Monday, December 30, 2013

It's Time For Another Revolution

Okay, I am done posting about depressing things that have happened in my life this past year. I can't take it anymore.  So, I am posting about my new revolution instead.  This year I will be the big DIRTY THIRTY.  Yeah, I admit it.  After the year that I had I think I need to embrace this rather than be disgusted by it.  Besides, I DO NOT LOOK 30 at ALL!!  At least that is what I have been told!

Anyway, on to this years revolution.  I am continuing to redo my home. I am in the process of re-doing my UGLY (now slightly beautiful) kitchen! WHOOP WHOOP!  So, in the next blog post I will show you how I managed to re-do my horribly ugly and old cabinets (yes, they are over 30 years old) in to beautifully renewed cabinets for under $200.  Yep, you read the right.  I will also give you some other renovation posts b/c that is what has been keeping me busy for the past few months!

I have also taken on another business adventure.  Thirty-One.  I became a consultant b/c I had an unhealthy obesession with the bags and getting organized.  However, my profit is going directly to Lyme Research.  I had another relapse a few months ago, and now three individuals have died for complications from this disease.  So look for giveaways of my products and I encourage you to help me reach my goal of $1,000.00 by the end of Spring to Lyme Research! JOIN ME HERE on my Facebook Event to Shop and see the video I created!

I am also going to start posting more and work on my 30 B4 30 list.  This might have to change a little bit since money is tight and I don't think I will make it out to LA/Hollywood this year.  And that's okay.

I talked to my Nana Christmas Day (HI NANA!) and found out she has been reading my blog posts.  So cool right?!? How many people can say their Nana reads their blog??  I have probably got the coolest Nana out there.  Anyway, in talking with her she gave me some words of encouragement about writing a novel.  Little did she know, I started writing a novel last year, and I think part of this year's revolution is to finish it.  Even if I never send it to be published.

That's all I got for you all today!  Please tell me what you are revolutionizing about your life this year! I would like to know.  Who knows, maybe we will be doing the same thing!

XOXO

Monday, December 16, 2013

Just When I Thought...

I know I said I would post more yesterday about my horrible past few months; but I got word that morning that the dear friend of our family (the one who was in the coma) had passed on.  He was 23. I have known him since he was four year old.

Nick's mom is my mom's best friend.  They met working for Safeway, and they still do.  Our mom's would make us do every charity event there ever was for Safeway.  And every event Nick was there too.  I use to complain and hate doing it. I was embarrassed. I never wanted to be seen.  Hindsight is always 20/20.  Today, I am 29 and thankful our mom's made us do the work (selling hot dogs, doing walks down at College Park, etc.) because I would have never of spent the time I did with Nick.  And Nick's mom is like an aunt to me.  I am grieving with her.

Nick was the shy kid, who loved to wear suites and ties to school; even when he went to public school.  Sure the kids were mean, but they didn't understand what absolutely loving and gentile human being Nick was. He wouldn't say much, but when he did people listened. He was smart.

As Nick grew older and I had a family of my own he evolved.  Standing almost 7 feet tall, he was a giant ball of love, topped with a big cowboy hat, huge belt buckle and cowboy boots.  He wore it to my wedding. I loved that he stood out. I loved that he even attended.  He didn't have too.  I am thankful I have the photo of him sitting shyly in the background, cowboy hat and all.

Nick worked at Safeway too. In the meat department, in the town I currently live in.  I had been so caught up in my own life that I failed to stop in the store recently.  Come to find out, he was promoted to department manager and shipped off to a different store.  The last time I saw him I was in such a rush I didn't stop to say "Hi" and how he was doing.  I regret that.

Now Nick is gone but never forgotten.  Nick leaves us with his love and wisdom, even at the young age of 23.  We will forever remember how special he truly was and I will now cherish the time we had as kids together, even if it was stupid charity work for Safeway.  Even now, it makes me realize that God had always had a plan.  I was just not realizing it at the time.

Today, I leave you with this.  Don't ever let yourself be too busy to miss out on checking in on someone.  Even if it is a quick "Hi" because you will never know, until it's too late, how much little moments in the grocery store becomes missed.

Saturday, December 14, 2013

Yeah, I know

It's been a while.  A long while. I've been busy....with lots of grief and my new job.  Let's take a run down of the bad first.

The Bad

  1. My mother-in-law passed away suddenly in July
  2. My boy Bandit passed away suddenly in October
  3. My cousin passed away suddenly in November
  4. A dear friend of my family is currently in a coma
Yep, that's right. When I said lots of grief I meant LOTS of grief. Needless to say, 2013 has been a very difficult year....very difficult.  My mother-in-law's passing was both sad and shocking to us all.  Yes, she was sick, but I don't think any of us new how sick she really was.  We had a great Fourth of July weekend with her.  That would be the last weekend my husband, daughter and I would have with her.  She was so happy.  For the first time since Kevin & I have been together, I heard her talk about him the way she did about her other two kids.  She talked about Kevin being her "baby."  Yes, they are all her "babies" but he IS her baby. The youngest, the one she spent countless hours in the hospital with tending to his brain tumor and numerous surgeries.  

I'm not going to lie. Her and my relationship was strained at times. I think this is mostly because her and I were more alike than we ever cared to recognized.  We both love Kevin so much and wanted nothing but the best for him & Faith that we probably couldn't compete.  

But I respected her. I loved her and probably should have told her that.  She is an angel now and I know that she is looking down on us, but we still miss her terribly.  She was our rock, she made the holidays what they are for us and we don't like it without here.  My husband is a strong man, but as we sat in the funeral home listening to his father's beautiful speech about the woman he loved so dearly, I held his [Kevin's] hand and let him weep like a son should do when his mother isn't there to take care of him anymore.  He still has his moments,reminiscing about all the fabulous times we had with her, his memories of them growing up...he breaking her arm....yes he did that, and still feels bad for it happening...he was quite a hellion!   Kevin sister is doing a great job taking over the "Nana" role, and I can't imagine how hard it is for her to do that.  She shouldn't have to.  She is still too young. We are still to young to be without her.  

Rather than making this a longer post than this already is, I will update you on the next few bad things tomorrow.

I will leave this post with this.  Don't forget to hug your loved ones as often as you can.  You never know when it will be the last time you will see them in this life again.  One regret my husband has is not saying "Mom, I love you" enough.  Do it today. Do it now.

Nana we miss you!