I wish I would have known....

~ What a pain shaving has become.
~ To really think before I speak….”All the pain of human life is caused by words, as is all the joy”
~ To enjoy high school to the fullest…Not to grow up so fast. After being in the real world, I realize I should have appreciated not having responsibilities and having to work.
~ No one cares about high school after high school. It does not matter who you were, what you did and who you were friends with.
~ Not to wear my heart on my sleeve. I have always been way too sensitive and shown my emotions openly. Nothing wrong with being emotional but be careful who you make yourself vulnerable to.
~ Not to get married too young or too soon. It will save a lot of trouble in the future.
~ It’s ok to say “No”. Don’t give in because you feel like you should or have to. Do what makes you happy.
~ To appreciate the time I was able to spend with my great grandparents….Many people did not even know theirs and I had two sets.
~ To value the time I spent in New York City three months before 9-11.
~ To always leave your loved ones with kind words….you never know if it will be the last time you see them.
~ Not to throw around “I Love You” so easy. Only say it when you mean it and mean it when you say it.
~ To look someone in the eyes when offering an apology.
~ To open a checking account and keep up with your register. Having a banking relationship is important for big purchases in the future.
~ To establish credit as soon as possible but beware of credit cards. Its so hard to get and maintain good credit and so easy to mess it up.
~ To realize how lucky you are if you keep one good friend through out your life.
~ Your mother will become your best friend.
~ Not to have sex right away. Treasure yourself and your body and all you have to offer. Don’t give yourself away so easy.
~ Never burn bridges and keep your enemies close. You just never know…
~ How bad it hurts to have your heart broken but how rewarding it is to be in love.
~ Don’t spontaneously make expensive purchases…really figure out if you will still be living within your means.
~ Be positive and confident…attitude is everything.
~ Do not pick up a cigarette. It is a horrible addictive and expensive habit you should never start.
~ Always wash your face, brush your teeth, floss and moisturize!

Finally.....

It's Friday....Finally! What a week. After last weekends road trip to my family reunion in Kentucky I have been going non-stop. It had been about ten years since i had went to visit and it was great to see my family together. I even brought back with me Asthmatic Bronchitis after just getting over Strep a few weeks ago! I am so ready for this much needed three day weekend. I plan to rest up and get things taken care of around my house...like putting my new dryer to use :) That's right, I went out this week and treated myself to that and a new sink for my kitchen...not really a treat but a necessity huh? You never realize how much you appreciate something until you no longer have it. I did not really want or plan to spend as much as i did, but i have learned that this is just a fact of life....

With out my cell phone...

This past Tuesday night, my girl Breean talked me into going out and getting some drinks. We both went to school with Adam the bartender at Rey’s so we got the hook up!! Needless to say, I had a little too much…and somehow managed to lose my cell phone. On my lunch brake yesterday I go back to the bar with no luck. I called before I left work as well to see if it had been turned in with no luck. Now, if you know me at all then you know I am practically glued to my phone. So I went home phoneless and I completely enjoyed an evening alone with my puppy Monroe and no phone. No vibrating, beeping or ringing…it was fabulous. I spent time with my mother and niece, watched Ghost with the dearly departed Patrick Swayze, enjoyed my homemade buffalo chicken salad and cleaned my house for about three hours. It felt good to get things done I had been putting off. Now I am on day 2 with out my phone and I couldn’t be happier. Not necessarily because I lost my phone but because with out it I have been able to take time to just sit back and reflect a little. I was sitting in my car this morning where I would normally be texting on my way to work or talking to my mother. Instead I was left with listening to my cd player and thinking about my precious puppy. He ate so much food last night and did not go number two so his belly was so big! He came running down the stairs and his belly was so heavy that when he got to the bottom his back end swung around and he ran into the wall!! I am sitting at a stop light this morning and just bust out laughing. I thought to myself that I am happy. I couldn’t remember the last time I was truly happy….years ago. I am finally happy again.

Forgiveness

The Oxford English Dictionary defines forgiveness as "to grant free pardon and to give up all claim on account of an offence or debt". I have been struggling with this in my life recently. I won’t hash out the details but I had a falling out with my sister. I don’t know how to move on and forgive her. I don’t even know how to be around her. I have so much anger, resentment and bitterness toward her that I don’t even know what the first step is. In general, I usually forgive fairly quickly so I don’t harbor all the negative feelings. You know the saying about forgiving but not forgetting…well I can’t seem to do either. I know it’s wrong. I know I should. I just don’t know how. I heard once:

Three things that make a person:
~ Commitment
~ Sincerity
~ Hard Work

Three Things in life that once gone, never come back:
~ Time
~ Words
~ Opportunity

Three things in life that can destroy a person:
~ Anger
~ Pride
~ Un-forgiveness

Three Things in life that is most valuable:
~ Love
~ Family & Friends
~ Kindness

It’s true…Un-forgiveness, not being able to forgive, the inability to forgive will destroy you. It will change the person you are. So what can be gathered from above is that I sincerely need to forgive my sister for the words exchanged between us because my anger will just get the best of me and nothing is more important than family. The Lord says “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Luke 6:37 What I need to realize and anyone who has this problem is that we are only hurting our selves. I have to stop dwelling on her words and actions that have hurt me because “in those who do not harbor such thoughts hatred will cease.” Now i begin the journey of forgiveness.

15 Simple Pleasures....

15 of my Simple Pleasures...


~ A girl’s night in….chic flix, wine, chocolate and good conversation
~ Singing in my car….man I sure think I sound good
sleeping in…
~ homemade cookies in the oven…
~ Relaxing in a bubble bath with a glass of wine and a book
~ mani-pedi and a hair cut
~ Spending time with loved ones
~ Take a blanket to the park and lay in grass
~ Cooking while enjoying a glass of wine
~ Enjoy a book
~ Curl up on my couch with my puppy Monroe
~ Coupons…love to save money
~ Shopping…because I love to spend it
~ Fresh Cut Flowers (and taking the time to smell them…)
~ Missing the redlights on the way to work



Just to name a few....what are your simple pleasures

First Time Blogger

I have been following my best friend's blog for a while now and finally decided to give it a try. I have always enjoyed writing and hope this can be a way to vent some frustration with everyday life. I am a 24 year old with plenty of drama and a life just keeps throwing me those curve balls. I grew up fast and have learned a lot especially from being married so young. I am still working on finding who Ashley is after all is said and done. I hope this blog will help...