Busy... Busy... Busy!

It has been a busy week! I have been Christmas shopping (which I got Bob a totally awesome Christmas gift he has wanted for awhile, and I was able to get it for him from putting back enough cash!!) He never ask's for anything, so I splurged this year on him. He's been so awesome with picking up chores since I've been pregnant, and taking such good care of me when I needed it. It's the least I can do! I can't wait to see his face when he opens it :) Like most families we exchange gifts with everyone, and so I have been busy busy picking up the last few gifts. I love the holiday's!

Bob and I also hung out with Jared and his girl friend this past week for a few hours. Which was nice. I also had a girls night with Katie this past week too, which was a lot of fun!

Bob and I also worked on the baby room, and put up the boarder! Which turned out awesome! I love it! I also have been going through some gifts that family and friends have given us already... just separating sizes of the clothes and whatnot. Bob and I also bought a book shelf for Josephine's room for all the books she already has! Being a teacher... I already bought her a lot of books. :)

Mom is planning my baby shower with the help of close friends and family. I know it's going to be a fun time and I can't wait! I'm just so anxious to have my little Josephine here with us! Although this pregnancy has seemed to go by pretty fast. My doctor seems to believes that my little bundle of joy isn't going to wait till my due date, only time will tell.

Well, break is over... I have to get back to cleaning the house. I have been getting rid of lots of stuff, just clutter that has been around for to long. Bob brought down 3 bags of trash that was mostly things I threw away, things we don't need and/or want anymore. I've been decluttering my life which has been great! And I couldn't be happier

gotta run! got to finish up the house, then finish my school work! :)

Some Food For Thought...

100 Great Tips to Improve Your Life...

Most of us are interested in improving something about ourselves: our productivity, our sanity, our organization, our happiness, our effectiveness, our impact on the environment, our minds, our dreams.

And you can spend hundreds of dollars on books and thousands of hours on websites looking for your answers.

Or you can look no further, as we've collected 100 of the best tips on all of these subjects -- a massive resource list that is almost guaranteed to have something of use for everyone.

1. Find Inner Serenity by Making it Easier to Find Your Keys. For most people, getting control of clutter brings a greater sense of calm and decreased frustration.
2. Surround Yourself With Progress. When you complete a list of action steps, your instinct might be to throw the list away. After all, the work is completed! However, some creative professional teams take a different approach; they relish their progress. Some go so far as surrounding themselves with it.
3. Empty Your Inbox in 30 Seconds. Is your inbox filled with thousands and thousands of unread messages? Before you give up hope, there's an instant way to clear your inbox of old emails in less than 30 seconds.
4. Instantly Build Self Confidence. These tips will get you riding high in no time.
5. Reduce Your Trash To Almost Zero. Follow the No Impact Man experiment to reduce our trash as close as we can to zero.
6. Feel like a million bucks for cheap. Feel healthier and more energized right away without spending a fortune.
7. End Laundry Chaos. More than 20 tips to help you keep your laundry chaos to a minimum.
8. Learn the Secrets of the Super-Organized. A few simple habits keep clutter and chaos at bay.
9. Check Email Once a Day ... or Once a Week. Simple tips that will reduce interruption and increase your productivity.
10. Become an Early Riser. 10 benefits of rising early, and some practical tips on how to do it.
11. Learn Lessons from Google About Self-Image. How you think of yourself greatly affects how successful you can be. Google has got self-image down to a science.
12. Make a Good First Impression. Research shows that people decide what kind of relationship they want with you in the first ten minutes of a meeting, so making a good first impression really matters.
13. Know the Hype Behind Bottled Water. Have you ever stopped to think about just how incredibly odd it is to buy bottled water?
14. Leave Work at Work. Want more time for your family or personal life? Here's how not to think about your job 24/7.
15. Create a Landing Strip to Become Organized. We come from work exhausted, often carrying our work bags, groceries, and the mail. A landing strip will help you avoid disorganization from the time you get home.
16. Understand Time to Increase Return on Investment. Time is your most valuable resource. Understanding these ideas will help you make optimal decisions.
17. Give Your RÈsumÈ a Face Lift. Even if you can't hire a fancy designer and are stuck with Microsoft Word, a few tweaks can turn your blasÈ rÈsumÈ into an elegant and functional showpiece.
18. Boost Your Energy Level. Feeling energetic is a key to happiness and to self-esteem, so take steps to keep your energy high.
19. Actually Execute Your To-Do List. Many productivity systems will tell you how to organize your tasks, but what happens if you don't feel like doing them?
20. Keep Your Desk Clean and Tidy. Do you spend waste more and more time looking for lost items instead of being the brilliant creative person that you are? Here's how to get your desk clean, clutter-free, and keep it that way for good.
21. Learn the Truth About Baby Carrots. Baby carrots not really young carrots! They are also less nutritious and less flavorful than regular carrots.
22. Try Quick and (Almost) Painless Ways to Kill Distractions. Are you spending more time dealing with emails, IMs, phone calls, and random stray files than actually working? Here are ten actions you can do right now to kill distractions and get back to work.
23. Reduce Your Carbon Emissions. The most important lifestyle changes you can make to reduce your carbon emissions are listed here.
24. Put the Action Method Into Practice. After a couple years of studying how creative people stay organized, we developed a simple and easily customized method for managing projects. A good portion of 2006 was spent putting the Action Method into practice.
25. Gently End Procrastination. Need an easy way to remind you when you should be working and when you should be playing? Try using teaming up Flextime with Growl. Here's how.
26. Read Your RSS Feeds Faster and More Productively. Four simple tips for reducing the time you spend on reading feeds.
27. Use Catchphrases to Change the Way You Think. By keeping certain ideas active and accessible through review and repetition ñ whether itís ìSay yes,î ìFake it ëtill you feel it,î or ìPeople succeed in groupsî ñ you can shape the way you think.
28. Photograph Your Mementos to Free Up Clutter. Taking digital photos of your mementos can get rid of clutter, free-up storage space, and provide you with a simple way to walk down memory lane.
29. Save Trees With Ease. Want to avoid all the paper towels, paper napkins and other tree-killing stuff there's no need to use? Read here.
30. Organize Your Cluttered Desktop and Regain Your Sanity. Is your desktop littered with zillions of random files and folders often litter my desktop. Learn how 5 ordinary folders can keep your desktop immaculate.
31. Eat Slower. Why eating slower is better for your health, your sanity, your digestion, and more.
32. Maximize Your Lunch Hour. Your lunch hour should be the least "productive" moment in your day. If it lasts a mere 20 minutes-or just doesn't exist anymore-here's how to turn it around and make it joyful.
33. Increase Workplace Productivity by Not Being a Jerk. You get more flies with honey, as the saying goes. This is a brief outline for how to work and play well with your coworkers (and get more done).
34. Find Cheap Gas Instantly. If soaring gas prices are draining your wallet dry, here's five ways to find cheap(er) gas anywhere.
35. Find Your Purpose. We're all searching for our purpose. It seems tempting that having it appear by divine intervention would be great. Maybe not.
36. Make a GTD System for about $20. Putting together a functional GTD system for the price of a week's worth of Starbucks.
37. Avoid costly DIY mistakes. You can end up costing yourself more in the long run if you don't watch out for these mistakes.
38. Think About Whether You Can Afford NOT to Pursue Your Dreams. Pursuing dreams is crucial, even when it means taking a hit or entering financial uncertainty.
39. Plan for Success. Waiting for your ship to come in is a waste of time.
40. Improve Your Mind by Reading the Classics. How to use the wisdom of the classics to become a better writer, thinker, and speaker.
41. Break Habits of Highly Ineffective Emailing. A list of what not to do when emailing, avoiding these habits will take you a long way toward better, more productive email.
42. Make Your PDA Green. If you're worried about e-waste and the toxins produced by burying and burning old cell phones and PDAs, you may want to try my green hipster's pda.
43. Learn to Go From Solo to Successful Collaboration. Self-starters are often successful doing everything themselves. However, when forced to grow beyond the one gal/guy-show, many creative professionals are unable to take the leap from a solo success to a successful collaboration.
44. Create a Morning Routine. Developing a routine in the morning could lead to greater sanity and happiness, and achieving your goals.
45. Learn How to Survive a Road Trip. Road trips always begin on a high note, but by the end even Mother Teresa would be willing to shove her grandmother out of the car. Here are 9 tips to help keep you sane and happy on any road trip.
46. Share To Make Ideas Happen. The philosophy to "share ideas liberally" defies the age-old instinct to keep ideas secret. However, the creative person's tendency to jump from idea-to-idea-to-idea causes most ideas to die in isolation. Creative professionals should take every opportunity to communicate new ideas broadly, seek feedback, and develop a sense of accountability.
47. Use Space Under Stairs for More Storage. Very cool under-stair storage where each step is a drawer.
48. Know What's In Store If You Have a Toddler. New parents often wonder what's in store for them once their kid is able to move around on their own. Here's what you can expect.
49. Work in Multiple Positives. These hyper-productive activities will benefit you in multiple ways at once.
50. Use a Super Slim Wallet. It's time to shrink down that backbreaking Constanza wallet. Here are 8 ways to radically slim down your wallet.
51. Advertise Action to Yourself. We live in a world of choices. When we buy, we have to make a choice between varieties, brands, and sizes. Similarly, when we work we have to decide what to focus on and how to use our time. While prioritization helps us focus, our minds still have the tendency to wander. We are most likely to focus on whatever catches our eye. Along the lines of "out of sight, out of mind" we learn that "right before our eyes, actions thrive."
52. Gain Muscle in Minimal Time. How Tim Ferriss gained 34 pounds of muscle in 4 weeks.
53. Choose Living Over Sleeping Sometimes. Despite the importance of healthy sleep habits, there are times when it's good to throw caution to the wind and invest in your life in other ways.
54. Make Reference Items Helpful. We spend too much time discussing, storing, and organizing notes. References are only valuable if you refer to them. Even with a well-organized system for managing references (either digital or paper), how often do we actually use them? How do we make reference items helpful?
55. Eat Sustainably. If you are interested in how to eat sustainably, read about it here.
56. Lose Weight Without Exercise. How to lose 20 lbs. of fat in 30 days with a sensible diet.
57. Find Calm & Sanity Through the Environment. If you've ever thought a more environmental life might also be a calmer, saner life, you're right.
58. Learn About the Successfully Self-Employed. Is freelancing for suckers? Are you already an expert? This series explores the levels of the free-agent -- and how to understand what each one means.
59. Learn GTD the Easy Way. An online primer of all the chapters of Getting Things Done.
60. Set Goals So You Actually Accomplish Them. Setting goals is hard. Following through is even harder. Using a framework that builds on your personal view of the world can make the process easier. This series helps outline how.
61. Reduce Gamer Clutter. If you are a gamer, these are a number of suggestions to help you keep your entertainment system under control and the gaming clutter to a minimum.
62. Stick to a Schedule of Regular Exercise. Exercising regularly boosts moodóright awayóand also makes it easier to sleep, keeps your weight down, and gives you energy.
63. Cut Back on Computer Cables. Follow these 8 simple steps to get rid of the birds' nest of cables behind your computer.
64. Pay the Price to Be an Entrepreneur. The price of access can be steep, but once you're flying down the road -- it's well worth it.
65. Single-task. Increase your productivity by learning not to multi-task.
66. Get Outside Your Comfort Zone. Comfort isn't all it's cracked up to be.
67. Drop Ideas That Fail. Ideas are a commodity. Being able to execute them well is what creates success. Hanging on to an idea, even after it his proven to be ineffective is the downfall of many aspiring entrepreneurs.
68. Learn to Calculate Risk. Risk and reward go hand-in-hand. Knowing what to expect can help reduce risk and shape your reality.
69. Don't Settle for Just One Path. Variety is the spice of life. So why do you have to be just one thing when you grow up?
70. Get Rid of Paper Clutter. A four-part series dedicated to reducing the paper clutter in your home.
71. Set Up Action Areas. Boxes need to be mailed, errands need to be run, cookies need to be eaten, orders need to be fulfilled, but by whom? Whoever has a chance! The Behance team got tired of limiting our action steps to just an area on paper - why not make "action areas" out of physical space?
72. Find Hidden Clutter. Ten places to start looking for hidden clutter in your home.
73. Get a Promotion. 20 tips that landed the writer an IT promotion -- most could be used in any field.
74. Dispose of Old Electronics. The best ways to dispose of old electronics.
75. Increase Your Intelligence. A list of 5 simple activities that will boost your brain power.
76. Present Yourself. Creative achievements seldom happen in isolation. A big part of making ideas happen is controlling how you come across to others. Of course, the Creative's tendency is to say, "who gives a crap what other people think." While there is merit in never compromising oneself for the sake of another's opinion, creative professionals need to make an effort to be understood. You need to present yourself effectively to engage others and get the support (and the business) you need to push ideas forward.
77. Follow George Orwell's Rules for Effective Writing. Becoming a better writer will create better career opportunities and increase productivity.
78. Lay Your Energy Line. Creative teams juggle multiple projects at once. The constant streams of ideas lead to more ideas. As energy is spread across projects like peanut butter, prioritization is all but lost. Energy Lines are a simple way to prioritize and use design to guide creative energy.
79. Focus on Continuous Improvement. By mastering the optimization mentality you can become an expert in your chosen field.
80. Motivate Yourself. This post will teach you to recognize the primary motivation killers and how to beat them.
81. Become a More Light-hearted Parent. We all want a peaceful, happy atmosphere at home ñ and you canít nag and yell your way there.
82. Give Up Nagging. Itís no fun to nag, and itís no fun to be nagged. Give your relationship a lift by putting an end to the irritating nag cycle.
83. Learn to Sacrifice Temporary Pressure for Long-term Goals. All success requires sacrifice. Do you have the determination to endure temporary punishment to reach your dreams?
84. Learn the GTD Workflow. An excellent into to GTD for the novice, a great refresher for the experienced.
85. Use the Power of 10 Minutes. 10 Minutes can be even more productive amount of time than 50 minutes, if used properly.
86. Triple Your Workout Effectiveness. Do you exercise regularly but don't get the results you want? Here are some simple but powerful ways to boost that workout.
87. Work 8 Hours Straight Without Hating Yourself. There is an art to taking breaks that can help you work longer, and more productively.
88. Learn Whether You're Waking Up at the Wrong Time. Everyone's internal clock can tell us when we should be working. Are you listening to it?
89. Reduce Wasted Plastic Cups and Bottles. If you want to toss fewer plastic cups and bottles in the trash, you may be interested this ultra-cool reusable cup and water bottle.
90. Avoid Entrepreneurial Burnout: Fill Your Tank. Many times entrepreneurs suffer from going to hard with their vision, without thinking about keeping the work pace sustainable.
91. Take Steps to Boost Your Happiness in the Next Hour. You can make yourself happier ñ and this doesnít have to be a long-term ambition. You can start right now.
92. Learn to Capture Ideas and How to Manage Diarrhea of the Brain. Sometimes our best ideas come at the worst possible times. These tips will help to make sure none of those precious ideas fall through the cracks.
93. Know the Signs That a Pink Slip is Coming. If you can answer yes to THREE or more of these questions, you may want to think about sprucing up your resume and dry-cleaning your best interview attire.
94. Try No TV. In an extreme experiment to reduce waste to near zero, No Impact Man turned turned off electricity, which means no TV. Read about how to entertain a little girl with no TV.
95. Accelerate Your Mortgage Payments to Save a Bundle. See how much money you can save by adding just a few extra dollars a month to the principal.
96. Use a Today List to Get Stuff Done. Helps you focus on what needs to be done today.
97. Use Money to Buy Happiness. Some of the best things in life arenít free, so spend money in ways to bring you more happiness bang for your buck.
98. Save the Lives of Animals With One Change. If you want to help save the lives of hundreds of thousands of animals just by not using plastic bags, perhaps the easiest environmental step, read here.
99. Get the Most Out of Your Rebates. Follow these tips and we can all fight the Man and wrench our hard-earned money back from those big, faceless corporations.
100. Eliminate All But the Absolute Essential Tasks. Is your to-do list overwhelming you? Here's how to simplify it to the core tasks.


Just some quotes I came across today...

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas...

Well I only have 2 more people to buy for!! :) When I went out shopping yesterday I took care of all the girls I work with, got them all something really nice! I enjoyed watching it snow last night when Bob and I drove home, it made it finally feel like Christmas time, and there is still snow on the ground here in the city.

Bob and I just got finished decorating our Christmas tree. We made some hot cocoa, listened to Christmas music and decorated the tree together. It was a fun time together! Bob and I are going to start wrapping the Christmas gifts tomorrow. I'm thrilled that we have this all almost done early. It makes the rest of Christmas time so much better because you can enjoy it.

Got the whole family nice things... I can't wait to give them all their gifts! Bob's father got a 150.00 power tool he wanted from Sears, but we always spend more on him and my mom. They do so much for us, it's the least we can do to show our appreciation.

Bob's business is booming! Which is awesome! He made over a grand this week, we are sailing right through our bills and Christmas shopping. It's good too that his business is doing great because I'll be out of work in 2 1/2 months for almost six months. But I'll be on maternity leave / unemployment, so I'll still be collecting a check.

Well, I gotta run... I have some school work to do :)

Date Night...

Well, Bob surprised me with a "date night" for the two of us. It was def. much needed since I really haven't been out to much lately since I have been tired and whatnot. But we went out to dinner, saw a movie, did some Christmas shopping. It was really nice. I love nights when it's just me and him. Bob is my very best friend and the love of my life. He always has me laughing and smiling. :)

Today I am going out to do some more Christmas shopping... although, I'm going to another mall I think so I can find more! I also have the money to shop for Bob... I have a few ideas on what I am going to get him this year. Bob and I only have 4 more people to buy for, which I will probably finish up today!! then we are done. *yay* We are done really early this year, which is awesome.

Bob and I bought a new ordainment (we buy a new one every year for our tree) it's two bears and one is pregnant and it says "Parents to be" and we had 2009 and Josephine put on the hearts. :) It's our little Christmas tradition every year!

Bob and I go to my next baby doc appointment Christmas eve in the morning... then after that appointment starting in Jan. we go twice a month... it's cool that we are coming to the end and that we get to meet Josephine soon! My tummy keeps growing and Josephine is getting more and more active. She is growing perfectly though, just as she should. He heart rate is great and she is awesome! I haven't had any health issues this whole pregnancy... which I didn't think I would. I have no health issues and my doc says my weight is right on target I haven't gained a lot... under 10 pounds!! I go walking down on the boardwalk almost every day, which keeps me healthy. I really haven't craved much, bad stuff does nothing for me. All I really want to eat is salad and healthy stuff, which is good. It's more mind over matter... I know I have to take care of myself and baby so I just make good eating choices.

I also got tickets to the Nutcracker Ballet for next weekend at PPAC! :) Mom and I go every year, it's out kick off to the holiday season. So I ran down there to PPAC and got us tickets last weekend so we didn't miss it! We have been going to the Nutcracker ballet every year since I was a little girl. And once Josephine gets a little bigger mom and I will add her into that tradition. Josephine will be cultured like I was growing up and she will love to travel... and have a since of adventure like Bob and I.

Well... I have Christmas shopping to do, so I gotta run. Talk again later.

-Amy

Baby...

Mom just called and let me know that she and the Godmother of Josephine just booked my baby shower *yay* :) I'm excited for my baby shower... I can't wait to see everyone! And I know it will be a lot of fun. Mom told me the total count after my list I gave her is 150 guest, which is awesome! I can't believe that I'll be meeting Josephine in about 3 1/2 months! I'm anxious to see her and to get to know her.

I only have 3 months left of work before I leave for maternity leave... December, Jan and Feb. I am working till the last Friday of Feb then I am off for 6 months with my daughter!!

I'm just so excited! :)

Missing Dad...

Tonight I was going through some stuff that Bob and I stored over at Bob's brother's house when we moved out on our own six years ago. Every time we go over there we take a couple more boxes.

I sat there will a box of memories I had stored away, memories of my friends back home in California, Memories of high school, memories that were most important to me at the time. I came across an envelope that had "Dad" hand written on the front in my hand writing... I quickly slid my finger under the seal to open it and came across letters I had written to my dad when he was sick in the hospital with cancer right before he died. :( This envelope was given back to me by the staff of Charlton when he passed away, the nurse had collected them for me figuring I'd want to keep them.

I sat on the floor beside this old box... a box full of memories some happy, some sad, some painful and read these letters. I got choked up a bit... but at the same time I have been thinking about my dad a lot lately and I keep coming across "signs" that he's with me. It's the strangest thing. Every time I think of him... I see something he had or did or hear things like his favorite songs. For example my dad owned Allied (the moving Company) well, the branch in California and I was driving home from work and starting thinking about my dad and what do I turn my head to see... a big orange Allied truck beside me. It brought me comfort, it felt like it was my dad saying "I'm here with you"

Being pregnant with my first child I have been wishing my dad was here to meet his grand daughter, but sadly he's not here with us anymore. But my daughter will know her grandfather and her grandmother because we will tell her all about them.

I just miss my dad today...

What a busy holiday season...

I went out yesterday and did some more Christmas shopping! I picked up another awesome gift for Bob! I can't wait to give it to him, he's going to love it!! I have 2 piles in my dining room... Christmas gifts and baby gifts, I have gotten so many cute things from some people already for Josephine. Bob and I are going to put up the boarder in her room today. The room is really coming along, and once the baby shower happens then I can finish it up! :)

I feel that 2009 was a blessing... 2009 brought getting pregnant, finding myself, learning who my true friends are, happiness, and so much more. I would never look at 2009 in a negative light, But I am anxious for 2010... getting to meet my daughter with be my biggest blessing of the new year!! Not sure what my 2010 wish will be... since 2009 I wished to get pregnant and I got my wish and I am so very thankful.

Another positive note is that the settlement is FINALLY coming to an end. (thank goodness) we're now just waiting to hear about an amount and then it's over. We're hoping to build our dream house in 2010 ::crosses fingers:: but it's looking like it's going to happen and we're thrilled! We have been driving around looking at possible places to build in Swansea. We love Swansea, and want to raise our daughter and future children there too.

Work is great too! I got a bonus! Which is awesome! :) I didn't expect it... I was pulled aside and told that my hard work hasn't gone unnoticed and so I was getting a bonus! I was so excited! Plus on top of that we get a Christmas bonus too! I love my job. It's such a nice place to work. It's nice going to work every day and not coming home every day griping about it.

"You are always a valuable, worthwhile human being -- not because
anybody says so, not because you're successful, not because you make a
lot of money -- but because you decide to believe it and for no other
reason."

"Stop acting as if life is a rehearsal. Live this day as if it were
your last. The past is over and gone. The future is not guaranteed."

** "When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself." **

"Worthless people blame karma"

Tis' The Season...

I went out shopping yesterday on "black Friday" It was a lot of fun. I shopped from 3am to about 1pm and I got 90% of my Christmas shopping done, which is awesome! And I came home with money, which is good too. I hit a ton of great deals! I can't wait till Christmas. Bob and I are putting up our Christmas tree this weekend, which is always fun.

My doctors appointment was good! :) My next appointment is Christmas Eve in the morning. After That appointment, I start going twice a month to the doctor (starting in Jan.) I can't believe that I'm coming to the end of this pregnancy... I can't wait to meet Josephine, I am so anxious. Mom, family and friends are planning my baby shower... All I know is that it is going to be in January, It'll be fun. :) And Bob and I do our all day birthing class in Feb. at the hospital. Sara & Dan are in the same class as Bob and I... we're looking forward to doing the class together. It's fun having a friend who is pregnant too and who is due the month, it's made this experience nice. Because I have had someone to talk to about it and relate to and someone who is on the same page. :)

Bob and I are also looking into going to California with Josephine possibly this summer to see family and friends. They are all anxious to meet our daughter and like my mom said there is NO reason why you can't travel with a baby... since my mom did it with my brother and I since we were born. Traveling will be a BIG part of Josephine's life.

The changes I have made in my life has brought peace to me. Life is better, there is no more judgment no more negative energy around me. I go out with other friends without the fear of someone else being mad at me for it. The friends I hang out with appreciate me and respect me and actually care about me. It's true what they say... everything happens for a reason and I'm so thankful that my life is now surrounded with people who are real. And I couldn't be happier. Life is great and I am truly happy. The stress is no longer and I would never look back and I would never make the same mistake again. Because my life is a much better place with the people in it now. I would never get involved with the baggage again. So with that said... I'm going to go.

“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our Attitudes.”

Life Couldn't Be Better :)

I feel like I have taken a breath of fresh air this month. Life has been great! Everything is going great! Mom bought the crib for Josephine, that was one of her gifts to us... the baby room is coming along great! It's nice having so much help now. I go to the doctor tomorrow for my monthly check up... 25 weeks pregnant this week! 15 weeks to go! I feel Josephine all the time now, which is an amazing feeling! Although it's neat to feel her... I look forward to having her here more. Bob and I can't wait to start our new life with her. I went out shopping last weekend and bought new stockings since ours were old and getting ragged... I bought one with an (A) on it one with a (B) on it and one with a (J) on it for Josephine next year that way they all match. :) I started Christmas shopping too! And I am going out black Friday to do the rest of my shopping!! I love black Friday! I have a definite baby belly now, Bob loves it. He's always putting his hand on my belly to feel Josephine! It's nice having a husband that is so involved in this amazing journey. He's attended ALL my doctor's appointments and we signed up for birthing classes yesterday, so we'll do that together too! We also got a new dining room set!! I love it... we got rid of our old one since it was so old and falling apart. My last day will be Feb. 26th at work then I will be on maternity leave... not that far way!! Well I have to go... I'm going to go finish my book! Then off to the book store to buy myself a new one. I love reading.

21 weeks pregnant! 19 weeks to go... 17 weeks till I'm on maturnity leave from work.... Wow!

Your Pregnancy: Week 21
Twenty-one is a magic number. It means independence. It means you just won a hand of blackjack. In pregnancy terms, it means you have gotten over the hump and you only have 19 weeks left!

Wondering what's up with your body, your baby and your life this week? Read on ...

What You're Thinking

"Ugh, even my underwear feels tight."

Your Body
Did you know that your growing belly is directly proportional to your sex drive? In other words, the bigger you get, the bigger it gets. That's a sweet way of saying that second trimester hormones can turn you into a total horn dog. (Finally a physical benefit your partner can actually appreciate.)

As long as your pregnancy is going well, engaging in a little "love me do" is perfectly safe and healthy. In a healthy pregnancy, having sex is perfectly fine—even in the third trimester.

There was a time when you tried different sex positions all the time. Now that your growing belly is making the old reliable missionary position obsolete, it's time to get creative again.

When you're about ready to pop, some say sex can induce contractions. And even if it doesn't work, you can still have fun trying.

Your Baby
Chances are good you're feeling someone performing a round-off back handspring in your uterus by now. Is there any other feeling this cool? Other highlights this week:

By now your baby looks like a mini-version of what she'll look like when she's born. All her facial features are formed and hair is growing on her head. She's even acting like a baby and will occasionally suck her thumb or yawn. Aww ...

Baby's heartbeat is getting stronger and can be heard using a good old-fashioned stethoscope. Ask for a listen at your next prenatal visit! By 21 weeks, fetal bone marrow starts making blood cells—previously done by the liver and spleen. This may not sound that exciting, but it's good news.

The amniotic fluid that has been cushioning your little bean now serves another purpose: Your baby uses it to "practice" chowing down. Yes, it sounds gross (as many aspects of pregnancy do), but it's an important step for your baby toward being able to chow down in the real world. Your baby has been swallowing amniotic fluid for a while now, but now the intestines are finally developed enough that she's absorbing small amounts of sugars from it. And let's face it, being able to effectively digest sugar is important at every stage of life.

Your baby now weighs between 10 and 11 ounces and is approximately 7 inches long—the size of a delicious, cold, frothy bottle of root beer. Float anyone?

17 weeks...

Your Baby: More Than Meets The Eye
If you saw an ultrasound of your fetus right now, you'd spot a number of recognizable features. Your baby-to-be has thin eyebrows, hair on his scalp, and well-developed limbs. He's mastered a few simple reflexes, too -- sucking, swallowing, and blinking. Head to rump, the fetus measures 5 inches (12.7 cm) long and weighs approximately 6 ounces (170 g). Underneath the baby's skin, fat is forming. By the end of your pregnancy, this fat will account for 2% to 6% of the baby's weight and help maintain his body temperature at birth. At this age, your baby's hearing is pretty sharp. He can make out your conversations and may even be startled by loud noises! Whether you feel it or not, your baby is becoming very active, moving his head, arms, and legs, and making breathing movements.

life has been busy...

just wanted to update this thing quickly...

I'm back to work, and VERY busy. Between work, time with Bob, house hold chores, this pregnancy, and preparing for baby I haven't had the time for much. Plus I'm in bed by 8:00pm most nights since being pregnant... so going out after work is pretty much out of the question... by the time I come home and eat dinner I'm exhausted, this pregnancy has totally taken all my energy.

I'll be 15 weeks pregnant tomorrow... 25 more weeks to go... I can't wait till the end when I meet my baby. This pregnancy experience has been ehhh... I can't wait to have my body back. Between feeling sick, and feeling totally exhausted and emotional it's hard to totally enjoy this pregnancy. Everything is going smoothly, which I am totally thankful for. But I'm not going to miss feeling so crappy all the time.

And I know there are people out there that say "yes you will miss it" but that's just my personal opinion. I'm more looking forward to having the baby home and raising our child and doing things with our child. :)

But ya, I need to get to my school work... talk again later.

-Amy

The Best Sound...

So on Monday August 31st Bob and I went to the baby doctor for the 1st time... they did all kinds of testing, which I knew they would do. but the very last thing they did was listen to the baby heart beat... It was the best sound in the world... I was smiling from ear to ear. It was such an amazing sound. It made being pregnant feel so much more real. The doctor said since I have no previous health problems that this pregnancy should go pretty smoothly. She was shocked that I had never had a surgery, or any real medical problems... ::laughs:: I guess I'm just lucky I guess.

The morning sickness has gone away... most days I am feeling good now, there are stil days that I don't feel 100% but they are becoming less and less. The only thing is that I am tired a lot, and I know as I get bigger I will just get more tired. But in the end... this is all worth it to have a beautiful baby.

I'm anxious to meet baby. I often sit and wonder what he or she will look like... will the baby have dark hair, dark eyes, olive skin like Bob... or will the baby have light hair, light skin and light eyes like me... or will the baby have a little of both. Only time will tell. I am looking forward to seeing my baby for the first time. I am looking forward to learning and growing with him or her. I am looking forward to all the first, I am looking forward to being a mom.

When I am out in town, when I see babies I always smile now... I picture me pushing the stroller, or giving a bottle. I can't wait to fall into the "Mom" roll. Once school starts and I am making my full pay again we are going to get a move on with the baby room. Which I am looking forward to. It'll be cute once we're done.

Mom told me the other day that she is going to buy the baby crib. Which is awesome! And then after that I really wont get much because I'm going to wait till the baby shower. I'm just going to buy a closet and stuff to decorate the room I bit. :)

Well, I've got to go... talk again later.

Week 12

My Baby

Now measuring between 2 and 3 inches from crown to rump, the fetus is busily doing his stretching and kicking exercises, That only the mother will be able to feel. All major organs are in place, and his brain, nerves, and muscles are starting to function. Although his gender was determined at conception, external genitalia won't fully develop for another couple of weeks. At that point, a sonogram may be able to show whether you're carrying a boy or a girl--if your baby will cooperate and face the camera!

Baby's face is looking more human as his eyes have moved to the front of his head and his ears are in place. Hooray! Other amazing fetal highlights this week:

* Your baby is able to swallow this week and practices on the amniotic fluid he or she floats in. (And you thought baby food was kind of nasty!) And in case you're wondering how your kid can breathe in all that fluid, here's your answer: Fetuses get oxygen from the blood pumped into their bodies by the placenta and don't breathe with their lungs.

* Your baby's intestines are well under way, but they aren't all where you'd expect them to be. Instead of all being locked away in the body cavity, some are dangling on the outside, in the umbilical cord.

* Don't forget to put a baby nail file on your registry—your little nugget's finger- and toenails are forming this week. The chin and nose are also becoming more defined.

* Junior has doubled in size over the past two weeks and now weighs almost 1/2 ounce. He's also now around 2 1/2 inches long, about the length of your pinky finger, which, in a few months, will be indistinguishable from one another.


Tomorrow I have my 1st baby doctor appointment! Bob and I are so excited!! :)

Cravings...

Over the last few weeks I have wanted things for no particular reason... I just wanted them because they sounded good, and when they sounded good... I HAD TO have them! lol

1) Coney Island Hot Dogs
2) Taco's
3) Soft serve vanilla & chocolate swirl
4) Pickles

so far... that is my list of things I HAD TO HAVE lol

thus far, my pregnancy hasn't been that bad... the 95 degree heat has been making me feel lousy, but staying out of the sun and in AC'ed places has been the best bet for me.

Sleeping is becoming a bit uncomfortable, since I am a side sleeper and my sides kill within minutes of laying on them. So I have been sleeping on my back, which has helped.

I am really no longer having morning sickness. The only time I feel lousy is when I get to hungry... I start feeling blah.

Heart burn has been something I have been battling... but my doc told me to take Rolaids and yes, that has helped!!

so far.. it hasn't been so bad. I am still having anxiety about the labor and delivery but in the end I know I will be okay. It's just something new... something I have never had to go through. So it seems a bit scary...

Well I've got to run... talk again later.

*Can't wait to meet you <3

We are all waiting to meet you...

I am now 11 weeks pregnant! Everything is going well! I have an appointment with Dr. Michelle Hughes on August 31st! :) Bob and I took care of the health insurance last week... we have am appointment today at 2pm with Wic, just to get the paper work in order why not accept some extra help. My due date is March 9th 2010 ... which is a nice time, and at least I will be going through this pregnancy mostly through the winter months which is good!! Much cooler weather will be better, this 90 degree heat has been making me feel so sick. But for the most part my morning sickness has warn off and I have been able to enjoy this pregnancy. Mom and I went to babies r us on Saturday and I picked out a lot of things I wanted... and made a mental note of what I would register for when it was time to do so. Bob and I went to burlington and found a stroller we really like... again we will be registering for it when it's time. Mel and I started cleaning out the baby room yesterday ... and now all that is left in there is baby things!! Bob and I sat in there last night and talked a game plan on what exactly we want to do to decorate and whatnot. This pregnancy has really brought Bob and I much closer! I am so happy that Bob wants to be present at all the doctor appointments ... all appointments concerning baby and me. :) He's been great though... kissing my belly good night, taking care of me when I have been sick and unable to clean the house or cook, he has been so wonderful! <3 He's going to be a wonderful daddy. Well... I gotta get going

Mommy & Daddy Love You Baby <3

I'm Pregnant! :)

Well things have changed a bit last week I found out I was pregnant, I then went to the doctor on Friday last week to confirm... yup, pregnant!!! 9 1/2 weeks now! :) I can't believe it! I am so excited... this pregnancy has really brought Bob and I much closer... he is so excited to be a daddy and of course I am excited to be a mommy! I am taking care of health insurance tomorrow... and then making my 1st OBGYN appointment and to have my 1st sonogram! Bob already told me he is going to accompany me to all my sonogram appointments, he said he doesn't want to miss a thing. It's nice to have him being such an active part of everything. We went baby shopping today (mostly browsing) but picking things out together is a great bonding experience! We are just so excited to be parents and to start this amazing journey... a long awaited journey.

Mommy & Daddy Love You Baby <3

Another Trip... I Love Traveling!

Well, I pulled out my suit cases today and started packing for my week long trip to the NH mountains! I'm so excited to get away!! Bob and I have been on so many adventures over the years... we are always packing our suit cases and taking off some place, it's what we do. We're not the type to stay in one place for to long... we get bored if we're standing still. And life is for living... so why not go out there and live it... see the world, do things you've always wanted to do, and live life to the fullest! Bob and I have been talking about taking a cross country road trip next summer... which will be totally awesome! We figured we would drive the top half of the country to California.. then stay in Cali for a week or so and then drive the bottom half of the country to come back. We have been researching all the amazing things to see and do along the way... The last time I went across the country on a road trip I saw... The Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Meteor Crater in Arizona, The Oklahoma City National Memorial, honoring those killed during the Oklahoma City bombing, The Grand Canyon, Kansas City honoring the wizard of oz, Yosemite National Park in California, Gettysburg PA, Taos New Mexico that has breath taking mountains, Lincoln Memorial, Washington, D.C. , Redwood National Park, CA you haven't seen trees till you have been there!, San Antonio Texas, Mississippi River, Dinosaur Tracks in St. George Utah, Lake Tahoe, Nevada for the most beautiful lake in the world!! and so much more... and then when we reached California we visited Disneyland & Universal Studios, Hollywood, The Chinese Grumann theatre, the walk of fame on Hollywood Boulevard, Santa Monica pier, San Diego, Irvine (where I grew up) there is just so much to see and do across the country... every time you go your able to see different things, which is one thing I love about it! Going on a cross country road trip is a remarkably freeing experience!

And once Bob and I have the money... we plan on traveling out of this country... we want to go to Venice Italy, Paris France, Ireland, Sweden, Australia, Egypt, Belgium... there is so much we want to do and see... and why not go out and see those places. You only live once so you gotta do it right. There is a whole world out there... and I plan I seeing as much of it as I can! :)

Spring Cleaning In The Summer Time...

Lately my life has felt cluttered and a mess... and so I have been on a cleaning frenzy! After I cleaned my living room, I wondered to myself... "Why am i totally cleaning a room that will be torn apart tomorrow???" haha ohh well, and with this cleaning frenzy I have decided to switch around my furniture and make my place look different. I'm bored of the way it looks! And so it's time for me to start fresh.

And since the weather report says that it's going to rain all day with thunderstorms tomorrow... that puts sailing out of the question :( but, instead Chris and Amy are going to come over here... and the guys are going to move the furniture, and us girls are going to redecorate! I'm looking forward to the change... it's much needed.

I go away on vacation in 11 days... And I can't wait! I week long trip in NH is just what my soul needs! Sometimes when you get overwhelmed or tired of every day life getting out of the town really makes a big difference. And I think once I get back from my trip, I'll feel more like myself again.

So ya... breaks over, back to cleaning. Talk again later...

I have traveled a long road from the battlefield to the peace table...

Lately I have been feeling like no matter what I do, no matter what I say, no matter what is going on that it's just not good enough. Over the years I have had my fair share of battles .... winning some and losing some, but I swore to myself I would not stoop down to that level again. I am 25 years old and I refuse to be stuck in the same old "drama" ... there is just NO reason for it...

*I'm not available every single day
*I don't talk to anyone except my mom and Bob every single day
*I don't come online on AIM every single day and most days it doesn't work anyway
*I have been babysitting on the side
*I have been planning a vacation that takes place in under two weeks
*I haven't been home most nights
*I spend my nights with my hubby usually, since he's around.
*I have been spending time with family
*I have been sailing
*I see other friends once a week if I'm lucky... since people are busy too

i am who i am... your approval isn't needed =]

*swallow your tears hide your frown never let life bring you down

*everyone has someone in their life that keeps them looking forward to another day

*sometimes its the smallest decisions that can change your life forever

*pain and suffering ends only when you want it to. put your past behind you and move forward. never back down form what life throws in your face.

*people too weak to follow their own dreams will always find a way to discourage yours.

*control yourself or someone else will TRY control you.

*dream as if you'll live forever live as if you'll die tomorrow

*i don't forgive people because I'm weak i forgive them because i am strong enough to know people make mistakes

*you can't change the past but you can ruin the present by worrying about the future.

*it's my life & I'll live it how i want!!

*life's too short & nothing lasts forever. so live it up. drink it down. laugh it off. AVOID the bull shit & DRAMA & never have regrets. because at one point; what you did was exactly what you wanted.

*who are you to judge the life i live? I'M NOT PERFECT & I DON'T LIVE TO BE,
but before you start pointing fingers, make sure YOUR HANDS ARE CLEAN!!

*i am who i am and i won't change for anyone

*keep your head high, there are people who would kill to see you fall...

*i may not be perfect, but I'm always me....

It's like one step forward and two steps back...

Not Meant To Be by Theory Of A Deadman

its NEVER enough to say i am sorry
Its NEVER enough to say I care
but I am caught between
what you wanted from me
and knowing if i give that to you
i might just disappear

Nobody wins when everyone's losing
oh, its like one step forward
and two steps back
no matter what i do your ALWAYS mad
and I can't change your mind
Oh, Its like trying to turn around on a one way street
I can't give you what you want
and it's killing me and I,
I'm starting to see that
maybe we're not meant to be

Its never enough to say I love you
No, It's NEVER enough to say I try
Its hard to believe that there's
no way out for you and me.
And it seems to be
the story of our life.

Nobody wins when everyone's losing
Oh, Its like one step forward
and two steps back
NO MATTER what I do you're always mad
and I CAN'T change your mind, oh
Its like trying to turn around on a
on way street. I can't give
you what you want and its killing me
And I'm, I'm starting to see
that maybe we're not meant to be

There's still time to turn this around
should we be building this up
instead of tearing it down
But I keep thinking
maybe it's too late

It's like one step forward
and two steps back,
no matter what I do
you're ALWAYS mad and I
CAN'T change your mind oh
Its like trying to turn around on a
on way street. I can't give
you want you want and its killing me
And I finally see,
Baby we're not meant to be

It's like one step forward
and two steps back,
no matter what I do
you're always mad and I ...

I'm sorry to see,
Maybe we're not meant to be


Sometimes I feel like no matter what I do... I'm pushed up against a wall...

As a kid I used to imagine the clouds were made of whipped cream. I love watching clouds it puts you in a place where only you can go and only you feel and it is awesome!

Laying on the grass watching the clouds roll by somehow makes you forget about life...about your problems... about anything going on.....

Lately I have felt like I am at some sort of crossroads, and don't know which path to choose. I dunno? But although I have been going through this, my husband has been my biggest fan, rooting me on and keeping me strong. And I want to thank him for that. No matter what goes on in my life... no matter good or bad, he's always there, without question. He's the one person who knows me the very BEST. There isn't anyone who knows me as well as him. He's my strength, when I feel weak. I love you baby!!



But... sometimes you stumble upon a crossroad... and it's never easy... but it's how you handle it that says the most....

I put up walls, one by one Everytime I got hurt, another got done...

Summer 2009... I thought this summer was going to be filled with fun and laughter and awesome days and/or nights like last summer, I mean I have had fun here and there with friends and with Bob...

This summer I have been going through something... I haven't felt like myself at all. I have been feeling very down and sad. And I have no idea what triggered it or why I feel this way. But I have been keeping to myself mostly... I have never been one to want to burden others with my problems, I'm the type of person that deals with with things like this alone. I'm not one to want to talk about it.... It's just how I have always been.

The only person I have been talking to about it is Bob. I don't mean to shut others out but I have to deal with me and the way I have been feeling before anything else. I'm just trying to take one day at a time, that's all I can really do. My life is complicated and there is so many different things I have to deal with on a daily basis.

Like I said before I'm the type of person who keeps things inside and when I am good and ready to deal with things I will fall apart when I'm alone. I'm not a talker... I don't like talking about my problems. And I don't think that is ever going to change.

Sometimes I feel as if I don't fit in... sometimes I feel like I'm not good enough... Sometimes I feel like I'm constantly in a battle to defend myself... Sometimes I feel like others don't get me... sometimes I feel like these walls I have built around me will never get broken down... Sometimes I feel like I have been hurt so much in the past that I just don't trust fully... Sometimes I want to scream... Sometimes I want to cry... Sometimes I feel like I'm always being judged and seen as a totally different person that I really am...

This song says it the best...

Intro:
My bags were busted at the seams
I was fleeing from more than broken dreams
Had my one-way ticket to Neverland
where fairytales were forever banned.

Verse 1:
I put up walls, one by one
Everytime I got hurt, another got done.

Chorus:
There was something I’ve been meaning to do. (find you)
I’ve got 16 walls to break through (to love you)
Something’s got to give for me to take
so 16 walls are coming, coming down today.

Verse 2:
I stop to breathe, look for the view.
I got no response when I called out to you.
Fall to my knees and I collapse to the ground.
I try to scream but I can’t make a sound.

Chorus

Bridge:
Deep connection mixed with lust
mind heart body unanimous.

Verse 3:
There’s a clearing in front of me
a pile of rubble at my feet
One step over and now i’m free
I can be who I want and I want to just be.

Never apologize for being you...

Do you habitually give in to other people because you just can't stand the thought of upsetting them? Do you put your needs to one side because you get a buzz from someone else's happiness, only to find that he or she is not a bit grateful? If so, you are a classic "people pleaser," and you are, in all probability, not getting what you want out of life. It's time to shift the focus from others to yourself, and stop being a martyr.

Steps

1. Think of five times when you did or said something that did not truly reflect your wants and needs, in order to please someone else. Write them down. For each of these occasions, imagine how you would have handled it differently - to please yourself! What is the worst that could have happened? Write down your worst fears.

2. Look at your fears. Are they realistic? Are they truly terrible? You might be afraid that no one will like you, that someone will leave you, or that you will be left all alone if you don't say the right thing. That is a prison you have trapped yourself in, and it's time to unlock the doors and walk out! The people around you may be used to your compliance, but if they're not willing to accept that you have your own needs, are they really worth having in your life?

3. Examine your ability to set limits on others. Examine your boundaries. Where are they? What is acceptable behavior for you and what is unacceptable? Do you tolerate the intolerable? Normalize the abnormal? Accept the unacceptable? Do you know what it feels like to be treated with dignity and respect? Learn how to identify and label unacceptable treatment from others and how to set limits on their behavior when they violate your boundaries.

4. Consider the source. Many people pleasers were raised in environments wherein their needs and feelings were pushed aside/not considered. Were you always expected to anticipate, and to mold yourself to, everyone else's needs? Did you learn that the only way to receive a positive response was to do what others wanted you to do? If so, here's a newsflash: Not all the world wants a pushover. By focusing on pleasing others, you open yourself up to manipulation and abuse. You will never reach your potential as an individual if you constantly hide behind others' expectations.

5. Stop basing your self-worth on how much you do for other people. It's noble to want to help others, but it's something you should do because you want to, not because you feel you have to. The greatest acts of kindness are those done by choice, not out of fear or guilt. If you're doing things for others because you would feel bad if you didn't, is the action really genuine? Would you want others to help you under those terms? And, if you're helping others to such an extent that you are neglecting yourself, is that really wise?

6. Learn how to say "no." Don't make up excuses - give your reasons for not wanting something. So your husband wants his entire family to come to Christmas dinner, and you just can't face it? "I'm sorry darling, I find the pressure of entertaining such a large number of people intolerable." Your best friend wants you to go with her or him to a party that will be full of people that you can't stand? "No thank you, it's just not my scene." Start small - find something small to say "no" to, but say it firmly. Say it politely, but mean it! You'll be surprised; the world will not collapse around your ears! People rarely take offense, and those that do aren't worth pleasing.

7. Ask for what you want. If everybody's going to the movies, and most people in the group want to see a particular movie, but you'd rather watch something else, speak up! There's nothing wrong with voicing your opinion, and it doesn't have to mean you're making a demand. Simply reminding people that you're an individual with your own preferences is a big step forward. Even asking someone to help you do something will help.

Ultimately, you must remember that no one can read your mind. If you feel that you do so much for others, but they don't do anything for you, maybe it's because you don't express your needs or desires. It's not fair to make people pry an answer from you. If they ask you what you want, or if there's a decision being made, put in your opinion, and let that be that.

8. Do something for yourself. Do one thing you have been wanting to do, but are afraid someone else will not like. Dye your hair, get that tattoo, get a belly ring, go on holiday....whatever you do, do it for yourself, and practice not worrying what anyone else thinks about it. Don't get caught up in doing things just because no one else wants you to do them. Remember that there ought to be things that you truly want to do for yourself, regardless of what anyone else thinks, not in spite of it. Other people's opinions are a factor in our lives, but they should not be the determining factor.

9. Compromise. While it's not good to be a pushover, it's no better to be a manipulative bully or a reckless rebel. Don't become totally selfish. In fact, many people pleasers have low self-esteem. So do those who are selfish. It is best to develop good self-care skills, which include healthy assertiveness skills. You can listen to others, but ultimately, what you do is your choice. Keep a balance! Sometimes the needs of other people should come first. Whenever there's a conflict of desires, try to come up with a solution that will meet both desires halfway, or better yet, a "win-win" situation where both sides get even more than they bargained for.

Tips

* If you find yourself compromising your own needs, be aware that in the long run you are contradicting your people pleasing. If you don't take care of your needs, you will run out of fuel. You cannot burn all of your "fuel" on others. If you keep yourself up and running by doing what's best for you, then you will have enough "fuel" to do good for others.

* Have an affirmation pinned up where you will see it every day. "My needs are just as important as yours."

* Understand that kindness does not equate to "people pleasing", nor does unkindness equate to disagreement. It is possible to be both kind and to state your own needs. Don't label your standing up for yourself as being "unkind". It is not.

* Anticipate situations where you would normally "people please," by thinking about what you want and rehearsing your "lines."

* Don't worry if you slip back into your old ways occasionally - this is probably a lifelong habit, and it will take time to overcome.

* Remember that one of the best ways to take care of others is to take care of yourself first!

* Treat all people with politeness, dignity and respect. If they aren't nice to you (that is, if they do not treat you with politeness, dignity and respect), then consider limiting the relationship. Don't respond to rudeness with your own rudeness; it just perpetuates the problem.

* If you find that you begin most sentences with "I should" or "I ought", then you are operating from a position of weakness and people pleasing. We must do what we are called to do, what we are equipped to do, what we can afford to do financially and time wise, and what we choose to do. If we are gifted in an area and it is a delight to us, then we are robbing another by stepping in to fill another's position because of "need". The "need" does not constitute the "call." Let it lie and the right person to do the job will come forward. It is a bit like silence-if you just cannot bear a break in conversation, or if someone asks a question that no one answers, you are not responsible to fill that void. Bide your time, keep your course, maintain your position, don't accept manipulation, whether intended or not, to change your direction. Accept the burden you have been allowed to carry, do it well, help others along the way, but do not accept their responsibility as your own.

Warnings

* Some people may take time to adjust to the new you - don't apologize for being you, but be gentle with them!

* Some people may seem to reject the new you. Although you may have been afraid to change at first, understand that other people may be as well, and may not understand that their rejection is not so much aimed at you, as much as it is aimed at themselves. Just as you might have thought to reject your desires, so might others reject theirs, and yours in turn only because they think that is what is good for the both of you! Be patient with them. Just as you were capable of understanding that change is nothing to fear, others will come to realize this in time. You can do much to inspire people and calm their own fears by resisting your own.

* Some things you may want to do may not be workplace-safe. If you really need your job, think twice before mouthing off or getting a pink mohawk and 5 piercings, especially if you have to be at the investment bank in the morning.

* Don't blame others for your decision to change. Don't say "I had to do this because of you"! Remember, you are deciding to change for yourself.

* Note that expressing your own desires requires first your awareness of what they are, which requires conscious and consistent practice. For instance, your partner says "Let's have hamburgers for dinner" and you may really think "Whatever is fine by me" while, it is only "fine" because you never make that choice. Take the few extra seconds to consider it. Or, where do you go when you are alone? Tell him or her that's where you would like to go this time. Do not be concerned about what is a good opportunity to practice and what is not.

Sweet Summer Time 2009...

Wow, I haven't written in here since May. Sorry it has been so long... It is now summer time, and I no longer have work till the Tuesday after Labor Day. 11 weeks off!! So far Bob and I started watching my best friends little girl Holley on Tuesday's and Thursday's which has been fun. So far we have brought her to the Providence Children's Museum, Colt State Park... and other parks. This week we are going to take her to the beach, which should be fun.

I just turned 25 yesterday!! I can't believe that I am already 25...time goes by so quickly!

I have been spending a lot of time with Katie these days, it's been nice. Tomorrow we are hitting the beach for the 1st time this summer season :)

My friends and I are planning a camping trip for either July or August to Maine! So I am looking forward to that!! I am also going away to NH from August 3rd to August 9th for that whole week... it's mine and Bob's yearly trip, so I am very excited to get away!!

well.. I've gotta run, I'll talk again later.

-Amy

Happy Where My Life Is Now...

I was sitting here thinking about where my life is now. And I can proudly say that I am happy with where I am. I am happy with who I have become. I constantly see people around from high school and I am SO happy I am not like some of them. Still mean, rude, and immature. I'm happy to know that I am better than those who still think people actually care about who they were or (thought) they were in high school.

And as much as I want kids and want to be pregnant now, I'm happy that it wasn't meant to be earlier in my life. I am thankful that I got the chance to be young and stupid. I got to enjoy my early 20's, and I wouldn't change that because I am in much better place in my life now.

I am married, more stable, and now ready to start a family. I am not going to stress about getting pregnant. I'm not going to worry about it, I'm not going to go crazy buying all sorts of crazy test and spending tons of money to get there. Bob and I wanted kids and we stopped using birth control in 2006...but we were never really faithful about trying...you know. But now that our lives have settled down and we are more stable and more ready in our lives for a baby we are now making more of an effort to try. So we'll see where that goes. When it's meant to be it'll be. I'm not going to stress myself out about it, because if I do it wont happen.

And now that the school year is quickly coming to an end...means that my stress level will come down as well and I wont be so tired. I can soon relax and whatnot, which will help.

There are so many people pregnant and having babies, that's all I hear about lately...which sucks most times because it's not happening to me right now, but I know it will. Like I said...when it's meant to be it'll be.

I wouldn't change one thing about my life and how I came to be the person I am today. Because every person I encountered, every tear that I cried got me to where I am now. With every person, tear, smile that came to be ... I learned a lesson about life. I am not going to regret having people I don't talk to in my life because I am a firm believer that everyone is brought into your life for a reason. And everything you have to go through gave you a lesson in life as well. So I am living regret free, there isn't one thing I would take back....because honestly it was exactly what I wanted at the time. And to this day I'm not about to let anyone knock me down!! I'm okay with the past...I'm happy with who I am today. I am happy with my life. I haven't been happier actually!! :)

I know soon that Bob and I will finally have the money to buy a house and do things with our lives that we wouldn't have been able to do otherwise. I can't wait to move out of fall river! But for now...it's home. It's our home. It's our first home together and that's something I'll always remember! :)

Mine and Bob's relationship seems to get better each and every day. It just keep's getting stronger and stronger and I'm proud of that. I'm proud to have such a rock solid relationship at such a young age. Bob is my rock each day of my life. I love that we are both adventurous and love to travel and see new things. I love that we have so many hobbies and interests in common. I love that Bob does things like today got up early and made me breakfast so I wouldn't be hungry at work since I usually go hungry in the morning before work because I don't have the time to eat. and tonight he went to the market to grab something to go with dinner, and came home with a long stem red rose for me just because...and told me he loved me. It's things like that, that makes my heart melt. I am just so happy, happier than I have ever been! :)

Warm Weather...Warming Up My heart...

It has been so beautiful out lately...I'm hoping that this nice warm weather will continue to stay with us. I know it's going to cool down wed, Thurs, Friday in the 60's but I have def. been enjoying this amazing weather!! And as the warm weather heats up around me so does my relationship. Bob and I have agreed to spend more time away from the house, away from our work, away from stress, responsibilities, away all the distractions of the world...and spend more time for "us" we have been going to the board walk feeding the ducks, roller blading, bike riding, long walks, hiking on the back trails of Swansea, picnic's in the park, we played tennis at the tennis courts which was fun, because we hadn't done that in a long time...we used to play tennis all the time, afternoon movies, going out to dinner, fishing. It's nice getting back to more "us" time like we used to and doing the things we used to do.

As school quickly comes to an end for the year...we are gearing up for our many road trips, and day trips and excursions out of town to discover the unknown. It's what Bob and I do. We are already planning many day trips into Boston and visiting family in western MASS.

Bob and I are also looking forward to having Holley this summer twice a week. We are planning many fun adventures to children museums and places that will be fun for her this summer. Aunty Amy & Uncle Bob are going to show her a good time this summer.

well, heading to bed to watch t.v. before sleepy time. Nighty night my friends!

Till Next Time...

The End Of The Road Is Near...

Being a teacher this time of the year get's you quite excited about the end of the year. By the end of the year it has been ten long months of lessons, craziness, non stop idea's and projects. By June it is time for a MUCH needed break. That is why I enjoy having the summer's off now. It's rewarding to work so hard for ten months and then get almost three months to yourself. It is now 43 day's till the last day of school...I can't believe it. This year went by so quickly, it's weird that is it just about over. We are starting preparations for graduation and getting ready to gear up for the final report cards of the year. We have started cleaning the school, going through things, and organizing and separating our things to get ready to break down for the summer. I am looking forward to having time to myself again, I'm looking forward to being able to stay out late without worrying about having to get up super early for work, I am looking forward to spending more time with the one's I love. I am looking forward to letting lose and having fun. See, the thing about being a teacher is that people think that the job ends when we walk out the door for the day or weekend...but it never ends there. I always bring home work to do, your always thinking of the next art project or what lesson paper you will do. The job doesn't end at 3:30 when I leave...it comes with me each and every day...Day's off, weekends, holiday's, etc. It's a fun job...but it can def. be exhausting. That is why I am looking forward to having the summer off soon! :)

It is also 36 days until I take off to NYC for a girls trip away! I am so looking forward to that! It'll be fun! We have decided to take the train into NYC and then home again. That way we don't have to worry about the car and paying for parking and traffic and the craziness of driving in NYC. I am looking forward to the train, I have never taken a train into the big apple. I love train rides, they are so much fun! We'll be riding on Amtrak for the trip. We are planning on going to the Empire State Building, The Italian Bakery near central park, central park, a possible Broadway play, We are planning on going to the metropolitan museum too, which is exciting...because I have always wanted to go there! We are going to hit up Rockefeller center and try to get onto the today show for my mom's birthday!! And of course I will be buying a pocketbook or two while I'm there. But there is so much we're going to do. We will be there for two full days. We will arrive first thing in the early A.M. and not leave till late in the night the next day. We are so excited!! And I am jumping out of my skin in excitement to go...because I think this might just be the best NYC trip I have been on! :)

Well, the storm seems to be quieting down (finally) I'm going to get going before it get's loud again and keeps me up all night again...I hope I sleep better than I did last night. I saw every half hour last night. ::sigh:: I'm exhausted!!! Good night my friends!

Till Next Time...

10 Years Ago Today...

10 years ago today was my 1st date with my husband. 10 years ago today Bob and went to the movies to see "10 Things I Hate About You" in the "new" rt.6 movie theater. We went out to dinner to Kents and Bob talked me into getting the "black diamond steak" which is now my favorite meal to eat.

I can't believe it's been 10 years already! We have accomplished so much in those ten years...we have built a rock solid relationship, we have dated, gotten engaged, and married. We have switched job's a few times, we have gotten into our career's and we have made a life for ourselves, a beautiful life I love.

A few things we have done together in these 10 amazing years are...The Southwick Zoo, Camping in cape cod, NH, Maine, Celtic's games, roger Williams zoo, comedy caravan, seekonk speedway, fall river celebrates America, gone to tons of movies, relay for life, Dave and busters, Newport vineyards, whale watch, king Richards fair, traveled to NH, Maine, Vermont, western MA, Florida, Pennsylvania, New York, and so many more places I just can't think of them all, we have been on so many adventures together and I can't wait to see what we will do together in the many many years to come.

10 years ago our 1st kiss was at payless in the swansea mall, and to this day we always giggle walking past the store. it may not be the perfect moment for some, but it was the perfect moment for us.

I feel so blessed to have such an amazing husband. He is the best part of each and every one of my day's and I love him so very much. He is the best thing to ever happen to me. I love you baby!! Here's to 10 years! :)

Home Sick....Yet Again!!!

I have been fighting this cold for a week now, and each day seems to only get worse. The only thing that has gotten better is my throat...the soreness has gone away (Thank God!!) so at least I can eat without being in pain now. But I woke up today and felt like a bus hit me. I have this awful head cold! It it all behind my eyes and being a asthmatic doesn't help matters, because I am so congested in sinuses that I can't breath. This cold is kicking my butt! It feels like I haven't slept, because my body is so tied. So I am going to go to bed early tonight and get some extra rest in hopes of feeling better tomorrow ::crosses fingers:: So we'll see I guess.

Tomorrow is Holley's 5th Birthday! I can't believe she is turning 5! (HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY HOLLEY!!!) Tomorrow night we are all going over to Mel's to celebrate Holley's 5th birthday, which should be fun! :)

Well, I'm off to get some rest...I will talk again later.

2 Pounds Gone!

I am proud of myself...I have already shed 2 pounds!! It's a start...and it's nice seeing results! I mean you gotta take baby steps to get to bigger results, but I'm happy either way. It's still 2 pounds I had before that are no longer with me now! :) I am thrilled!!

How To Make Your Life Happier... Is One Simple Change

What do envy and jealousy, perfectionism and anger, fear and loathing, and all other things that make you unhappy have in common? There's one thing they all boil down to... they are all focusing your mind on something that isn't perfectly the way you want it to be.

One of the easiest signs by which you can tell that you are thinking too much about something not being perfect is when you start complaining. Whatever it is that you are complaining about, it's obviously something you don't like (or why would you be complaining?). If it's something you don't like, why are you wasting your time and energy thinking about it? As I've written before, spending energy on something gives it importance in your life, whether that energy is negative or positive. However much impact something has in your life, in who you are, is determined by how much importance you give it.

Every time you complain about something, your are giving it more importance, so it's becoming a bigger part of your life. Since you only complain about things you don't like, that doesn't seem like a very desirable outcome, does it? This includes, by the way, when you only complain about it in the safety of your own mind... you are still thinking about it and giving it more importance.

Now, let's think about the other side of the coin. How often do you specifically mention the things that you do like that are going on in your life? How often do you thank someone for something they do that makes something go well in your life, compared to how often you complain when someone does something that you don't like? For instance, do you thank your spouse if they do the dishes, or only complain when they do not? Do you thank your boss when he stands up for you, or only complain when he does something you don't like?

Happiness in life is all about your focus, whether it's negative or positive. If your "thanks" outweigh your "complaints", then you will be happy most of the time. If your complaints outweigh your thanks, you will be unhappy most of the time. If you want your life to be happier, you can make it that way, without changing your circumstances at all. Want to know how? If you want to make your life happier, just make this one simple change:

Every time you catch yourself complaining, find two positive things about your life to tell the same person to whom you're complaining.

This forces you to focus more on the things you do like, and keeps the things you don't like from obscuring the overall quality of your life. If you want to make even more difference, if you're complaining about a person, find something good about that person to tell to whomever is receiving your complaints, and then go over to the person you were complaining about (if it's feasible... obviously you can't do this if the person you were complaining about was an anonymous driver on the freeway) and thank them for whatever it is that they do that you like. Do this and you'll find it hard to harbor grudges or do more than vaguely dislike someone, since you are aware of their positive traits, too.

Again, happiness is a state of mind that you choose. If you leave the choice to your subconscious, your conscious mind may not like the results, until you have trained your subconscious to STOP concentrating on the things that are going wrong and instead focus on the things that are going right. Choose to focus on the things you like, and bring those things more into focus, making them a bigger part of your life, rather than the things you complain about.

PS - Doing this won't make everything in your life positive, and can't make you happy 100% of the time. It will, however, make it easier for you to be happy the majority of the time, and make it easier for you to return to happiness after something causes you to depart from that state.


Guidelines for living a happier life

1. Accept the fact that you cannot change another human being. You can only change yourself. Stop trying to fix or change others.

2. Accept the fact that thoughts and words are like boomerangs. They will come back to you. Choose carefully.

3. Accept yourself as you are today. It doesn't mean you don't want to change and improve but start from a place of self-acceptance and see what happens. You are where you are for reason so don't fight that fact, accept it, and then you can move in any direction you wish to go.

4. Understand that there are no "mistakes in life" only life lessons. Once your lesson is learned you will be able to move forward. Life lessons repeat themselves until the lesson is learned. Always ask "what can I learn from this situation?"

5. Random of acts of kindness for yourself and for others.

6. Life is a journey. Enjoy the journey. Every twist and turn in the road, and every bump or hill you meet provides a life lesson. Enjoy the journey.

Practice the HAPPY steps below:

H - honestly look at your life and define what your morals, principles and values are and then display them in every thing you do.

A - acknowledge and accept the fact that you cannot change another person. That is out of your control. You can only change yourself and you are only responsible for yourself and your actions.

P - praise yourself for all the good things that you have done in your life. Practice random acts of kindness towards yourself and then towards others.

P - practice changing the phrase "mistakes in life"

to "Lessons in Life". Pledge to ask yourself in any given situation the following "What can I learn from this situation?" Learn your lesson and then move on to the next life lesson.

Y- You are worthy of happiness. Let go of guilt and embrace your value as a individual doing the best in life that they can do with the knowledge they have at the time. As you know better you will do better. You deserve happiness. Embrace it now.

I Love Tae Bo!

Well, I just got through with my Tae Bo work out...I totally love Tae Bo! It's so much more than just a work out...I mean, the instructor the whole time says uplifting things to make you want to keep on going and not to give up. I really enjoyed it! It was so good for your health and also good for your soul as well. I think I am going to keep up with Tae Bo! It's so much better than a regular work out. :) I feel energized! I was sore from yesterday's work out..and I was thinking about taking tonight off, but then decided that "Pain is beauty, beauty is pain" and sometimes to see results, you must deal with a little pain and soreness to get there. I'm no quitter!! I'm glad I decided to work out! I'm very proud of myself!! :)

Taking Better Care Of Me...

Well since the start of the year I have been on a mission to better my life. And I have been pretty successful with that mission. I have gotten rid of people who I feel are toxic in my life...I have straightened friendships and relationships with others. I have been taking more time for me...doing things I like to do like scrap booking, photography, singing, music, reading, working out, etc.

I have started working out daily...it makes me feel better about myself, it's given me so much more energy and it has also made me look at myself in a better light. I used to come home and plop on the couch and flip on the t.v. but now, I come home...change, and go and work out. And Starting next week I am going back to jogging 3 miles daily like I used to. It's nice that this winter weather is gone...so I can get back into shape! Because I really enjoy working out and making me feel good.

If I have learned anything over the years, it's that life is way to short..and you never know what could happen, and that is why I want to take better care of myself. I want to feel good about me. And I want to get healthier , because that makes ME feel good...and not only is working out good for my health, it's also good for my self esteem.

In the last few week's I have learned that it's really not that hard to eat well. I now go to the market, avoid the crap like cookies, ice cream, etc. and go straight for the fruit, veggies, and healthy snacks. See, I have myself in the state of mind of summer...and every time I think about putting junk into the cart, I think to myself "Beach weather is coming soon!" lol and it makes me think twice! :)

And I also want to thank my best friend Mel for two things...first being "Smart Water" It's the best! And now I am hooked! :) thanks for the tip while we were at the market last week together!! And second, for your support! Because without you I don't know if I could stay so dedicated in taking better care of myself...and having you there helping me and supporting me and encouraging me has made a big difference! So thanks!! :)

A Beautiful Spring Weekend!

I had the BEST weekend! I really did! It all started when Mel IMed me on Friday night asking what I was up to...me sitting there twiddling my thumbs jumped at any chance to get out of the house. So, Mel and I decided to hit the galleria mall to hang out and go shopping. Mel hit a huge sale at sears! and we both bought something at Deb. I was so impressed that I got a 60.00 dress for 9.99 on the clearance rack!! So I would have been crazy if I didn't get it. :)

Saturday I went food shopping, and out to lunch with my mom, which was nice. Later on in the afternoon Mel and Holley came over to my moms and Mel and my mom and Bob put together my moms new fish tank, and I took Holley for a walk to the store with me to go buy marshmallow's and chocolate and gram crackers because Holley wanted to make S'Mores. So we went and did that...and then we ate dinner at moms and then we went out into the freezing cold and made S'Mores! But as much as it was cold...it was fun! :)

Today...I slept in, and then I offered to watch Holley while Mel went food shopping. So Bob and I watched Holley for a couple of hours which was fun. And she was quite helpful and very cute! I love that little girl! :) after Holley left, I finished cleaning the house, and then Bob and I went out for a bit...I got new reading glasses, went to the book store and got a new book and we enjoyed the sunshine for a bit before coming home.

Once I got back...I watched a bit of t.v. and then ate dinner with Bob, did my school work, took a shower and now, I am talking to Mel on IM. It was a very fun weekend! and I really enjoyed myself!! I hope to have many more weekends like this one!

I <3 Spring!

I'm So Tired Of Being Sick!

I am so tired of being sick. This winter I have been getting one virus after another after another, it's been so tiring. Just when I get better I catch something else worse than the last illness.

I have been sick for two weeks now, but this virus finally came to a head Saturday. I was at my moms and suddenly I felt so ill...Bob and I brought our laundry over to do at my moms) and so Bob had to finish the laundry..and then of course family decided to stop by too. I ended up going up to my moms spare bedroom and falling asleep with the worst stomachache.

Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse...Sunday happened. I was even sicker than I was on Saturday...and then this illness claimed my health on Monday too...causing me to have to call out of work for the day, and also sending me to the hospital for an asthma attack (from being so congested) and I was suffering from dehydration too. Doctors told me it is a bad virus that I have, that a lot of people have and that it pretty much has to take it's course. I was told to drink pleanty of fluids, eat soups, crackers, etc.

I went back to work yesterday (Tuesday) being feeling pretty crappy still. My boss tried kicking me out a few times...but I figured I would maybe feel better if I got going. (which didn't exactly work out for me) and then my friend called and wanted to hang out and so I did hoping I would start feeling better...not so much, I ended up going to bed feeling like I did on Saturday. :( with this virus it's like 2 steps forward One step back...it's so annoying. Tonight I am resting (doctor's orders) I am trying to get as much rest as I can to feel better. ::sigh::

so here I am, still sick...and so tired of eating chicken soup. I hope I feel better soon.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

MySpace Graphics

Hey everyone, I keep forgetting to write in here...lol, Well like it say's above this..Happy St. Patrick's Day (Today is one reason why I love being Irish!) I had plans to go out and enjoy St. Patrick's Day the right way...but then I came down with this awful virus that has been so awful, and has been with me since late Friday night. I had to take yesterday out of work because I was so sick. Today was feeling pretty awful still, and my boss tried kicking me out many many times because she said she could see it in my face how I was feeling. I decided to pull through work I'm hoping to use my last sick day's for when I go to NYC in May. Either way I'm going..I was just hoping to get paid still. But I came home tonight and got my pj's on and whatnot and was watching t.v. and then Katie called and asked if I wanted to hang out and go out for a bit then come back to my place to watch a video. So since I couldn't resist getting out of this stuffy house (which I am currently airing out to get the germs away) I got dressed again, and I am going out for a bit then coming back here to hang out. (At least I wont spend St. Patty's Day lonely, since Bob is working tonight) But ya, that's about it...

Happy St. Patrick's Day!! :)

What is with this weather???

This past weekend was so nice, the weather felt like it was changing to spring and staying for good...and then today happened! It has been foggy, then rainy, then snowy, then it hailed...now it's snowing and raining together and it's getting colder. This is when it kills me to live in New England. I mean, you never know what the weather is going to be...and the weather people always seem to be wrong. I'm so sick of the cold and the snow. I'm sick of wearing coats, boots, pants. I want the warm weather! I need the warm weather!! This past weekend went into the 60's low 70's, and it was oh so nice. I got to wear no coat, I busted out my sandals...it was nice! I hope that this snow crap can finally be finished and we can move on to nicer weather. :) I'm such a summer person, I love the warm weather. This cold weather crap for this long depresses me. The sunshine makes me smile, and it's so much more fun. :)

I feel like I have nothing to really say...

Hi, I'm here to update since I haven't updated in a while...and at the same time...I feel like I have nothing to really say. Well, just when I thought winter was coming to an end and all the snow had melted...we got slammed (yet again) with another snow storm...canceling school and most local businesses yesterday. As much as having the extra day off today was super busy at work...trying to catch up since we lost a day. I was supposed to have a family dinner here tonight, but we had to reschedule for Thursday night at 6pm because Bob is sick as a dog and we didn't want anyone else sick and Bob wasn't up for company tonight. March is one of those months that seems to go on forever and forever...no holiday's just st.patty's day, and the start of spring (which I can't wait for!!) I have decided that I am going on a diet, and I am going to go walking again, and try to make me more healthy...because I want to have more energy and I want to be happier with myself..so that is my goal...and with the warm weather approaching it'll make this goal a lot easier! I am also working more on two other things...1st photography because I am working on putting together a portfolio with my best photo's and 2nd my music...I am working on writing more songs and am I also working on learning my electric guitar and key board more. So ya, I think that's about it for now...I will talk again later my friends! :)

-Amy

17 Weeks Left...

Wow, I just looked at my plan book for school and thumbed through the rest of the weeks left...17 weeks left! This year went by so quickly! I feel like I just started the year. Soon I'll be saying hello to summer break (I can't wait!!) I miss the summer very much. Last summer I spent the summer sailing (which was amazing!) I hope this summer is just as fun. I started thinking about what I want to do this summer...

1) Day Trips
2) Newport
3) Mystic Seaport
4) Hull, MA to the board walk & beaches
5) Cape Cod
6) Hampton Beach, NH
7) Washington D.C. in June
8) Trip to New Hampshire in August
9) Camping
10) Prudence Island
11) Colt State park
12) The Zoo
13) Horseneck Beach
14) Six Flags???


To name a few places I want to hit this summer. I also want to spend more time reading, drawing, working on my music, writing...I really just want to find myself I want to search way down deep in my soul and pull up everything I am. I think I'm going to do a video diary of my summer :)