Quotes

saw this quote earlier this week

and wanted to share it.

letting go is hard, hard, hard to do

but once you do

the past has no power over you

its been a really busy week.

started training my replacement at work.

this is all happening.

mixed emotions for sure.

but taking it all in for what it is

and excited for this next adventure.

One Year

In one year
babies change so much.

They go from sleeping, pooping and eating all the time
to crawling everywhere, whining when you hold them and aren't their momma, pooping but almost like real poop, eating lots but its not as easy as when they were little.
They get teeth, their hair grows, they smile.
They can pick out their toys, they know what they want, and are continually changing
I think most of their growth and changes has to happen in the first few years

Lily is one year old today!

I wrote this last year the day she was born:
"My niece was born today. The adventure is about to begin. I can not imagine life without her here!
It is an amazing feeling. I had no idea your heart could explode from love.
That you could be so filled with joy, love, hope, fear, excitement, worry with one sight of that little bundle of perfection.
She is perfect. absolutely. not denying it. perfection.
The love I have for her is undeniable. strong. pure. big. true. unconditional. LOVE.
God, thank you for this precious gift in my life. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to love someone this special. Thank you for putting Lily in our lives, but especially my life. The hole that I had in my heart, was instantly filled with the love I carry for her. I love this little one more than life itself already... "

It feels like she has always been with us
I really didn't know you could love someone so much, so unconditionally, so quickly.
I love that little nugget more than I can explain
So proud to be her aunt!

Lily and I last thanksgiving

Flowers on a Tuesday: Special Edition

This is about a week late, sorry Momma.*
In honor of my fabulous Mommasita though she has taught me many, many things
Here are the top ten lessons I have learned from her.

1. Remember who you are.
- Mom always says this to me when I leave the house. For a dance in high school, to hang out with friends at a football game, to now when I am an adult and going to dinner with a friend or out with the girls. She always says 'Love you. Remember who you are.' and I do, I try to remember that I am representing not only myself but my family as well when I am out.
2. Make everyone feel special when you can
- My mom is probably one of the best people in the world at making people feel special. She remembers the little things. She surprises you when you least expect it. When I was little I collected beanie babies, I just loved them. And I would come home from a normal day at school and there would be Mr. Frog on the bathroom faucet. Or Mr. Snowman sitting on my bed. Even when I grew out of my beanie baby stage, mom always has some small thing to surprise us with. And it always speaks to each person specifically.
3. Its the little things that count
- Like the one before, specialness doesn't have to be big extravagent things. Small cards with a little moola, a hug one a rough day, going out to lunch for no reason. These are all little things that truly matter.
4. Family First- you always have time for you family
-Momma has taught me the importance of family. They are with you for life, and will always be there for you NO MATTER WHAT. You can always make time for your family, you might want to be doing something else, but it is always a good time when family is together!
5. Put love in everything you do
- From dinner on a monday night, to helping me pack up my apartment my mom puts love in everything she does. She is the most genuine givers of love you will ever meet. You don't have to do anything for it in return, she gives it freely and graciously. There is nothing my mom doesn't do without a little bit of love involved.
6. Patience
-I went through (and sometimes revert back to) a phase in my life where I was m.o.o.d.y! Moooood swings!But my mom not only was patience with me during that/those times but she loves me through them. I don't know if she ever has a bad day but she never shows it. I wish I could be more like her in this way. She is always patient with everyone and everything. I am only patient with tootsie pops.
7. Coupons, Coupons, Coupons
- Anytime I get a good deal at a store, I have to call or text my mom to tell her. She is a bargain shopper. Never pays for shipping online, always finds a coupon for what she is going to buy. I think its a great quality, I mean she isn't an extreme couponer, but she does some damage with her shopping and saving. I always feel like she will be proud of me when I get a deal!  
8. You're good enough, You're smart enough and doggonit people love you
- Any major event in my life, or college exam momma would tell me this. It is one of our many family mantra's. She is always encouraging, supporting and lifting people up. I hope I can be this kind of person in other people's lives, and especially when I become a momma.
9. You are stronger than you know.
-My mom has been through a lot in her life. But she continues to amaze me with how strong she is. She can hold it together when everyone else is falling a part. She always says my dad is the type that goes running in when everyone else is running out, but I feel like she is running in just in a different way. She is always wanting to help people. And she has taught me, I can get through it. There is a bigger picture, and this is just a small piece of it.
10. Neediness isn't a bad thing
-Overall, my family is needy. We love to communicate, be with each other and I am learning it's not a bad thing. I used to joke around that when I was leaving my parents house I would have to say it 30 minutes before I actually needed to leave because mom would always find some way to talk to me about something else and keep me there longer than I should be. But I love those moments, I love this about my family. 

one for good luck, nicknames are a good thing.
-Mom can come up with a nickname for anything and everything. I have found that I do the same thing and I love it. Everyone deserves to have a good nickname, if you don't have one Momma will getcha one!

My mom has taught me so much in life. She is my best friend, and is always there for me. She takes care of me when I am sick, she loves me even when she doesn't love what I am doing, she invests in people who are important in my life. She has taught me how to love, live and laugh. I am forever grateful and blessed to have been her daughter. I pray I can be half the mom she was to me.

LYTTMAB!

Things I love: Thursday

Lily's little teeth. They are growing in. so cute. My momma. Happy Birthday Week Queenie! I promise I didn't forget, your blog post is in the works. Living at home. so far. so good. This fall-ish weather. so beautiful today. Adele pandora. jammin. Knowing you have moved on. great feeling to let go of someone who let go of you so easily. Birthday surprises. this time I was the birthday fairy. Meeting up with old friends. but staying up late on a work night is no bueno. Coffee has been my best friend this week. mmm vanilla creamer. I move to San Diego in less than a month. I know, I need to stop talking about it and just do it. Becky's Bachelorette party this weekend. Woo hoo! The brainstorming of writing a book. Any relationship advice you'd give? Trader Joe's dark chocolate covered almonds with sea salt. and edible arrangements. yummy. and of course, i love love.

I am a recovering love-aholic

So I have a secret.
Haven't I been telling a lot of those lately?
Well this might be more of a dream than a secret
Something I have always thought about but never really considered
but, I wanna write a book.

Its not necessarily on my bucket list
My ethos on any one subject is based  more off of experience and passion than actual professional knowledge and authority
But I would love to write a book about my experience with love, dating, relationships and life
In a way that could help others going through a similar season of life

I know, I know, how many books are already out there about this stuff
I have read them... He's just not that into you, Its called a break up because its broken, Why Men Love Bitches, Marry Him: The case of settling for Mr. Good Enough... shall I go on...
but the truth is, we are all searching for something
There are a lot of questions, but even more answers
Everyones story is different. Which means, everyones advice speaks differently
And that is precisely one reason I think books can and will continue to be written about this topic.

I know what you're thinking if you are still reading...
What makes your experiences and answers valid and truthful?
And I am not sure, but I hope to confidently answer those questions by the end
Oh by the way, I am co-authoring this with a friend from elementary school.
A His&Hers guide if you will... so I guess that would be at least a start on an angle!

With that being said, I was thinking about how I would introduce myself to the world, through this book
How could I establish myself as someone relatable, but trustworthy and knowledgeable.
I mean people could actually take my advice from my life experiences to better their experiences.
People would have access to my wisdom opinions on love, dating, relationships and life and use it to influence their decisions
But I my intro would go a little something like this...


I am a recovering love-aholic.  I had a knack of falling for the idea of someone more than the actual someone, an incessant need to fix, I continue to battle heart strings of letting go and have a no-good- rotten habit of putting the great guys in my life straight in the friends zone. I've been there, right where you are! Wondering if love with ever find me? Dreaming about what your love story will look like. Obsessing over what I did or said wrong.  Patiently waiting, all while impatiently wondering why the hell Mr. Right is taking so long to show up? Doesn't he know I am here, waiting? I didn't get it perfect. I made relationship mistakes. I stuck around when I should have been running for the hills, but each of those moments are a part of my love story. I hope to take my experiences and be better from them, and I hope you can do the same.
I am a love optimist twenty-something single with a desire to share my imperfect journey of my perfect love story.

well... thats a start.

Flowers on Tuesday

This week I moved into my parents
and I got to be the Birthday Fairy throwing up everywhere.
My mom does such a great job making sure we all feel special, and taking care of us
It is time she feels the same way.
I am a pro ball fluffer now
I stayed up late making sure it was Lily proofed
And I was able to surprise Momma!

She got an Edible arrangement on monday
And sorry momma, no flowers on tuesday!
Only one more sleep til your birthday!

LYBTB!

Pretty Moment

“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved.”



-Helen Keller


Well, this weekend I gained two new roommates
Or maybe, two roommates gained a third!
Either way, I moved back in with my parents.
If it wasn't so temporary, I would really need to reflect on my life
I wouldn't have ever thought I would be 25 and living with my parents
but I am. And I couldn't be happier.
I am really looking forward to this time with them.
I am moving to San Diego in a mere 5 weeks.
It is going to fly by, we are all really busy
Life doesn't stop when things are going to change
But, we are going to soak it all up.

But this weekend, we moved me out then moved me in.
We had family dinner, watched football, walked through house plans and cleaned closets.
I get most of my best characteristics from my Momma
One being she holds onto everything!
Remember my hoarder post from last week
Well, she is a tad bit of an emotional hoarder (Like we ALL are!)
But we came across a stack of my high school graduation cards.
I told her I would go through them and pick the ones out that I wanted to keep.

My process for this is:
If the giver of the card is close to my heart, no longer living, or someone very important in my life I will keep the card.
If they are not, I cherish the kindness, say a thank you and send that paper to the recycling bin.
I usually just take a quick glance and the bottom of the card to see the signed name to make quick decisions

I had been going through about 50 cards
Separating them like a pro (USPS I am looking for a job if you need a sorter!)
When I stop dead in my track...
What?! How could this be!? Who is this? what?!
I recieved a card, for my high school graduation from...
HELEN KELLER!
Then the giggles pursued...
You see, when I have a ditzy moment my brother always pets my head and says "You're so pretty"
This was definitely one of those!

My favorite kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Sexton had written that Helen Keller quote in my card, at the bottom, in the spot people usually sign their cards!
So no, it wasn't Helen Keller who gifted me with the sweetness!
But, someone equally as special and inspirational in my life.

And yes, I kept that card!

One step

I am one step closer to
Chasing a dream
Living my life fully
Taking a risk
Chancing it all
Living it out...

I am one step closer to a new adventure today!

Happy October!