CHALLENGE ACCEPTED

If you know me, then you know that this next idea is beyond crazy.

BUT, I'm GOING to DO IT!!!!

 

I read a lot of fashion blogs, which is slightly ebarassing, but that's ok.

 

A lot of these bloggers have been doing posts about not shopping in 2013.

 

Well that seems like a long time, so I'm going to make short sweet goals.

 

 

I will not purchase any new clothes for 3 months.

 

(I would say longer, but I'm going to NYC in June.. and well its New York, and also, most of my t shirts were stollen, so I will need to purchase summer wear)

 

But the goal is to not purchase anything until MAY 15th. 

 

Once I make it there, I'll try and go farther and farther.

 

How am I going to accomplish my goal?

 

1- Go shopping in my closet, mix and match

2- Avoid clothing stores. If I dont touch, I wont buy.

3- Stop focussing on my outward appearance and focus

time on improving me as a person.

4- Don't give up like I do with everything else.

 

 

SO raise a glass to the clothing fast!

 



Stressed to Blessed.

January.

You have been a beast.

I have had more on my plate than I wanted.

I dealt with burglary.

Invasion of personal privacy.

Death threats.

Apartment hunting.

Packing in a space of 3 days.

Moving (in a blizard).

Having to rebuy things I'v already bought.

Unpacking.

Tryouts for my little VB team I coach.

Practices for that team.

Starting rehearsals for a new play.

Learning the music for that play (beastly).

Of course heartbreak. haha

Crazy stuff in the R.S. Presidency.

Giving a talk in church.

Working full time on top of all this.
Awful nightmares.

A fun little Godly sorrow/repentance couple of weeks.

and..

Accidentaly punching a door..

black and blue hand.

 

But I want to make a switch for the month of February.

I tried my hardest to be tough last month,

I feel like given the circumstances I did a pretty good job.

But I want to make a bigger effort this month.

 

I'm going to change from Stressed to Blessed.

I am making a conscious effort to switch my point of view this month.

 

I have a white board on my kitchen wall.

I want to write something I have been blessed with every day.

I feel like it might change my outlook on things.

I need that.

I need a better outlook on life.

I need to realize that the timing of my life is in the Lord's hand.

 

So here we go.

 In January I was blessed.

 

I now live in a beautiful apartment that I feel safe in.

I learned how much my Mother loves me.  She moved a lot of my stuff by herself, despite her numb leg.

I had an outpouring of support from friends, co workers, and family.. offering money, or items I lost.

I had the opportunity to be in my favorite musical, with an amazing vocal role where I figuratively get to "sing to Jesus"  just like a black woman would.

I had someone do my spring cleaning for me.

I found out who my true friends are.

I gained a huge testimony of the power of tithing.

I had the opportunity to speak in church and to be able to gain a better testimony.

I learned that there are a whole lot of honest loving people in this world, despite their outward appearance.

I've lost 22 pounds.

I have had the opportunity to work with an amazing director.

And I learned exactly why I love theater.

 

"It takes you to another world. And it gives you a little tune to carry in your head, you know? A little something to help you escape from the dreary horrors of the real world"

-The Man in the Chair (The Drowsy Chaperone)

 

 

That is one of the final lines from my show.  And today, as strange as it sounds, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for The Drowsy Chaperone.  I am blessed to GET to be in this show.

 

I am truly a very blessed woman.

 

 



2013...

Well. New Year. New start.

I guess my new start wasn't how I had planned.

I can say that 2013 has been hell...

and we're only 9 days in.

 

On January 1st at 8:00pm  I was smelling smoke bad in my apartment.  Not Cigarette smoke, it was a little off.  Knowing that my neighbors are bad smokers and constantly lied about not smoking in the house, I called my property manager, like I did to complain about the smoke about once a week.  They weren't supposed to smoke in the house or near the house.  I complained, and said I was very concerned.  My apartment was hazey and the upstairs neighbors had all of their windows covered in cardboard boxes.  The property manager called to talk to them, and they informed her that they were out of town, and their friends were staying there and watching their house (she forgot to say they just got out of prison a few days ago).  When I asked the property manager to go and investigate herself she refused.

 

On January 2nd and 4:30am (a few hours before the smoke incident) I was woken up to a very loud sound, like a gunshot, or breaking down a door.  That was followed by the most blood curdling screams I have ever heard.  This was all happening above my head, while I'm in my basement apartment.  I could hear people running back and forth screaming.  I was petrified.  I live alone, and I'm a girl. I quickly grabbed my phone and dialed 911.  As soon as I could hear people not on the same side of the house as my door I grabbed my pillow and snuck out to my car. I went to my parents house and decided I would stay there for a few days.  Later that day around 3:30 pm I had a phone call from one of my neighbors grand-daughters who is in my ward.  She said that her grandmother say 3 people get arrested that morning after drug dogs were taken through the house....

I stayed at my moms the next night and Thursday night I decided to brave my apartment.

 

I spoke to my landlord and decided I would move.  But after he told me that they had been evicted, I decided to stay upon condition of who lived upstairs...Well. I should have moved. I wanted to move but the idea of moving stressed me out.  Well Friday I decided to visit friends out of town.  I left Friday night at about 8:30pm and came home at 10:00pm on Saturday.

I walked in noticed the smell of smoke was way worse than usual.
I looked in my living room and noticed things weren't were I left them.
Then I noticed the TV was gone, and then my laptop, my camera, my stereos, and the piano keyboard my grandparents gave me.  Then I looked up past my living room and saw my room.  It was completely turned upside down.  Clothes were everywhere.  Then I realized that my dresser was empty.  None of the clothes in the dresser were in my room.  My snow boots were gone, my riding boots, my new asics I bought for the gym... all gone.  I had emptied out my car that day and brought in some bags of scrap fabric from my pillows... and they took those too.  I had ordered a pair of boots online with my birthday money, and they were delivered Saturday. I found the amazon box in the dumpster.  I never even got to see the boots in person before they were stolen.  I immediately called the police and reported a theft.  I then called my parents.  They raced over.  The police showed up.  There were two officers which I found odd (one with a waxed mustache that I couldn't look away from).  I asked why there were two and they said that knowing who they were dealing with upstairs, they would need back.  great. They took my name and information down, asked what was missing and walked through my apartment. Took pictures and asked lots of questions.  I told them how the people upstairs were constantly asking me for things, or to borrow things, and always asking if they could have some of my hand me down clothes.  The police discovered that they broke in through the laundry room door by pulling the pins out, but couldn't get fingerprints off of the door.  I gave them the serial numbers for things missing (the numbers I have) and then they informed me that they had been watching the upstairs for a few weeks now because they were drug dealers.  They were very big druggies. And the police told me that I needed to move so they couldn't find me.  They then went to go upstairs and speak with them.  They didn't answer the door.  Why would they?!  And that's where it ends. They did nothing else.  I'll never see my stuff again, and I'm out lots of money.  I can't replace everything, it's either replace or go to new york in june... and I've already bought the plane tickets.

I understand stealing electronics and things of value. 
But, my clothes?
That's so personal, and so frustrating.
I feel extremely violated.
I hope they enjoyed shopping in my house.
I guess if you need it more than me, I'm glad you have it.


I found a new apartment. 
It's more expensive but I feel more safe there.
New apartment, new clothes, new tv, new year.

Thoughts and Prayers..

My thoughts and prayers go out to all those across the nation and world who have lost loved ones due to these tragedies.  I'm not a parent, and I have no idea how scary it must be to hear that there was a shooting at the school your children attend.  But, I know how I feel about the children in the school district I work for, and how I feel about my little brothers, sisters, and my neice and nephew.  I love them so much and can not imagine the hurt of having them torn away from you in that fashion.  I can't read the news updates because I have the most gut wrenching feeling over come me when I do.  Tears instantly fill my eyes, and I am scared for what has happened to the world.  Those poor innocent children.  I know how panicked i was just to get a call saying I need to pick my brother up from school because he was sick, but i can't imagine the feeling I'd have had if it was his kindergarten class that was attacked. 

 

I love my family.

 

 

 

I pray that we keep those families who lost loved ones in our thoughts and prayers.

They need the comfort.

But, the poor children who were in that school and lived need our prayers as well.

It kills me to imagine how scared they must have been.

November/December pictures

Someone found my Rapunzel wig.. and sunglasses.

Shawn perfecting the duck face



what stress looks like

trying to be cool

Mint

Coolest cupcake. ever.

love the back of this dress.. and love what this picture got me later that night.

more days of work until christmas vacation

making soup

outfit. :)

so excited about my new dress

professional

wedding reception

whitney is not impressed

good workout=drenched shirt



letting my hair do its own thing.

hot tub hair and no makeup

best dress ever

how the Talbot's do family get togethers.

why is she touching me?

my "I'll be home for christmas" tree

should i shave? no.

All I want for Christmas is...

A wrap around bracelet watch.

 

 



A pair of red shoes, just like my black ones.

 

 

A black below the knee pencil skirt

 

 

I know its not really the right season, but a high waisted bikini

 

 

A simple black blazer  purchased :) at goodwill $6

 

 

above the knee brown boots

This sweater.  Love with my whole heart.

Destined

Destined.

To remain in the friend zone.

 :)

 

I'm pretty positive that I rock the friend zone like no body's business.

 

I have struggled with this for a while.

I wasn't sure why I get shoved in this corner..

 

So today I went digging.

I read a blog and got these things

 

Don't be a pushover

Learn to Flirt

Embrace Femininity

Be Patient in the Pursuit

Don't be Afraid of Rejection

 

How frustrating are all of those things?!

I feel like I do them.

 

 

I stand up for myself.

I flirt, a lot.

I'm a girl who enjoys being a girl

I try my hardest to be patient (could use work)

And I realize that if they reject me, it's their loss.

 

But yet, the friend zone is where I sit.

 

In high school I was sure I'd be one of the first in my group of friends to tie the knot.

I'm definitely the last as of this weekend.

Some have kids, are going on third anniversaries... and I'm like "hey, i get the whole bed to myself"

 

Despite all of these, I'm grateful for the challenge.

 

I'm learning to love myself.  I need to work on this a lot. 

But I'm grateful this was placed before me.