Thoughts for Thursday

Hey!

Have you ever taken the Meyers-Briggs Type indicator test? This thing is AMAZING.
Creepy amazing.

My fiance and I had to take a couple of tests for marriage prep and the Meyers-Briggs was one of them. I remember taking this test in college but I didn't give it much thought. How much could a test really tell you about your personality?

Well tonight I realized this test is more legit than I thought. It not only told me more about myself than I realized but it was amazing how perfectly it described our relationship.

If you have never taken this test I suggest you do.

You know who you are. You know what you like and what makes you happy or what makes you uncomfortable. So why take the test?

The test helped me realize a few things. One major realization was, this is who I am. I am an ENFJ. As I read through the description of an ENFJ I felt as if someone was telling me more about myself than I even knew. Why do I try to change these things about myself? This description is EXACTLY who I am and you know what, I like this description! :)

Then we went on to read our relationship description with our two personality types. Ryan and I couldn't stop laughing. It was like the lady who was reading it to us had known us forever. Better than even our friends or family.

We actually only had one letter different. We are more alike than we thought! Hearing what we need to work on and be aware of really helped us. You would think after 6 years we would have this down but it made us realize why we have certain arguments we do. We just do those things differently because of the type of people we are! Now that we are aware of this, we know how to work with it and not take things personally.

This is also a great test to take for people who are looking for a job. Once you know your personality type you can see what jobs you match up with.

Overall this test gave me a little bit more confidence in knowing who I am. It is wild how as we get older we realize who we are when we are no longer trying to conform to what everyone else thinks we should be. Once you get that feeling of not caring and you realize God made you a certain way, you become more comfortable in your own skin. You are who you are for a reason. Be aware of your strengths and your weaknesses. Be happy with who you are. You were made this way for a reason. When you are confident in who you are and how you feel, you are less likely to be distracted about what others think about you. And that is such a freeing, peaceful and wonderful feeling.

Have you taken this test? Which personality type are you? I found out that ENFJs only make up 3% of the population! Guess who else is an ENFJ? Oprah Winfrey. So cool! :)

Today is Watch It Wednesday!

I didn't have time to make a video for today so I thought I would post one I made a couple of years ago. I made this video after going on a trip to Chicago with some friends. Going back and watching the video today brings back so many great memories we had that weekend. Photo albums are awesome to have but I am definitely into video scrap-booking. :)

A Little Warning:
This video is a couple years ago so we do get a bit silly in it and my camera control/editing is a bit rough. I also do not have rights to the music, it was just a couple of songs that were popular and that we enjoyed listening to at the time.

Video Link ----> Chicago Video

I hope you enjoyed watching! Next week I hope to have a new YouTube video post. Check out my About Me video if you have a chance!!

Thanks everyone for reading and watching. Please comment if you have an ideas on video post topics. I am kind of nervous to start doing this. :)

Abbey Carmen

New Theme Change

Hello everyone!

I have decided to go with a theme for future posts. Much like Music Video Monday and Friday Favorites but adding to it! Here is the post them I want to try. Let me know what you think!

Music Video Monday

  Monday will stay the same MUSIC VIDEO MONDAY. I will either be posting a song or a music video I am loving that week. 

T.A.C.O Tuesday

             Tuesday I will be doing T.A.C.O Tuesday. Not your typical taco though. :) Taco Tuesday

              is a fun theme we have in our house and I thought I would bring it to my blog. Instead

               of your typical taco though T.A.C.O stands for Things Abbey Carmen Observes. 

             One of my professors, Eileen Solomon, from Webster once told me how important it is 

              that we be observant in life. By being observant you can learn so much and so easily. 

              Think of driving down a road. You can drive down the road and not take the time to 

             look around, focusing only on where you are going and the GPS telling you what turn

             to take next. By simply being observant and looking around at what is around you, you        

            see all that is available around you. This is just an example but with technology we have 

                                            lost the ability to slow down and be observant. 

 Watch it Wednesday

                              My goal is to have a video on here for you to watch each week!

                                 The video topics will vary but it is my goal to create them all.

                              If you have any suggestions on video topics please let me know! 

Thursday Thoughts

                      Thursday I will post my thoughts on current topics or books I am reading. 

Friday Favorites

   Friday will be the same Friday Favorites! Here I will post a few of my favorite things from the week.

Sweat it Out Saturday

            Saturdays I will post fitness tips and quotes. I will also post updates on my journey with 

                                           Insanity/other Beachbody workout programs.

                                              Feed Your Soul Sunday

                   Sunday posts will be about feeding your soul. Growing deeper with God. 

                       

                       Thank you for reading and please comment on my upcoming posts!! :) 

Music Video Monday

Hello!

Can you believe this is the last Monday of January!?! I can't. Another month that FLEW by.

Today I want to post a song that I LOVE. I went for a run this morning and when it came on I had a huge smile on my face. This song makes you remember that today IS a good morning and a fresh start. MAKE it a good day. Nothing can stop you, only you can stop you from what you want to do. Dig deep and remember that anything is possible when you have God on your side. Take a deep breath and live in this moment. Celebrate today.

Hope you enjoyed the song! Have a great Monday and a great week!!!

Music Video...Wednesday.

I'm a few days behind...So today is Music Video Wednesday!! :)

I had a long drive yesterday to pick up my bridesmaid's dresses. On the way I heard this song and FELL IN LOVE. I wasn't sure if the music video would be good, but I just checked it out and it is great!

SO...Here is the music video for today!

Isn't AWESOME!?! I love the lyrics "Don't you worry child, See heaven has a plan for you."

I want to be IN this video. Dancing and singing this song. :) 

I also want the aviators a girl is wearing in the video...

Anyways, I hope you love this song and video as much as I did!

Do you have a favorite song or music video? If so, PLEASE share!! I love music and would love for you to share so I can check it out. 

Have a great rest of the week everyone!

~AbbeyCarmen

Friday Favorites

Here are a few of my favorite things:

My Shoes!! Amazingly comfortable and light weight. Also loving the color. :)

This quote is by Kelly Cutrone. I read this on a friend's Facebook page not too long ago and quickly had to add to my list of favorite quotes. Love it.









Another one of my favorites right now is this song by Samantha James. I'm not sure why I love it so much, I just do. Maybe because it is soft and chill. I love getting ready to music like this. :)

And last but NOT least is Chalene Johnson's 
30 Day Push. I can already see the awesome 
results of doing this and it is only Day 11!!
I highly suggest you do this. You can start 
whenever you want, it didn't have to be on 
January 1st. It is pure awesomeness. :)










Okay that is all for this week! Do you have any favorites to share? Please do!! :)

Writing Prompt

Writing Prompt: Choose one of your physical features and write how you can change or disguise that feature.

Physical feature: My birthmark

I am often surprised when someone first notices my birthmark but has known me for a long time. I feel like it is the first thing people notice. Maybe because when I was younger it was bigger and people would often ask me "what is that on your face?"

I'm not sure why I have been ashamed of my birthmark. Mostly because it was different and I felt looked weird. My mom would tell me when I was younger that it was where an angel kissed me because I was so cute and they couldn't resist. My mom is the best. :)

When I was a baby it looked like I had a strawberry on the side of my cheek. Now it is not as noticeable but you can still see it.

I know this is an absolutely silly thing to be concerned about. Today I don't really think twice about people seeing my birthmark. If they do I just smile and tell them what it is, not letting it bother me but instead being happy it is still noticeable. Isn't that funny? I went through all of my life trying my best to hide it with different hairstyles and makeup. Now that you almost can't see it anymore, I kind of miss it! 

I guess it just kind of teaches you a lesson. There may be "flaws" we think we have with ourselves. Things we try to hide because they are weird or not what everyone else has. For example, I have often wanted to get a nose job. I couldn't stand the bump in it and the size. Now, knowing what I do about my birthmark I don't think I would get a nose job even if someone paid for me to have one. It is what makes me who I am. Yes I could get a nose that is more "prettier" and like the celebrities but that wouldn't be the one God created for me. It would almost be loosing a part of who I am. 

So, do I still put makeup on my birthmark? Yes, when I put makeup on my face I do cover my birthmark. However, when I am doing day to day tasks and not wearing makeup I don't work to hide it anymore. No more concealer on no make up days. 

Is there a physical feature that you hide? Is there something that you work hard to hide? How do you hide it? If so try and remember:

picture from motivationtohabit tumblr

~ Abbey Carmen

Lets DO This

Day 3 of the 30 Day Push (the push challenge by Chalene Johnson) was a bit tougher than I thought it would be! When I read the email this morning I thought the task was going to be easy. Write my top 10 goals, no problem!

Then after I watched the video, I got out my pencil and paper and was ready to write. Then it hit me. Instead of firing down the list I came to a bit of a writers block. What DO I want to accomplish in the next 10 years?

Why is this so hard...what do I want to accomplish??

To accomplish goals we have to make sure we have a clear vision of the goal. It wasn't until this moment that I realized I did not actually ever have a clear vision. The goals were in my head, up there somewhere with all the stuff I had to get done. Just like the other stuff that I accidentally forgot to do because they were not written down on a list, I was not meeting my goals because I was forgetting what they were!

So, now my goals are written down and I have a clear vision of what I want. I encourage all of you to do this. Take your time, really think about your goals and write them down. Chalene says you should re-write them each week. They may change as the weeks go on but that is not a problem.

I am excited to take on my goals now and accomplish them head on!! As my son Max says...Lets DO this!!! :)

The 30 Day push has been awesome so far and it is only Day 3. If you don't do the challenge then make sure you write some goals for yourself. I promise will not regret taking the time to organize your goals and get them down on paper. Please feel free to share your top 3 here!! :)

Lessons Learned

Hello!!

I hope you all enjoyed the holidays! Time is FLYING by. Can you believe it is 2013? It seems the older I get the faster time goes. I remember my Dad telling me this when I was younger and thinking...yeah whatever! Now I totally get it!

I don't know about you but I am ready for a new year!! A new year brings a new beginning! Although it is a new beginning I will not be moving forward without all the lessons learned from the past. Sometimes we get so excited to start a new year, we just want to forget all the bad stuff in the past. Yes, move on and feel good about starting new but don't forget the bad stuff. In those bad times you were taught a lesson. However small or big, it was an experience that taught you something. A lesson to make you better not bitter, right!? :) 

I love this video. I did not make it but it is a great song and having the lyrics on there reinforces the meaning. Also it is Carrie Underwood who I L.O.V.E and two it is about LESSONS LEARNED.

  

I am excited to start this new year out with the help of Chalene Johnson. She created a program called the 30 Day Push and she teaches you how build the foundation to achieve your goals. She makes it fun and keeps you accountable by having you post your goals and daily challenges on instagram. I encourage you to do this! You can follow me on Instagram (abbeycarmen). 

As you start out this new year, remember the lessons you learned in the past so you don't have a repeat. That is what makes you wise and have a better year. Start out the year with a plan on how you are going to have a great year. And most of all, tell yourself you WILL have a good year. There will be hurdles and challenges but you can and will get through them. 

Do you have a lesson you learned this past year that you do not want to forget? Do you have a new goal you want to share? Please share, I love to hear what other people are working on or what they have learned! :)