Sunday Tunes

Love her. Love this album already.

Excuse me while I rock out all week to this new jam!

New Lens, New Sight

Sometimes its good to take a step back and refocus on the bigger picture. I've been spending a great deal of time  thinking, planning, writing, debating, and thinking even more. Yeah, we all do that, but the funny thing is lately I've been looking through a new lens.

Instead of focusing on problems and issues, I've been actively focusing on possibilities. In other words, I'm trying not to "wet blanket" ideas, but let them pour out before crossing them out. Sounds funny, but I think it's made the biggest difference in my attitude and outlook on life recently.

See, I'm a worrier.
"Hello, my name is Julie and I'm Worry Wart."
Hello, Julie.
Admitting there's a problem is the first step.

And in doing so, I've realized I've been wasting a great deal of time stuck in the middle of the road wondering what's going to happen because none of my plans are working out. First of all, what plans? When you're standing still, immobile due to fear or concern, you're not doing anything other than standing there in a full on state of internal panic. Let me tell you, not a lot gets done that way.

I used to be a dreamer, letting my mind soar through my imagination of possibility. Then I hit adulthood, real life work with bills constantly falling into my mailbox and my imagination shut down. That dread and concern coated all creative thought in a dank, dark gray, tainting just about everything I could possible think about. But lucky for me, my imagination, my desire to create, just wouldn't take this "foreclosure" lying down.

In changing my perspective, I feel like a fog is lifting, things are getting clear, and the colors more vivid--think Dorothy's first look at Munchkin Land. You get the picture.

Part of this change in perspective came from being inspired by others. It was time to stop seeing what someone else is creating or doing and thinking, "Aw, man...why couldn't I do that?" Or asking myself "how did they do that" and thinking it came so easy, their work effortless and stress free. Or worse, being jealous of their success saying, "if only I had this or that or more of...etc." All those thoughts had to stop. I needed to refocus, turn it on it's head and look it all from a different perspective. So I started branching out, looking at people's brands, reading up on interviews, craving to find out more while constantly reminding myself they started with one decision: to jump it.

We don't always see the stress or strain of a new project. We don't always see the hard work that goes into building new projects. We don't always see the mess up's, the whoops and oops moments, or even the scrapped ideas. Most of the time we see the final product or read the interviews over the success of something. All of that wouldn't be possible if that person hadn't just decided to start.

Long rambling aside, if you're stuck in a place of terror, paralyzed by the fear of failing, messing up, or making the wrong choice, remember the only wrong choice is choosing not to do anything at all. It finally hit me that not making a decision on anything left me planted without moving towards anything I really wanted.

I had forgotten that dreams take time to build and work towards. Write it down, say it out loud without any hesitation or question of if it will work. Lay it out, look at it closely, and then figure out what to do.  You can create when you have material to work with so it's time to get started, think it up! The best way to learn is to just do. What's the worst that could happen?

I'm using every moment I have right now to dream without limits, to plan and rewrite as needed, and use all my knowledge I have to start taking steps towards my new adventures. And you know what? I'll still be learning as I walk through the process.

 "You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have."

- Maya Angelou

Your imagination is a muscle. Work it. Stretch it. Use it every day and see what happens.

If you want to be inspired, go to www.iamgeneration.com by Nikon. Watch the clips of seven very different stories and see how these people are living their lives following their passion. Let it fuel you, not discourage you. Take someone's work and use it to motivate yourself to let those creative juices fly. And drink coffee. That always helps me.

What's your inspiration to dream?

Saturday Jam

 

A jam to get this Saturday morning work party started!

 

What's your favorite song to rock out to?

In the Saddle Again

Finally back in the swing of things again. I've been lucky to have lots to keep me busy, but every now and again I stop and really think about her, miss her. Every day there's something to remind me of her which is lovely, even if it makes me a little sad. It's all part of the process of life and I know she would want me to enjoy what's happening in my life. So I'm trying. I'm "being" or at least learning how to...

Be. Present.

I'm working on it.

Lots of exciting things for me this semester though! Started choreographing for our Spring Show this week, something I haven't had the chance to do before which makes this extra exciting. The dancers are fabulous and the music is energetically contagious! Seeing the steps on paper come to life through these dancers has always been my favorite part of choreography. Equally so is being able to rework in the moment, finding an accidental diamond in the attempts and redo's.

These kids are fearless and eager to do whatever I throw at them. They have no clue what's coming in the piece or what it even looks like and yet they're ready to jump in and move because it's what they love. Committed enthusiasm is a true luxury and I don't take it for granted.

Choreography itself is a creative structural process; I feel like an architect of movement, sketching and building the work at every turn. When the movement starts taking life and shape, that's when I begin to edit, adjust, and tweak. If I were 100% set in what was on paper, I'd never know what possibilities lie beneath it all. That's the part I really like. Discovering new material, movement, and pictures with the dancers there.

It's certainly a challenge. Taking what I see in my head, putting it down on paper, pulling it out to fit on the dancers, and tailoring it to fit the music, the stage, the mood. It's such an organic creative process and the process is as equally, if not more important than the performance.

In short, I'm loving every moment.

What's your creative outlet? 

New Year, New Focus

Goodbye 2014, you were an interesting year. This year my Christmas letter talked about all about the changes 2014 brought to me and my husband.  I wrote about the addition of Penny Pup in the spring, the addition of classes, shows, and job responsibilities for me, a new job for Pyro Man and, of course, the renewal of our old challenge: long distance.

This was also the year that showed me real loss and taught me what it meant to miss. Right up to the very end, too. A few other personal journeys and revelations fit in there, too. I feel a little different in a lot of ways since last January. Yes, there were a lot of changes this year that pushed me and stretched me, further than I really liked or wanted, but now that the year is all wrapped up in a nice little bow, I can say it was for my betterment. That's life, right? Challenging us to help us grow. 

I'm sure everyone looks back at their year and sees what I see: a lot of lessons learned, a lot of good memories, and a lot of direction for the new year. I've got a good one for this year, an arrow I know is meant for me to follow. There's only one thing I can hear my heart say: Be. Brave. 

Be brave. This mantra has been on my mind for some time--I even wrote about it in this post two months back. Straight to the point, which I like. Powerful and yet, simple. This is something that can be done in little ways, not just monumental actions. More importantly, I think it can do me a world of good.

I can't say 2014 was a terrible year; it was definitely different. I can't say I'm glad to see it go; it left me with a sore heart and an thoughtful mind. I can't say I'm super pumped for this new year; it started with off on an odd foot.

What I can say is this; I feel content about this new year knowing I'm not setting out to change the world, but merely trying to take a small step outside of comfort zone every chance I get. I'm looking forward to growing in big and small ways every day. This year is not about moving mountains, changing lives, or taking on more than I can handle. It's about being strong, taking chances, trusting myself so that when looking back I know I did all that's moving me forward.

What's your New Year's Resolution?

Grandest of Them All

A light went out in this world on Sunday, December 28th when my dear sweet grandmother, Geneva Libersat Theall, passed. While we all try to find comfort in the loss of a beautiful and lively soul, we've been reminded of lovely happy memories. She was a spitfire and a joy to be around, one we will all surely miss.

In trying to get her affairs in place, I remembered a paper I wrote seven years ago for a Public Speaking course. We were assigned to write a tribute speech about someone we admired. Well, I went to the first person I generally think of honoring in my life, my grandma. She's a special lady, wise and knowing, with a good sense of humor.

She could bring people together during any situation like the time she started a poker game during a layover at the airport. No family event was complete without a roaring round of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" and every birthday you got a phone call with her singing "Happy Birthday" just to you.

Anyway, I wrote a tribute speech just for my grandmother. I had to dig through the garage to unearth the old laptop and hope and pray that the paper still existed. Luckily for me, I found exactly what I was looking for.

Just for Geneva, Grandma Extraordinaire

“A woman is like a tea bag; you never know how strong she is until she gets into hot water.” Eleanor Roosevelt pegged the women of my family. My mother, my aunts and my sister seem to share the same characteristic of unfailing strength, especially when confronted with a difficult situation. I can’t neglect to mention the amount of love, creativity and positive outlook that flows through each of these women as well. I see these as family traits passed down to younger generations, but the source of it all, I believe, comes from the strongest link of our family, my grandmother. My grandmother, Geneva, is the most positive, caring, creative and strong woman I have ever met and I don’t even think she realizes it.

            After spending five minutes with my grandmother you would immediately understand why she was a first grade teacher for 39 years. Her beautiful smile, bubbly personality and ever-lasting positive outlook on life is perfect for the classroom. She is known in our family for waking us up with a song every morning. Even every day activities like cleaning up or driving to the grocery store has an equally appropriate tune as well. No job is too great or too important that it can’t have its own theme song; to her way of looking at it, that musical ditty only makes the work more fun for everyone, and she’s right. “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”  is her classic morning wake-up. She’s always looking to learn something new and keep up with today’s new technology. Take the computer for instance: Grandma can successfully check her email and look up weather.com all on her own now. It only took 3 months to teach her how to unlock her cell phone or send a picture without taking 63 shots of herself instead of her target. I’ve even taught her how to send text messages using T9 word—the next task now is teaching her how to make a smiley face and boy, is she excited about that!

 

When the chips are down no one can pick you up like Grandma. It’s something about the way she encloses her arms around you for that “welcome back” hug when you visit her. Maybe it’s the way she pats your hand and say’s “Chere, baby!” that makes all seem right in the world. Either way my grandmother comforts like no one else! Perhaps she’s had enough practice raising four children and working with kids for almost a half century. She is fearless when it comes to tears. Distance between us makes it hard to get that Grandma-hug in, but she embraces the challenge and comforts us through a simple “I love you” card or offers a comforting word over the phone. No amount of space can keep Grandma from sending her love!

Need help with any project at all? She’ll be there with bells on ready to help in any way she can. She’s a master with projects, too. I’m a poster project princess because of my Grandmother, AKA the Queen of Arts-&-Crafts.  My grandfather was a professor at Texas Tech making both my grandparents advocates for education, but they came to understand that a teacher’s salary doesn’t pay for too much. My grandmother wanted her kids to have the best she could provide, so she used whatever she had to work with. She taught her daughters how to sew and embroider all their clothes, baked goods were used for gifts at the holidays and summer long camping trips were taken as a family vacation and a learning experience. My grandmother taught me how to make a backyard into a jungle full of adventure. She showed me the secret to drawing a perfectly proportioned person and how doodles can turn any school supplies into a work of art. She let me take her childhood stories and toys and turn her house into a time machine. I am never bored when in the presence of my grandmother; she is always full of life and full of fun.

            When I think of my Grandmother so many stories of perseverance and strength come to mind, it’s often hard to pick just one. I think of the strength it took for her five year old self to donate her favorite green tricycle for the cause during WWII. I think of the strength it took to pack up her new family and move to the strange town of Lubbock, making her the first in her family of thirteen generations to ever leave Louisiana. I think of the strength she found as she continues on with her life since the passing of my grandfather, almost 20 years ago. My grandmother has always been an active person, constantly moving and playing with her family. I think of the new challenges she’s facing as she battles against her biggest hurdle yet, rheumatoid arthritis. But she is a determined woman, rising to the challenge and beating the odds. No physical condition has kept her from hopping on a plane to visit her seven grandchildren, see them graduate, dance, run track, get married or perform in some way. She has driven to Mount Rushmore and visited her family roots in Nova Scotia. There’s the challenge of being an older person being in a young person’s world. She is determined to try new things and refuses to surrender to old age. The use of a cane and replacement of teeth has yet to slow her down—though we occasionally have to back-track to airports, video stores and parking lots looking for said teeth and cane, she continues on with life as if nothing is different. The woman is resilient!

            Whether she realizes it or not, my grandmother has passed on many wonderful qualities to her own children who have passed them on to theirs. By watching these role models and learning from the best, I hope to pass these same qualities to my children some day. I look up to my grandmother because she is her caring, positive, creative and strong—to me, the ingredients that make her one of my biggest heroes.

 

 It might be a little out of date--Grandma had a "Merry Walker" to roll her along, no more cane, and she texted beautifully with her iPhone. Emojis decorated every text followed by a concluding "over and out" or "roger that!" Getting a hug from her was easier since that she lived down the street from my parents and every Sunday in town was dedicated to visiting Grandma for her pill packs, coffee prep, and calendar change. Outdated paper or not, I'm glad I could be reminded of her again.

 

I cherish every hug, every adventure, and all the time I had with my Grandma.

Je t'aime beaucoup tout mon coeur, Grandma. I miss you so.

Few of My Favorite Things

Just before Thanksgiving I decided I needed a restart--Perfect timing, huh? Just before the holidays it's time to start cracking down on what I'm eating, how much of it, and getting my rear moving.

For the last two weeks I've really been trying hard to make better choices so far it's paying off--two pounds down! Whoo-hoo! Three days into this restart and I already felt better, more energized, and just plain good. Who would have thought that nourishing your body would feel so great?

Here are a few of my favorite things that have helped me enjoy getting back on track:

Dove Chocolates--Yes, dark chocolate for a little indulgence at the end of the day. Have to. I can't deprive myself so I'll be smart about it and enjoy 1 or 2 chocolates. Yes, moderation and self control--not my strong suits, but I am getting better.

Tea Infuser--This Aladdin tea infuser mug is great at the end of the day. I have to power through sitting and observing for two hours, 4-6, nearly every day. By the time I get home I'm tried of sitting and staring and talk about hungry! So I started drinking tea half way through my observations.

It definitely curbs my appetite so I can make it home and make a good dinner. When you're starving you don't want to wait to make something, you'll eat everything including the kitchen sink. That's why the hot beverage really helps. It keeps the monster at bay.

This mug is great for traveling and I know I won't slosh tea all over my desk while I'm working. The little infuser is attached to the lid. Flip the switch to drop it down and flip it back to pop it out when you're done.

Peppermint Tea--It's the holiday season and mint or peppermint tea just seems like the right flavor. Add a little honey to sweeten it and I'm good.

White Balsamic Vinear & Walnut Oil--Two great items to put on your salad. No need for dressing, this is it! I had an aunt rave about using vinegars and oils on her salads and how she never used dressings again. Well, I've been doing that for a couple years now and I love it.

This is a great combination that's light and fresh. I add salt and pepper for a little seasoning and that's all you really need. Today I did a kale salad with dried cranberries, walnuts, and sliced apples topped with feta cheese. Delicious and definitely filling!

Lunchblox--This great little grouping here is genius! Containers that stack together, with stackable ice packs, make lunch easier to pack and carry to work. All my little containers are useful for holding side items like almonds, celery, peanut butter, and more.

 Halos--Cute small oranges give me a boost of vitamin C for a quick snack and they don't require a whole lot. All you need are your hands for peeling!

Barre3--My job is not 9 to 5 and while I do teach dance, that doesn't mean I'm putting my body through the paces it needs. When you're teaching, you're not focused on your body, you're focused on helping your students understand their own. Being here for long hours, the last thing I want to do is hit the gym. I've done the gym thing and it's great, but I need something that makes me feel happy, like when I dance. Working out should be fun, right?

I do barre3 online. Don't need a set time and place. I can do it any time, any where, any day. I like that. I can do a 10 minute work out or 30. Or 40. Or 60. I can to three sets of 10 minute sessions throughout the day or take a full hour off and get it done right in my office.

I really like how I can focus on my body, settle my mind, and reenergize for the day. It's a time for me to check in with myself and honor my body by doing something good for it. Yeah, yeah, kumbaya and all that, but I really do enjoy my barre3 time.

Is there something you use that helps you make good choices? Or a good choice that helps you feel great? 

Best Day Ever

Listening to the radio this morning, I heard this story about a man polling celebrities about their best day ever and of course, the talk show started talking about their best day. You see where this is going...it got me thinking about the best day even in my lifetime.

I couldn't even believe it was happing.

That's tough. I have tons of days I can think of that make my heart light up and it makes me feel incredibly grateful. To pick just one? Man, that's nearly impossible! 

Meeting Maddie for the 1st time.

I think about the day Pyro Man dropped to one knee and asked me to marry him. I think about the day we stood in front of all our friends and family and did just that. I think about meeting my niece for the first time and ugly crying while I blubbered to my sister how much I already loved Miss Maddie. I think about the day I got my license and my first time in New York City. Both exhilarating!

So proud of this production.
Imagine This

I think about the day I got pulled on stage by Andy Blankenbuehler at a convention because he remembered me performing my solo the night before. Biggest thrill and I still remember how that made me feel. I think about the day I got accepted in the dance department, where I was and who was with me and how it felt. The day my MFA These production took the stage makes my heart swell and my heart race. Graduation when I received my hood, a perfect end to my collegiate career. The day I got the call a job opening for OCU. I did lunges in a sun dress on the stage of my reception venue. In front of a bunch of random strangers. 

Totally cheesin'. Can you tell?

I think about days spent with family and friends, special moments that made that day meaningful to me. But as I'm sorting through all these incredible days, I can't help but return to one day in particular. Everything about that day, what led up to it, how the day went, who was there, it all really shaped who I am today. At the time it really was the best day ever, but really looking at it now, really thinking on it, I know that's a moment that really changed me. 

 

The day I won my first dance competition with my solo. I was fourteen and I'd busted my butt all year long working on a piece I dearly loved and felt connected to. I remember hearing my name called to perform it for a second time that day in front of an entire gymnasium full of people. I remember the feeling of laying my heart out there on the floor, pacing myself, controlling each extension, each turn, and feeling elated when I heard the applause at the end. If nothing else, I knew I made it farther than I ever had in competition before. 

Every time I hear that song or see a picture of that dance, I'm reminded of how I learned what hard work really was and that if I put in the time and effort, good things could happen. I'd never realized you get out what you put into things but that day really struck a chord for me. I was reaping the rewards of putting my all into something I was passionate about, something that meant a great deal to me and it paid off. Incredibly life lesson all if one day, huh? 

Baby face. Just so young...

Receiving that honor made me smile like I'd never smiled. My family was there cheering me on, sharing in this exciting achievement I'd worked so hard to attain. I was on cloud nine!

My confidence soared and I kept telling myself every year after, if I want it I have to work for it. The trophy is gone and I don't remember the choreography any more, but the feeling of that day, I still carry it with me.

 

If you had to choose the best day of your life ever, what would it be? 

Focus, Focus, Focus

My goodness, it's hard to concentrate this time of year! It's the last week of classes and I have so much to do between now and when grades are do, but I'm having the hardest time focusing today!

I think it's because I have packages waiting to be wrapped and a few more arriving today--can't wait to wrap up these special goodies for the ones I love! Oddly enough, I really enjoy wrapping gifts, especially at Christmas time. I always wrap them while listening to Bing Crosby's Christmas album.

AH! Come on 6:00 pm! Hurry up and get here! I've got holiday fun to do tonight!

What could it be?
 

What's are you excited for today?

Happy Heart

Thursdays are my Fridays which is stellar since Thursday is my favorite day of the week! This week especially I've had a very full and happy heart!

I can't put my finger on any one thing that's put a pep in my step, but I can tell you a few things that certainly have made this heart so light...

A decorated tree to sit by and admire all day long...

 

Festive dishes to eat upon and mugs for warm drinks...

 

Good food to fuel the body...

 

Kitty snuggles on the couch...

 

New toys to play with...

 



 

Fuzzy models to play with...

 

 Moral support during workouts.

 

 All the little things that make me smile or my heart go pitter-pat, they add up throughout the week and I always feel full of happiness. Weeks like this one, I could live off that joy forever!

 

What makes your heart happy?

 

Passion Planner: My Passion for Planners

Last post I warned you about a nerdy post. Well, here it is...

I love planners. And calendars. And clocks. I do and yes, I know it's weird. From the time I was a little girl I've adored writing in my planners and keeping track of all I do and have yet to be done. Again, I know that's weird.

The last couple of years I've stopped using written planners much to my disappointment. I just couldn't find one that felt functional for my new adult life. So I went to using my phone calendar alone--which is great, don't get me wrong! It has great features and reminders that help remember things like birthdays, medicine refills, appointments, and more. I love that reminder feature. But when it came to keeping track on my to-do's with my daily schedule, forget about it. Doesn't really work with the phone.

A couple weeks ago, my friend sent me this awesome link for basically the neatest planner ever! Fortunately she is weird like me and loves calendars, too, so I I knew I could trust her planner picking skills. It's called The Passion Planner. Y'all. This Passion Planner is the bomb dot com!!



All my trial sheets--not the best shot, but you get the idea.

It's so functional to my brain and my needs, especially in this time of my life. I'm not in school as a student any more, but I still have career aspirations and dreams to work towards. Each week and each day I have a focus to concentrate on, which is great for me. There's a split box for to-do's: personal and work. Hallelujah! Because there IS a difference between what needs to be done for work and home life and both are equally important. I tend to push a lot of personal to-do's to the side. But what's even better is that it divvies up the personal work to-do's in two sections, "top priority" and "priority." There's even a big box to free write, draw and take notes. Loved using that for whatever pertinent thought crosses my mind.

To be honest, I wasn't too sure about this planner only because it lacked color. It's just black and white. My gut told me, "buy it! It's perfect for you!" while my creative brain hollered back, "Where's the color? The intrigue? The imagination?!" Point taken so I went on a research binge of planners. I looked at every designer planner I heard of, polled facebook of all my planner friends to give me their recommendations, and dug a little bit deeper in the personal planning world. I tested example print outs and studied each potential planner carefully until I circled back to what my gut told me, the Passion Planner was the way to go.

 

I've made my purchase and I'm anxiously awaiting it's arrival in January! In the mean time I've printed off their trial forms and have stapled those together for the duration of December. It really is that wonderful that I couldn't wait until January!

Planners can be very personal and it does take some time and trial and error to find the right one for you. I'm pretty excited about my find and maybe I'll help another lost planner find the daily planner of their dreams!

Big Sighs and Homemade Pies

When the clocks strike 6:00 pm tonight, I'll officially be on vacation! I've been looking forward to a little down time especially since I'll get to spend a couple extra days with my main squeeze!

Got a big project accomplished and turned in this week, so big sigh there. Nailed down a great summer opportunity for me and I'm really looking forward to this big step--hoping it opens up some new doors. Overall, there's been a lot of positive things going on and it feels nice to see things moving for me.

I've still got a few Thanksgiving to-do's to get done, but I made up a two batches of mock mince meat pie filling for this year! Can't wait to serve up a big piece of this!

Essentially a spiced fruit pie. So. Dang. Good.

I also tried my hand at Pioneer Woman's batch of Cinnamon Rolls. Lord have mercy because those are the best cinnamon rolls I have ever had in my entire life. Not to mention they make a ton--like three pie plates and casserole dish ton--I couldn't freeze them all and I knew there were too many for just our family. So, I shared a whole pan with folks at work. Thankful to have such lovely co-workers who will help a gal out!

Before...

After...sooooo delicious!

And even though I whipped up a batch of those decadent rolls, I still resisted the urge to eat one this morning and hit the restart button on my health.

Eggs, toast, tomatoes, and avocado. Fills the belly up and fuels the body for sure!

Yes, only days before Thanksgiving, too. But I really needed it. I've let a lot of thing slide and my choices in eating and exercise to just got out the window. 


Three days of early morning walks and slow jogging has helped boost up my energy so far. I'm feeling determined to keep it up this time. It's so hard to start over. I'm hoping this is the last start over and I can just maintain good habits. Fingers crossed.

Apple cranberry walnut spinach salad with grilled chicken.

 

Best part of today? I ordered myself something special and I can't wait for it to get in! I'll share a little bit on that later. Nerd alert, ya'll. Just prepare yourself.

 

Happy Thanksgiving to you all! Have safe travels!

 

What's your big accomplishment for the week?

Winter Is Coming

Not coming, winter is by golly here! Last night we dropped 20 degrees in one hour--what the what?! Yesterday is was 79, today it's 33. That's right, people, winter has arrived.

Last night I tried to prep for the big artic rush and someone decided they needed to "help" in this process. There's a $3.50 faucet cover totally demolished. Darn thing lasted a grand total of ten minutes. She just can't help herself sometimes...Oh, Penny Love.

Me? I was all too thrilled to pull out the warm hats and scarves for this year! I'm sure I'll be over the cold soon enough, but for now I'm excited to bundle up! Who's with me?!

Can't you see the excitement? Or maybe that's the caffeine...hmm...

Do you get excited for colder weather?

This Week's Happy Heart



Brought to you by...

 

Successful pie crusts and...

 

 

homemade pot pie is pretty blue dishes.

 

 

Freshly manicured nails from...

 

 

 

a long over due girls night out.

 

 

What has made your heart happy this week?

 

 

 

 

Be Brave

In recent days I have come to realize how much I procrastinate and how often it tends to happen. More than that, I've come to realize how many of the things I put off are important personal things. It's been a little shocking and now that I know I do it, I find myself getting more and more irritated that it happens. But this realization has done wonders for me, too, because it has lit a fire under my rear end!

When I get irritated I get determined and when I get determined just watch out, that usually means I'm about to be on a pretty productive roll. There are lots of things that need to get done, but what I want to focus on are the steps I need to take to make my dreams a reality.

I think I've been slow to start in part of being scared, a little timid to start the steps in moving forward. In some ways following your dream can be a somewhat terrifying. You just don't know what's going to happen when you start down that path. What you hope for is the best, what you can expect is anything, and the outcome will always be a mystery.

I can hear the doubt in my head--I am my own worst enemy. They creep in, those tiny little questions of skepticism and they snuff out any light of hope for a dream. Isn't that awful? The one thing standing between me and my desires is me. Hence the procrastination. I'm putting off moving forward to prevent the doubt and pessimism, but it's not working. Instead I'm stuck in the middle of the road watching other friends and family move forward. I know though that deep down in my heart I'm going to regret not trying. I'm going to regret playing it safe and ignoring that thought of "what if?"

Bottom line is that if you want to live your dreams and give it a shot, you've got to take that leap of faith and do it. It's like Indian Jones stepping off the ledge onto the invisible bridge--you've got to trust. Of course, there's a lot to put into place to cover your hiney as much as possible but at some point you've got to let go and let God. Be. Brave.

So I'm starting small, baby steps in the right direction. Every tiny step forward makes my heart race with joy. That feeling right there is enough to keep me moving on to the next step. As I do, I'm going to keep telling myself, "Be brave, Julie. Keep going and be brave." It's all going to pay off if I just keep my chin up and keep on pushing through it all.

What makes you feel brave? 

Back to the Grind

The weekend is never long enough. I've got a list of things been trying to complete around the house and I didn't get as much done as I wanted to this weekend. Now here it is, Monday again. But I've already gotten plenty of work done from the comfort on my own bed so I guess that makes up for it.

Enrollment started and as an academic advisor I have to enroll my students for the spring. This year I jumped up, grabbed my coffee and computer and dove back into bed, ready to get started. Genius idea, y'all. Genius.

I'm hoping this is how the whole day stays, productive yet comfortable. I could do with a little less productive stressful days--those just wear me out body and soul.

How do you like to start off your days?

Broke out the Thanksgiving mug today. How can it not be a good day?

TV Confession

Everyone has their favorite shows that they watch on TV and I know every one has at least one guilty pleasure they watch. Whether it's trash TV, reality shows or infomercials, everyone has something that they watch that is totally self indulgent.

Me? Well, I discovered 19 and Counting last week on our fall break. I watched as Jill Duggar and her now husband prepared for the wedding. Last night I was totally wrapped up in watching their two hour wedding special.

Ridiculous. Can't even believe I got suckered into this show--I've never been one for reality TV, but this family is a complete fascination to me. The wedding, the engagement, now that pulled me in because I got suckered into their love story. Long distance relationship? I totally relate! The excitement of finally being together and building a life together? I totally relate! Something about watching a recap of their love story, engagement, and wedding just made me think back on my own and I was entirely sucked into it all.

What's your guilty pleasure show?

100 Happy Days

Way back in the summer months I started this challenge, 100 Happy Days. Look it up and try it for yourself, it's pretty fun.

I say that and then you'll read this next bit and think, "oh yeah right, loads of fun." But it really was...up to a point.

Somewhere around day 62 I just stopped posting for a few reasons. One could have been because life got really crazy with work. Another reason could have been that I only saw food and coffee as being the highlight of my day and that got old after a while. Or one could have even been that happiness was found in sleeping, not searching for my happy. These, of course, are only possibilities. I'm not saying they're true or anything.

In any case, there has been some relief of stress and therefore a little more opportunity to see the beauty that is around me (And not just in food or cups of coffee). So I've restarted with day 63 today and I'm hoping my eyes will be a little more open to the happiness that is all around me.

Can you find anything in your day that makes you happy?

I've been thinking...

I've been thinking and pondering and cogitating on this dusty old blog. You know it's five years old? That seems ancient in blog years. Heck, I've had this sucker longer than I've had my husband. That's a long commitment to a blog if you ask me. And yet I'm still thinking on it.

I've been waiting for the right inspirational story to write, the right comedic relief moment to share, and mostly I've been waiting for a chance to write. I miss it--miss the clicking of my keys while I watch the words trickling across my page.  I miss the editing moments that makes me lean back in my chair;  I'll sit contemplating the text while I twirl my hair in my ponytail just long enough for the right thought to hit me so hard it propels me into the screen in a frantic frenzy of typing. And instead of doing all this, I've been thinking.

Which apparently is not what you want to do in the blogging world. If you want to blog, you do it. How simple...and yet, here I sit still thinking. Well, what is my blog? What is it's purpose? I know I want it to be something, but what? What will people want to read? Why will they want to read my blog? Should I change my handle? What should it be instead? A blog about dancing or a blog about me? Or should it be something all together different? Why is this so hard? Why can't I just write? These are the questions that make me think so much.

Deep in my heart I'd like this little blog to be what I consider a success and that means steady readers, followers, and in my wildest dreams, a book deal. Because if you were to ask me today what a fun job would be, I'd say blogging. I think writing about what you know, posting pictures of projects, and sharing little life moments is pretty awesome. I adore reading so many blogs because they give me something that I need or am missing in my life; a reminder of gratitude, a to-do on just about anything, or a good afternoon laugh. I think life can be portrayed so beautifully through words and pictures, and even if the moments are not always the best, there's always something good to be found.

I love my job and I have aspirations for myself--some of which I'm still figuring out, That's kind of the beauty behind being a grown up; there are so many more options than you could possibly imagine. Even so, I still love my little blog. I think about it often and miss it when I'm not on it. I daydream about what it could be or might become. Now that things have slowed down a bit *ha ha* I guess my thoughts are turning to it more and more and it's made me realize that I really need to stop thinking about it all together.

You heard me, I need to stop thinking about my little blog. I do. I need to stop thinking and start doing. It's the only want to even begin making headway with my little blogging dreams. So there you go. Problem solved, self.

But I know all too well I won't stop thinking. I can at least start doing more and work through my burning questions as I go. Might not be the most riveting post I've written so far. I am, however, hoping it'll be the shot in the arm, the pep talk to get me back at the keyboard again.

A Shot In the Arm, Thankful Thoughts

There are lots of times when I feel blue or down or just lost in a bunch of questions. But there's nothing like an unexpected shot in the arm to lift your spirits and set your feet on sunny road ahead. My full and happy heart is brought to you by:

My sweet nieces and nephews. 

Spending five minutes with them perks up my mood and gets me to reconnect with my inner child. 

My family. 

Whether we're family by blood or family by marriage, they're incredibly supportive and so loving. 

Coffee. 

Since May I've been off of it but I had a couple cups this weekend and I'm reminded how wonderful it is. I truly savored every sip. 

Fur creatures. 

They bring a lot of life to what might be a quiet house. When you need a hug, they're there. When you need a kiss, they'll gladly provide. When you need a woobie, they'll bring their favorite. Even when my patience is tested, I'm still grateful to have them close. 

A blooming garden.

No matter the age, we're always amazed by what nature can grow and provide. Picking a bright red tomato is exciting. Seeing the start of a fruit astounds and watching vegetables grow plump makes me giddy. I love waking up each morning and seeing a new surprise. 

One of my favorite quotes has kept popping up in my mind this week and I've tried to remind myself every day of it. 

Sometimes in my little mess I forget how big I'm blessed.

What gives you a full and happy heart?