Hump day happiness

On time today.....

1.  God woke my family and myself up this morning

2.  Increase in my storehouse

3.  Autumn is here

4.  Research is finally moving right along

5.  The fair is quickly approaching (although I haven't decided on Sate fair of Coastal Carolina fair, thoughts)

6.  My hair is mostly happy (I just have this one patch, grrrr....)

7.  Nadia is moved in safe and sound

8.  A great book club discussion last Friday (yeah, never did quite finish that book......)

9.  A job I love with people I enjoy being around

10.  Upcoming blessings of life

Have a wonderful and fabulous hump day!!!!

Tootles for now

Hump day (almost) happiness

Well, I'm a day behind, but still full of happiness and gratefulness.......

1.  God woke my family and myself up this morning

2.  I talked to my Daddy yesterday and the doctor visit went okay...prayers are heard

3.  Autumn is quickly approaching

4.  Shunta and Troy are going to be parents!!!!!  (see comment from last hump day happiness)

5.  Jesus is my friend

 6.  Book club this Friday (I wonder if I can read 150 pages in one night? :-/ )

7.  I am beginning to feel better....again, prayers are heard

8.  Rima had a great progress report (1 B, 3A's)

9.  The expression on Rima's face last night when we were baking a cake and I showed her how to work the electric mixer...priceless

10.   Miles has been very understanding (well, sort of understanding) of our lack of walks lately....oh the hectic life of a single working mom ;-)

That's it for this morning....have a wonderful Thursday!!!!

Tootles for now...

Growing

Off to work in a Goodwill find from my summer shopapalooza.  I paired my dress with a belt, platforms and pearls.  I just love Goodwill. My hair is an old wash and go refreshed with my water/conditioner mix.  Dress $3.79 Goodwill, Belt $19.95 boutique in NOLA, shoes $17.99 Ross, pearls-who knows.

Hello there lovelies~

As you all know I got my hair cut about 2 months ago.  Of course, with every hair cut comes the decision of keeping the hair cut or letting it grow out.  As is the case for everyone, I too had to make this tough decision.  Well, after much contemplation I have come to the decision of letting my hair grow back out.  I have definitely gone through the "grass is greener" complex.  Basically, when my hair was long I wanted to cut it so that I didn't have to do as much work to my hair.  Now that my hair is short I miss being able to style and "do" my hair.  Now don't get me wrong.  I am still enjoying the haircut.  If there is one thing that I've learned over the past 5 years it is to enjoy your hair at each stage, because before you know it you will be at another "hair phase."  I've also learned to focus on the good and beauty of where your hair is at that moment.  No matter what the state of your hair may be there is always something that you can complain about, but why bother.  

So, for now I am intending to let my hair grow back out as long as it can get.  I will enjoy my hair at each stage it goes through with no length goals in mind.  I'm hoping to stay inspired to try new styles with my hair as it grows out which I didn't do enough of as my hair was growing out the first BC time around.   

Well, that's all for today.

Tootles for now!

Hump day happiness

Phew, long day!

1.  God woke my family, friends and myself up this morning

2.  I don't have any absolute engagements this weekend (can we say sleep in and then beach time)

3.  I schmoozed with rich, fancy and important this evening

4.  Shunta showed me how to facetime 

5.  Comments on the blog (Got one from a new commenter recently!!!  :-)

6.  The state fair is soon coming (so excited to take Rima)

7.  A bit ahead on work, which means no need to work in the evenings or weekends (let's hope I can keep this up)

8.  Rima's first swim lesson went....well.....well enough

9.  I don't have to go to robotics team with Rima this Friday (now I know I'm a nerd, but I draw the line at star trek conventions and robotics)

10.  Appreciating the simply life (single and child free is not so bad)

Well, that sums up my top 10 for today.  Please be sure to share some of the things that have brought you joy or gratefulness today!

Tootles for now

Lessons from motherhood

Goodwill strikes again with a $4 skirt I picked up while on vacation in Myrtle Beach

Hello lovelies~

I have been a mother for a full three weeks now, and therefore feel authorized to share lessons from motherhood with you all.  Boy oh boy is life different once the children come along.  Now, as I suspected, I'm not the type of mother to smother or re-design my life around my child, but it is amazing how children take over.  There are so many things and events that I have already done or attended for Rima that I had absolutely no desire to take part in (for example, 2 hour robotics team meeting on a Friday night, yuck). However, I get through these moments by reminding myself that the world doesn't revolve around me and that I'm not the only one who deserves to have a good time.  So, the biggest lessons that I have learned thus far include patience, selflessness, love, patience, acceptance, patience and more patience.

One thing that my mother and I have often struggled with in our relationship is her allowing me to be myself even if that meant that I wasn't a "mini-me" of her.  I have had a really hard time understanding why it has been so difficult for my mother to simply let me be and to express myself in the way that feels most comfortable for me.  I had a difficult time understanding until Rima came that is.  Oh my goodness, I want so badly for her to wear cute clothes, to be more adventurous, to try new things, basically to be more like me.  Of course it is beside me why she wouldn't want to be a mini-me, but I acknowledge that that is something I have to accept, as hard as it may be.  So,  I guess the old saying of "you'll understand when you become a parent" is true.  

Now for the ultimate question, have I turned into my mother?  Although there was one day when I had a revelation of oh my goodness I am being Melissa (this was a day when I was dragging Rima around a furniture store looking at pieces that we probably won't buy that she couldn't care less about), I'd have to say no, I am not my mother, not yet at least.  However, I do feel like I understand some of the decisions she's made regarding me a WHOLE lot better.  

Oh how time and knowledge bring about change and understanding.  

Well, those are my biggest motherhood lessons thus far.  I anticipate many more lessons before June rolls around so I'll keep you all updated on those.  

Feel free to share any motherhood or life lessons that you have learned and found helpful along the way.

Tootles for now!

Hump day happiness

Here goes my happiness....Be sure to leave a bit of your happiness in the comments section

1.  God woke my family, friends and myself up this morning

2.  Great news from friends

3.  A wonderful labor day weekend with my family

4.  An awesome 28th birthday (the best I've ever had :-)

5.  Girls' night out tomorrow night (hooray for Mexican food and margaritas)

6.  Recent life lessons in patience (who knew you had to be patient and selfless to be a mother)

7.  A relaxed evening (praise the Lord for this one)

8.  Time tonight to read (see number 7 and praise the Lord again)

9.  My job

10.  The opportunities that await me

That's all I have for today,

Tootles for now!

The last single lady in Florence

From left to right:  Sister, brother in law, me.  We went parasailing on my birthday.  So much fun!!!

Okay, so I modified that title from Sex and the City movie 1.  However, it feels appropriate for this post.  Despite how it may seem, this is not a rant about being single.  Quite the contrary, this is a post about one of the joys of being single.  This weekend my family (extended included) vacationed in Myrtle Beach.  While there I went parasailing, played in the pool, played on the beach with strangers and had an all around wonderful time.  Trying new activities made me realize how little I know about what I really enjoy doing.  I mean, okay, I know I enjoy reading and listening to music and everyone knows I enjoy shopping, but I am talking about adventures.  Although I have hobbies I feel as though it's important to also know what type of activities and outings I enjoy.  I mean, how will I know the best place for hubby and I to vacation if I don't know what I enjoy doing.  As I was thinking about this, I realized what an awesome opportunity I have right now.  I realized what a great time in my life this is to  try new things, take risks, go on adventures and really figure myself out.  So, now I am excited.  I'm excited about trying new things and getting out there.....just because.  

Let me know what you have learned about yourself lately.  What new adventures have you gone on that have taught you a bit more about you?  

Tootles for now