed to be together.  He knows it was not easy. Is it supposed to be? It is about learning and figuring out life and the other person.  I just think that if you are with someone who makes you happy and makes you a better person and makes you want to stay with them, they must be worth it. These, however, are my words, not Hubby's.  His views are much simpler, he does not "over think" it, as I tend to. He just said that he really liked me, then he loved me and we were having fun and kept having fun and the love kept growing and here we are. (It's so gosh darn romantic, ain't it... hmm..I like my answer better.)

We have friends that are having a baby and I asked if/when they were going to get married, to Hubby. He said, "Um, probably not."  I don't understand this and am probably naive in this subject, but in the words of my Hubby, "You don't need to get married just because your having a kid.  I am sure they will try to make it work because of the kid but I don't know if marriage is in {his} future."  So, this makes me ask why he married me, how he knew it was all of a sudden  in his future when he had told me that he never saw himself getting married.  I get an answer I don't really expect, especially after the hum-dingers I got above.  His reply was, "I love you and knew I wanted to spend my life with you, no one else but you. I couldn't imagine my life without you in it and knew it was time to settle down.  It was like we were already married anyways, the piece of paper did not change anything between us, just put some sparkle on your finger."  Awww...He does have a romantic bone! Ha Ha.

Google Image- This is totally something my Hubby would do!

He has been talking to our friend as mentioned above and I guess there is a lot of nagging going on and they are just not getting along on all levels.  My Hubby tells him that if it is worth it to find a compromise. He also refers him to my blog. (My Promoter!)  

I am going to put my two cents in here.. There are rules ladies. I know it is hard when you are expecting and hormones are all over the place, but to be in a relationship (not a marriage) and to be expecting, I feel, not from experience, would be overwhelming. I do feel that Hubby and I had a strong marriage going into parenthood, which in turn strengthened our bond and caused a lot less headaches. I am not, nor will I ever say that we never fought or had disagreements or even that I never nag, truth be told, I have, we have, it has happened. I can say that I have grown and learned along the journey that these things will neither solve problems, not help your relationship.  This nagging thing is a big issue and I think that sometime people need to flip the script and put themselves in their partners shoes, whether you are married or not. Nagging is a pain and I would not want to be nagged and I will not be doing the nagging. It is also important to remember that you are not in a relationship by yourself. You need to maintain respect and appreciate the person who shares this life with you and do not take it for granted. 


Another big one, one that I am sure everyone goes through when they walk down parenthood, is the resentment. I harbored so much resentment for so long when our kids were babies because I felt that I was the one doing everything, including getting up all night with babies to feed them and maintaining my job, which required me to be at work by 5:30 a.m.  I felt that I was sacrificing everything, including my life and Hubby got to sleep, sleep in on weekends too, and was not weighted down with the kids all the time.  Just to write this makes me think back to those times, they were not pleasant. Those were the hardest times in our relationship for me because i did not know how to express my feelings or fix the situation and it caused a lot of stress in our lives. I have since expelled my distasteful feelings and traded them for gratefulness and appreciation for my spouse, who did not understand what I was feeling or going through, but was patient with me and remained by my side through my learning process. 

I am not sure how I came to terms with my "role" but I think it might be just that. I have read about roles, and studied them until I truly understood what my role was and where my place lies. I did not do this alone either. This was a process that Hubby and I both had to go through and it has brought the best out in both of us and taught us that this is a team and one person does not, or should not, go through anything alone. It was a tough lesson though, let me tell you. 

So, thinking back on these times, I ask Hubby, if we did not get married would we have survived. He simply replies, "NO."  There is no explanation needed. I know he is right. It would be easy to throw in the towel at that point of our relationship because without the bond of marriage and vows, what would the point be to stand by, essentially in the dark, which is where I unintentionally kept my poor Hubby.

I am proud of the things I have learned, especially over the past few years and how I have really embraces  my Wife role, as well as my Mom role. It is important to work with your Hubby and make your marriage everything you wanted it to ever be. But it all goes back to those four letter words that surround us, that we do everyday, W O R K.   I think Hubby said it best when he said, "Don't get Married unless you are willing to fight for it, cry for it, laugh at it and WORK for it!" 

We keep working and keep finding more and more happiness and that is what life is all about in my eyes!
Google Image.

 
Thanks Hubby for putting your WORD in my ear! I love you more than you will ever know and appreciate all you do for our family and for me. I am one lucky girl, I get to grow old with you, my Lover and my Best-est Friend in the whole world! GO US!


~KEL~

Friday, April 4, 2014

T G I F.. It has been an exhausting week, but what am I teaching my daughters...




I am a Mom. I am a Wife. I have not 1 but 2 daughters and am the "role model" in my household. 

super-mom

I was thinking recently, what are some things that I want to instill in my daughters? Something that I want to make sure they always know and will use throughout their lives? 

What were some things that you took throughout your life?

 

Whoever wakes up in the morning and says that their life is "perfect" with a "perfect" house and "perfect" kids and "perfect perfections of perfect" is full of beans! Everyone has a bad day from time to time and guess what it is OK!  I say this because as a Mom, I am not "perfect" and as a wife, I am not "perfect" and I am just fine with these facts.  Does it mean I do not strive to be "perfect?" Well, I know that the idea of "perfect" is not a reality but an illusion, so I strive, instead, to be the best ME I can be for that day and find satisfaction in knowing that I gave it my all. 

Why am I talking in circles you ask? Well, I have two lovely daughters, two incredibly caring, warm and completely different girls who were given to me to care for and lead their way on their journey to adulthood. (Whoa, that's deep!)  I have two girls who cry (a lot) and fight and bicker and sing and dance and are happy and sad and mad within minutes of each other. I have two girls who are beautiful and sweet but can be a handful and sometimes just down right mean. My job is to find balance on top of all these sweet* emotions.  I have to find ways to keep them on the right path, to build values and to make sure they are true to themselves.  This has brought on a whole new meaning to "role model" for me.  This has also taught me to teach them that there is no such thing as "perfect."

Here is an interesting fact, thinking back to before kids, I never thought I would have girls. I always pictured my future and it always seemed like I was destined to have boys. Imagine my surprise on #2's gender reveal when they said, "its a girl."  Needless to say, I could never imagine not having these two ladies in my life. They are dramatic and sassy and bossy and loud, but they are also such a joy, so refreshing and unique and just plain amazing to me. 

But, having girls also means that the playing field is set up completely different. I think that when you think of having a boy, it is all a little more relaxed. I think that the "talks" I will need to have with my girls would not happen if I had boys. 

Google Image
Stop and think about it for a minute, I mean as a girl, we deal with self image, self esteem, hormones, emotions, there is the vanity part of being a girl, fitting in, then dating..oh lord please help me!  There are so many more aspects to being a girl and the things that girls deal with compared to what boys have to deal with. Girls are so complicated! Their minds are complex, their hearts are fueled with emotions. So, I am sitting down, thinking about what I want my girls to know, to believe, to help them through their journey in life. 

This is my list for my beautiful girls, please always remember these things and I hope they help your journey be a little easier, a little less stressful and help you be a better person because of it:

1- Most important:  You are Beautiful!  You don't need diets, makeup or to be a size zero. You are you and that is the most beautiful thing ever.

2- You are loved by so many people. Dad and I love you so much. Nana, Papa, Grandma P, Uncle Tony, Papa Glen...just to name a few, we all love you. More than us, you are loved by God and nothing you do or could do will ever change this fact.

3- No matter how old you get, guess what, you will always be my Baby. You also can't change the fact that I will always be your Mom.

4- I am so lucky because I get to be your best friend and your Mom, but I will always be your Mom first so be gentle with me when your all grown up.

5- I will always be here to lift you back up from a broken heart. And yes, you will get your heart broken, that is why God has given us recipes for Cookie Dough and Brownies!  


6- I will always fight for you but I will also teach you to fight your own battles. I want you to be a powerful woman. To stand up for yourself and always be true to you.

7- You will have a home with Dad and I. No matter what the situation is, we will always be here, this will always be your home. 

8- This one is important: Marry your best friend. I did and with that I found true happiness. Live by God's definition of what a wife is and have a man who will live by God's definition of what a husband is. It is OK to make him prove that he will fight for you, it will make your marriage stronger. You will find that Marriage is not easy and requires this extra work from both of you. Communication is the secret and teamwork.

9-  The day you were born was the day we bonded. I will always feel your hurt and cry your tears, I will always share your happiness and joys throughout life. My heart is a part of yours. 

10- Your Dad will always love you. He will love you forever. He will be tougher on you, expect more out of you because of this love. He is scared to see you grow up, so be patient with him.

11- Go to school. Challenge yourself. It will be worth it, I promise. Don't stop at your Bachelor's either. It is a minute moment in life and it might seem like forever, it really isn't.

12- Dance. Dance whenever, where you can, even when you think it is silly. We did this a lot when you were little and would laugh and laugh and it was a lasting memory for me, and I hope it will be for you too.

 
13- You are Never to old to love Disney. Love all the movies you loved as a little girl and never forget how they made you feel.

Frozen movie image

14- Enjoy food. Like it. Don't become a slave to it, don't use it to feed your happiness, but do eat, please!

15- I will make mistakes and screw up. I will apologize. I will try to make it better with an "I'm Sorry" and I will mean it.

16- Never be afraid to talk to me. Talk to me about everything and anything. I will not judge, I will not tell you what to do, instead I promise to listen. I don't care what time it is either. 

17- Tattoos are OK in our house, but remember they are permanent, try to be tasteful, but always be you. You can also always dye your hair when you need a change. Change is good. 

18- Always work hard. Work hard even when you don't have to. Find something your are passionate about and work at it. 

19- Travel. Travel before you settle down and have kids. Travel when you do. 

20- Another important one: Your first kiss.  We will celebrate, we will have champagne and talk and make it as special as it should be.

First Kiss

21- You will always want to say that you should wait... for marriage... for kids... until you are financially stable. 
It is a lie. You won't ever have enough money, so don't wait, but do plan ahead. Make sure that it is what you want and what your heart is telling you. Listen to God for hints.

22- It is OK to say sorry first. Saying sorry proves that the relationship is more valuable than just being right.

23- It is OK to cry. Sometimes you just need to cry, whether it is happy tears or sad, it is OK.

24- PMS is not an excuse. Try something herbal, it works. Green tea also helps with crabbiness.

25- You will question at one point in your life if you are a "Good Mom". Your ability to love and nurture defines what a good Mom is, not what kind of house you live in or if you cook homemade dinners or what your kids wear. Always remember this. It will be important at some point in your life.

26- Take chances, risks.  If you fail, it is OK, you are going somewhere. Don't be afraid. Failure means you are strong because you tried, but God has another path for you to take right now.

27- Have faith and make it your own. You can believe in whatever way works for you and that is fine with Dad and I. Just believe.

28- Please know that a number will never define who you are. It doesn't matter what you GPA is, what your age is or how much money you have in the bank. Most importantly, the number on the scale will never define who you are, it is just a number, not a reflection on the person you will be.


29- Make plans. Sometimes they will happen, most of the time they will not. Don't be scared of the change that will happen when they don't pan out, just modify them and try again.

30- Money does not grow on trees, no matter what you might believe. We all have to work hard to have money. Save as much as you can.  Splurge once in a while. But, don't live your life through money, don't let money live life for you either. It is a superficial part of life, break free and be creative.



31- When they say, "having a baby changes everything" - guess what, they really mean it! It will change what you thought you knew about life, about marriage and about kids. Be prepared. Be strong and be hopeful. You will get through it. 

32- Don't forget to laugh. Laughter is the best medicine and will help to keep you sane.

33- Forgive. It is hard but do it anyways. It doesn't mean you have to forget but you will live your life a little better without the stress of stubbornness. Life is too short.

34- Time is precious. Time together is more valuable than any amount of money. Remember this when you have a family. 

35- Pray. God is listening. 

36- Celebrate every Birthday you have. Even when I am not here, celebrate the way I always have on your birthday. You are my gift and it is the day when I get to spoil you rotten. You deserve it!

37- Never judge a book by its cover. You never know the whole story.

38- Other people's happiness is not your responsibility. Do not try and make it. (Words your Mom should listen to!)



39- You are a gift from God, given to Dad and I, one that we did not deserve. We are trying our best, giving our all.  We pray a lot.

40- Carrying you was the most amazing 9 months of my life. I love being your Mom. From the day I found out I was pregnant to the day I die, my greatest source of joy is being able to call myself your Mom.

41- People are always going to think what they want about you. Don't let it get to you. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what others think, it is about what you think. On that note, beauty is found in who we are, not what you look like. 

42- You are never to old to cuddle. Especially with me. If you need a hug, I am here.

43- Marriages are not built on dates and passion, but instead they are built on folding laundry, lazy mornings and washing dishes. This is real. 


44- Always trust your instincts. You are aware and capable of more than you realize.  I will always push your further as part of my job as your Mom.

45- You will never know how much I love you. There is nothing that you could do to ever make me love you any less. 



Please listen to Christina Aguilara's "Beautiful" - it summarizes just how I hope you will always feel. Other people don't matter. This is not their life, this is your life. If you get bullied in High School, stand tall, keep your head up and stay true to who you are. It is four years of your life and then those people will be remnants of your past. Never forget who you want to be, make your life what you want and always reach for the stars, even the ones that seem so far away you will never get to them, never give up. Find your source of happiness, find your light and your purpose and live this life for all it's worth.

Beautiful Lyrics  

"Beautiful" is track #7 on the album Stripped.

Every day is so wonderful
Suddenly it's hard to breathe
Now and then I get insecure
From all the pain, I'm so ashamed
I am beautiful no matter what they say
Words can't bring me down
I am beautiful in every single way
Yes, words can't bring me down, oh no
So don't you bring me down today
To all your friends you're delirious
So consumed in all your doom
Tryinghard to fill the emptiness, the piece is gone
Left the puzzle undone, ain't that the way it is?
You are beautiful no matter what they say
Words can't bring you down, oh no
You are beautiful in every single way
Yes, words can't bring you down, oh no
So don't you bring me down today
No matter what we do
(No matter what we do)
No matter what we say
(No matter what we say)
We're the song inside the tune
Full of beautiful mistakes
And everywhere we go
(Everywhere we go)
The sun will always shine
(Sun will always shine)
But tomorrow we might awake on the other side
'Cause we are beautiful no matter what they say
Yes, words won't bring us down, oh no
We are beautiful in every single way
Yes, words can't bring us down, oh no
So don't you bring me down today
Don't you bring me down today
Don't you bring me down today
Songwriters
PERRY



My girls are my drive. You have made me a better person, you have always brought the worst out in me at time, but that is OK, it puts it into perspective to strive for better. I took on my role as a Mom, shook hands with it and made it my own and kept expecting more out of myself until I stopped and looked at God's plan for me and it all made sense.  I am a protector, I am worried and scared and annoyed sometimes too, I am tired and cranky, happy and sometimes I am even sad. That is my role as a Mom, to show both of you that it is OK. I don't have a handbook. What works for one does not for the other and it is about me figuring out what works and how to creatively parent. 

I am on an incredible journey right now to finding myself, to taking on my role as a Godly wife and a Mom and an employee and I am learning as I go and that is OK. We will all be fine, we will all learn and we will be better for it. 


google image.
This is our journey.  We will grow, we will love, laugh, we will be happy and sad, were going to get mad and upset and feeling will be hurt along the way, but we will always have one another. We will always know what love it and create memories on this path. 

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I will love my Hubby for eternity and then some. I will love my girls the same. I love my life, even when it is hard and I want to do nothing more than crawl up into a ball on the floor and cry, it makes me stronger, it gives me perspective and drive and teaches me not to take anything for granted. Life is fast and you never know what tomorrow will bring so live in the moment and make memories, lots of them!

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I love you girls...to the moon and back.. You will ways be my sunshine when skies are gray, you will never know how much I love you and I pray no one takes that sunshine away.

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KJ (my Moon)
KM (my Sun)

Love,

~MOM~









 
  

 

 

 

Thursday, April 3, 2014

I know it's #tbt..but Life at Gray Gables is getting Interesting...

What if you get an unexpected phone call that you answer and the person on the other end of the line wants you to work from home, what do you do?

What if working from home is exactly what you have wanted for a long time and this opportunity is happening at just the right time in your life? 

Google Image

My life is moving at rapid speed right now and I am on the brink of losing control, with excitement that is! 

Let's have a little throwback Thursday action and head back to last Wednesday.  I am getting my kids to bed and handling some laundry detail. Its about seven at night and my phone is lying on the bed in our room, obviously on silent, as usual (bad habit!).  I take the laundry up to our room and start sorting according to what goes where, when I look down and see the little green indicator light flashing for all it's worth, trying desperately to get my attention. So, I open the cover and swipe my finger (I love you Samsung Note!) and see a missed call and a voicemail. Right to voicemail I go and enter password and hear an unfamiliar voice who is trying to get ahold of me because she saw my resume and was very impressed. 

My thoughts are, um, OK. So I call the number back and it goes to a voice mailbox and I leave a message.  Then, I go back to my laundry. 

It isn't until after nine o'clock that I get a callback, and yes, I am still doing laundry. What happens next is just crazy! I basically am in an interview. I am told about the company that is looking for an Administrative Assistant and the kicker is that this is not a freelance opportunity. I am excited. This is exactly what I have been looking for with the added perks of being a real employee, not a free agent. 

What would you do? Would you consider this position? Would you be skeptical? 

Since then, I have had three interviews and in depth details about the position and I want this job so bad! I have never been so excited and happy about a job before, but having the opportunity to work with the company and at home is a dream come true. 

I am still waiting for the final steps, but I have been told that everything is good, from the Executives that I interviewed with yesterday, and even went as far as to pack up my stuff at my current job. 

Am I crazy? I just see this as an incredible opportunity for my family! 


My Hubby is just as excited. We did our research and this company is legit and growing, which is very important. It is a smaller company, but it believes in helping its employees continue to grow with the company.  

I feel that God has put this in my path for a reason, probably my nagging prayers. I have not been quiet about the fact that my oldest starts Kindergarten this fall and I want to be there for her, drop off/pick up and room mother. I want to be an active Mom and with my current job, I am missing everything. I work early in the morning and although I get off early, it still is an awkward time and I am just missing out on her school experience, and my Hubby is running on fumes because of his odd work schedule. 

I can not explain how deep my feelings are, but this feels so right, like that feeling of being exactly where you should be? I don't know exactly how to put it into words, but I know that I can not wait to get started with my furture with this company and be a little more active in my girls lives. 


Here is the kicker! My current job let me know six months ago that I would be out of a job within a year or so and to start looking elsewhere. My Boss was very open and said that she did not know what the future was for our company, being that it is health care, and there has been a lot of activity in our building since the beginning of the week. I just feel like this was God's way of taking care of my family and I will continue to pray for this godsend that befallen upon us. 

I am just feeling truly blessed right now!



Happy Thursday All!
 
~KEL~ 

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