Just Stopping By

I have lots I want to blog about, such as Jared's wedding, Aziz's baptism, and Lily's birthday, but... I'm just stopping by real quick to share this beautiful version of Hallelujah.

This song makes me think of my two little seesters who perform this song so beautifully.  Maybe they can learn this version?

Dressing Your Truth

My sister in law, Katie, let me borrow a book: Dressing Your Truth - Discover Your Personal Beauty Profile.

Wow. Just, wow. I have never, ever, in my life felt so completely understood.

I've always been told I was too negative, critical, serious, and blunt. My mom always complained that I am never excited about the gifts I get. I've also always been self conscious of all this, as it has always been negative feedback.

This book has opened my eyes to a new light. I'm not negative and critical. Other people see me that way because I have a talent for perfecting things. I can see what needs to be done to make something better, or more efficient.

I am a serious person. That does not mean I cannot laugh and have fun. It does mean that I cannot fake emotion well, which I have tried to do for years. I can't pretend to like someone or something. I cannot pretend to be excited and happy if I am not.  I hate opening gifts in front of others because if I don't like it, I'm terrible at pretending I do! In the past, trying to pretend, trying to be happy when I'm not, has probably made me seem fake, because, well, it was.

I will tell you what I honestly think, if you let me. I don't enjoy going around and hurting people's feelings, but gosh, some people are stupid and I just don't understand why they aren't smarter! I do see myself as smarter and better than other people. Not everyone, but yes, a lot of people. I am overly critical to others.

I can be told a rule, or law, or the "right way" to do something just one time and I will remember it forever. But, only if it was told to me by someone who I see has authority, or someone who I feel has earned my respect, or someone I look up to. This way of thinking can be arrogant, I know. But deep down, if I don't respect you, I don't really care what you have to say. Let me rephrase that... if I don't respect you, I will take your advice or whatever information you are giving me with a grain of salt, and make sure I thoroughly research it before accepting it as truth.  Of course I still have conversations with anyone, and I do truly care about you as a person whether or not I see you as superior.

In fashion, I enjoy wearing unique items. I am not quick to follow fashion trends, and I can't stand someone wearing the same thing as I am. If you have personally experienced a time where we were wearing matching items, I apologize, as I was probably very rude, cold or blunt.

Also in fashion, and home decor, I value quality over quantity. If you came to my house you would see several bare walls. This is because of several reasons. One because I won't hang up decor unless it will be perfect. Second because I don't own decor unless it is high quality and striking, which tends to be expensive. And speaking of money, I will save for something I love, rather than splurge on something that is good enough.

This is me. I have had an extreme breakthrough, and I'm not going to try to fake things anymore. I need to be myself. I recognize some of my flaws, and I know I have more flaws that I have not yet recognized.

I am arrogant. I am a know it all. I am critical. I am a perfectionist. I will no longer see these as flaws, because they aren't flaws as long as I can control and balance them properly. But, other people need to see and understand me for who I am. If I have offended you, let me know! I appreciate and value honest feedback and thrive on working through my differences with others.

I strongly recommend this book to all women.  What do you dislike about yourself? What are you self conscious of?  Can you see it in a new light?  Can you be yourself?  Can you embrace your truth?

Almost Done!

I think they turned out pretty cute...

 

The big black space at the bottom is my attempt at privacy editing.

We're waiting for Lily's pictures to come back, and they will go in the white space at the top right.

Fun fun!

Let's Be Honest

I'm kind of fighting with myself about posting this.

I have a love-hate relationship with Facebook.

Thank goodness for Facebook, because without it, I would not have contact with people from my past.  Before Facebook, it was hard work to keep in touch with people who genuinely meant something to you at one point in your life, but as life went on it took you apart.  So, I love Facebook for that.

Thank goodness for Facebook as being a free tool for people to advertise their business.  I have a lot of respect for people who start their own business and work hard at making a living from it.  If this bothered me, I would unfriend the person, or not "like" the business.  Simple.

I like reading what people are up to.

I'm even happy for the people who have found their birth parents, if that's real.  I have this thing where I have a hard time believing every sob story that gets posted on my Facebook. So I don't share many, if any.  But, if they are true, way to go for getting your stories out there.


I hate Facebook as a place to tell your loved ones how you feel.  What ever happened to telling someone in person that you love them?  Do you do both?  Write a big love note publicly on Facebook, then also tell your husband/wife/boyfriend/girlfriend/children you love them in person?  Are you far away from the person you're writing this mushy love note to, and if so, can you call them?

I think we should try telling someone to their face, or on the phone how we feel about them.  Don't tell them in a Facebook post, or a tweet, or a text message.  Use your voice! Stop being impersonal.

To be honest, a big mushy, public Facebook note doesn't make me think you love whoever you gave the note to. It just makes me think you want everyone to see what you want to say to them.  If you didn't want everyone to see it, you'd send it in a private message.  Right?

Another scenario could be that maybe that person didn't happen to be next to you when you thought about what you wanted to say, so you posted it on their Facebook, not giving second thought to everyone else who could read it.  And, as believable as the scenario is, it still proves the point that we need to have more in-person contact, and in-person practice with telling people how we feel.

I'll admit, I hate the phone.  And I hate awkward conversations.  But if I love someone, that face-to-face conversation will not be awkward, or the phone call will not be hated by me.


This post brought to you by Valentine's Day, and everyone's public profession of love.

Too Excited

I've been planning Lily's first birthday party ever since she was three months old.  I'm that excited.  The beginning stages were just gathering ideas and such, but, now I'm in full blown party mode.

Her birthday is a month away and I honestly feel like I don't have enough time to get everything done.  Yikes!

I ordered her birthday cakes today.  Oh my goodness, they will be so cute!  I found an old friend from junior high who now does cakes as a hobby, and is even starting her own business!  I'm so excited for her. And I'm excited for Lily's cakes!  I've always wanted an awesome cake at a party for me.  My wedding cake bombed.  Blegh.  But that's a different story, so anyway... here's the inspiration for Lily's cake:

Cute, right?  The changes I requested to this were that the top tier not have polka dots, but have Minnie Mouse silhouettes. And instead of the ears on top, I want a big number 1.

Seriously, I can't stop grinning.

I ordered Lily a SUPER CUTE outfit to wear.

We got the t-shirt and the tutu, not the bow or leggings. We got it from a little shop called Spoiled Sweet Kids.  I wanted to make Lily a tutu myself. I've heard it's really easy, but, realistically, I probably wouldn't finish it in time.  So, there you have it.

I went and bought a bunch of scrapbooking paper to make the invitations.  My inspiration:  

Suuuuuper cute.

 Notice the theme?  Anyone?  It's hard, I know.  Zebra and Minnie Mouse!  SO ADORABLE!

Lance says this party is for me, and not for Lily. I think he's right.