Quote for the Day....

I found this quote yesterday while I was looking through quotes on a website and I thought it was so great and so true! I hope that I can live by it myself......

" Don't mind criticism.

If it's untrue, disregard it.

If it is unfair, keep from irritation.

If it is ignorant, smile.

If it is justified, learn from it."

Fears & Favorites!

Everyone has things they fear.....we often don't voice those fears because it's embarrassing. I know that sometimes I don't voice mine to those around me because they are laughed at or may even seem minor to some. But to me they are a big deal, they are things I struggle with. Beej knows all of fears and my best friend knows most of them, I think! Beej has never made fun of me at all but he doesn't understand WHY I fear the things I fear and I don't either. I just do. But of course I have my favorite things too - things I love! Things that help me get through my days and make me smile! Of course, these things are besides my husband and my daughter!

My 1st and probably most "overwhelming" fear is being alone. Not like the big picture being alone but being myself anywhere. I can handle it obviously if I'm in a room with other people I don't know, etc. But to be somewhere completely alone literally gives me the sweats. I don't know why, I don't even know what it is that makes me fear being by myself. I have read a lot of scary books and seen a lot of scary movies but this fear was established long before I ever saw anything like that.....being by myself even at my own house can often make me nervous. I don't like it when both Gianna and Beej are gone at the same time. I always try to be gone and doing something if that happens. It's not a paralyzing fear, I can overcome it and make myself stay somewhere alone but I never like it.

My 2nd big fear is getting old. Yes, that very idea makes me wanna cry. I don't like the idea of being wrinkly and not being able to see or hear or be in control of myself. Or to be so weak and sick that I'm dependent on someone completely. I don't want to be out of style and slow. I dread the thought of all those "young" people saying mean things about me and making fun.....I hate the thought of being old.

My 3rd fear is birds.....BIRDS! I think they are so pretty, from far far away! They terrify me. The way they flap their wings and freak out. Their sharp little beaks. Ugh. Makes me shudder thinking about it! My sister of course loves birds and has 3 in her room. I hate them, and if she even pretends to open the cage I completely freak out!!!! The one and only time I've ever cussed around my mom was when she brought one of my sisters birds into a close room with me and let it go, I literally yelled a cuss word at her and then nearly killed myself trying to get out of the room! I think that fear started when I lived in AL. my dad's office was in an old house and during the Spring birds would make their nests in the covered porch and any time you would walk up on it they would swoop at you and go for your hair!

But my favorite things are as follows :

1. Music - it's beautiful, fun, silly, uplifting, inspirational, groovy, sad, angry, etc. You can always find a song to match your mood. You can always find a song to change your mood! I love the feeling I get from listening to good music, I love that my daughter loves music. One of my favorite things to do is turn on some great music and dance and sing in our kitchen together! We laugh and dance and it makes me happy!

2. Shoes - I am IN LOVE with shoes! I couldn't have too many shoes....I have probably 30 pairs in my closet right now and I could go out and buy 30 more and still not have enough! I love every kind of shoe - boots, ballet flats, tennis shoes, heels (although I don't get to wear them as often as I used to I still enjoy how sexy heels make me feel!). Any store I go into I always have to go check out the shoe section if there is one! And I usually find a pair. Shoes seem to always fit, there isn't a pair that's too wild or too tight or that make you look fat! Lol! Shoes always make me feel happy! A new pair of shoes can make the same ole pair of jeans and shirt feel like a completely new outfit!

3. Movies - I love going to the movie theater! I would go every weekend if I could, even during the week! I love seeing pretty much any kind of movie except horror. Not my thing at all. Of course my favorite movies are romance and comedies. Romantic comedies are even better! I don't like going alone though! Lol! My favorite people to go to the movies with is my husband and my bestie! They are great movie "dates"!!!! Movies take you somewhere you can't actually go, they help you believe in things that are unbelievable and give you hope for something more exciting and better!

These are my fears and my favorites.

Forgive AND Forget

I recently heard someone say that they forgive but they never forget.....how wrong and un-Christ like is that? I'm SO glad that God not only forgives me but He forgets too. No wonder so many people struggle in life if they have that mentality. If you never forget then you will always be throwing those things up in people's faces and that's why when you apologize and ask for forgiveness it's never believed because everyone know that you will still hold it over their heads. No one wants to be "forgiven" like that! I have read once that one of the definitions of forgiveness is giving up the right to hurt someone just because they hurt you. And I'll be honest there are a few people who have come and gone in my life that I have not forgiven and I'm not sure how or if I ever will. I don't pretend like I have forgiven them because I know true forgiveness lets go.....

I also found this definition of forgiveness - "to cease to blame or hold resentment against (someone or something). How well we would do if we actually lived by that. I'm not fake, if I don't like you and I run into you in public I can't and won't pretend that everything is fine and smile and all that....but once I have truly forgiven someone I really do forget!

Addressing Issues....

It totally cracks me up and never ceases to amaze me how people put themselves up on pedestals. They are so quick to "judge" others and point fingers and yet they are doing the very thing they are jumping on others for. It's funny how people think they have been so perfect in handling situations and being so polished and "good" when they are the entire reason they are in the place they are in. I tend to think about things a lot, I don't hold on to them - I don't let them affect me but I do try and understand WHY people do the things they do. They whine and cry and make everyone feel sorry for them, I guess it's a desperate need for attention. I admit that there are time when I whine a little because I need some encouragement but usually its about every day kinda crap not about big issues that I've brought on myself. Just leave it alone already!

On another note, my husband is a strong person - he can think for himself and usually does. He doesn't have to ask my permission to do things although he's always kind enough to run things by me and I always encourage him to have guy friends and get out with them and do things. He's found a great friend in his boss at work. They've done quite a few "guy" things together and I'm so glad because I know that every true man needs guy time just like every true girl needs girl time! There are things that our spouses just can't do for us - there are guy things I just don't want to do with Beej and there are girly things he just doesn't want to do with me and that's how I like it! He's a man, I'm a woman! I don't think for him and he doesn't think for me. We have different opinions on things and different likes and dislikes. We do have things in common too and that's why we are great together. I used to know someone who always talked about her husband's ex-girlfriend - she always laughed that when he was with his ex he was shoved up her butt and only peeked out occasionally to greet the world and be seen. It always made me laugh because if you knew this couple you would know that he's now shoved so far up his wife's "butt" that he never "peeks" out! I'm glad to say that as much as I love and adore Beej and as much as he loves me I don't think for him! And that's a good thing! I admire men who are thoughtful and understanding towards their wives, we love them and cherish them and think of them ahead of themselves but there needs to be a healthy independence even between husband and wife. I heard a quote the other day that I totally fell in love with - it said, "

Real love is not two people clinging to each other; it can only be fostered between two strong people secure in their individuality." I couldn't agree more. If you try to find your security in another person they will always let you down. But if you are a secure and strong person in yourself on your own then you can bring something real to a relationship.

So my final thought today is before you go accusing others of things make sure you take the "plank" out of your own eye first. Because usually the things that bother you the most about other people are probably problems you have in your own life that you are just choosing to ignore. It's not that hard to get a long with people when you try to get a long with people who want to get a long! Lol! Honesty is the best policy, always, but you have to be friends with someone who can handle the truth. Luckily, I have such a friend. I can be down right honest with her and if I upset her she is just straight up and tells me. She doesn't hold on to it and then make a big deal about it later or throw it up in face over and over. We deal with it and if I apologize with sincerity then she's quick to forgive and move on. It's impossible to be friends with someone who isn't like that - otherwise you will always been walking on eggshells and telling people what you "think" they want to hear to try and keep them happy. What kind of a friend is that?! I'm thankful, once again, to have a wonderful friend by my side!!! I love her dearly!

Sugar & Spice & Everything nice!

My daughter is beautiful. In my eyes she is absolutely stunning. I find her to be perfection even though she has flaws. I find her simplistic love for life touching, her joy in simple pleasure refreshing and her devoted love for me and her daddy overwhelming! She has her days for sure, as all of us do. Some days her ceaseless questions can start to get on my nerves but I know that's just me and not her - she is a blank slate. She is learning every day. Her only way to know is to ask. I love nothing more then when she comes up to me on her own and says I love you, Mommy! Or to hear her tell her daddy the same thing! It makes my heart feel overwhelmed! I watch her create shapes and mold her ideas with her play-dough, or create towers with her building blocks and I can't believe she's so far along in life already. Her third birthday is approaching and sometimes I can't believe she's been here for so long already and in some ways I try to remember back when I didn't know her. My life was different without, yes, but she has created a new dimension in my heart. A love, devotion, compassion, nurturing side of me I didn't know I had. My heart aches when she is sick or in pain. There isn't anything I wouldn't do to be able to take that on myself instead, even if it's just a little cold or stomach bug. She is silly, funny, bright, and wild. She's also stubborn, independent and quick to be frustrated with herself. But I love even those things about her because they make her who she is. She has taught me patience and how to be unselfish and to think of someone before I ever think of myself. Nothing pleases me more then to give her something I know she will love - seeing that smile on her face makes me so happy! Today when we got home from a long day out I gave her a little three pack of Spongebob Valentine suckers and she was so thrilled!!! She has proceeded to thank me for them not once but twice on her own! It amazes me how a $1 item can brighten her day so much - at least for right now! Lol!

I have posted a picture of her that I just love! My sister took it the other night when I made Gianna that tutu. Some might argue that Gianna is too old to have her picture taken without her shirt on but for the moment she is still my baby and I love the innocence and happiness this photo spells out for me. Gianna spent 30 minutes just dancing around in her tutu and it made me happy to see her happy!

We aren't having any more children - Gianna is our one and only. I've only ever one time had a second thought about not having anymore and I can honestly say it didn't last very long! Gianna was recently introduced to her friend's new little sister who is so tiny and Gianna has been enthralled! I explained to her that the baby is a "little sister", well, later on Gianna was playing upstairs with her daddy and she picked up her baby doll and told him it was her baby sister! For a split second I thought that maybe we should have had a sibling for her but I know that's not what my heart really desires. Gianna is SO loved and she is surrounded by plenty of people who love and entertain her! I love giving my undivided attention to her - and that's just me. I never judge those who have or want more then one child! I admire them greatly! I come from a large family and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that but I know for me Gianna is all I want or need! She is my darling little girl and I couldn't ask for more.

Tacky clothing and misspelling....

Today I'm going to blog about my pet peeves! I have quite a few I'm sure, some of them I forget til they happen and others I remember all the time!

My number one pet peeve lately is misspelling. Pretty much every computer and every website has a nifty little red line that appears under a word if it's misspelled. Sometimes it does it under things you know aren't misspelled like certain names or nicknames. It puts a red line under my name and under Beej's. But with other words that you are quite sure how to spell this is a good hint! Recently I've seen these words misspelled and it's driving me nuts! I've seen the word vegetables spelled vegitables. Really? Did you not see the red line? Don't get me wrong, I know some people aren't the greatest spellers. I'm not really but I make sure I look out for that cute little dotted red line so that I appear that I can spell great! If you are really unsure type it into google.com and it will tell you the correct spelling. Other words I've seen lately, on blogs and websites, have been dessert (it was spelling deserts!), absurd (was spelled obsurd!) and spectacular (was spelled specatacular!). Lol! Pay attention to that little red line, people! It is there for a reason!

My second pet peeve is people who dress tacky! Lol! I know, this is a pretty big problem but I'm fine if you aren't big into style, you can still look presentable and classy. There is a girl that goes to our church and is part of the "stage people" and she constantly dresses so tacky! Leaves her sunglasses pushed up on her head, cell phone in her pocket, brightly odd colored clothes. I don't think you have to wear black or anything but make sure it looks classy! Today is was so distracting I couldn't hardly think! Did she even look in the mirror this morning?! But no one is bold enough to tell her so, if I say something everyone will jump on me. So this is the closest get to saying something!

My third pet peeve of the day is when girls slam the doors in the restroom. It doesn't take much effort to close those doors, but people go into the bathroom and then slam the stall door. Good grief!!!!

So that's my vent for the day! I'm heading out to a photo shoot with my sister! So excited about how her business is picking up! Good photographers are few and far between! Just because you can edit well doesn't make you a good photographer. You have to have an eye for things to begin with!!!!

Early Valentines.

Today my hubby and I celebrated Valentine's Day. It was really just an excuse for us to have another date night and a wonderful time together! We went to dinner at one of our favorite Chinese restaurants, PF Changs. So yummy! Then we went and saw a movie, we both love movies and the going to the movie theater. It is one of my favorite things to do! We went and saw Sherlock Holmes. It's been in theaters for awhile but we thought it would be a fun one to see and it was really good! We had a great time talking and singing a long to the radio. Now we are home, our sweet baby is staying the night with my mom. Just hanging out and enjoying our alone time. Watching a little TV, updating blogs and surfing the web!

I did pretty good eating out today. Only had 1/4 of my fried rice with chicken and I did have a spring roll and one of Beej's Dynamite shrimp (that was my splurge!). He tried to talk me into one of their dessert shots and I almost gave in but I knew I would feel horrible afterwards and hate myself for giving in that much. I haven't had any sugar for a month now and I couldn't bear to give that up! So my splurge wasn't even that bad! I had a little more of the leftover rice for dinner when I got home and still have half of it left! Even splurging I managed to come in under 1600 calories for the day! And I did get my work out in since DeeAnna's photo shoot was rescheduled for tomorrow. So that made me feel better.

Beej is working all day tomorrow, it'll be a long day for him for sure. He's so committed to working hard for us and doing whatever it takes to make life good for us. We are looking forward to our trip next weekend. Especially since it's supposed to snow here again and it's going to be 60 and sunny where we are going! I'm so tired of winter, snow and ice. Once is nice, twice is ok...anymore then that is annoying! Not to mention we are going to see our favorite band for the 3rd time in concert and I couldn't be more excited! This trip/concert was our Valentine's gift to each other.....and it was a fabulous gift, much better then chocolate or candy (and so much better for me too!).

We went by Wal-Mart on our way home and the Valentine's aisle was nearly cleaned out! We did pick up Gianna a little stuffed animal and some Spongebob suckers! Just a little treat for her, I like to bring her a little something when we've been away from her overnight. Just so she knows we did think about her!

Last night I made her a tu-tu. My bestie showed me how to do it, she made her little girls one and they turned out so cute! I'm planning to make Gianna one for her birthday too. She loved it! She danced around in it for quite awhile last night. She is just so precious! She got up this morning and put it on over her dress and wore it while she watched Elmo on Beej's laptop! I just love having a little girl, I thought I wanted a boy when I first got pregnant but now I can't imagine having anything sweeter or more precious!

So Beej absolutely made my day today - other then spending a lovely afternoon with him - he told me he's decided to get a tattoo! I tried to rush him and told him it would be SO great for us to both go get one while we are in GA but he said that was too soon for him, he isn't sure what he wants just yet. He does know where he wants it but just not exactly sure what. So I've decided to wait and get my next one when he does....but I so badly want to get it this coming weekend while we are in GA! But I am really glad he's finally decided to get one, it'll be SO HOT!!!!