Back to Waitressing

Sometimes we wonder why things go the way they do. Then when you do something to take control, your thinking changes. You can't sit back waiting for things to happen for you. YOU have to MAKE them happen.

I know my prayers were being answered by the way I found this job. Now that I am in it, I am seeing even more why this was my first stepping stone. For a while I was down on myself thinking I was never going to find a job. Working for my fiance's business was great but I wanted to do what I went to school for. Nothing was opening up and that is when I decided to take a deep breath, refresh my mind and take a job that would make me some money in the meantime.

Waitressing is not easy. You can learn a great deal from the job and I wanted to share some of the things I have learned, or re-learned, being back to it this week. What is interesting, is each point can be applied to any job or situation in life.

These are just a few things I have learned being while being back. Have you been a waitress before? If so what are some things waitressing taught you and how you have applied it to your job you are in today?

Top Five Friday Favorites

Here are a few of my favorite things I have come across this week:

1.) Reading I am reading this book for a second time because I love it. I forgot how much I loved it until I started reading it again. The book:

Buy the book Here

I wont go into what the book is about right now because I will talk about it on another post. If you want a good inspirational read you should get this book! The beginning where Carnegie discusses the fundamental techniques in handling people will not only teach you a lot about others but may also teach you some things about yourself or some about the immediate relationships in your life.

2.) Listening: My sister told me about a song earlier this week and it is now one of my favorites:

                         I have been singing this song in my head all week. Loving it!!! :)

  

3.) Drinking: I am loving this cool down in weather and the fall like weather! Nothing better than opening the windows and the smell of fresh air in the home. Even better is enjoying the cool breeze with a nice warm cup of coffee. My favorite coffee is from Quick Trip! I know lots of people love Starbucks Pumpkin Lattes but I LOVE the coffee from Quick Trip with some French Vanilla added with it. Sooo yummm and less cash!

4.) Watching: I am LOVING X Factor this year!! I haven't watched the show in the past but I am loving it this year. The judges are great! My favorite judge is Britney Spears. I know she isn't the best role model per se, but her music is fun to dance to. She is not only successful but she has made a great come back after up some big time negative press which in itslef pretty admirable. It would be crazy growing up in the public eye. I could go on forever about Britney. I am seeing a sweet side to Simon too!! Really loving that. :)

                                 

5.) Laughing: I love looking back at old photos but my new favorite is looking back at videos. My favorite of the week is my little boy Max!! He couldn't stop laughing at Ryan's Aunt saying whoa. Makes me laugh just watching it!! 

                                         

What are some of your favorites from the week!? Please share! 

Racking Up the Slashes

Busy week this week but it is only going to get busier because this girl got another job!

I heard a speaker not too long ago at a networking conference say how the more slashes you have the better when you are looking for you dream job. For example:
                                     
                                    Web designer/ Team Leader/ Blogger/ Teacher

My new additional slash is not what I went to school for but I am certain it will help me in moving forward. I will be starting my new job on Monday at a restaurant in the St. Louis area.

I will only be working nights and weekends so I can still stay home with my son Max and help my fiance out with his business. I know this is not going to be easy but that is okay with me. I want to find my career and the best way to do that is to get out there and meet people. One big plus is the restaurant I will be working at has a great atmosphere!

See more great quotes I love here

It isn't easy being a twenty something year old. This is the time where we have to work hard for our dreams and push ourselves. I used to be the girl that was waiting on the side for the perfect opportunity but I am seeing now that the only way to find that opportunity is to go out and get it yourself. Being a twenty something year old is not easy but it is a critical time that can make you see your full potential. How exciting! Nobody can do this for you. Maybe it isn't the way I thought I would start out but that is okay! At least I am doing something to move forward.

Being a Mother will always be my number one priority. I can't really call it a job because that seems weird to me. Being a Mother is and always will be my dream in life. Nothing will beat the pride that I have in my son and being his mother. I want to make him proud and be able to teach him how I went out and made something of myself. I want to show him how we are capable of so many things and never to limit yourself. Most of all I want to show him how when you allow God to be in your life, nothing is impossible.

Music Video Monday!!

Late Monday night post! It was a busy day today. Lots of errands and then was glued to the TV for the Bachelor Pad Finale. I am still shocked with the ending! If any of you watch that show, can you believe Nick kept the money? I can't help but feel bad for Rachel...but then again it is a game. As Nick said, every one of them talked about winning the 250 thousand, not splitting it. A part of me can't help but think that some of it was staged. Who really knows.

Anyways! Sorry if that didn't make sense if you don't watch that show. I am now a Bachelorette/Bachelor/ Bachelor Pad fan. I can't help it! :)

Back to Music Video Monday. Today I picked Big Jet Plane because it is another one of my favorites. The song is by Angus and Julia Stone and is such a great chill song. Definitely one you can play in the back ground when you are working or listen to in the car with your windows down. Here is the music video:

Hope you like the song/video and have a fantastic week!!

First Week of Insanity...CHECK!!

I made it through my first week of Insanity!!! Well kind of....

It was a great start but I definitely need to step it up. The first day I thought I was going to throw up. Seriously. I thought I used to work out pretty well on my own.  I don't think I realized what it was like to really push yourself before Insanity.

Unfortunately I got sick with a cold on my third day but I pushed through as best as I could. I'm ready for next week to be able to really give it my all.

The eating part is not bad because I get to eat many times during the day. However, I really need to work hard to not give in to the sweets. I have a major sweet tooth. :) Need to find some recipes to try and nix those cravings.

So, overall it was a pretty good week! Not easy but I'm not going to give up!!

Best part of the week is I have a work out buddy!! Ryan, my fiance, saw how excited I was and how great of a work out it is he started with me! He was hurting his first day also:

Insanity Week Two...here we come.  :)

Favorite Craft Friday

Happy Friday!! Today I am going to show off a couple of my favorite projects I made over the summer. They both are "word art". I have been seeing these types of projects on Pinterest and decided to make some of my own! The first one is a gift I made for my friend Candice's wedding.

To make this I first designed the name and date on Adobe Illustrator. Then I found a board and painted it white for the letter color. My fiance Ryan printed the vinyl lettering for me. When the white was dry I placed the lettering and then spray painted the board black. After the black dried a bit, but not all the way, I pulled the letters off. It is better to do it when it is not all the way dry so the lettering comes off easier.

If you do not have Adobe or a printer that can print vinyl lettering, you can use stickers from a craft store. OR you can email me and I can help you design the lettering and have them shipped to you! Just send me what you are wanting and I can send you a quote for how much it would be. I will also send you a few different text options. There are so many different text options to choose from these days! :)

We also have them on transfer paper to make it easier to apply to the board.

The second project I made this summer was a for my sister.
She has a lake house and I wanted to make her something for her the house. We visit her every summer and always have such an awesome time, so I wanted to make her something that incorporated all the fun we had there.

For this one I decided to have some fun with the words. I wanted to make it to where you had to look at it for a while and read it and also making it to the theme of Life is Better at the Lake.

My sister loved it! This was one of my favorite gifts to give because not only was it fun to make but it had meaning behind it. :)

This fall I am going to make some for our home. I am going through all my favorite quotes now to pick the best ones. I love having positive uplifting quotes around the home so I am excited to get started on this next project! May even try some different colors this time!

This really is a pretty easy craft to make. Stickers will work but if your project is bigger or if you can't find the right kind, please feel free to email me and we will get you started! abbeycarmen14@yahoo.com.

Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!!

Thirteen Reasons Why...A Must Read

Ever find a book that when you start reading it you cannot put it down? Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher is one of those books.

I'm not sure how I found the book. I was looking for something new to read on my nook one night and stumbled on the Jay Asher book. The main character is a high school boy who receives a box of audio tapes. The person on the tapes is Hannah Baker, a girl who recently committed suicide. She tells the thirteen people, who are on a list included with the tapes, how they contributed to her wanting to end her life.

It is almost hard to call this book good because it is a sad story. Hearing Hannah tell her story makes me think of the kids that are being bullied everyday in school. When reading reviews of this book I saw that some schools are actually using this book to talk to kids about bullying.

This is a great book for people of all ages to read. Not only does it bring about the topic of bullying but it also reminds you how important it is to be kind to people. No matter how big or small you think your influence may be in their life or what you think you know about them, be kind. Nobody truly knows and understands what each person is going through. So do your best to leave them smiling.  :)

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Please Comment!

Have you read this book? If so what did you think?
What did you think about Hannah Baker's character? Some who reviewed the book wished she would have been less spiteful and vindictive and had a more serious tone. One that made her sound more serious and deep, wanting others to know how their actions affected her. Do you agree?

Happy Birthday to My Nephew in Heaven

Dear Evan Matthew,

Happy Birthday Evan!!

I thought about you during my entire run this morning. This day last year I got to meet you: the strongest, bravest sweet little angel. I can't help but feel sad that we can't spend your birthday with you today. But I know you are here with us and your Great Grandma and Grandma are showering you with kisses and having fun with you on your special day! :)

We are going to your house to spend the day with your family. Celebrating birthdays is one of your Mom's favorite things. When it is her birthday she would call it her birthday week AND weekend! :) I know she is going to have a great birthday week/weekend this year because we get to spend one of the days doing a walk in memory of you!

We love you so much Evan and we all think of you every day. Your parents and big sister are so proud of their little angel in Heaven. Thanks to their strength they have been able to help other Mommies and Daddies who have lost their babies. People know you Evan that we don't even know!! You are our little superstar! :)

I love and miss you and hope you have a wonderful birthday.

Love,

Aunt Abbey

Evan's Video      Evan's Mommy's Blog