It's called stressed people!

Good Monday morning!!!!! I'm in a great mood! However I'm very stressed! Well, I guess I might as well just say it. We're moving! Yup you heard me, moving. To where you are asking......................to the Big Easy, NOLA, or in normal language New Orleans! Now I've never been to New Orleans and I've heard both good and bad things, but either way, I'm excited. It's a great opportunity for Jake and for myself! It's a chance to learn a new culture and a new style of living.



So now I am a little stressed as well as very excited. Reasons why I'm stressed:

1. Having to find a new job in a new city where I know absolutely no one.
2. Having to pack up my old house.
3. Having to find a new house (again in a city I know very little about, although I've talked to some good people and learned a little).
4. Then having to unpack and settle in in our new house.

These are just a few of the millions of things running through my head! I hope you're Monday is as great as mine is!!! Talk to you soon.

AWOL

My dear friend Rachel left me a comment today that said, "Are you ever going to write another post?" Yes Rachel, I will write one today just for you. I haven't felt like writing lately. Maybe I've just felt really overwhelmed or it could be that I wasn't feeling creative. Who knows!!!!

Sunday Jake and I went to the races. It was my first time ever and it was really fun to go with him! He told me how to bet and then we would sit there and talk about our picks and why we wanted to pick them. I usually picked based on their name or the name of their jockey. (I know...great way to win money).  We ate Reuben's and had a blast. It was tons of fun and I can't wait to go back. I also managed to win $12. (I'm rich I tell ya.) We left early though cause we missed our puppies and had tons to do that day, but we saw that towards the end one of the last races there was a horse named Jake the Snake!!!! Loved it.



Jake has an interview on Friday in New Orleans. Please think about him and send him good vibes. He is probably a great interviewee but I always want him to do well.

I FINALLY got all the baby shower invitations mailed out for my sister's baby shower.....thank goodness. I thought I was going to go crazy trying to get that all done! But now I can't wait to see all the great presents my new nephew will get, if only they would give him a name. Speaking of babies, I feel like tons of people I know are pregnant right now. I guess this is a sign of me growing up. I'm excited about all the new babies, cause I love kids, so this means there will be many for me to play with. 

Well I know it wasn't anything special, but at least it was a post.....finally. I promise to do better! Talk to you soon!

Something there....

There's something sweet
And almost kind
But he was mean and he was coarse and unrefined
But now he's dear, and so unsure
I wonder why I didn't see it there before

In case you don't know what those lyrics are from.......it's Beauty and the Beast! I am in a wonderful mood today because this is my dear, sweet, fantastic boyfriend's birthday weekend. He'll be the big ole 2-6! I tease him about being "old". I couldn't ask for a better boyfriend. He works hard and cares about me so much! He can be hard to take at times, but honestly we all are. For those that know him, they know he's really a great person and I am very blessed that he loves me the way he does.

For his birthday he wants to watch Watchmen or we are doing that on Sunday. He also wanted the book, so I bought that for him a week or two ago (for his birthday) so he could try and read some of it before the movie.



I also bought him an ice cream cake from TCBY because ever year he wants one for his birthday, so this year he gets one! Yummy!

I need to buy him some more presents! I've really slacked this year and honestly I have no idea what he would want right now. He usually drops some hints but he's been working so much lately that we really haven't gotten to talk! Anyway....he'll like whatever it is that he gets!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. And if you live in Fayetteville I know of a great yard sale going on....check it out here.

Sometimes you just have to remember....

and I usually enjoy it! Today I wanted to attempt to make more headway in our office, specifically my side. (Which is a MESS). Well there's been a box sitting in our office for, well since we moved in. So tonight I went through it and got to look through three picture albums and some great CDs. All of the pictures were from high school, which is always fun. I got to thinking about two things! First, I loved at the end of the school year when the yearbook peeps would sale all the random pics they had taken throughout the school year!!!!!! I found some hilarious pictures that I had bought of my friends. I also loved being a part of the yearbook staff. And second, I really enjoyed my childhood and teenage years!!!! I don't think I could have asked for anything more!!!!!  I truly feel blessed for all of it!

NOW....I also found some of my senior pictures, and I got a little sad, well sad isn't the right word but I can't think of it right now. Not because I miss it (living it once was good enough) I'm not one who wants to go back, but who is just glad for the memories. I was sad (for lack of a better word) because the person in those pictures was excited about who she was, sometimes I feel like I'm a 14 year old girl again who is so unsure of herself. I'm sure you always keep some of that with you, but I need to start believing in myself again. Where did that go? I'm going to take a stab at it and say that growing up, bills, work, responsibility and all that comes with it has kinda crippled me. Which is absurd. If  anything I should be ten times more sure of who I am since that day years ago when that picture was taken, but I can said that I'm not.  But I can also say that it's for no good reason. So ...... I think it's time I stopped trying to control every little thing that is out of my reach and just let it flow. Of course we all want to quote the classic serenity prayer:

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference

which is so so so so true!

I also think this one is fitting for me right now:

They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.
(Andy Warhol)

I like this one because time didn't change me, I changed because of the way I reacted to the things that were happening around me. So I'm sure we've all felt "not like ourself" from time to time....and that's all I'm feeling today. (Sorry if the post was kinda a downer). But hey I would appreciate hearing the things you might do to get back to feeling like you again.

On a brighter note I found my Waiting to Exhale soundtrack, which I'm pumped about!!!!! Listening to it right now :)

And I want to leave you with some fun pictures....(I promise for a more upbeat me tomorrow)!

[caption id="attachment_176" align="alignnone" width="450" caption="I love this picture of my friend Allison"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_175" align="alignnone" width="450" caption="Just some girls I miss!"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_178" align="alignnone" width="321" caption="Sweet sweet Bavery"][/caption]

Why does it seem so easy?

To do take the easy way out? I mean for the past 6 years I have managed to take change my life into a life of convenience. And it amazes me. What happen to drive, motivation, inspiration, dedication, focus, want? Where o where did it all go? The first thing I did today when I got home wasn't change my clothes and grab the puppies for a walk, or jump in the car to head to the gym. Nope I took a shower?????? A shower? Really? I mean I already showered once today! I continue to make excuses as to why I can't eat right or can't make it to the gym or get a work out in at home. Oh I've got to run errands at during lunch today, so I'll grab something fast. Oh I really need to do laundry, clean the house, etc. But the only real good excuse I have is that if I'm not going to go to the gym or get a workout in, then I better be doing my school work!!!! That is the only GOOD/REAL excuse that I have, but too bad that I don't do that either. So let's see what I can do to get my life self started. I'll check back in tomorrow with the list I've come up with to start out with some small changes.

Singing in the rain

Just singing in the rain, what a glorious feeling...I'm haaaaaaaappy again!



It's smelled like rain all day, I love the smell of rain.

I have loved musicals my entire life! And I have always wanted my life to be a musical! Seriously. I want people to bust out in song randomly and everybody just happen to know all the words and all the same dance moves! I mean you have to admit that would be pretty cool.

But sadly my life is not a musical and instead it is real with the ability for me to be as great as I want to and not have to know all the right moves to join in the fun. I am encouraged by my friends and their actions. I'm hopeful and happy for the bold and brave moves that they are about to make in their lives and I wish them luck and good fortune. But I also want to them to know they don't need it because they will be just fine. Their actions (taking a chance to pursue their own business ventures) has got me thinking about my life. What bold or brave moves have I made to give myself the chance to succeed? NONE. So I think I need to re-evaluate my options to better my career. And I want to hear what bold, brave, or chances you have taken to further your career or life? Everyone needs a little inspiration, so please share it so others can be encouraged. I hope you're all wonderful!

How did I arrive here?

Welcome and thanks for stopping by. I have officially decided to make this blog a record about my journey to make life changes. Mostly changes regarding weight and my personal health but also my journey to be a better me and how I can do my part to help anyone and everyone. I want to be happy again, truly, blissfully happy. I felt like I was once that way and I miss it, I know if I apply the right attitude to my life, I can do great things and find that happiness. Oh don't get me wrong, I have a very blessed life. I have two wonderful puppies who love me, a house to live in, a job, food to eat, the best friends a girl could ask for, my very first nephew on the way, a very trying but wonderful family, and of course the best part of all I have a wonderful boyfriend to share it all with. But I'm not doing any of them justice. I'm not being that great friend for them, or that wonderful girlfriend, aunt, sister, daughter, employee......why? Because I don't feel comfortable in my own skin. I don't feel like the person I envision myself to be. And because of that, I haven't been living up to my potential.....pretty lame excuse huh? But I by no means want a body like this........

More like I want this person/body back........



I know it's not a body shot, but it's happiness all the way.


The reason I named my blog "But she has a great personality" is because it never fails that when a friend (my mine necessarily) is asked to describe the big girl friend, it ends with "but she has a great personality". So there you go. I look forward to hearing from you as I venture on this journey!

So I hope you will join me as I try to conquer myself!

Breakfast

Can lunchables be considered breakfast? I hope so! Cause I had one just now. I know that eating breakfast is a very important part of the day...and I've always been a big breakfast eater so I'm fine with eating it. My problem comes into what to eat for breakfast! I mean I eat cereal and oatmeal (sometimes I eat oatmeal). I also sometimes eat breakfast bars and breakfast drink mixes, but that gets so old especially since I 80% of the time just eat cereal. I know most of you are thinking eat some fruit, well I do that too!!!! So any suggestions/recipes/thoughts would be appreciated! (Which should be interesting because I'm pretty sure no one reads this blog :)

I haven't gone to the gym in 2 weeks....what's my problem? Well there are a number of problems but the most logically one which really doesn't make any sense, is that I'm afraid I won't be able to lose the weight or keep up with my habit changes. So I guess basically I'm a scaredy cat! Anyways....not much to share. Hope everyone has a GREAT weekend.

Yay for Mondays!

Well I said I would let you know how Saturday went and so I am!! IT WAS GREAT! It really was, I thought that getting up at the butt crack of dawn8 would be horrible on a Saturday, but it was nothing! I found the Habitat house just fine and of course everyone was so super nice. I spent the morning putting up external solid ventilation to make sure the house was energy effecient according to Energy Star. It was an adventure considering that we got half way finished and the supervisor informed us that we needed to make sure all the boards had a 2-2 1/1 inches gap from the roof (which they didn't). So we climbed up there took them all down and then had to re-cut them all and then get the screws going again so that it was easier once we got up on the ladder.............what does all that equal? Laughs and a good time that's what. Not to mention it was amazing to see the nice house (not elaborate like on Extreme Home Make-over) going up.

I left the Habitat site a little early because I needed to run home and eat some lunch before I ventured to an elementary basketball game. Which is in the "ghetto", at least that's what I've been told. To be honest with you I thought about not going. I mean I could've just said I couldn't find it. Why was I not going to go watch my precious little cheer? Because I was of ghetto a part of Little Rock that I haven't been too before.....then I remembered that I thought that was ridiculous and went anyways. Boy am I glad, because it was a good time!!!!! Shamaria was a WONDERFUL little cheer leader and it was fun to watch the kids play basketball and cheer! So much fun that I clapped and cheered for the Terry Tigers, of which I didn't know one single child who played. I've also been wanting to sing this ALL weekend.

Yyyyy-ee-l-l,  (bit faster) yyy-ee-l-l, everybody YELL for the Tigers, whoooo, for the Tigers, whooooo!

[caption id="attachment_166" align="alignnone" width="214" caption="Go Tigers!"][/caption]

From Friday's post I learned about a wonderful recipe blog....visit it here, and borrowed from her ideas. Kristy, (we had Spanish together in HS) who is a wonderfully busy mommy of two, plans her meals out for the month, yes the MONTH! I, in a million years couldn't stick to that so I start out smaller with 2 weeks, give or take a few days (for going out to eat, girls night, etc.). So here is my 2 week menu! (I also have a wonderful recipe we cooked last night to share later.)

(No certain order)
1. Talapia with pesto pasta
2. Sloppy Joes with sweet potato fries
3. Chicken Piccata
4. Breakfast for Dinner
5. Sheperds Pie
6. King Ranch Chicken
7. French Dip Sandwiches (we're having this one tonight so I'll let you all know how it goes)
8. Turkey Burgers (on the grill)
9. Meat Loaf
10. Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and Tomato Soup

I made a list of 16 and let Jake pick 10. It worked out well I think, but I will keep you posted.

Also from Friday, Jennifer offered to go shopping with me next time she was in Little Rock, I'm very excited about this....(she said even if I don't buy anything) because she has wonderful taste and even has her own blog about fashion. (find it here)

And lastly....Jamie and Rachel. I miss you girls and can't wait to hang out with you both again! And I am seriously thinking about starting a weight loss blog, I've been able to find some great inspiration. And I think it will assist in holding me accountable. Let me know what you think? Hope you're Monday is wonderful!

Random thoughts Friday!

TGIF!!! I'm sure every single person in the world is thankful for Fridays! Even if they don't work......I mean how could you NOT love Fridays. I'm especially excited about today because tonight Jake and I will be going out to eat dinner with our friends Keli and Abram. It's not often that Jake willingly agrees to go out to eat. He is a man who LOVES home cooked meals which means eventually I will have to learn to cook! Having said that, I have made cooking my newest hobby but it's usually 50/50 on the final product! Still learning.

Tomorrow I will be getting up at 7 (yes on a Saturday) to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. I'm excited because I'm going to get to do stuff I probably never in a million year would have. For exampleI will be helping take down siding or maybe it's put up siding. All I know is that is has to do with siding! I'll let you all know how it goes.

I LOVE getting mail, one whole summer between 7th grade and 8th grade, a friend and I didn't call each other on the phone instead we wrote each other letters the WHOLE summer. It was a lot of fun. Too bad the only mail I usually get now is in the form of bills.....YUCK! However, yesterday I got home to see two packages sitting in front of the door.  One of them was Jake's birthday present which he wanted early (Watchmen graphic novel). Jake has a love for comics and Star Wars. The other one was my bridesmaid dress for Jamie and Joe's wedding!!!! I was very excited! Having the dresses now for both of my best friends weddings (Rachel and Jamie) makes it all so real AND not so far away. I can't wait!

By the way I called this post random thought Fridaybecause my mind was filled with them and they needed to be let out. So here are some things currently swirling around in my head. I'm thinking about starting a blog that focuses on me getting back in shape/healthy/losing weight, however you want to put it, I would like to find some really good recipes if you know a blog or know of any yourself, I learned yesterday that the average working person is supposed to spend save  75% of each paycheck!!!!!!! And that you are supposed to have enough money in your savings to be able to live off of for 3-6 months. (I need to work on this). I have to figure out a way to get a better sense of fashion! I need a tan. Harli needs a bath. And last but not least........I'm ready for lunch!

Thank you for reading the most random post ever! I appreciate it. I hope your weekend is wonderful!

Where are you Spring?

I have been trying to save money! Well because I need it. But today I went and got some to go from FuLin's (a wonderful Chinese place here in Little Rock). A little history about FuLin's:

Jake and I had been hanging out for a little while but it was still in the in between stage of being considered his girlfriend and still just dating, when he decided to take me out to eat at.....you guessed it, FuLin's. It was a lot of fun and of course very special to me because it was our first "date" type outing. Well we got our fortune cookies and of course I always want everyone to read them out loud! I of course really wanted Jake to, especially after the face he had made once he opened his. (It was a look of humor and embarrassment.) It took literally ten minutes to get him to read it to me and actually I can't remember if he actually read it to me or if I took it and read it. But the point is that it had the BEST fortune in it ever! His fortune said: Your true love is sitting beside you!!!!!!!!!!! How's that for great!

Well today in my fortune cookie I was surprise with not one but TWO fortunes. I consider myself lucky!!!!!! The first one said that "Your short term goal will soon be realized" and the second one said "Time makes one wise. Ask advice from someone older than you".

Now okay fine with the second one, but now I have to figure out which of my short term goals will be realized and who will be realizing it?!

Moving on. I have to say that I did not really watch The Bachelor this season, I was too busy watching quality TV (Toddlers and Tiaras and Jon & Kate plus 8), but I normally do watch it and I am with the rest of the country.......Jason, you my dear, are a scumbag with absolutely NO class.

Lately I've been feeling like I'm missing something and I think I finally figured out what it was. 70 degree weather! Yes, I am ready for Spring! Please, please come Spring. So I thought I would write Spring a letter of encouragement.

Dear Spring:

I feel like it's been ages since we've seen each other. Once, a few weeks ago I thought I saw you, but then it ended up snowing.....must not have been you! I just wanted to let you know that I miss you terribly. It's so hard to do even the smallest things without you around. For example, walk the dogs.....I only like to do it when you're here with me. I feel like the sun stays out longer and the cold is scared of you, so it's usually nice out. It's also hard for me to look cute in my clothes without your assistance. I mean you always bring all kinds of fun patterns and new designs when you come around.  And although I love the holidays (Christmas is my favorite) once Valentine's day comes around I find myself feeling depressed and down because I long for your warmth and the extra light you add to my day! Spring, you mean so much to me. I hate that we have to wait so long to see each other ever year......so I was thinking that maybe you could surprise me this year and come a little bit early! I talked to the groundhog and he said he doubted that you would, but I'm still crossing my fingers, because honestly I don't know how much longer I can make it around here without you! So I can't wait to see you and all the wonderful things that you always bring with you.

Sincerely yours,

Jonnie L. Honse