A laugh and a song

Sometimes you just have to laugh at yourself....

Yesterday on the way home, I caught the smell of deliciousness from somewhere and I actually lowered my radio like it would help me to smell it better.

Hahahahaha :)

On that note, here is some happy music :)

http://8tracks.com/conbon27/sing-a-longs-that-ll-give-a-smile

Love

My husband is and always will be the greatest thing about life. I feel lucky just to know him and one day when my life comes to an end, I can die knowing that I have experienced the most amazing love there is.

My heart lies with every memory, every smile, every kiss..... he is my heaven.

P.S. This song really has nothing to do with this post besides the line “you are my heaven”. I just love this song.

A letter between friends

Sometimes the advice we give is the advice we need.


Life doesn't always go according to plan and so many of us beat ourselves up for not meeting our own expectations.


I normally don't share personal things that are very dear to my heart, but sometimes our best words are said to the ones we love....


A friend of mine was having a bad day and this was the letter I wrote:

I’m sorry. I know it’s rough. We all have our days and sometimes you just need to vent.

The hubby and I kind of had the same conversation this morning. I was stressing out about what I want to make of my life and how I feel like I’m running out of time because I want to have babies one day and buy a new house. He told me that I am still young and that it’s like I’m on a train going from one window to the next trying to find the answer when I should be on top of the train seeing the whole picture.

I too feel very lucky for all of the blessings I have in my life but there are many things that I would like to change. There’s nothing wrong with that! It’s good to have ambition. Too many people settle into jobs that they hate and never try for anything more...

But don’t think for one second that you have failed just because you still live at home. You are helping your Dad just by being there and it will all work out for you in time. That ten year old car is reliable and you didn’t have to go into a huge debt for it. There is nothing wrong with box dye or $15 haircuts. People get too caught up in trying to keep up with everyone else when the truth is there is nothing amazing about spending more money to get the same result. You’re just more intelligent for saving a hundred bucks.

Just look around you....the people with lots of money, do they look happy? I don’t care how many cars or houses you own, how many palates classes you go to, or what vacation you just took.... true happiness is love. I feel bad for the people that will never get to feel what you and I feel. We have a sense of clarity that they will never understand. One day they will wake up and realize that they have wasted their lives on labels and luxuries and forgot about the things that really matter. Unlike you and I, they will never experience the true love and lessons that come with the fight.

I think the hard times define who we are. Just think about it....you spend more time laying on the floor with the ones you love watching movies and eating pizza – things that are real and you will remember for the rest of your life - rather than buying the newest blackberry or spending time with people who don’t care about you but only your status.

These experiences make us much stronger and more compassionate. I feel bad for the selfish people with too much money. They will always be oblivious to the true meaning of life and love.

Hang in there! I love you!

Old Soul

Young with an old soul....

 

 

Favorite Quotes

“I see people with my heart and not with my eyes.”  

“If you’re willing to do for a year what others won’t, you can live for the rest of your life the way others can’t.”

"Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish on it’s ability to climb a tree, it will live it’s whole life believing that it is stupid." – Albert Einstein

"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless." -  Mother Teresa

"A successful marriage requires falling in love many times always with the same person."

"I love the nights I can't remember with the friends I will never forget."

"To know me is to love me. If you don't love me, it's because you don't know me."

“Logic will take you from A to B. Imagination will take you anywhere.” – Albert Einstein

"Well-behaved women rarely make history" - Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

"In a gentle way, you can shake the world."  - Mohandas Gandhi

"Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius, and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring." - Marilyn Monroe

"If we all understood that everyone has their own battles to fight, insecurities to face, loves to contend and goals to attain, the world would be a gentler place".

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."  - Martin Luther King, Jr.

"A life without love is no life at all." - Rachel D. Fogle

“I’m just me and that’s pretty special.”

"The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated."  - Mohandas Gandhi

"I look only to the good qualities of men. Not being faultless myself, I won't presume to probe into the faults of others." - Mohandas Gandhi

"If you suffer your people to be ill-educated, and their manners corrupted from infancy, and then punish them for those crimes to which their first education disposed them, what else is to be concluded, but that you first make thieves and then punish them?" - Ever After

"Love First"

"Fortune favors the brave."

"There is a tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations. Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared is doubled. If you want to feel rich, just count all of the things that you have that money can't buy. Today is a gift and that is why it is called the present."

Fear is scary but so is not trying....

So I stumbled upon this article (http://thegloss.com/culture/chasing-thirty-the-fear/) and it felt as if Andea said exactly what I have been wanting to say for so long. Granted our dreams are somewhat different and I don't have much encouragement. This is probably due to the fact that I rarely express my dreams/goals with others in fear that I will fail or even worse, never start.

For some time, I have been making a list of things that I want to accomplish before I turn 30. I'm still trying to get past that fear that Andrea speaks of in her article but I'm passionate to make things happen. I don't want to wake up one day having all of these regrets so I think it's time to start acting instead of talking.

I'm on a mission to surround myself with good hearted people who inspire instead of hinder. I know far too many people who settle for less and I just don't want to be one of those people.

Lately, I have been researching like a mad man to find my itch. So far, I have come to the conclusion that I want to be creative. I don't want a career that is black in white or unspiring. I want to start working to live, instead of living to work. I want to spend time with the people I love and do things to better the world....even if it's in a little way. I want to create.

What do you want?

Great music!

I wish there were more singers in the world like this man:

He's got soul!


Here is another awesome playlist I found on 8tracks.com.....

This has to be the most beautiful LOVE playlist I have ever heard:

http://8tracks.com/macemoney/for-when-she-s-on-your-mind?mix_set_id=103054

I love 8tracks.com

Relaxing Playlist

http://8tracks.com/caly1121/summer-afternoon-zzs?play=1&prev_mix=262056&mix_set_id=3964922

Happy Playlist

http://8tracks.com/filmwarr/beach-times?play=1&prev_mix=332478&mix_set_id=3964922

Love Playlist

(minus the LFO song - not a huge fan) (I love City and Colour!)

http://8tracks.com/misssarahrad/dripping-with-cuteness-oozing-summer-love?play=1&prev_mix=348130&mix_set_id=3

Positive Energy is Contagious

I haven’t quite felt like myself lately. I guess you could say I’ve been in a bit of slump.

For the past week or so, I have let other people’s negativity affect my way of thinking and it has left me feeling upset and unappreciated. 

This is not me at all. Anyone who knows me knows that I am always smiling and that I am a very happy person.  So this morning when I woke up, I made it my mission to be happy. I started thinking about all of the things in my life that I am thankful for...from big things like my amazing husband and our beautiful home to little things like conquering the house cleaning I wanted to and watering the garden.

I headed out into the world today with a smile on my face and a new way of thinking.

My day began working on a case for an attorney which resulted in him calling me a genius! Then I decided I would order gang gai for lunch instead of something unhealthy and not nearly as satisfying. I found a parking spot directly in front of the restaurant at noon in a very busy city (which is unheard of). I held the door for a man and his wife who had their hands full with kids and they were very appreciative. The women sitting outside on the patio even flashed me a smile. 

It really is the little things.

Positive energy is contagious. Your way of thinking really does control your world. I’ve come this far in life by being such a positive person, paying things forward and never taking anything for granted. I’ve accomplished everything I have set out to do and the sky is the limit. 

I’m feeling much better now and I am going to do my best to steer clear of toxic people.

Moral of the story: DON’T LET STUPID PEOPLE GET YOU DOWN. YOU MAKE YOUR HAPPINESS!

Worst Fear

I fear my mind has run away with me again. I can't help but dream about the future and what I will make of myself.

Where do I go from here? Is there ever a time in your life where everything becomes crystal clear?

My worst fear is growing old and never knowing what I should have been.

My Mission: Sexy but Comfortable

I have a wedding to attend this weekend and I am so geeked to get all dolled up. Most of the time I am a jeans and tee shirt kind of girl but for a special occasion such as this, I feel it's only necessary to go all out.

So here's what I've got goin on....

I have these two dresses to decide from:

I originally bought the black dress for a company photo but after buying it and trying it on, I realized it was a little too sexy for work.

The red one is made of this very thin material and hugs the curves nicely but puts a little too much emphasis on the buddha belly.

Which one do you like more?

Now for hair, I'm going with something simple but glamorous:

I love this style. Classy but sexy.

For makeup, I'm really impressed with this girl's tutorial. She does a number of videos where she transforms herself into men, celebrities and people who look nothing like her.

Now for shoes, I am completely lost. I just want to be comfortable and not break a hip. I still have a few days to decide but I guess it depends on what dress I choose.

Very excited to get out there and have some fun.

It seems like life has been all work and no play.

Well this weekend....I PLAY

The ladybug and the onion

I stopped at the store to buy some green onion and there was a ladybug sitting on one of the bundles. It caught me by surprise and I suddenly felt like this little kid that couldn't stop smiling. “Come here little guy”, I said as I playfully tried to get the ladybug to climb onto my finger.

I can’t help but laugh when I think about the people that were around me. I’m sure they didn’t see the ladybug and thought I was just some crazy woman in a store talking to onions.

The ladybug apparently was scared of my midget hands and took off down the never ending onion tunnel. I placed the bundle in a bag and took her home so that she could live happily ever after in a pot of flowers. When I got home I shook her out of the bag and into the flowers. I figured I could use some good luck and she could use a better home. The next day all of the flowers that were beginning to die came back to life....no joke. I guess she did bring a little luck with her!

After my flowers starting blooming like that, I wanted to know why and I wanted to see if ladybugs have little who whos....

After all, how am I supposed to know if the ladybug is really a lady?

I found out that not all ladybugs are girls and that it’s nearly impossible for the average person to tell them apart. The girls are usually larger and a male ladybug can be seen when they grab the female’s elytra (It just means hard wings but it sounds dirty) and holds on tight.

So pretty much if it wasn’t for their size or them getting their hump on, we would never know.

As for my flowers blooming like crazy, turns out that ladybugs eat aphids which are little soft bodied insects that feed on plants. Ladybugs can eat as many as 50 aphids a day. So the ladybug killed the little crappers that were killing my flowers. Now I have a friend and pretty flowers. Win Win J

Mommy: To be or not to be...that is the question.

My husband and I were married a little less than a year ago. We have loved each other for a very long time and we decided to start our family by vowing to love each other for the rest of our lives.

It wasn’t long after the wedding when people started asking that magic question:

“So, when are you guys going to have kids?”

At first, it kind of pissed me off. We had just got married and people were already asking this question. I felt like saying:

“What the hell is a marriage? Chopped Liver?

It’s almost as if people believe you get married just so you can have children. I don’t know where people get this kind of idea but I’m guessing it’s from the same “closed-minded world” that believes marriage is limited to a man and a woman. I believe you should be able to marry/love whomever you want....but that is a whole other subject.

One day, while at the store, a lady overheard me say that I was just married and the first thing she says:

“So, when are you going to start a family?”

I didn’t know this woman and that just struck me as such a rude thing to say to someone you don’t even know. I wanted to put her in her place so bad but I kept my composure and just said “marriage is starting a family” and went on my way.

The majority of my friends have children and I honestly believe that most of them were born to be mothers. They are great teachers and their love and admiration for their children gives them a reward and sense of happiness that nothing else could.

But, is it for me?

I have to admit, my baby maker flutters every time I see a newborn baby or pictures of my friends’ children doing something phenomenal such as taking their first steps or learning to read.

Children are beautiful.  

They have such a wonderful imagination, a charming innocence and they smell like heaven.

I just have this dream of doing BIG things. Maybe own a business that makes a difference somehow or successfully operate an organization that saves the world a little at a time. Does that mean that being a mother is out of the question? I don’t know...maybe? Can you do it all? Possibly...      

If I don’t have children, will I regret it later on in life? Who knows?

We still have plenty of time to consider the options. We are in no hurry because we love our life the way it is right now and there is so much we want to do before we have babies.

Seeing as I married the extraordinary man that I did, I feel like it would be a shame not to. He would make such an amazing father and together we could teach our children so much.

I believe my husband and I as parents would start out looking a bit like the movie “Away We Go". That movie reminds me so much of us.

We are good people and our future is filled with endless possibilities. If there is a way to have it all....then I will find it! In the mean time it feels good to get these feelings off my chest.

For anyone who has not seen the movie "Away We Go", I have attached the movie trailer below. This movie is a must see for sure!

Grandma's House

This is my Grandmother's home.

I love this house because I have so many memories here. My Grandmother lived in Mexico and came to America seeking the “American Dream” and this house represents her success in finding it.

My Grandmother is a strong, intelligent, selfless woman and everything she has taught me has made me a better person. She lost her husband at a very young age and never chose to love another man. She bought this home, where she lived alone and I often spent holidays here as a child. I’m writing this post because her home is currently on the market and I never want to forget the times that I spent here.

The Tornado – Age 7

We once hid under this bed while a tornado struck the trees surrounding the house. I remember her trying to keep me calm as she trembled with fear. I held her hand for a while and I remember writing prayers down on a piece of paper...like we were sending “live” messages to God. After the storm, we went outside to observe the damage and it was pretty bad. Trees had been uprooted; there was no power, no water and a substantial amount of roof damage. For days, we would walk down to the lake and load large buckets with water. Blisters covered our hands as we made the journey back to her home and we spent the next couple days eating cantaloupe for dinner. We were happy to have survived the storm.

Stones

Every stone surrounding my Grandmother’s home was hand picked by her, her children and her grandchildren. The stones, for me, represent so much more than a stone. My grandma has always seen the beauty in little things. She wouldn’t just pick up any stone, and this wasn’t just a landscaping project. This was more of a labor of love. I remember the way she would examine each stone with such precision and she could always find beauty in a single flaw. It was as if every stone were a personal achievement and everything about her house, a reflection of her.


Go Carts, Water Park, Art Stores and the Year Round Haunted House

Every time we would come up, my Grandmother would always take us out for ice cream. We would often end up at the go carts, the water park or at the haunted house. My favorite was the haunted house. It was open all year round and exploring that old farm house never got old. The “Tales of the Crypt” character greeted you as you entered and as soon as you turned the corner, there was a chain saw coming through this wooden door. I knew what to expect but every time I went, the chain saw guy would send me running up these stairs covered in ugly green carpet. The rooms on the second floor were somewhat cheesy but it was always so fun and they had an arcade right next door. She often took us to these little shops that sold hand made art. You couldn’t help but find your creative side when entering one of these stores. A peaceful happiness would come over you as the smell of wood filled the air. She was never too crazy about the haunted house, but to her, these stores were definitely a treat. I loved everything about them and how happy it made her.

My Grandmother’s Bed

When I was a child I would always sleep in my Grandmother’s bed with her. My Grandma would always make the bed by turning the sheets inside out (which I never understood) but they were the softest sheets and she would stay up watching the news while I would slowly fall asleep with her dog at my feet. I will never forget my Grandma’s flowery smell and the Jesus in thorns that hung over her bedroom door.

My Last Visit

My last visit to her home was a couple years ago. My husband (who was then my fiancé) and I headed up north to see my Grandma. The very first day we went into town and stopped at this diner that has the most amazing ribs and homemade ice cream. I remember my parents taking me there and how much I loved it, so I had to take the husband. As we were walking inside, they had random pieces of art for sale strewn across the walls. I stumbled across this plaque that read “Men are like fish. They get themselves in trouble when they open their mouth”. I chuckled and headed to the counter to pick up our food. We headed back to my Grandma's with pretty much every dish on the menu. When we got to her home, I laid out every meal that was ordered. My Grandma insisted she wasn’t hungry but proceeded to dive into everything. We all smiled and filled our bellies with delicious goodness.

The next morning my Grandmother made chorizo and eggs for breakfast. We all shared a traditional Mexican breakfast together (my husband’s first) and shortly after my husband left on his motorcycle to explore the trails. He made it half way through the first trail before the Mexican breakfast set in. He stumbled upon a sign that had an arrow pointing into the woods that read “bathroom”. At first I’m sure he thought this sign was some kind of joke but by this time he was desperate and decided to follow the sign. He rode a short ways in when he came to the cleanest porta-john he had ever seen sitting in the middle of nowhere. The way he explains it makes me picture this glorious glowing light surrounding the porta-john almost as if it was a god send and maybe in this case it was. He came back and told us this story and we laughed historically for (what seemed like) hours.

While he was gone, my Grandmother and I bonded like never before. She told me stories about my Grandfather and her life in Mexico. I always wondered about my Grandfather. When I was a child, I remember sneaking into her bottom drawer to look at photos of him. I learned a lot about my family that day. Looking at my Grandmother, I could picture her as a young spanish beauty gazing out the window as she seeked her one true love. This visit had to be the most memorable and rewarding. There was only one other trip that could compare. It was Thanksgiving and it was the only time in my life where my whole family was together under one roof....and we didn’t kill each other.

When we arrived home from our last visit up north, my husband surprised me with that silly plaque that I saw in the restaurant. It was a really nice surprise and great way to remember my last visit.

My Grandmother now lives with my father and I plan to visit her very soon. I will never forget this home, the memories we shared or the amount of love my Grandma put into it.

MAKE the WORLD a BETTER PLACE.

I read a story this morning titled "One Woman's Fight to Rejoin the Middle Class" and upon reading the comments, I began defending her story as if it were my own.

Everyday I am thankful that I get to sleep in a bed every night, have running water with the turn of a faucet, have light with the flick of switch, lay on a couch with the people I love and be safe in a place that I can call my home. I see so many people that take these things for granted and fail to appreciate or be humbled by how good they actually have it. I watch people be cruel and heartless for no apparent reason. It's as if they have made it their life goal to spread negativity. It feels as if there is more ignorance in the world today than there has ever been. This deeply saddens me.

I understand that with the world that we live in; it is very easy to become discouraged. What I don't understand is how it became acceptable to be so cruel and heartless to people who are just like you and I.

"If we all understood that everyone has their own battles to fight, insecurities to face, loves to contend and goals to attain, the world would be a gentler place".

I don't believe truer words have ever been spoken. When I face the world I do it with a sense of clarity. I always love first and I try my best to never judge others because I know each person has their own struggles they must face.

"There is a tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations. Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared is doubled. If you want to feel rich, just count all of the things that you have that money can't buy. Today is a gift and that is why it is called the present."

Let's try to make the world a gentler place. Less hate, more love!

Weight Loss, Goals, Life

It has been five months since I quit smoking and it seems I have replaced my addiction to cigerettes with an addiction to food. I have always had a passion for food and my husband is amazing cook which hardly helps my situation. His food is like heaven in my mouth and I can't just eat a small amount...nooooo...I have to eat enough for a small village. This usually results in me sitting on the couch holding my stomach saying "ohhhhhh I am so full" and "my stomach hurts".

Well today I have decided to get back on my little routine, not because I really want to but because I can't fit into any of my clothes and it's making me sad. About six months before I got married I started this little routine where I would eat "Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers" every day at lunch (just one ofcourse) and then for dinner I would just eat half of what was on my plate (which I'm assuming is more than one portion). I refused to stop eating the things that I love and I just ate less. I could never be one of those people who live off tofu and "diet" anything is disgusting. I think I actually run away from things that actually say the word "diet".

Eating less paid off and with no exercise (besides cleaning) and still eating the things I love, I was able to lose thirty (30) pounds before walking down the aisle. I was proud. I felt good and more importantly, I felt sexy.

Now any woman who has ever felt sexy in their life (which I'm hoping is every woman) knows that feeling that comes with it. It's this amazing rush of confidence and class. You don't just walk into a room, you glide...or in some cases you strut. You know....that walk that says "I am beautiful! I am woman! Yes my ass looks great in this dress! lol...okay maybe it doesn't say all of that but at the least, you will hear the voice of Shaft and he will say "ya damn right". Can you dig it?

I miss that feeling. I'm not saying you have to be skinny to be sexy and I definitely wouldn't recommend "no exercise". I think curves are vital part of being sexy. I've seen people who look like skeletor and I want to force feed them a cheeseburger.

I just want to be happy with myself. I want that level of confidence back....not just with my appearance but with my sense of motivation. I want to feel inspired. I want something that gives me a sense of drive!

I feel like I have spent the majority of my adulthood reading. I find things that interest me and then I research them like a mad man. One minute I want to take "guitar lessons", the next "improv classes", then "a sewing class" and then "piano lessons".

I want to do it all.

This usually causes me to get super excited about a new adventure which follows with the feeling of being overwhelmed and then I just do nothing. Sometimes I feel like this video...

This has to stop.

I want to live this life with everything I've got and then some.

The beginning of something good....

I think way too much about everything. I worry what other people are going to think every time I post something anywhere. I'm hoping this blog will allow me to be free and just say how I feel without being concerned all of the time. When did I become this reserved person? Where did my balls go? lol...


I used to be so vivacious.


I still have it in me. I just need a change and maybe this is it!


When I was young, I couldn't wait to be free to do anything and everything. Now I'm free, but the responsibility has taken over and I feel like maybe I've lost a little bit of me.


I was reading this article and it got me thinking about how people are when they are in relationships. They get comfortable and they don't always feel "polished", but the moment they brake up they transform themselves into the person they really wanted to be. Why don't we do this while being in a relationship? I know that life can be distracting but when did we stop caring about being all that we can be? Maybe it's just me....but I've decided that I am going to start doing a little more of me! A little more for the kid who always dreamed big! A little more for the grown up that worries! I'm going to figure out what I like and what I want.


People never regret the things that they did. People always regret the things that they didn't.


I think this is the beginning of something good.