Thursday, December 23, 2010
Hello puppy!
I am not usually an animal person, but I got this cutie this past weekend. You can read about it in my latest column. http://www.newspapersoffayettecounty.com/articles/2010/12/22/news/opinion/doc4d1104288d020292385412.txt
Monday, December 20, 2010
Friendship at its best
The last two weeks have been a blur. Trying to keep my mind off certain things I have buried myself in work and after work activities. I am used to having more conversations than I have had lately, leaving me too much time to think, hence the need for distraction.
I saw a quote the other day that said, "if a friendship can cease to exist, then it wasn't a real friendship."
I don't know if I agree with that, but it definitely struck something in me. For each season of my life, elementary, middle school, high school, college, life after college before a big girl job, and now, my big girl job, I have made tons of friendships. Some still exist, some don't. But I look back on pretty much all of them with a smile. Even some that just ended without reason, I'm thankful for those people, for who they were during that time and for what they meant to me.
Its funny (and a little sad) how people fade in and out of your life. People I was great friends with just five years ago are rarely on my mind these days. There are even people I was great friends in college that I haven't seen or talked to since then. I am a firm believer that most things happen for a reason, whether we understand why or not. There are certain things that stick with you. I can recall a simple sentence said by a friend in college that replays through my mind at least once a month, as a reminder to keep my life in God's hands. The sentence wasn't an inspirational quote or Bible verse, but more a blow at the way my so called "Christian" life came across to her. It was a motivator in a sense to me, a challenge.
I say that to say I think people are there when they are supposed to be. Even if that girl and I were only friends so I could here that one sentence, and so it would remain in my mind. No one else in my life had those words for me, just her.
A good friendship of mine has recently digressed (by every fault of my own) and its made me a little more than sad. I hate how things change, (or don't in this case). Even though I didn't always feel like I was getting my opinion across or even trying to get my thoughts out, there is something therapeutic about talking to someone who you know won't judge you. Someone you know is going to listen because they need you as much as you need them. Someone who knows you well, and still likes to talk to you. Someone you trust, who trusts you as well. It was good to know I could pick up the phone and have all that history waiting on the end. With all the friends that I've had, only a few really know me, only a few have been there through thick and thin, watching all my faults and failures. It sounds silly when I say it like that. Shouldn't I want to get away from that? I guess not when you want real advice. I need someone who knows where I've been so they can give me thoughtful answers to life's most important questions. (Sorry, I'm getting a little over dramatic now.)
I don't really know what else to say about this other than this. I miss my friend. And although this seems like a ridiculous solution, what else were you to do?
I saw a quote the other day that said, "if a friendship can cease to exist, then it wasn't a real friendship."
I don't know if I agree with that, but it definitely struck something in me. For each season of my life, elementary, middle school, high school, college, life after college before a big girl job, and now, my big girl job, I have made tons of friendships. Some still exist, some don't. But I look back on pretty much all of them with a smile. Even some that just ended without reason, I'm thankful for those people, for who they were during that time and for what they meant to me.
Its funny (and a little sad) how people fade in and out of your life. People I was great friends with just five years ago are rarely on my mind these days. There are even people I was great friends in college that I haven't seen or talked to since then. I am a firm believer that most things happen for a reason, whether we understand why or not. There are certain things that stick with you. I can recall a simple sentence said by a friend in college that replays through my mind at least once a month, as a reminder to keep my life in God's hands. The sentence wasn't an inspirational quote or Bible verse, but more a blow at the way my so called "Christian" life came across to her. It was a motivator in a sense to me, a challenge.
I say that to say I think people are there when they are supposed to be. Even if that girl and I were only friends so I could here that one sentence, and so it would remain in my mind. No one else in my life had those words for me, just her.
A good friendship of mine has recently digressed (by every fault of my own) and its made me a little more than sad. I hate how things change, (or don't in this case). Even though I didn't always feel like I was getting my opinion across or even trying to get my thoughts out, there is something therapeutic about talking to someone who you know won't judge you. Someone you know is going to listen because they need you as much as you need them. Someone who knows you well, and still likes to talk to you. Someone you trust, who trusts you as well. It was good to know I could pick up the phone and have all that history waiting on the end. With all the friends that I've had, only a few really know me, only a few have been there through thick and thin, watching all my faults and failures. It sounds silly when I say it like that. Shouldn't I want to get away from that? I guess not when you want real advice. I need someone who knows where I've been so they can give me thoughtful answers to life's most important questions. (Sorry, I'm getting a little over dramatic now.)
I don't really know what else to say about this other than this. I miss my friend. And although this seems like a ridiculous solution, what else were you to do?
Friday, December 10, 2010
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Keeping it Simple
As I scan the pages of my favorite blogs I can't help but notice an overwhelming scheme of keeping it simple this year. I must admit that when it comes to decorating, I want to be the house that has a certain amount of whimsical charm and instant like ability. Having to design on a tight budget, that's not always easy. I find myself in and out of thrift stores and consignment shops often. I skim the clearance isles and after-holiday specials. Although I have not been as frugal in the past as I probably should have been, I too am making due with the holiday decorations I have.
I can't say that I'm a big decorator for holidays (I am a little lazy when it comes to taking them down so I don't always feel the need to put them up,) but I am always up for amazing ideas. I just don't ever seem to find the time to make any of them happen. In the latest issue of Family Circle, some cute Christmas decor is hand-crafted out of felt. Oh felt...how I thought we'd never meet again. My memories of felt date back to those awesome felt boards in Sunday School, you know the ones. There are only a few felt characters, one week the guy with the robe is Jesus, the next week he's Moses. We've come a long way folks.
Anyway, I never would have thought felt could be used for such cute little crafts and actually look good.
Check out just a couple at http://www.familycircle.com/family-fun/christmas/decorating/countdown-to-christmas/?page=1
My apartment feels a little more ready for the wintry weather with my little tree lit up and decorated with some simple ball ornaments from the last two years, bows from last year, and of course, candy canes, (don't worry, they aren't old.)
To add a little bling to my coffee table, I've switched out my usual hand-painted pottery tray for this thrift store silver platter ($5), a sweet smelling candle, my glass candy holder and my hour glass (thank you Kohls for this 50% piece earlier this year.) Add few ornaments and shiny Mardi Gra beads and you've got yourself something cute, simple and a little glitzy.
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